The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #7774   Message #2584831
Posted By: Azizi
09-Mar-09 - 01:59 PM
Thread Name: lyr req: jump n' jivin'
Subject: RE: jump n' jivin'
Btw, Mudcat has a thread on children's rhymes that is called:
Folklore: Play Ground Hand Jives

I've seen the phrase "handjive" used to mean "hand clap rhymes" and "performing hand clap games or routines". But, again, I've never known any African American who've used that term-which is not to say that no African American uses it, or used to use it.

I'm assuming that this meaning came from the pattin juba
(hambone) motions that Jayto mentioned earlier in this thread.

As an aside, "pattin juba" also lives on in the steppin' performances of Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities. For those who may be interested, here are links to two sections of my Cocojams.com website that are devoted to fraternity & sorority chants and steppin':

Fraternity & Sorority Chants

and

Internet links to fraternity steppin and stroll videos