This game can be played with any This game can be played with any number of children. The more, the number of children. The more, the merrier! The children must sit on merrier! The children must sit on the floor in a big round circle the floor in a big round circle facing each other, except one. This facing each other, except one. This one (the bee) starts running round one (the bee) starts running round and round the circle while the and round the circle while the others are singing. In his hand he others are singing. In his hand he must hold a soft ball, a piece of must hold a soft ball, a piece of cloth, or anything that’s handy at cloth, or anything that’s handy at the moment that will not hurt a the moment that will not hurt a child if thrown. At the end of the child if thrown. At the end of the song the bee must drop the ball song the bee must drop the ball behind someone else and keep behind someone else and keep running. He who has the ball running. He who has the ball nearest to him must collect it and nearest to him must collect it and run after the bee. This guy is now run after the bee. This guy is now the hunter whose purpose is to the hunter whose purpose is to catch the bee. The bee must reach catch the bee. The bee must reach the vacant space left by the hunter the vacant space left by the hunter before it is caught. If the bee is before it is caught. If the bee is caught, the hunter returns to his caught, the hunter returns to his place and the game continues. If place and the game continues. If the bee manages to sit down the bee manages to sit down before it is caught, the hunter now before it is caught, the hunter now becomes the bee and the games becomes the bee and the games starts all over againstarts all over again

A chalk grid is drawn on the road, A chalk grid is drawn on the road, with boxes for the numbers 1 to 9. with boxes for the numbers 1 to 9. Each child picks a stone or pebble Each child picks a stone or pebble and then has to throw their stone and then has to throw their stone onto each numbered square, starting onto each numbered square, starting at number one. Once the stone lands at number one. Once the stone lands on the correct number, the player on the correct number, the player then has to hop onto the then has to hop onto the corresponding square. Once that has corresponding square. Once that has been achieved, then the player been achieved, then the player moves onto the next number. If the moves onto the next number. If the player fails to aim the stone into the player fails to aim the stone into the correct box, then that player is correct box, then that player is “out” and the game moves onto the “out” and the game moves onto the next player. The winner is the next player. The winner is the player who successfully gets to player who successfully gets to number 9 before anyone else. number 9 before anyone else.

In this game there are two lines, one line of boys and one line of girls, facing each other. They have to skip and sing the rhyme going back and forth.

It goes on until all kids get a go at being 'tifel sabiħ/tifla sabiħa‘.

This is a Maltese rhyme This is a Maltese rhyme which the children used to which the children used to

sing whilst going round sing whilst going round and round. When the and round. When the

rhyme comes to an end rhyme comes to an end they all sit down.they all sit down.

Dawra durellaDawra durellaqaqabżbża a żżigarellaigarellaċċoff tal-bellusoff tal-bellus

ċċaqaqċċaqhielu lillaqhielu lill- - ggħħarusarusaxxa, axxaaxxa, axxa

missieru mastrudaxxamissieru mastrudaxxamela wiemela wieħed,ħed, t tnejn,nejn, t tlietalieta !!

Il-boċċi is played with marbles. Any number of players can take part. A number of marbles is placed in a row and a bigger marble (called il-mamma) is placed in front of them. Each player has to throw a marble and try to hit the marbles. If he / she hits 1 marble he /she takes it. If a player hits ‘il-mamma’ he takes all the marbles. The winner is the player with the largest amount of marbles.

One of the earliest games in Malta was Ic-Cippitatu. This game was popular with both young and old alike and was quite an attraction especially during feasts and other outdoor activities. It was a common sight during Resurrection Sunday when the winner could win a Maltese figolla. The Cippitatu was a Teetotum with four-sides, each side of which indicated how much the player loses or wins. Among the prizes were marbles and beads. The word Cippitatu is a Maltese rendering of the Latin Accipe Totum (take all) because one of the rules of the game was that the winner would have a clean sweep of the prize. The person organising the game would go round using a dish under his arm and the teetotum in hand. Usually gamers would pay one penny or a half-penny to play.

Many games used to be played with the rope. Children played either on their own or with other kids.

Trija is a game played by children in the streets. They draw a square with lines crossing vertical, horizontal and diagonal.  The game is played between two children in the same way we now play Nots and Crosses. The first player put a stone in the centre were all the lines meet. Each player will have a turn to throw a stone and make tree in a line or block his opponent to do so. The first player who succeeds to make the stone land in any two boxes which are directly opposite each other will win the game. 

Pizzi pizzi kanna Doluri ta' Sant Anna Sant' Anna tal-Morina Habba bicca Pellegrina Mgharef tal-fidda Bandieri tal-harir Noli Kannoli Nsara qaddisin

The child has to guess which of the kids touched  him/her while they

sing........

Ara gejja l-mewt ghalik, biex tixwik, biex taqlik. Ara gejja, ara waslet,

din id-daqqa min tahielek?

The EndThe End