The James T. Callow Computerized Folkore Archive | University of Detroit Mercy Libraries

EVERY DAY THE OL' SNAKE FOUND HIS SELF GETTIN' STEPPED ON, RAN OVER,
KICKED AROUND OR SOMETHING WHEN HE TRIED TO CROSS THE PATH DOWN BY
MASON CREEK. HE WAS GETTIN' MIGHTY TRIED OF IT: SO HE TOLD THE LORD
SAY, "LORD, I'M GETTIN' MIGHTY TRIED OF FOLKS STEPPING ON,
RUNNING OVER AND KICKING ME AROUND - JUS' AIN'T FAIR. I LIVE DOWN
HERE TOO; I GOT JUS' MUCH RIGHTS AS EVERYBODY ELSE DOWN HERE;
PEOPLE DON'T PAY NO ATTENTION TO ME, LORD: THE SNAKE COMPLAINTED.
"COULD BE THAT THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT. CAN'T
BLAME 'EM, CAUSE YOU IS WAY-LOW-DOWN, YA SEE", THE LORD ASKED THE
SNAKE. THE SNAKE SAID, "YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT." "I KNOW,
HERE, TAKE THIS HERE SHAKER, EVERYTIME YOU SEE SOMEBODY COMING YO'
WAY YOU JUS' SHAKE IT. YA' HEAR ME NOW?", THE LORD ASKED THE SNAKE.

Submitter comment: I HAVE HEARD A SIMILAR STORY IN ALABAMA ABOUT THIS SNAKE'S RATTLE; I
NOTICED A LOCAL NAME - "MASON CREEK".

Where learned: MISSISSIPPI

James Callow Keyword(s): COMPOUND EPITHET: WAY-LOW-DOWN ; METATHESIS: TRIED FOR TIRED

Subject headings:

PROSE NARRATIVE -- Characteristics of Animals

Date learned: 00-00-1940

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IRISH BELIEF ABOUT THE MOON

WHENEVER THE MOON IS RED IT MEANS THERE WILL BE BLOODSHED.

Submitter comment: THIS ITEM WAS GIVEN TO MRS. CHESNEY BY MATILDA MELLON, HER MOTHER,
WHO WAS AN IRISH IMMIGRANT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS

James Callow Keyword(s): INTERNAL RHYME ; SYMBOL ; SYMPATHETIC MAGIC

Subject headings:

BELIEF -- Moon
BELIEF -- Sign Color
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control

Date learned: 09-16-1975

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THE FOLLOWING IS A SONG THAT IS SUNG WHILE DRINKING BEER:
"IN HEAVEN THERE IS NO BEER,
THAT'S WHY WE DRINK IT HERE.
AND WHEN WE ARE GONE FROM HERE
OUR FRIENDS WILL BE DRINKING ALL THE BEER."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ; CHIASMUS ; DRINKING SONG ; RHYME: AAAA

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Daily Life
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Social reunion

Date learned: 10-00-1975

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THE FOLLOWING VERSE IS INSCRIBED ON A SIGN AT THE ENTRANCE OF PAT
SULLIVAN'S TAVERN:
"COME TARRY HERE
AND WELCOME BE
AND QUAFF THE
FOAMING BREW.
A FRIENDLY WORD,
A SMILE, A SONG,
WILL CHEER THE
HEART OF YOU."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; PAT SULLIVANS TAVERN

James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ; COMARADERIE ; IRREGULAR RHYME

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Food Drink C855.447

Date learned: 10-00-1975

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THE FOLLOWING VERSE WAS USED AS A TEASE BY SCHOOL CHILDREN:
"(NAME OF BOY) AND (NAME OF GIRL)
SITTING IN A TREE
K-I-S-S-I-N-G
FIST COMES LOVE
THEN COMES MARRIAGE
THEN COMES (NAME OF BOY OR GIRL) WITH A BABY CARRIAGE."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM ; IRREGULAR RHYME ; METONYMY ; OBSERVATION

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse

Date learned: 10-00-1975

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THE FOLLOWING VERSE WAS REPEATED AFTER BEING INSULTED OR TEASED BY A
FELLOW PLAYMATE:
"I'M MADE OF RUBBER,
YOU'RE MADE OF GLUE,
EVERYTHING YOU SAY
BOUNCES OFF ME
AND STICKS TO YOU."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST ; IRREGULAR RHYME ; RETALIATION

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.334
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse

Date learned: 10-00-1975

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"FISHEY FISHEY IN A BROOK,
GRAMPA CATCH'EM ON A HOOK.
GRANDMA FRY'EM IN A PAN,
AND I EAT THEM LIKE A MAN."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRRST ; RHYME AABB

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse

Date learned: 10-00-1975

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HOLY WEEK

IN UKRAINE, IT IS CUSTOMARY NOT TO EAT MEAT ALL WEEK.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM RELATIVES IN UKRAINE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ABSTINENCE FROM MEAT ; SELF-SACRIFICE--FASTING

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting F663.30

Date learned: 12-03-1967

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EASTER:

