Hand String Games

Last week when we moms were working together, the kids decided to learn hand string games. They searched "Cat's Cradle" on the Internet. It had a very interesting History.

History The origin of name "cat's cradle" may have come from a corruption of cratch-cradle, or manger cradle. The French word for manger is "crèche", and cattle feed racks are still known as "cratches". The "manger cradle" is significant in the nativity; Jesus was born in a barn and laid in a manger because there was no cradle. It is referred to as "Scratch Cradle". Different cultures have different names for the game, and often different names for the individual figures. (For instance, the Russians call the whole game simply "the game of string" and the "diamonds" pattern a "carpet", and have names like "field", "fish" and "sawhorse" for all other figures. The cat isn't ever mentioned, but the cradle is, though it's the initial figure that is called so.)

Here the girls are showing "Indian Cot". Anna, I believe is doing the "Cat's Whiskers".

More History Cat's cradle is probably one of humanity's oldest games, and is spread among an astonishing variety of cultures even so unrelated as Europeans and Dyaks of Indonesia. Alfred Wallace who, while traveling in Borneo, thought of amusing the Dyak youths with a novel game with string, was in turn very surprised when they proved to be familiar with it, and had shown him some figures and transitions that he himself didn't know.

Do you think Noah's family played string games on the ark?

A string fits easily in your pocket and Matthew hasn't left home without one since. We were at a store, Matthew was making things with his string and the cashier went on and on about doing string games as a child. She couldn't wait to do the one with him that looks like you're going to cut your hand off!! =)


This is the wonderful site the kids found that has illustrations showing how to do the games. There are 27 games, stories and tricks at this website. If you want to try any of these, pictures sure help!

http://www.vidyaonline.net/arvindgupta/stringgames.pdf

Have fun! Don't leave home without your string!