The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Entertainment: Game

Method of Choosing "it" for Games:

(Rhyme is chanted by one person who, at the same time, points to the children one by one. I will indicate when the person points by partially unerlining the corresponding words.)

Ee nie meenie minie moe

Catch a rabbit by the toe

If he hollers, let him go

My mother told me to choose the very best one

O U T spells out goes you.

Submitter comment:

I learned this in my grade school days in Detroit.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570.560, C300.03] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications.

Where learned: Myself

Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; Entertainment ; GAME ; RHYME

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Entertainment: Game

Variations of "one potato, two potato" method of choosing "it':

(Rhyme is chanted by one person as all the children stand in a circle with both fists in front, thums up. The person taps each fist in the circle of fists, not neglecting his own. I will indicate the words correcponding to the taps by partial underlining.)

One potato, two potao, three potato, four.

Five potato, six potato, seven potato, more.

The first hit on more is put behind the back and the rhyme continues until only one fist remains, this person being "it.")

Submitter comment:

My mother learned this rhyme in her grammar school days in Detroit.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570.560, C300.021] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHILDHOOD ; Elimination ; Entertainment ; GAME ; POTATO ; RHYME

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Entertainment: Game

A Chant for Picking the "It":

This is a chant that the neighborhood kids used to choose the "it" in their games. It went: "1 potato, 2 potato, 3 potato, 4. 5 potato, 6 potato, 7 potato, or." The person who "or" fell on was out and the rhyme started again.

Submitter comment:

The informant learned it from his friends.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; Entertainment ; GAMES ; Playground ; RHYME

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Entertainment: Game

A Chant for Picking the "IT":

To pick the "it" the people playing would gather together and someone would say: "Engine, Engine, number nine. Going down Chicago Line. If the train falls off the track, do you want your money back?" 

The person who "back" was said to is out and the rhyme is started over.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570] is crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BASEBALL GAME. ; CHILDREN ; Elimination ; Entertainment ; Playground ; RHYME

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Entertainment: Game

Childhood Game:

When they were kids, they had a game called "Step on a crack and you'll break your mother's back." They would run along the sidewalk but not step on the pavement cracks or they would "break their mother's back" and lose.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C870] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): Entertainment, Tabu, Game, Childhood ; RHYME

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Ethnic: German

Tros, tros, tril,

Der Bauerhat ein Phil,

Das Philchen will nicht lauffen,

Der Bauer will verkaufen,

Tros, tros, tril.

This verse was sung by a grandfather to a small child. It accompanied a little game in which the grandfather sat with his knees crossed. On his right leg the child was seated facing the grandfather who grasped the child's hands. As the grandfather sings the verse, he gives the child a "pony" ride on his leg.

The verse tells of a farmer who had a horse, the horse would not run, so the farmer wants to sell the horse.

Submitter comment:

The informant remembers her German-born father entertaining his grandchildren with this game in Kenosha, Wisconsin about 30 years ago.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Loose (very loose) translation:

Tros, Tros, tril, The Bauerhat a Phil, The Philchen will not often run, the farmer wants to sell, Tros, Tros, tril.

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C520, C750] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; Entertainment ; ETHNIC ; Fable ; GAME ; GERMAN ; HORSE ; Play ; RHYME ; SONG

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Entertainment: Game

"Pony Boy" game:

Put a small child on lap. Child should be facing you. Bounce shild up and down by bouncing your own knees. Continue the bouncing and sing:

Pony Boy, Pony Boy

Won't you be my Pony Boy?

Marry me; carry me

Right across the lane.

Giddy-up, Giddy-up....

(gradually bounce faster - at height of speed, extend your legs out and let child slide down, saying:)

Whoa! Don't you drop him!

(slide child back up).

Submitter comment:

My sister taught me it. As a nurse in the nursery she used to do it with the children.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C524.360] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHILD ; Entertainment ; GAME ; HORSE ; Pony ; RHYME ; SONG

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Entertainment: Games

"It":

One of several methods of determining who would be "it" in games like tag and hide and seek was found in the following rhyme:

Lincoln, Lincoln, I been thinking,

What the world have you been drinking?

It ain't bourbon, it ain't wine,

Oh My God, it's turpentine!

All the participants put one foot into a circle. One goes through this rhyme and eliminates the participants one at a time. The one who is left is it.

Submitter comment:

I often used this methid to determine who would be it in the games in Washington DC (1950's)

Data entry tech comment:

motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C500, C750, C500.1; S555] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: Myself

Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Choice ; Diversion ; Entertainment ; GAME ; Play ; RHYME

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Entertainment: Games

Hide and Seek Call:

When playing hide and seek, and the person who is it cannot find everyone, he calls out "Ally Ally in Free" and all those who are still hidden come out of their places to hide again for the next game.

Submitter comment:

The informant learned it from the other kids in the neighborhood

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original Bn [C524, S70] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Diversion ; Entertainment ; GAMES ; Play

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Entertainment: Games

Jump Rope Song:

Two, Four, Six, Eight, teacher's got a bellyache.

