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Never get married on Friday the 13th of any month or your
marriage will be doomed with divorce or some other tragedy.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

Subject headings: 686 Specific number by specific number being described
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Measure of time Month
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 01-00-1980

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TELEPHONE ANSWER

JOE'S BAR AND GRILL, WHAT'LL YA HAVE?

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 09-15-1969

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TELEPHONE ANSWER

SHOOT, IT'S YOUR NICKLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 09-15-1969

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LUCK

IF YOU SPILL SALT THROW SOME OVER YOUR LEFT SCHOULDER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Conversions

Date learned: 00001960S

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KNOCK-KNOCK JOKE

KNOCK-KNOCK.
WHO'S THERE?
BOO.
BOO WHO?
WELL YOU DON'T HAVE TO CRY ABOUT IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 00001940S

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TOAST

THROUGH THE LIPS AND OVER THE GUMS. LOOK OUT STOMACH HERE IT COMES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

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

Date learned: 00001950S

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SIGNATURE

YOURS TILL THE COOKIE CRUMBLES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

Subject headings: Z210

Date learned: 00001950S

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SIGNATURE

YOURS TILL THE WELL RUNS DRY.

Submitter comment: MY INFORMANT GAVE ME THESE SIGNATURES FROM HER SCHOOL YEARBOOK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

Subject headings: Z210

Date learned: 00001950S

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LATIN QUEEN--16 YEAR OLD GIRL

IN THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN AREA OF DETROIT (MICHIGAN) EVERY YEAR
A QUEEN IS CHOSEN. THE NAMES OF THE CANDIDATES ARE SENT TO
THE LASED HOUSE (A MEXICAN-AMERICAN ORGANIZATION PRIMARILY
SERVING IMMIGRANTS). THE JUDGES THERE SPEAK WITH EACH OF
THE CANDIDATES, THEY ARE JUDGED ACCORDING TO HOW MUCH OF
THEIR MEXICAN HISTORY THEY KNOW, THEIR TASTE IN CLOTHES,
THEIR FIGURE, THEIR TALENTS, AND GENERAL OVERALL
PERSONALITY. THE JUDGES CHOOSE THE PERSON TO BE QUEEN
AND SHE IS PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC.
AS QUEEN, SHE SERVES FOR ONE YEAR, GETS A SCHOLARSHIP
FOR SCHOOL, AND DURING THE SUMMER GOES TO MEXICO, WHERE
SHE GETS INVOLVED IN WITH THE PEOPLES POLITICS AND
THEIR GENERAL OVERALL LIFESTYLE.

Where learned: WESTERN YMCA

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Festival
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Movable Date

Date learned: 11-11-1971

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ELEPHANT JOKE

WHERE DOES AN ELEPHANT SIT?
ANYWHERE HE PLEASES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 00001950S

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TEN LITTLE INDIANS

ONE LITTLE, TWO LITTLE, THREE LITTLE INDIANS. FOUR LITTLE, FIVE
LITTLE, SIX LITTLE INDIANS. SEVEN LITTLE, EIGHT LITTLE, NINE LITTLE
INDIANS. TEN LITTLE INDIAN BOYS.

Submitter comment: THIS CAN BE USED TO TEACH CHILDREN HOW TO COUNT TO TEN. WHILE THE
SAYING IS SAID AT THE SAME TIME THE CHILD IS RAISING THE FINGERS
THAT CORRESPOND TO THE NUMBERS IN THE GAME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION

Subject headings: 686 First / Once / One / Newness
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C531

Date learned: 00001940S

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COUNTING GAME

ONE, TWO BUCKLE MY SHOE.
THREE, FOUR SHUT THE DOOR.
FIVE, SIX PICK UP STICKS.
SEVEN, EIGHT LAY THEM STRAIGHT.
NINE, TEN START OVER AGAIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C531

Date learned: 00001940S

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CHEER

PUSH EM BACK. PUSH EM BACK. WAY BACK.

Submitter comment: WE WOULD SHOUT THIS AT FOOTBALL GAMES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 00001970S

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CHEER

VICTORY, VICTORY IS OUR CRY. V I C T O R Y. WILL WE WIN IT? WELL I
GUESS. VIKINGS, VIKINGS YES YES YES .

