Alice Bertha Gomme presents the first section of a comprehensive dictionary of British folk-lore, specifically isolating children's games to preserve their historical and anthropological value. The author argues that children do not invent their pastimes, but rather imitate and unconsciously enact the serious ceremonies, adult avocations, and social rites of earlier generations. The collection excludes modern invented games of skill, focusing entirely on traditional singing, choral, and descriptive games that span various regions of the United Kingdom. Each entry includes local variants of tunes, lyrical rhymes, and precise instructions for playing, accompanied by illustrations and diagrams where necessary.
Gomme systematically examines the textual history of the rhymes to deduce their probable origins in ancient social practices such as marriage rituals, well-worship, and tribal feuds. Through contributions from numerous correspondents across different counties, the work captures the rich diversity of regional folklore before these oral traditions vanish entirely. The resulting documentation establishes a direct link between modern recreational pastimes and the forgotten beliefs of ancestors, offering a structural framework for understanding the evolution of traditional play.
