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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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AMONG THE SWEDISH OF AMERICA, AS AMONG THEIR ANCESTORS,
THERE IS BELIEVED TO BE LITTLE PEOPLE. AND THEY ARE
REFERRED TO AS "THE LITTLE PEOPLE" OR IN SWEDISH
"TANTAGUBAN."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
THE IRISH BELIEF IN LITTLE FAIRY-LIKE CREATURES WHO SEEM
TO CORRESPOND TO THE AMERICAN FAIRY GODMOTHERS. EACH
OF THESE LEPRECHAUNS IS BELIEVED TO OWN HIS OWN POT
OF GOLD.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 11-02-1967
FAIRIES ARE REAL. MY MOTHER ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT WHEN MY TOOTH
FELL OUT, TO PUT IT UNDER MY PILLOW AND THE TOOTH FAIRY
WOULD COME AND LEAVE SOME MONEY. WELL, ID DID IT EVERY
TIME AND EVERY TIME IT WORKED, I WONDER WHO THE FAIRY WAS?
Where learned: CHILDHOOD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
LEGEND OF THE JAPANESE KAPPA
THE KAPPA IS A GREEN, TWO-FOOTED CREATURE WITH A TURTLE SHELL
ON ITS BACK AND A LARGE THATCH OF HAIR AND A BEAK. THEY
DWELL IN THE RIVERS AND OTHER BODIES OF WATER IN JAPAN
AND ARE NOTED FOR THEIR IMPISH TRICKS WHICH THEY PLAY
ON FISHERMEN.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD FROM HER FATHER WHO RESIDES IN JAPAN.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN ; JAPAN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN ANCIENT CELTIC LORE THEY HAD GREAT RESPECT FOR SPIRITS.
CLEAN WATER WOULD BE LEFT AT NIGHT FOR THE FAIRIES TO WASH.
IF A WOMAN OF THE HOUSE WAS THROWING OUT DIRTY WATER, SHE
WOULD SAY, "FAG A BEALAC, UESGE SALAC," WHICH MEANT--"LEAVE
THE WAY, DIRTY WATER!" AS A WARNING TO THE SPIRITS NOT TO GET
HIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BISHOP BORGESS HIGH SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 11-00-1970
AS A CHILD, WHENEVER I LOST A TOOTH I WOULD PLACE
IT UNDER MY PILLOW OVERNIGHT. THE NEXT DAY I WOULD
FIND SOME MONEY IN ITS PLACE, WHICH MY FAIRY
GODMOTHER WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE LEFT FOR ME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE DEVIL ON SEYBURN
AS A LITTLE GIRL THE INFORMANT LIVED ON SEYBURN IN DETROIT. ON
ONE OF THE CORNERS OF SEYBURN THERE WAS A HOUSE WHICH HAD BEEN
POSSESSED BY THE DEVIL. WHEN THE PRIEST DROVE THE DEVIL FROM THE
HOUSE, HE CHASED IT INTO THE GARAGE. THE DEVIL RAN ACROSS THE
FLOOR UP THE WALL AND HALF WAY ACROSS THE CEILING BEFORE LEAVING.
THERE ARE IMPRINTS OF HIS FOOT IN THE CEMENT FLOOR OF THE GARAGE.
ON THE WALL AND ON THE CEILING THERE ARE HAND AND BELLY PRINTS.
THESE PRINTS CANNOT BE REMOVED WITH PAINT OR BY RECEMENTING THE
FLOOR. THEY ALWAYS REAPPEAR. THE INFORMANT HAS SEEN THE PRINTS
HERSELF.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Sign Color |
Date learned: 03-31-1967
TOOTH
WHEN I WAS A KID, WHEN A TOOTH CAME OUT, I'D PUT IT IN A SUNDAY
ENVELOPE. THEN I'D TAKE A NAP AND THE TOOTH FAIRY WOULD LEAVE
COOKIES ON THE KITCHEN TABLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue |
Date learned: 03-11-1970
SHANNON AIRPORT
IN THE 1940S IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT SHANNON AIRPORT WAS TOO
SMALL TO HANDLE THE LARGE NEW JETS, SO IT WAS DECIDED TO
EXTEND THE RUNWAYS. THEY HIRED A GERMAN ARCHITECT AND AN
ENGLISH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AND WERE USING IRISH WORKERS.
