Bye bye Westerling

A children's game and song that refers to the Call West.   The full song: Fair Cano'tiel tis time to go westward, westward. Fair Cano'tiel tis time to go Far, far away.   I cannot leave my hearth and home staying, staying. Too late for me to journey now Far, far away.   Hearth and home will tumble down tumble down, tumble down Now's the time to start anew far far away.   Wise Cano'tiel tis time to go westward, westward. Wise Canotiel tis time to go far far away.   I cannot leave my kith and kin staying, staying. Too hard for me to journey now far far away.   Kith and kin must find their way find their way, find their way We must part to journey now far far away   Sweet Cano'tiel tis time to go westward, westward Sweet Cano'tiel tis time to go far far away.   My tasks unfinished I can't go staying, staying Too hard for me to journey now Far far away   Your tasks await you in the west in the west, in the west Hearth and Home and Kith and Kin Far far away

Summary

There are two "captains". The goal is to win the most people to your side. One captains stands to the west of the group, one stands to the east. The westerling captain starts by singing : "Oh Cano'tiel tis time to go westward, westward Go ye westward all with ...." The eastern captain sings: Hearth and Home and heart are here abide abide my friends" All left in the middle crowd go to join the eastern captain. the western group tries to restain anyone from leaving. now the competion for numbers really begins. Both sides form a chain by holding hands. The western captain sings out again, naming a specific characteristic. children on the east must run and try to break into the western chain. Those that succeed can return to the east with one of the children whose grip they broke. The eastern captain sings, calling one child from the west by name. The western team must let them go. The child runs across and tries to break through the eastern chain. Failing, they must join the east, succeeding they can claim the two on either side of the chainbreak and bring them back west. This continues until one captain stands alone and is captured by the other side. All singing:   The caller sings: Run Run -- -- Find our last winter's home! (this is usually lost in the scramble). those called out make a lap clockwise, then can try to break back into the circle. those excluded become "westerlings"
Date of Setting
The Call West was first felt by Cano'tiel in eastern Makasing around 1279 CE.

Comments

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Aug 2, 2023 18:09 by Kenneth Bignell

That took me back to my young days playing Red Rover in the Boy Scouts! Nicely done! Great children's game feel!

Aug 3, 2023 17:30 by Kenneth Bignell

As a small critic, the Summary is a bit cramped and hard to follow for me. Perhaps a bit more formatting may make it easier to read and understand. I enjoyed reading this very much!