The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

ITALIAN COUNT OUT RHYME

PA, LUM, BELLA, SUPPA, SUPPA;
QUANTA, PENA, LAVA, COPA;
AY, LEVA, VENTA, QUA;
UNO, DUA, TREA, QUAT.
HIS GRANDMOTHER PLAYS IT WITH THE GRANDCHILDREN. EACH
CHILD PUTS HIS TEN FINGERS OUT AND THE GRANDMOTHER
STARTS AROUND SAYING ONE WORD FOR EACH FINGER. ON
"QUAT" THAT CHILD MUST PUT THAT FINGER DOWN. TH
CHILDREN WITH ALL THEIR FINGERS DOWN GET CANDY AND THE
CHILD WITH ANY FINGERS STILL UP GETS HIS HANDS SLAPPED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT