Statues
Encyclopedia
Statues is a popular children's game, often played in Australia but with versions throughout the world.

General rules

  1. A person starts out as the "Curator
    Curator
    A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...

    " and stands at the end of a field. Everyone else playing stands at the far end (distance depends upon playing area selected). The object of the game is for a "Statue" to tag the Curator, thereby becoming the Curator and resetting the game.
  2. The Curator turns their back to the field, and the "Statues" attempt to race across and tag the Curator.
  3. Whenever the Curator turns around, the Statues must freeze in position and hold that for as long as the Curator looks at them. The Curator can even walk around the Statues, examining them. However, the Curator needs to be careful - whenever their back is turned, Statues are free to move.
  4. If a Statue is caught moving, they are sent back to the starting line to begin again (or thrown out of that round, whichever way is preferred.) Usually, the honesty of the Curator isn't enforced, since being a Statue is more desirable.

Variations

Red light/Green light (sometimes abbreviated as RLGL) is a variation of statues. The "it" person stands at one end of the playing field, with the rest of the players at the other end. "It" turns their back to the others and calls out "Green light!" The players then run as fast as they can towards "it". At any time, "it" can face the players, calling out "Red light", and the others must freeze in place. If anyone fails to stop, they are out or must return to the starting line. Other variations include calling out "Yellow light" as a diversion, or where they must walk instead of run to "it". Calling Yellow Light has no consequence. The first player to reach the person who is "it" wins and becomes "it" for the next round. In certain regions this game may be known as "sneak up on granny"; in this version the person who is "it" is the "granny", and does not call out "red light" or "green light". Some variants include blue and purple lights however these are very rare.

In England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

, the game is called "Grandmother's Footsteps" and the person who is "it" turns to make sure that the players are not moving if they hear movement.

In the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

 and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

, the game is called "één, twee, drie, piano" (one, two, three, piano). The caller counts 1, 2, 3, and then the caller turns when he says "piano". In Mexico there is another variation of this game. It is called "1, 2, 3, calabaza" (one, two, three, pumpkin). The caller counts loudly saying 1, 2, 3, and then faces the players when he says "calabaza."

In France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

, a variation of this game is called "1, 2, 3, soleil" (one, two, three, sun). The caller counts loudly saying 1, 2, 3, and then faces the players when he says "soleil". In Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

, the game is called "1, 2, 3, escondite inglés" (one, two, three, English hideaway) or "1, 2, 3, pollito inglés" (one, two, three, English chick). Similar to the French version of the game, the caller counts 1, 2, 3, and then turns when he says "escondite inglés" or "pollito inglés". In Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....

 the game is called "στρατιωτακια ακουνητα" which literally translates as "immobile little soldiers". There are some variations to the game but most of them go according to the Spanish model. In Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...

, the game is called "Um, dois, três, macaquinho do chinês" (one, two, three, Chinese little monkey). Similar to the French and Spanish versions. In one variant, if "it" (the Chinese little monkey) cannot find the person who moves, "it" tickles each participant starting with the person closer to the wall. If any participant moves, he or she must go back to the start. In Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

, the game is called "Un, due, tre, stella" (one, two, three, star). The Italian version of the game matches the French and Spanish ones. In Sweden it's called "1, 2, 3, rött ljus" (one, two, three, red light) and follows the same pattern as in France.

In Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

, the game is called "Raz, dwa, trzy, patrzę!" ("One, two, three, I'm watching!"). The caller after shouting that, turns and looks at the others and they cannot move. In some versions, the caller may come close to "frozen" ones, look at them and try to startle them without touching them.

In Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

, the game is called "אחת, שתיים, שלוש, דג מלוח" (one, two, three, herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...

/salted fish).

In Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....

, the game is called "Cukr, káva, limonáda" due rhymes recited by "it". Those rhymes: "Cukr, káva, limonáda, čaj, rum, bum!" and they literally mean "Sugar, coffe, lemonade, tea, rum, boom!" with the word "boom" functioning as "Red light". Rhymes are recited at any speed and not necessarily aloud, though it is considered fair at least mumble them aloud.

It is also played as a special variation in Arab countries – especially Saudi Arabia and possibly other gulf countries. It is called "الحكم" (Al-Ḥukm - The Judgement), where the "It" is the "الحاكم" (Al-Ḥākim - The Judge). "The Judge" covers their face without saying anything and the other players try to reach them and touch them before they see them moving. If anyone is seen moving by "The Judge" they will have to return to the end of the playing field and start all over again. This variation includes a special characteristic which is "The Judgement", that occurs irregularly -decided by The Judge-. Each player requests The Judge to move for any number of steps, and The Judge may accept the request, decline it, or even make their own "Judgement" (e.g. 'You move two steps to the back.' or 'You go ahead to the same level as that player.' .. etc.).

Darumasan ga Koronda

is a Japanese version of the game for at least three players. The name of the game literally means “The Daruma doll
Daruma doll
The , also known as a Dharma doll, is a hollow, round, Japanese traditional doll modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism. These dolls, though typically red and depicting a bearded man , vary greatly in color and design depending on region and artist...

 fell down.” There are many variations of the game and slight rule changes based on region or merely the group of people playing the game. One known variation is that in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...

 and the surrounding area, this game is called "Bosan ga He o koita" (an umibozu
Umibozu
is a spirit in Japanese folklore. The Umibōzu is said to live in the ocean and capsize the ship of anyone who dares speak to it. This spirit's name, which combines the character for "sea" with the character of "Buddhist monk," is possibly related to the fact that the Umibōzu is said to have a...

 farted
).

One person is chosen as the Oni. All other participants act as common players. Before play begins, a starting line
Starting line
Starting line may refer to:*A position marking the beginning of a race*The Starting Line, a pop punk band...

 is drawn, and the Oni stands at some distance away from the starting line, in front of a tree, wall
Wall
A wall is a usually solid structure that defines and sometimes protects an area. Most commonly, a wall delineates a building and supports its superstructure, separates space in buildings into rooms, or protects or delineates a space in the open air...

, or other fixed object.

The game begins with the players shouting "hajime no ippo" (Taking the first step!) As this is shouted, the players on the starting line jump one step in any direction, but usually towards the Oni.

Main gameplay

The Oni, or the "it" player faces away from the other players towards the tree hay nako, so that he or she cannot see them. "It" then chants a spell: "Daruma-san ga koronda". The other players approach "it" while this spell is spoken aloud, coming as near as possible.

When "it" finishes saying the spell, he or she can then turn around and look at the players. The players should stop their actions immediately when the last word is spoken and try not to move while "it" is looking at them, or they can be called out. "It" checks to see if any player is moving. If nobody is moving, "it" turns around again, and repeats the spell.

When "it" does spot somebody moving, he or she calls that player's name. The player whose name is called upon is caught. That player then has to go to the place where "it" is and stand holding one of his or her hands. This player may not run away or help the other players. If all the players are caught in this way by "it" (the captured players chain along, holding each other's hands), the person first caught is the loser and becomes the next "it" person.

If a player reaches "it" or any caught players, he or she gets to free them from "it". To free them he or she shouts "Kitta!" (I cut you loose) and makes a gesture
Gesture
A gesture is a form of non-verbal communication in which visible bodily actions communicate particular messages, either in place of speech or together and in parallel with spoken words. Gestures include movement of the hands, face, or other parts of the body...

of slicing between the clasped hands of two players or by touching the back of "it". Freed players run as fast as they can away from "it". Players not freed may not run away. "It" then turns as soon as possible and shouts "Tomare!" (Stop!). Every player must stop immediately at this point, but is not recaptured unless "it" touches them under a certain rule (which varies from area to area).

For instance, after such a jailbreak, "it" can take up to five steps from where he or she is standing in order to touch other players. If "it" touches every other player, the first player touched is the loser (in the typical rule), and becomes the next "it" person. If "it" cannot reach everyone, then he or she remains "it" for the next round.

The rules may vary from generation to generation, from area to area.

Strategy and style

A popular strategy for this game, when playing as the Oni, is to chant at varying speeds or to chant so fast that it is dangerous for any player to move at all. Players often strike strange poses when stopping to show off skill and it is quite common for the best player to stand right behind the Oni but not touch him. This player then may taunt the Oni when he turns around.
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