Here in Poland horsechestnut is called "kasztanowiec" <do not try to pronounce it at home! it may cause some serious tongue injuries! for correct pronauncjation please contact with nearest polish embassy!>. Here we prefer doing little figures <which are supposed to look like humans> from those "conkers","buckeyes" or in Polish "kasztany". It's very popularised among children in kindergardens! I must confess that I also like to pick them up especially in my way to school <I live by the park fulfiled with "kasztanowce">. I didn't know it's such an interantional tree! Long live kasztany!
Cheers, Wojtek. PS you can also call someone you really dislike "Kasztan"! Though, I don't have any idea why is that !?! Would you feel offended if someone called you for example Conker? Dnia pią 7. maja 2004 21:01, JOHN BENNETT napisał: > Fascinating! We have horsechestnuts here in Ohio (but not the word > "conkers") and also a close native relative, called a "buckeye" - the nuts > are identical, tho slightly smaller. It is the state tree, and so anyone > from Ohio is called a "Buckeye", it is the name of the University's > football team, and people wear necklaces of buckeyes during football > season. There's also a horribly sweet confection called "buckeyes" which > is a glob of peanut butter, sweetened, partly covered with chocolate. > > I like to pick up new buckeyes (the nut, not the ghastly candy nor the > footballers) in the fall because they're nice 'n shiny and feel so > smooth... John > > Dr. John M. Bennett > Curator, Avant Writing Collection > Rare Books & Manuscripts Library > The Ohio State University Libraries > 1858 Neil Av Mall > Columbus, OH 43210 USA > > (614) 292-3029 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > www.johnmbennett.net > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: michael leigh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: Friday, May 7, 2004 12:58 pm > Subject: Re: FLUXLIST: RUBBER BISCUIT > > > --- "John M. Bennett" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Oh Lord, what have I wrought?! > > > > > Michael: what are "conkers"? > > > > > >Hello John, > > > > Well, conkers are the seeds or nut of the horse > > chestnut tree. They are found the the spikey pods that > > spill out their conkers in september if small boys > > havent thrown sticks into the trees first to knock > > them down. > > The game of "conkers" started in 1845 or thereabouts > > and the two players must drill a hole through their > > conker and thread a peice of stout string through and > > tie a knot at the end so that it doesnt fall off. The > > players or combatents must take it in turns to swing > > their conker and knock it against the apponants conker > > to try and damage it and ultimately smash it into two > > pieces. Victorous conkers of two games are called > > "twoers" and five games "fivers" and so on. > > Conkers fresh from their casings are a beautiful > > polished russet colour but soon dull and wrinkle, > > especially after a few battles! One can improve the > > look and strength by boiling in vinegar and baking in > > ovens but this is cheating as far as I'm concerned! > > Lots of websites about conker championships. Put in a > > search and see some photos of conkering in action! > > All the best, michael > > > > > > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________ > > Yahoo! Messenger - Communicate instantly..."Ping" > > your friends today! Download Messenger Now > > http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com/download/index.html