PREPARATIONS FOR EASTER USUALLY BEGAN ON HOLY THURSDAY AND LASTED UP
TILL EASTER SUNDAY MORNING. THERE WAS CLEANING TO DO, BAKING,
COOKING, AND EGGS TO COLOR.
PEOPLE WERE REQUIRED TO GO TO MASS ON THURSDAY,
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. ON SATURDAY AT MIDNIGHT THEY WERE ALSO
REQUIRED TO COME.
THE BAKING & COOKING STARTED OFF WITH "BABKA" - A POLISH KIND OF
BREAD; SWEET, WITH RAISINS. THIS WAS USUALLY EATEN WITH HONEY.
THERE WAS GOOSE, FISH, VEGETABLES - ALL KINDS OF FOOD IN HUGE
AMOUNTS. BUT WHAT EVERYONE ENJOYED MOST, WAS THE COLORING OF THE
EGGS.
BECAUSE LITHUANIANS ARE SO ARTISTIC, THEIR ART COMES OUT IN A SMALL
WAY ON THESE EGGS. THE PROCESS IS VERY SIMPLE: YOU TAKE A WAX
CANDLE, A PIN WITH A HEAD, AND A CLEAN, DRY, HARD-BOILED EGG. YOU
DIP THE PIN HEAD INTO THE MELTING WAX AND QUICKLY STROKE IT ONTO THE
EGG. WHEREVER THE WAX TOUCHES THE EGG, THE COLOR WILL NOT COVER IT
THERE. THERE ARE MANY MANY VARIOUS DESIGNS THAT YOU CAN CREATE
WITH THIS TYPE OF COLORING. AFTER THE WAX ON THE EGG IS DRY, YOU
DROP IT INTO COLD COLORS.
FOR A TWO COLOR, DUO-DESIGN EGG, IT IS JUST AS SIMPLE. THE EGG IS
WHITE FROM THE BEGINNING. YOU DRAW A DESIGN ON IT & DROP IT INTO
GREEN. YOU TAKE IT, PAT IT DRY VERY GENTLY AND THEN PROCEED WITH
ANOTHER DESIGN. YOU SIMPLY STROKE THE WAX ONTO THE GREEN PART OF THE
EGG & DROP IT INTO BLUE. LET'S SAY YOU KEEP IT IN FOR ONLY A FEW
MINUTES AND WHEN YOU TAKE IT: YOU HAVE A WHITE, GREEN & AQUA EGG.
THERE IS ANOTHER WAY OF COLORING EGGS, BUT MORE DIFFICULT. IT IS
HARDLY USED AT ALL TODAY, MY PARENTS NEVER USED IT, SO IT'S RATHER
HARD TO EXPLAIN. THE METHOD IS CARVING THE DESIGN RIGHT OUT ONTO THE
EGG. BUT SINCE I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND A MOST INFORMATIVE SOURCE
FOR THIS METHOD, THIS IS ALL I CAN SAY 'BOUT ( ABOUT ) IT.
EASTER MORNING, OR SATURDAY AT MIDNIGHT, THE CHURCH IS DARK, WITH
ONLY ONE DIM LIGHT IN THE BACK OF THE CHURCH. AT MIDNIGHT, THE
CANDLES ARE LIT, THE PEOPLE BEGIN TO SING AS THE PRIEST TAKES THE
MONSTRANCE AROUND THE CHURCH SEVERAL TIMES IN A PROCESSION. IN FRONT
OF THE PRIEST, THERE ARE SEVERAL GIRLS THROWING ROSE PETALS AT HIS
FEET. AFTER THE PROCESSION IS FINISHED, HE SAYS A SHORT PRAYER FOR
EVERYONE, BLESSES THE PEOPLE WITH HOLY WATER AND MASS BEGINS.
ON EASTER IN THE AFTERNOON, THE CHILDREN GET TOGETHER AND CHALLENGE
EACH OTHER TO AN "EGG-CONTEST". THIS REALLY CONSISTS OF TWO PARTS,
BUT THE OBJECTIVE IS THE SAME: TRYING TO CRACK THE OTHER EGG. THE
FIRST PART WOULD BE WHERE THE CHALLENGED EGG WAS BEING HELD WITH THE
POINTED NOSE UP, AND THE CHALLENGER WOULD ATTEMPT TO CRACK IT. IF
THE CHALLENGER'S EGG CRACKED, HE WAS THE LOSER. BUT IF THE
CHALLENGED EGG WON, HE COULD HAVE A SECOND TRY TO SEE HOW FAR HIS EGG
WOULD ROLL & IF HE CAN CRACK HIS OPPONENT'S EGG THIS WAY. THE
ROLLING WAS USUALLY HELD ON A GRASSY PIECE OF LAND. THERE WOULD BE A
SLANTED BOARD, SIMILAR TO A SLIDE AND THE EGGS WOULD BE ROLLED FROM
THIS. IF THE CHALLENGER'S EGG DEVELOPED A SECOND CRACK FROM HIS
OPPONENT, HE WAS OUT.
THE KIDS IN LITHUANIA DIDN'T RECEIVE EASTER BASKETS. THEY RECEIVED
EGGS, BUT HAD TO HUNT ALL OVER THE FARM FOR THEM. AND TO SOME LUCKY
ONES, IT BROUGHT THEM THE SATISFACTION OF HAVING THE STRONGEST EGG IN
THE VILLAGE.

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; GAME ; MUSIC ; WATER

Subject headings:

663 Holy Thursday
663 Good Friday
663 Holy Saturday
Favorites
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting F663.30

Date learned: 03-26-1972

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