The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

CARDINAL PUFF

HERE'S TO CARDINAL PUFF, NUMBER ONE, FOR THE FIRST TIME TONIGHT
HERE'S TO CARDINAL PUFF PUFF NUMBER TWO, FOR THE SECOND TIME TONIGHT
HERE'S TO CARDINAL PUFF PUFF PUFF NUMBER THREE FOR THE THIRD AND
FINAL TIME TONIGHT.
ONCE A CARDINAL, ALWAYS A CARDINAL

Submitter comment: TO BEGIN THIS GAME YOU MUST BE SEATED IN FRONT OF A TABLE
THE PLAYER MUST HAVE A FULL GLASS OF EITHER BEER OR SOME ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGE IN FRONT OF THEM.
TO MAKE THIS GAME VALID, TWO WITNESSES MUST BE PRESENT
WHO ARE ALREADY CARDINALS THEMSELVES.
FOR EACH LINE OF THIS GAME THERE IS AN ACTION THAT MUST BE PERFORMED.
EVERYTHING IS DONE ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER YOU ARE ON.
AFTER THE PLAYER HAS SAID, "HERE'S TO CARDINAL PUFF, NUMBER
ONE, FOR THE FIRST TIME TONIGHT,
BEGINNING WITH HIS LEFT INDEX FINGER,
HE MUST HIT THE SURFACE OF THE TABLE,
THEN WITH HIS RIGHT INDEX FINGER HE DOES THE SAME.
THE ACTION IS THEN REPEATED, ALWAYS BEGINNING WITH THE LEFT,
THIS TIME HITTING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TABLE.
THE PLAYER THEN STOMPS THE FLOOR WITH HIS LEFT FOOT ONCE
AND THEN WITH HIS RIGHT FOOT ONCE.
THE PLAYER THEN STANDS UP FROM HIS SEAT ONCE AND SITS DOWN.
NEXT THE PLAYER MUST LIFT HIS GLASS WITH HIS LEFT
INDEX FINGER AND THUMB AND HIT THE TABLE SURFACE ONCE
WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE GLASS.
THEN, HOLDING THE GLASS IN THE SAME MANNER HE
MUST TAKE ONE SWIG FROM HIS DRINK.
THE NEXT LINE OF THE GAME IS THEN SAID,
HERE'S TO CARDINAL PUFF PUFF, NUMBER TWO,
FOR THE SECOND TIME TONIGHT,
THE ENTIRE PROCESS IS THEN REPEATED WITH THE
FINGERS, FEET, AND GLASS.
EVERYTHING MUST BE DONE IN TWO'S
STRIKING THE TABLE TWICE, THIS TIME WITH THE FIRST TWO FINGERS,
AND THEN DOING THE SAME WITH THE OTHER HAND.
THIS IS FOLLOWED BY STOMPING THE FLOOR TWICE WITH EACH FOOT AND
THEN STANDING AND SITTING TWICE.
HE THEN LIFTS HIS GLASS WITH THE FIRST TWO FINGERS AND
HITS THE TABLE TWICE, FOLLOWED BY TWO SWIGS FROM THE DRINK.
THE THIRD LINE OF THE GAME IS THEN SAID,
HERE'S TO CARDINAL PUFF PUFF PUFF, NUMBER THREE
FOR THE THIRD AND FINAL TIME TONIGHT.
ONCE AGAIN THE PROCESS IS REPEATED WITH THE FINGER, FEET, AND GLASS.
THIS TIME EVERYTHING MUST BE DONE IN THREE'S.
WHEN YOU GET TO THE THIRD STEP AND LIFT THE GLASS TO DRINK
THREE SWIGS MUST BE TAKEN AND THE LAST ONE MUST FINISH THE DRINK.
THE GLASS IS THEN TURNED UPSIDE DOWN WITH YOUR LEFT HAND COVERING IT
AND THE PLAYER SAYS, "ONCE A CARDINAL ALWAYS A CARDINAL."
THE TWO WITNESSES ARE THERE TO WATCH AND LISTEN FOR MISTAKES.
ANY MISTAKE MEANS THE PLAYER MUST GUZZLE THE REST OF HIS DRINK.
REFILL IT AND BEGIN AGAIN.
THE PLAYER IS NOT ALLOWED TO BEGIN WHERE HE LEFT OFF.
IF THE PLAYER FINISHES WITH NO MISTAKES, HE IS CONSIDERED
A CARDINAL FOR LIFE.
THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT VERSIONS I HAVE SEEN AND HEARD
OF ABOUT THIS GAME.
WHENEVER I HAVE PLAYED THIS GAME IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT
TO HAVE THE WITNESSES THERE AND TO MAKE SURE THE PLAYERS BEGIN AGAIN
WHENEVER A MISTAKE IS MADE.

Where learned: VERMONT