Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P642 returned 558 results.
WHEN YOU HEAR A SIREN, SAY A PRAYER FOR THE PERSON INSIDE.
Submitter comment: I HAVE HEARD THIS BEFORE, I BELIEVE IT IS CATHOLIC IN ORIGIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): THAT IS, INSIDE THE AMBULANCE.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1980 ; 00-00-1950
RIDDLE
EVERYNIGHT I DREAM OF A SIGN ON A DOOR AND I
PUSH IT AND PUSH IT, BUT CAN'T OPEN IT.
WHAT DOES THE SIGN SAY?
PULL.
Where learned: RESIDENCE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE CROWDED SYNAGOGUE
THE SYNAGOGUE WAS CROWDED DURING THE HIGH HOLY DAYS AND
THE PEWS WERE RESERVED FOR TICKET HOLDERS. LAPIDIS
TRIED TO GET PAST THE USHER. "IT'S MY BROTHER--
I'VE GOT TO SEE HIM--IT'S VERY IMPORTANT." "HAVE
YOU GOT A TICKET?" ASKED THE USHER. "NO," SAID
LAPIDIS. "BUT I HAVE GOT TO SEE MY BROTHER--IT'S
A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH." "ALL RIGHT," SAID THE
USHER, "GO INSIDE AND TALK TO YOUR BROTHER. BUT
DON'T LET ME CATCH YOU PRAYING!"
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 07-00-1964
IN GRADE SCHOOL, IT WAS CUSTOMARY TO PUT THE INITIALS
J.M.J., FOR JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH, ON ALL ASSIGNMENTS
AND TESTS. THIS WAS FOR HELP AND GUIDANCE IN DOING
SCHOOLWORK.
Submitter comment:
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS PRACTICE WILL ACTUALLY HELP
A STUDENT.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IRISH SAYING
MAY YOU BE IN HEAVEN A HALF HOUR BEFORE THE DEVIL
KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-23-1967
WHEN TWO PEOPLE SAY THE SAME THING AT THE SAME TIME,
THEY HOOKED LITTLE FINGERS AND MADE A WISH.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHEN HE WAS A LITTLE BOY HE REMEMBERED WHEN A CHILD
WAS SICK WITH SCARLET FEVER, THE NEIGHBORS WOULD GET
TOGETHER, MOSTLY WOMEN WITH THEIR WOODEN SHOES ON,
WOULD WALK TO CHAPEL TO PRAY SO THAT THE CHILD WOULD
GET BETTER. IN FRONT OF THE CHAPEL WAS A WEEPING
WILLOW TREE AND WHEN THEY WERE FINISHED PRAYING, THEY
WENT OUT TO THE TREE AND TOOK A BRANCH AND WITHOUT
BREAKING IT, WOULD TIE A KNOT IN IT. THE PEOPLE
BELIEVED THAT THIS WOULD HELP.
Submitter comment:
MR. VALKEN SAID THIS WAS DONE WHEN ANY CHILD WAS VERY
SICK. IF THE CHILD RECOVERED THEY SAID THIS HELPED;
IF THE CHILD DIED, HE JUST DIED THAT'S ALL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 10-20-1971
LIGHT ABOVE ST. MARY'S
ABOUT TWELVE OR FOURTEEN YEARS AGO NEAR DAZY, NORTH DAKOTA
ON ST. MARY'S FARM THERE APPEARED A LIGHT ABOVE ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
THE GERMAN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY WAS AMAZED AND AFTER A TIME AFRAID
OF THE LIGHT. THE PRIEST EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS PERHAPS THE SOUL OF
A PERSON NOT AT REST. HE ASKED THAT ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY
PRAY FOR THE POOR SOUL. PLANES OF NEAR BY AIRPORTS WERE SENT UP TO
SEEK OUT THE SOURCE OF THE LIGHT. HOWEVER, THE LIGHT SOURCE WAS
FAR TOO HIGH FOR ANY PLANE TO REACH. PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS
ALIKE GATHERED FROM MILES AROUND AT THE CHURCH TO PRAY. AFTER
ABOUT A WEEK THE LIGHT DISAPPEARED.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER WHO LIVES ON ST. MARY'S
FARM. THIS LADY IS MY GRANDMOTHER AND IS USUALLY AN EXTREME
DISBELIEVER OF UNUSUAL HAPPENINGS OF THIS SORT. HOWEVER, SHE IS
VERY STAUNCH IN HER TESTIMONY, ABOUT THIS HAPPENING.
Keyword(s): MYSTERIOUS LIGHT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 03-31-1967
THE NEW MOON AND LUCK
WHEN YOU SEE THE NEW MOON FOR THE FIRST TIME EACH MONTH, YOU CLOSE
YOUR EYES AND MAKE A WISH. PEOPLE THINK THAT SUCH A WISH WILL
COME TRUE. BUT IF YOU ARE REALLY LUCKY, THERE SHOULD BE SOMEONE
YOU LIKE VERY MUCH NEAR YOU SO THAT WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR EYES, YOU
WILL FIRST LOOK ON HIS OR HER FACE, THEN YOU WILL BE LUCKY FOR
THE REST OF THE MONTH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ASTRONOMY ; FRIENDSHIP
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Measure of time Month BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: NONE GIVEN
SUPERSTITION
WHENEVER THE FAMILY HAS CHICKEN AND THERE IS A WISHBONE, BREAK IT
WITH THE PERSON TO YOUR RIGHT AND THE PERSON WITH THE LONGEST BONE
GETS TO MAKE A WISH.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
WISHES
WHENEVER SOMEONE PASSES UNDER A VIADUCT WITH A MOVING TRAIN
OVERHEAD , HE OR SHE CAN MAKE A WISH. THIS CUSTOM HAS BEEN
PRESENT IN MY FAMILY FOR THREE GENERATIONS.
