Simple Palant
Translation details
Model:mistral-large-2512.Translated text
Section titled “Translated text”Palant, in its numerous variations—of which we present only the most important here under 130—132—has a very ancient tradition in Poland and has always been the favorite pastime of our school youth. It is described by Gołębiowski and Kitowicz. Poles and Silesians particularly excelled in it at the Prague court, according to Guarinoni’s account (1610), who also considered palant a Polish game. The modern name of the game likely dates back to the era of Italian influences (XVI century); however, the game itself is much older in our lands. In the XIV century, a stick for striking a ball (piłatyk, from Latin pilaticus) is mentioned in the Album of the Kraków Academy. The ball, however, was even earlier called a gałka (knob), as evidenced by the word galić (to toss the ball for striking). The Old Polish language abounds in phrases, comparisons, and proverbs derived from this game. It is widespread among urban boys and, in many regions, also in villages; suitable for lower secondary school classes (as preparation for Palant with Mothers, or when there are too few players for the latter).
a) Without Ransom. The chosen player (by “measuring,” see General Part, V a) takes the “kingdom” (“winning goal”); the others go to the “field” (“losing goal,” “to tend pigs”) and stand at various distances from the striker. The latter gently tosses the ball upward with the left hand toward the front and, in mid-air, strikes it with the end of the palant, held in the right hand. The striker loses the kingdom:
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- if 3 times in a row they fail to strike the ball, or strike it so that it rolls on the ground as a “szęzur” (grounder);
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- if one of the opponents catches the ball in flight (a “kampa”), with both hands for younger players, or with one hand for older ones. In the second case, the catcher replaces the striker; in the first, the next player in the prearranged order does so.
b) With Ransom. As in a), but at a distance of 20 steps from the kingdom, a “goal” is marked (with a pebble, flag, etc.). The striker, to earn the right to three more strikes, must at least once strike the ball far enough to safely “ransom” themselves—that is, run to the goal, touch it with a hand or foot (in some places, strike it 3 times with the palant), and return to the kingdom. During this run, opponents may either “strike” (“shackle”) them with the ball or throw it back to the kingdom so that the ball reaches it before the returning striker. In both cases (aside from those mentioned in a), the striker loses the kingdom and goes to the field, and the player who struck them or outran them with the ball takes their place.
Source scan: Kujawsko-Pomorska Digital Library, marked “Public Domain.” View PDF — page 216.
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: 211–213 / PDF 216–218
- Digital edition: Digital edition · Source record
- Open the edition at the relevant page: p. 211
- Read the source text: zgr-130