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James T. Callow Computerized Folklore Archive
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LIMERICK

THERE WAS A YOUNG ROSE OF TRALEE
WHO LET HERSELF GO ON A SPREE.
NOW SHE WRITES TO THE PAPERS,
CONDEMING SUCH CAPERS,
AND SIGNS HERSELF MOTHER OF THREE.

Submitter comment: THESE LIMERICKS WERE LEARNED OF IN A SIXTH GRADE ENGLISH CLASS
AT SAINT HEDWIG GRADE SCHOOL. THE BOOK THEY WERE TAKED FROM
IS NOT KNOWN BY ME BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD BY THE TEACHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): METAPHOR: FLOWER (ROSE) FOR GIRL ; PERSONALITY CHANGE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse

Date learned: 00001960S

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SENSE OF EVIL

IT IS THE OPINION OF MANY PEOPLE THAT ANIMALS HAVE AN EXTRA SENSE.
THIS SENSE--A PRESENT OF THE CREATOR--TELLS THEM WHEN EVIL PERSONS
OR BEINGS ARE ABOUT. THUS, WHEN A HORSE REARS FOR NO APPARENT
REASON AT ALL, IT IS SAID THAT HE IS SPOOKED, AND THAT WHICH
SPOOKS HIM IS USUALLY THE APPROACH OF MR. DEATH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): EXTRASENSORY ; PREMONITION

Subject headings: Spirit / Mind / Body
BELIEF -- Characteristics of Animals
BELIEF -- Animal

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BODY PART BELIEF

IF YOUR RIGHT HAND ITCHES, YOU WILL LOSE MONEY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Spirit / Mind / Body
BELIEF -- Body part Senses

Date learned: 02-19-1972

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EYES JUMPING

IF YOUR LEFT EYE JUMPS CONSTANTLY, YOU ARE GOING TO GET MAD. IF
YOUR RIGHT EYE JUMPS, YOU ARE GOING TO BE GLAD ABOUT SOMETHING.

Submitter comment: THIS HAS TOLD TO HAVE ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO INFORMANT.

Where learned: WINSTON SALEM ; 2108 E 25TH ST

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Spirit / Mind / Body
BELIEF -- Body part Senses

Date learned: 00-00-1969

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JEWISH BRIDES

INFORMANT WAS TOLD BY SOMEONE HE ONCE WORKED WITH WHO INTENSELY
DISLIKED JEWISH PEOPLE, THAT PART OF THE JEWISH RELIGION TEACHES
THAT THE NIGHT BEFORE A JEWISH GIRL MARRIES, SHE MUST HAVE SEXUAL
INTERCOURSE WITH HER FATHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

James Callow Keyword(s): ANTISEMITISM?

Subject headings: BELIEF -- P439
BELIEF -- Marriage
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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RAVENS

LONDONERS BELIEVE THAT WHEN ALL RAVENS LEAVE THEIR CITY, DISASTER
WILL FOLLOW.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): BRITISH?

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.32

Date learned: 11-00-1971

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SUPERSTITION

ONE OF THE MOST COMMON KNOWLEDGE SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT BAD LUCK IS
THAT CONCERNING A BIRD THAT ENTERS THE HOUSE UNINVITED. SUCH A SIGN
MEANS ONLY ONE THING, SICKNESS, DEATH, DESPAIR. IT COULD BE ANY
SORT OF BIRD AND THERE IS NO WAY TO REMEDY THE EVIL. ONCE THE BIRD
HAS ENTERED IT DOESNT MATTER IF HE IS KILLED, CAUGHT, OR SET FREE.
EVIL WILL FOLLOW. IT COULD TAKE A FEW MINUTES, OR A FEW DAYS.
EITHER WAY, BAD LUCK WILL VISIT THE INHABITANTS OR THE BUILDING
ITSELF.

Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND

James Callow Keyword(s): UNINVITED GUEST

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.32

Date learned: 10-00-1965

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DON'T BURN YOUR HAIR WHEN IT COMES OUT IN THE COMB, YOU ARE
SUPPOSED TO THROW IT OUTSIDE FOR THE BIRDS TO MAKE THEIR NESTS
OUT OF.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

James Callow Keyword(s): OPPOSITE OF A CONTAGIOUS MAGIC BELIEF ALSO IN ARCHIVE

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Bird

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BEE

IT IS GOOD FOR A BEE TO STING YOU BECAUSE IT MAKES YOUR CELLS WORK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): VITALIZING BEE STING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 03-01-1971

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SUPERSTITION

ITS GOOD FOR A BEE TO STING YOU BECAUSE IT MAKES YOUR CELLS WORK.

