Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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METONU-A PICTURE CARD GAME IN UKRAINIAN
THIS PARTICULAR CARD GAME IS ONLY PLAYED THE WEEK BEFORE
LENT. THE CARDS CONTAIN NUMBERS AND PICTURES OF PEOPLE,
FOOD AND ANIMALS. SOME ITEMS ON THE CARDS ARE A JEWISH MAN,
A POLICEMAN, A ROBBER, GARLIC, ONIONS, CARROTS, A PIG,
AND A PORCUPINE. THE PLAYERS HAD TO KNOW THE NAMES OF THE
PICTURES IN UKRAINIAN AND HAD TO MATCH THE CARDS ACCORDING
TO USE, RELATIONSHIP OR ASSOCIATION. ONE MATCH COULD BE
THE POLICEMAN CATCHES THE ROBBER. ALL THE CARDS ARE DEALT
TO THE PLAYERS. ANY MATCHES IN THEIR HAND WERE LAID OUT ON
THE TABLE. THE REMAINING CARDS HAD TO BE MATCHED BY TAKING
A CARD FROM THE PLAYER ON THE RIGHT. CERTAIN CARDS HAD A
PENALTY. IF YOU PICKED THAT CARD YOU HAD TO GIVE THE PLAYER
ONE OF THE THREE BEANS EACH PLAYER RECEIVED AT THE START.
IF YOU LOST ALL THREE BEANS, YOU WERE OUT AND YOUR CARDS
WERE RETURNED TO THE DECK. THE PLAYER HAVING THE MOST
BEANS WON THE GAME.
Submitter comment:
THIS CARD GAME IS NOT PLAYED BY THE UKRAINIAN LAY PEOPLE.
ONLY UKRAINIAN RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES OF PRIESTS AND OF
SISTERS STILL PLAY METONU BOTH IN CANADA AND THE UNITED
STATES.
Where learned: CANADA ; ALBERTA ; MUNDARE
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Pre Lent |
Date learned: 00001940S
DRINKING GAME "BOB"
EVERYONE WATCHES THE TELEVISION SHOW, "BOB NEWHART," WHILE HOLDING
THEIR BEERS. EVERY TIME SOMEONE ON THE SHOW SAYS "BOB" EVERYONE
TAKES A DRINK. IF THE NEIGHBOR COMES OVER TO BORROW SOMETHING,
THE PLAYERS MUST DRINK THEIR WHOLE BEER.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS HEARD ON A POPULAR DETROIT ROCK RADIO STATION BUT MY
INFORMANT DID NOT REMEMBER WHICH ONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Wit Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1981
GAME
KILLER BALL. THIS IS LIKE DODGE BALL. ANY NUMBER CAN PLAY
THE PLAYERS DIVIDE INTO TWO EQUAL TEAMS AND LINE UP FACING EACH
OTHER. THEY MUST BE ALONG A WALL. BALLS ARE DISTRIBUTED AMONG THEM.
THE OBJECT IS TO HIT YOUR OPPONENT WITH THE BALL. IF YOU ARE HIT
YOU ARE OUT OF THE GAME. THE TEAM WITH THE MOST PLAYERS LEFT
AT THE END WINS.
Submitter comment:
THIS GAME WAS PLAYED BY TEENAGERS AND VERY FORCEFUL. OFTEN THE
OBJECT WAS TO SEE HOW HARD YOU COULD HIT YOUR OPPONENT.
ALL BALLS ARE THROWN AT THE SAME TIME. THERE ARE RULESAGAINST
HITTING TOO HARD OR ABOVE THE WAIST BUT THEY ARE MOSTLY IGNORED.
Where learned: VIRGINIA ; CHESAPEAKE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
RAIN ON THE ROOF
THIS IS A SIMPLE GAME OF PHYSICAL SKILL FOR
CHILDREN. ALL THAT IS NEEDED FOR THIS GAME IS A BALL, AN
ALLEY, AND A GARAGE ROOF. IN THIS GAME EVERY CHILD IS GIVEN
A NUMBER. THE PERSON WHO HAS THE BALL THROWS IT ON THE ROOF AND
CALLS OFF ONE OF THE NUMBERS. THE PERSON WHOSE NUMBER IS
CALLED MUST CATCH THE BALL BEFORE IT HITS THE GROUND OR HE IS
OUT OF THE GAME. IF HE CATCHES THE BALL, HE THROWS IT AND
CALLS OUT ANOTHER NUMBER. THE GAME CONTINIUES LIKE THIS UNTIL
THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON LEFT, AND THIS IS THE WINNER.