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival Custom Festival

Date learned: 00001950S

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CHEER

HIT EM HIGH HIT EM LOW COME ON VIKINGS GO GO GO.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT WAS A HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADER IN THE FIFTIES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival Custom Festival

Date learned: 00001950S

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EVIL EYE OR BREAKING SPELLS

WHEN A PERSON IS SICK IT IS BECAUSE
THEY ARE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE EVIL EYE
OR UNDER A SPELL. TO RID A PERSON
OF THEIR SICKNESS TAKE A BOWL HALF FULL
OF VINEGAR, PUT TWO DROPS OF OLIVE OIL IN IT
ONE ON EITHER SIDE. WHEN THE DROPS OF
OIL COME TOGETHER THE PATIENT WILL BE HEALED,
THE SPELL BROKEN AND THE EVIL EYE CAST OFF.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

Subject headings: Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration

Date learned: 09-15-1969

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PROVERBS: MONEY

"WHEN THE RIGHT HAND ITCHES YOU WILL LOSE MONEY, WHEN THE LEFT
HAND ITCHES YOU WILL GET MONEY." THE REASONING BEHIND THIS IS THAT
WE OFTEN TAKE OUR WALLET FROM A POCKET WITH OUR LEFT HAND AND WE
REACH INTO THE WALLET TO HAND OUT THE MONEY WITH OUR RIGHT HAND.
WHEN RECEIVING THE MONEY WE PUT IT IN OUR BILLFOLD WHICH IS IN OUR
LEFT HAND.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT REMEMBERS THIS SAYING FROM WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER. IT WAS
A COMMON BELIEF AND SAYING OF EARLIER DAYS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

Subject headings: Observation

Date learned: 11-08-1971

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PROVERBIAL SIMILE

NERVOUS AS A LONG TAILED CAT IN A ROOM OF ROCKING CHAIRS
USED WHEN TRYING TO POINT OUT HOW NERVOUS A PERSON, YOURSELF
OR SOMEONE ELSE, CAN BECOME IN A GIVEN SITUATION

Submitter comment: INFORMANT REMEMBERS THIS BEING USED DURING HIS CHILDHOOD
HE HAS USED IT AND HEARD OTHERS USE IT IN TIMES OF STRESS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; ANXIETY

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

Date learned: 11-08-1971

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ETHNIC JOKE

AN IRISH PRIEST WAS TEACHING AT AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL.
HE ASKED THE KIDS TO NAME THE ONE MAN WHO CONTRIBUTED THE MOST
TO THE WORLD. A SMALL SPANISH BOY SAID, "CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS."
THE PRIEST SAID, "THAT'S VERY GOOD, BUT NOT WHO I HAD IN MIND."
NEXT A FRENCH BOY SAID, "CHARLES DEGAULLE." THE PRIEST SAID, "THAT'S
VERY GOOD, BUT NOT WHO I HAD IN MIND." THEN HE OFFERED A
DOLLAR TO WHOEVER COULD GET THE RIGHT ANSWER. AFTER SEVERAL
ANSWERS, A LITTLE JEWISH BOY SAID, "SAINT PATRICK." THE PRIEST
SAID, "EXCELLENT. HOW DID YOU KNOW?" THE LITTLE JEWISH BOY SAID,
"WELL, I WANTED TO SAY MOSES, BUT BUSINESS IS BUSINESS."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

Subject headings: JEWI

Date learned: 11-04-1973

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PROVERB

WHEN YOUR RIGHT EAR RINGS, YOU WILL PROBABLY RECEIVE
GOOD NEWS; WHEN YOUR LEFT EAR RINGS, YOU WILL PROBABLY
RECEIVE BAD NEWS.

Submitter comment: USED AS ADVICE TO ANYONE WHO HAS A RINGING IN THEIR
EARS.
INFORMANT CLAIMS THIS TO BE TRUE. OVER THE YEARS
HE HAS FOUND THAT IT HAS NOT ONLY WORKED FOR HIM, BUT
FOR OTHERS AS WELL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

Subject headings: Observation

Date learned: 11-05-1971

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