Siklódi Csilla szerk.: Tradicionális sportok, népi játékok (A Sportmúzeum Kincsei 2. Budapest, 1996)

Tradicionális sportok, népi játékok az észteknél (Marge Vaerv, Kalle Voolaid, Kaie Jeeser, Anu Sillastu)

and try to join their hands. The single player tries to get hold of one of them to form a pair with him. The one remaining single calls the next pair. St Martin's Day and St. Catherine's Day - analogically to the West European St. Nicholas' Day (Dec. 6.), St. Martin's (Nov. 10) and St. Catherine's (Nov. 25) beggars ran from house to house in disguise, wearing an inside-out fur-coat and a mask. St. Martin's Day marked the end of field work and the beginning of winter. St. Martin's beggars brought field luck and St. Catherine's ones cattle luck. At the beginning young men where St. Martin's beggars and young women St. Catherine's beggars. The beggars moved as "families" - St. Martin's father or St. Catherine's mother with children. After finishing their round they went to a household agreed on before to eat the food and St. Martin's wedding party was played. So several traditions were similar to wedding traditions. Typical game played on this day was gypsy wrestling. Parlour games are typical to Estonians. They were played at people's gatherings. Round games have always been popular with Estonians and they were often accompanied by songs. Round games are typical to wedding parties as circle symbolises the Sun denoting the continuity of life and joy. A round game always played at a wedding party was pruudiparg (bridal wreath) in which the bride and bridegroom picked out a new couple from among the guests who, in their turn, had to give a wedding party. Bridal wreath is played at wedding parties even nowadays. Game of forfeits was also very often played at wedding parties. As redeeming pawned things required wit and good sense of humour, it suited well for wedding entertainment. Bees were frequently held all over Estonia. It was an old form of collective work where people from neighbouring households were asked to come and help with major jobs like manure carting, hay making, rye harvesting and threshing, flex swingling or making dowry. People came to the bee of their own accord although the only pay for it was a day's food and drink. It was a disgrace to refuse from participating because it was considered a duty of honour. Bee was also a good chance for young people to meet and look for a mate. For bees better meals were cooked and beer was made. After finishing work people came together. Usually there was a village musician among them. Dancing and playing games (round games, trials of strength, game of forfeits) lasted far into the night. Adults had time for entertainment only on holidays but for children playing games was a part of their everyday life. However, children had to start working at an early age. The first job for them was tending the cattle. Older children usually had to teach the younger ones how to do it. When the cattle were grazing, girls had to knit stockings or plait cords and boys had to make bast shoes; nevertheless there was enough time left for playing as well. These were mainly games requiring a lot of moving around: hide-and-seek, racing,