THE STRIP WAS BEGUN AND A LITTLE MORE THAN 100 YARDS WERE
COMPLETED, WHEN THE WORKERS STOPPED AND NOTHING COULD MAKE
THEM CONTINUE. SO IT WAS DECIDED TO GO OUT TO THE COUNTRY
SIDE AND GET SOME MORE. WHEN THESE WORKERS ARRIVED THEY
WOULD NOT CONTINUE THE STRIP EITHER. SO THE COMPANY WENT
WAY UP TO THE ORANGE COUNTRY IN IRELAND TO GET
Submitter comment: ITEM CONTINUED ON ONE OR MORE CARDS THAT HAVE BEEN LOST.
James Callow comment: INCOMPLETE--SOME FIVE X 8 CARDS MISSING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 09-22-1970
IT WAS THE NIGHT OF THE ST. THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL REUNION
DANCE, HELD AT THE ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE PARISH IN
DETROIT {MICHIGAN}. A FEW OF MY OLD CLASSMATES GOT BORED
WITH THE DANCE AND DECIDED TO GO FOR A RIDE. THEY LATER
CAME BACK WITH A RATHER STRANGE ACCOUNT OF THAT RIDE.
JOE, LOU, AND DAVE WERE RIDING AROUND IN GROSSE POINT
WHEN THEY FOUND THEMSELVES IN A PRIVATE DRIVE THAT LED TO A
PRIVATE GOLF COURSE. SO THEY FIGURED THAT WHILE THEY WERE
THERE, THEY WOULD GO AND SEE WHAT THE COURSE LOOKED LIKE.
THEY PULLED UP A FEW HUNDRED FEET, STOPPED, AND SHUT OFF
THE HEADLIGHTS. IN THE DARKNESS, THEY COULD MAKE OUT
SHAPES MOVING AROUND, SHAPES WHICH LOOKED LIKE LITTLE
MEN RUNNING AROUND--LIKE PIGMIES. THE THREE OF THEM WERE
GOING TO GET OUT OF THE CAR TO GET A CLOSER LOOK, BUT THE
FLASHLIGHT DIDN'T WORK, SO THEY DECIDED TO STAY INSIDE.
LATER, THEY LEFT TO COME BACK TO THE DANCE WITH THE
INTENTION OF GOING BACK WITH A WORKING FLASHLIGHT.
ON HEARING THEIR STORY WHEN THEY RETURNED, WE WANTED TO GO
AND SEE FOR OURSELVES, BUT JOE, LOU, AND DAVE DIDN'T
FEEL UP TO DIRECTING US. SO WE ENDED UP TALKING ABOUT
IT ALL NIGHT AND FOR SOMETIME AFTER.
ABOUT A YEAR LATER, I FOUND THAT THERE REALLY WERE NO
PIGMIES AT ALL. IT WAS ALL A BIG JOKE THAT THE THREE
FELLOWS HAD COME UP WITH TO PLAY ON US ALL.
NOW THOUGH, THE STORY OF THE PIGMY GOLF COURSE LIVES
ON. IF YOU ASK ANY OF MY FRIENDS ABOUT IT, THEY WILL TELL
YOU ABOUT THE SAME STORY.
Submitter comment:
STORY OF LITTLE MEN (PYGMIES) RUNNING AROUND A GOLF COURSE AT NIGHT
TOLD AS HOAX, STORY SURVIVES, THOUGH MADE UP FOR THE OCCASION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE FAIRIES' HOME
A "FORT" IS A LITTLE MOUND OF EARTH IN THE MIDDLE OF
A FIELD. THERE IS ALWAYS A TREE GROWING ON THIS
FORT. CHILDREN ARE TOLD THAT THE FAIRIES LIVE
UNDER THE FORTS, SO THEY ARE WARNED NOT TO GO NEAR
THEM IN CASE THE FAIRIES GET ANGRY, AND THEY MIGHT
CURSE THEM. TO CUT DOWN THE TREE OR TO PICK
FLOWERS ON THE FORT IS UNLUCKY. THE FAIRIES ARE VERY
NICE AS LONG AS YOU LEAVE THEM ALONE, BUT SINCE THEY
HAVE BEEN IN IRELAND EVEN BEFORE THE IRISH THEMSELVES,
THEY ARE LEFT ALONE. THE FAIRIES HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO
BRING BAD LUCK TO FAMILIES THAT HAVE PLOUGHED
THROUGH THEIR FORTS. SO IN IRELAND, FORTS ARE LEFT
ALONE. YOU DON'T WALK THROUGH THEM, YOU WALK ROUND
THEM, AND YOU TALK IN A LOW VOICE, SO AS NOT TO
WAKE UP THE BABY FAIRIES WHO MIGHT BE TAKING THEIR
NAPS.
