Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for F533 returned 456 results.
I come to visit Miss Jenny Jones, Miss Jenny Jones,
Miss Jenny Jones.
I come to visit Miss Jenny Jones, Miss Jenny Jones,
Miss Jenny Jones.
Miss Jenny Jones is washing; she's washing, she's washing my
shirts.
Miss Jenny Jones is washing, you cannot see her now.
I come to visit Miss Jenny Jones, and how is she this day?
Miss Jenny Jones is ironing, she's ironing, she's ironing
my shirts.
I come to visit Miss Jenny Jones, Miss Jenny Jones,
Miss Jenny Jones.
I come to visit Miss Jenny Jones today, and how is she?
Miss Jenny Jones is sick, she is sick, she is sick in bed.
I come to visit Miss Jenny Jones, Miss Jenny Jones,
Miss Jenny Jones.
I come to visit Miss Jenny Jones today, and how is she?
Miss Jenny Jones is dying, she's dying, she's dying.
Miss Jenny Jones is dying; You cannot see her now.
I come to visit Miss Jenny Jones, Miss Jenny Jones,
Miss Jenny Jones.
Miss Jenny Jones is stiff and dead, she's stiff and dead,
she lies stiff and dead in her grave.
Miss Jenny Jones is dead, dead, dead.
You cannot see her now.
Submitter comment:
My mother learned this from her mother. My grandmother told my
mother this story because she never liked to visit her friends.
The story was to let my mother know her friends would not be around
forever so she had better see them while she can.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
Date learned: 00001950S
On January first, Greeks celebrate what is known as St. Basil's
Day. It is the equivalent of Christmas here. It begins at twelve
o'clock midnight on December 31. "Vasilopita" - St Basil's Bread - is
served. Baked in the sweet bread is a single gold coin. The person to
receive the slice of sweet bread with the coin is said to have good
luck for the duration of the year. Presents are distributed. Then
snacks and drinks are served to all because in Greece there is no
certain age that must be attained before one is allowed to drink
alcohol.
Submitter comment: St. Basil is the equivalent of Santa Claus.
Where learned: GREECE
Keyword(s): holiday
James Callow Keyword(s): drinking age
Date learned: 00001945CA
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
Latvian Ring
In a Latvian family, each family member is given a Latvian ring.
The ring is similar for males and females, and can be crafted of
silver or gold. It is made up of separate strands of gold or silver
wound together by a braid-like strand. It symbolizes the strength of
the Latvian people when they bind together.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
Keyword(s): JEWELRY
Date learned: 00001971ca
Latvia
After a trip to Latvia, the informant had learned many things
about his father's country. Old ways were still a very important part
of the culture, including traditional farming techniques, the
maintenance of old family homes, male dominant roles in the family
and society, and somewhat traditional dress. In public, the men
always wore long pants, and the women wore practical dresses. The
houses were made of stone and wood, and often did not have screens in
the windows. The people were very friendly, and were willing to give
up their meager food supply for the comfort and benefit of their
American relatives.
Submitter comment:
When the Skabardis family visited Latvia for a second time, they
brought their relatives many of the things that they were lacking:
screens for their windows, food, clothing, and money.
Where learned: Latvia ; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Architecture BELIEF -- P439 |
Date learned: 07-00-1988
Parade
In the Luzwick family, after each child was potty trained, the
members of the family had a parade to celebrate the child's
accomplishment. They used toy instruments, and traveled the house
cheering for the successful child.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Date learned: 00001971ca
Car Dancing
When in the car, and a good song comes on the radio, a car dance
is called. It consists of a series of motions, dictated by the
driver.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): DANCE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dance CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00001986ca
Silence Breaker
When a strange silence develops in a room with a group of
friends, the phrase, "...and a hush fell over the crowd..." is said,
which is followed by the reply,"Get this hush off of me!"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001989ca
When passing over railroad tracks while driving in a car, you
must lift both feet off the floor until you pass the first white
house. It's considered bad luck if you don't.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 00-00-1976
When passing over a bridge, hold your breath until you're across
just in case the bridge collapses.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Water |
Date learned: 00-00-1976
When I was younger (approx. 5 years old) the kids in my
neighborhood would never knock on the door if they wanted you to
come out and play. Instead they would stand on the sidewalk in
front of your house and repeatedly call out your name. The
reason for doing this was because we were all afraid of our
friend's parents. This practice continued for years until I was
about 10 and we were finally all brave enough to knock on each
other's doors. We did notice, however, that the younger children
seemed to follow our tradition of calling out their friends to
play.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Common law SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
This is a tradition that has been handed down from my mother
and which I have in turn handed down to my children. The
tradition is that if a certain vegetable is being served to eat
and a certain person does not like that vegetable he or she has
to eat as many of the vegetables as he or she is old. For
example, if I hated peas and I am 11 years old, I would have to
eat 11 peas. This only applies to kids until they are 18 years
old. It was a good way of getting children to eat their
vegetables.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVERVIEW
James Callow Keyword(s): AGE
Date learned: 00-00-1966
When I was on a cruise in the Bahamas I learned of a
tradition that takes place aboard the ships of the Carnival
Cruise Line. Every evening just before the passengers are
finished eating in the main dining room all of the waiters
process out from the kitchen and perform a song and dance
routine. It is their way of entertaining the passengers while
they are dining. This custom began when the very first ship of
the Carnival Cruise Line set sail.
Where learned: FREEPORT ; Grand Bahamas
Date learned: 00-00-1992
Pinching
When two people say the same thing at the same time, it is up
to one of the people to pinch the other.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Gesture |
Entertainment
In Silver City (Mississippi) near Highway 49W some boys would
stand near the side of the road and call off the make of cars
before the car passed.
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Knowledge CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 02-13-1992
Step on a crack, you will break your mother's back.
Submitter comment:
This was a game he and his friends would play in Mississippi
when walking home from school.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Oplatek
Oplatek is celebrated on Christmas Eve and is simply a wafer
broken between friends. Friends and family sharing the oplatek
wish each other health and good wishes.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
Japan -- Abortion
In Japan, abortion and birth control are not allowed. There is a
strong concern for the spirit of the unborn. They have abortion
cemeteries for victims of abortion. In these cemeteries, there are
stone figures of babies, on which are placed little knitted caps.
These babies are called "water babies".
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND
James Callow Keyword(s): NAME
Date learned: 01-00-1990
Japan -- Household Roles
In Japan, the father has no part in raising the children. The
mother does this, as well as controls all the money and the household.
The wife pays no attention to the husband once they have children.
All of her time is devoted to the babies. They do not have
babysitters; only the husbands are allowed to go out with each other -
no mothers allowed to socialize without children. They believe that
Western women are too self-centered and seek too much self
satisfaction.
The main objective of the Japanese is to have the best of everything
for their children. Fathers will drive 3 hours to work if they have
to in order to give their children the best schools.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 01-00-1990
Japan -- Introductions
The Japanese wait until they are introduced to another person
first before introducing themselves. They will break this rule only
if it is absolutely necessary.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 01-00-1990