The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE CARROT MARCH

ON THE NIGHT BEFORE EASTER MORNING, WHEN THE CHILDREN PUT OUT THEIR
EASTER BASKETS FOR THE EASTER BUNNY TO FILL WITH CANDY, ALL THOSE WHO
WISH TO PARTICIPATE ARE EACH GIVEN A CARROT. THESE CARROTS ARE
HELD AT CHEST LEVEL POINTED VERTICALLY. THEN THE MARCH BEGINS. THE
HEAD OF THE HOUSE LEADS FOR AWHILE AND THEN ANOTHER DESIGNATED PARTY.
THE PARTICIPANTS WALK IN SINGLE FILE, FOLLOWING THE LEADER
WHEREVER HE GOES. A CHANT IS SUNG BY ALL PARTICIPANTS. IT GOES--
"OREO--OREO" IN A DEEP VOICE.

Submitter comment:

OUR FAMILY DOES THIS.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person. Instructor asked if her father or grandfather did this as children, and she said no, just her family.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR