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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for S600 returned 515 results.
If someone admires your baby and says that
it's beautiful you must spit or the baby will
become sick or get a rash on its face. Her
parents and her husband's parents both truly
believed this. Her husband's parents used to
wipe the baby's face three times with a wash
cloth to prevent a rash if anyone admired the
baby.
Submitter comment:
Mrs. Wojtan doesn't believe this herself anymore,
but says many people in Kansas used to when she
was growing up.
Where learned: KANSAS ; Manhattan
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Favorites BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001920S
When a person praises or compliments you or
your children, you should make the sign of evil,
or the devil, behind your back by holding your
little finger and first finger up while making
a fist. By doing this you ward off the evil eye
or bad luck.
Submitter comment:
My grandmother doesn't particularly believe in this
but her parents and husband's parents did. It is
a strong belief in Malta.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): index finger
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001930S
If you see a horribly deformed or crippled
person, you should make the sign of the cross,
especially if you are pregnant.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Birth SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001940S
Whenever my brother or I did or said something
stupid my father would put his hands about six
inches from his ears and keep them at an equal
distance while moving them so it looked like he
was pulling a towel through his ears. He did
this to show us that we were acting as if we
didn't have anything in our head. The most
effective use of this was when my mother would
say something stupid and my father did it behind
her back. I have never seen anyone else do this
and my father can't remember when he started
doing it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970S
THERE WAS A HOLE, THERE WAS A HOLE, A PRETTY LITTLE HOLE, A
PRETTY LITTLE HOLE, THAT YOU EVER DID SEE, THAT YOU EVER
DID SEE. OH! THE HOLE WAS IN THE GROUND AND THE GREEN
GRASS GREW ALL AROUND AND AROUND THE GREEN GRASS GREW
ALL AROUND. AND IN THAT HOLE, AND IN THAT HOLE, THERE
WAS SOME DIRT, THERE WAS SOME DIRT, THE PRETTIEST LITTLE
DIRT, THE PRETTIEST LITTLE DIRT, THAT YOU EVER DID SEE,
THAT YOU EVER DID SEE. OH! THE DIRT WAS IN THE HOLE, AND
THE HOLE WAS IN THE GROUND AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL
AROUND AND AROUND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND. AND
IN THAT DIRT, AND IN THAT DIRT, THERE WAS SOME ROOTS,
THERE WAS SOME ROOTS, THE PRETTIEST LITTLE ROOTS, THE
PRETTIEST LITTLE ROOTS, THAT YOU EVER DID SEE, THAT YOU EVER,
DID SEE. OH! THE ROOTS WERE IN THE DIRT, THE DIRT WAS IN
THE HOLE AND THE HOLE WAS IN THE GROUND AND THE GREEN GRASS
GREW ALL AROUND AND AROUND, THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND.
AND ON THOSE ROOTS, AND ON THOSE ROOTS, THERE WAS A TREE,
THERE WAS A TREE, THE PRETTIEST LITTLE TREE, THE PRETTIEST
LITTLE TREE, THAT YOU EVER DID SEE, THAT YOU EVER DID SEE.
OH! THE TREE WAS ON THE ROOTS, THE ROOTS WERE IN THE
DIRT, THE DIRT WAS IN HOLE AND THE HOLE WAS IN THE
GROUND AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND AND AROUND
THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND. AND ON THAT TREE,
AND ON THAT TREE, THERE WAS A BRANCH, THERE WAS A
BRANCH, THE PRETTIEST LITTLE BRANCH, THE PRETTIEST LITTLE,
BRANCH, THAT YOU EVER DID SEE, THAT YOU EVER DID SEE. OH!