Submitter comment:
WHEN SISTER MARY SAID "FORD" ANOTHER SISTER TOLD HER
"NO, IT'S "FORT."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 11-00-1970
SWEDISH LITTLE PEOPLE TALE.
MY GRANDFATHER TOLD ME SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I WAS A SMALL
CHILD, AND ALSO WHEN HE WAS SOMEWHAT UNDER THE WEATHER--
THE SWEDES DO LIKE TO DRINK--ABOUT ONE TIME WHEN HE WAS
YOUNG AND HE WAS COMING HOME LATE IN THE AFTERNOON, BUT
HE HAD TO CROSS THIS CAVERN. THERE WAS A LOG ACROSS
THIS DITCH. WELL, JUST AS HE GOT UP TO THIS LOG, HE
LOOKED DOWN AND, WOOOOOOO, HE SAW A LITTLE MAN. HE
NEVER SAW ONE BEFORE AND HE DIDN'T BELIEVE IN THEM
BEFORE THAT TIME. WELL, HE RAN BACK AND GOT HIS DAD,
MY GREAT GRAND DAD, AND THEY BOTH CAME BACK TO THE
VERY SAME SPOT, BUT NO LITTLE MAN! BUT THERE WAS
SMALL FOOTPRINTS, AND THEY FOLLOWED THEM FOR A WAYS
BUT THEY DISAPPEARED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
LEPRECHAUNS
THE LEPRECHAUN IS THE COBBLER FOR THE FAIRIES. HE LIVES
IN THE GLENS OF IRELAND, AND HE ALSO HAS A CROCK OF GOLD.
IF YOU ARE LUCKY TO MEET HIM AT NIGHT, YOU CAN STEAL
HIS GOLD FROM HIM IF YOU STARE HIM LONG ENOUGH WITHOUT
BLINKING YOUR EYES FOR EVEN A SPLIT SECOND. THE
LEPRECHAUN STILL HAS HIS GOLD, BECAUSE NOBODY HAS BEEN
ABLE TO STARE HIM WITHOUT BLINKING HIS EYES. HE CAN
DISAPPEAR IN THE SPLIT SECOND YOU BLINK YOUR EYES.
MANY PEOPLE HEAR HIM HAMMERING ON THE FAIRIES'
SHOES AT NIGHT, BUT VERY FEW HAVE EVER SEEN HIM. IT
TAKES A SPECIAL STROKE OF LUCK, A MOONLIGHT NIGHT, A
QUIET GLEN AND A FORT NEARBY WHERE THE FAIRIES LIVE.
ALL THIS IS RARE EVEN IN IRELAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 11-00-1970
THE WAY OF THE LEPRECAUN
THE LEPRECAUNS HAD CEASED WORK AND WERE LOOKING AT THE
CHILDREN. SEUMAS TURNED TO THEM.
"GOD BLESS THE WORK," HE SAID POLITELY.
ONE OF THE LEPRECAUNS, WHO HAD A GREY, PUCKERED FACE AND A
THIN FRINGE OF GREY WHISKER VERY FAR UNDER HIS CHIN THEN
SPOKE.
"COME OVER HERE, SEUMAS BEG," SAID HE, "AND I'LL MEASURE
YOU FOR A PAIR OF SHOES. PUT YOUR FOOT UP ON THAT ROOT."
THE BOY DID SO AND THE LEPRECAUN TOOK THE MEASURE OF HIS
FOOT WITH A WOODEN RULE.
"NOW BRIGID BEG, SHOW ME YOUR FOOT," AND HE MEASURED HER
ALSO. "THEY'LL BE READY FOR YOU IN THE MORNING."
"DO YOU NEVER DO ANYTHING ELSE BUT MAKES SHOES, SIR?" SAID
SEUMAS.