Submitter comment:
THERE IS ONE INTERESTING THING THAT I NOTICED WHILE I WAS
COLLECTING THIS. NOT ONLY DID MY MOTHER PLAY THIS GAME WHEN
SHE WAS YOUNG, BUT A FREIND OF MINE PLAYED THIS GAME MUCH
MORE RECENTLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 01-00-1983
PORCH BASEBALL
THE THEORY FOR THIS GAME IS THE SAME AS BASEBALL. WE
PLAYED THIS GAME INSTEAD OF BASEBALL BECAUSE WE DID NOT
HAVE BATS. IT WOULD BE THE PITCHER VERSUS THE FIELD.
THE PITCHER WOULD THROW THE BALL AGAINST THE PORCH STEPS
AT SUCH AN ANGLE AS TO CAUSE THE BALL TO GO OVER THE
FIELDERS' HEADS, OR BY THEM TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. EACH
BOUNCE A BALL MADE WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT WAS WORTH A BASE
AFTER THE FIRST BOUNCE. ALSO, THERE WERE CERTAIN LINES THAT
REPRESENTED THE NUMBER OF BASES A THROW WAS GOOD FOR IF IT
NEVER REALLY BOUNCED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00001940S
KICK THE CAN
SEVERAL KIDS GET TOGETHER AND PICK SOMEONE TO BE IT.
THEN THEY PLACE A TIN CAN ON A ROCK. SOMEONE WHO IS
NOT IT KICKS THE CAN. WHILE THE KID WHO IS IT, RETRIEVES
THE CAN, ALL THE OTHER KIDS PLAYING THE GAME RUN AND HIDE.
THE KID WHO IS IT PUTS THE CAN BACK ON THE ROCK AND TRIES
TO FIND ALL THE OTHER KIDS. IF HE CATCHES ALL THE KIDS
BEFORE SOMEONE KICKS THE CAN AGAIN HE WINS. IF, HOWEVER,
SOMEONE KICKS THE CAN BEFORE HE FINDS EVERYONE, HE HAS
TO RETRIEVE THE CAN AND EVERYONE CAN HIDE AGAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00001940S
SNATCH THE BOTTLE
THIS IS AN EASY GAME TO LEARN AND INVOLVES SPEED AND
AGILITY. SOMEONE PUTS A BOTTLE IN THE CENTER OF A FAIRLY
LARGE ROOM. TWO PEOPLE APPROACH THE BOTTLE FROM OPPOSITE
SIDES OF THE ROOM. ONE PERSON SNATCHES THE BOTTLE AND
TRIES TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM WITHOUT BEING
TAGGED BY THE OTHER PERSON. IF YOU DO THIS, YOUR SIDE
GETS A POINT. IF YOU GET TAGGED, THE OTHER SIDE GETS
A POINT. THERE CAN BE ANY NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON A SIDE.