Where learned: OHIO ; PARMA

James Callow Keyword(s): VITALIZING BEE STING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

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SHOES

ONE MUST NOT LEAVE HIS SHOES ON THE FLOOR AT THE END OF ONES BED,
AS THE LEPRACHAUNS WILL COME AND DANCE IN THEM AT NIGHT.

Submitter comment:

THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY HIS GRANDFATHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION PLACEMENT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome
BELIEF -- Use of Object Human beings and their activities

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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FAIRY BELIEF

IN IRELAND,
THE FAIRIES WERE BAD TOO. THEY WOULD COME BY THE NIGHT AND MILK THE
COWS AND HAVE A PICNIC AND WHEN YOU CHURNED THE MILK YOU WOULD HAVE
NO BUTTER. THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD SHOOT THEM WAS TO PUT A SILVER
COIN IN THE GUN, ALONG WITH THE AMMUNITION. AT TWELVE MIDNIGHT,
THEY COULD TAKE YOU FOR A VERY LONG WALK AND KEEP YOU WALKING UNTIL
THE COCKS WOULD CROW AT 4 A.M. BUT YOU COULD FOOL THEM IF YOU
TURNED YOUR COAT INSIDE OUT AND BLESSED YOURSELF WITH THE SIGN OF
THE CROSS.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 03-11-1972

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BELIEF

IF YOU SPILL SALT, BE SURE TO PICK SOME OF IT UP BETWEEN THUMB
AND FIRST FINGER AND THROW IT ACROSS THE RIGHT SHOULDER. IT GOES
IN THE DEVIL'S EYES. HE WILL NOT TEMPT YOU TO DO ANYTHING WRONG.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Mineral

Date learned: 03-11-1972

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LEGEND BELIEF

WHILE LIVING IN GUAM, MY MOTHER WONDERED WHY THE GUAMANIAN PEOPLE
LIVED IN HOUSES ON STILTS, AND SO SHE ASKED A GUAMANIAN FRIEND
OF OUR FAMILY, AND HE TOLD HER THAT HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO, THE
PEOPLE WERE VERY PAGAN (BEFORE THE SPANISH BROUGHT CHRISTIANITY TO
GUAM). BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED IN MANY GODS AND EVIL SPIRITS AND THE
SUCH THEY BUILT THEIR HOUSES ON STILTS TO KEEP THE EVIL SPIRITS
FROM ENTERING THEIR HOMES. OF COURSE, THE PRACTICE ALSO KEEPS THE
INSECTS OUT OF THE HOUSES AND THE DAMPNESS AND , SO IT IS A
VERY PRACTICAL PRACTICE, ALSO.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PRACTICALITY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon

Date learned: 03-30-1968

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT MUST BE DONE TO HAVE SOFT HANDS?
A: NOTHING.

Submitter comment: TRANSLATED FROM LITHUANIAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; LITERAL ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q) HANDS

James Callow Keyword(s): IRONY

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 02-17-1971

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Q: WHY ARE A COWARD AND A LEAKY FAUCET THE SAME?
A: THEY BOTH RUN.

Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER VARIANT IN U OF D FOLKLORE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; HARDWARE (Q) ; METAPHORICAL NONOPPOSITIONAL

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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PRETENDED OBSCENE RIDDLE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

Q: WHAT IS A FOUR LETTER WORD FOR INTERCOURSE?
A: TALK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; COMMUNICATION (Q) ; LITERAL NONOPPOSITIONAL

James Callow Keyword(s): SEX

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 09-00-1971

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT ARE PEOPLE ALWAYS WILLING TO SHARE?
A: WORK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (A) ; CATCH ; LITERAL NONOPPOSITIONAL ; PERSONS (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 09-20-1968

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TRUE RIDDLE

Q: JOHN IS IN THE OTHER ROOM SLEEPING. MARY IS ON THE FLOOR DEAD.
THERE IS WATER ON THE FLOOR NEAR MARY. THERE IS ALSO BROKEN GLASS
ON THE FLOOR NEAR MARY. MARY DID NOT DIE OF ANY WOUNDS.
HOW DID MARY DIE?
A: JOHN IS A CAT. MARY IS A FISH. JOHN KNOCKED THE FISH BOWL OFF
THE STAND AND IT BROKE AND MARY DIED OF SUFFICATION (SUFFOCATION).

Submitter comment:

YES AND NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RIDDLE ARE ASKED OF THE RIDDLER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMALS (A)

James Callow Keyword(s): HOUSEHOLD ITEM (Q) ; NAMES FOR

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Proper Name
RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 09-26-1969

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MIZSLE - LITHUANIAN RIDDLE

Q: KAS JUODAS NEDAZYTAS? - WHAT IS BLACK AND UNPAINTED?
A: VARNA. - A CROW.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL (A) ; LITERAL ; STATE OF BEING (Q) AND COLOR

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 03-08-1968

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