Mexican Fiesta Game: Doña Blanca

This traditional Mexican game has no limit to the number of players. Also called María Blanca, here's how to play.



Directions:

• The children hold hands in a circle, pretending to be pillars.
  
• Choose a Doña Blanca* (Mrs. White) to stand inside the circle.
  
• Choose a Jicotillo* (hornet) to stand outside.
  
• Verse 1: The children circle around Doña Blanca as they sing or chant. The "pillars" swing hands to rhythm; Doña Blanca skips around the inside of the circle, with the hornet chasing around the outside.
  
• Verse 2: Doña Blanca and the hornet sing this verse alone. tries to break through the clasped hands to catch Doña Blanca.
  Variation: all children sing together
  Variation: hornet asks, "¿de qué es este pilar?" ("of what is this pillar made?"), the children answer, "de oro" (gold). The hornet asks again, "¿de qué es este pilar?", the answer is "de plata" (silver). The hornet asks finally, "¿Y éste?" (and this one?), the children answer "de madera" (wood) and allow the hornet through.
  
• When the hornet gets through, she chases Doña Blanca. Doña Blanca must stay in the circle.
  
• When Doña Blanca is caught, she closes eyes and chooses a new hornet, then joins circle. The old hornet is now the new Doña Blanca. (Variation: also choose a new Doña Blanca).
  

* Doña Blanca - (DOH nya BLAHN kah)
* Jicotillo - (hee coh TEE oh)

* de oro - (dae OH roh)
* de plata - (dae PLAH tah)
* de madera - (dae mah DAIR ah)


LYRICS:
The words can be sung or chanted.



VERSE 1:
Doña Blanca está cubierta
  translated: Doña Blanca all surrounded

con pilares de oro y plata.
  translated: with pillars of silver and gold.

Romperemos un pilar
  translated: Break a column now

Para ver a Doña Blanca.
  translated: If Doña Blanca you will hold.


VERSE 2:
Quién es ese Jicotillo
  translated: Who is this hornet

que anda en pos de Doña Blanca?
  translated: Who chases Doña Blanca?

Yo soy ése jicotillo
  translated: I am the hornet

que anda en pos de Doña Blanca!
  translated: Who’s trying to catch her!


OPTIONAL:
¿de qué es este pilar?
  translated: Of what is this pillar made?

--de oro (gold)
--de plata (silver)
--de madera (wood) - let the hornet in

More Options: papel (paper), cristal (crystal), tela (cloth)

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Resources:

• Great page full of Mexican fiesta party games and Spanish nursery rhymes
  
• Book: Dona Blanca and Other Hispanic Nursery Rhymes and Games
  
• Book: Spanish Nursery Rhymes
  
• Play the tune, with lyrics, from Walmart.