YOU PLAY UNTIL ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER GETS A SPECIFIED
NUMBER OF POINTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00001940S
NAMING
TRAYING: WHEN IT SNOWS AND THERE IS NOT MUCH ELSE TO DO,
SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL SMUGGLE TRAYS OUT OF THE CAFETERIA
IN THE DORM (AT EAST QUAD, USUALLY BY POPPING THE TRAYS OUT
THE WINDOW AND RETRIEVING THEM LATER).THE CONFISCATED TRAYS
ARE THEN TAKEN TO THE NEAREST HILL AND USED LIKE A SLED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 10-00-1983
"KILLER"
ONCE A YEAR USUALLY, SOMEBODY WILL ORGANIZE THIS GAME THROUGHOUT
THE DORM CALLED "KILLER". THE OBJECT OF THIS GAME IS TO
"KILL" A RANDOMLY ASSIGNED VICTIM WITH A TOY DART GUN, YOU
KNOW, THE KIND WITH THE SUCTION CUPS FOR TIPS, BEFORE YOUR
ASSASIN "KILLS" YOU. THE GAME IS RUN BY "GOD", A CERTAN
PERSON IN CHARGE OF DETERMINING DEATH, WHO USUALLY IS ONE
OF THE PEOPLE WHO STARTED THE WHOLE THING. TO BEGIN, EVERYBODY
WHO WANTS TO PLAY GETS A LITTLE, INSTANT PICTURE TAKEN THAT
IS GLUED TO A 3 BY 5 CARD WITH THEIR NAME AND ROOM NUMBER
WRITTEN ON IT. ALL THE PLAYERS ARE ISSUED THE STANDARD TOY
GUNS THEN, TOO. THEY DISTRIBUTE THE 3 BY 5 CARDS AMONG ALL THE
PLAYERS RANDOMLY, AND THE PERSON ON THE CARD YOU RECEIVE IS
YOUR "VICTIM". IN A STANDARD "KILL", THE VICTIM, UPON HAVING
BEEN "KILLED" BY THE PERSON WITH HIS CARD, GIVES HIS VICTIM
CARD TO HIS ASSASIN, WHO ASSUMES HIS VICTIM'S VICTIM.
THE ASSASIN GIVES THE DEAD VICTIM HIS OWN CARD TO BE POSTED
ON THE "OBITUARY BOARD", WHERE THE CARDS OF KILLED PLAYERS
ARE DISPLAYED BY NUMBER IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THE PLAYERS DIED.
THE WINNER OF THIS GAME IS THE REMAINING ASSASIN, AFTER ALL
THE OTHER PLAYERS HAVE "DIED". THERE ARE A COUPLE RULES,
ONE IS THAT NO PLAYER CAN BE KILLED IN HIS OWN ROOM UNLESS
HE LETS THE ASSASIN IN; NOBODY CAN BARGE OR BREAK INTO ANYONE
ELSE'S ROOM. OH, AND THERE CAN'T BE ANY MORE THAN TWO WITNESSES
TO THE KILLING, UNLESS, OF COURSE, THE ASSASIN PUTS ON
A MASK. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT, THOUGH, IS THAT ANYONE
WEARING A MASK IS CONSIDERED TO HAVE HIS GUN DRAWN.
ANY PLAYER WITH HIS GUN DRAWN CAN BE SHOT BY ANY OTHER PLAYER,
SO IT'S ALMOST NOT WORTH IT. THE GAME CAN LAST WEEKS OR
EVEN MONTHS.
Submitter comment:
THE GAME "KILLER" AS DESCRIBED HERE IS PLAYED IN UNIVERSITY OF
MICHIGAN'S EAST QUAD, A DORMITORY ON THE CENTRAL CAMPUS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-00-1983
KILL A MAN WITH A ROCK.
A BALL IS THROWN UP IN THE AIR WHOEVER CATCHES THE
THE BALL IS CRUNCHED (EVERBODY SQUEEZES HIM).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 01-10-0198
HOG
A GROUP OF 9 OR MORE PASS THE BASKETBALL AROUND AFTER
TRYING TO MAKE A BASKET. THE FIRST PERSON MAKING THREE BASKETS
SPELLS HOG (ONE LETTER IS EARNED PER BASKET MADE BY THE PLAYER)
WINS THE GAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 01-10-0198
JACKS
THIS GAME OF JACKS IS PLAYED WITH TWELVE JACKS.
THE JACKS ARE SCATTERED OVER THE PLAYING AREA,THE
PLAYER BEIGN PICKING UP THE JACKS STARTING WITH ONES
AND WORKING UP TO THE TWELVES.
AS A PERSON PICKS UP THE JACKS THEY MUST KEEP THEM IN
THE HAND NOT USED TO THROW THE BALL WITH. IF ANY OF THE JACKS
ARE DROPPED FROM THIS HAND BEFORE THEY COMPLETE THE NUMBER
THEY ARE ON THEY ARE OUT.
