The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FRUIT BASKET UPSET

FRUIT BASKET UPSET IS A GAME IN WHICH A LEADER IS CHOSEN.
THE LEADER THEN GOES AND WHISPERS THE NAMES OF FRUITS
INTO THE DIFFERENT PLAYERS' EARS. TWO PEOPLE WILL
RECEIVE THE SAME FRUIT'S NAME. THEN ALL THE PLAYERS
SIT IN A CIRCLE WITH THE LEADER STANDING IN THE CENTER.
THE LEADER STARTS TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING HE LIKES AND
HE JUST MENTIONS A NAME OF A FRUIT WHILE HE IS TALKING.
AS SOON AS HE MENTIONS A NAME OF A FRUIT THAT TWO
PEOPLE HAVE, THE TWO PEOPLE MUST SWITCH PLACES, AT
THE SAME TIME THE LEADER TRIES TO GET TO ONE OF THE
PLACES BEFORE THE PLAYERS. THE PERSON WITHOUT A
PLACE GOES TO THE CENTER. AT ANY TIME THE PERSON IN THE
CENTER MAY CALL FRUIT BASKET UPSET--WHEN HE DOES
EVERYONE MUST SWITCH PLACES. THE ONE LEFT GOES TO THE
CENTER OF THE CIRCLE AND THE GAME CONTINUES.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOES NOT REMEMBER WHO TAUGHT HER THIS GAME
BUT EVER SINCE SHE CAN REMEMBER THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD
HAS PLACED IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 02-26-1971