Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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POLISH PROVERB
IF IT'S MY IDEA YOU'RE EXPRESSING, YOU SPEAK WELL, JOHN
POLISH TEXT NOT KEYPUNCHED. SEE ORIGINAL 5X8 CARD
Submitter comment: MY FATHER KNOWS THIS FROM POLAND
Where learned: DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
INVITE HIM TO THE WEDDING AND HE DRINKS TO YOUR WEDDING NEXT YEAR.
TRANSLATION OF GREEK TEXT ON THE 5 X 8 CARD
Submitter comment:
THIS MEANS THAT THE PERSON WILL DRINK SO MUCH TO EXCESS
THAT HE WOULD
HAVE ENOUGH LIQUOR IN HIM TO BE DRUNK IF YOUR WEDDING WAS ONE YEAR
FROM THE DATE IT ACTUALLY WAS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Keyword(s): DRUNKENNESS
| Subject headings: | Favorites Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage BELIEF -- Marriage PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
JEST ANECDOTE
I ONCE KNEW A MAN SO OLD HE WAS OLDER THAN HIS MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HYPERBOLE
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
FESTIVAL CUSTOM
THE MALAYSIANS BELIEVE THAT TO SWEEP THE FLOOR ON CHINESE NEW YEAR
IS BAD BECAUSE ALL THE GOOD LUCK IS SWEPT AWAY.
Submitter comment:
NO FIXED DATE WAS GIVEN FOR THE CELEBRATION OF CHINESE NEW YEAR IN
MALAYSIA. GENERALLY THIS HOLIDAY IS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY OR
FEBRUARY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Festival BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.42 |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
FESTIVAL CUSTOM
THE MALAYSIANS CELEBRATE THE CHINESE NEW YEAR BY GIVING GIFTS
OF MONEY TO THE CHILDREN AND UNMARRIED MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY FOR
GOOD LUCK. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY GIVEN DEPENDS UPON THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE TWO PEOPLE. ACQUAINTANCES ARE GIVEN ONE OR TWO DOLLARS.
PARENTS WILL GIVE MORE, SOMETIMES AS MUCH AS TWO OR THREE HUNDRED
DOLLARS. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY GIVEN IS ALWAYS AN EVEN NUMBER.
DEPENDING UPON THE SIZE OF THE FAMILY. AN ONLY CHILD RECEIVES MUCH
MORE-SOMETIMES AS MUCH AS TWO OR THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS. THE AMOUNT
OF MONEY GIVEN IS ALWAYS AN EVEN NUMBER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
Date learned: 12-00-1978
EYO FESTIVAL
DURING THE EYO FESTIVAL IN LAGOS NO ONE IS PERMITTED TO WEAR SHOES.
PEOPLE DRESSED IN WHITE COSTUMES WITH BLACK COWBOY LOOKING HATS RUN
THROUGH THE STREET ALL DAY CARRYING BROOMS SIMILAR TO WHISK BROOMS
AND IF THEY SEE ANYONE WEARING SHOES THEY WILL HIT YOU WITH THESE
BROOMS.
THEY ALSO STOP CARS.
THEY WILL HIT YOU UNTIL YOU GIVE THEM A GIFT OF MONEY OR SOMETHING
ELSE
Submitter comment:
I JUST HAPPENED TO BE IN LAGOS ON THE DAY OF THIS FESTIVAL
AND I SAW ALL THESE KIDS RUNNING AROUND CHASING PEOPLE AND I GOT
SCARED.
MY BOYFRIEND ENEV TOLD ME WE HAD BETTER HEAD BACK TO EBUTE-METTA.
HE WAS NOT SCARED, BUT HE DID SO FOR MY SAKE.
THESE PEOPLE WILL HIT YOU ALL OVER YOUR BODY.
Where learned: NIGERIA ; LAGOS
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Custom CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern |
NEW YEAR'S DAY IN LAGOS, NIGERIA
IN PREPARING FOR THE NEW YEAR ON DECEMBER 31 EVERYONE DRINKS A LOT A
GOES TO BED VERY LATE, BUT THIS ISN'T THE BIG EVENT.
AT 6:00 A.M. ON JANUARY 1 WE ALL AWOKE TO THE SOUND OF A CANNON
GOING OFF.
IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES EVERYONE IN THE VILLAGE MUST BE IN THE VILLAGE
SQUARE.
THE VOODOO MAN IS ABOUT TO ARRIVE.
HE IS DRESSED IN ANIMAL SKINS AND MATERIALS WITH A ANIMAL HEAD AND
HORNS.
NOTHING ON HIM IS VISIBLE.
HIS MAIN OBJECT AT THIS TIME IS TO CHASE EVERYONE AND IF HE
CATCHES YOU HE WILL HIT YOU WITH A SWITCH.
HE CARRIES BIG KNIVES THAT HE SWINGS BACK AND FORTH AND HE THROWS
THEM THROUGH THE AIR.