Submitter comment: FREQUENTLY PRACTICED
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00001930S
HOLY WEEK CUSTOM
DURING HOLY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY OF HOLY WEEK WOMEN OF THE VILLAGE
DRESS BOTH DAYS IN BLACK AND DO NOT LEAVE THEIR HOMES. FOOD IS PREPA
RED ON WEDNESDAY OF HOLY WEEK AND NO WORK IS DONE ON THOSE TWO DAYS.
PREPARED
Submitter comment: A PRACTICE FROM THE INFORMANT'S HOMETOWN OF SABINAS IN MEXICO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR SYMBOLISM
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Thursday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Overall body coverUpper body and arms BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 11-00-1981
DRESS CUSTOM
(IN COLLECTOR'S OWN WORDS) PEOPLE OF MEXICO MAKE A PLEDGE TO THEIR PA
TRON SAINT AND THEN DRESS AS THE SAINT WOULD FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH.
PATRON
Submitter comment: DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Where learned: MEXICO ; SABINAS HIDALGO ; NUEVO LEON
| Subject headings: | Favorites ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Measure of time Month BELIEF -- Prayer |
HOLY WEEK CUSTOM
AN ITALIAN CUSTOM FOR HOLY THURSDAY IS TO VISIT SEVEN CHURCHES.
A FAMILY WOULD SPEND A HALF-HOUR IN EACH CHURCH AND SAY PRAYERS AS A
FORM OF PENANCE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS DONE IN ITALY BUT NOT IN THE UNITED STATES. THE FAMILY
WOULD WALK TO EACH CHURCH, SO THEY PICKED THOSE THAT WERE CLOSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Thursday 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several Favorites BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 02-25-1982
GRACE BEFORE EATING A MEAL
GOD IS GREAT,
GOD IS GOOD.
LET US THANK HIM
FOR THIS FOOD.
Submitter comment:
OUR FAMILY ALWAYS SAID THIS GRACE BEFORE MEALS. I DON'T
THINK WE USED ANY OTHERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): INITIAL ITERATION ; SLANT RHYME: GOOD, FOOD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00001960S
MAY YOU BE IN HEAVEN ( ) HOURS BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU ARE DEAD.
NUMBER OF HOURS SPECIFIED DEPENDS ON HOW GOOD THE FRIEND IS
Submitter comment: THIS WAS ORIGINALLY LEARNED IN WATERTOWN, NEW YORK
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WATERTOWN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of quantity or weight BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1956
PUT A CONTRIBUTION ON THE STATUE OF A SAINT DURING A PROCESSION
AND THAT SAINT WILL PRAY FOR YOU.
Submitter comment:
THE STATUES ARE DRESSED IN CLOAKS AND VEILS. THE MONEY IS PINNED ON
THE CLOAKS AND VEILS.
THIS WAS ORIGINALLY LEARNED IN WATERTOWN, NEW YORK
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WATERTOWN
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1937
THE GREAT FIRE OF 1874
THIS FIRE BURNED DOWN THE WHOLE TOWN. THERE WERE THREE CITIES
AT THAT TIME, AND THE FIRE STARTED IN WEST SAGINAW. THE FIRE
STARTED AT A SAWMILL BY THE BRIDGE. IT CROSSED THE BRIDGE,
BURNING DOWN THE BRIDGE IN THE PROCESS, AND THEN BURNED EAST
SAGINAW. THERE IS A LEGEND THAT A PRIEST WALKED AROUND ST MARY'S
HOSPITAL ALL DURING THE FIRE AND IT WAS SPARED. THE PRIEST WAS
SAYING HIS BRIEVIARY THE WHOLE TIME. EVERYTHING ELSE AROUND THE
HOSPITAL WAS BURNED.
Submitter comment:
THE FACT THAT THE TOWN WAS BUILT ON SAWDUST HAD SOMETHING TO DO
WITH THE WAY THE FIRE SPREAD EVERYWHERE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CIRCUMAMBULATION
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fire BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms |
THE GIRL WHO WENT TO THE DANCE
THERE WAS A GIRL WHO WANTED TO GO TO A DANCE, BUT HER PARENTS
DIDN'T WANT HER TO GO. SHE WENT ANYWAY. AT THE DANCE SHE MET A
HANDSOME STRANGER AND DANCED ALL NIGHT WITH HIM. AT MIDNIGHT SHE
LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THAT THE STRANGER HAD CLOVEN HOOVES. HE
DRAGGED HER OUTSIDE AND STARTED TO RISE IN THE AIR WITH HER, MMCARRYING HER BY ONE HAND. THE PEOPLE FROM THE DANCE RUSH
OUT, FALL ON THEIR KNEES AND START TO PRAY THE CREDO. THE DEVIL
DROPS HER AND SHE IS SAVED.
Submitter comment: THE APPARENT MORAL OF THE STORY IS ALWAYS OBEY YOUR PARENTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 04-02-1982
WHEN YOU PUT YOUR SHIRT ON BACKWARDS OR INSIDE OUT,
WITH ANY ARTICLE OF CLOTHING, YOU MAY MAKE A WISH
WHILE PROPERLY PUTTING ON YOUR CLOTHES.
Submitter comment: THIS WISH WILL BE GRANTED.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): DRESSING ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1940