The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

GAME FOR TRAVELING

IT WAS A DUTCH-GERMAN TRADITION THAT FAMILIES DRIVING
THROUGH THE COUNTRY--SUNDAY DRIVES WERE THE THING TO
DO THEN--AND ON TRIPS, WELL, THE THREE OF US (HERSELF
AND TWO SISTERS) USED TO BE IN THE BACK AND YOU PLAYED
GAMES TO KEEP THE KIDS QUIET. AND ONE OF THE OLD
FAVORITES WAS THAT YOU LOOKED IN THE FIELDS FOR A GRAY
OR WHITE HORSE AND WHOEVER WAS THE FIRST TO SEE HIM
WOULD MOISTEN THE THUMB ON THEIR RIGHT H AND WITH THEIR
TONGUE AND FIRMLY STRIKE THE PALM OF THE LEFT HAND WITH
THE MOISTENED THUMB AND THEN FORM THE RIGHT HAND INTO A
FIST AND STAMP THE PALM OF THE LEFT HAND THAT HAD BEEN
MOISTENED WITH THE THUMB. THEN YOU WATCHED ALL CARS AND
PEOPLE FOR A RED-HEAD AND THE FIRST ONE TO SUCCEED
IN FINDING THE HORSE AND RED HEAD GOT THEIR WISH.
YOU WOULD REPEAT THE SAME PROCEDURE WITH THE RED HEAD
AS WHEN YOU SAY (SAW?) THE HORSE.

Submitter comment: HAPPENED AS A GIRL LIVING IN DETROIT (MICHIGAN).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SOUTHFIELD

James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE

Date learned: 05-10-1965