The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

KICK THE CAN

WHEN I WAS A BOY IN BETHEL PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, WE
PLAYED A GAME CALLED "KICK THE CAN." SIMILAR TO
HIDE AND SEEK, THE PERSON WHO IS "IT" MUST IDENTIFY
THE HIDDEN PEOPLE AND WHERE THEY ARE. HE MAY ONLY DO
THIS WHILE HE HAS THE CAN. HOWEVER, THIS CAN MUST STAY
AT "HOME."
IF THE HIDERS CAN GET TO THE CAN AND THROW IT AWAY
FROM "HOME," THE CAUGHT ARE RELEASED. THUS
SOMETIMES WHEN "IT" SPOTS SOMEONE AND RACES FOR THE
CAN, THE PRISONERS MAY ALREADY HAVE BEEN FREED OR THE
PERSON IDENTIFIED MAY BEAT "IT" TO HOME AND THROW
THE CAN TO PREVENT HIS OWN "CAPTURE."

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; BETHEL PARK

Date learned: 00-00-1954