The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

MIDNIGHT

ONE PLAYER IS THE FOX AND THE OTHER PLAYERS ARE THE
CHICKENS. THE FOX IS IN HIS DEN, A SMALL AREA
MARKED OFF AT ONE END OF THE PLAY SPACE. THE CHICKENS
APPROACH HIS DEN ASKING, "WHAT TIME IS IT?" THE FOX
MAY ANSWER ANY CLOCK TIME. WHEN HE ANSWERS "MIDNIGHT!"
THAT IS HIS SIGNAL THAT HE IS GOING TO CHASE THE
CHICKENS. AT THE SIGNAL, THE CHICKENS RUN FOR SAFETY.
THEY ARE SAFE WHEN THEY REACH A SPECIFIED AREA. ANY
WHO ARE CAUGHT BY THE FOX BEFORE REACHING SAFETY ARE
TAKEN TO HIS DEN AND ASSIST IN CATCHING THE CHICKENS
WHEN THE FOX SIGNALS. THE CHICKENS APPROACH THE FOX'S
DEN AND THE GAME CONTINUES UNTIL ALL THE PLAYERS ARE
TAGGED.

Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED FROM KIDS IN NEIGHBORHOOD.

Where learned: NEW YORK, ASSUMED ; HAMBURG

Date learned: 10-29-1967