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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for C524 returned 166 results.
GAME: RED LIGHT GREEN LIGHT.
1 PERSON IS IT AND HE STANDS ON ONE SIDE OF THE SIDEWALK. THE OTHER
GREEN LIGHT. AT THIS POINT THE OTHER KIDS RUN AS FAST AS THEY CAN
TO TOUCH THE GUY. IF FOR SOME REASON THE KID TURNS AROUND AND SAYS
RED LIGHT, THOSE WHO MOVE AS HE SAYS THIS, HAVE TO GO BACK TO
THE STARTING POINT. THE GAME ENDS WHEN ONE PERSON TOUCHES THE
PERSON WHO IS IT.
Submitter comment: I USED TO PLAY THIS GAME WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN WASHINGTON D.C.
Where learned: WASHINGTON DC
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00001960'S
GAME: GHOST AND GOBLINS
THIS GAME IS PLAYED IN THE DARK. ONE PERSON IS THE GHOST AND HE CARRIES A FLASHLIGHT.
THE GHOST COUNTS UP TO 100 BY TWO'S. EVERYONE
RUNS AND HIDES. AFTER THE GHOST HAS COUNTED, HE STARTS TO SEARCH
FOR THE HIDDEN PEOPLE. IF HE FINDS ONE, HE TRIES TO GET HIM, BUT
IF THE HIDDEN PERSON CAN MAKE IT TO THE BASE, THEN HE IS SAFE.
THE GAME CONTINUES UNTIL SOMEONE ELSE IS CAUGHT.
Submitter comment: I USED TO PLAY THIS GAME WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN WASHINGTON D.C.
Where learned: WASHINGTON DC
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00001960'S
RACING, CHASING GAME: PICKLE
THIS GAME IS PLAYED ON THE FRONT SIDEWALK. THERE ARE TWO CATCHERS
AND TWO RUNNERS, ONE STARTING AT EACH END OF THE FRONT WALK.
THE RUNNERS MUST GO BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE BASES WHILE THE TWO
CATCHERS THROW THE BALL BACK AND FORTH BEING CAREFUL NOT TO BE
CAUGHT OFF BASE. IF CAUGHT OFF BASE, THEY WOULD BE TAGGED OUT.
Submitter comment:
THE GAME WAS CALLED PICKLE BECAUSE THE TWO CATCHERS WOULD OFTEN CATCH
THE RUNNER BETWEEN THEM, PUTTING HIM IN A BIND, OR AS WE CALLED IT, A
PICKLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Date learned: 04-11-1979
FROZEN TAG IN THE WATER
THIS GAME IS PLAYED ON THE SAME GENERAL BASIS AS FROZEN TAG EXCEPT
THAT IT IS PLAYED IN A SWIMMING POOL. THE PLAYERS INCLUDE ONE PERSO
WHO IS "IT" AND THE REST TRY TO SWIM AWAY FROM "IT" WITHOUT BEING
TAGGED. IF SOMEONE IS TAGGED HE MUST STAND (OR IN DEEP WATER HE MUS
TREAD WATER) UNTIL ANOTHER PLAYER IS ABLE TO SWIM BETWEEN HIS LEGS
UNDER WATER. THAT TAGGED PLAYER IS THEN SET FREE UNTIL HE IS TAGGED
AGAIN. AFTER A PERSON HAS BEEN TAGGED THREE TIMES BY "IT", HE
BECOMES THE NEW "IT".
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT AND HER FRIENDS ORIGINALLY INVENTED AND PLAYED THIS
GAME AT PINEBROOK SWIM CLUB IN SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN. IT IS STILL A
POPULAR GAME AT THE SWIM CLUB.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Water Ice Snow |
SHAM BATTLE
A SHAM BATTLE INVOLVES TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE FACING EACH OTHER AND ARE
STANDING ABOUT TWO FEET APART. WHEN THE CUE IS GIVEN THEY BEGIN TO
PRETEND THEY ARE BOXING WITH ONE ANOTHER. THE OBJECT OF THE GAME IS
TO NEVER TOUCH THE OTHER PLAYER WHILE THE PRETEND BOXING IS TAKING
PLACE. IF A PLAYER DOES TOUCH HIS PARTNER HE LOSES THE BATTLE.
