The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THIS CHILD'S GAME, PLAYED IN NEW YORK, IS CALLED
"SARDINES." ONE PERSON IS "IT" AND RUNS AND HIDES
HIMSELF SOMEPLACE WHILE ALL THE OTHER PLAYERS
HIDE THEIR EYES. WHEN "IT" HAS FINISHED HIDING
HIMSELF, HE HOLLERS "SARDINES," FROM WHERE HE IS.
THE OTHER PLAYERS MUST ATTEMPT TO FIND HIM THEN,
FOLLOWING THE DIRECTION OF THE VOICE. MEANWHILE,
"IT" WILL, ON OCCASION CALL OUT "SARDINES," TO
HELP THEM ALONG A LITTLE. THE FIRST PERSON TO
DISCOVER "IT" MUST JOIN HIM IN HIS HIDING PLACE
UNTIL ALL THE OTHER PLAYERS HAVE ALSO FOUND THEM,
AT WHICH TIME THE GAME IS OVER, AND THE FIRST
PERSON TO HAVE FOUND "IT" CAN NOW BE "IT" HIMSELF.

Submitter comment: I REMEMBER PLAYING THIS GAME AS A CHILD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; NEW YORK