“Μάγισσα, μάγισσα τι μαγειρεύεις;” is a Greek yard game that I got to know in the kindergarten while playing with the children. It is played outside on the schoolyard and the players run from one side to the other side of the yard. Everybody loves it and I also had fun participating. You can get rid of some extra energy and have fun chasing your friends.
With the English translation everyone should be able to try it out, since it is a simple game and its rules are easy to understand.

What do you need?
The only thing you need to play this game is a big space on the schoolyard or a sport field. Other than that you don’t need any materials and you can start the game without any preparations. Just gather your friends and play!

Who plays?
As it is often the case, you can play this game with a minimum of three players but it is more fun with a big group of around 15 and more players. But as always, just use what you have and let everyone join the game who wants to join. It will be fun if you play it with your friends, doesn’t matter with how many.

How to play “’Μάγισσα, μάγισσα τι μαγειρεύεις;’- Witch, Witch what are you Cooking?”
Firstly, you will have to choose a witch who will stand on the one end of the playing field in some distance of all the other players. They stand on the other side of the field. Together they ask the witch about his or her cooking plans:
“Witch, witch, what are you cooking?”
The witch answers by naming a food. Every player who likes the mentioned food has to take a step forward. This goes on, until the witch doesn’t answer with a meal like souvlaki or pita, but says instead:
“Παιδία!” which means “children”
Then, the children have to run as fast as possible back to their side and to the starting line to not get cooked and eaten by the witch. If the witch catches someone, he or she becomes the new witch and the game starts all over again. If the witch isn’t able to catch someone he or she keeps being the witch.