THE BRANCH WAS ON THE TREE, THE TREE WAS ON THE ROOTS,
THE ROOTS WERE IN THE DIRT, THE DIRT WAS IN THE
HOLE AND THE HOLE WAS IN THE GROUND AND THE GREEN GRASS
GREW ALL AROUND AND AROUND, THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL
AROUND. AND ON THAT BRANCH, AND ON THAT BRANCH, THERE
WAS SOME LEAVES, THERE WAS SOME LEAVES, THE PRETTIEST
LITTLE LEAVES, THE PRETTIEST LITTLE LEAVES, THAT YOU EVER
DID SEE, THAT YOU EVER DID SEE. OH! THE LEAVES WERE ON
THE BRANCH, THE BRANCH WAS ON THE TREE, THE TREE
WAS ON THE ROOTS, THE ROOTS WERE IN THE DIRT, THE
DIRT WAS IN THE HOLE, AND THE HOLE WAS IN THE GROUND AND
THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND AND AROUND, THE GREEN
GRASS GREW ALL AROUND. AND ON THOSE LEAVES, AND ON THOSE
LEAVES, THERE WAS A NEST, THERE WAS A NEST, THE PRETTIEST
LITTLE NEST, THE PRETTIEST LITTLE NEST, THAT YOU EVER DID
SEE, THAT YOU EVER DID SEE. OH! THE NEST WAS ON THE
LEAVES, THE LEAVES ON THE BRANCH, THE BRANCH ON THE TREE,
THE TREE ON THE ROOTS, THE ROOTS IN THE DIRT, THE DIRT IN
THE HOLE, AND THE HOLE IN THE GROUND, AND THE GREEN GRASS
GREW ALL AROUND AND AROUND, THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL
AROUND. AND IN THAT NEST, AND IN THAT NEST, THERE WAS
AN EGG, THERE WAS AN EGG, THE PRETTIEST LITTLE EGG, THE
PRETTIEST LITTLE EGG, THAT YOU EVER DID SEE, THAT YOU EVER
DID SEE. OH! THE EGG WAS IN THE NEST, THE NEST WAS ON THE
LEAVES, THE LEAVES WERE ON THE BRANCH, THE BRANCH WAS ON THE
TREE, THE TREE WAS ON THE ROOTS, THE ROOTS WERE IN THE DIRT,
THE DIRT WAS IN THE HOLE, AND THE HOLE WAS IN THE GROUND,
AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND AND AROUND, THE GREEN
GRASS GREW ALL AROUND. AND ON THAT EGG, AND ON THAT EGG,
THERE WAS A BIRD, THERE WAS A BIRD, THE PRETTIEST LITTLE
BIRD, THE PRETTIEST LITTLE BIRD, THAT YOU EVER DID SEE,
THAT YOU EVER DID SEE. OH! THE BIRD WAS ON THE EGG, THE
EGG WAS IN THE NEST, THE NEST WAS ON THE LEAVES, THE
LEAVES WERE ON THE BRANCH, THE BRANCH WAS ON THE TREE,
THE TREE WAS ON THE ROOTS, THE ROOTS WERE IN THE DIRT,
THE DIRT WAS IN THE HOLE, AND THE HOLE WAS IN THE GROUND,
AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND AND AROUND, THE GREEN
GRASS GREW ALL AROUND. AND ON THAT BIRD, AND ON THAT BIRD,
THERE WAS SOME FEATHERS, THERE WAS SOME FEATHERS, THE
PRETTIEST LITTLE FEATHERS, THE PRETTIEST LITTLE FEATHERS,
THAT YOU EVER DID SEE, THAT YOU EVER DID SEE. OH! THE
FEATHERS WERE ON THE BIRD, THE BIRD WAS ON THE EGG, THE
EGG WAS IN THE NEST, THE NEST WAS ON THE LEAVES, THE
LEAVES WERE ON THE BRANCH, THE BRANCH WAS ON THE TREE,
THE TREE WAS ON THE ROOTS, THE ROOTS WERE IN THE DIRT,
THE DIRT WAS IN THE HOLE, AND THE HOLE WAS IN THE GROUND,
AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND AND AROUND, THE
GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND. AND ON THOSE FEATHERS,
AND ON THOSE FEATHERS, THERE WAS A FLY, THERE WAS A
FLY, THE PRETTIEST LITTLE FLY, THE PRETTIEST LITTLE FLY,
THAT YOU EVER DID SEE, THAT YOU EVER DID SEE. OH! THE
FLY WAS ON THE FEATHERS, THE FEATHERS WERE ON THE BIRD,
THE BIRD WAS ON THE EGG, THE EGG WAS IN THE NEST, THE
NEST WAS ON THE LEAVES, THE LEAVES WERE ON THE BRANCH,
THE BRANCH WAS ON THE TREE, THE TREE WAS ON THE ROOTS,
THE ROOTS WERE IN THE DIRT, THE DIRT WAS IN THE HOLE,
AND THE HOLE WAS IN THE GROUND, AND THE GREEN GRASS
GREW ALL AROUND AND AROUND, THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL
AROUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Conversions SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
Yugoslavian Christening
The christening is done at a hall. The baby is passed
around to each guest. When the guest gets to hold the
baby, they pinch him/her cheeks and put a card with money in
her dress.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Baptism Naming rite SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 11-16-1990
The phrase "knock on wood" originates from Ireland
in a time when people believed in fairies, trolls
and gnomes. It was believed that gnomes resided in
anything wooden and that they were cruel and
mischievous. When a person spoke of good times or good things
then they must knock on the wood to make sure that
the gnomes didn't hear them or to scare them away.
