Bierki (Knucklebones)
Translation details
Model:mistral-large-2512.Translated text
Section titled “Translated text”An ancient Polish game, best preserved to this day among rural boys in the Lubartów district, also known in Podlasie and Podhale; suitable for older primary school classes and younger secondary school classes. Considerably more refined than the previous game (shaped not without the influence of chess), it provides little physical activity but many opportunities to develop eye measurement and precision in hand movements. It is well-suited, for example, during rain in a camp or in a sports pavilion. Bierki are flat figures carved from wood, 1½—8 cm in length and ½—2 cm in width. All the bierki used in a given game form a “sypa” (set). The set includes: one each of a “king,” “queen,” “under-king,” and “under-queen”—and for each player, one “priest,” one “priestess,” and 4 “cattle” (or “foxes”¹). Players (numbering 2—10) take turns in a predetermined order. Each places the entire set (or as many as fit) on their palm, tosses it into the air, and catches some of the bierki on the back of their hand. After tossing them again, they catch one or more figures in their palm. However, they may not catch figures of different types together (e.g., a king with a queen, a priest with a king, etc.), and foxes may only be caught in even numbers. After each correct catch, the player has the right to repeat their turn, setting aside the caught bierki. If, however, they catch nothing or break the rules, the next player in turn takes their place. When calculating the winnings, the king and queen count as 12 each, the under-king and under-queen as 7 each, the priest and priestess as 4 each, and the foxes as 1 each.
- The technique of catching is threefold: either, after catching several bierki, the palm is tilted so that unnecessary figures slide off; 2) or the chosen figure is caught in mid-air with the fingers; or finally, 3) it is caught in the “peak,” i.e., a funnel formed by the fingers.
¹) In Gołębiowski’s work, these figures are called king, steward, lord, village headman, farmer, farmhand, etc.
Scope of transcription: text belonging to illustrations omitted; exact boundaries recorded in the extraction report.
Source of scan: Kujawsko-Pomorska Digital Library, marked “Public Domain.” See PDF — page 172.
Metadata
Section titled “Metadata”- Type: game
- Traits: Not stated in the source
- Source: Eugeniusz Piasecki, Zabawy i gry ruchowe dzieci i młodzieży (1922)
- Printed pages: 167–169 / PDF 172–174
- Digital edition: Digital edition · Source record
- Open the edition at the relevant page: p. 167
- Read the source text: zgr-097