The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

ON THE SATURDAY EVENING OF OUR FIRST CAMPOUT, ALL THE
NOVICE SCOUTS ARE GATHERED BEFORE THE CAMPFIRE AND
THEIR FELLOW SCOUTS AND INVOKE THE HELP OF THEIR GOD--
OWA TANA SIAM (O WHAT AN ASS I AM). THEY ALL KNEEL
TOWARD FIRE AND PRAY THAT THEIR GOD WILL, IN SOME WAY,
TELL THEM SOMETHING. EVERYTIME THEY INVOKE THE NAME
OF THEIR HOLY GOD (ROUGHLY EVERY TEN SECONDS) THEY MUST TOUCH
THE GROUND WITH THEIR HEADS. THEY KEEP DOING THIS UNTIL
IT DAWNS ON THEM WHAT THEY ARE SAYING, AT WHICH POINT
THEY WHISPER TO THE LEADER WHAT THE GOD HAS TOLD
THEM AND THEY ARE ALLOWED TO GET UP WHILE THE OTHERS
(STILL IN THE DARK) ARE LEFT TO PRAY. LAST ONE UP
USUALLY ENDS UP WITH WORST WEEKEND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT