Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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PLAYED AT NIGHT BY MANY. ONE IS PICKED AS GHOST.
GHOST HIDES (IN OR AROUND A HOUSE) IN SO MUCH TIME.
EVERYONE ELSE SKIPPING, WALKING, JUMPING, SINGING:
"I HOPE TO SEE THE GHOST TONIGHT." REPEATEDLY.
WHEN THEY GET TO THE GHOST, HE JUMPS OUT, EVERYONE
TRIES TO RUN AWAY AND HE GRABS AS MANY AS POSSIBLE.
HE REHIDES AND REPEATS. LAST ONE TO GET PICKED
IS GHOST NEXT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARBOR BEACH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 10-24-1971
BUCK-BUCK
TWO TEAMS, CONSISTING OF FOUR OR MORE PERSONS FOR
EACH, ARE NEEDED. ONE TEAM WILL FORM A LINE BY BENDING
OVER AND HOLDING ON TO EACH OTHERS' LEGS. THE OTHER
TEAM WILL SEND ITS MEMBERS, ONE BY ONE, TO JUMP ON
THE BACKS OF THE OPPOSING TEAM, IN HOPE OF
COLLAPSING THE LINE. THE SECOND TEAM KEEPS SENDING
MEN UNTIL THE FIRST TEAM COLLAPSES. IF THE BOTTOM
TEAM DOES NOT FALTER, THEN THE TEAMS REVERSE POSITIONS
FOR THE NEXT GAME. IF THE BOTTOM TEAM DOES FALL,
THEN IT MUST REMAIN ON THE BOTTOM UNTIL IT IS ABLE,
DURING A SEQUENCE OF JUMPS, TO WITHSTAND THE JUMPING
TEAM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
HIDE THE BUTTON
HIDE THE BUTTON IS PLAYED WITH TWO OR MORE PLAYERS.
ONE PLAYER HIDES THE BUTTON, THEN HE TELLS THE
OTHERS TO LOOK FOR IT. THE FIRST PLAYER TO FIND THE
BUTTON GETS TO HIDE IT NEXT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RED ROVER
TWO TEAMS PLAY THIS GAME, AT LEAST FOUR ON EACH SIDE.
THE TEAMS FORM TWO OPPOSING CHAINS BY CLASPING HANDS.
THEN ONE SIDE DARES A PERSON ON THE OPPOSING TEAM TO
TRY TO RUN AND BREAK THROUGH ITS CHAIN. IF HE SUCCEEDS
HE TAKES ONE MEMBER BACK TO HIS ORIGINAL SIDE; IF HE
FAILS HE JOINS THE OTHER TEAM. THIS CONTINUES BACK
AND FORTH UNTIL ONE TEAM IS COMPLETELY ELIMINATED.
Submitter comment: LEARNED IN CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN ; CHILDHOOD
THUMPER
EACH PLAYER, WITH A DRINK AT THEIR SIDE, PICKS SOME
SIGN MADE WITH THEIR HANDS. WHILE SLAPPING THEIR
KNEES, ONE PERSON BEGINS BY MAKING HIS AND THEN
ANOTHER PLAYER'S SIGN. THAT PERSON MUST MAKE HIS
SIGN AND SOMEONE ELSE'S AND SO ON.
IF SOMEONE MISSES OR MAKES A MISTAKE, THE OTHER PLAYERS
POINT WITH THEIR ELBOWS AND THE PLAYER POINTED AT MUST
TAKE A DRINK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 03-06-1972
HAND RHYME
A SAILOR WENT TO SEA, SEA, SEA,
TO SEE WHAT HE COULD SEE, SEE, SEE,
BUT ALL THAT HE COULD SEE, SEE, SEE,
WAS THE GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL SEA, SEA, SEA.
Submitter comment: PLAYED BY INFORMANT WHEN SHE WAS A GIRL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 11-23-1970
HANDSLAPPING GAME
A GAME FOR TWO PARTICIPANTS. ONE PERSON HAS HIS
HANDS PALMS UP. THE OTHER HAS HIS HANDS RESTING
PALMS DOWN ON TOP THE OPPONENT'S HANDS.
AT ANY TIME, THE PERSON WITH HIS HANDS PALMS UP OR ON
THE BOTTOM TRIES TO HIT HIS OPPONENT'S HANDS. HE
KEEPS GOING UNTIL HE MISSES HITTING THE OTHER'S
HAND, IN WHICH CASE, IT IS THE OPPONENT'S TURN.
