Traditional Chilean Games

By Miguel Angel Fernández

      An important part of the cultures are the games, they show how the society works during an specific period of time. They are the result of ideas, dreams and hopes of a nation.

Some historical Games

    Araucano Games: Most of mapuche games served as training for the children and preparation for the adults for the war. The horse races, ball games, the "chueca", "pilma", "linao", the sling and the lance, among others, were part of a physical training. The motive skills were exercised to imitate the movement of people, animals and birds, giving vigor to their dances.

    Games from the Conquest time: The importance of horses during the Conquest time, when their value would be higher of that of a soldier, was followed by the "rodeo", a practice originated on the need of making a counting of the animals. The horse races with bets were the Spaniards' main hobby. The peasant would include the horse in most of his celebrations and games, such as the "rodeo", the "topeaduras", the taming, the threshing by mares and the "hair races" (no mount).

    Games from the Colonial time: During the Colonial time, a Chilean game tradition was consolidated. Different horse games where then practiced. They would gather crowds; the same as with the cockfights, made on especially set places, called "reñideros". The Hispanic-indigenous and Hispanic-Chilean syncretism was visible on the practice of mapuche games such as the "chueca", the "taba" and others of such an ancient European tradition like "chapas", bowling and other bet games. The "rayuela", originally from Spain, also had great acceptance. 

    El Trompo (Top): The traditional Chilean top is made of wood and has a metal prong sticking out of the end. String or twine is coiled around the top. Kids will play with their tops in the streets. Some games include trying to keep the top spinning in a defined circle. Others launch their tops and try to knock competitor's tops out of the circle.

    El Volantín (Kite): Kite flying is a favorite pastime in Chile. Chileans like to make their own kites from balsa wood and tissue paper. These are then attached to large spools of rope as seen in the picture. One competition that people play with kites is to try and cut down another's kite. This is done by flying your kite such that your string wraps around that of another and cuts their line. Real competitors often coat their string in glass to increase their chances of earning a victory known as a commission.

    El Emboque: The name emboque comes from the Spanish verb embocar which means "to put into the mouth." This toy consists of a wooden bell shaped with a hole in the bottom attached at the top by a string to a wooden stick. The stick fits into hole in the bottom of the bell. The objective is to get the bell to flip up from a hanging position and fall onto the end of the stick. It can be quite challenging!