WHEN YOU GET TO THE TENS YOU HAVE TO SLIDE TEN JACKS
IN THE HAND NOT USED TO CATCH THE BALL WITH.
WHEN DOING ELEVENS YOU HAVE TO PICK UP ONE JACK AT A TIME
AND TAP IN ON THE FLOOR TWO TIMES BEFORE CATCHING THE BALL.
ON YOUR TWELVES YOU MUST SAY JACK-BE-NIMBLE-JACK-BE-QUICK
JACK-JUMPED-OVER THE CANDLESTICK;BEFORE CATCHING THE BALL.
Submitter comment:
THE VARIANT IN THIS GAME AND THE WAY I LEARNED TO PLAY
IS IN THE PART WHERE YOU MUST KEEP THE JACKS IN YOUR HAND.
WE WERE ALLOWED TO SIT OUR JACKS DOWN AFTER WE PICKED THEM UP.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 01-00-0198
ROCKTEACHER
THE NUMBERS OF PLAYERS IS LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT THAT CAN SIT
ON ONE PORCH STEP. ONE PERSON PLAYS THE ROLE OF
A TEACHER. THE OTHER PLAYERS SIT ON THE STEP AND ACT LIKE
STUDENTS. THE TEACHER HAS ONE ROCK IN HER HAND,AND PUTS HER
HANDS BEHIND HER BACK TO FOOL THE STUDENTS. THEN SHE PUTS
HER HAND IN FRONT OF THE STUDENTS AND ALLOWS THEM
TO SELECT THE HAND WITH THE ROCK IN IT. EACH TIME
A STUDENT GUESSES CORRECTLY THEY MOVE UP ONE STEP UNTIL
THEY REACH THE PORCH AND GO BACK DOWN TO THE FIRST STEP.
THE FIRST COMPLETING THIS PROCESS BECOMES THE
TEACHER AND THE TEACHER BECOMES A STUDENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 01-00-0198
MEDICINE
COW MANURE BOILED IS A CURE FOR SORE THROAT, SWOLLEN
GLANDS AND WHOOPING COUGHS.
Submitter comment:
THIS REMEDY WAS PASSED DOWN FROM ANCESTOR OF MY
MOTHER'S MOTHER; MOST OF HER ANCESTORS WERE AMERICAN
INDIANS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 01-00-0198
CRIBBAGE
A GAME PLAYED LIKE CHESS. THE BOARD HAS HOLES IN IT WITH
PEGS IN THE HOLES. THE PLAYERS HAVE TO REMOVE ALL
PEGS BEFORE THEY ARE REMOVED BY THE OPPONENT. MOVES ARE
MADE IN THE SAME MANNER AS MOVES IN CHESS.
Where learned: NIGERIA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 01-10-0198
THIS GAME MAY BE PLAYED WITH TWO PEOPLE OR MORE.
THE ONLY ITEM NEEDED IS A DICTIONARY. IF TWO PEOPLE
ARE COMPETING, THEN THE DICTIONARY IS DIVIDED AT THE
LETTER "M." PLAYER #1 CHOOSES ANY WORD IN THE FIRST
HALF OF THE DICTIONARY AND READS THE ENTIRE ENTRY
ALOUD, WITHOUT NAMING THE WORD. PLAYER #2 MUST THEN
GUESS THE WORD. THE TIME LIMIT IS AT THE DISCRETION
OF THE PLAYERS. THE ACTION IS REPEATED, WITH PLAYER #2
SELECTING A WORD FROM THE SECOND HALF OF THE DICTIONARY.
