The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT

ONE PERSON IS IT. THE REST LINE UP ON A CERTAIN CRACK
OF THE SIDEWALK. IT CALLED GREEN LIGHT AND EVERYONE
ELSE COULD RUN AS FAST AS THEY COULD UNTIL IT CALLED
RED LIGHT FOR EVERYONE TO STOP OR YELLOW LIGHT FOR
EVERYONE TO WALK. THIS CONTINUES UNTIL ALL THE PLAYERS
ARE AROUND THE NEAREST CORNER AND OUT OF SIGHT. THEY
COULD THEN HIDE, ANYWHERE WITHIN THE BOUNDS SET.
DURING THIS TIME, IT MUST COUNT TO 100 AND IS THEN FREE
TO START TO LOOK FOR THE OTHER PLAYERS. WHEN IT DISCOVERS
A PLAYER, HE TRIES TO BEAT THE PLAYER TO THE GOAL
(USUALLY A SPECIFIED TREE). IF IT WINS THEN THE PLAYER
HAS TO BE IT IN THE NEXT GAME. IF IT LOSES THEN IT MUST
CONTINUE TRYING TO FIND PLAYERS UNTIL HE CATCHES ONE
AND BEATS HIM TO THE GOAL. WHEN A PLAYER IS CAUGHT
AND LOSES THE RACE BACK TO THE TREE, HE THEN
BECOMES IT AND A NEW GAME BEGINS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: CHILDHOOD