Submitter comment:

The informant learned it from a friend

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDHOOD ; Entertainment ; GAMES ; Play ; RHYME ; SONG

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Entertainment: Games

Jump Rope Song:

Two, four, six, eight, time to transubstantiate.

Submitter comment:

The informant learned it from neighborhood friends

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570] crossed out. replaced with current classification

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Diversion ; Entertainment ; GAME ; RHYME

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Entertainment: Games

Jump Rope Song:

Catch me, Catch me, Catch me if you can.

Submitter comment:

The informant learned it from the neighborhood kids

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C570] crossed out. Replaced with C750.560

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDHOOD ; Diversion ; Entertainment ; Play

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Superstition

Italian Superstition:

Our family doesn't believe this, but my grandmother and some relatives do: when a pregnant woman craves for some specific food, and doesn't satisfy this crave, she will get a beauty mark in the shape of that food somewhere on her body. My cousin has a beauty mark similar to a pork chop and her mother claims to have craved for pork.

Data entry tech comment:

motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Reference

Original Bn [P680] crossed out and replaced with current classification

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; Myself

Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; CHILD ; Craving ; ETHNIC ; FOOD ; Italian ; Old Wives Tale ; SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): Reference

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Superstition

Belief:

If a pregnant woman gets frightened and touches some part of her body, her child will be born with a birthmark on the same part of its body. The birthmark will be the same shape as the thing which frightened the mother.

Data entry tech comment:

motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Reference

Original BN [P438] crossed out and replaced with current classification

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; CHILD ; FRIGHT ; Offspring ; Old Wives Tale ; PREGNANCY ; Scare ; SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): Reference

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Superstition

Belief:

A pregnant woman should avoid being scared or shocked because this will disfigure or mark the baby.

Examples:

1. During a fire, a terrified pregnant woman grabbed her face with her hands and the baby was born with a red streak on its face.

2. A pregnant woman was scared by a mouse, and her baby was born with a marking on its shoulder similar to a mouse.

Submitter comment:

The informant heard of these two instances while she as a young girl in Poland.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Reference

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Biology ; BIRTH ; Birthmark ; CHILD ; FEAR ; FIRE ; Mouse ; Offspring ; Old Wives Tale ; PREGNANCY ; RODENT ; SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): Reference

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Superstition

Pregnancy Belief:

When the informant was a student nurse in obstetrics at Mt. Carmel Hospital in 1968, she had a Slavic patient who had a patch of hair on her back at the base of her spine. the woman haad been told by her mother that she had been frightened by a bear while she was carrying her daughter. She was extrememly frightened when she suddenly saw the bearbut as she made the spontaneous gesture of clutching herself, she thought it would be dangerous to her child if she raised her hands to her face in fear in the front, so she reached behind and grabbed her back. She belived this had caused the patch on her daughter's back.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Reference

Where learned: Public Health Nurse

Keyword(s): BABY ; Bear ; BELIEF ; CHILD ; CURSE ; FEAR ; infant ; jinx ; Offspring ; Old Wives Tale ; SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): Reference

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Superstition

If a pregnant woman is frightened by fire, the baby will have a red or purple birthmark.

Submitter comment:

Belief: Means of Cursing

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Reference

Original BN [P740] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): BABY ; BIRTH ; Birthmark ; CHILD ; COLOR ; CURSE ; FEAR ; FIRE ; jinx ; Offspring ; Old Wives Tale ; Purple ; Red ; SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): Reference

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Superstition

Pregnancy Superstition:

If a pregnant woman is frightened her baby will be born marked in some way.

Submitter comment:

This is a superstition common in the Oswald family

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Reference

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; Birthmark ; CHILD ; CURSE ; FEAR ; jinx ; Mark ; Offspring ; PREGNANCY ; Scare ; SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): Reference

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Superstition

Belief:

If you're frightened during pregnancy after the 7th month the child will be born with a birth mark such as a strawberry or in the shape of a thing that produced the fright.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Reference

Original BN [P880] crossed out. Replaced with Current Classification

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): BABY ; BIRTH ; CHILD ; CURSE ; FEAR ; jinx ; Offspring ; Old Wives Tale ; Scare ; SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): Reference

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Superstition

How Many Children?

Thread a needle and hold it at the top, next to your left wrist. If you keep watching for awhile, the needle and thread will move all by itself. If it moves in circles, for example, three times, that means you will have three daughters someday. If it sways back and forth, that means you will have the respective number of sons. If the needle and thread don't move at all, you will be childless.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P542, P860] crossed out. Replaced with current Classification

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BIRTH ; Childbirth, divination ; CHILDREN ; FUTURE ; GAME ; gender ; NUMBER ; Offspring ; Ordaining ; SUPERSTITION ; TRICK

James Callow Keyword(s): Reference

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