Submitter comment:
I HAVE OFTEN PLAYED THIS GAME. IT IS MORE DIFFICULT
THAN IT SEEMS! THE OBJECT OF THE GAME IS THE
INTELLECTUAL CHALLENGE, THEREFORE, NO SCORE IS KEPT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
"TRAFFIC" (CHILDREN'S GAME WITH BICYCLES)
"WHEN WE WERE KIDS THE NEIGHBOR KIDS WOULD COME OVER TO OUR HOUSE
WITH THEIR BICYCLES TO PLAY 'TRAFFIC.' ONE PERSON WOULD BE THE
POLICEMAN WHICH WAS DETERMINED BY A RACE TO THE END OF THE DRIVE-
WAY. THERE WERE CERTAIN RULES TO THE GAME: YOU HAD TO STOP AT
ALL THE 'STOP SIGNS' AND YOU COULDN'T GO THE WRONG WAY ON THE
ONE-WAY SIDEWALKS AND DRIVEWAY. ALSO, YOU HAD TO USE HAND
SIGNALS TO SHOW STOPPING, TURNING, ETC. AND NO SPEEDING WAS
ALLOWED. IF YOU DISOBEYED ANY OF THESE RULES AND THE POLICEMAN
CAUGHT YOU THREE TIMES, YOU BECAME THE POLICEMAN."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 04-00-1984
COLORED EGGS
THIS GAME WAS PLAYED ON A SWING SET. THE PLAYERS NUMBERED
ANYWHERE FROM 4 TO MORE. ONE PERSON WAS THE WOLF--THE
REST OF THE PLAYERS WERE EASTER BUNNIES. THERE WAS A
MOTHER BUNNY AND HER BABIES. EACH OF THE BUNNIES SAT
ON THE SWINGS. THE BUNNIES WOULD EACH HAVE AN
EASTER EGG AND WOULD SECRETLY DECIDE A COLOR FOR IT . THE
WOLF WOULD TRY TO GUESS THE COLORS OF THE EASTER EGGS.
IF HE GUESSED RIGHT, HE WOULD CHASE THE LITTLE BUNNY
WHOSE COLOR HE HAD GUESSED UNTIL HE CAUGHT THE BUNNY
OR THE BUNNY REACHED THE SAFETY OF THE SWING SET. IF
HE DID NOT CATCH THE BUNNY HE WOULD PLAY WOLF UNTIL HE DID.
IF THE BUNNY WAS CAUGHT, HE WOULD PLAY WOLF AND THE WOLF
WOULD PLAY THE BUNNY.
Submitter comment: THIS GAME WAS PLAYED IN ARKANSAS AROUND EASTER TIME.
Where learned: Arkansas ; LITTLE ROCK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
WILD GOOSE CHASE
THIS IS HIDE AND GO SEEK ON A BIKE. ALL THE CHILDREN ARE ON BIKES
AND ONE PERSON IS IT.
THERE MAY BE 10 TO 20 CHILDREN ON THEIR BIKES.
ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IT RIDE ON THEIR BIKES AND HIDE (THE KIDS
ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GET OFF OF THEIR BIKES). THE PERSON WHO IS IT HAS
TO FIND AND TAG THEM WITH ONE HAND.
THE WINNER OF THE GAME IS THE PERSON WHO DOES NOT GET TAGGED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Hiding Searching Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
CURB BASEBALL
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER MY BEST FRIEND'S BROTHER TAUGHT US
A NEW AND EXCITING WAY TO PLAY BASEBALL. FIRST, IT
REQUIRED A STREET AND A FENCE PARALLEL TO THE STREET AND
A RUBBER BALL. THERE ARE ONLY TWO PLAYERS IN THE GAME,
THE BATTER STANDS IN THE STREET AND THROWS THE BALL AT THE
CURB IN FRONT OF HIM. IF THE BALL MISSES THE CURB IT IS A STRIKE,
IF IT HITS THE CURB AND BOUNCES BACK THE PLAYER MUST CATCH
THE BALL IN THE AIR TO GET THE OUT. TO SCORE IN THIS GAME,
THE BATTER MUST BOUNCE THE BALL OFF THE CURB AND HAVE IT
GO OVER THE FENCE. THIS GAME DOES NOT HAVE INNINGS OR A TIME
LIMIT; YOU JUST PLAY UNTIL YOU GET BORED.
Submitter comment:
SINCE THEN I HAVE TAUGHT SEVERAL YOUNGER CHILDREN
HOW TO PLAY CURB BASEBALL.
THE FENCE IS BEHIND THE PLAYER IN THE STREET.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 07-00-1976