Figure 1.-- This game is calle the Nurse. We are not sure of the Spnish name, but nurse in Spanish translate as la Infermera. That seema a strange name for a came boys are paying. When I was a boy I do not think my friends and wold have been attracted to such a name. It is not clear what is involved here. All of the boys are lined up, except for one who seems to be doing a dance are kind of patomine while the other boys look on. We are guessng that he other boys take turns in front, apparently demonstaring their dance kills. We do not know just what the object was or if any kind of winner emerges. Another photograph shows the by still dancing. It suggests that the boy in front was pimarily doing a dance routine. The other boys seem apprecirive of his skill.

We do not know a lot about the games Merican children played. We believe that many are similar to those played by children in other countries. We assume the principal influence is Spain. Wedo not know if Native American games have had any inluence on modern Mexican games. Some games may be different than thse played in other countries. Some of the games may have just have had different names. The names certainly are different to those we see in North America, but they may not be differet than popular gmes in Spain. We have arcived a set of images from the 1920s which provide fascinting glimses of children's games played in Mexico. We see games played by both boys nd girls. All we know about the games, however, is what can be climpsed in the photographs and in some cases the name of the game. We suspect these are games which hve been played for some time in Mexico. We do not know to what extent why are still being played. As in other countries, sports have become much more important in youth activities than was the case in the past. We are hopeing that our Mexican readers can rovide some information on the games. One moticeable aspect is that as in America and Europe, the boys' games seem competitive and the girls' games cooperative. The boys nd girls are ll laying seprately, but he same building is in the background in many of the images.

Burro de Ombligo

Here we see boys plying Burro de Ombligo in 1921. That does no make sence to us. Ombligo de Burro which would mean he belly button of the burro. Looking at the game, we have no iea why it acquire that name. We are guessing that the boy everyone is jumping over is the burro. It looks to us s some kind of leap frog game. We do not know if this is just the beginning and more boys will position themselves to get leaped over. Or if every one is going to leap over the same boy. Many boys game or cometitive, this one seems more like just playing for fun.

(La) Gallina Ciega

Here we see the girls playing La Galinna Ciega. This means the blind hen. This suggests a game where every one runs around helter skelter. Which is what we seem to see in the image. There seems to a rough cirle with one girl inside. Just what the rules are we do not know, but the girls certainly do seem to be having a good time playing. Notice that they are clapping as they move around the circle. They may be singing or chanting as well.

(The) Little Room

Here we do not have the Spnish name. The game was The Little Room. That might translate as some like 'La pequeña habitación'. It was a girls' game or at least the girls are playing it in 1920. It looks like it may be some kind of ring game, or strting out in a ring formation, but several of the girls seem to be changing places. Just how many we are not sure. Some of the girls seem to be holding hands and staying in place. In most ring games, the ring formation is maintaied. This seems to be a little different.

Niña Nacio en Francia

Here we see Mexican girls playing Niña Nacio en Francia during 1921. This tramslates to Girl born in France. The name and photoigraph suggests it was a grl's game. We see older girls about12-13 years old forming a circle having a good time lifting a little girl in a white dress and hair bow high in the air. It lt looks like they are playing in a school yard. We do not knowif the older girls get lifted as well. It would be a little difficult lifting a larger girl, but given the number of girls playing, they could probably do it. As far as we know, this is not a game that American girls played.

(The) Nurse

This game is calle the Nurse. We are not sure of the Spnish name, but nurse in Spanish translate as la Infermera. That seema a strange name for a came boys are paying. When I was a boy I do not think my friends and wold have been attracted to such a name. It is not clear what is involved here. All of the boys are lined up, except for one who seems to be doing a dance are kind of patomine while the other boys look on. We are guessng that he other boys take turns in front, apparently demonstaring their dance kills. We do not know just what the object was or if any kind of winner emerges. Another photograph shows the by still dancing (figure 1). It suggests that the boy in front was pimarily doing a dance routine. The other boys seem apprecirive of his skill.

(The) Onion

This game was called The Onion. Presumably the Spanish name was La Cebolla. This was a came the girls played. We have absolutely no idea what the rules were or the point of the game. The girls are sitting together together in a single row on the ground and steps forming a kind of chain. The girls with their arms are holding on to the girl in front of them. Then on girl try to peal off the girl in front. Perhaps that is why it is called an onion with its many layers. The same little girl in white who featured prominently in the Niña Nacio en Francia game is with the girls here. We are not sure who does the pulling off, perhaps the girl who hs just been pealed off. Seems like quite a strenous operation for girls who arr often involved in less forceful games.

(La) Quemada

Here we see boys playing La Quemada meaning the burn. We have no idea why it is has this name. We at first thought it was another game with the boys ined up, but apprently that was only done for the photograph. As the game is played, the boys look to crowd aroud the shooter who tries to roll a ball against a curb or wall without actually hitting it. If you look closely at the photograph you can see the ball and the boy in the middle who has jut let it go. Only one ball in play at a time. We re not entirely sure how the competition goes. Perhaps they mark how close ech boy came and then the next boy takes his turn and tries to come closer. We just do not understnd the name. The boy at the extreme right seems rather animted. We are not sure what he is holding or if he has aoll in the game.

(El) Sornberito

This photograph is entiteled El ?ornberito. We are not sure what the first letter is. The rest is fairly plain. It means the small something, but ith out the first letter we are not sure what the small hing is. Perhaos readers can make it out. We will link he back of the photo to the figure. The boys are playing the game. All of the actions is focused on the boy bending over. The other boys all seem to be touching him. Presumably he is the 'it' boyyin a jind of tag game. What we don't know is what happens next, but we are guessing at some point the boy bent over is going to chase the oher boys. We assume the boys playingare touching the boy bent over so he it boy has a real chance to tag them. Tag of course is a game played in many different countries.

Navigate the HBC Mexican pages
[Mexican choirs] [Mexican Scouts] [Mexican school uniforms] [Mexican communions]

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing national pages:
[Return to the Main Mexican page]]
[Return to the Main country work page]]
[Return to the Main countries page]
[Belize] [Costa Rica] [Guatemala] [Hondurals] [Nicaragua] [Panama] [(El) Salvador]

Created: 9:13 AM 1/30/2018
Last updated: 5:04 AM 1/31/2018