The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

METONU-A PICTURE CARD GAME IN UKRAINIAN

THIS PARTICULAR CARD GAME IS ONLY PLAYED THE WEEK BEFORE
LENT. THE CARDS CONTAIN NUMBERS AND PICTURES OF PEOPLE,
FOOD AND ANIMALS. SOME ITEMS ON THE CARDS ARE A JEWISH MAN,
A POLICEMAN, A ROBBER, GARLIC, ONIONS, CARROTS, A PIG,
AND A PORCUPINE. THE PLAYERS HAD TO KNOW THE NAMES OF THE
PICTURES IN UKRAINIAN AND HAD TO MATCH THE CARDS ACCORDING
TO USE, RELATIONSHIP OR ASSOCIATION. ONE MATCH COULD BE
THE POLICEMAN CATCHES THE ROBBER. ALL THE CARDS ARE DEALT
TO THE PLAYERS. ANY MATCHES IN THEIR HAND WERE LAID OUT ON
THE TABLE. THE REMAINING CARDS HAD TO BE MATCHED BY TAKING
A CARD FROM THE PLAYER ON THE RIGHT. CERTAIN CARDS HAD A
PENALTY. IF YOU PICKED THAT CARD YOU HAD TO GIVE THE PLAYER
ONE OF THE THREE BEANS EACH PLAYER RECEIVED AT THE START.
IF YOU LOST ALL THREE BEANS, YOU WERE OUT AND YOUR CARDS
WERE RETURNED TO THE DECK. THE PLAYER HAVING THE MOST
BEANS WON THE GAME.

Submitter comment: THIS CARD GAME IS NOT PLAYED BY THE UKRAINIAN LAY PEOPLE.
ONLY UKRAINIAN RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES OF PRIESTS AND OF
SISTERS STILL PLAY METONU BOTH IN CANADA AND THE UNITED
STATES.

Where learned: CANADA ; ALBERTA ; MUNDARE

Date learned: 00001940S