Deprecated: The each() function is deprecated. This message will be suppressed on further calls in /var/www/libs/inc/cfa/cfa-search.inc.php on line 473
The James T. Callow Computerized Folkore Archive | University of Detroit Mercy Libraries Back to Top
Top Nav content Site Footer
University Home
James T. Callow Computerized Folklore Archive
search for

Offensive content Filter is ON

Your search for Culture returned 50 results.

prev | items 1 - 51 | next

CHRISTMAS

ON CHRISTMAS EVE, THE FATHER OF THE HOUSEHOLD PLACES A SCYTHE
UNDER THE TABLE AND COVERS IT WITH HAY. (THIS IS A SYMBOL OF HIS
WORK DURING THAT YEAR).

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM PARENTS IN UKRAINE.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector share same surname.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): MATERIAL CULTURE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Christmas
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Straw

Date learned: 11-19-1967

View just this record

BOOM BOOM

IF IT THUNDER IN ALL FOOLS DAY
IT BRINGS GOOD CROPS OF GRASS AND HAY.

Data entry tech comment: ITEM KEYPUNCHED AS IS

Where learned: AUDIAS PIZZARIA

Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; APRIL FOOL'S DAY ; BELIEF ; RHYME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb C880.890
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- April 1 April Fools
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- April 1 (April Fool's Day)
BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder

Date learned: 10-03-1969

View just this record

CORN

IF YOU PLANT CORN IN THE OLD OF THE MOON, IT WILL EAR OUT BETTER.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE FARMING NATURE

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE IMPLIED ; OBSERVATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Moon
BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 02-09-1968

View just this record

SAYING

LAND'S SO RICH THAT WHEN YOU PLANT CORN, YOU HAVE TO JUMP BACK SO IT
WON'T HIT YOU IN THE EYE.

Submitter comment: I HEARD MY 5TH COUSIN SAY THIS ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO. IT WAS IN THE
SAN JOAQUIN DELTAS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. HE WAS DESCRIBING A
MUDFLAT THAT HE HAD LEASED.

Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; SAN JOAQUIN DELTA

Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; FERTILITY ; HYPERBOLE ; LAND

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: 10-08-1968

View just this record

RIDDLE

HOW DID THE BUCKWHEAT COME TO AMERICA?
-- IT CAME THREE-CORNERED. (THE GRAIN ITSELF)

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): FARMING AGRICULTURE

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 02-25-1970

View just this record

RIDDLE

IF A FARMER CAN RAISE 50 BUSHELS OF CORN IN DRY WEATHER,
WHAT CAN HE RAISE IN WET WEATHER ?
-- AN UMBRELLA

Where learned: HOME ; OHIO ; Sylvania ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): FARMING AGRICULTURE

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 00-00-0000

View just this record

House-Demons

By a clean river, there grew oak trees from centuries before. Not far from there lived a Samogitian of many years. Together with im lived his beautiful and larg efamily. Their barns were full of cattle, the corn overflowed into the storehouse. No farmer, happier or richer than him, was around.

The other farmers, jealous of his success, started talking about him, that a house demon brought him all his riches. Many said that they saw the demons flying around the house.

The people's council, hearing such talk from the neighbors, sent an inspector over to the farmer's house; they ordered him to forbid the farmer, to tell him to finally learn to live with the other people.

the inspector, showing up at the farmer's house, told him directly that yhe should be ashamed to keep a demon in his house and that he should do only what is good for his neighbors.

the Samogitian only laughed at him. Still laughung he told the inspector that not a single of his demons has yet done wrong to any of his neighbors. Then the inspector told him to show him his demons. With that,. the farmer led the inspector by hand to his barn where all his farming tools stood.

-These- said the farmer, -are my demons that do good for me and my neighbors.-

Submitter comment:

Translated from Lithuanian by Ramune Stonys

An asterisk denotes a message for the word Samogalia, and explains that: Lithuania is divided into different regions. Samogalia is one region, located in Northern Lithuania.

On tha back of the card is an address for the translator:

R. Stonys

17276 Milton

Southfield, MI 48075

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Grammatical correction: Leave to Live.

Where learned: Stonys, Martin

Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; Demon ; Demons ; DISCIPLINE ; FARMER ; FARMING ; HARD WORK ; House ; Moral ; Neighbors ; Parable ; Relationships ; SELF DISCIPLINE

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon

View just this record

Content filter on this entry.

Poor Wording

A number of GI's in England during the war decided to hold a horse race to keep up the morale of the base. For some reason they were short of active animals for the event. Now it happened that the local parish priest had a donkey and they obtained his permission to use it to make up the field. The donkey to the surprise of everyone came in third in the first race. Where upon the camp newspaper came out with the headline "Padre's Ass Shows."

This naturally caused no small scandal among the people of the parish and eventually reached the bishop. However, when called to ask about it by the bishop the padre managed to mollify the good man by explaining it was only an American slang expression. The next day a race was held and the donkey came in first. The paper then announced "Padre's Ass Out in Front."

This called for further episcopal disapproval, but again the padre succeeded in mollifying the bishop. The third day's race the donkey finished second and the paper reported "Padre's Ass back in Place." This was the last straw for the bishop and he ordered the priest to withdraw the animal from the race. The camp then came forth with the sad news: "Bishop Scratches Padre's Ass."

