The Traditional Children's Games of England Scotland
& Ireland In Dictionary Form - Volume 1

With Tunes(sheet music), Singing-rhymes(lyrics), Methods Of Playing with diagrams and illustrations.

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HANDY DANDY                                189
his hand resting upon his back. He must continue in position until he guesses who struck his hand, when the striker takes his place.—Orkney and Shetland (Jamieson's Dictionary. See " Hot Cockles."
Handy Dandy
I. Handy dandy, Sugary candy— Top or bottom ?
Handy spandy, Jack a dandy—
Which good hand will you have ? —Halliwell's Dictionary : Nursery Rhymes, p. 216.
II. Handy dandy riddledy ro—
Which will you have, high or low ?
—HalliwelPs Nursery Rhymes, p. 216.
III.     Handy pandy, Sugary candy, Which will you have—
Top or bottom ? —London (A. B. Gomme).
IV.     Handy pandy, Jack a dandy, Which hand will you have ?
—Burne's Shropshire Folk-lore, p. 530.
(J?) The hands are closed, some small article is put in one of them behind the back of the player. The closed fists are then turned rapidly round one another while the rhyme is being said, and they are then placed one on top of the other. A guess is then made by any one of the players as to which hand the object is in. If correct, the guesser obtains the object; if incorrect, the player who performs " Handy dandy " keeps it.
(c) This game is mentioned in Piers Plowman, p. 69 ot Wright's edition. Douce quotes an ancient MS. which curi­ously mentions the game as u men play with little children at 1handye-dandye,' which hand will you have" (ii. 167). John­son says: "' Handy dandy/ a play in which children change hands and places : ' See how yon justice rails upon yon simple thief! Hark, in thine ear: change places, and, handy dandy,