Origin
The origin of the game is unknown, but a similar game was referred to in the Los Angeles Times in 1899:
| “ | A simple game is to have a pair of blunt scissors. All the company sits in a circle, and one takes the scissors and hands them to his neighbor on the right saying: "I make you a present of a pair of scissors closed". They can say "open" or "closed" at will, the company immediately crossing their feet and hands when any one says open and vice versa. This game should be played in a very lively manner, so as to cause those playing to forget and leave their hands and feet crossed and uncrossed at the wrong time. Forfeits are paid when a mistake is made. It is something after the old game of "Simon says." | ” |
The version now played was included in a 1905 games book:
| “ | The leader hands a closed pair of scissors to her accomplice, who takes it and says: "I received these scissors uncrossed and I give them crossed." (Opening the scissors as she speaks.) She passes them to the player on her right who should say: "I receive these scissors crossed and I give them crossed." (If they are left open; if closed, they are uncrossed.) Those who do not know the game receive the scissors and pass them and say what they think they ought. It may be just what the player before said, but the condition of the scissors may not be the same, and, therefore, it is not right. Thus each one has a turn, and the game continues until some bright player notices that the scissors are called crossed when they are open and uncrossed when they are closed, and that the player who knows the game crossed her feet if the scissors were crossed, and if not, her feet were uncrossed, or resting on the floor as usual. | ” |
Read more about this topic: Scissors (game)
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