The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

HIDE AND GO SEEK

THIS GAME WAS PLAYED WITH THREE OR MORE PEOPLE IN AN
AREA SUCH AS THE WOODS, WHICH OFFERED NUMEROUS PLACES
FOR HIDING. ONE PERSON WAS SELECTED TO BE "IT" OR THE
ONE WHO HAD TO FIND THE OTHERS. CERTAIN BOUNDARIES
WERE SET UP OUTSIDE OF WHICH WE COULD NOT GO. THEN
THE PERSON WHO WAS "IT" HAD TO COVER HIS EYES, STAND
FACING A TREE AND COUNT SLOWLY TO A HUNDRED. WHILE
THIS PERSON WAS COUNTING, EVERYONE ELSE RAN OFF AND
SECURED THEMSELVES A GOOD HIDING PLACE. AFTER THE "IT"
HAD FINISHED COUNTING, HE SCOURED THE AREA, TRYING TO
FIND WHERE EVERYBODY WAS HIDING. HE EITHER HAD TO
TOUCH YOU OR WITH HIS HAND ON THE TREE USED FOR
COUNTING, YELL OUT YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU WERE HIDING.
IF THIS WAS DONE, THAT GAME WAS OVER, EVERYONE CAME
OUT OF HIDING AND A NEW GAME WAS STARTED WITH THE
PERSON WHO WAS DISCOVERED BEING "IT."

Submitter comment: WE USED TO PLAY THIS GAME IN THE COUNTRY WHERE WE
LIVED FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

Where learned: INDIANA ; FORT WAYNE