The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

ON CERTAIN KIBBUTZES IN ISRAEL, IN ORDER FOR A BOY TO BE
ACCEPTED AS A YOUNG MAN, HE MUST PERFORM A CERTAIN ACTION
WHEN HE IS FOURTEEN. THE KIBBUTZES HAVE GUARDED HOTHOUSES
IN WHICH ALL THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ARE GROWN AND
KEPT. THE BOY'S INITIATION CONSISTS OF SNEAKING PAST THE
GUARD AT THE HOTHOUSE AND GOING TO WHERE THE WATERMELONS
ARE KEPT (BEHIND IRON BARS), CUTTING A WATERMELON OPEN,
GETTING BOTH HALVES BETWEEN THE GRATE, SNEAK PAST THE
GUARD, RUNNING BACK HOME AND THEN SHARING HIS PRIZE
WITH THE OTHER BOYS IN THE KIBBUTZ.

Where learned: PHONE

Date learned: 11-28-1971