Some Insight on "The Farmer in the Dell" (OT?)

[Pam Scruton]

No: HPFGUIDX 7561

"Jim Flanagan" wrote:
> The "Farmer in the Dell" theory has been mentioned a few times in 
the 
> context of H/H, H/R, etc. Unfortunately the deep traumatic impact 
of 
> this "game" cannot be fully appreciated by those who didn't play it 
> as children. Here is a wonderful little piece that explains it all:
> 
> http://www.moxiemag.com/moxie/articles/identity/farmer.html

But this is not the Farmer in the Dell game I grew up with (in the 
UK) - in our game it stops with the dog wants a bone and a bone is 
chosen and then

We all pat the bone
We all pat the bone

Right enough the pats might be a little rough, but it is all very 
jolly.  And then

The bone can't stand
The bone can't stand

and everybody together lifts the bone up in the air.

Generally people wanted to be the bone - to be the bone was fun!  
Usually teachers insisted that it was the smallest child who was the 
bone but out in the playground sometimes us bigger girls got the 
chance and it was great to have everyone pat you and then lift you up.

Pam