GAMES
Jacob’s Ladder – a toy made of wooden blocks
attached together with ribbons; when held at
one end, the blocks appeared to cascade down
the ribbons.
Tip: Hold the first
block at the sides by
using your thumb
and first finger.
Move your hand
palm up, palm
down, palm up,
palm down…
Tavern puzzles (Old Shackles and Iron Heart) – Iron puzzles traditionally forged by blacksmiths and
found at inns and taverns; the puzzle was solved when one piece was removed, but only mastered
when the piece was returned as well. If you need help, see the solution pages.
Tops – spinning toys. There were at least five types of tops in 16th century England, and North
American Indian tribes also played top games. Suggestion – “battling tops” – several people start
their top at the same time to see which one lasts the longest.
Cup and Ball – a colonial toy, consisting of a wooden ball attached by a string to a cup with a handle,
with the object being to toss the ball in the air and catch it in the cup.
Source: “Chadds Ford Historical Society’s Guide Training Manual” (2009)
Our games are reproductions of real games.
GAMES
Objective is to collect the most sticks. Use the black stick to remove a stick from the
pile without disturbing another stick. If you can remove a stick successfully, you get
another turn. If you disturb a stick while trying to remove one, you lose your turn.
Pick-up Sticks
Pick-up-sticks, also called jackstraws, or spillikins , pick-up-sticks [Credit: Martin Sommerfeld]
game of skill, played by both children and adults, with thin wooden sticks or with straws or
matches. In the early 18th century sticks were made of ivory or bone; later they were made of
wood or plastic.
To begin the game, 20 to 50 sticks are bunched in one hand and set vertically on a table or
other smooth, flat surface then released suddenly so that they fall in a jumble. Each player in
turn attempts to remove a single stick without disturbing any other. If he succeeds he may try
again, but if another stick moves the player loses his turn.
The player with the most sticks when the pile is totally reduced wins. Sometimes the game is
played with a retriever hook, either made as part of the set or improvised with a bent paper clip
or a bent straight pin stuck in a match. Some sets have sticks shaped like saws, hoes, rakes,
ladders, and other implements, thus making the game more difficult. The game is supposedly
of great antiquity, perhaps having originated in China.
Source:
Pick-up-sticks. (2013). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/298920/pick-up-sticks
Our games are reproductions of real games.
Pennsylvania Dutch Language
Numbers
Days of the week
One – eens
Two – zwee
Sunday – Sunndaag
Three – drei
Monday – Muundaag
Four – vier
Tuesday – Dinschdaag
Five – finf
Wednesday – Mitwoch
Six – sechs
Thursday – Dunnerschdaag
Seven – siwwe
Friday – Freidaag
Eight – acht
Saturday – Samschdaag
Nine – nein
Ten – zehe
Twenty – zwansich
Thirty – dreissich
Forty – fattzich
Fifty – fuffzich
Sixty – sechzich
Seventy – siwwezich
Eighty – achtzich
Ninety – neinzich
One hundred – en hunnert
Everyday Expressions
How are you? – Wie bischt?
Oh, pretty good. – Oh, zimmlich gut
Not so good. – Net so gut
Very well – Ganz gut
Good morning – Gude Mariye
Good evening – Gut noowed
I can speak Dutch – Ich kann Deitsch schwetze.
Come and eat – Kumm esse
Come in – Kumm rei
What is your name? - Was is dei naame?
My name is ___ - Mei naame is ________.
Thank you – Danki
How old are you? - Wie alt bischt du?
Pennsylvania Dutch Language
Nursery Rhymes
Dickery-Dickery-Dock
Dickeri-dickeri-dock
Gebambel un Gegnack,
Es schpringt die Maus
In’s Uhrehaus;
Un schlaggt die Uhr,
Do schpringt sie raus,
Dickeri-dickeri-dock!
The Rose is Red (Roses are Red, Violets are Blue)
Die Ros iss Rot, es Veilche Blo,
Du bischt so lieb, ich gleich dich so.
Pease Porridge Hot
Mosch un Millich heess
Mosch un Millich kalt,
Mosch un Millich imme Haffe,
Nein Daag alt.
Deel gleiche’n heess,
Deel gleiche’n kalt,
Deel gleiche’n imme Haffe,
Nein Daag alt.
Pennsylvania Dutch Language
Pennsylvania Dutch Words You Might Hear Around Here
Achey belly (stomach ache) They drink milk for an achey belly.
Brutzed (pouted). He brutzed because he didn’t get the toy.
Doppick (clumsy). She is doppick.
Fernhoodled. (confused, purplexed or puzzled) He speaks fernhoodled English that one does.
Gookamoedoe (look at that)
Hurrieder (to do something faster) Tell them to work hurrieder.
Nix nutz – (naughty) He is a nix nutz.
Rutch (to squirm) He is rutchy.
Schnickelfritz (mischevious child)
It’s gonna make down wet. (rain is imminent)
Lock the door open (unlock the door)
Outen the lights (turn off the lights)
The candy is all (there is no more candy)
Kannst du micka funga? (Can you catch flies?) Ja, wenn de hocka bleiben. (Yes, when they sit still.)
Sources: Lynch., Larry. The Pennsylvania Dutch Language: An Interesting and Different English. (2013) Retrieved from
http://www.brighthubeducation.com/studying-a-language/54938-the-pennsylvania-dutch-language/
Stine, Eugene. (1990) . Pennsylvania German to English Dictionary. Lehighton, Pennsylvania: East Stroudsburg University.
Pennsylvania Dutch Language
Student handout of Pennsylvania Dutch Words and Phrases
Students,
Ask or tell your partner these questions or phrases.
1. How are you? – Wie bischt?
Oh, pretty good. – Oh, zimmlich gut
Not so good. – Net so gut
Very well – Ganz gut
2. Good morning – Gude Mariye
Good evening – Gut noowed
3. I can speak Dutch – Ich kann Deitsch schwetze.
4. What is your name? - Was is dei naame?
My name is ___ - Mei naame is ________.
5. How old are you? - Wie alt bischt du?
Respond with your age number.
Numbers
One – eens
Two – zwee
Three – drei
Four – vier
Five – finf
Six – sechs
Seven – siwwe
Eight – acht
Nine – nein
Ten – zehe