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [ B667 ] modified: the number zero is written over the seven. Additionally, the entire BN is crossed out and replaced with B660.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Cieslak, John

Keyword(s): AMERICAN ; Anecdote ; Culture Clash ; DONKEY ; European ; GAMBLING ; HORSE ; Jest ; Language ; MILITARY ; NEWSPAPER ; PUN ; RACING ; RELIGION ; SLANG

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote
Filter - Mature Content

View just this record

Custom

Good Friday and Planting Custom:

Potatoe [sic] seeds should be planted, if at all possible, on Good Friday.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [F663] has been crossed out and replaced with F535

Where learned: HOME ; NEW YORK ; Hackett, Vincent ; LeRoy

Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; CUSTOM ; FARMING ; Good Friday ; HARVEST ; PLANT VEGETABLE ; POTATO ; Religious Holiday ; VEGETABLE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535

View just this record

Belief: Animal

Agricultural Belief:

A Bull Frog croaks and freezes 3 times before winter.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P870] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS ; Kelly, James

Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; AMPHIBIAN ; ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; DEATH ; Fall ; Freeze ; FROG ; Frozen ; Rebirth ; SEASONS ; SUPERSTITION ; WINTER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Animal

View just this record

Proverb

When in Rome, do as the Romans do!

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [V400] crossed out. Replaced wtih current classification

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects

Where learned: HOME ; Peterson, Shirley

Keyword(s): Adapt ; Culture ; RELATIVITY ; Roman

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

View just this record

Retort

You must be Bob Hope's brother, No Hope.

Submitter comment:

This is a sarcastic retort used when a person has had a sarcastic remark directed towards them.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

(Bob Hope [1903-2003] was a famous celebrity and humanitarian.)

James Callow comment:

Odd First Name (Regarding No Hope).

Where learned: Diamond, Susan

Keyword(s): CELEBRITY ; COMEBACK ; INSULT ; Pop Culture ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

View just this record

Proverb

Agricultural Proverb:

When the sun sets in the West - the lazy man works his best.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original Bn [V400] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; 7733 CALHOUN ; Downes, JoAnn

Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; Aphorism ; Apothegm ; DIRECTION ; FARMING ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; RHYME ; Set ; Sun ; SUNSET ; VERSE ; West ; WORK

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Blason Populaire

View just this record

Proverb

You reap what you sow.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; Whyte, Mrs Wilfred ; 524 Rivera Terraces ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; Aphorism ; Apothegm ; FARMING ; Maxim ; METAPHOR ; PROVERB ; Reap ; Sow ; VERSE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

View just this record

Wedding Custom

Wedding Custom:

At Jewish weddings there is a practice of the bride and groom smashing their champagne glass againsst the floor during the ceremony to symbolize that marriage sometimes involves disorder and discontent.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): CEREMONY ; Cultural ; Culture ; DISCONTENT ; Disorder ; GLASS ; Jewish ; MARRIAGE ; Practice ; RELIGION ; Smash ; SYMBOL ; Symbolic ; Symbolize ; tradition ; WEDDING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage

View just this record

Language

Two instructors on Peabody's Campus, husband and wife (The VanEhens), have acquired a nickname because of their physical resemblance. They both have red hair and freckles and a chubby build and are called "The Campbell's Kids" from Campbell's SOup Commercials.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: Tomlinson, Perry

Keyword(s): Campbells ; Chubby ; Commercials ; FRECKLES ; HAIR ; Language ; Nickname ; Pop Culture ; Professor ; Red ; Resemblance ; Soup

Subject headings: Person / Nickname

View just this record

Language

Greeting - of a special kind:

In Australia, instead of asking if you have been waited on, the salesgirl asks "are you right?"

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

original BN [S500] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Keyword(s): Australia ; COUNTRY ; Culture ; GREETING ; Nation ; Restaurant ; RIGHT ; Service ; Waitress

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

View just this record

Language

American Nicknames:

Mexicans call Americans "gringoes" because when the Texans went into the Battle of San Jacinto, they were singing "Green Grow the Lilacs." The Mexicans thought they were saying "gringo."

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Kimble, Dement R

Keyword(s): AMERICAN ; Battle ; Culture ; ETYMOLOGY ; Green ; Gringo ; Grow ; Language ; Lilacs ; Mexican ; NATIONALITY ; Nickname ; San Jacinto ; SLANG ; SONG ; Term

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name

View just this record

Custom; Agriculture

Plant corn by the dark of the moon

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Gray, Elton Mrs

Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; CORN ; Crop ; CUSTOM ; FARMING ; HARVEST ; Lore ; MOON ; PLANT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time F574.82.242.5

View just this record

Custom; Agriculture

Plant cucumbers by the dark of the moon. If you plant them by the light of the moon, they will just make vines.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Gray, Elton Mrs

Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; Crop ; Cucumber ; Dark ; FARMING ; LIGHT ; Lore ; MOON ; PLANT ; VEGETABLE ; Vine

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Working

View just this record

prev | items 1 - 51 | next

Back to Top