Submitter comment:
THIS GAME WAS LEARNED BY THE INFORMANT WHEN SHE WAS IN FIFTH GRADE
AT ST. MICHAEL'S SCHOOL IN SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN. HER TEACHER, SISTE
CONRADIA, HAD HER STUDENTS STAND UP AND PLAY IT FOR A FEW MINUTES
DURING THEIR MATH CLASS IN ORDER TO RID THEM OF SOME OF THEIR EXCESS
ENERGY. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE CLASS WAS QUITE NOISY ON A GIVEN DAY
SISTER CONRADIA WOULD SAY THAT IT WAS TIME FOR A SHAM BATTLE AND
EVERYONE WOULD STAND UP, FACE THEIR PARTNER AND BEGIN TO PLAY UNTIL
THEY WERE TOLD TO SIT DOWN AGAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
TAG WITH BUCKETS OF WATER
THIS GAME IS PLAYED JUST LIKE TAG EXCEPT THE "IT" THROWS A BUCKET OF
WATER ON THE PLAYERS INSTEAD OF TAGGING THEM IN ORDER TO CATCH THEM.
ONCE A PLAYER IS SPLASHED WITH WATER, HE BECOMES "IT" AND IS GIVEN
THE BUCKET TO FILL WITH WATER SO THAT HE CAN THROW IT ON SOMEONE
ELSE.
Submitter comment:
THIS GAME WAS INVENTED AND PLAYED BY THE INFORMANT AND HER FRIENDS O
HOT SUMMER DAYS. IT WAS MORE FUN TO PLAY WHILE WEARING CLOTHES, BUT
A BATHING SUIT WAS OFTEN WORN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Water Ice Snow |
Date learned: CA00001969
RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT
ONE PERSON IS THE TRAFFIC LIGHT.
HE STANDS WITH HIS BACK TO THE OTHER
PLAYERS WHO STAND A REASONABLE DISTANCE
FROM HIM. WHEN THE PERSON WHO IS THE
TRAFFIC LIGHT SAYS "GREEN LIGHT" EVERYONE RUNS TOWARDS HIM. THEN HE
TURNS AROUND AND SAYS "RED LIGHT"
ANYONE CAUGHT MOVING IS OUT OF THE
GAME. IF ONE OF THE PLAYERS REACHES THE PERSON WHO IS THE TRAFFIC
LIGHT BEFORE HE TURNS AROUND AND SAYS,
"RED LIGHT" HE WINS THE GAME AND
BECOMES THE TRAFFIC LIGHT.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
HOT DOG FROZEN TAG
PLAYED JUST LIKE REGULAR TAG, ONE PERSON IS "IT". THE PERSON WHO IS
"IT" THEN TRIES TO TAG THE OTHER PLAYERS. UPON BEING TAGGED THE
PERSON MUST "FREEZE" IN THEIR TAGGED POSITION. THE ONLY WAY
THEY CAN BECOME UNFROZEN IS IF ANOTHER PLAYER, WHO IS NOT FROZEN,
CRAWLS THROUGH THE FROZEN PERSON'S LEGS. HOWEVER, IF THE PERSON
IS TAGGED WHILE TRYING TO UNFREEZE ANOTHER PLAYER, HE MUST REMAIN
IN THAT POSITION, THUS PREVENTING ANY POSIBLE CHANCES OF
BECOMING UNFROZEN BY ANY OTHER PLAYERS.
THE LAST PERSON TO BE TAGGED IS "IT".
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
RED ROVER
IN THIS GAME YOU NEED TWO TEAMS. IT IS BEST TO HAVE AT LEAST FIVE
PEOPLE ON EACH TEAM. THE OBJECT OF THE GAME IS TO GAIN PEOPLE ON
YOUR TEAM WITHOUT LOSING ANY TO THE OTHER TEAM. EACH TEAM LINES UP
ABOUT TWENTY FEET FROM EACH OTHER. THE MEMBERS OF THE TEAMS LINE UP
SIDE BY SIDE WHILE HOLDING THE TEAMMATES' HANDS THAT ARE ON BOTH
SIDES OF THEM. THEY SHOUT "RED ROVER, RED ROVER, SEND BLANK
RIGHT OVER." INSTEAD OF THE WORD BLANK, A NAME OF SOMEONE ON THE
OTHER TEAM IS CALLED, OUT. WHEN THE CHILD HEARS HIS NAME CALLED HE
RUNS AT THE OTHER TEAM AND TRIES TO BREAK BETWEEN THE HANDS OF TWO
OF THE OPPOSITE TEAM MEMBERS. IF HE SUCCEEDS HE RETURNS BACK TO
HIS TEAM. IF HE DOES NOT SUCCEED HE BECOMES A MEMBER OF THE OTHER
TEAM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00001960S
HAWK CATCH CHICK
IN THIS GAME ONE PERSON IS IT. ALL OF THE OTHERS LINE UP ONE BEHIND
THE OTHER. THE PERSON THAT IS IT TRIES TO MAKE THE OTHERS RUN SO
FAST THAT THE LAST PERSON IS LEFT BEHIND AWAY FROM THE GROUP. THE
PERSON THAT IS IT IS CALLED THE HAWK AND HE THEN CATCHES THE STRAY
CHICK. A TIME LIMIT IS SET ON THE GAME AND IF THE HAWK IS ABLE TO
CATCH ALL OF THE CHICKS IN THE TIME ALLOWED HE WINS, BUT IF HE
DOES NOT THEN THE CHICKS WIN.
Submitter comment: THE LOCATION OF THIS GAME AS TOLD TO MY INFORMANT WAS TAIWAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00001960S
WITCH IN THE WELL - CHILDREN'S GAME
FIRST PICK THE MOTHER AND WITCH. THEN THE REST ARE
CHILDREN. THE CHILDREN LINE UP. THE MOTHER SAYS,
"I'M GOING OUT TO SMOKE MY PIPE. I WON'T BE BACK
TILL SATURDAY NIGHT. SO DON'T GET IN THE GOODIES!"
SO CHILDREN GET IN GOODIES. ONE CHILD SEES THE
MOTHER COMING BACK AND SAYS, "MOTHER IS COMING."
THE CHILDREN PUT THEIR HANDS BEHIND THEIR BACKS.
THE MOTHER SAYS, "LET ME SEE YOUR HANDS." (THREE
DIFFERNT TIMES) THE CHILDREN SAY NO. ON THE FOURTH
TIME, THE CHILDREN PUT THEIR HANDS OUT. THE MOTHER
SAYS, DIRTY. DIRTY. GO DOWN TO THE WELL AND WASH
YOUR HANDS. THE CHILDREN GO TO THE WELL. THE WITCH
SCARES THEM. THEY COME BACK. THEY TELL THE MOTHER,
"THERE'S A WITCH IN THE WELL." THE MOTHER SAYS,
"NONSENSE!" THE CHILDREN GO TO THE WELL AGAIN AND
AGAIN. THE FOURTH TIME THE MOTHER COMES WITH THE
CHILDREN. THE MOTHER SEES THE WITCH AND SAYS
"OH, YOU CHILDREN ARE NOT LYING." THE MOTHER SAYS
TO THE WITCH, "WHY ARE YOU IN MY WELL?" THE WITCH
SAYS, "TO SMOKE MY PIPE." "WHY DO YOU WANT TO SMOKE
YOUR PIPE?" THE WITCH SAYS, "TO MAKE ASHES." "WHY?"
SAYS THE MOTHER. THE WITCH SAYS, "TO SHARPEN MY
KNIFE." "WHY?" SAYS THE MOTHER. THE WITCH SAYS,
"TO KILL YOU." THEN THE MOTHER AND CHILDREN RUN .
WHOEVER THE WITCH GETS (CATCHES) IS THE WITCH.
Where learned: UNCLE ; TOLD BY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dramatic |
Date learned: 02-12-1972
FROZEN TAG
ONE PERSON IS CHOSEN TO BE "IT." ALL THE OTHERS RUN
WHILE "IT" ATTEMPTS TO TAG THEM. THE PERSON WHO IS
TAGGED MUST REMAIN IN THE POSITION IN WHICH HE WAS IN
WHEN HE WAS TAGGED. IN THIS MANNER THE PLAYER IS
CONSIDERED FROZEN AND CANNOT MOVE. HE IS FREED ONLY
IF HIS FREE TEAMMATES TAG HIM. THE GAME ENDS WHEN
ALL EXCEPT "IT" ARE FROZEN AT THE SAME TIME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 03-20-1972
OUTDOOR GAME
A GROUP OF PLAYERS ELECT A CAPTAIN. HE STANDS 15 FEET
AWAY FROM A CAN, INSIDE A SMALL CIRCLE. ALL THE OTHER
PLAYERS GATHER BEHIND A BOUNDARY LINE 15 FEET AWAY
FROM THE CAN INSIDE THE CIRCLE. EACH PLAYER HAS HIW
OWN STRAIGHT STICK, WHICH IS ABOUT 4 FEET LONG AND
AN INCH THICK. THE OBJECT OF THE GAME IS FOR THE
PLAYERS BEHIND THE LINE TO THROW THEIR STICKS AT
THE CAN TO KNOCK IT DOWN. ONCE THE CAN IS DOWN ALL
THE PLAYERS RUN TO FETCH THEIR STICKS (MUST BE
THEIR OWN) THE CAPTAIN RUNS TO STAND UP THE CAN.
THEN EVERYONE RUNS BACK TO THE BOUNDARY LINE--
THE LAST PERSON BEHIND THE LINE IS THE NEW CAPTAIN.
