Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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CHILDREN'S GAMES - RED ROVER
THIS IS A GAME PLAYED BY 2 LINES OF APPROXIMATELY 60 CHILDREN PER
LINE. THE CHILDREN IN ONE LINE SHOUT IN UNISON, RED ROVER, RED
ROVER, LET JOHNNY COME OVER. THE CHILD SO NAMED BY THE OPPOSING
SIDE RUNS SWIFTLY TOWARDS THE OTHER SIDE, IN A TRY TO BREAK
THROUGH IN A PLACE WHERE THERE ARE TWO WEAK CHILDREN. IF HE BREAKS
THROUGH, JOHNNY GETS TO BRING ONE OF THE CHILDREN FROM THE
OPPOSING SIDE OVER TO HIS ORIGINAL SIDE. IF HE DOES NOT BREAK
THROUGH, HE HAS TO STAY ON THE CALLER'S SIDE. EACH SIDE TAKES
TURNS CALLING AND THE GAME ENDS WHEN ONE SIDE OUTNUMBERS THE OTHER
OR SOMEONE GETS HURT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
SAGINAW LUMBERMEN
THE LUMBERMEN WOULD STAY OUT IN THE WOODS IN THE WINTERTIME AND
WORK. THEY CAME INTO TOWN IN THE SPRING AND WOULD RAISE HELL IN
TOWN. THEY WOULD HAVE TERRIBLE FIGHTS, SOMETIMES THEY WOULD
GOUGE EACH OTHERS EYES OUT, AND BITE OFF OPPONENT'S EARS AND
NOSES. THESE FIGHTS WOULD TAKE PLACE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
STREET.
Submitter comment:
THIS ITEM DISGUSTED ME, BUT I GUESS THAT'S THE KIND OF BEHAVIOR
THE LUMBERMEN PRACTICES. THEY APPARENTLY TOOK OUT ALL THEIR
AGGRESSIONS ONCE THEY GOT TO TOWN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting |
Date learned: 04-02-1982
RURAL BLACK BAD LUCK OMEN
BLACK CHILDREN IN LOUISVILLE, MISSISSIPPI THOUGHT THAT
STEPPING ON SOMEONE'S HEEL WOULD BRING THAT PERSON BAD LUCK.
THE BAD LUCK COULD ONLY BE REMOVED BY STRIKING THE VICTIM
ON THE BACK THREE TIMES. NOW IT HAD TO BE THE SAME PERSON
WHO HAD STEPPED ON HIS HEEL TO BEGIN WITH. SOMETIMES WE
WOULD MAKE A GAME OF IT BY REFUSING TO STRIKE THE VICTIM'S
BACK. NATURALLY, A CHASE WOULD DEVELOP, USUALLY ENDING
ONLY AFTER THE VICTIM HAD THE CURSE REMOVED. WE DIDN'T
REALLY BELIEVE IN BAD LUCK, EVEN AS KIDS, BUT WE LIKED TO
MAKE A GAME OF IT. FREQUENTLY, WE WOULD STEP ON A BUDDY'S
HEEL AND REFUSE TO REMOVE THE CURSE JUST FOR THE FUN OF THE
CHASE, OR THE WRESTLING MATCH, OR THE MOCK-FIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Observation Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Bad luck Gestures |
Date learned: 09-00-1982
MAY BASKET DAY
MAY 1ST IS CELEBRATED BY DECORATING LITTLE BOXES
AND TAKING THEM OVER TO A FRIENDS HOUSE, YOU MUST
RING THEIR DOORBELL AND RUN HOPING THAT THEY DON'T
CATCH YOU BEFORE YOU MAKE IT TO YOUR CAR, BECAUSE IF
THEY DO THEN THEY GET TO KISS OR PINCH YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFTS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- May 1 May Day SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 04-00-1983
RED ROVER
THERE ARE TWO LINES OF PEOPLE WITH BETWEEN SIX AND TEN
PEOPLE ON EACH LINE (TEAM). ONE TEAM AGREES ON A PERSON
TO RUN OVER FROM THE OTHER TEAM AND TRY TO BREAK THROUGH
THEIR LINE. IF THAT PERSON SUCCEEDS HE GETS TO PICK
FROM THAT LINE AND TAKE HIM BACK TO BE ON HIS TEAM.
IF HE DOESN'T BREAK THROUGH HE HAS TO STAY WITH THAT
TEAM. THE TEAM WITH THE MOST PLAYERS AT THE END OF
THE GAME WINS. THE GAME ENDS EITHER WHEN THEY ARE
OUT OF TIME OR WHEN THEY GET TIRED OF PLAYING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
FREEZE TAG
A GAME PLAYED WITH A GROUP A PEOPLE WITH ONE PERSON
BEING 'IT'--THE PERSON WHO CAN TAG YOU--THAT PERSON
CHASES EVERYONE AND TAGS THEM (FREEZES THEM IN THAT SPOT)
UNTIL EVERYONE IS FROZEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00001970S
CHEST
A GROUP OF BOYS WOULD GET TOGETHER AND PUNCH EACH OTHER IN
THE CHEST AND THE FIRST PERSON TO GIVE OUT WOULD LOSE.
THIS WOULD CONTINUE THROUGH THE GROUP UNTIL THERE WAS A
WINNER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00001970S
DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE
WHEN I STARTED KINDERGARDEN WE PLAYED A GAME THE TEACHER
CALLED DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE. THE GAME INVOLVED THE WHOLE
CLASS OF 20 OR MORE CHILDREN, YOU COULD PLAY WITH AT LEAST
SEVEN, I REMEMBER. WE WOULD ALL SIT ON THE FLOOR IN A
CIRCLE WITH OUR HEADS DOWN, AND EYES CLOSED. SOME ONE
FROM THE CIRCLE WAS PICKED TO BE IT, OR A GOOSE. THEY
WERE TO WALK AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCLE, TOUCHING
THOSE IN THE CIRCLE ON THE HEAD, CALLING EACH ONE THEY
TOUCHED A DUCK. WHEN THEY FINALLY SAID GOOSE WHOEVER
THEY WERE TOUCHING WAS THE GOOSE AND HAD TO JUMP UP AND
CHASE THE PERSON WHO WAS IT. IF THEY CAUGHT THE ONE WHO
WAS IT, THEY COULD REMAIN IN THE CIRCLE; IF NOT THE
PERSON THEY TOUCHED HAD TO GET INTO THE CENTER OF THE
CIRCLE, KNOWN AS THE GOOSE POND. THE GAME CONTINUED
UNTIL THE GOOSE POND GREW TOO BIG TO FORM A CIRCLE AROUND,
WITH THOSE CHILDREN LEFT. YOU WERE ONLY ALLOWED TO WALK
AROUND THE CIRCLE THREE TIMES BEFORE YOU HAD TO PICK A
GOOSE; OTHERWISE YOU LANDED IN THE GOOSE POND ANYWAY.
THE TEACHER WAS ALWAYS THE REFEREE, OR MOTHER GOOSE.
THEY STILL PLAY THIS GAME WITH CHILDREN TODAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Red Rover
This game is often played on a grade school
playground. In order to play, many children are
needed. After everyone is present who is going to
play, two people are designated who are going to be
the leaders of the two teams. The leaders then take
turns picking people until there are no players
left.
Each team stands in a long line facing each other
separated by 25 feet. Now both teams join hands to
form 2 individual chains.
The team captain or team leader who didn't get
the first pick of who was to be on his team gets to
start the game.
First, the captain quietly tells the members on his
team who to call over. Let's say they want Joe. Then
the whole team yells, "Red Rover, Red Rover send Joe
right over!" The person who was called has to run
over and try to break the chain of linked hands, by
running through it. However, the runner can only
use his/her body to break the chain.
If the runner is able to break the other team's
chain, then they are allowed to go back to their
original team and take a player from the opposite
team with them. However, if the runner is unable to
break the chain they must stay on the team he/she
was called to.
