N AT IO N A L -

H O M E R E A DI N G ! N IO N PA M P H L ET S

L IT E R A T ! R E S E R IE S , N O . 4

BRIT ISH
FOL K L ORE, FOLK SON GS,
an d SIN GIN G GAM ES

Sl R
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L A ! R E N CE an d L A D! G O M M EL

! N IO N
B ! IL D IN G S , A D E L P H I, L O N DO N , W . C .

P r i c e O ne S h i l l i ng N J
 B ri ti sh Fo lk lo re
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Fo lk so n
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s an d
Si n gi n g G a m es .

B ! S IR L A ! R E N CE AN D L A D! GOM M E .

I KN O Wo f n o s ubj ect q u ite s o gene ra ll y u se fu l as fol k -lo r e

fo r h o me read i ng an d h om e s t u d y I t i s so h u ma n i n i t s
.

o ri gi n a n d i n th e p h ilo soph y i t t e a ch e s ; i t ap pe al s s o
st ro ngl y t o ch a r a cte ri s t i cs w h ich re s id e i n v a ry i ng p ropo r .

t i o n s i n al l of u s ; i t i s so ri ch i n l ocal as s oc i a t io n s ; i t t ell s
s uch a w on de rfu l sto ry of m a n s p a s t and h e lp s so ex a ctly i n
’

t h e u n de r s t and i ng of m an s p re s en t ; i t i s s o p ath et i c an d
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i n m an y b ran ch e s s o b e au t i fu l th at i t i s d i ffi cu lt t o get ri d
,

of i t s f a sc i n a t ion s w h e n o nce o n e h as b egu n to u n d e rst a n d i t .

I t d e al s w i t h th e l ege n d s a n d t r a d i t io n s of ou r a nc e s t o rs a n d ,

th e b el i ef s r i t es an d cu stom s of o u r co n te mpo r a ri e s
, ,
Th e .

l egen d s a n d t rad i t i o n s w h e t h e r i n t h e s h a pe o f n u r s e ry t a l e
,

o r h ero s to ry o r of b a ll ad an d so ng a re th e p rod u c t of m an y
, ,

gene rat i o n s of fa i th fu l n a rr ato r s w h o i n th e a c t o f t ran s ,

m i tti ng to th ei r su cce s so rs th e t rad i t io n w h ich w a s h and ed

to t h e m h ave i n s en s ib l y an d g rad u a l ly w ove n i t i n to a m ag
n i fic e n t art i st i c n a rr at ive — so a rt i st i c t h a t w h e n i t h a s b ee n
,

red u ced from t r ad i t i o n to l ite r atu re i t a w ake n s fres h i nte re s t

and b egi n s a n ew l i fe i n i t s l i te ra ry fo r m Th e b e l i e f s r i te s .
, ,

an d cu sto m s reco rd ed b y col lecto r s a r e at o n c e recogn i ze d a s

so meth i n g ap a rt fro m mod ern th ough t a n d mod e rn sc ie nce ,

and ,
b y t h e i r ve ry co n t r a st to th e se b ec o m e a sub j ec t of i n
,

t el l ec t u a l co n s id e r a t i o n a nd i n qu i ry .

Th e re a re n o w m a n y b ook s w h ich d e al w i t h t h e s e su bj ect s ,

and th e l i s t p re s en t ed t o ou r re ad e r s t h ough i t con t a i n s th e

,

be s t ex a m p le s i n v a ri ou s d e p a rt men t s i s b y n o me a n s ex ,

h a u st i v e I t i s w el l to b egi n at th e b e gi n n i ng and i t i s w el l
.
,
to re s o lv e up on t r a ve r s i ng t h e w h o le s ubj e c t b efo re b eg i n n i ng
t o s t u dy a n y on e b ra n c h Th e n u r se ry t al e i s pe rh a p s th e
.

b e s t s ubj e c t to b eg i n up on E ve n i n th e s e d a y s i f we h a ve
.
,

n o t ou r s e lve s h e a rd t a le s i n th e n u r s e ry w e h a v e re ad th e m ,

i n book s p rep a red fo r th e p u rpo s e a n d n o o ne wh o h a s h ad ,

a n y h o m e l i fe a t a l l i s qu i t e i gno r a n t o f t h e s e d el igh t fu l r e

m i nd e r s of C h i ld hood s d a y s B u t w h at if t h e s to ry of C i nd e r
’
.

ell a o r C a t s k i n of C h i ld e R o w l a n d o r J a c k t h e G i a n t K il l e r
, ,

i s not o n ly a l l w e h a ve th ough t i t to b e i n o u r ch i ld hood b u t ,

s o m eth i ng m o re to ou r m a t u re r y e a r s ! I n t h e p age s of M r .

S id ney H a r t l a n d s S c i en c e of F a i r y T a l es S i r R ich a rd
’
,

T e mp le s i n t rod u c t io n to Wi d e A w a k e S t o r i es a n d M r
’ '

, .

C a mpbe l l s i n t rod u c t i on t o H i g h la n d T a l es th e r ea d e r i s
’
, _
.

m a d e a c q u a i n ted w i t h th e c h a pter s of h u m a n h i s to ry w h ich

.

l i e h idd e n i n t h e s e t r a d i t i on s N o o n e h a s d e a l t w i th b a l l a d s
'

a n d s ong s qu i t e i n t he s a m e w a y C ol le c t i on s e x i s t i n good ly
.

u an t i ty b u t n o rec ogn i zed a u t h o ri ty h a s y et pu t b efore th e

q ,

r ea de r a ll t h a t t h e s e e c h oe s fro m t h e p a s t m a y m e a n M r
’

. .

S h a rp s s pl en d i d w o rk o n th e folk -s o n g s f ro m o u r E n gl i s h
’

c o u nt ie s a n d M i s s B ro a d w o o d s c olle c t io n of t he sa me k i n d
’

c o n t a i n s o m e of th e b e s t s p e c i men s a n d m a n y a re a d e r w i l l ,

re c ogn i ze n ew b e a u t i e s i n so ng s h e a rd i n th e c ou nt ry v i ll a ge
w h e n h e re n e w s a cqu a i n t a n c e w it h t h e m by m e a n s of th e s e
b ook s .

W i th b elie f s ri te s a n d c u sto ms a ve ry gr e a t d e a l h a s be en
, ,

a cc omp l i sh ed To t h e s e i n a ve ry s p eci a l s e n s-e D r T y l o r s

.
, ,
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d efi n i t i o n o f s u rv iv a l mo re p a rt i cu l a rly a ppl ie s Th e y a re .
,

fo r th e most p a rt s u rv iv a l s of th e long s i n c e d i s pl a ced p re

!

C h ri st i a n re l igi on s of ou r a nce s tors a n d s uch w o rk s a s D r ,

.

T y l o r s P r i mi ti v e C u l tu r e a n d D r F r a ze r s G o ld en B o u g h
’ ’
.

e x empl i fy th e re m a rk a bl e v a l ue fo r h i s to ric a l pu rpose s w h ich

a tt a ch e s to t h i s b ran c h of fol k -lo re Pe o pl e l iv i ng i n t h e .

m id s t of mod e rn c i vi l i z a t io n h ave n ot a l l p rog re s s ed u p to th e

s a me s t a nd ard and th o se w h o h a ve l agged b eh i n d p refer ri ng
,
.

t o d o w h a t th e i r f a th ers h ave d on e b efo re th e m h ave p re ,

s e rved i n t h ei r pe ri od i c a l c ere mo ny t he i r h o u se ho ld p r a ct ice ,

and ,
i f you w i ll th e i r s u pe r s t i t i o n s mu ch of w h at th e i r re mote
, ,

a nce s to r s p r ac t i s ed o r b el i eved a s p a rt of a recogn ized fo rm

o f re l igi on W e th u s on ce mo re come u pon h i sto ri cal m ater i al

.

o f a m o st i m po rt a n t n at u re N o w h e re el s e c a n b e ob t a i n ed
.

th e i n fo r ma t io n w h ich i s to b e d e ri ved fro m th i s s ou rce

.
Th e - .

h a lt i n g pl ac e s i n ma n s h i s to ry f ro m th e e a rl i e st st age s m ay
’

b e re c ove red fro m th i s s tud y a s w el l as s o me of th e mo re

r e st ri cted ph ase s o f h i s c a re e r I t i s w ell to u nd e r st an d w h a t
.

c a n b e ob t a i n ed fro m a stu d y of a s pec i a l b od y of cu s to m a n d

b e l i e f a n d i n my o w n l i tt le b o o k E th n o l o g y i n F o l k -l o r e
, ,
.

w i ll be fou nd a n a t t e mpt t o s h o w t h a t t h e r a c i a l d i s t i nc t i o n s
o f t h e e a rl i e s t t i me s i n B ri t a i n a re t r ac e a b le b y me a n s o f th e
s u rvi v a l s o f cu s to m a n d be l i ef a mong t h e pe a s a nt ry o f mod e rn

d ay s .

To t h e n u r s e ry t a le s mu s t b e a d d ed t h e n u r se ry g a me s .

Th e se a re n o w d y i ng o u t an d ye t t h ey co n t a i n b y th e
, ,

m a ch i n e ry o f t h e i r p re s e rv a t i on t h rough m a ny gen e r a t i o n s o f
ch i ld re n t a u gh t b y mo t h e r s a n d n u r s e s f act s o f ou r old e s t ,

h i s to ry T h ey mi mi c t h e a c t s o f th e me n a n d w o me n o f old
.

t i me s a n d i n th i s w ay b ri ng b ac k to u s p ictu re s o f old l i fe
,

a nd m a n ne r s o f a p a rticu l a rl y v i v i d d e sc ri pt i on Th i s b r a n c h .

of fol k -l o re h as b ee n s t ud i ed e x h a u s t ivel y and L a d y G o mme s ,

’

T r a d i t i o n a l G a mes of C h i l d r e n i n E n g l a n d S c o tl a n d a nd , ,

Ir el a n d a ffo rd s a good ex a mpl e o f w h at c a n b e a cco m pl i sh ed

fro m a c o mplet e s tu d y o f a s pe c i a l b r a n c h of fol k -l ore .

A p a rt fro m th o s e b oo k s w h i c h d e a l w i t h th e sc i e nce o f th e
s ubj ect th e re a re ma n y c ol l ect io n s pu re an d s i mple of
, , ,

lege nd s t rad it i on s b al l a d s s ongs c u s to ms ; b el i efs a n d

, , , , ,

gam e s A l l th e s e m a y b e re ad w i th a g re a t d e a l of ple a su re
. .

C a re i s n eed ed t o d i s t i ngu i s h th e good co l l ect io n of t h e s e f a ct s

fro m t h e co mme n t s w h i ch t h e coll ecto r so me t i me s i nd u lg es i n
lo re i s n ot al w a y s —o r r a th e r i s
.

A good col lect i o n o f fol k -

, ,

very s eld om — a s a fe gu i d e fo r d i scu s s ion o f t h e o rigi n o r

s i gn i fi c a nc e o f a n y gi ve n i tem B u t t h e s e d e fect s as i d e th e
.
, ,

fi n e co llect i o n s at th e d i s po s a l o f re ad e r s w i ll re p a y pe ru s al .

A n d i f th e re a d e r s h ou ld p a ss fro m t h e s t age of re a d e r t o
,

t h a t o f stu de n t s h ou ld d e s i re t o a d d to th e su m o f m an s
,
’

k n o w l ed ge o f ma n t h e re i s a g re a t w o r k b e fo re h i m
, H e .

may co llect s t i ll th e rem a i n i n g frag men t s of t r a d i t i on al s to ry

o r t r ad i t i o n a l cu sto m a n d b el i ef A n d t h e w o rk o f c ol l ect i o n
.

w i ll b e a d e l igh t an d pl e a su re to h i m ; fo r i t w il l i nt rod uc e h i m
t o men a n d w o me n o f g re at c h a r a cte r a n d i nd iv id u a l ity l iv i n g ,

d ocu m en t s o f h i sto ry H e m a y h el p t o cl a s s i fy a n d a r r a nge

.

th e ma te ri a l a l re ad y c ol lected s o th a t i t may b e re ad y fo r th e
,

u se of t h e s ci e nt i fi c s ch ol a r Th e w o rk i s n ot d i ffi cu lt t o a
.

p a t i e n t a n d s y s te ma t i c w o rke r I t w i ll b e w a r mly rece ived

.

b y m a n y d i st i ngu i sh ed sc h ol a rs w h o w ou ld gl ad ly w elco me ,

su ch a i d t o th e i r o w n l ab ou r s a n d w h o w ou l d a l w ay s free l y
,

recogn i ze a n d m a k e ac kn o w l edg me n t fo r s u ch h e l p O rgan .

i z ed b a n d s o f w o rke r s s pe nd i n g th e i r w i n te r eve n i n gs i n t h i s
,

w ay w ou ld fi nd t h e ms e lve s d o i ng s o me t h i n g o f i mpo rt a n ce
,

fo r th e w o rld o f t hou gh t a n d re s e a r c h .

B u t fi n a lly t h e re i s t h e n e t re s u l t o f t h e re a d i ng a n d th e
, ,

w o rk u po n t h e mi nd I t i s t h e g re a t e s t s ub j ec t fo r te a ch i ng
.
 4

m an tolove m a n b y fi r s t t e a ch i ng m a n to u nd e r s t an d m an
, .

E very g re at rel ig iou s a n d h oly t hough t a n d ac t h a s a long

h i s to ry a t th e b ack o f i t a n d i t b ri ngs ab ou t a s e n s e o f
,

p ropo rt i o n a m agn a n i m i ty of con c e pt i o n concern i ng oth e r

,

pe opl e s a i m s a n d a s p i r a t i o n s to k n o w s o meth i ng o f th e
’

g en e s i s o f th ough t T he gre a te s t b o ok s of th e w orld ca n b e

.

i n te rp re ted b es t by th e ai d of folk -l o re a n d w h eth e r w e are , , .

re a d i ng of o u r o wn h i s to ry o r of th e B ib l e h i story w e u nd er ,

s t a n d th e fact s b ette r b ec a u se w e u nd e r s t a nd t h e ac to r s i n
,

th e g re ate s t h i sto ri cal d r a ma m e n a n d w ome n b oth b y see , ,

i ng th em t h rough t h e gl a s se s w h ich fol k -l o re s u pp l ie s .

I n con s i d e ri ng th e po ss ib i l it i e s ope n t o a re a d er of t h i s sub

j w s h all fi n d th at s o m uch of th e tu d e n t s w o rk i n f olk ’
ec t
,
e s

lo re d epen d s u po n b ook s th at th e r ea d e r may w e ll b e c ome t h e

st ud e n t a n d w o r k er a n d t h i s i nce n t ive m a ke s th e s ub j ec t of
,

mo re t h a n o rd i n a ry i n te res t B u t to re a d p rop e rly a n d ad

.

y i t i s n ece s s ary to h a ve some sort of gu id e a nd I p ro

‘

v i se d l ,

po s e n o w to tu rn t o t h e b ook s an d atte mp t t o d i rect a t ten t i on

t o th e m eth od to b e ad opt ed b y t h e re a d e r w h o i s abou t to ;

t a k e u p th i s s ubj e c t .

A b o ve al l th i ng s i t i s n e c e s s a ry n ot to s pec i a l ize too e a rly

, .

Th e re ad e r i n fol k -l o re sh ou ld b e a c qu a i n t ed w ith all i t s

b ra nche s b efo re h e a ll o w s h i m sel f to l i ke o n e b ranch s o muc h
a s to re ad o n l y i n th a t b ranch I f h e w a nt s t o re a d a n d u n d e r
.

s t an d a ll th a t i s t o b e fou nd i n folk - t al e s a n d legend s h e mu s t ,

k n o w at al l eve n t s ge ne r a lly w h a t i s to b e fou nd i n cu sto m

, ,

an d su pe rst i t i t i o n a n d i n s ong an d b all a d a n d so on th r ough ,

ou t t h e en t i r e ran ge .

