Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for S740 returned 65 results.
EXCEPT IN THE SOUTHERN AND FAR EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, CHANGING
LANES ON AN EXPRESSWAY (AUTOSTRADA, AUTOBAHN, ETC...) IS ALWAYS
INDICATED BY THE TURN SIGNAL. WHILE PASSING, THE LEFT-HAND SIGNAL IS
LEFT ON UNTIL RETURNING TO THE RIGHT LANE.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 12-00-1971
DEATH CUSTOMS
SCOTLAND - FLAGS WERE PUT ON THE GRAVES, BEFORE EMBALMING CAME
INTO USE, BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE WERE BEING BURIED ALIVE. THEY
CONNECTED THE FLAGS TO THE CASKET SO THE PERSON COULD RAISE THE
FLAG TO ALERT OTHERS THAT THEY WERE STILL ALIVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; REDFORD
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: CA00001972
MIND YOUR P'S & Q'S
THE INFORMANT STATES THAT THE EXPRESSION, "MIND YOUR
P'S AND Q'S" WAS STARTED BECAUSE OF MARKS ON
ALE MUGS. THESE MARKS WERE FOR PINTS AND QUARTS.
THE BARTENDER THEN HAD TO BE CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE
A DRINK WAS ONE PINT OR ONE QUART OF ALE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quantity or weight Liquid BELIEF -- Explanation of a name SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 03-15-1967
MIND YOUR P'S AND Q'S
THE INFORMANT TOLD THIS STORY AS TO THE ORIGIN
OF THE EXPRESSION "MIND YOUR P'S AND Q'S." SHE SAID
THAT IN LONDON THERE IS AN ALE HOUSE WITH THAT SIGN
ABOVE THE DOOR, AND INSIDE WRITTEN ON THE WALLS,
AND LOW CEILING, THE BARTENDER KEEPS A RUNNING
TALLY OF HOW MUCH SOMEONE OWES. HENCE, THE
EXPRESSION MEANS TO WATCH THE TOTAL MONEY OWED
FOR YOUR PINTS AND QUARTS.
Data entry tech comment: I THOUGH THEY USED LITERS!
Where learned: HIGHLAND PARK ; ILLINOIS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quantity or weight Liquid CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Medium of exchange BELIEF -- Explanation of a name SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 03-20-1967
IF YOU TURN A STAMP UPSIDE DOWN ON A LETTER, IT
MEANS LOVE.
Submitter comment: MRS. D. LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 11-22-1963
AMISH COURTSHIP CUSTOM
AMISH FARMERS OF BUCKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA PAINT THEIR
GATES BRIGHT BLUE TO INDICATE THE PRESENCE OF AN UNMARRIED
DAUGHTER. THIS GIVES YOUNG MEN PERMISSION TO INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES TO THE GIRL'S PARENTS IN ORDER TO ASK THEIR
PERMISSION TO COURT THEIR DAUGHTER. IN ADDITION, AMISH
HOUSES ARE BUILT WITH A VERY SMALL WINDOW AT THE PEAK OF
THE HOUSE. THE WINDOW IS LEFT OPEN, TRADITIONALLY, SO
THAT THE YOUNG MAN MAY SECRETLY VISIT THE YOUNG LADY.
HOWEVER, THE WINDOW IS PURPOSELY BUILT TOO SMALL TO ALLOW
SUCH CLANDESTINE VISITATION.
MY MOTHER TOLD ME THAT SHE RECALLS SEEING SUCH HOUSES
IN PENNSYLVANIA DURING THE 1940'S.