The teams take turns no matter if the runner makes
it through or not. A winner is finally decided once
one team gets all of the players from the other
team onto their side.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00001975 CA
Eraser Tag
This is a game that is usually played during lunch
time when it is too cold to go outside. One person
is designated as "it" or the chaser, while four
or five other players are selected to play. The "it"
places a chalkboard eraser on top of his/her head
and tries to tag someone without dropping the
eraser off their head. If they tag someone without
dropping the eraser then the person tagged becomes
"it" and the person who was "it" now becomes one
of the people trying not to be tagged. However, if
the eraser falls off "its'" head, that person is
out of the game and a new "it" is selected as well
as four or five new class members.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRASER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00001976 CA
Witch
This is played on the front lawn. Someone is the witch
and must count to ten before turning around. The side of
the house is home base. The object is to try to get to
the rock on the boulevard before being caught by the witch.
If caught, that person now must be the witch.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 06-00-1978
Red Rover
We had a catwalk next to my house and two people used to
stand at each end. The people at the opposite end would
yell, "Red rover, red rover, send Sherri right over."
I would then have to run to the other end as fast as possible
or the person at the end I came from could try to catch me
after ten seconds.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 01-00-1977
This game is played with a number of people lined up on
one end of a driveway or front lawn, and one person ("it")
stands at the other end with his back turned to the others.
The person who is "it" will yell "green light" followed by
any other color he wishes but red. When "green light" is
heard, the others begin to advance toward "it" as fast or
as slow as he wishes. When "it" wants to, he will yell out
"red light" and turn around. Everyone advancing must freeze
when they hear "red light". When "it" turns around, if he
sees anyone moving, he sends them back to the beginning.
"It" then turns back around and play continues until
one of the contestants reaches "it." That person then
becomes it and play begins over again.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; Kenmore
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00001975 ca.
Red Light, Green Light
This is a children's game in which one child is designated as
the Light. He stands at one end of the yard with his back to
the other players, who are lined up at the other end of the
yard. He yells "Green Light!" and everyone sneaks up toward
him. At any time he may spin around to face the runners, so
long as he yells "Red Light" first. Anyone he sees moving
must go back to start. Whoever touches the Light's back first
takes his place.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00001975CA
BLOODY MURDER
"IT" GOES AND HIDES WHILE THE CHILDREN SITTING ON
"HOME" SING THE FOLLOWING SONG:
ONE O'CLOCK, TWO O'CLOCK, THREE O'CLOCK ROCK
FOUR O'CLOCK, FIVE O'CLOCK, SIX O'CLOCK ROCK
SEVEN O'CLOCK, EIGHT O'CLOCK, NINE O'CLOCK ROCK
TEN O'CLOCK, ELEVEN O'CLOCK, TWELVE O'CLOCK
MIDNIGHT!
"MIDNIGHT" IS YELLED AS LOUD AS POSSIBLE SO THAT "IT" MAY
KNOW THAT THE CHILDREN ARE COMING. THE CHILDREN SEPARATE
AND LOOK FOR "IT". IF A CHILD SEES "IT" AND HASN'T YET BEEN
TOUCHED BY "IT", THAT CHILD WILL SCREAM "BLOODY MURDER" AND
RUN TO HOME. THE OTHER CHILDREN ALSO SCREAM "BLOODY MURDER"
AND RUN TO HOME. IT IS UNWISE TO BE LAST FOR BY THEN "IT" HAS
GOTTEN TO THE AREA OF HOME BASE AND GUARDS HOME SO THAT THE
PLAYERS CAN'T GET THROUGH. THE PLAYERS TOUCHING HOME BASE THEN
FORM A HUMAN CHAIN, LINKING HANDS, AND TRY TO REACH THE
TRAPPED PLAYERS. IF THEY CAN REACH THE CHAIN THEY ARE "SAFE".