THE GAME CONTINUES UNTIL ONE OR BOTH PARTICIPANTS
HANDS ARE TOO SORE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT FINDS THIS GAME ENJOYABLE, DEMANDING SKILL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 10-04-1971
POLISH SOCCER
THIS DEVIATES FROM NORMAL SOCCER IN THAT IT IS
CONTINUOUS PLAY AND ALL ROUGHHOUSE TACTICS ARE
LEGAL. IT IS USUALLY PLAYED WITH A GREAT MANY
PEOPLE IN A SMALL AREA. THREE MEN ARE ALLOWED TO
PROTECT YOUR GOAL WHILE EVERYONE ELSE REPRESENTS
THE OFFENSE. THEY FORM A WALL AND LITERALLY PUSH
THE BALL THROUGH THE OPPOSING TEAM'S GOAL RESTRIC-
TIONS. THE MORE KICKS, ELBOWS AND PUNCHES THE
BETTER.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS IN HIGY SCHOOL GHM CLASS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; HAMBURG
RUSSIAN BASKETBALL
THIS DEVIATES FROM NORMAL BASKETBALL IN THAT YOU MUST
PASS THE BALL CONTINUOUSLY BUT MAY OCCASIONALLY
CARRY IT WITH YOU, BUT ARE ALLOWED NEVER TO DRIBBLE
IT. AS IN POLISH SOCCER, IT IS PLAYED IN A SMALL
AREA WITH MANY PLAYERS. ALL ROUGHHOUSE TACTICS ARE
LEGAL. EACH TEAM IS AN OFFENSIVE TEAM CONVERTED
TO A DEFENSE WHEN NEEDED TO ALLAY THE OPPOSING
FORCE. AS IS THE OBJECT IN REGULAR BASKETBALL, YOU
HAVE TO SCORE POINTS WHICH ARE RECORDED AS ONE POINT
FOR EVERY FIELD GOAL WHICH YOU GET ANY WAY YOU CAN.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS IN HIGH SCHOOL GYM CLASS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; HAMBURG
Date learned: HIGH SCHOOL
HIDE AND SEEK
ONE PLAYER IS IT AND HE STANDS AT THE GOAL (TREE,
POST, ETC.) AND THE OTHER PLAYERS HIDE. WHILE THE
OTHERS RUN AND HIDE, HE COUNTS TWENTY-FIVE. HE THEN
CALLS THAT HE IS COMING AND GOES TO LOOK FOR THEM.
THE FIRST ONE WHOM HE FINDS IS IT NEXT TIME THE GAME
IS PLAYED. HE CONTINUES TO SEARCH UNTIL ALL ARE
FOUND. A HIDER MAY SAVE HIMSELF BY REACHING AND
TAGGING THE GOAL BEFORE THE "IT" DOES.
Submitter comment: I DON'T REMEMBER WHERE I LEARNED IT.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; HAMBURG
Date learned: HIGH SCHOOL
HAND GAME
AN ADULT TAKES A CHILD'S HAND AND HOLDS IT OUT FLAT.
THEN SHE SAYS, "GRANDMOTHER WAS COOKING EGGS IN THE
KITCHEN (WHILE SAYING THIS, SHE IS DRAWING A CIRCLE
ON THE CHILD'S PALM), SHE GAVE SOME TO THIS ONE
(POINTING TO EACH FINGER AND REPEATING IT) BUT TO
THIS ONE (THE THUMB) SHE CUT OFF HIS HEAD." (THE
WOMAN RUNS HER FINGERS UP THE ARM OF THE CHILD AND
TICKLES HIM.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
JOHNNIE ON THE PONY OR BUC BUC
FIVE PEOPLE GET IN LINE AND BEND OVER. IN THIS
POSITION, THEY GRAB ONTO SOMETHING IN ORDER TO BALANCE
THEMSELVES. NOW ONE BY ONE, OTHER PEOPLE BEGIN TO
JUMP ON THE FIVE IN POSITION. AS THEY JUMP ON, THEY
YELL, "BUC, BUC #1," AND THEN THE NEXT PERSON YELLS
"BUC, BUC #2," AND SO ON UNTIL THE FIVE COLLAPSE.
THE FIVE MAN TEAM WHICH HOLD THE LARGEST NUMBER OF
PEOPLE ON ITS BACK IS THE BUC, BUC CHAMPION.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 11-11-1968
CRACK KNUCKLES ALL AT ONE TIME BY INTERLOCKING
FINGERS AND THRUSTING THEM BACKWARDS.
Submitter comment:
HER MOTHER TAUGHT HER HOW TO DO THIS. SHE DOES IT,
UNCONSCIOUSLY AND, NOW, HER THREE CHILDREN HAVE
PICKED IT UP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 04-00-1965
HAND-CLAPPING GAME
HOW THE HANDS ARE CLAPPED:
TWO PEOPLE ARE FACING EACH OTHER.
1. EACH ONE SLAPS BOTH LEGS.
2. EACH ONE CROSSES HIS ARMS OVER HIS CHEST.
3. EACH ONE CLAPS HIS HANDS TOGETHER.
4. THEY SLAP THEIR RIGHT HANDS TOGETHER.
5. EACH ONE CLAPS HIS OWN HANDS TOGETHER.
6. THEY SLAP THEIR LEFT HANDS TOGETHER.
7. EACH ONE CLAPS HIS OWN HANDS TOGETHER.
8. THEY SLAP BOTH HANDS TOGETHER, LEFT HAND TO
RIGHT AND RIGHT HAND TO LEFT.