Submitter comment:
THE MOTHER'S NAME IS MARY MORSILLO GINGERICH, BORN
OCTOBER 3, 1937, FARRELL, PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Date learned: 09-00-1982
WHEN MAILING A LETTER, IF THE STAMP IS PLACED ON
UPSIDE DOWN, IT MEANS THAT THE PERSON WHO WROTE
THE LETTER LOVES THE PERSON HE OR SHE IS SENDING
IT TO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BERKELEY
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
WHEN SENDING A LETTER TO SOMEONE WHOM YOU LOVE,
ALWAYS PUT THE STAMP ON THE ENVELOPE UPSIDE DOWN
AS AN INDICATION TO THE RECEIVER OF THE LETTER
THAT THEY ARE LOVED.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS LEARNED FROM PRUDENCE TUCKER, MARTIN, TENNESSEE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Keyword(s): POSITION
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
Swastika
Our house was built by a Jew. The foyer by the front door has
a tile floor. Several of the tiles look like the swastika,
most commonly known as the symbol of the Nazi party in 1930's
and 1940's Germany. One day I received a visitor who noticed
the swastikas. He asked me if I was Jewish. I said no and
asked him why he asked. He said, "Because you have the Jewish
peace symbol on your floor." I must have looked very surprised
because he went on hurriedly to explain that what was on the
floor was not the Nazi symbol. Hitler had taken the Jewish
peace symbol and turned it around so that its points faced in
the opposite direction of the original shape as an insult to
the Jews. What was on my floor was the original shape.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Electronic Data Systems
My father is a systems analyst that supports General Motors
Corporation. He has many opportunities to work with GM's computer
specialists, Electronic Data Systems. He said that sometimes the
EDS technicians are so unhappy and surly that he renamed "E.D.S.",
"Every Day Sucks."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): Explanation
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Folk etymology SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Japan-Status
In Japan, everyone has name cards with their title on them. These
cards let everyone you come in contact with (usually in a business
setting) learn what status you have achieved. This exchange of cards
lets the exchangers know who is subordinate to the other. The
subordinate person (in Japanese, this person is subservient) must bow
lower than the other.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of space: distance, height, depth SPEECH -- Gesture SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 01-00-1990
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 |
A POSTAGE STAMP PUT ON A LETTER UPSIDE DOWN MEANS THAT THE
WRITER LOVES THE PERSON TO WHOM HE IS SENDING THE LETTER. IT
IS READ AS "I LOVE YOU."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CHATTANOOGA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Word Letter SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
WHEN WRITING OR PRINTING, IF YOU CIRCLE YOUR "I'S"
IT MEANS SOME SORT OF AFFECTION, USUALLY "I LOVE YOU."
IF YOU PUT A STAMP UPSIDE DOWN ON AN ENVELOPE,
IT MEANS, "I LOVE YOU."
Where learned: SCHOOL
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 03-05-1968
Entry filtered.
SIGN TO BE LEFT IN ANGER
THANKS FOR TAKING TWO PARKING SPACES. I HAD TO PARK
IN THE NEXT BLOCK, YOU SELFISH, IDIOTIC MORON!!
YOU HAVE VIOLATED SECTION 368 D.A.M.I.T.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACRONYM ; ANGER ; Note ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; SIGN
James Callow Keyword(s): ABBREVIATION ; IRONY
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A TRADITIONAL ABBREVIATION FOR A BACON, LETTUCE,
AND TOMATO SANDWICH IS BLT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ABBREVIATION ; ACRONYM ; Bacon ; BLT ; FOOD ; LETTUCE ; Sandwich ; Tomato
James Callow Keyword(s): ACRONYM
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 03-02-1970
ROTC=ROTTEN OLD TIN CANS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): ACRONYM ; JOKE ; MILITARY ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN
James Callow Keyword(s): ACRONYM ; ROTC:MILITARY TRAINING UNIT. ; SATIRE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School BELIEF -- P535 SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 02-15-1970
WHEN ONE PUTS A STAMP ON A LETTER UPSIDE DOWN, IT
MEANS YOU LOVE THE PERSON THE LETTER IS WRITTEN TO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 11-04-1969
DURING THE LATE 1950S, YOUNG GIRLS OFTEN WORE SADDLE
OXFORDS {SHOES} WITH BUCKLES ON THE HEELS. IF
THE BUCKLES WERE FASTENED THE GIRL WAS SHOWING THAT
SHE WAS GOING STEADY. IF THE BUCKLES WERE UNFASTENED,
THE GIRL WAS AVAILABLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Signs of availability CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Dating, courtship mechanics ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 00001950S LATE