They believed that the gnomes would bring bad luck
on the optimist who spoke.
Submitter comment:
The informant heard this from her grandfather whose
father was from Ireland.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; Black Kettle
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970S
When a person in Saint Thomas gets in trouble or is "put
down" by someone else, another person will pull the bottom
of his right eye down quickly and say "Bo Bo."
Submitter comment:
The collector has no idea what it means but the gesture is
done frequently among children and the adult usually does
not see it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): RIGHT LEFT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 04-00-1991
Instead of shaking hands or bowing to your elders, you must
kiss their hands. This was the way to greet them and a sign
of respect.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
If you sneeze on Monday, you sneeze for danger;
Sneeze on Tuesday, kiss a stranger;
Sneeze on a Wednesday, sneeze for a letter;
Sneeze on a Thursday, something better;
Sneeze on a Friday, sneeze for sorrow;
Sneeze on a Saturday, see your sweetheart tomorrow.
Sneeze on Sunday and the devil will have domination
over you all week.
Submitter comment:
Used to tell to children just for fun. (She's a teacher
and mother of eleven.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970S
FOR GOOD LUCK: IF YOU FALL DOWN YOU SHOULD KISS THE GROUND
WHERE YOU HAVE FALLEN. IF YOU EVER WALK OVER THE SPOT AGAIN, YOU
WILL BE GRANTED A WISH OR GIVEN GREAT LUCK IN THE FUTURE.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Date learned: UNKNOWN
IN THE ORIENT GIVING SOMEONE THE "MIDDLE FINGER" IS A SIGN OF
LUCK AND IS WELL APPRECIATED.
Where learned: ORIENT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
Hide and go get it
Hide and go get it similar to hide and seek. The game requires
an equal number of sexes in this game. "It" in this game is one of
the sexes either the boys or the girls. For example, if the boys are
"it" they count to one hundred by fives while the girls go and hide.
If "it" catches you, you must kiss your capturer. The game continues
until everyone is caught or is on glue (glue is the safety zone where
you can no longer be tagged). The game then resumes with the other
sex being "it".
Submitter comment:
This game was a way to kiss someone you liked without asking for
it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Hiding Searching SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 0001970S
If you ever make an ugly face and someone slaps you on the back
while you are making that face your face will become stuck like
that.
Submitter comment: Lisa saw this in a movie once.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): CURSE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001990s
Make a Wish
When driving over railroad tracks, pick up your feet and touch a
screw. While you are in that position, make a wish. If the tracks are
cleared, and you have remained with your feet up and in contact with
the screw, your wish will come true.
Submitter comment: I practiced this in high school with friends.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Prayer SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001985ca
Religious Superstitions
When driving or walking by a graveyard or church you should
never point your finger or stick out your tongue. If you do you
should bite it ten times (finger or tongue). If you don't you will
have seven years of bad luck.
Submitter comment:
I learned this as a child and it never failed; every time we
drove by either of these two sites I had to be either pointing or
licking my lips.
Where learned: DETROIT
Date learned: 00001970S
When yawning cover your mouth or your spirit will come out.
If you don't cover your mouth you have to blow because evil
spirits have come in to chase your good spirit away.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001960S
The dap was a custom originated by African - American
servicemen who served during the Vietnam conflict. It comprised a
series of handshakes or gyrations made during handshakes to show
the unity of black soldiers. It was broken into either short or
long time daps according to how much time the participating
soldiers had available to them.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; Merced ; Castle AFB
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 SPEECH -- Gesture |
When passing a funeral home, you were told not to point at it,
because if you did you would die. You would have to bite your
finger and then put it under your foot to keep death away. It
would reverse the curse of death.
James Callow Keyword(s): CONVERSION
Date learned: 00-00-1955
Pull your ear if you're talking about a dead person so by doing
this it will keep the evil spirit away.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Body part Senses Ears, noise in ear BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1955