Th e fi rst b oo k s to go to a re th o s e w h i c h a r e e ss en t i all y c o l
lect i on s of folk -lo re a n d i t i s w el l to d i sc ri m i n a te b et we en
,

b oo k s w h i ch h ave b ee n w ri tt en b y th ose w h o h ave d on e t h e

wo r k of c ol l ect i on th em se lve s — t h o s e w h o h a ve b ee n a t w o rk
a mong t h e fol k t app i ng th ei r sto re s of k no w ledg e b efo re i t

w a s too l at e - and b o ok s w h ich th ough th ey a re n ot m ore

,

t h an col lect ion s o f fol k -lo re h ave b ee n c o mp iled b y a uth o rs

,

wh o h av e u s ed th e w or k o f col lecto rs b u t h av e n ot c ollected ,

t h em selve s . Th e fo rme r h av e a ch a r m ab ou t t he m a l togeth e r

i mpos s ib le to th e l a t te r Th ey i nt rod u ce th e re a d e r to t h e
.

old g a ffe rs a nd g a mm e rs w h o rel ate th e lege nd b e c a u se th ey

h ave k n o w n i t an d loved i t al l th e i r l ive s becau se th ey h ad ,

h ea rd i t from th ei r p a re n t s w h o i n tu rn h ad h e a rd i t fro m
,

t he i r s a n d s o o n t h rough t h e a ge s
,
N oth i ng i s qu i te so real .

as t h i s . O r i t m ay be th ey i n t rod uc e pe a s a nt s o r th o s e o f
, , ,

h igh e r c u ltu re th a n pe a sa nt s w h o pe rform a cu sto m b ec a u s e

,

i t w ou ld b e u n lu c k y n ot to pe rfo rm i t ; wh o bel i eve i n s ome

c u ri ou s s u pe r s t i t i o n becau s e i t h ad b ee n i m p re s s ed u po n t h e m
b y t h e i r fo rbe a r s a n d b ecau s e i t h ad a h old u po n t h e i r mi nd s
,

wh ich n o n e o f th e fo rce s o f c iv i li z a t io n h a d b ee n a b l e to c ra d i
c ate . A n d s omet i me s th e l oc al tou c h i s co n t a i ne d i n a d i a le c t
w o rd o r ph r a se a s q u a i n t a s i t i s i mp re s s iv e .

O f a l l t h e b ook s o f th i s cl a ss I th i n k I s h o u ld ch oo s e th e
R e v W a lte r G rego r s N o t es o n t h e F o l k -l o re of N o r t h -E a s t
’
.

o f S c o t l a n d a s th e b e s t s pec i me n I t t ell s u s o f b i rth ce re .

mo n i es c u s to m s re l at i ng to t h e c h i ld b a pt i s m t h e n u r se ry
,
“

, , ,

b oy c od e o f h on ou r ; ab ou t th e h u ma n b od y d re a m s a n d d iv i ,

n a t io n leec h c ra ft t h e h ou s e eve n i n g s a t t h e fi re s i d e f a i ri e s
, , , , ,

w a te r ke l p i e g h o s t s w i t c h e s a n d d ev i l c o m
“
,
b l a ck a i rt , ,

p a cts ri d d l es ma rri a g e p l ace rh y m e s pl ace a n d fa mi l y ch ar

, , , ,
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a c t e r i st i c s a n i m al an d pl a n t s u p e rst i t i o n s
,
t ree s a n d se ason s ,
'

a n d w e a t h e r C h ri s tm a s a n d N ew ! e a r s D a y c o u n t i n g s ou t
’

, , ,

w a s h i ng d ay fa r m i ng b o at s an d fi s h i ng d e a th an d b u ri a l
, , , ,
.

N o o n e c a n re a d t h i s b ook w i t ho u t be i ng i mp re s s e d b y i t s
s i mp l i c i ty i ts s i nce ri ty an d i t s ab s o lu te f a it h fu l n e s s to t h e
, ,

p eopl e fro m wh o m al l i t s co n te n t s w ere g a rn e re d I t d ep ict s .

w h at th e re i s to b e fou n d i n th e folk -lo re o f a p a rt icu l a r d i s

t r i c t a nd i t ex pl ai n s a s i n a m i r ro r w h at fol k -lo re co n s i s t s o f
,

an d w h y i t i s so i n t e res t i ng To g ive a n a ccou n t o f th e .

o ld e n t i m e i n th e N o rth a s s e en b y my s el f a n d a s rel ate d to

m e b y t h e aged i s t h e t a s k I h a ve s et b e fo re me a re M r ,
”
.

G rego r s w o rd s a n d h i s e q u i p m e n t fo r th e t a s k w a s t h a t h e
’
,

l ived t h e l i fe an d s i mp ly to ld h i s s to ry O f E n gl i s h co lle c .

t i o n s H e nd e rso n s F o l k -l o r e of t h e N o r t h er n Co u n t i es i s th e
’

b e s t i n m a n y re s pect s b u t th e re ad e r h a s t o b e w a rn ed h e re
,

th a t th e a u t h o r h a s a ce rt a i n a mou n t o f t h eo ry m i x ed u p w i t h
h i s u nd oub ted ly v al u ab l e c ol lect i on H i s t h eo ri e s a re c ru d e .

a n d v alu ele s s b u t h e o b t ai n ed h i s m a t eri al s fro m ge n u i n e

,

s ou rce s a n d th e tou ch i s t h e re
,
O f a h igh e r o rd e r a l togeth e r .

i s M i s s B u rn e s s S h r o ps h i r e F o l k -l o re u n fo rtu n a te ly n o w ou t
’
,

o f p ri n t Th i s i s a col le c to r s b ook e nt i rely b u t w i th t h e

.
’

a d d ed c h a r m o f ad d i t i o n a l n ote s fro m a rich s to reh ou s e of

k n o w led ge p l a c ed at t h e d i s po s a l of t h e re a d e r r a th e r t h a n
t h ru s t fo r w a rd fo r h i m to acc ep t w i th ou t cri t ic i s m Th e n .

su ch book s a s H a rl a n d an d \V i l k i n s o n s L a n c a s h i re F o l k -l o r e ’

a n d som e l o ca l col le c t i o n s o f le s s e r n ot e w i ll fi n d t h e i r pl a c e

A l l of t h e m t re at o f s i m i l a r s ub j e c t s t h ou gh of cou r s e n ot , , ,

e q u a lly th orough ly L e a v i ng t h e d om a i n o f c u s to m a n d b el i ef
.

fo r t h a t o f fo lk -t a l e a n d t r a d i t i on i t i s re ma rk ab le th a t E n g ,

l a nd d oe s n ot p os ses s a n at ion a l c ol le c t i o n t h ough M r J o se ph

’

, .

E n g l i s h F a i r y T a l es t rie s to t a k e t h a t pl a ce
J b
’
a c o s s M r . .

J acob s h o w eve r i s n o t q u i t e t ru e to h i s o w n s t a nd a rd
, ,
H e .
 6

e d i t s th e fol k -t a le s fo r t h e u s e of ch i ld ren and th i s i s u n p a r ,

d o n ab l e fro m th e co l lector s po i n t of v i e w ’
I n S c otl a nd t h e .

g re a t b oo k i s of c ou rse C a mpb el l s T a l es of t h e Wes t H i g h

, ,
’

l a n d s c ol lected fro m th e p eople f a i t h fu l ly reco rd ed a n d eve ry

, , ,

d et a i l gi ven to m a k e i t a mod el w o rk - I t i s ve ry c h ar m i ng ; .

th e record i s s o f a i th fu l th a t e ac h s to ry w a n t s t o b e re c ited
o r re a d a lou d i n o rd e r to get ou t i t s ful l ne s s of l oc a l colou r a n d
i t s ex t r a o rd i n a ry ri ch n e s s o f d e t a i l Th e r e i s n o coll ect ion .

q u i t e l i ke i t th ough S i r R i ch ard Te mpl e s Wi d e A wa k e

,
’

S t o r i es a n d M i ss F re re s O l d D ecca n D a y s t w o c oll ect ion s of

’
,

H i n d u sto rie s c o m e ve ry n e a r to i t
,
T h ere a r e on e o r t w o .

c olle c ti on s o f I ri s h fol k -t a le s s u c h a s L a rm i n i e s We s t Iri s h

’

F o l k -ta l es an d K e n n edy s F i r es i d e S t ori es of Ir el a n d w h i c h

’
,

a re of s pec i a l v a l u e fro m t h e po i n t of v i e w w e a r e con s i d e r i ng ,

n a m ely th a t of th e p u re c ol lect or se tt i n g fo rth h i s ma ter i a l

.

j u s t a s i t w a s gath e red fro- m th e fo l k .

Th e folk -t a le w h e n c ol l e c ted w i l l a ppe a l t o m an y re a d e rs

q u i te a p art fro m i t s v a lu e a s t r a d it i on Th e reco rd of c u sto m .
,

b el i ef and u s a ge h o w eve r h a s n o su c h cl ai m u pon att en t io n

, , ,
.

M a ny ma y pe rh ap s t u rn a s i d e to w o nd e r at t he m a rvel lou s
stu p id i ty o f p eople w h o c a n d o s u c h st r a nge th i ng s a n d b el iev e
su ch s t range f a i th s s i mp ly o n th e s t rength of w h a t th e i r
p a ren t s o r ne ighb ou rs h a ve t old th e m B u t g r a d u al ly th i s
.

fee l i ng w ea rs a w a y a n d i s re pl a c ed b y t h e a l l -i mport a n t con

,

cept i o n th a t i n t h e s e re c o rd s of t r a d i t i on fol k -t ale a n d fol k , ,

cu s to m a l ike w e a re i n t h e p rese n ce of a d i ffe ren t o rd e r o f

Civ i l i z a t i on fro m th a t w h i c h t h e S t a te th e C h u rch e s a n d th e , ,

sc h ool s p rocl a i m— a c ivi l i z a t i o n m u c h m o r e p r i m it ive mu ch .

l e s s a d v a nced . A n d a t o n c e i t a ppe a rs to b e w o rth a s k i ng

ab ou t th i s s t a te of t h i ng s p re se rved fro m t r a d i t i on by t h e fo lk
of ou r o w n cou n t ry .W h e t h er w e look to c u s to m o r w h eth e r
we look to t h e folk -t a le t h e re i s pl a i n ev i d ence of a p eople
,

wh o h a ve a cu lt of th e i r o w n Th ey a re b apt i z ed ma rr i ed
i
’

.
, ,

a n d b u ri e d a c c o rd i ng to th e ru le s of th e C h ri st i a n C h u r c h ,

b u t b ef o re a n d a fte r t h e C h u rch r it e i n e ach c a se th ey go

th rough a f a mi ly r i te w h i c h i s t o th e m a s i mport a n t a n d a s
re a l a s th e C h u rch r it e .

A n d so b efo re w e h ave left th e pu r e w o rk o f colle c t io n b e ,

fo re w e h ave fi n i s h ed re ad i ng s i mpl y th e record s o f col le cto rs

of th e s e ou t -o f — th e -wa y th i ng s w e a re b egi n n i ng to see t h at
,

th ey h a ve a s pe c i a l i n te re s t a ll th e i r ow n and w e kn o w qu i te ,

wel l th a t w h a teve r th e i r v a lu e m a y u lt i ma tely p rove t o b e

, ,

th ey c a n b e fou n d n o w h e re el se b u t i n th e h u t s and h o me s of
t h e ou tly i n g folk o r i n th o s e reco rd ed c ol lecti on s wh ich op en
t h e d oo r s of folk -lo re to th e re a d e r .
 I now p a s s to th e s eco n d c l ass of b ook s wh i c h fo r m t h e
fou nd a t i o n o f l o l k -l o re re a d i n g n a mely t h o se b ook s w h i c h , ,

a r e e ss e nt i all y c olle c t i o n s o f fo l k -lo re b u t w h i c h h ave n o t b e e n ,

c o llected by th e a u th o r s d i re c t f ro m t h e peo ple Th e re a re .

,

of cou rse m a ny o f th ese w h i c h a re s i mply t h e c rud e s t o f t h e

,

s c i s s o rs a n d p a s te k i n d of b oo k ; t h e re a re o t h e r s o n th e ,

c o n t ra ry w h i c h a re of gre at valu e a n d w h ic h n o re a d e r i n
, ,

fol k -lo re c a n n eglect .

O f th e l a t te r cl a ss B ra n d s P o pu l a r A n ti qu i ti es s t a nd s ou t
’

p re -e m i n e n t ly fi r s t Th i s b oo k h a s h a d a n i n t e re s t i n g h i s
.

t o ry I t b egan i n 1 7 2 5 w i t h a s ma l l b ook A n ti qu i ta t es Vu l
.
,

g a r e s o,
r T h e A n ti
q u i ti es o
f t h e C o m m o n P e o pl e b y H e n ry ,

B ou rn e w h o w a s pe rp etu al cu rat e of A ll S a i n t s C h a p el ’

, ,

N e w ca stle -o n -Ty n e Th i s b oo k w a s a ge n u i n e col le ct io n o f

.

cu sto ms a n d u s age s of t h e peopl e comb i n ed w i th ob se rv a ,

t i on s b y t h e au th o r s h e w i ng w h ic h ma y b e ret a i n d a n d
,
’

w h ich ough t t o b e l a id a s i d e I t m u s t b e re me mbe red i t .

w a s w ri tte n at a t i me w h e n m a my p e opl e w i s h ed t o i mp rove

u po n th e so mb re pu ri t an i s m o f t h e age w h i c h d e n i ed t o t h e ,

pe op l e th e righ t o f en j oy me n t ex c e pt i n ce r t a i n d i re c t i o n s
d ict a ted b y rel igi ou s feel i ngs of t h e n a rro w e s t o rd e r a nd ,

w h e n m a n y othe r peop le p rote s t ed a g a i n s t s uc h a n i mp rove

m en t o n t h e g rou n d th at a ll pop u l a r u sage s a n d ce re mo n ie s
w e re b u t t h e p rod uct o f
”
pope r y o r a s R a n d ol p h e x , ,

p re s sed i t i n a poe m o f 1 6 46
Th ese t ea c h th t
D a n ci ng i s a J ez a b c l l
a

And to h l l
’

B a rl ey B rea k t h e r e a d y w ay e ;
T h e M o r ri ce Id o l s Wh i t s u n a l es c a n b e
,

B u t p ro h a n e
p r li u
e q es o f a J b e e ; u il
T h ese ina z ea
’
l
t ex presse h o w m c e u h th y do
T h e O rga n s a e, h t h v
a e s e ce B a gpi pes il n d too ;
And h r l a m e ss M a y po l es a l l a r e r a i l d
’
upon
A s if eth y ’
r
w e e t h e T o w rs o f B a b ylon .

N oth i n g c a n e xceed th e d eb t fo lk -l o r i s t s o w e t o th e R ev .

M r B ou rn e fo r t h i s b ook
. W e may d e s p i s e h i s ob se rv a
.

t io n s i f w e w i l l b u t w e m u s t re s pe c t h i s c ol le c t i o n of popu l a r
,

righ t s an d u s age s go t toge t h e r a t a t i me w h e n t h ey w e r e

.

sl i pp i n g a w a y fr o m t h e ke n o f a l l .

Th i s b ook h ad a g re a t effec t u pon pub l i c o pi n io n a n d i n ,

1
777 M r J o h.n B r a nd o f L i n co ln C ol l ege , O xfo rd publ i s he d , ,

a n ew ed it i o n u nd e r t h e t i tle o f O bs er v a t i o ns of P o pu l a r
w h i c h i n clu d ed t h e w h ol e o f B ou rn e s b ook
’
A n t i qu i t i es , ,

w i t h a d d end a t o eve ry c h a p t e r o f t h a t w o rk a s a l s o a n ,

app end i x con t a i n i ng s u c h a r t icle s o n t h e s ubj ec t a s h a v e b ee n

o mi tte d b y th a t a u t h o r B r a n d u nd oub t ed ly a d d ed t o ou r
.
 8

k no w ledge b y firs t -h a nd co ll ect i on b u t h e w a s f a r mo re i n ,

.

t ere s t ed i n th e l i te ratu re of th e subj e c t a n d s ough t fo r a n a lo ,

g ie s and o rigi n s i n cl a s s ic a l au th o ri t i e s W e h ere get th e .

o ld o rd e r o f a n t i qu a ri an re s e a rch w h ich t race d ou t o rigi n s

by w ay of c h ron ol o gic a l preced e nce a n d d i d n ot t a ke cou n t ,

o f t h e f a c t th a t a n a t i o n o r p eop le m igh t b e i n a fa r mo re u n
d evelop ed po s i t i o n at a d ate long s ub s equ en t to t h e n a t ion s
of an t i qu i ty N eve rth e le s s h i s p reface i s good re ad i ng to
.
,

t h i s d ay a n d may be reco m men d ed to th e c a refu l re ad e r fo r

,

a n ot i nd i ffe re n t ex po s i t i o n of th e v a lu e of t rad i t i on a l lo re .

B r a n d s P o pu l a r A n t i qu i t i es h as re m a i n ed th e b e st of t h i s
’

c l a s s of book an d w h e n S i r H en ry E ll i s ed i t ed i t i n 1 8 1 3
, , ,

an d a ga i n i n 1 8 42 a d d i n g n ote s an d ma te r i a l from e a rly

,

E ngl i s h l i te r a tu re a n d d r a ma s fro m s ome o f th e m o s t reco n

“

d i te p ri n ted s ou r c e s a n d from M S sou rce s i t b ec a me a n d .

, ,

i s a b ook of gre at ch a rm a n d v alue E l l i s 5 ed i t i o n w a s

’
.
,

i nclu d ed i n th e w ell kn o w n B oh n L ib ra ry i n 1 8 49 and , ,

i f re a d e rs w i ll b e c are fu l to ob se rve th at e ve ry an alogy to a

c l as s i c al p a rallel d oe s n ot c a rry w i th i t of nece ss i ty a c l a s s i

c a l o rigi n fo r th e E ngl i s h ri t e o r u s age th ey w i ll le a rn mu c h ,

a n d p rofi t a b ly fro m th i s w o rk *
.

I t h a s b ee n w ort h w h i le t r ac i ng ou t t h u s b ri e fl y th e h i s
to ry of t h i s b oo k bec au s e i t i l lu st rate s so w el l th e c h a r ac
t e ri st i c s o f t h i s d iv i s i o n of ou r s ubj ect Th e book w h i ch .

com e s n e a re s t to i t rema i n i ng fo r t w o h u n d re d y e a rs u n
,

p ub l i sh ed a n d re s t i ng i n i t s M S c on d i t i o n i n th e l ib r a ry of .

t h e B ri t i s h M u se u m i s J oh n A ub rey s R ema i n es of G en ,
’

t i l i s m a n d ju d a i s m p ub l i sh ed b y th e F ol k -lore S oc ie ty
,
! m .

e qu a l i n v a lu e a s d i ffe re n t p a rts of t h i s b ook u n d oub ted ly

are i t co n t a i n s al l s o rt s of good n ote s o f c u s to ms coll ected
,

by J oh n A ub rey a t a nd befo re th e t i me s of th e C i vi l W a rs ,

t h at i s of c o u r se t h e C o mmo n w e a l th pe ri od
, ,
L i ke B ran d s .
’

book i t i s u se le s s a s a n a u th o ri ty a s t o o ri gi n s ; b u t a n a
,

l ogu es a re a l w ay s w o rth y stu dy i ng i f we c a n n ot ac c ep t th e m

a s n ece s s a ri ly i mply i ng al s o t h e o rigi n al fo rm A n oth e r .

famou s book of th i s cl ass i s S t ru tt s S po r ts a n d P a s ti mes of ’

t h e P e opl e of E n gl a n d w h ic h i s to b e ob ta i n ed i n s eve r a l
,

ed i t io n s o f w h ich th at b y M r C o x rece n tly pub l i s hed i s th e

,
.

mo s t d e s i r a b le Th e n fol lo w su c h b ook s a s H a mp so n s
.
’

M ed i i A e vi K a l en d a r i u m ( th e L at i n t it le cove r s a n E ngl i s h
f

d re ss) w h i c h d e a l s w i th c u s to ms a n d u s age s a ppe rt a i n i ng

,
’
to th e v a ri ou s s ai n t s a n d fe st i v a l d a y s ; B r a dy s Cl a v i s ’

Ca l e n d a r i a a n oth e r b ook of t h e s am e s o rt ; and a mon g

, ,

A n e w edition f B r and i s b ein g pr ep ar ed f r pu b li cation b y memb er

o o s

of th e F ol k -lor e S o i ty
c e .
 9

mod e rn com p i l a t i o n s ,
D yer
’
s P o pu l a r C u s t o ms , H ope s ’
H ol
y
l V el Is : T h e i r L eg e n d s a nd book s T ra d i ti o n s ,
a nd a few
d e a l i ng w i t h s pe c i a l s ubj e c t s Tu rn i ng t o a n o t h e r b r a nch
'

o f ou r s ubj e c t a re t w o c h a r mi n g b ook s H a ll i w e l l s N u rs e r y ’

R h y mes a n d T r a d i ti o n s a n d C h a mb e rs s P o pu l a r R h y m es
’

o
f S c o tl a n d B ot h o f th e se a re me re col le c t i on s mo s tl y fro m
.

l i te ra ry sou r c e s b u t t he y a re i nd i s pen s ab l e t o t h e fol k -lo re

,

re a d e r a n d w i l l ac t a s s t i mu l a n t s t o fu r t h e r re a d i n g
,
I n th e .

d o ma i n of th e fol k -t al e a re s u ch gen u i ne b ook s a s K e i gh t

ley s F a i ry tl f y t h o l og y a nd H a z l i t t s F a i r y M y t h o l o g y of
’ ’
‘

S h a k es pea r e a nd a f ew o t h e r s o f t h e s a me k i nd
, .

Th i s b r a n c h of ou r s ubj ec t too i n t rod uce s u s t o th e fol k , ,

s ong a n d t h e b a l l a d D i x o n s A n c i en t P o e ms B a ll a d s a n d
.
’

, ,

S o ngs of t h e P ea s a n t r y of E n g l a n d i s a l i tt l e b ook w h i c h w a s
a s o rt o f p i o n ee r i n th i s w o rk a n d i s st i l l a t re a s u re -h ou s e
°

o f i n fo r ma t io n a n d d el igh tfu l re a d i ng t ogeth e r w i t h t h e c o r ,

re spo nd i n g volu me i n t h e sa me s e rie s o f pub l ic at i on s B e l l s ,

’

E a rl y B a l l a d s i ll u s tr a t i v e of H i s t o ry T r a d i t i o n s a n d Cu s , ,

t o ms *
. F e w s e c t i on s o f fo lk -l o re a re mo re ge n u i n ely d e
l igh t fu l t o th e o rd i n a ry re a d e r w h o i s pu r s u i n g a co mpl et e
cou r s e t h a n t h a t of t he fol k -s ong a n d b all a d O ft e n i n a .

l i n e o r a v e r s e i s con t a i ne d a w h ole w o rld o f anc i e n t l i fe ,

t h ro w i n g u p to ou r i mag i n at i o n a p a st w h ich h a s i rret r i ev

ab l y go n e fro m a mo ng u s w h i l e i n s o me of t h e b a ll a d s a re,

sc rap s o f h i sto ry p re se rv ed i n loc a l i t i e s i n th e s i mple fo r m

of b a ll ad n a rr a t i ve w h i ch c a n s c a rce l y b e s u rp a s sed fo r b e au t y
an d a ppe al i ng s i mp l ic i ty .

W e h ave n o w gon e ove r t h e s ubj e c t i n i t s t wo e a rly ph a se s .

W e h av e at t em pted t o i nd ic at e w h a t t o re a d an d h o w to re a d ,

so t h at w h eth e r t h e obj ect b e to b eco me a fu ll y e qu i pp ed

,

folk -lo re s t u d en t o r t o re ad t h a t w h i c h w i l l d el i gh t a n d i n
st ruct th e re sh ou ld b e s o m e me th od a n d so me i d e a o f th e
,

range o f t h e s ubj ect A l l th e b ook s of th e c l a s s d e al t w i t h

.
-

i n t h i s a nd th e l a s t p a pe r h ave to b e c on s id e red i n t h e l igh t

o f m a te ri al fo r t h e fol k -l o r i st— m a te ri a l t a ke n d i re c t fro m -

t h e peopl e o r m at e ri al c ollecte d fro book s a n d ou t o i -t h e

m -

w ay s ou rce s of i n fo r m at i o n o f w h i c h t h e re a re so ma n y
T h e F ol k —
.
,

lo re S o c i ety i s s pec i al ly d e a l i n g w i th t h i s l a t te r
b ra nch i n i t s se ri e s o f C ou n ty F ol k -lo re “
w h ic h co n s i st s ,
”

of re p ri n t s of fol k -lo re m a t e ri al fro m pub l i s h ed w o rk s n o t

d i re c t ly d e al i ng w i t h folk -lo re Th e w o rk o f a c t u al collee .

ti o n fro m t h e peopl e i s go i ng on ; b u t eve ry ye a r l e sse n s t h e

ch a nce s of g a i n i ng a ny th i ng o f re al v a lu e R e ad e r s w h o .

Al so E g n li h
s an d Sc otti h s B a ll d
a s bv P ro f Chil d
. .

F . L . B
 10

h a ve d e lig h ted i n t h e s ubj e c t p res en ted t o t he m i n th e book s

recom me nd ed to th e i r a t t en t i o n w i l l d o w e ll t o t ake note of
a ny t h i ng th ey m a y h e a r a m ong the i r fri e n d s o r oth e r s w i th

w h o m t h ey c o m e i n to con t a c t o r of any th i n g t h ey m eet i n a

l i t e r a ry fo r m i n a n u n u su a l o r u ne x p e c te d pl a ce T h ey wi l l .

h el p fo r w a rd th e cau s e b y s u c h n ote s .

W e n o w c om e t o th e l a s t s e c ti o n of b o o k s fo r t h e re a d ers
i n folk -l o re n a mely th at d e a l i ng w ith t h e s tu d ie s an d re s u lt s
, ,

o f fol k -lo re Prev i ou s p a ge s h a v e s h o w n th e m at e ri a l a va i l

.

a b l e fo r the stud e n t -
t h e follo w i ng w il l s h o w h ow th e s tu d en t
h a s m a d e u s e of w h a t h a s b ee n co llected fo r h i m .

N o folk -l o ri s t c a n d o w i th ou t fi r s t re a d i ng D r T y l o r s
’
.

ep o c h -ma k i ng P r i mi ti v e Cu l tu r e T ru e i t i s th at th i s b ook .

i s a n a n th ropologic a l w o rk ; b u t th e ev i de n c e of a n t h rO po l o gy -

s o of t e n e nd s a s D r Ty lo r p u t s i t i n t h e fo lk -lo re of t h e
,
.
,

c i vi l i zed w o rld th a t th e t ru e pl ac e of folk - lo re c a n b e s t b e

s tu d i ed fro m t h e po i n t of v i e w p re s en t e d b y D r Ty lor It is . .

v a l u ab le fo r o t h e r re a so n s I t i s a s o rt of gr a m ma r of re
.
“

s ea rch ,
p l ac i ng ma ny d i fli c u l t po i n t s i n th ei r righ t l igh t d i s ,

m i ss i ng m a n y t h eo ri e s w h i c h h a d ru n ri o t f o r m any y e a r s ,

s ett i ng fo rth t he l i n e s u pon w h i c h a l l s t ud e n t s o f m a n a n d

h i s w a y s m u s t p ro c eed P a rt i cu l arly i n th e d efi n i t i o n a n d
.

w i l l th e folk -l o re st u d e n t fi n d
”
u se of s u rviv a l s i n c u ltu re
i m men s e h elp ; fo r i t i s a s su rv iv a l s t h a t folk -lo re a lon e ex i s t s .

F rom D r T y l o r s w o rk th e fol k -l o ri st le a rn s t h e pl ac e w h i c h
.
’

h i s p a rt i c u l a r s tu d y o c cu p ie s a mong t h e a n th ropologi c al
s c i ence s . H e w i l l le a rn t h a t i n eve ry s o c i ety t h ere are p eopl e
w h o d o n ot p rog re s s e i th e r i n rel igi on o r i n pol i ty w i th t h e
fo remo s t of t he n a t i o n Th ey a re l eft st r a nd ed a m id st th e
.

p rog re s s T h ey l i ve i n ou t -o f -th e -w ay v i ll age s o r i n pl ac e s

.
,

w h e re gene r a l c u lt u re d oe s n ot pe n et r a t e e a s i ly ; t h ey keep t o
o ld way s p r ac t ice s a n d i d e a s fol lo w i n g w i th rel igiou s aw e
, , ,

a ll th a t th ei r p a re nt s h a d h e ld to b e n e c e s s a ry i n th ei r l ive s .

Th e se peop le a re l iv i ng d epo s i t o ri e s of a n c i en t h i sto ry — a

h i sto ry th a t h a s n ot b ee n w ri tte n d o w n b u t w h i c h h a s co me ,

d o w n by t rad i t i o n K n o w i ng t h e co nd i t i o n s of s u rv iv a l s i n
.

c ul tu re th e folk -l o ri st u se s t h e m i n th e a nci en t me an i ng n ot
, ,

i n t h e i r mod e rn s ett i ng t ri e s to fi nd ou t the i r s ign i fi c a n ce

,

a n d i mpo rt a n c e i n rel a t i on t o th e i r o rigi n a n d t hu s l ay s th e ,

fou nd at i o n fo r t h e s c i ence of fol k -lo re a s i t h a s b ee n s tu d i ed

b y D r F r a ze r M r H a r t l a n d M r L ang D r H add on and
.
,
.
,
.
,
.
,

o the rs .

m
N o n a e st a nd s o ut m m
o re p ro i n en tly as a fol k lo re -

a u th o ri ty th a n th a t o f D r F r a ze r H i s G o l d en B ou gh i s
. .

m on u men t a l n ot o n ly a s a w o rk o f rese a rch b u t a s a boo k ,

 I l

o f folk -lo re m eth od P e r s o n a lly I d o n o t th i n k D r F r a ze r

.
,
.

h a s p r o ved al l h i s poi n t s a n d mu c h c o n s id e r a t i o n w i l l h a ve
,

to b e g i ve n t o h i s c o n c lu s i on s b e fo re t h ey c a n be fi n a lly
a c c e p t ed . B u t a s t o t h e ge ne r a l re s u l t s o f h i s w o rk t h e re
i s n o d oub t . S t a rt i ng w i t h a c u st o m s u rv i vi ng i n a n c i en t
R o me u nd e r th e E mp i re D r F r a ze r s e t s o u t to e x pl a i n w h a t
,
.

th i s s u rvi v a l re a l l y w a s H e t a ke s a l l i t s s a l i e n t po i n t s a n d
.
,

o n e b y o n e co mp a re s t h e m w i t h th e s a v a ge c on c ep t i o n o f
th i ng s u nt i l o n e i s c o n sc i ou s of t h e f a c t t h a t t h i s s u rvi v a l i n
I mp e ri a l R o me w a s t h e l a s t re l i c o f a pe ri od w h e n th e people
w h o i n h a b i ted th i s p a rt o f a nc i en t I t a ly w e re i n c u ltu re o n t h e
le ve l o f s av a ge s o f to -d a y Th e l e a rn i n g a cu me n a n d re
.
, ,

s e a rch o f D r F r a ze r a re con s p i c u ou s o n eve ry p age a nd

.
,

t h ey a re d i s p l a yed i n a l i te r a ry sty le w h ic h h a s th e ch a rm
of g ivi ng p le a s u re to a l l w h o re a d ;
M r L a ng s s tu d i e s a re o f a d i ffe re n t o rd e r H e c a me
’
. .

u pon a t i me w h i c h w a s u n d e r th e i nfl u e n c e o f th e l ate Pro f .

M a x M ull e r wh o ov erb u rd e ne d b y t h e rece n t d i scove rie s o f

, ,

th e s ci e nce of p h i l ology a n d t h e pl ac e of th e S a n sc ri t l a n
gu age a mon g I nd o -E u rope an l a ngu age s took a l i n e i n th e ,

i n te rp re t a t io n o f my t h w h ich b rough t i t w h oll y w i th i n th e

d o ma i n of l a ngu age i nfl u e nce s I t h a d a f a te fu l i n fl u en ce
. .

N u m e ro u s w ri t e r s fol lo w ed th e s a me l i n e a nd folk -lo re w a s ,

n e a rly d oo med a s a p a rt o f a n th ropol ogy w h e n M r L a ng .

c a me fo r w a rd i n i ts d e fen ce H i s M y th . R i tu a l a n d R e , ,

l i gi o n w a s at i ts fi r s t i s s u e a m a s t e rl y a n d n ece s s a ry a n sw e r
to th e s ch ool of M a x M ulle r a n d s h o w ed h o w th e e arl i e s t
,

d a w n o f w e ste rn c i v i l i zat i o n a pp e a rs i n fol k -lo re a s th e c u s

tom s be l ie fs a n d u s age s o f p ri m i t i ve people
, ,
M r L an g . .

h as w ri tte n o n m a ny b r a n c h e s of fol k -lo re b u t pe rh a p s h i s ,

i nt rod u ct i o n t o G ri mm s F a i ry T a l e s i s t h e m o s t com
’ “ ”

p l e t e s tu d y from h i s pe n .

N o o n e h a s fough t t h e b a ttl e o f th e a n t h ro polog ic a l val u e

of fo lk -l o re w i th mo re s k i l l a n d le a rn i n g th a n M r S id n ey .

H a rt l a nd w h o se S c i e n c e of F a i ry T a l es a n d L eg e n d of P er
,

s eu s a re w el l kn o w n to eve ry s t u d e n t M r H a rt l a n d b el i ev e s
. .

th at f a i ry tal e s a re b u t th e re fl ect i o n o f a nc i e n t so c ie ty a s
told i n n a rra t ive fo r m j u s t a s fl o a t i n g c u s t o m an d b e l i ef a re
,

th e re fl ect i on i n s u rv i v a l a n d h e s h o w s th a t t h e re i s no t a n
,

i nc i d e n t i n fol k -t al e w h ic h i s n ot re p re se n te d b y a cu s t om
o r a b el i e f a mon g p ri mi t i ve p eople s H i s s t u d ie s a re a n
.

e s se n ti a l e q u i pme n t to th e re ad e r i n fo lk -lo re M r E d w a rd . .

C l o d d fo l lo w s t h e s a me l i ne of th ough t a nd i n h i s pub l i s h ed ,

M y t h s a n d D r ea ms a n d T o m T i t T o t i ll u s t r a te s i n a f ew
s pec i a l c a s es t he a n th ropologi c al v a lu e o f fo lk -lo re .
 12

Th ere a re m an y b ook s o n t h e sc ie n t i fi c v a l u e o f fol k -lo re ,

b u t t h e s tu de n t mu st b e c a refu l i n s el ect i ng t he m S o m a ny .

me a n s ex i s t fo r t re a t i ng t h e s ub j ect i n th e w rong w ay th a t
i t i s a l mos t i mpo s s ib le t o en u me r a t e t h e w o rk s w h i c h on e
s h ou ld a vo id a l t ogeth e r a n d th o se w h ich s h ou ld b e re a d w ith

c a re M r F a r re r s P r i mi ti ve M a nn er s a n d Cu s t o m s b elong
’

to t h e l atte r cl as s be i ng a fi n e ex a mpl e of w o rk s fr o mth e

. .

p o i n t of v i e w of t h e actu al l i fe of p ri m it ive p eop le K elly s .

’

In d o-E ur opea n F o l k -l or e w a s a t th e t i me o f i t s pub l ic at io n a

m os t u s efu l wo rk an d c an s t i l l b e re a d w i th a d v a nt age a n d
,

p rofi t b u t i t n e ed s ch eck i ng w i th t h e re s u lt s of l a t e r re s e a rc h
,
.

S i r G eorge Cox s In tr od u c t i o n t o M y t h ol o gy a n d F o l k -l or e
’

i s h a rd ly w orth re a d i ng at all i n th e l igh t of mod e rn re s e arch ;

b u t M i s s C ox s In tr o d u c ti o n t o F o l k -l or e th ough o n ly cove r
’
,

i ng a ve ry s m a l l p a rt of th e s ubj ect i s mo s t u s efu l an d sou nd

,
.

M any b oo k s e rr b y t h e p r a ct ice of a r r a ngi ng folk -lore i n

s ecti on s w h i c h re l a t e to mod e rn l i fe i n ste a d of i n ac c ord ,

a n c e w ith t h e a n c ie n t type to w h ich i t b el o ng s I t d oe s n o t .

at al l fol lo w t h a t th e mod e rn s u pe r s t i t io n a tt a ch ed to a p a r
t i c u l ar obj ect i s v a lu ab le b ec a u se o f th i s att a ch men t T a ke .
,

fo r i n s t a n c e the b el i ef th at i f y ou pu t you r righ t stoc k i n g

, ,

o n fi rs t w h e n d re s s i ng you w il l b e lucky ,
Th i s i s gen e r a l l y
.

cl as s i fi ed a m o n g d ome st i c cu sto m s ; b u t i t s t ru e po s it io n i s
”
amon g a l arge cl a s s o f b el i e f s a b ou t th e righ t and l eft ,

w h ich h a s a n i mpo rt an t p l a c e i n th e s tu d y S o ma n y i n .

s t a n c es of s o -c a l l ed N a tu re w o rs h i p — fire l igh t w i n d su n
moon an d so o u — a re n ot a l w a y s t o b e stu d ied i n th i s co n
, , , ,

n ex i o n b u t i n a co n n ex io n w h i c h d oe s n ot be long t o N atu re
,

w o r s h i p a t a ll I n d e ed th e s ubj e c t of c l a s s i fi c a t i on i s a mos t
.
,

i mpo rt a n t o ne a n d le ad s s tu d en t s a st r a y mor e ofte n th a n

,

al mo st a ny oth e r p rob lem s th ey h a ve to f ac e .

A n d th u s w e h a ve w o rked t h rough th e d i ffe ren t ph a se s o f

folk -l o re a s t h ey sh ou ld b e u nd e rt ake n b y t h e c a refu l re a d e r .

O n ly i n a f ew c a s e s h a s i t be e n po s s ib l e to refe r t o spec i a l
b oo k s an d a ut h o r s ; b u t t h e ex a mpl es given are i n te nded t o
b e th e me a n s of he lp i ng r ea d e rs to c l a s s i fy oth e r b ook s w h ich
th ey re a d O n n o a c cou n t mu s t fol k -lo re b e stu d i ed fro m
.

w h a t i s ob t a i n ed fro m on e cou n t ry A l l c ou n t ri e s cont r i

.

b u te a n d co nt rib u te eq u a l ly
,
E ngl a nd m a y po s s es s o n e
.

su rvi val i n i t s mos t a n c i en t fo r m ; G e r ma n y o r F r a n ce o r

I t a l y may on th e oth e r h a n d p os s e s s th e mo st a n c i en t fo r m
, ,

of a n oth e r s u rvi val a n d i t i s onl y by th i s p ro c e s s of co mp a ri

,

s on th a t w e c a n a rrive a t th e re a l ly an ci en t ! n fo rtu n a tely .

,

we d o n ot p o ss e s s fo r E ngl i s h fol k -l o re w h a t G e r m a n y po s
s e s s e s i n G ri mm s g re a t w o rk D eu ts c h e M y t h o l ogi e t r a n s
’
, ,
 1 3

l ated i n to E ngl i s h b y M r S t a ly b ra s . S uc h a w o rk w i l l re.

ma i n a s ta nd a rd fo r a l l ti me e ve n t h ough s o me o f i t s c o n,

e l u s i on s a n d s o m e o f i t s me t h od s o f c l as s i fi c a t i o n c a n n o w

b e s h o w n to b e f a u lty o r w rong I t i s m on u me nt al i n i t s
.

complete n e s s mi n ute ne s s a nd ac cu r a c y a n d eve ry re a d e r

, , ,

w i ll fl y t o i t fo r i n fo rm a t i o n o n a l mo s t e ve ry p o i nt A nd w i t h .

t h e n a me o f G ri mm i t w i ll b e fi tt i ng t o e n d t h i s s h o rt a ccou n t ;
fo r o f a ll fol k -l o ri s t s th e t w o b ro t h e r s ra n k h ig h e s t fo r eve ry
q u a l i ty w h ich m ak e s t h e i r w o rk s h ou s e h ol d b ook s t o eve ry
re a d e r i n fol k -lo re .

W e n o w com e to ch i ld re n s s i ngi ng g a me s a n d i n d e a l ’

i ng w i t h t h e fol k -lo re co n t a i ned i n th e s e i t i s b e s t t o b egi n

w i th th o s e w h ic h con t a i n i n c id en t s n o t n ece s s a ry to a g a me ,

and w h ic h ch i ld re n a re n o t l i kel y t o h a v e i nve n ted As a .

m atte r of fact t h e re a re al l so rt s o f i n c id e n t s i n t r a d i t i o n al
g a me s w h i ch c a n o n ly b e e xp l a i n ed b y re fe re n c e t o a nc i e n t
‘

c u sto m an d i t i s s a fe to co nclu d e t h a t t r ad i t io n h a s b rou gh t

,

t h e ga me s d o w n fro m t h e t i me w h e n s u c h c u sto m s w e re i n
vogue . C e rt a i n ce re mon i e s pe rfo r med i n e a rn e s t b y a d u l t s
h a ve b ee n i m i t a te d b y ch i ld re n i n p l ay a n d s o pe r pe tu a t ed ,
.

B e s id e th e i nci d e n t s th e me t h od o r mod e of p l a y i n th e s e
,

ga mes i s e q u a lly i mpo rt a nt a n d a l s o p rove s th e i r t rad i t i on a l

G a me s i n e a rly t i m
,

o ri gi n e s a s n o w fa l l p ri m a ri l y i n t o
t w o s ect i o n s — b oy s g a me s a n d g i rl s ga me s— a n d
.
, ,

a l t h ou gh
’ ’

b oy s g a me s h ave mo stly l o s t t h ei r t r a d i t io n al o rigi n a n d

’

h a ve b een a l te red i n c o u rs e o f t i me b y co nve n t i o n a l me th od s ,

a n d a re mo re d i ffi cu l t to t rac e e n oug h re ma i n s t o p rove t h e i r

,

d e sce n t fro m cu sto m F ew peopl e w ou ld t h i n k w he n w i t

.

me s s i ng p re se n t -d a y fo otb al l a n d c ri ck et t h at t h e se g a me s ,

w i t h th e i r co mp l ic ated ru l e s b oth h ad fo r t h e i r o ri g i n g a me s
,

fo r k eep i n g u p v i ll age fe u d s o r rel igi ou s ce re mo n y . I n t rib a l

a n d v i ll a ge l i fe w h e n t h e pe o pl e o f o n e pl ace w e re a n t a go
,

n i s t i c t o t h o s e o f a n oth e r t h e a mu se men t s of t h e ch i ld re n
,

re fl e c t ed t h i s feel i ng an d co nte s t s an d m i mi c w a rf a re w ou ld
,

b e pl a yed W h e re re l igi ou s ce re mo n i e s w e re p r a ct i se d to
.

u n i te f a m i l i e s o r v i l l age s i n o n e c o mmo n d e ma n d o r t h a n k s
gi v i ng s uch ce re mo n i e s w ou l d b e i mi t a te d i n pl ay a n d g a me s
, ,

a nd b ot h c o nd i t io n s ex i s t i n g fo r a lo n g pe ri od of t i me i t i s
, ,

n ot su rp ri s i ng th a t t h e pl ay of t h e peopl e re fl ec t s i t st rongly .

I t m u s t b e re me mb e red too t h a t t h ough w e n o w s pe a k o f ,

ga me s a n d p l a v a s b elo ngi ng t o ch i ld ren i n o lde n t i me s t h e s e ,

game s w e re t h e a mu s eme nt s o r rec re at i o n s o f th e i r eld e r

b roth e r s an d s i ste rs a n d t h e i r p a re n t s A s t i me w e n t o n i t .

i s n a t u r a l th a t t h o se a mu s e men t s w h ic h h ad fo r t he i r b a s i s
th e eleme n t s of fi gh t i ng a nd co n te s t s h ou ld be con s id e red t he
 14

p l a y p rope r to b oy s a n d t h os e h avi ng fo r th e i r b a s i s cere

,

mon i a l cu s to m s h ou ld fro m th ei r re fl ect i ng h o me l i fe c o me

, ,

t o b e p l a ye d b y b o t h s ex e s toget h e r a n d th e n b y gi rl s only ,

a n d s m all b oy s a n d th e gi rl s g a me s b ei ng le s s u sed fo r set’

, ,

g a me s h a ve ret a i n ed more of th e c u sto m s i n d i c a t i ng the i r

,

o rl gl n .

W e w i ll fi r s t t a ke th eme t h od s of pl a y i n t r a d it i on a l g a mes .

Th e re a re s eve r a l . Th e re i s ( I ) t h e l i n e fo r m , ( 2 ) th e c i rcle
o r ri ng fo r m ( 3 ) t he a r c h fo rm ( 4) t h e w i nd ing -u p fo rm a n d
, ,

( 5) th e i nd ivi d u a l fo r m ; a n d i n t o on e o f the s e fo r m s a l l t r a d i
t i o n a l ga me s f a ll e ac h fo r m b e i ng s ign i fi c a n t of th e me a n i ng
,

o f t he g a me Th e l i n e fo rm o f g a me i s p l a y ed by t w o l i n e s
.

o r ro w s of c h i ld re n T h e t w o l i n e s s t a n d f a c i ng o n e a nothe r
.

a t a d i s t a nce of s eve r a l y a rd s E ac h l i n e i n t u rn a dv a n c e s
. .

m i d w a y a n d ret i re s s i ngi ng th e i r re s pe c t ive v e rs e s o r p a rt s

,
.

Th e l i n e g ame s rep re s e n t a con te s t a n d a re ch a racter i zed

b y n o on e pl a y e r b e i ng d i s t i ngu i sh ed ab ove h i s fello w s : al l
o n on e s id e s a y t h e s a me w o rd s a n d d o t h e s a me a ct i on s ,

a n d o n e s id e s t a nd s st i l l a n d h e a rs w h a t th e oth e r s i d e h a s

to sa y ue t io n s a re as k ed a n d a n s w e r s g iv en a n d t h e se
!
. s ,

fo rm a n e ss en t i a l p a rt of t h e l i n e fo r m o f g a me Th ey a l l .

rep re s en t c on te s t s a n d c on t e s t s fo r d i ffe ren t p u rp o s e s

,
.

Th e p ri n c ip a l c on t e s t g a me s a re b oy s g a me s fo r ob t a i n ’

i n g g rou nd o r t err i to ry a n d i t i s evi d e n t th e c on t e s t i s b e

,
“

t w ee n p eople of d i ffe re n t p a ri s h e s Th e re a re r a id s i n to .

n eighbou ri ng c ou n ti es fo r food p rope rty a n d p r i s on e rs , , .

Th e re a re a l s o co n te s t s fo r w ive s of a mo re or l e s s frie nd ly
o r b a rte ri ng n atu re Th a t th e l i n e s o f pl a ye r s rep re s en t
.

peop le o f o ne p l a c e i nv a d ed o r v i s i te d b y peop le w h o c ome

from a n oth e r i s s h o w n b y th e f a c t th a t a l i n e i s d ra w n i n
t h e m id d l e of t h e g rou nd t h i s l i n e s ep a r a t i ng th e t err i to ry
,

o f th e t wo s id e s .

Th e re a re s eve ra l ty p i c a l gam es of th i s k i nd O n e o f th e .

—
b e s t of th e pu rely fi ght i ng k i n d o f a n i nv ad i ng a n d a d e
fen d i ng fo rce — i s W e a re t h e R ove r s H e re the a ttack .
”

i ng p a rty a n n ou nce W e a re co mi ng to t a k e y ou r l a n d
“

w e a re th e R ove r s a n d a re a n s w e red b y
,
W e d o n t c a re “ ’

fo r you r men n o r you th ou gh you re t h e R ove r s ,

Th e re’
.
”

a re m a n y ve rs e s of d efi a n c e an d con te mpt fo r th e oppo s i te

s id e a n d a n a tte mp t to ob t a i n food o r p rope rty Th e game .

en d s w i th T a ke you r gu n s a n d fi re a w a y
“
an d th e pl a ye r s ,
”

p re te n d to fi gh t u nt i l o n e s id e get s po s se ss io n of th e oth e r s ’

g rou nd I n s o me p a rt s w h e re th i s g a m
. e w a s pl a yed s ton e s

a n d s t ick s w e re u sed a n d a re a l fi gh t w ou ld en sue

,
Th i s . .

g a me s u rv i ved i n i t s b e s t ve rs i o n i n th e m a rch e s of W a le s
 1 5

a nd t h e bo rd e r c ou n t ry o f C u mbe rl a nd N o r t h u mb e rl and , a n d
,

S cot l a n d Th e g a me
. i s g i ve n i n fu ll , w i t h ma ny ve r s i o n s ,
i n t he D i c t i o n a r y o f T ra d i ti o n a l G a me s Vol I I , p a ge s , .

—
3 43 3 60 Th e t u n e i s
. ex t re mel y i n s pi rit i n g .

A n oth e r l i n e g a me o n e o f t h e b e s t k n o w n i s
,
N ut s i n ,

M ay .
”
I n t h i s t h e co n te s t i s n ot fo r te r ri to ry b u t fo r a n ,

i nd ivi d u a l - t o c a pt u re p ri s o n e r s T h e l i ne s a re fo r med a n d .

th e g rou nd i s m a rked ou t T h e i n v a di ng l i n e s a y t h ey h a ve
.

come t o g a t h e r “
n u t s i n M ay a nd p ro c eed t o d e ma n d a
,
”

ce rt a i n gi rl fo r n u t s i n M ay Th e d e ma n d i s re s i s t ed
.
,

b u t a c e r t a i n pl a ye r i s s e n t to fet c h h e r a n d a co n te s t en s u e s ,

bet wee n t h e gi rl d e ma n d ed a n d a c h o s e n s t ro n g ma n If .
”

th e gi rl i s p u l led ove r t h e l i n e s h e re ma i n s a n d b eco me s ,

on e o f t h e s u c ce ss fu l s id e I n so me pl a c e s a f t e r th e gi rl
.
,

h as b ee n pu l led ac ro ss th e b oy w h o p u l l s h e r mu s t pl a c e h i s
,

h a nd o n h e r h e a d be fo re l e a v i ng h old I f h e o mit s t h i s o r .

c a n no t d o i t t h e gi rl m a y re tu rn t o h e r o w n s i d e a n d th e
, ,

s a me l i n e t ry a g a i n . T h i s g a me i s ty p ic a l o f t h e c u sto m o f
ma rri age b y c a p t u re .

A n o t h e r — al s o a l i n e game w i t h m a rr i a ge cu s t o m s fo r i t s
,

o ri gi n — i s “
Th re e D u ke s a -R i d i n g Th i s i nd i c ate s a .
”

fri e nd ly b u t fo r m al v i s i t o f y o un g me n t o a v i ll a g e fo r
th e p u rpo s e of ob t a i n i n g w ive s o u t s i d e th e i r o w n v i ll age .

O rigi n a l l y t h i s w as a n a c tu a l c a p t u re o f w ive s b u t a ft e r ,

w a rd s d eve loped i nto fo rm a l c u sto m Th e re i s n o a n t a go n i s m .

s h o w n — t h e v i s i t i s ex pected a n d w elco me ; b u t t h e re i s n o
i nd ivi d u al cou rt s h i p s h o w n a n d n o me n t io n o f lov e ,
Th e .

gi rl s a re c a rri ed o ff i n t r i u mph b y t he D u ke s b u t i t i s a ,

fri en d ly a ffa i r a n d n ot re s i s ted by t h e on e s id e Th re e .

“

K n igh t s fro m S p a i n an d Th ree S ai lo r s a re a l s o ga me s

“ ”

i n d ic a t i n g th e s a me o rigi n w i t h p a ren tal au th o ri ty s h o w n

,
.

T h e a bove g ame s b e i ng pl a yed i n l i n e fo r m— a fo r m p roved

—
to b e u se d fo r co nte st i t i s ce rt a i n th a t w h en a c u s to m l i ke
m a rri age t a k e s pl ace b e t w ee n y ou ng people o f t h e sa me v i l
l age a n d p e rh ap s a t a mo re c i vi l ized t i me a d i ffe ren t meth od
, ,

w ou ld b e u s ed ; a n d t h i s w e fi n d i s d o n e : fo r a l l ma rri a ge
, ,

g ame s w h ere cou rt s h i p t a ke s pl a ce b e t w ee n i nd i vi d u a l s t h e

c i rcl e fo r m i s u s ed ; a n d w e h a ve a l so i n t he s e c i r c le g a me s
th e k no w le dge th a t a ce re mo n y w a s pe rfo rmed l egal iz i ng o r .

e st ab l i sh i n g t h e m a rr i age T h e c i rcl e re p re s e n t s t h e a s
.

s e mb le d fri e n d s a n d vi ll a ge r s a n d a l so t h e p l ac e w he re s u c h
,

ce re mo n ie s w e re h eld .

I t m u st b e rem emb e re d t h a t t h e j o i n i ng of h a nd s b y a
g rou p al l s a y i ng t h e s a me w o rd s a n d pe rfo r mi n g t h e s a me
,
 16

act i on s i s s ign i fi c an t of b el ief a n d p a rt ici p at i o n i n th e s a me

,

c e re mon y by t h at g rou p a n d s ymbo l i ze s co mb i n ed a ct ion , .

Th e c i rcle fo rm b e i ng u s ed fo r s uch cere mo n ie s a s m a r

ri a e
g w ,
e s h a ll expect to fi n d i t al s o u sed to i nd i c ate othe r
c e remon i e s i n w h ich th e w hole v i l l age p a rt i ci p ated ; a n d th i s
i s th e c as e W e s h al l se e among o th e r s t h a t h arve s t cu s
.
, ,

t om s ( a mo s t i mpo rt an t g rou p ) h ave al l su rvi ved i n game s

a n d a re pl a y ed i n c i rcl e fo r m .

W e w il l fi rs t t a ke ex a m pl e s of m a rri age ga me s a n d th e
“

o th e r s l a t e r o n .

A s e x a m pl es o f m ar ri a ge g a me s i n c i rcle fo rm w e w i ll t a ke
th e w ell k n o w n S al ly W a te r an d Poo r M ary s i t s a -w eep
“ ” “

”
i ng . In S a lly VV a t er o n e c h i l d th e gi rl to b e m a rri ed , ,

kn eel s i n th e c e n t re Th e w o rd s a re s u ng b y th e c i rcle
. .

Th ey a re
Sa l ly S l ly WV t
, a a er ,

S prin k l i t h p e n e an ,

Cry S lly y S l ly
, a , cr ,
a ,

F or youn g m ;
a an

Cho f
o se th w or t hoo
or e s , c se f or th e b est ,

Choo t h v ryse you lov e e o ne e b es t .

Th e c h ild i n th e cen t re choo s e s a b oy fro m th e c i rcl e a n d t h e

c i r c le d a n c e s ro u n d s i ngi ng ,

N ow you r m rri d w wi h you j y

’
e a e , e s o ,

F s ir t girl d th n b oy
a an e a ,

Se e v n y r ft r d d u ght r ;
ea s a e so n an a e

P a r y young oupl o m k i to g th r c e c e ss e e .

H e re i t w i l l b e se en th e t wo p r i n c i p al ch a r ac te rs h ave n o
w o rd s t o s a y O n e ch oo s e s a noth e r a n d th e b o nd i s s e aled
.
,

w i t h a k i s s a n d i n s o m e i n st a nc es w i th j
'

oi ni n o f h an d s
, , g ,
.

Th e fri en d s a pp rove a n d a b l e s s i ng a n d good w i sh e s from

,

a l l follo w fo r th ei r h a pp i n e s s Th e p e ri od men t i o n ed s ev en .
fi

y e a r s— i s t h a t of t h e o ld popu l a r n ot i o n of th e t i me fo r ~

wh i c h m ar ri a ge vo w s w e re b i nd i ng Th e men t i o n of .

“
s p ri nkl i ng i n t h i s rh y me d r a w s p a rt icu l a r a tte nt ion to
” '

t h e u se t h rough n e a rly al l ve rs i on s of th i s w o rd a n d th a t o f
wat e r T h e w o rd u su al ly con s id ered t o me a n“ ”
. S ally ,

t he n a me of a gi rl I th i n k i s po s s ib ly a co rru pt i o n of s o me
,

o th e r w o rd a nd th at th e w o rd
,
W ate r i s c o n ne c ted n ot ”

w it h th e n a me o f a gi rl b u t w i th t h e act i o n o f S p ri n kl i ng
'

w h ich s h e i s c all ed u pon to ful fi l Th e s i tt i ng o r k n eel i ng .

.

p os i t i on i nd i cate s a reve re nt i a l a tt i tud e Th e gi rl i s c a lle d .

u pon t o ri s e a n d ch oo s e a yo u ng ma n
“
sh e i s al s o d e
s c rib ed a s c ry i ng fo r a you n g ma n Th i s c ry i ng fo r ”

—
.

a y ou ng m a n wo rd s w h ich a re fou nd i n s eve r a l ma rri age

 I7

g ame
—d oe s no t
s u s u a l ly t h ou gh t me a n
,
as is we e p ,

i ng .
”
I t r a th e r i n my op i n i on me a n s
,
a n n ou n c i n g a

wan t i n t h e way wa n t s or “
lo s s e s a re a n n ou n c ed
”

or
“
c ried fo r by t h e o ffic i a l c ri e r o f a to w n a n d i n t h e
”
,

s a me w a y t h at c h i ld re n i n s o me g a me s c ry fo rfe i t s “ ”
.

Th i s a n n ou n c i ng t h a t a l ove r o r h u sb a nd w a s re q u i re d i s n ot
a n u n k n o w n t h i ng Th e c h oo s i ng o f t h e g i rl s o me t i me s i s
.

to th e e a s t a n d
a nd fo r th e w o r s t
t o t h e w e s t i n ste a d o f fo r th e b e s t
T h e e x p re s s i o n
.
”
fo r b ette r fo r , ,

wo r s e ,
i s a n o ld ma r ri a ge fo rm ul a p re s e rved i n th e ve r
n a cu l a r po rt i o n of t h e o ld E n gl i s h ma rri a ge s e rv ice a nd I ,

t h i n k w e h ave t h e s a me fo r mu l a h e re Th e fi n a l a d mo n i t i on .

”
i s to c h oo se t h e o n e l oved b e s t fo ll o w ed a fte r t he ch o ice ,

b y t h e m a rri age fo rm u l a o r s a nct i on N o w y ou re ma r

“ ’

w e w i s h y ou j oy
”
r i ed ,
.

I n t h e ga me Poo r M a ry s it s a -w ee p i ng t h e s a me re
m a r k s ap p ly th e d i ffe re n c e b e i ng t h a t th e gi r l h e rse l f a n
, ,

n o u n c es h e r w i s h Th e re a re o t h e r m a rri age ga me s i n t h e
.

c i rcl e fo rm i n w h i ch t h e m a k i ng an d e a t i ng of a p a rt icu l a r
,
“
f ood or “
pud d i n g i s me n t i oned ”
T h i s i s t o b e p re .

p a red b y t h e b ri d e a n d s h e i s to gi ve s om e to h e r b rid e
,

roo m Th i s o f cou rs e refe rs t o th e b ri d a l c a ke a n d refe r s

g .
, , ,
“

to t h e o ld cu s to m o f t h e b ri d e p erp a ri n g i t h e r s e l f an d g iv i ng ,

s om e o f i t fi r s t to h e r n e w l y m a d e h u sb a n d Th i s e at i n g of .

t h e s a me food fo rm s a n e ss en t i a l po rt i o n of m a r ri age cu s
i t o ms a mong p ri m i t i ve pe opl e s .

O a t s a n d B e a n s a n d B a rley a c i rc le game i n d ic ate s , ,

r
c u s t o ms o ri gi n a t i ng w i t h s o w i n g a n d h a rve s t i ng of gr a i n

c u stom s i n w h ich a ll t h e peop le of a v i ll a ge w ou ld b e e u

g a ged . Th e w o rd s a re
O a s t n
a nd d b rl y gro w ;
b ea s an a e

Do you or I or y k no w an o ne

H ow o t d b n a s n d b rl y gro w
an ea s a a e
!

F i t th f rm r o w h i
rs e a d e s s s se e ,

T h n h e t nd d t k
e s a hi s an a es s c a se ,

S t m p h i f oot
a s d l hi
s h nd an c ap s s a s,

And turn h i m round to vi w t h l nd

s e e a ,

f p rtn r or a a e .

O p n t h rin g d nd e in e an se o ne .

N w y u r m rri d you mu t o b y ;
’
o o e a e s e

! oumu t b tru to l l you

s y ;e e a sa

! oumu t b k ind you m u t b good

s e , s e ,

And h l p you wi f to hop t h wood

e r e c e .

T he pl a y er s w al k rou n d i n c i r c l e fo r m a l l s i ngi n g th e w o rd s ,

a nd al l p e rfo r m i n g ce rt a i n a c t io n s Th ey a l l i m i t a te act i on .

o f s ow i n g th e n st a n d a n d fold a r ms to s t an d at e a s e ; t h en
,
 18

s t a mp th e i r fee t a n d cl ap h a n d s t u rn rou nd and v ie w th e , ,

l an d. Th ey the n j o i n h a nd s ag a i n d a nce rou n d s i ngi ng , ,

th e re m a i n i ng l i n e s .

Th e ru r a l o rig i n a n d t h e a nt i qu i ty of t h i s g a me a re s h o w n
by t h e fact th at w h eat i s n ot m en t io ne d i n t h e ma j o r i ty of
ve rs ion s w h e a t b ei ng i n e arl y t i mes a n ex c ept ion a l c rop
,

th e peop l e l iv i ng on o a t me a l a n d b a rl ey b re a d I t a l s o p ro
b a b ly refe rs to th e t i me w he n mo s t of t h e l a n d l a y i n gr ab s
.

a n d op en fi eld s w e re c u lt i vated ; a l so to th e t i m e w h e n v i l lage .

fe st ival s a n d d an c e s w ere h eld afte r sp ri ng so- w i ng s a n d h ar

ve st g a the r i ngs a n d w h e n i t w a s t h ough t n e c e s s a ry to th e
,

p rope r gro w th o f t h e c rop s th a t a rel igiou s c e re mony s h ou ld

b e pe rfo r med t o p l o p i t i at e th e e a rth sp i ri t .

Th e ma rr i a ge fo r mu l a i n th i s g a me i s e qu a lly i n te re s t i ng
I t i mpl ie s th a t afte r s o w i ng p rep a r a t i on s a r e ma d e fo r th e
, ,

i n doo r w o rk fo r w h i c h a p a rtn e r o r w i fe i s n ece ssa r y

,
Th e .

fi rs t t w o l i n e s a re p rob ab ly an i nj un c t io n t o t h e w i fe a n d t h e
secon d t w o to t h e h u sb an d
! ou m u st be k ind , y ou mu st b e good ,

And h elp your w fei to c h oo the w ood .

Th e i mpor t ance o f w ood -ch opp i ng a t a t i me b efore co a l w a s

k n o w n a s eve ry d a y fu el ne ed n o t be e mph a s i zed
A noth e r h a rve s t g a me of t h e s a me k i n d i s : W ou l d yo u
H e re a ct i on s are pe rfo r med
”
k no w h o w d oth t h e pe a s an t !
i m i t at ive o f s o w i ng re ap i ng th re sh i ng, a n d afte r t h e se
, , , ,

p ray i n g a n d s leep i ng .

I w i ll men t io n he re J en n y J on e s bec a u s e of th e fu n er a l ,

c u s tom s i t pe rpe tu a te s a lth ou gh i t i s n ot a c i rcl e b u t a

, ,
“
line ”
g a me J en ny J one s
.
“
i s so w ell k no w n i t i s u n ,

n ece s s a ry t o g ive a ll th e w o rd s I t s h o w s th e d e a t h of a gi r l.

a n d h e r fu n e ral I t h i n k i t i s re a lly mo re th a n t h i s : i t i s
.
,

i n t h e fi r s t pl a c e t h e c ou rt i n g of a ma i d e n o r m a i d en s b y
,

o ne o r more s u i t o r s Th e w o rd s i t w i l l b e rem emb e red

.
, ,

b egin : W e h ave c o me to se e J e n n y J on e s The s e a re .

s aid by t h e l i ne o f pl a y e rs a nd repe ated u n t i l t h e g i rl s de at h

,
’

i s me nt ion ed Th e othe r l i n e rep re se n t i ng moth e r a n d

.
,

m a id e n s m e n t i on s t h at
,
J e n n y i s w a s h i ng
“
i ron i ng ,
” “
,
” ” ” ”
cl e a n i ng,
and t h e n i s i ll d y i ng an d d e a d , T he , .

l i n e th en app a re n tl y ch ange c h a racte r s a n d re p re s e n t v i ll age ,

gi rl s u n d e rt ak i ng th e fu n e ral o f o n e o f t h e i r n u mb e r Th e y .

a sk w h at colou r J e n n y s h al l b e b u ri ed i n A fte r red b lue .

, ,

and oth e rs a re me n t i oned w h i te i s ge n e r a l ly se lected f o r

, ,

w h i te i s w h at th e d e a d w e a r D re ss in g i n w h ite i nd i c a te d
“
.

forme rly mou rn i n g fo r a ma i de n Th e pl a y e rs c a rry t h e .

 I9

d ea d m a id e n a s h o r t d i s t a n c e l a y he r o n t h e g r o u nd t h e n
, ,

s t an d a rou nd a n d s i n g I n s o me ve r s i o n s a f t e r t h i s t h e s u p
.

po sed d ead J e n ny j u mp s u p a n d ru n s a f t e r t h e o t h e r pl a ye r s ,

wh o c a l l o u t Th e g h o s t Th e gh o s t
,
Th i s i n d i c a t e s b e
l ie f t h a t t h e s p i ri t o f t h e d e a d ri se s t o h au n t th e pl a c e a n d
h old co m mu n e w i th t he l i vi ng .

A no t h e r c i rcle g a me sh o w s t h i s b e l i e f w h i c h w a s w i d e ly ,

p re v a l e n t of t h e k n o w led ge po s s e s s e d b y t h e de a d ab ou t
,

T h e g a me i s k n o w n a s and t h e
”
t h e l i vi ng . O l d R oge r ,

Sto ry i s t h a t o f t h e pl an t i n g o f a t re e ove r t h e g rave o f a d e a d

pe r s o n .T h i s g a m e i s s pe c i a l ly i n t e re s t i n g T h e p l ay e r s .

st and i n c i r c l e fo r m O n e l ie s d o w n i n t h e c e nt re a n d t h re e
.

o th e rs s t a n d o u t s i d e a n d ru n i nto th e c i r c l e i n t u rn w h e n me n
t i o n ed ,
pe rfo r m i n g t h e i r p a rt s i n d u mb s h o w O n ly th o se i n .

t h e c i rcl e s i ng t h e w o rd s a n d t h ey s t a n d s t i l l
,
Th e w o rd s .

a re
o r
d d
O l d R ge i s ea on
a nd g r v
e to h i s g a e !
‘

on r v
H m ! ha ! g e to his g a e !
'

h y pl nt d
T e a e an appl tr ov r
e ee h d
e his ea .

T he appl r rip
es w e e r dy to drop
e a nd ea ;
h r t ind
T e e c a me a n ea s w l th
a nd b e w em a l l o ff ;

h r
T e e c a me a nold o n pi in h up
w ma a- c k g t em ;
o r u p d up
O ld R ge j m e v no
a n d ga e h er a k ck ,

ih d
“ h c ma e t h e old o n hop
w m a go h i ppi t y !

Th e p l ay e r s s h o w s i gn s of m ou rn i n g O n e pl a ye r t h e A pp le
.
,

T re e ru n s i n t o t h e c i rcle an d s t a n d s a t t h e h e a d of O l d
,

R oge r . S h e ra i se s a n d l o w e r s h e r a r m s to i nd i c a t e t h e fall
i n g a pple s w h e n t h e E a s t VV i n d ru n s i n a n d b lo w s rou nd
the t ree Th e O l d W o ma n goe s i n n e x t a n d p ret e nd s to p ick
.

u p s o me a pp le s O l d R oge r t h e n ge t s u p go e s a fte r th e O l d
.
,

\V o ma n a n d be a t s h e r
,
S h e l e a ve s t h e ri n g h obb l i ng a s i f
.

h u rt a n d l a med H e re i t i s pl a i n l y s h o w n t h e s p i r i t of t he
.
, ,

d e ad O l d R oge r e nt e r s i n to t h e t re e a n d re se n t s t h e c a rry i ng
a w ay of t h e fru i t w h i c h re p re se n t s a p a r t of h i mse l f ”
‘

,
by ,

ri s i ng a nd m ak i ng t h e O l d \V om a n d rop t h e a pple s ; fo r h ad ,

s h e re t a i ned po s se s s io n o f t h e s e s h e w ou ld h a ve h a d po w e r
,

ove r h i s s ou l o r s p i ri t a n d m i gh t co mp el h i m to d o h e r b i d
d i ng a n d w o rk i l l t o oth e r s l i v i ng .

T h e i n t e re s t of t h i s g a me i s e n h anced b ec a u s e o f i t s me th od
of pl a y . Th e re i s fi r s t th e c i r c le o f pl a y e r s a nd i n a d d i t i o n , , ,

we h ave w h at ma y b e c al led fou r p r i n c i p a l c h a rac t e r s Th e .

c i rcl e act a s ch o ru s t o t h e pl a y : t h a t i s t o s a y t h e y t e ll ,

y ou i n w o rd s t h e me a n i n g of t h e act i o n s pe rfo r med b y t h e

ot h e rs . Th i s i s a l s o t h e c a s e i n R ou nd a n d rou nd t h e V i l
lage t h e c i rcl e ac t a s c h o ru s a n d t he t w o pl a y e r s ac t ,
 20

th e i r p a rt i n d u mb sh o w al t h ough th e act i ng h e re i s n ot s o
'

i n d i vi d u a l .

W e w i l l n ow t ak e t h e a rch for m of th e t r a d i ti on a l
gam e .H e re t w o p l a y er s fo r m a n a rc h b y h old i ng u p t h e i r _

j o i n ed h a nd s a n d t h e re s t o f th e pl aye r s ru n u nde r w h i l e
,

s i ngi n g th e w o rd s L o n d o n B ridge .
“
i s pl ay ed i n th i s
”

fo rm . Th e s to ry o f th i s g a me i s t h a t L o nd o n B ridge
”

h a s f a lle n d o w n ; th en i t m u s t b e reb u i lt and d i ffe ren t ,

”
m ate ri a l s a re s ugge s ted fo r t h i s p u rpo se Pe n ny l o ave s .
,
“ ” ” “ ”
i ron b a rs p i n s a n d n e ed le s gol d a n d s i lve r and
sto ne —th e s e a re al l rej e c ted a s u sele ss a n d th e n a
, , ,
”
,

p ri sone r i s t a ke n a n d r a n s o m s u gge s t ed I t c a n n ot b e p a id .
,

an d th e p r i s o n e r go e s to p ri s on .

I t w a s fo rm e rly a c u s to m w h e n n ew b u i ld i ngs w e re e re c ted ,

p a rt i cu l a rly b y s t re am s th a t Sa c ri fic e of a h u ma n v ict i m,

s hou ld b e m a de to a ppe a s e th e e a rth a n d w a te r d ei t i e s wh o

m igh t b e s u ppo sed to re s en t b u i ld i ngs be i ng e rected an d t he
e a rth b e i ng d i st u rb ed i n t h e i r d om ai n M a ny a re th e i n .

s t an ce s w h i c h cou ld b e g i ve n o f th i s i n s tori e s of old c as tle s

a n d ch u r c h e s a n d p a rt i c u l a rly of b ri dge s Th e re i s a t r a d i
,
.

t i o n th a t th e s ton e s of L o n d o n B ri d ge w e re b e sp a tte red w i th

t h e b lood o f l i ttl e ch i ld re n a n d th e mo rta r m i xe d w i t h th e
b l ood of b e a st s Pr i s o n e r s w e re u s ed as fou nd at io n s a c r i
.

fices and w er e fo rced to e n te r a h ole o r c a v i ty l eft o n pu r

,

p o se i n th e b u i ld i
-
ng w h i c h w a s th e n w a l,
led o r b u il t u p e m ,

clo s i ng th e v i cti m A fte r th e h u m a n v ict i m ce as ed t o b e

.

s acri fi ced a n i m al s a nd b i rd s w e re o ffe red a nd a t a l a te r ,

pe ri od st i l l w h en t h e cu s to m i t se l f w a s n o longe r i n v ogue
, ,

m en an d a n i m a l s w ere i mp ri son ed i n a h o l e i n t h e w a l l s fo r
a s h o rt t i m e a n d co n fi n ed u nt i l a r a n s o m w a s p a i d i n s t e a d .

I n th i s g a me t h e c h i ld re n p a s s i n g u nd e r t h e a rch t a k i n g a
, , ,

p ri son e r a n d d e m a nd i n g a r a n s om i nd i c ate th e l a te r s tage

o f th e fou nd a t i on s a c ri fic e th a t w h e r e t h e p ri s o ne r w a s re — ,

l e a sed o u ra n s o m b e i ng p a id .

Th e re i s a noth e r a n d a mo s t popu l a r ga me p layed i n '

a rch fo r m— th e w el l k n o w n
”
O r a nge s a n d L emo n s .
”

I n t h i s game a fte r all th e pl aye r s h a ve ru n u nd e r t h e a rch

,

a nd a p ri so ne r h a s b ee n t a ke n t h i s p ri so n e r i s g ive n th e ,

c h o ice of s id e s e i th e r to b ecom e O ra nge o r L e mon

,
” “ ” “
.
”

S h e t ak es h e r p l ace b eh i n d th e l e ad e r o f th e ch o s en s ide .

W h e n al l h ave b ee n m ad e p ri so ne rs a n d ch o s en th e i r s id e s ,

a tug follo w s b e t w e e n t h e t wo l e a d e rs a n d th e i r fol lo w e r s .

Th i s tu g i nd ic ate s a co n te s t o r a p r epa rat i o n fo r i t ; b u t th i s

gam e d oe s n ot a s th e l i n e g a me s d o i nd ic a t e a n i nv ad i n g
‘

, ,

a n d i n v a d ed p a rty a n d th e fi gh t i s n ot fo r te rri to ry
,
Th e .
 ” I

w o rd s i n d ic a t e to w n o r c i ty l i fe Th e ri ngi n g o f t h e b el l s .

i s s ign i fi ca n t o f th e c a l li n g t ogeth e r o f p eop le l iv i n g i n c i t i e s

a n d v i l l a ge s B el l s w e re ru ng o n a l l oc c a s i o n s w h e n i t w a s
.

n e c e s s a r y t o c a l l t h e peopl e t ogeth e r ; a n d t h i s g a me ma y
s u rvi ve f ro m t h e t i me w h e n p eople a s s e mb led i n ma rke t
p l ac e s a n d O pe n s p ace s w h e n s u mmon ed to j o i n t h e i r re s pc c ~

t i ve le ad e r s fo r t h e pu rpo s e o f j oi n i ng i n fr a y s o r fo r d efe n c e
w h e n a n e n e my w a s i n s igh t Th e n a me s O r a nge s. and
”

L e mo n s i nd ic a t e I b el i eve t h e
”

,
colou r s o f d i ffe re n t
,
”

le ad e rs a n d w e re t h e b a dge s o r s ign s b y w h i c h e a c h m a n
,

k n e w a n d re c ogn i zed h i s le ad e r a nd w a s h i ms el f k n o w n .

W h i le t h e p a s s i ng u n d e r t h e a rc h i s n o t n e c e s s a r y i n o rd e r
th a t t h e pl a ye r s ma y e xe rc i se t h e i r ch o ice o f l ead e r n o r t h e ,

s e c re c y ob s e rved n ece s s a ry e i t h e r y et t h i s p a s s i ng u nd e r ,

mu s t be s ign i fi c an t a n d h ave i t s o ri gi n i n c u sto m I t ma y .

s ign i fy t h e p as s in g u nd e r t h e b a n n e r o f t h e ch ie f t h e e n ,

t ranc e i n to a w a l led c i ty t h e c o mpu l so ry atte n d a n ce o f a

,

v a ss a l u n de r p a i n o f p u n i s h men t to se rve o r th e t a k i n g ,

p ri so ne r a n d co nd em n i n g t o d e at h o f th o se s e rv i n g o n t h e
“

O pp on e n t s s i d e’
Th i s se n t e n ce o f d e a t h w a s o f t e n co m
.

m u te d o n co nd i t i o n o f ch angi ng s i d e s P a s s i n g p ri s o n er s .

u n d e r a y ok e t o s ign i fy se rv i t ud e w a s a n old cu sto m .

I n th e w i n d i ng -u p fo r m o f ga me t h e re a re n ot m an y
ex a mp le s s u rv i vi ng Th i s ma y b e att rib u ted to va ri ou s
.

re a so n s .T h i s m eth od c o n s i st s o f p l aye r s j o i n i ng h and s i n

o n e lon g l i n e th e t a ll e s t pl a ye r at o n e e n d
,
Th e l i n e t h e n .

w i nd s i t sel f rou n d a n d rou n d t h e t al l e s t p l a y e r u nt i l al l a re

fo rm ed i n a n u mb e r o f c i r c l e s c lo s e toget h e r Th e y t h e n n u .

w i nd s t i l l h old i ng h a n d s s o m et i me s ru n n i n g a nd d an c i n g
, ,

i n a s e rpen t i n e fa s h i on u n t i l al l a re i n s t r a igh t l i n e a g a i n .

Th e se ga me s p rob ab l y re fe r to th e c u st o m of e nc i rcl i ng t ree s

a s a n a c t o f w o rsh i p Th e w o rd s h a ve u s u a l ly so me me n
.

t i o n o f t ree s T h e ga m e i s l ik e a c i r c le ga me t h e cu sto m
.
, ,

of t h e pe ople o f on e p l a ce ; b u t u n l i ke th e c i rcle o n e pl a ye r , ,

i s s t a t i o n a r y a n d h old o r a t t a ch me n t mu s t b e k e pt t o th e
,

p e rso n s u rrou n d ed T h e re i s d a n c i ng o r j u mp i n g u p a nd
.
‘

d o w n a n d s om et i me s fal l i ng o n t h e grou nd w h e n a l l pl aye rs

, ,

a re w ou n d u p o r s u rrou n d i ng t h e t re e .

I h a ve n o w give n e x a mple s o f t h e d i ffe ren t m e t h od s fou nd

i n t r a d i t i on a l g a me s togeth e r w i t h a b ri e f accou n t of t h e
,

cu s to m s o ri gi n a t i n g t h e m Th e re i s ye t a no t h e r fo r m o f
.

g a me w h ich I c a ll t h e
,
i n d iv id u a l fo r m a n d w h ic h migh t ,

n ot a t fi r s t b e th ough t t o b e t r a d i ti o n a l a t a l l T h i s i s w h e re .

the “
line and t h e c i rc l e an d t h e a rc h
”
d i s a ppe a r “
.

Th e c h i ef p l aye r s t a k e e ach a c h a r a cte r a n d s pe a k t h e i r re

 22

S p ec t i v e p a rt s th o s e w h o h a ve n oth i ng to s a y u su a lly be i ng
,

rep re s en ted a s c h i ld re n of o n e of th e ch a racte r s The .

s i ngi ng to o h a s d ropped Th e s e g a m es o r pl ay s — fo r “

s u c h t h ey a re — h ave cu s tom s o r t r a d i t i on s fo r th e i r s to ry
, ,
.
,

b u t th e sto ri e s a re u s u a l ly of a l a te r p er iod A ve ry str i k i ng .

e x a mp le i s k n o w n a s Th e W i tch or“
M oth e r t h e pot , ,

b o i l s ove r H e r e w e h a ve fo r c h a r a cte rs a
. mot he r a ,

w i tch a pot
”
an e ld e r d a ugh t e r
” “
a n d a n u mb e r o f
”

oth e rs — a t le a s t s eve n —w h o a re th e mot h e r s ch i ld ren and

, , ,
’
.

y o u ng Th e se h a ve n o w o rd s to s ay
. Th e s to ry i s th i s A . .

moth e r i s go i ng o u t w a s h i ng : s h e tel l s h e r eld es t d a u gh te r

a n d g i ve s h e r c h a rg e o f th e you ng o ne s ; tel l s h e r to be c are

fu l of the w i tch an d n ot to let h e r i n an d to b e s u re an d not ,

allo w th e pot to b o i l ove r A ft er t h e moth e r h a s go ne the

.

w i t c h appe a rs a n d a s k s fo r a l igh t o r a co a l fro m th e fi re

, ,

h e r o w n h a v i ng gon e ou t Th e gi rl g ive s i t th e w itch.

,

e n te rs a n d r u n s o ff w i t h o n e of t he c h i ld re n a n d t he pot b o i l s ,

ove r . Th e d augh t er c a ll s to h e r mo t h e r w h o retu rn s fi n d s , ,

a c h i ld gon e scold s h e r d augh te r gi ve s h e r d i re c t i on s a s b e

, ,

fo re an d ag a i n goe s to w o rk
,
Th e s a me t h i n g h appe n s u n t i l
.

a ll th e ch i ld re n h ave go n e Th e moth e r th en h e ar s a t e r rib le

.

n o i se from th e bo i l i ng ove r of th e pot an d goe s i n s e a rch of ,

t h e l i ttle o n e s S h e m eet s t h e w i tch wh o m i sd i rect s h er

.
, ,

u n t i l fi n a l ly s h e r e c ove r s t h e c h i ld re n a n d the w i t c h i s t a k en
, ,

p ri s o n e r Th e re i s n ot mu c h of th e d i a logu e l eft a n d I h ave

.
,

b ee n ab le to recove r b u t f ew ve rs i on s b u t w h at th e re i s i s ,

ve ry S p i r i ted a n d d ram a ti c .

Th e g a m e emb od i e s t h e su rv iv a l of b el i ef i n fi re a n d h e a rth
w o rs h i p .Th e po t b o i l i ng over i s ev id en t ly t h e w o rk of t he
gu a rd i a n of t h e h e a rth t h e s ac red fi re a l w a y s b u rn i ng Th e
,
.
-

w i tch obt a i n i ng a l igh t f ro m t h i s fi re ob t a i n s po w e r ove r and

get s po s s es s io n of o n e of th e i n ma te s of t he h o u s e w h o a re
'

oth e r w i s e p rotected b y th e fi re-sp i ri t o r h e a rth -go d d e s s ; t h e '

p o t b o i l s ove r th e h e a rth,
i s su l l ied Th e b el i ef i n th e po w er .

of w i t c h e s ove r ch i ld re n and th ei r d es i re to c a ptu re t h em and

m ake th e m i n to w itch e s o r k i ll and e at th e m f o r food s u r
v i v ed u nt i l re c e n t ly a n d m a y n ot b e q u i te e x t i ngu i s h ed yet
,
.

Th ey a re th e peopl e of a noth e r w o rld w h o a re a l w ay s t ry i ng

to i nj u re th o s e of t h i s Th e reco rd s o f t h e t ri a l s of w i t c h e s
.

a tte s t th i s W h i l e th i s i s th e mos t c o mplete s to ry of th i s

.

fo r m of g a me t h e re a re s eve ral i n mo re o r le s s fr ag men ta ry

,

fo rm .

Th e re a re m a ny oth e r ga me s ; b u t s u f fic ie n t h a ve been
n amed t o s h o w t h e i r i n te re st an d a lso th e p r a ct i c a l i mpo ssi ,
~

b i l i t y of th ei r h a v i n g o rigi n a ted i n a nyth i ng b u t cu s tom .

 3 3

Th e f a c t t h a t i n s tu d y i ng t h e se g a me s I a m obl iged t o
u se t h e t e rm s d i st ric t t rib e
,
” “
lo c a l it i e s — o b l iged t o
,
” “ ”

s pe a k o f a s t at e o f co n t e s t be t w ee n g r o u p s o f peo pl e o f t he ,

a s s e mb l i ng o f people t o w i t n e s s a c e re mon y o f th e s ac red ,

e nc i r c l i ng o f t ree s a n d o t h e r s ign i fi c a n t u s a ge s— goe s f a r

,

t o s ugge s t t h a t th ey m u s t co n t a i n s o me e le me n t w h i c h i s
e s s e n t i a l to t h e m A n e lem en t i s p re s e n t w h i c h d oe s n o t
.

n e c e s s a ri ly b elong t o ga me s b u t b el o ng s t o ot h e r a nd mo re
,

i mpo rt a n t b ra n c he s o f h u ma n a c t i o n ; a n d i t d e p en d s o n w h a t
t h i s e l e me n t i s a s to w h a t c a n b e s a id o f t h e o rigi n a n d s u r
v i v a l o f t h e g a me s .

I t w i ll b e n ote d t h a t i n s pe a k i n g of t h e c u s to ms i n t h ese
,

g a me s I h a v e s ho w n m a rri age a n d fu n e r a l cu s to ms e x i s t
,

i n g u nd e r a ve ry d i ffe re n t s t a t e o f a f fa i r s t h a n a t p re s en t o b
t ai n s
. I t d oe s n ot fo llo w b e c a u s e y ou ng ma id s ma rry i n
th e ma n n e r i n d icate d i n th e g a me s o r w e re b u ri ed u nd e r ,

s uc h c o n d it i o n s,
th a t t h e re w as n o rel ig iou s a u th o r i ty n o r
s ign i fi c a n c e fo r t h em ; b u t i t i s i m po rt a n t t o be a r i n m i n d t h a t

w e a re n o t d e a l i ng w it h p re s e n t -d ay ob se rv a nce s o r w i t h th e
rel igi on o f t h e p re se n t C h u rch I n t h e s e g a me s i t i s mo s t
.

s ign i fi c a n t t h a t th e m a rri a ge ce re mo n y s a c red r i te soci al o r

, ,

o the r cu sto m s d o n ot t ake u s to t h e re l igi o n of t o -d a y b u t to ,

n on -C h ri s t i a n ri te s Th ey a re t h e refo re p re -C h ri s t i a n r i te s
.
,

a n d t h e g a me s t a ke u s to p re -C h ri s t i a n re l igi o n s a n d soc i a l

cu s t o m s a n d th i s i s s u ffi cie n t t o st a mp th em w i t h a n
,

a n t i qu i t y w h i c h alo n e w ou ld ce rt i fy to th e i mpo rt a nce an d

valu e of stu d y i ng t h i s b r a nch of folk -l o re .

I n o rd e r to c o mplet e t h e s t ud y o f c h i ld re n s g a mes i t i s ’

n eces s a ry to i n qu i re w h y t h e se g a m e s h a ve l a s ted — w h at i s
t h e co n t rol l i n g fo rce w h i c h h a s p re s e rved a n c i e n t c u sto ms i n
th e fo r m o f g a me s .Th e me re tel l i ng o f a g a me o r t a l e fro m
a p a re n t t o a ch i ld o r from ch il d t o c h i ld i s n ot s u ffi c ie n t
, ,
.

T h e re mu s t b e a fo r c e i n h e re n t i n th e s e g a me s w h ich h a s
a l lo w ed t h e m t o b e co n t i n u ed fro m o n e gene r a t io n to a n oth e r
— a fo rce a s s t ro ng a s o r s t ronge r t h a n t he c u sto ms w h ich
fi rs t b rough t t h e g a me s i n t o ex i stence a n d t h i s fo rc e I c o n ,

s id e r t o b e t h e d ra ma t i c f a cu l t y i n h e re n t i n m a n k i n d .

T h e love of t h e d r a ma ti c i s i mme n s ely s t rong i n c h i ld re n

ch i ld re n love t o i mit a t e a n d love t o i mi t a t e t h o s e th ey l i ke
,

o r d i s l i ke a n d obj ect s fa mi l i a r to t h e m i n th e i r eve ryd a y l i fe

,
.

E ve ry o n e a cq u a i n t ed w i t h ch i ld re n w i l l re me mb e r i n s t a nce s
of t h e w a y c h i ld ren s e i ze u po n so me s pec i a l a c t i on c h a rac
_

t e ri st i c of a pe rso n o r a n i m a l t h e y i nte n d t o re p re s en t .

W o rd s a re n ot s u ffi c i e n t W h e n w i s h i ng t o pe rso n a te a n
.
’

an i ma l t h e c h i ld fi x es a t o nce o n s o me ac t io n w h i c h i s s peci a l
 24

t o i t a nd sep a rat e s i t i n th e ch i ld s m i n d fro m o th e r a n i mal s

,
’
.

Th e ch i ld pe rfo r m s a ct io n s w h ich to h i m a n d to oth e r ch i l

d re n a re ty p i c al o f th a t s p ec i al c re atu re a nd i n i magi n at io n ,

th e ch i ld h a s ce a s ed to b e fo r th e t i me a b oy o r a gi rl a n d i s ,

h o rs e d og o r c o w C h i ld re n fo r i n st a nce n eve r pe r
‘

a , ,
.
, ,

so n ate a h o rse an d a co w b y the s a me a ct i on s H o rse s to s s .

t h e i r h e ad s p aw th e gro u n d p r a nce a n d a re re s tl e ss w h en
, , ,

sta nd i ng ; th ey w ea r h arn e ss a nd th e d ri ve r h as re i n s an d ,

a w h ip W h en a ch i ld i s a co w h e w a l k s i n a slo w e r h e a v i e r
.
,

w ay lo we r s th e h e a d st are s a b ou t l i e s d o w n a nd mu n c he s
, , , ,

an d rub s h i s h e a d ( h o rn s ) a g a i n s t a t a b l e o r ch a i r th i s b ei n g ,

n o l onge r a t ab l e o r ch a i r b u t a t re e W h e n a ch i ld pe r
'

.
,

s on ate s an e ngi n e th e a ct i on s u s ed a re co m p lete ly d i ff e ren t .

Th e fe et a re kept a s m u ch on th e grou nd a s po s s i b l e i n mo v
i ng f a st b ec a u s e th e l eg s h av e b ecome w h e el s a n d th e a r m s
, ,

h ave becom e p rop el le rs ; p u f fi ng a n d sc r ee c h i ng an d l ett i n g

o ff s te am a re i m i t a ted Th ese a re d on e e n ti rely o n t h e
.

ch i ld s i n it i at ive a n d t h e mo re ob se rv a n t th e ch i l d th e clo s e r
’

i s i de nt i fi c at i o n w i th th e ob j ect i m i t ated W h e n c h i ld re n .

pl ay i n group s th e s a me t h i ngs o c c u r I n st a n c e s cou ld b e .

g i ve n a d n a u s ea m I t c an not t h e refore s u 1 p ri s e u s t h a t m
.
, ,

t h e s e game s ch i ld re n s h ou ld b e fou nd to u se a c t i on s w h ich

to th em i n d icate c e rt a i n pe rs on s o r th i ng s a l th ough th e w o rd s ,

th ey u s e may re n d e r act i o n u n n ece s s a ry A c h il d b e c o me s .

b y st a nd i ng st i ll a t re e a h ou se o r a s ton e w a ll a w i nd o w
, , , , ,

&c . I f an an i ma l i s re qu i red th e ch i ld goe s o n h a nd s a n d ,

k n ee s ; i f a gate h ou s e o r c a s t l e i s w a n ted t w o j o i n h a n d s
, , ,

an d f o r m an e n t rance b e c au s e h ou s es o r c i t ie s h ave t o be
,

e n t e red ; i f m oth e r s a n d c h i ld ren a re re qu i red th e s m a l le r ,

one s a re m ad e th e c h i l d re n .

Th e re i s th en n o d i ffi c u l ty a s to th e re a so n w h y c h i ld re n
, ,

sh ou ld h ave co n t i n u ed p l ay i ng th e s e g a mes w h en o n ce t h e y
h ave see n o r pl a yed th e m n o r w h y t h e y s h ou ld n ot h ave em ,

b od i ed i n a g a me s om e of th e m a n n e r s a n d c u s to m s w h ich
w e re co n sta n tly go i ng o n a rou n d th e m .

W e k n o w th a t m an y of th es e g a mes u p to a f ew ye a rs
ago w e re pl aye d as a mu s e me nt s b y you ng me n and you n g
w ome n I n cou n t ry d i s t ri cts i t w a s t h e gen er a l p r ac t i c e fo r
.

m en an d w o me n to j oi n togethe r i n p l a y i ng t h e s e g a me s at
f a i r s a nd fe st iv a l s I t i s u n l i ke ly th a t ad u l t s w ou ld se ri ou sl y
.

’
pl ay a t ch i ld re n s g a me s ; b u t ch i ld re n see i ng th e i r el d e r s
’
,

am u s eme n t s w ou ld a d o pt s uch o f th o s e a s su i ted t h e m a n d

,

th ey u nd e rsto o d u n t i l t he s e b ec a me i n th e i r t u rn too ch i ld i s h
,

fo r th em I t w i l l b e re me mb e red th a t i t i s n ot so ma n y ye a r s
.

s i nce th e th en ed u c ated a n d cu l tu red cl a s se s a mu sed th em

 25

s elve s by occu p at i o n s n o w d ee med s i l ly a nd u n fi t e ve n fo r

t he you nge r ge n e r a t i o n .

Th i s n atu r a l i n s t i nct to d ra m a t i c a ct i o n i n c h i ld re n i s p a r a l
l eled b y th e s a me i n st i nct i n g ro w n -u p peo ple w he n i n a
s t ate o f cu ltu re w h e re t h e y a re c h i e fl y d epe nd en t u pon th e i r

n atu r a l c a p a c i t i e s fo r e x i s te nce E v i d e nce o f th i s n a tu r a l

.

d ra m at i c po we r i n t h e s av a ge a nd se mi -c i v i l i zed people s i s
ab u n d a n t .Th e i r d ance s a re s t ro ngly d ra m at ic Th ey a d .

va nce i n l i ne s d a n c i n g ge s t i cu l at i ng an d s i ngi ng ; t he y
, ,

d an c e i n c i rcl e s j oi n i ng h an d s ; th ey go d o w n o n al l fou r s
, ,

i m i ta ti n g a n i mal po stu re s a n d n o i se s ; t h ey w e a r s peci al

ma s k s d re ss e s and o rn ame n t s o n t h e s e occ a s io n s al l o f
, , ,

w h ic h h ave s ign i fi c a n ce fo r t h e i r au d i en ce a n d th e m se lve s .

T h e s e d a nce s a re c e re mo n i al a n d a re pe rfo rm ed to e n su re
,

good re s u lts fro m h u n t i n g a n d fi s h i n g e x ped i t i on s a n d fro m ,

c u lt i vat i o n o f t h e g ro u n d To e n su re s u cce s s t o th e i r s id e
.

i n w a r-t i m e t h ey i m i t ate i n ce re m o n i al d ance s act i o n s t h ey

w i ll pe rfo rm w h e n fi gh t i n g a n d t h i s i s d on e b y t h e m i n th e
,

b el ie f t h at i t ple a s e s th e i r god s a n d w i ll i n d uce th e m to h e l p

,

t h em .

T h e re w e re st i l l s u rvi vi n g u nt i l co mp a rat i ve ly rece n t t i me s

a mo n g t h e p eople s o f E u rop e ce remo n i a l d ance s accom p an ie d
w i t h s on g a n d act i o n s o me i n co n n ex i o n w i t h rel igi ou s s e r
,

vi ce s a n d s o me i n co n n e x i o n w i th th e m o re o rd i n a ry a ffa i rs
o f l i fe . R e p re se n t at io n s i n p a n to m i m e of th e d i ffe re n t “

a ct i on s u s ed i n s o w i n g t h e g r a i n i t s g ro w t h a nd th e con
, ,

s equ e n t re a p i ng b i n d i ng a n d c a rry i ng th e gra i n a re s t i ll

, ,

p rac t i se d i n d i ffe re n t p a rt s o f th e w o rld C e re mo n i e s a re .

pe rfo r med t o i n d u ce ra i n to f a l l a n d to ave rt d i s a s t rou s

sto rm s to b ri n g good l u c k o n th e n ew l y ma rri ed a n d t o
, ,

ave rt e vi l fro m t h e peop l e an d th e v i ll age Pa n tom i m ic .

a c t i o n i s al so u s ed a s a so r t of o r a l con t r a c t pe rfo rm ed i n th e

p re s e nce of w i t ne s se s I n a b oo k pub l i s he d i n 1 64 1 i n
.

s tan c e s a re gi ven o f i t s b ei n g c u s to ma ry a t h a rv e s t h om e s
“ ”
t o gi ve rep re s e nt at i on s of h i ri ngs o f f a rm s e rv a n t s Th e .

h i ri n g t h e w o rk t h e fa rm l ab o u re r h a d to d o h i s te rm s of
, ,

se rvi ce a n d the food to b e s u pp l ied h i m w e re d r a mat i cal ly

,

p e rfo rm ed s h o w i ng c le a rly t h a t i t h ad b ee n cu s tom a ry to go

,

t h rough th i s s o rt o f t h i ng i n e a rn es t of w h at w a s e x pected
on b oth s id e s .

A n t h ropology h as t a ugh t u s t h a t i n t i me s o f j oy a n d m i rt h ,

s o rro w a n d lo s s v i cto r y a n d d efe a t w ed d i ng s a n d fu n e ral s

, , ,

pl a gu e s an d p e s t i le n c e s f a m i n e a nd ple n ty c iv i l i zed and

, ,

s a v a ge al i ke d an ce act a n d s i n g t h e i r g ri e f s a n d th e i r j oy s
, ,
.

T h e god s of a l l n a t i o n s h av e b ee n w o r s h i pped b y p a n to mi mic

 26

d an ce an d s on g th e i r alt a r s an d te mp le s w e re e nc i r c led by
,

t he i r w o rsh i ppe r s a n d a s t h e o cc a s i o n w a s on e o f fe a r o r
, ,

j oy a n d th e god en t re a t ed o r te rr i fi ed b y h i s follo w e rs s o
, ,

w ou ld t h e ac t ion s a n d vo ice s of t h e d a n c e rs b e i n a cco rd .

Th e god i s s h o w n w h at h i s pe op le w a n t d on e a n d h e i s en ,

tre ate d o r th re a ten ed ac c o rd i ng to t h e peop le s i d e a s of w h a t ’

i s m o s t l i k ely t o e n s u re th e i r w i s h es b e i ng c a rr ied ou t b y h i m .

W h e n once p a r t i cu l a r ac t i on s p erfo r med We re re c ogn i zed .

a s s u c ce s sfu l,
fi tt i ng o r b e a u t i fu l th ey w ou l d t end to b e c o m e
, ,

rep e a ted a n d s te reotyped an d th e sa me fo r m s w ou ld b e u s ed

,

fo r o t h e r god s oth e r o cc a s i on s a n d oth e r c u s to m s w h e re

, ,

re qu i re me n t s w e re s i m i l a r Th e c i rcl e d a nce fo r i n st a n c e
.
, ,

a fte r be i ng pe rfo r m ed seve ral t i m e s w ou ld n ece s s a ri ly b e

,

c o me a p a r t of th e rel i gi ou s cu sto m s and fo r m a p a rt o f ,

It w o u l d b e c o m e p a rt i c u
'

ord i n ary re l igi ou s ob s e rv a n ce

‘

l a rl y a ss o c i a ted w i th th e p l a c e w h e re i t w a s fi r s t i n st i tu te d
o r fou n d e ffe c tu a l a n d w ould b e u s ed to i n a ugu r a t e oth er
,

fe st i v a l s at oth e r p l ac e s .

W e k n o w th a t t h e e a rly C h ri st i a n s w h en t a k ing ove r t o ,

th e i r u se th e temp l e s a n d a lt a r s of t h e i r so -c a ll ed h e a t h e n
'

p redece ss o r s o r w h e n e rect i ng a c h u r c h w h e re a t e mp l e h ad
,

p rev i ou s ly s tood h eld th e i r w o r s h i p t h e r e a n d p erfor med t h ei r

,

d an ce s to th e i r G o d a s th e he a the n h ad d on e to t h e i r s T h e .

c u sto m of en ci rcl i ng a c h u r c h o n i t s fe st iv al d a ex i s ted u n t i l

y
l at ely i n s eve r a l p a ri sh e s i n E ngl a nd and th i s cou ld o n ly b e ,

a d e sce nd a n t of th e c u sto m o n c e h e ld s ac re d of a ll th e f o l
l o we rs o f on e b el i ef d e m on s trat i ng b y the i r a c t i on i n grou p
fo rm t h e fact th a t t h ey all b el i ev ed i n t h e s a me th i ng and ,

d emon s t r a ted b y cl a s p of h a n d s an d t h e d a n c e r o u n d t h e i r
, ,

d ete r m i n at i on t o h o ld t o and kee p t o i t .

I f t h e s e c u s to m a ry d a n c e s obt a i n ed a n d h a ve su rv ived i n
rel igio u s r i tu a l t o th e p res en t d a y i s i t n ot to b e ex pe c ted th a t
,

we s h ou l d fi nd su rv iv a l s i n d a nce fo r m of n o n -rel ig iou s c us

tom s wh ich al so i mp re s se d the m sel ve s st ro ngly i n the m i nd s
of th e peopl e ; o r r a th e r I s h ou l d s ay of oth e r c u s to ms fo r
, ,

merly h eld to b e rel igi ou s a n d to requ i re th e sa n c t io n of ce re

mon y b u t n o w d e e med pu re ly se c u l a r
,
! The f ac t s of b i rth s ,

m a rri age s d e a th t h e s o w i ng a n d g a th e ri ng i n of t h e food

, ,

of th e people th e p rote c t i on o f m a n a n d c attl e fro m d i s e a s e

,

a nd fro m a n i m a l s of p rey t h e nece s s i ty fo r w a t e r an d fi re

,

fo r th e h ou s e a n d th e v i ll a ge h ave b ee n su rrou n d ed w i th cere “

mo n i a l s w h ich h a ve l asted a n d b ee n t ra n s mitted fro m gene ra

t i on to gen e r a ti o n — a l te ri ng to s u i t l a te r i d e a s it i s t ru e b u t , ,

p rese rvi ng th rou gh a ll s o me t r a ce of th e eve n t s w h ich fi r s t

c a lled t h em i n to ex i ste nce M o re e s pec i a lly h a ve th e i r d ra
.
 27

m a ti c fo rm s s u rv i ved T h i s i t i s w h ic h m ad e th e m w he n
.
,

n o l on ge r n eed ed a s re li gi ou s c e remon i e s a p pe a l s o s t ro ngly

,

t o th e n a t u ra l d r a m a t i c i n s t i nc t th a t t h ey b e c a me t h e pl a y s “

o f th e p eople a n d th e c h i ld re n
’
Th e s tu d y o f ch i ld re n s g a me s t he n le a d s u s i n to seve ra l
d ep a rtme n t s o f re s e a rch M a n y t race s o f c u s to m s n o t o f
.
,

mod e rn l i fe t ake u s b a ck to ve ry e arly t i me s

,
Th e w e apo n s
.

a re b o w s a nd a rro w s t h e a mu se me n t s h u nt i ng a nd o th e r old
,

s po rt s ; an i m al s a re fou n d i n s u c h c lo se re l a t i o n sh i p t o h u ma n

be i ng s t h at o n ly p ri m i t i ve co n d i t i o n s of l i fe w ou ld allo w ;
con te s t s occu r b et w ee n m e n a n d w o m e n i n a w ay t h at t a ke s
u s b ack t o o n e o f th e e a rl ie s t k n o w n cu s tom s o f m a rr i age
m a rr i age b y c a p t u re ; th e n t o a l at e r s t a ge w h e re p u rch a se ,

o r e q u iv al en t v a l u e ob t a i n s ; t h en to a m arr i age w i th a ce re
mo n y w h ich t ake s u s b ack t o th e e a rl i e s t fo rm s o f s u ch
ce re mon ie s . Th at s uc h c u sto m s c an b e s ugges ted i n co n
n e x i o n w i t h t h e se game s go e s fa r t o p rov e th at t h ey o rig i n ate
—
th e ga m e th at n o ot h e r t h e o ry s at i sf a cto ri ly accou n t s fo r al l
th e p h e n o m en a .

I n loo k i n g fo r t h e mot i ve p o w e r w h i ch h a s c au se d th e con

t i n u i t y o f t h e s e cu s to m s t o b e p r a ct i sed a s a mu se me n t s ( f o r
w i th o u t t h i s st rong m ot i ve po w e r t h e re w ou ld b e n o a d e qu a t e
re a so n fo r t h e su rv i v al an d p re se rvat i on o f t he s e g a me s b y
ch i ld re n ) w e h ave fou n d th at th e d r a mat i c p o w e r o r i n st i nc t
i n h e ren t i n m a n k i n d a n d p a rt i cul a rly s t ro ng i n y ou ng
,

a n im al s a n d y ou n g ch i ld re n su pp l i e s th e n ece s s a ry e vi d en c e
, ,

a n d fro m t h i s st a ge w e a re le d t o a n i n te rest i ng po i n t i n t h e

e a rl y h i s to ry o f th e d r a ma a n d of th e s t a ge I c an n o t e n t e r
.

o n t h i s h e re b u t i t i s ev i d e n t t h at n o h i st o ry o f th e o rigi n of
,

th e d r a m a c a n b e compl et e w h ich d oe s n ot t a k e i n to co n
s id e r a t i o n t h e i n fl ue nce w h i ch t h i s d ra m a t i c rep re se n t a t i on o f

c u sto m h a s h a d u po n i t s o rigi n a n d d eve l op me nt .

I t i s no t t oo m uc h t o s ay th a t th e t r a d i t i o n a l g a me s o f c h i l
d ren s h ou ld b e pl ac ed alo ngs id e th e folk -t a l e a n d th e fol k
s ong ,
a n d co n s id e re d an d t a u gh t a s s o me o f th e o ld e s t h i s

o ri c a l d ocu me n t s b elo ng i n g to ou r r a c e s h o w i ng m a n s p ro
’

gre s s fro m o n e st age of c iv i l i z at i o n to a no t h e r .

I t h a s n ot b ee n po s s ib l e i n ou r s h o r t s p a ce t o d e a l w i th a l l
g a m e s o r w i th al l t h e c u s to ms h e re i n d i c a t ed ; n o r w i t h t h o s e
w h e re a n i m al s a re p e rs o n i fi ed a n d b rou gh t i n t o c lo s e re l a
t i o n sh i p w i t h h o me a n d v i ll age l i fe ; n o r w i t h t h o s e g a me s
b et t e r k n o w n a s b oy s g a me s s u c h a s ’
F re n c h a n d E n g
’

,
”
w h i c h h a ve h ad t h ei r o rigi n i n
”
l i sh
,
“
Pr i s on e r s B a se ’
,

c u s to m t o o . T h e re a re ma n y g a me s w h e re th e s i ng in g
h a s d i s a pp ea red an d o n l v a f ew w o rd s a re le f t t o i nd ic at e
,
 28

t h e i r m e a n i ng ; b u t w h i le th e meth od o f p l ay an d act i o n s
,

re m a i n s
,
i t i s po s s ib l e to p u t t he s e too i n to th e i r respec
, ,

t i ve pl ace s ; all rep a y i nv es t igati on a nd t h e me re s t frag

,

me nt s b ecom e i n t e re st i ng an d v alu ab l e w h e n s tud i ed f rom

th e po i n t o f vi e w o f fol k -lore.
 B O O K L IS T
A ll pri ces are net, with the excepti on of those pri nted i n italics .

B R IT IS H F O L K-
L OR E , F OL K-
SO N G S, A N D S IN G IN G
GA M ES .

R E ! ! IR E D .

*
Cox M —In t rod u ctio n to F o l k -l ore
,
. R . N u tt
H artl an d E S F o l k -l o re N u tt

H ar t l an d E S —M ytho l o gy an d F ol k -t a l es
. .
,

,
. . N tt
u

T h e Sc i ence of F ol k -t al es Sco t t
M art i n en go-Cesaresco C ou n t ess —E ssay s i n ,
t
th e S u d y of F ol k
D en t .

R E CO M M E N D E D .

*
G o mme G L —E
thn ol ogy i n F ol k -l ore K egan P au l 0 P
G L —D c
. .
, . .

Go m m e i tio n a ry,
of F o l k -l o re ( 2 vol s )
. . .

F o l k -l o re So ci ety ; N u tt
o
G mme G L — F ol k -l ore as an H i st ori ca l Sci en ce
,
. M ethu en
.

—
_

H r a
a t l n d E S T h e L egen d of P erseu s ( 3 vo l s )
,
. N utt
. .

B rand J —Pop u l ar An ti quiti es of E n gl an d Scot l an d an d Irel an d

, , ,

(3 vo l s ) . B el l ea , .

D y er T F T — B riti sh P op u l ar C u sto ms B el l
—
. . .
,

L an g A C u ,
s t om an d M yth .
L on gman s

Cl od d E — M yth s an d D reams C h att o Wi n du s

—
.
,

Cl od d E T om T i t T ot a S
,
u ff o l k F o l k t al e
.
-
,

H al l E — T h e Cu ch u l l i n Saga i n Iri sh L it eratur e

,
.
N utt
N u tt A —,
C u c h u l ai n n th e Iri sh A chi ll es
.
N utt ,

N utt A —,
O ssi an an d th e O ssi an i c L it eratu re
.
N ut t
O G ra d y
’

A — F in n an d H i s C omp an i on s ! n w in
—
.
,

N utt A
,
an d W i l d e J .F A n ci en t L egen d s M y sti c C h arms i n
, , . .
,

Irel an d C h atto l Vi n d u s
R E F E R E N CE .

G regor R ev W — N ot es o n F o l k -l o re of N E of Scot l an d
—
. .
,

H en d er so n “ F o l k -l o re of t h e N orth ern Co u n ti es of E n gl an d
,
L

an d t h e B o r d er s N utt I6 0
C h amb er s W D —B ook of D ay s . .

—
.
,

L an g A M yth R it u a l an d R el i gio n ( 2 v ol s )
,
.
L on gman s , ,
. 7 0
 30

Rh ys ,
J . Cel ti c F o l k —
l ore Wel s h ,
an d M a n x ( 2 vo l s ) . d .

C l r endon P e s
a r s 21 O
T y l or E B — Pri mi t iv C ul tur ( 2 vo l s )
,
. . e e . M u r r ay 21 0
Cr a l y A
w E — T he M y sti c R o se ( M arri ag )
e ,
. . e M acmi l l an 12 0
F ra er J G — T h e G o l d en B ou gh ( in 8 p rt )
z ,
. . a s

M ac mi l l an ,
ea . 1 03 . an d 20
J evon s Introdu tion to th e H i story f R e l i g ion
,
B . M th u n-
c o e e 10
West erm r k E —T h e H i sto ry f H u m n M rri age M acmi l l n
a c ,
. o a a ” . a 14
G roo s C — T h P l y of M an
, H ein em n n e a a 7
T h e P u b l i ation f t h e F o l k l or e So c i ty 1 879 1 91 5
c s o e

N utt ; S id gwi k J ack on c s

S! P P L E M E N T A R ! .

FOL K-T A L E S .

C ampb el l J ,
. F .
— P o p u l a r T a l es of t h e VVest H g
'

i h l and s (4 vo l s ) .

dn r G ar e ,
ea . 7 6
A ddy ,
S O —H . . ou seho l d T l
a es an d oth er T ra dition l R emain s
a

N utt 5 '

0
G u est C ,
.
—T h e M abino gio n D ent I 3
John I B — T h M bino gion
,
. . e a N utt O 6
H yd e V —B e id t h e
,
V
. s e 7 6
Joy c P W —
e, O l d C e l ti R o man ce . . c s L on g man s 3 6
N u tt A —C el ti,
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J acob s J E n gl i sh F a i ry T l e
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J cob J — C el ti c F iry T a l es
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r VV st Iri h F o l k T a l e, . e s es to ck
S 0 P . .

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s, . K ega n Pa l 7 6

FOL K-SON G S A N D SIN G IN G G A M E s .

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B ro ad wood L and M ait l and F —E n gl i h County , .

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C h a p p l l M cmi l l n ( 2 vo l s ) 42 e a a .

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an d t h d an ce Soc i ety e s

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l or So ci ety ; l o on u l t t h e B ib l io e a s c s

g r a phy a t t h e en d f C o x Int r odu c tion to F o l k -l or an d n e w editio n o

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s e

of H an dbook of F o l k -l or e p ub l i h ed by t h So c i e ty
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F or B ib l io grap hy of F o l k -son gs an d G a mes see F o l k -son g So ci ety ’

J ou r na l , N o . 6 M ,
arc h 1 905 .

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an d in in
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l s 2d
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B R O WN IN G N OT E S . B y A L Ex H IL L . M A
M D .

N o t t th P o k t V olu m
es o e c e e of Se l ec t ion s b y
R o b rt B ro wning
e .

18 . 2d .
, p o st f r ee .

T H E F A C! L T ! OF R E A D IN G . B y
G E OR G E R A DF OR D , M A . .

An intere ti ng s a cc oun t f t h o e H i tory

s of th e
N at io n al H om e-R ea d ing ! nion .

7d .
, p o st f r ee .

O! R IN H E R IT A N C E . B y M i ss C . L .

T H OM SO N ,
M . A .

T he tory f E ngli h L i t r tur tol d

S o s e a e in a

d e li gh t ful w y li k ly t i n t r t hil d r n
a e o e es c e .

25d ” p ost f re e .

R E A D IN G IN WA R T IM E . B y M . E .

SA DL E R (V i ce-Ch n c l l o r a e of th e ! n iv er ity s of

L eed s ) .

An Ad d ress d e liv re ed at th e Annua l M eet ing

of th e 1 9 1 4.

T o be o b tai n d e of

T H E N A T ION A L H OM E -
R E A DIN G ! N ION ,

12 ! OR K B ! IL DI N G S AD E L P H I
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