El Gato
In honor of National Feral Cat Day (October 16th) and National Cat Day (October 29th) – El Gato!
El Gato is a tag game. And like most tag games, has a number of variations. Below are three versions of El Gato Tag.
Version 1:
One player is chosen or volunteers to be el raton (the mouse) and another is chosen or volunteers to be el gato (the cat). The remaining players form a circle around el raton and join hands to prevent el gato from sneaking in. If el gato gets into the circle, players lift their arms to allow el raton to escape and then quickly lower their arms to keep el gato inside the circle. At this point, el gato must now try to get back outside the circle. The in-and-out-of-circle chase continues until el raton is caught. Once el raton is caught a new el gato and el raton are chosen.
Version 2:
Players form a large circle. One player volunteers or is chosen to be el gato. El gato walks around the inside of the circle, stops in front of someone and asks: “Do you have bread and cheese?” When asked, the person says, “No” and points to someone else. As el gato turns and moves toward to that person around the outside of the circle, ALL of the players quickly exchange places. If the person who was pointed at is caught s/he becomes el gato. Or if el gato gets to that person’s place in the circle before it gets occupied, the one who is without a spot becomes el gato and the game begins again.
Version 3:
Players form a large circle. One player volunteers or is chosen to be el gato. El gato walks around the inside of the circle, stops in front of someone and asks “Who has bread and cheese?” This person responds with, “My friend ____” giving the name of someone in the circle. Then BOTH the person being asked and el gato run to that friend. The last one to the friend is now el gato and the game begins again.
Sources:
Quezada, F. (August, 2015) Interview.
Ramos, R. (n.d.) El Gato y El Raton. Retrieved on August 30, 2015 from http://www.elboricua.com/El_Gato_y_el_Raton.html
West. J.O. (1989) Mexican-American Folklore: Legends, Songs, Festivals, Proverbs, Crafts, Tales of Saints, Of Revolutionaries, and More. August House, Inc.: Little Rock AR