Lençinho da Botica
"This Portuguese game is a very old circle game, and so, the words of the song can be very different because of oral transmission." -Ana Ruellon
Lençinho da Botica
The Pharmacist's Handkerchief
Drop the Handkerchief Game
Drop the Handkerchief Game
(Portuguese)
(English)
O Lencinho
Da botica,
Quem lá vai,
Lá fica.
O Lencinho
Da botica,
Quem lá vai,
Lá fica.
The handkerchief
Of the pharmacist,
Who goes there,
There it is.
The handkerchief
Of the pharmacist,
Who goes there,
There it is.
Game Instructions
The children sit in a circle. The person who is "It" goes around the outside of the circle holding a handkerchief while all of the kids are singing the song. Eventually, she drops the handkerchief behind a child's back. That child has to pick up the handkerchief and chase the one who's "It" around the circle until the one who's "It" takes the 2nd child's spot. The second child is now "It". If the one who's "It" is caught first, she continues being "It". If the child sitting doesn't notice the handkerchief behind his back he has to go into the center of the circle.
"In Portugal, the child that is caught and goes in the middle is called 'pata choca' (mother duke)." -Ana
