Children’s yard games and folklore are still alive across generations in Russia, despite the rise of the internet and computer games. Nostalgic accounts reveal rich traditions of outdoor play and social interaction among children in different eras.

Games like “Cossacks and Robbers,” where children divided into teams, created secret passwords, and engaged in pursuits and captures, fostered teamwork and strategic thinking. The skill of playing “elastics,” requiring coordination and acrobatic jumps over increasingly higher elastic bands, was especially popular among girls.

Boys engaged in activities such as crafting homemade weapons and developing whistling techniques to summon friends for play. Yard life, though sometimes tough, had its own code of conduct, emphasizing fairness in fights and discouraging ganging up or harming a fallen opponent. Gambling games like “Durak” and “Chika,” though frowned upon by adults, were also common among boys.

Girls often created “secrets,” burying cherished items in hidden locations, symbolizing friendship and creating a sense of connection. Building huts from scavenged materials was another popular activity, providing children with a space to create, decorate, and role-play.

Traditions also included summoning mythical figures like the Queen of Spades and the Gnome-Swearer, adding an element of thrill and camaraderie to their games. Even in modern summer camps, games like “Zombies” and rituals like smearing faces with toothpaste on “Royal Night” persist, demonstrating the enduring nature of children’s folklore.