Children's Games from Mexico: A La Vibora de la Mar - A Singing Game

A La Vibora de la Mar - A Singing Game

Imelda Concepcion Lopez Lopez from Mexico

Photo: Sandy Peters
In this game, the two tallest children join hands and hold them up to form a high bridge.

La Vibora del Mar

The other children form a line and sing a song as they pass under the bridge formed by the two players.

La Vibora de la Mar

Photo: Sandy Peters
When the song ends (the last tra's), they drop their hands to catch the child under the bridge at that time.

A La Vibora de la Mar, is a popular game for very young children. It is a game where they play and sing a song.

How the game is played
In the game, A La Vibora de la Mar, the children form a line and the two tallest children join hands and hold them up to form a high bridge.

The two players choose names. For example, one might choose the name "Watermelon" and the other one might choose the name "Melon."

The other children pass under the bridge and begin to sing a song. The song is repeated two or three times.

A la ví'bora
de la mar, de la mar
Por aquí pueden pasar;
los de adelante corren mucho
Y los atras se quedaran,
Tra's, tra's, tra's.

When the song ends (the last "tras"), the two tall children drop their arms and catch the child who is passing under the bridge at that time.

They ask the child that they have trapped who he wants to go with, Watermelon or Melon? If the child chooses Melon, he forms a new bridge with Melon. If he chooses Watermelon, he forms a new bridge with Watermelon.

Then the game begins again.

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