In recent years with the popularity of the Netflix series Squid Game, traditional Korean children’s games played in the show have become well known. With the newly released Season 2 featuring even more playground classics, I have seen a lot of discussion online about what games would be played instead if the show was set in another country. I thought about this question – what did I used to play with my friends and family growing up in Bangkok, Thailand?
An illustration of a traditional Thai children’s game called Mon Son Phaa (Image source | Kapook)
Digging into my early childhood memories, I remember playing lots of games that involved simple songs or nursery rhymes. One day as my mum was picking me up from school, we made her join in on our game of Nguu Gin Haang (snake eats tail) as father snake. Other times on the playground I remember grouping up with other kids to play Ree Ree Khao San and Mon Son Phaa. Although it has been many years since I’ve played these games, I still remember snippets of the songs that accompany them and the smiles and laughter they brought.
Nguu Gin Haang (snake eats tail)
This game involves two teams, one person plays the father snake and the other mother snake. The rest play baby snakes, lining up behind the mother snake holding onto each other’s waists. The game starts with the father snake asking, “mother snake, which pond of water do you drink from?”. Mother snake’s team responds with rhymes and corresponding movements until the father snake asks one last question about whether the head or the tail should be eaten. Once the mother team responds, the objective of the father snake is to run around and catch one of the baby snakes while the mother snake tries to stop them. If any of the baby snakes are caught or let go of the waist of the person in front, they are out of the game.
A game of Nguu Gin Haan with the father snake on the left and the team of mother and baby snakes on the right (Image source | Department of Cultural Promotion)
Ree Ree Khao San (ree ree rice)
Another simple game often played by younger children is Ree Ree Khao San. Two people face each other and hold hands to form an arch or a ‘door’ in between them. Others hold onto the shoulder or waist of the person in front and run around the door as a song about rice is sung. The lyrics ‘beware people at the back will get caught!’ signals the door dropping and catching a passerby. The person who gets caught by the door is out of the game and the game continues until no one is left. This game is very similar to how London Bridge is Falling Down is played.
Ree Ree Khao San game (Image source | Buraphakorn)
Mon Son Phaa (Mon hides the cloth)
It is believed that this game originated from the Mon people (ethnic group living in parts of Thailand and Myanmar). The game involves a group of people sitting in a circle facing each other and a Mon who holds a piece of cloth. The Mon walks or runs around the outside of the circle while others sing a short song. When ready, the Mon carefully drops the piece of cloth behind a chosen player, making sure they are not aware of it. Once the person realises the cloth is behind them, they pick up the cloth and chase the Mon. If the Mon gets tagged before they make it back to the empty seat, they have to continue being the Mon, otherwise they join others in the circle as a player.
Chasing the Mon around the circle (Image source | Thairath)
These games often reflect the environment, people and animals children grew up around, and therefore different regions in Thailand have their own unique games. Many games mimic animals such as Kratai Khaa Deaw (one legged rabbit) or Gaa Fuk Kai (nesting crow). Other games are created from readily available materials in the environment such as Dern Kala (walking on coconut shells) and Maa Karn Gluai (banana stem horses).
As I grew older, games on the playground started to change as well. Nursery rhymes and songs are replaced by games that require more skills and dexterity. Let’s have a look at some of these in Part 2 of the blog!
Left – a game created with coconut shells. Right – banana stems turned into horses (Image source | Fern Dara Blog)