THEN STARTS AS BEFORE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 04-03-1972
SLEEPING BEAR
A GROUP OF CHILDREN GATHER TO FORM A CIRCLE. ONE
OF THE CHILDREN GOES TO THE CENTER OF THE CIRCLE
TO BE THE SLEEPING BEAR. HE KNEELS DOWN AND PLACES
HIS HANDS OVER HIS EYES. THE OTHER PLAYERS IN THE
CIRCLE START MOVING TO THE RIGHT AND SING: THE
OLD BEAR IS DEEPLY SLEEPING, WE WON'T WAKE HIM
BECAUSE WE'RE AFRAID WHEN HE AWAKENS HE'LL EAT US
UP. WHEN THE LAST WORD OF THE SONG IS SUNG, THE OLD
BEAR GETS UP QUICKLY AND CHASES THE CHILDREN.
THE PERSON WHO HE CATCHES IS NOW THE SLEEPING BEAR
AND THE GAME STARTS OVER AGAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 02-24-1972
JUMP ROPE TAG
JUMP ROPE TAG. TWO GIRLS PLAY TAG GOING THROUGH THE ROPE AND
RUNNING AROUND THE "ENDS". THE GIRL THAT IS IT HAS TO DO THE SAME
AMOUNT OF JUMPS IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE GIRL BEING CHASED. IF
THE GIRL BEING CHASED IS CAUGHT, SHE TAKES THE END AND THE GIRL
THAT WAS IT, IS NOW THE LEADER.
Submitter comment:
THERE ARE MANY JUMPS AND TRICKS THAT CAN BE DONE TO KEEP FROM BEING
CAUGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
GAME
FROZEN TAG. WHEN THE PERSON WHO IS IT TOUCHES A RUNNER, THE RUNNER
HAS TO FREEZE IN THAT POSITION. BUT IF ANOTHER RUNNER NOT FROZEN
TOUCHES THE ONE WHO IS FROZEN, THE ONE THAT WAS FROZEN IS FREE TO
RUN AGAIN. THE OBJECT IS FOR THE PERSON WHO IS IT TO GET ALL THE
RUNNERS FROZEN, THE FIRST ONE FROZEN IS THE PERSON WHO IS IT FOR
THE NEXT GAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
RED ROVER
RED ROVER, RED ROVER. IN THIS GAME THERE ARE TWO SIDES. EACH SIDE
HAS THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE. EACH SIDE STANDS SIDE BY SIDE
HOLDING EACH OTHER'S HANDS OR ARMS. A CERTAIN DISTANCE IS SET
BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMS. WHEN THE ONE TEAM CALLS "RED ROVER, RED ROVER
SEND.... RIGHT OVER, THAT PERSON RUNS WITH ALL HIS/HER MIGHT AND
TRIES TO BREAK THE BOND OF THE HANDS. IF HE'S SUCCESSFUL, HE CHOOSES
ONE MEMBER FROM THE OPPOSING TEAM TO JOIN HIS SIDE. IF HE DOESN'T
SUCCEED, HE HAS TO STAY ON THE OPPOSING TEAM'S SIDE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
FREEZE TAG
PLAYED BY THREE OR MORE PLAYERS, WHOEVER IS IT MUST TRY TO FREEZE ALL
THE PLAYERS BY TAGGING THEM. BUT A PLAYER WHO IS NOT FROZEN MAY
UNFREEZE A FROZEN PERSON BY TAGGING THEM. THE FIRST PERSON TAGGED IS
IT FOR THE NEXT GAME AND THE LAST PERSON TO BE TAGGED IS THE WINNER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): METAPHOR: FREEZE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
POM POM
A GAME PLAYED IN ELEMENTRY SCHOOL USUALLY BEFORE OR AFTER SCHOOL.
A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE PLAY ON A FIELD WITH END AND SIDE
BOUNDARIES.
IT STANDS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD AND SAYS POM POM. THE OTHER
PLAYERS THEN TRY TO RUN THE LENGTH OF THE FIELD AND IT TRIES TO
TACKLE THEM. THE FIRST PERSON TACKLED IS IT FOR THE NEXT GAME.
TACKLED PEOPLE HELP IT TACKLE THE OTHERS. THE LAST PERSON TO BE
TACKLED WINS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
MARCO POLO
PLAYED BY THREE OR MORE PEOPLE IN A POOL. WHOEVER IS IT MUST BLIND
THEIR EYES AND GO UNDER WATER FOR THE COUNT OF FIVE, UPON FIVE IT
COMES UP OUT OF THE WATER BUT HIS EYES REMAIN CLOSED WHILE HE IS IT.
IT THEN SAYS MARCO, THE OTHER PLAYERS MUST RESPOND WITH POLO. IT THEN
TRIES TO TAG ONE OF THE OTHER PLAYERS. EVERY TIME IT SAYS MARCO THE
OTHERS MUST ANSWER WITH POLO. THE FIRST PERSON TAGGED IS IT AND THE
GAME STARTS OVER.
Submitter comment: ALSO KNOWN AS POOL TAG OR WATER TAG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): HANDICAP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Water Ice Snow |