Folklore: Childrens' paper fortune tellers

Subject: Folklore: Childrens' paper fortune tellers
From: Mo the caller
Date: 18 Mar 12 - 05:58 PM

We were remembering childhood games on another forum and I googled these folded paper fortune-tellers (since it is very difficult to describe them in words).
Wiki quotes the Opies as saying that they started being used for 'fortune telling' in the 50s in the UK. Which surprised me.
We had them in my last year at junior school (1954), maybe earlier, and I thought they'd always been around.
I knew that American Skipping (with linked rubber bands in a loop round your friends legs, or chair legs) had come in sometime in the 7 years after I left junior school, as my sister did it. And reading Mudcat confirms that, with quotes from the Opies.

So does anyone NOT remember using these fortune tellers? Is it only in the UK that children did it? And do they still do it? I can't remember my children bringing any home.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Childrens' paper fortune tellers
From: Cool Beans
Date: 18 Mar 12 - 06:32 PM

I remember them from grade school in the 1950s in Brooklyn NY. Forgot how to make 'em, though.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Childrens' paper fortune tellers
From: Monique
Date: 18 Mar 12 - 06:57 PM

We had them in the late 50's in Southern France and I saw some of my first graders play with them around 10 years ago.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Childrens' paper fortune tellers
From: Lighter
Date: 18 Mar 12 - 07:20 PM

Cool Beans is right. The year for me was 1955.

Wikipedia claims they were introduced to the English-speaking world in 1928. Undoubtedly they took several years to catch on fully.

I can't think of what they were called either.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Childrens' paper fortune tellers
From: Mo the caller
Date: 18 Mar 12 - 07:50 PM

The wiki article says they were in a 1928 book of origami as salt cellars (up the other way). But I can't imagine that, how would they stand up?
Anyone got an early date than 1954 for them as fortune-tellers?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Childrens' paper fortune tellers
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 18 Mar 12 - 08:15 PM

I remember them from grade school in the Detroit area in the 60s.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Childrens' paper fortune tellers
From: Bernard
Date: 18 Mar 12 - 09:09 PM

My grandchildren still make them (Bolton, UK)!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Childrens' paper fortune tellers
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 12:35 PM

Mid fifties in NYC
Made one about a week ago when I was bored.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Childrens' paper fortune tellers
From: Monique
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 01:05 PM

We would call it "salière" (saltshaker)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Childrens' paper fortune tellers
From: maeve
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 01:06 PM

This is one of many paper crafts handed down in our family. They work fine as containers for sweets. The "salt cellar" name may refer to the form more than the use. Here are directions:
http://www.origami-resource-center.com/fortune-teller.html

Subject: RE: Folklore: Childrens' paper fortune tellers
From: GUEST,Auldtimer
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 01:06 PM

I remember them from school in the late fifties '58/ '59 in Ayrshire. We called them " mup mups ".

Subject: RE: Folklore: Childrens' paper fortune tellers
From: Ole Juul
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 01:17 PM

I don't recall a name, but I remember them from the 60's here in Western Canada. I wonder if they are still around. They require four fingers and don't take batteries - but nevertheless involve the thumbs.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Childrens' paper fortune tellers
From: open mike
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 01:41 PM

we called these "cootie catchers" and this design was also used on may day to put small candies and violets on front door knobs. then we would ring the bell and run away. A construction paper handle would be stapled on to loop over the door handle. this was 1960-1968 in Nebraska.