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Customs of anklebone games
  • Manage No, Sortation, Country, Writer ,Date, Copyright
    Manage No EE00001183
    Country Mongolia
    ICH Domain Social practices, rituals, festive events
    Address
    throughout the Mongolia
    Year of Designation 1987
Description In the culture of Mongolians, some of the bones of the animals are used and respected in the worship, ritual and traditional games. The anklebone of animals is one of these respected bones. Since Mongols have domesticated the livestock animals, they have created the culture of the anklebone as well. There are about 120 variations of anklebone games, such as “Horse race”, “Milking mare”, “Catching anklebones”, “Anklebone guessing”, “Flick anklebones”, “Throwing a khomboroo”, “Set four difficult”, “Birth of Camel”, “Multicoloured turtle”, “Anklebone shooting”, and so on. Playing games with anklebone is helpful to the nurture of children, and it gives them a chance to check their speed and sight, and let them recognize the appearance, age and sex of animal, and to learn the insight to love and protect animals, and to develop their language and mentality. Additionally, this game has an effective influence to the growth of creative and nurtured person through mother language, folk literature and folklore.
Social and cultural significance Knucklebone games are important merrymakers, and at the same time they help to develop intelligence, increase creative thinking and exercise hand, finger movements, challenge eye sight and concentration as well as foster collective identity.
Transmission method by participation in the games
Community Most of the population
Keyword
Information source
National Center for Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of Mongolia
http://www.ncch.gov.mn

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