The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FLORIDA HALLOWEEN CUSTOM

"WE WERE ALWAYS RUNNING AROUND ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT. WE DIDN'T GO
TRICK OR TREATING LIKE THEY DO NOW, BUT WE'D GO LOOK FOR HOT-STEAMS
ON THE COUNTRY ROADS. THEY WERE LIKE GHOSTS THAT WOULD STRETCH
ACROSS THE ROAD AND BLOCK THE WAY. IF THEY CAUGHT YOU, THEY'D
SUCK YOUR BREATH, AND TO PREVENT IT, YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO SAY MM
"ANGEL BRIGHT, LIFE IN DEATH
GET OFF THE ROAD, DON'T SUCK MY BREATH'. MM
WE BELIEVED IN HOT-STEAMS, BUT WE NEVER DID SEE ONE".

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT FIRST LEARNED OF "HOT-STEAMS" FROM CHILDHOOD FRIENDS
IN FLORIDA. SHE STATED THAT SHE HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT HOT-STEAMS
UNTIL SHE READ HARPER LEE'S "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD",
WHICH MENTIONED HOT-STEAMS WITH THE SAME RHYME.

Where learned: OHIO ; FLORIDA ; ALLIANCE ; EUSTIS

Date learned: 11-13-1980 ; 00001920S