The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

WHEN I WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL, MY CLASSMATES AND I USED
TO PLAY A GAME CALLED "PAPER, ROCK, SCISSORS." EACH
PLAYER HIT HIS FIST INTO HIS OTHER HAND THREE TIMES
AND THE THIRD TIME HE MAKES A GESTURE. ONE OF THE
THREE GESTURES COULD BE MADE: A ROCK, WHICH WAS
DESIGNATED BY THE FIST, A PAIR OF SCISSORS WAS
DESIGNATED BY A SHOWING OF TWO FINGERS, OR A PIECE
OF PAPER, WHICH WAS DESIGNATED BY A FLAT HAND.
NONE OF THE THREE GESTURES REALLY HAND AN ADVANTAGE.
A PAPER COULD WRAP A ROCK. A SCISSORS COULD CUT PAPER.
AND A ROCK COULD BREAK A SCISSORS. THE WINNER GOT
TO HIT THE LOSER ON THE WRIST.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT