Summary

Game name (and type): 'Moon-Light, Star-Light' (hiding game)
Alternative type: chasing games, running games, games played in the dark

Handwritten description of the hiding and chasing game 'Moon-Light, Star-Light' written for Dr Dorothy Howard by L. Brown-Neave, a student at Double View Government Primary School, probably on 25 March 1955. Brown-Neave writes that 'Moon-Light, Star-Light' is best played at night with at least three players. According to the author, players must first 'count spuds', presumably elect a child as 'he', and establish a home base. 'He' is also identified as the 'ghost', incorrectly spelt 'goghst' throughout the description. Brown-Neave states that 'he' hides while the other players count. On reaching fifty, they calling out 'Moon-light, star-light, boogy won't be out tonight' and begin looking for the 'ghost'. After a period of time, the 'ghost' suddenly emerges from their hiding spot and chases the players as they try to reach the home base.

One of a collection of letters describing a children's games written to children's Folklorist Dorothy Howard between 1954 and 1955. Dr Howard came to Australia in 1954-55 as an American Fulbright scholar to study Australian children's folklore. She travelled across Australia for 10 months collecting children's playground rhymes, games, play artefacts, etc. This letter, together with the other original fieldwork collected by Dr Howard during this period, is preserved in the Dorothy Howard Collection manuscript files, part of the Australian Children's Folklore Collection (ACFC), Archive Series 3. The ACFC is an extensive collection documenting children's folklore and related research.

Physical Description

Handwritten game description in pencil on lined paper. Features borders ruled in red pencil; text written on one side only.

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