9. EACH ONE CROSSES HIS ARMS OVER HIS CHEST.
10. EACH ONE SLAPS BOTH LEGS.
THIS HAND CLAPPING CYCLE IS COMPLETED ONCE FOR EACH
LINE OF THE RHYME.
MY BOYFRIEND GAVE ME PEACHES
MY BOYFRIEND GAVE ME PEARS
MY BOYFRIEND GAVE ME FIFTY CENTS
TO WALK ME UP THE STAIRS.
I GAVE HIM BACK THE PEACHES
I GAVE HIM BACK THE PEARS
I HAVE (GAVE) HIM BACK THE FIFTY CENTS
AND KICKED HIM DOWN THE STAIRS.
I SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE PEACHES
I SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE PEARS,
I SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE FIFTY CENTS
AND KICKED HIM DOWN THE STAIRS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS GAME IN GRADE SCHOOL IN
NORTHWEST DETROIT (MICHIGAN).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
HAND CLAPPING GAME
HOW THE HANDS ARE CLAPPED: TWO PEOPLE ARE FACING EACH
OTHER:
1. EACH ONE SLAPS BOTH LEGS
2. EACH ONE CROSSES HIS ARMS OVER HIS CHEST.
3. EACH ONE CLAPS HIS HANDS TOGETHER
4. THEY SLAP THEIR RIGHT HANDS TOGETHER
5. EACH ONE CLAPS HIS OWN HANDS TOGETHER.
6. THEY SLAP THEIR LEFT HANDS TOGTHER.
7. EACH ONE CLAPS HIS OWN HANDS TOGETHER.
8. THEY SLAP BOTH HANDS TOGETHER; LEFT HAND TO RIGHT
AND RIGHT HAND TO LEFT.
9. EACH ONE CROSSES HIS ARMS OVER HIS CHEST.
10. EACH ONE SLAPS BOTH LEGS.
THIS HAND CLAPPING CYCLE IS COMPLETED ONCE FOR EACH
TWO LINES OF THE RHYME:
PEAS PORRIDGE HOT
PEAS PORRIDGE COLD
PEAS PORRIDGE IN THE POT
NINE DAYS OLD.
SOME LIKE IT HOT,
SOME LIKE IT COLD,
SOME LIKE IT IN THE POT,
NINE DAYS OLD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS GAME IN GRADE SCHOOL ON
DETROIT'S EAST SIDE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
HAND CLAPPING GAME
HOW THE HANDS ARE CLAPPED: TWO PEOPLE ARE FACING EACH
OTHER:
1. EACH ONE SLAPS BOTH LEGS
2. EACH ONE CROSSES HIS ARMS OVER HIS CHEST.
3. EACH ONE CLAPS HIS HANDS TOGETHER
4. THEY SLAP THEIR RIGHT HANDS TOGETHER
5. EACH ONE CLAPS HIS OWN HANDS TOGETHER.
6. THEY SLAP THEIR LEFT HANDS TOGTHER.
7. EACH ONE CLAPS HIS OWN HANDS TOGETHER.
8. THEY SLAP BOTH HANDS TOGETHER; LEFT HAND TO RIGHT
AND RIGHT HAND TO LEFT.
9. EACH ONE CROSSES HIS ARMS OVER HIS CHEST.
10. EACH ONE SLAPS BOTH LEGS.
I WILL INDICATE WHEN THE HAND CLAPPING CYCLE IS
COMPLETED BY BRACKETING THE CORRESPONDING LINES.
1. (BRACKET) I ASKED MY MOTHER FOR FIFTY CENTS
2. (BRACKET) TO SEE THE ELEPHANT JUMP THE FENCE.
3. (BRACKET) HE JUMPED SO HIGH, HE REACHED THE SKY.
4. (BRACKET) AND NEVER CAME BACK 'TILL THE 4TH OF JULY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
ANGEL
WHEN IT SNOWS, YOU LIE DOWN IN THE SNOW AND MOVE
YOUR LEGS AND ARMS BACK AND FORTH. AN ANGEL FIGURE
IS SEEN IN THE SNOW WHEN YOU GET UP.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM CHILDHOOD FROM MY MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 12-00-1966
BICYCLING
CHILDREN LIE ON BACKS, LIFT FEET AND PRETEND TO RIDE
A BICYCLE IN THE AIR, USING SLOW, FAST, COASTING
AND STOPPING MOTIONS.
Submitter comment: LEARNED AT LOWREY SCHOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 12-00-1966
CHILDREN'S STUNTS
GETTING UP FROM FLOOR WITHOUT USING HANDS.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM WATCHING KINDERGARDEN CHILDREN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 12-00-1966
CLAPPING GAME
ONE CHILD USING HIS HANDS, STICKS, ETC., TAPS
OUT A PATTERN:
EXAMPLE: . . . -- .
-- -- . -- .
-- -- . . --
IF THE CHILD CALLED UPON CAN CLAP OUT THE SAME PATTERN
HE MAY REMAIN IN THE GAME.
Submitter comment: LEARNED AT LOWREY KINDERGARDEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 12-00-1966