The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT

THIS IS A GAME WE USED TO PLAY IN OUR BACK YARD WHEN
I WAS A SMALL CHILD. IT REQUIRES AN OPEN SPACE WITH
TWO END LINES. A LEADER STANDS AT ONE END LINE AND
THE OTHER CHILDREN AT THE OTHER END LINE. THE LEADER
ALTERNATES SAYING "RED LIGHT" AND "GREEN LIGHT." THE
CHILDREN MAY RUN TOWARD THE FINISH LINE AFTER "GREEN
LIGHT," BUT THEY MUST FREEZE COMPLETELY AT "RED LIGHT."
ANY CHILD CAUGHT MOVING DURING "RED LIGHT" MUST RETURN
TO THE STARTING LINE AND BEGIN AGAIN. THE FIRST CHILD
TO REACH THE FINISH LINE IS THE WINNER AND BECOMES
THE LEADER FOR THE NEXT ROUND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: NOT GIVEN