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NEIVEIE-NICK-NACK |
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Neiveie-nick-nack
A fireside game. A person puts a little trifle, such as a button, into one hand, shuts it close, the other hand is also shut; then they are both whirled round and round one another as fast as they can, before the nose of the one who intends to guess what hand the prize is in; and if the guesser be so fortunate as to guess the hand the prize is in, it becomes his property; the whirling of the fists is attended with the following rhyme—
Neiveie, neiveie, nick nack,
What ane will ye tak, The right or the wrang ? Guess or it be lang, Plot awa' and plan, I'll cheat ye gif I can.
—Mactaggart's Gallovidian Encyclopedia.
The Rev. W. Gregor says at Keith this game is played at Christmas, and by two. The stakes are commonly pins. One player conceals a pin, or more if agreed on, in one of his (her) hands. He then closes both hands and twirls them over each other, in front of the other player, and repeats the words—
Nivvie, nivvie-neek-nack,
Filk (which) (or filk han') 'ill ye tack ?
Tack the richt, tack the left,
An' a'll deceave ye gehn (if) I can.
The other player chooses. If he chooses the hand having the stake, he gains it. If he does not, he forfeits the stake. Another form of words is—
Nivvie, nivvie-neek-nack
Filk (which) will ye tick-tack ?
Tack ane, tack twa,
Tack the best amo' them a'. And—
Nivvie, nivvie-nick-nack, Which han' will ye tack ? Tack ane, tack twa, Tack the best amo' them a\ |
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