The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT

THIS GAME IS PLAYED WITH AN "IT." THE "IT" TURNS HIS
BACK ON THE OTHER PLAYERS AND SAYS: "YELLOW, BLUE,
BROWN, RED LIGHT." WHEN HE SAYS "RED LIGHT," HE
TURNS AROUND TO FACE THE PLAYERS. ALL THE TIME THAT
HE HAD BEEN NAMING COLORS, (THE CHOICE AND NUMBER OF
COLORS NAMED BEING ARBITRARY) THE REST OF THE PLAYERS
HAD BEEN SNEAKING UP ON HIM FROM SOME STARTING POINT.
AT "RED LIGHT," THEY MUST FREEZE IN THEIR POSITIONS,
BECAUSE IF "IT" TURNS AROUND AND SEES THEM MOVING,
THEY MUST GO BACK TO THE START. WHEN THE "IT" IS
SATISFIED THAT NO ONE IS MOVING WHILE FACING HIM,
HE TURNS AROUND AND BEGINS NAMING COLORS AGAIN WHILE
THE OTHERS ADVANCE AGAIN. THE GAME ENDS WHEN ONE OF
THE PLAYERS TOUCHES THE "IT."

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS BUDDIES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Date learned: 11-00-1967