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Archiver > SWEDEN > 1999-04 > 0925498152


From: <>
Subject: Re: May Baskets and Such
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 14:49:12 EDT


I grew up in a scandinavian community in Washington State and remember May
baskets as described by others. My favorite thing was platters of lefse at
church pot-luck suppers. Cora told me they had to be baked directly on the
top of a wood burning stove. I make them on an electric gridle. They're OK,
but not as good as Cora's. I'd like to ask about a game we played. I've
never seen or heard of it anywhere else. I thought it might be Scandinavian.
The children select one to be 'mother' and one to be 'the old witch'. The
witch goes off to sort of lurk nearby and act the role of a witch as that
child sees it. Mother whispers the name of a fruit or vegetable in the each
of each of her children. Then mother says, in a sing-song voice: "I'm going
downtown to smoke my pipe, and I won't be back till broad daylight, and if
you let that old witch in---------" I don't remember the last line. The
mother locks her children safely inside the 'house' and goes off. The witch
arrives and through guile and treachery gains entry. She begins calling out
the names of fruits and vegetables. The child with that name considers
her/himself captured. Then mother comes back and there is some sort of
confrontation. I can't recall if it's a sort of tag game or if it's tug of
war. The idea being for the mother to protect the remaining children while
trying to retrieve the captured ones and the witch trying to add to her
collection. There is a great deal of role playing that takes place and lots
of room for creativity. Does anyone remember this game?
Our community was pretty evenly divided between Swedes and Norwegians with
a sprinkling of Danes and Finns. Our school cheer (I kid you not) was
"Lutefisk, lefse, tus-keta-ha, Twin City High School, Ya, Ya, Ya!!!"
I'm new to the list and am finding it to be a terrific resource. Thanks
to those willing to share their greater knowledge of all things Swedish. Ann

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