Zlatá brána otevřena
"When you want to play 'Zlatá brána' - it is not possible without a larger group of children - usually in kindergarten, but not at home." -Hana
Zlatá brána otevřena
The Golden Gate Was Opened
Singing Game
Singing Game
(Czech)
(English)
Zlatá brána otevřena,
zlatým klíčem odemčena,
kdo do ní vejde,
tomu hlava sejde
Ať je to ten nebo ten,
praštíme ho koštětem...
Golden gate was opened,
Unlocked by a golden key
But if you are late to enter,
You will lose your head
Whether it's him, whether it's her...
Will be swept away by a broom.
Notes
Here's an alternate translation:
The golden gate was opened, unlocked by a golden key
Whoever is late to enter, will lose their head,
Whether it's him or her...
Whack him with a broom.
Game Instructions
Jana wrote, "This is a pairs game - children stand facing each other and holding hands in the air to form a sort of roof or festival gateway [i.e. an arch]... one child starts the game by running through this gateway, then s/he creates another arch by joining the next child. It goes on like this until the final moment, when 'the gate' is closed and 'imprisons' the child inside - simply by lowering the hands. The child that has been caught can be released after it performs some act, i.e. singing a song, reciting a poem, giving an apple to everyone... Actually, as I'm thinking about it now, the rhyme is most likely Christian - to help children to understand the symbolism of penance in order to enter Heaven."
There is another way of playing this game: two children form an arch and the other children run under it. At the end of the song, the gate is closed and the "imprisoned" child swaps places with one of the children forming the arch.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Jana Bínová for contributing and translating this song. Second translation by Mama Lisa. Thanks to Hana for commenting on this song!
Dêkuji!
