Members of the Atlantis House in Birch West Hall were taught to play the game Kubb on Thursday, Sept. 26, by their RA, Kaitlyn Straschinske. Students learned about Swedish culture and the history behind the game through a presentation from Straschinske in their TV room. In addition to this, residents bonded with others in their hall by playing the game on the NMU Academic Mall. 

The goal of the yard game is to knock down wooden blocks called “kubbar” with batons called “kastpinnar”. In order to win, one team has to knock down all of the opposing team’s kubbs which are placed on their side, and the king in the center.

This game is most closely related to bowling and chess. The word “kubb” stems from the word “vedkubbar,” which means “wooden block” in the Gotland dialect of the Swedish language.

“Some legends suggest that Kubb dates back to the Vikings and has since survived on the Swedish island of Gotland,” Straschinske said. “Today, Kubb continues to grow in popularity around the world and the U.S. National Kubb Championship is held annually in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, attracting teams from all corners of the world.”

However, in the Atlantis house, the game is not played solely for competitive purposes.

“By throwing this event, I hoped to continue fostering a welcoming community in Atlantis House and Birch Hall by inviting residents to try something new and spend time together outdoors,” Straschinske said. 

Resident Manny Beaubien said he believes this event did a great job of helping residents to meet and form a connection with one another, partially due to the teamwork aspect of the game. 

“I hope that in my semesters as a resident advisor, I can continue to share my love for Kubb and create a house tradition with my residents,” Straschinske said. 

This was the first time the Atlantis House held an event like this, but she hopes it will not be the last.

Check out this video to learn more about how to play Kubb, and the rules of the game: https://youtu.be/XfWt0-_MNsY?feature=shared