Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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My sister and I went to a youth rally when we were in high
school. At the rally we were taught that to grow psychologically
a person needs eight hugs a day plus many other facts that I now
cannot recall. When we came home our parents asked us at the
dinner table what we had learned; we told them about the eight hugs
needed to grow. My dad told us that he could do better than that,
so he has given us twelve hugs plus three for good luck. My
parents live up north and we often communicate by phone or by
letter; on the phone we count to twelve, then to three to give our
hugs to each other. In written communication, we write 12+3 to
give our hugs. This is a tradition that our whole family now
practices to give each other hugs and emotional support.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HOUGHTON LAKE
Keyword(s): Family folklore
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple 686 Eighths / Eight Favorites BELIEF -- Good luck SPEECH -- Gesture SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
I come from a very large family of eleven children and there is
always a lot of teasing going on. One phrase that I remember, my
one older brother would say to my younger brother with his large
fist raised: "One punch; two black eyes, a broken nose, and a fat
lip." I am happy to say this event never did occur.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): THREAT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
On Sundays, when I was a little girl, all my Grandma's children
would go to her house after church, and we would eat a Sunday
dinner. There were about 6 grandchildren at that time (now there
are 17). My grandparents live in Mount Clemens, and had a large
field (7 acres) where they grew vegetables: tomatoes, pumpkins,
squash, and corn; there were also pear and apple trees, and grape
vines. They sold the vegetables and fruit to the fruit market, and
also sold them to passers-by from their garage or the stand on the
road. Most of the time, my aunts and uncles would work in the
field with my grandparents hoeing the weeds, and someone would be
at the stand and the garage selling the fruits and vegetables.
There were days where people used to come and actually pick the
tomatoes themselves, too; one vision that stands out in my mind is
that of Italian women carrying the baskets on their heads. While
the grown-ups were working, we either pulled weeds with our hands,
shined the apples and pears, or played on the island of trees that
was in the center of the field, or had a picnic back there.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970'S
Belief
Anything that I dropped on the floor or the ground, I would
kiss it up to God. By doing this, I felt that nothing would harm
me. I had a special saying that I used to ease the pain of
dropping something good out of my hand, "God made dirt, dirt don't
hurt. Put it in your mouth and it will work."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief BELIEF -- Gods SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 06-00-1974
IT IS COMMON CUSTOM FOR PEOPLE TO KISS ONE ANOTHER AT
THE START OF A NEW YEAR. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE AT
PARTIES ON NEW YEAR'S EVE.
Submitter comment: HEARD THIS AT HOME.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
WHEN WITH A DATE, AND YOU SEE A MOVING CAR WITH
JUST ONE HEADLIGHT, SAY "SATELLITE" AND YOU KISS
YOUR DATE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Dating Courtship SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
GAME TO BE PLAYED WHILE TRAVELING
COUNT 99 NEGROES, 24 WHITE HORSES, AND 3 RED-HEADED
PEOPLE.
AFTER THIS IS DONE, THE NEXT PERSON OF OPPOSITE
SEX WHOM YOU SHAKE HANDS WITH WILL BE THE PERSON
YOU MARRY.
Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED IT FROM HER COUSINS WHEN SHE WAS A GIRL.
Where learned: ON A TRIP BY CAR
Date learned: 04-02-1967
NUMBERS
WHEN MY GRANDFATHER WANTED THE HIGHEST CARD IN A
CUT, HE WOULD KNOCK ON THE DECK OF CARDS THREE
TIMES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement C560.60 SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-23-1970
WHENEVER SIGHTING A (PURE) WHITE HORSE IN OUR MANY
TRAVELS AS CHILDREN, GOOD LUCK WOULD VISIT US IF
WE:: LICKED OUR THUMB OF THE RIGHT HAND, THEN WIPED
THE PALM OF OUR LEFT HAND WITH IT, FINALLY SMACKING
THE STILL-OPEN LEFT HAND PALM WITH THE RIGHT-HAND
CLINCHED FIST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRANKLIN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Good luck Animals SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 12-00-1971
NEVER SHAKE HANDS OVER A FENCE; IT IS BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
HER FATHER, A PENNSYLVANIA FARMER, ALWAYS BELIEVED
AND PRACTICED IT, EVEN TO THE POINT OF NOT SHAKING
HANDS OR WALKING AROUND THE FENCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MARYGROVE COLLEGE ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BARRIER
Date learned: 03-00-1968
IF YOU ARE COMING OUT OF THE HOUSE AND FORGET SOME-
THING, IT IS BAD LUCK TO TURN AROUND AND GO BACK,
UNLESS YOU SPIT ON THE GROUND AND MAKE AN X WITH
YOUR FOOT.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAW A FRIEND DO THAT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 03-06-1971
AFTER SNEEZING, KNOCK ON WOOD AND GOOD LUCK IS
ASSURED THE REST OF THE DAY.
Where learned: HIS HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Conversions Body parts and functions SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 09-25-1968
GOOD LUCK: KNOCK ON WOOD. (TAP ON WOOD WITH HAND).
Submitter comment:
THIS IS SAID TO UNJINX YOURSELF AFTER YOU'VE SAID
SOMETHING THAT MIGHT JINX YOU, E.G., I'VE NEVER
HAD AN ACCIDENT YET (KNOCK ON WOOD).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Conversions Activities SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 09-22-1969
IN THE BAND, "THE BLUE ANGELS," WHENEVER THE NAME
"URSULA" IS MENTIONED, EVERYONE IN THE BAND KNOCKS
ON WOOD. THE "BLUE ANGELS" PLAYED AT URSULA'S
WEDDING, WHERE EVERYTHING WENT WRONG. THEY KNOCK
ON WOOD TO PREVENT BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A MEMBER OF THE BAND WHERE HE AND THE
OTHER MEMEBERS KNOCK ON WOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Conversions Activities SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 11-02-1971
A PERSON WHO CROSSES HIMSELF WITH HOLY WATER WILL BRING
TO HIM A BLESSING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | 682 682.4 SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 04-26-1972
SPANISH BELIEF
IF YOU KISS A DEAD PERSON, YOU DON'T EXPERIENCE FEAR
ANYMORE.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 02-22-1972
THROW THREE KISSES AT THE FIRST ROBIN YOU SEE IN THE
SPRING; YOUR WISH WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Measure of time Spring BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals SPEECH -- Gesture |
IF YOUR NOSE ITCHES, YOU WILL KISS A FOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching nose SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 04-03-1967
KNOCK ON WOOD FOR GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM YOUTH.
Where learned: INDIANA ; Hudson Lake
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 11-25-1967
WHEN GOING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS IN A CAR, PUT HANDS
ON ROOF AND FEET OFF FLOOR. MAKE A WISH AND IT
WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Prayer SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-00-1967