The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

EASTER EGG TRADITION

AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, WE USED TO RECEIVE EASTER EGG BASKETS
FULL OF EGGS AND CHOCOLATE. THE CHILDREN WOULD BANG THE HEAVY
END AGAINST EACH OTHER'S EGG AND IF YOU CRACKED THE OPPONENT'S EGG,
IT WAS YOURS TO KEEP. SOME OF US WOULD EVEN DRAIN ONE EGG AND STUFF
IT WITH A HEAVY MATERIAL SUCH AS SAND OR BRICK MORTAR. IN THIS WAY,
OUR SHELL WOULD NOT BREAK AND YOU COULD WIN ALL THE OTHER EGGS.
HOWEVER, SOMEONE ALWAYS BECAME AWARE OF THIS AND YOU WOULD BE
CAUGHT RED-HANDED.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person. He recalls doing this in the late 1940s.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): GAME

Date learned: 00001940S LATE