This document describes the traditional Greek children's game "Handkerchief" or "Μαντηλάκι". It discusses the importance of play for child development. It provides a brief history of the game in Greece in the 20th century. The rules and a variation of the game are explained. A YouTube video demonstrating the variation is included. Sources on the history and significance of children's games are listed.

1. Μαντηλάκι-Handkerchief (in Greek)
Steal the Bacon (in English)
Erasmus+KA229 "Playing Europe"
Louridas Panagiotis- Giannis Papadimitriou
Evangeliki Model High School of Smyrna
school year 2020-2021

2. The importance of traditional games
Playing is a key activity in a
child's life. It plays a crucial
role in his/her physical,
psycho-emotional, social and
cognitive development.
Through playing the child has
the opportunity to act freely, to
live in an imaginary world that
can dominate, to express
his/her feelings, to teach
him/herself and the people
around him/her, to explore
his/her environment.

3. The history of the “Handkerchief” game
Unfortunately, we don’t have any information about the exact date when the
game appeared in Greece, but we know for sure from drawings and images
that exist that the game was played by children aged between 5-10 years old
in the 20th century. Children played the game in squares, streets and yards.
Some years after they played the game at school, and particularly in the
subject of Physical Education. Throughout the years the game hasn’t changed
much, but many variations of it have been created.

4. Rules of the game
1. 10 or more children are needed.
2. The children divide into two teams.
3. Each team makes a line and in between these 2
lines they draw a circle and put the handkerchief in
it. Another variation is that the judge holds the
handkerchief in the circle.
4. Each child is represented by a number.
5. The judge shouts a number and whoever child
from each team has this number runs to catch the
handkerchief.
6. The child who catches the handkerchief first and
returns to his/her line gives a point to his/her team.
7. This process is repeated with different numbers
and the team with the biggest number of points wins.

5. Variation
1. 10 or more children are needed.
2. Someone is selected by ballot to hold the handkerchief.
3. The rest of the children make a circle, standing or sitting.
4. The child with the handkerchief walks around the circle singing.
“ The handkerchief is gone and the girl is looking for it. Where will she find it?”
5. Then the child drops the handkerchief behind a child and this child immediately
starts to chase him/her.
6. The child who drops the handkerchief runs around the circle and takes the
child’s place who chases him/her.
7. If s/he makes it, s/he wins, and the other child keeps the handkerchief and the
same process is repeated.

6. Video of the variation of the
“Handkerchief” game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S7djs--pb4

7. Sources
• https://paletaart.wordpress.com/2012/07/02/%CF%83%CE%B1%CE%B2%CE%B2%CE%AF%CE%B4%CE%B
7%CF%82-%CF%83%CF%85%CE%BC%CE%B5%CF%8E%CE%BD-savvidis-symeon-1859-1927/#jp-carousel-
2378
• https://atheo.gr/yliko/foto/Alexandreia/istoria/paradosi/ethima/paradosiakapaixnidia.pdf
• http://kidsongs.gr/paixnidia/item/19-tomantilaki
• http://www.patridamou.gr/?p=508
• https://kepsy.gr/%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%B8%CF%81%CE%B1/%CE%B7-
%CF%83%CE%B7%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%83%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-
%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%B9%CF%87%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%8D-
%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD-%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AC%CF%80%CF%84%CF%85%CE%BE/
• https://www.psychology.gr/psychologia-paidiou/3849-i-simasia-tou-paixnidioy.html