The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

COLORED EGGS

AT LEAST THREE PLAYERS ARE NEEDED, BUT THE MORE THE BETTER. ONE KID
PLAYS THE WOLF, ONE PLAYS THE MOTHER, AND THE REST ARE EGGS. BEFORE
THE GAME STARTS, THE WOLF GOES AWAY WHERE HE CANNOT HEAR, WHILE THE
MOTHER ASSIGNS EACH OF THE EGGS A COLOR. AT THE GAME'S START, THE
WOLF KNOCKS AT AN IMAGINARY DOOR AND THE MOTHER ANSWERS. HE ASKS HER
IF SHE HAS ANY COLORED EGGS. SHE REPLIES "NO." BUT AT THAT MOMENT
ALL THE EGGS IN THE BACKGROUND GO "PEEP-PEEP-PEEP." HE PUSHES THE
MOTHER ASIDE, AND GOES INTO THE "HOUSE." HE THEN NAMES OFF COLORS
UNTIL HE GUESSES THE COLOR OF ONE OF THE EGGS. THAT EGG MUST THEN
RUN AROUND A DESIGNATED AREA, SUCH AS THE BACK YARD. IF THE WOLF
CATCHES HIM, THAT EGG BECOMES THE WOLF, AND THE GAME STARTS ALL OVER
AGAIN, WITH THE ORIGINAL WOLF NOW BECOMING AN EGG, AND THE REST OF
THE EGGS GETTING NEW COLORS. (THE ROLE OF MOTHER MAY OR MAY NOT
ROTATE.) IF THE EGG IS NOT CAUGHT, HE GOES BACK TO THE HOUSE AND THE
WOLF GUESSES OTHER EGGS' COLORS. (IN MY WORDS)

Submitter comment: THIS GAME IS ESPECIALLY POPULAR WITH BOYS AND GIRLS UNDER AGE TEN.
AFTER THAT AGE, IT IS PLAYED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY BY GIRLS. A POSSIBLE
EXPLANATION FOR THIS COULD BE THAT THE BOY DOES NOT LIKE HAVING TO
OCCASIONALLY TAKE THE ROLE OF THE MOTHER.

Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON

Date learned: 09-00-1973