IF SOMEONE IS TOUCHED BY "IT" THEY BECOME "IT" FOR THE NEXT
GAME. OTHERWISE THE ORIGINAL "IT" IS "IT" AGAIN AND THE GAME
BEGINS AGAIN. THIS GAME WAS ALWAYS PLAYED AT NIGHT. "IT"
COULD HIDE BETTER AND THE DARKNESS ADDED TO THE FEAR AND
EXCITEMENT. THE BOUNDARIES WERE ALWAYS SETTLED BEFORE HAND AS
WELL AS A TIME LIMIT FOR FINDING "IT".
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Flint
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Hiding Searching |
Date learned: 05-00-1978
Chinese Frozen Tag
This is an outdoor tag game.
Any number can play.
One person is chosen to be it.
The boundaries of the playing area are determined depending
on the number of players.
"It" begins the game by giving the players a ten second
get-away. He then proceeds to tag the players.
Once a player has been tagged he is frozen.
This means he must stand in the place he was tagged with
his hands on his head and his legs spread apart.
"It" continues to tag the rest of the players.
However, at the same time, other players who are not yet
frozen, may unfreeze the frozen players by crawling between
their legs. But, this process takes a few extra seconds
and may cause both to become frozen if "it" can tag them.
The game ends when "it" can get all players frozen at once.
The player who was frozen first becomes "it" for the next
game.
If a large number of people play, there may be two "it"s.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HEMLOCK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00001980S
Boilerburst
A circle is drawn on the pavement. Squares, or homes, are
drawn at different places around the circle. There is one
less home than there is players. One player is chosen to be
it and he stands in the middle of the circle. All of the
other players stand on one of the home squares.
The player who is in the middle begins the game by telling
a story, usually quite a silly story without much of a plot.
At some point in the middle of the story the storyteller
will yell (or say very calmly) BOILERBURST!!!! Then all of
the other players have to run to a new home. During this
time the player who is it tries to reach a home before
another player. The player who does not get a home becomes
it and resumes the story.
Submitter comment:
Many different strategies are used in telling the story.
Sometimes boilerburst is barely whispered to catch
the players off guard, or it may interrupt the story
in such a way that it is totally unexpected.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HEMLOCK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00001980S
Betting on a cock fight with an excess of more than one hundred
dollars and the cock that you bet on loses, you will have
bad luck for one week.
Submitter comment:
I learned of this belief back in seventh grade when we had a
guest speaker come in and talk to the class about games
involving animals.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WEST BLOOMFIELD
Keyword(s): Ring, Money.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
The lightning is the angels playing flashlight tag.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting BELIEF -- Angel BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
CB TAG
ANYONE WITH A CAR, A CB, AND A FREE WEEKEND EVENING CAN JOIN A
GAME OF CB TAG. THE PLAYERS ALSO NEED AN AREA TO PLAY. THIS GAME
DEVELOPED AMONG GRATIOT AVENUE CRUISERS IN ROSEVILLE, MICHIGAN.
THE PLAYERS GATHER IN A PARKING LOT TO ESTABLISH WHO IS PLAYING.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WHAT TYPE OF CAR EACH PLAYER IS
DRIVING. THE PLAYERS THEN DRIVE OFF IN ALL DIRECTIONS ALTHOUGH
THEY CANNOT GO BEYOND PRE-SET BOUNDARIES. AFTER ABOUT FIFTEEN
MINUTES THEY BEGIN TO COMMUNICATE USING THEIR CB RADIOS. FROM
THIS POINT ON THEY ARE LOOKING FOR OTHER PLAYERS. EACH PLAYER
MUST CHECK IN EVERY FIVE MINUTES. WHEN ONE PLAYER SEES ANOTHER,
THE SECOND PLAYER IS "CAUGHT" AND MUST RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL
PARKING LOT. THE GAME IS OVER WHEN ALL PLAYERS HAVE RETURNED TO
THE LOT. THE WINNER IS THE DRIVER WHO IS NOT SIGHTED BY THE OTHER
PLAYERS.
Submitter comment:
I LEARNED OF THIS GAME FROM A CO-WORKER AT THE MACOMB COUNTY
LIBRARY IN MOUNT CLEMENS, MICHIGAN WHO WAS A REGULAR PLAYER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
Date learned: 00-00-1990