"WE DO NOT," REPLIED THE LEPRECAUN, "EXCEPT WHEN WE WANT
NEW CLOTHES, AND THEN WE HAVE TO MAKE THEM, BUT WE GRUDGE
EVERY MINUTE SPENT MAKING ANYTHING ELSE EXCEPT SHOES,
BECAUSE THAT IS THE PROPER WORK FOR A LEPRECAUN. IN
THE NIGHTTIME WE GO ABOUT THE COUNTRY INTO PEOPLE'S
HOUSES AND WE CLIP LITTLE PIECES OFF THEIR MONEY, AND SO,
BIT BY BIT, WE GET A CROCK OF GOLD TOGETHER, BECAUSE,
DO YOU SEE, A LEPRECAUN HAS TO HAVE A CROCK OF GOLD SO
THAT IF HE'S CAPTURED BY MEN FOLK, HE MAY BE ABLE TO RANSOM
HIMSELF. BUT THAT SELDOM HAPPENS, BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT
DISGRACE ALTOGETHER TO BE CAPTURED BY A MAN AND WE'VE
PRACTICED SO LONG DODGING AMONG THE ROOTS HERE THAT WE
CAN EASILY GET AWAY FROM THEM. OF COURSE, NOW AND AGAIN
WE ARE CAUGHT; BUT MEN ARE FOOLS, AND WE ALWAYS ESCAPE
WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY THE RANSOM AT ALL. WE WEAR GREEN
CLOTHES BECAUSE IT IS IN THE COLOR OF THE LEAVES, AND WHEN WE
SIT UNDER A BUSH OR LIE IN THE GRASS, THEY JUST WALK BY
WITHOUT NOTICING US."
Submitter comment:
MRS. BYRNE, MY GRANDMOTHER, TOLD THIS TO A LITTLE BOY
DOWN THE BLOCK. SHE CLAIMS THERE ARE LEPRECAUNS AND
SO HAS BELIEVED THE STORY SINCE SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL
IN IRELAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; IRELAND
Keyword(s): LEPRECHAUNS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome PROSE NARRATIVE -- Abnormal in size |
Date learned: 01-00-1964
THE LITTLE PEOPLE
IN IRELAND, THE LITTLE PEOPLE LIVE IN THE "BRAMBLE BUSH." NO
IRISH PERSON WOULD DARE CUT DOWN ONE OF THESE BUSHES FOR FEAR
OF OFFENDING THE "LITTLE PEOPLE." IF THE "LITTLE PEOPLE"
BECAME EVEN A LITTLE BIT UNHAPPY OVER SOMEONE CUTTING DOWN
THEIR BUSH, THEY WOULD PLAY MEAN TRICKS ON THE IRISH FOLKS.
THE FAVORITE TRICKS PLAYED ON FARMERS WERE MAKING THEIR
MILK TURN SOUR AND NOT ALLOWING THEIR BUTTER TO CHURN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): ELVES IMPS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 11-03-1969
THE WATER SPRITES' BOAT
THE CHILDREN IN NORWAY ARE TAUGHT NEVER TO LEAVE A TINY NAIL
SLIVER ANYWHERE FOR THE WATER SPRITES TO FIND. THE LITTLE
SPRITES COLLECT ALL THE CUTTINGS THEY CAN FIND, BECAUSE THEY ARE
BUILDING A GREAT BOAT OUT OF THEM. WHEN THE BOAT IS FINISHED
THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO SAIL IT INTO A FJORD, AND ON REACHING THE
END, THE BOAT WILL EXPLODE AND CAUSE SUCH AN EARTHQUAKE
THAT THE WORLD WILL COME TO AN END.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): FINGERNAILS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
AMONG THE SWEDISH OF AMERICA, AS AMONG THEIR ANCESTORS,
THERE IS BELIEVED TO BE LITTLE PEOPLE. AND THEY ARE
REFERRED TO AS "THE LITTLE PEOPLE" OR IN SWEDISH
"TANTAGUBAN."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
THE IRISH BELIEF IN LITTLE FAIRY-LIKE CREATURES WHO SEEM
TO CORRESPOND TO THE AMERICAN FAIRY GODMOTHERS. EACH
OF THESE LEPRECHAUNS IS BELIEVED TO OWN HIS OWN POT
OF GOLD.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 11-02-1967
FAIRIES ARE REAL. MY MOTHER ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT WHEN MY TOOTH
FELL OUT, TO PUT IT UNDER MY PILLOW AND THE TOOTH FAIRY
WOULD COME AND LEAVE SOME MONEY. WELL, ID DID IT EVERY
TIME AND EVERY TIME IT WORKED, I WONDER WHO THE FAIRY WAS?
Where learned: CHILDHOOD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
LEGEND OF THE JAPANESE KAPPA
THE KAPPA IS A GREEN, TWO-FOOTED CREATURE WITH A TURTLE SHELL
ON ITS BACK AND A LARGE THATCH OF HAIR AND A BEAK. THEY
DWELL IN THE RIVERS AND OTHER BODIES OF WATER IN JAPAN
AND ARE NOTED FOR THEIR IMPISH TRICKS WHICH THEY PLAY
ON FISHERMEN.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD FROM HER FATHER WHO RESIDES IN JAPAN.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN ; JAPAN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN