The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

ROMAN BOYS TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO JUMPED ON FRIENDS'
BACKS AND SHOUTED, BUCCA, BUCCA, QUOT SUNT HIC?--'BUCCA,
BUCCA, HOW MANY ARE HERE?' IF THE WOBBLING 'MOUNTS'
COULD GUESS THE NUMBER OF FINGERS THEIR 'RIDERS' HELD UP,
IT WOULD BE THEIR TURN TO JUMP. TODAY, BOYS IN ENGLAND
SHOUT, "BUCK, BUCK, HOW MANY HORNS DO I HOLD UP?" THE
RULES ARE THE SAME.

Where learned: PLAY WORLD SPANS TIME AND SPACE ; NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SCHOOL BULLETIN ; VOLUME 42 ; NUMBER 15