HE SEARCHES HOUSE FOR HOUSE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS PFESENT.
IF YOU ARE SCARED TO COME OUT HE WILL COME IN AND BRING YOU OUT.
THROUGHOUT THE DAY EVERYONE FORMS ONTO GROUPS AND GOES ABOUT
SINGING AND DANCING AND DRINKING.
TOWARDS THE END OF THE DAY HE GOES FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE
TO RECIEVE GIFTS OF MONEY AND HE BLESSES THE HOUSE AND ANY
SMALL KIDS.
IF YOU GET NEAR THE WATER HE WILL NOT COME AFTER YOU.
Submitter comment:
THE SIGHT OF THE VOODOO MAN WAS TOO MUCH FOR ME.
I TRIED TO HIDE IN MY ROOM AND LOCK THE DOOR, BUT HE CAME WITH HIS
FOLLOWERS AND GOT ME.
WORD HAD SPREAD FROM DAY ONE THAT AN AMERICAN HAD COME TO THE
VILLAGE.
I DID EVENTUALLY JOIN IN AND FOLLOW THE CROWD.
Where learned: NIGERIA ; LAGOS
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve |
Date learned: 10-00-1979
DANCING
IN NIGERIA NIGERIAN DANCING IS SOMETHING TO BE SEEN. UPON ARRIVING AT THE
VILLAGE, QUEENS TOWN VILLAGE, RIVERSTATE, NIGERIA, I SAW ALL THE
GIRLS IN A BENT OVER POSITION STOMPING THEIR FEET INTO THE GROUND
AND CHANTING A SONG. THEY HAD IN EACH HAND A WHITE HANDKERCHIEF
AND SOMETHING LIKE SHELLS ON EACH ANKLE. THEY EMPHASIZED
THEIR BUTTOCKS BY STICKING THEM OUT AND WIGGLING THEM.
THE STEPS ARE VARIED AND HARD TO CATCH ON TO.
Submitter comment:
LAGOS, NIGERIA
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dance |
Date learned: 10-00-1979
IF SOMEONE DRAWS SYMBOLS IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND WITH THEIR INDEX
FINGER THEY WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-00-1979
SPIRITS LIVE IN TREES AND KNOCKING ON WOOD WILL KEEP AWAY BAD
LUCK
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Supernatural Being BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.22 SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-00-1979
ALWAYS STIR BATTER IN THE SAME DIRECTION TO MAKE YOUR LIFE LONGER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites Food Drink -- Manner of preparation Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-00-1979
THE SELLING OF TORONTO
TWO GREAT GRAND UNCLES WERE IN THE WAR OF 1812
THEY TOOK PART IN THE SACKING OF WASHINGTON
AND THEY WERE GIVEN A TRACK OF LAND AS PAYEMENT
THE TRACK OF LAND WAS IN CANADA AND WHEN THEY FOUND THE LAND
IT WAS SWAMPY AND BEING THE IRISHMEN THAT THEY WERE TRADED THE LAND
FOR WHISKEY AND WENT ON UP FARTHER INTO CANADA AND CLEARED LAND AND
BUILT HOMES ON LAKE SIMPKO THEY WERE RAISING THEIR FAMILIES WHEN
THE GOVERNMENT TOOK THEIR LAND AND SOLD IT
THEY VOWED NEVER TO STEP IN CANADA AGAIN
THE TRACK OF LAND TRADED FOR WHISKEY TURNED OUT TO BE TORONTO.
Submitter comment:
THE TWO MEN MOVED TO THE UNITED STATES
AND SETTLED IN BAD AX MICHIGAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: CA02001980
ASURING GOOD WEATHER FOR A WEDDING
ON THE DAY OF A WEDDING IN YOUR FAMILY, TO INSURE THAT IT WILL NOT
RAIN, THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO HANG A ROSARY IN THE TREE IN THE
BACKYARD. THE REASON FOR THIS IS THAT THE LORD WOULD NEVER RAIN
ON THE ROSARY AND HAPPY THE BRIDE THE SUN SHINES ON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through |
Date learned: CA02001980
FOR ROMANTIC TROUBLES, TURN A STATUE OF ST. ANTHONY UPSIDE DOWN,
UNTIL HE SOLVES THE PROBLEM
Where learned: MEXICO
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
NEW YEAR'S EVE CUSTOMS
IN GREECE, FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE, THEY BAKE A SPONGE CAKE AND PUT
A DRACHMA INSIDE. THE PERSON WHOSE PIECE OF CAKE HAS THE DRACHMA IN
IT WINS A PRIZE AND WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
Where learned: GREECE ; ATHENS
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Good luck |
URBAN BELIEF TALE
THERE IS A STORY TOLD OF A YOUNG GIRL KILLED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT
ON THE HIGHWAY IN NORTHERN MEXICO. THE ACCIDENT WAS PARTICULARLY
GRUESOME. THE GIRL'S FATHER ENCOUNTERED LEGAL DIFFICULTIES WITH
RESPECT TO TRANSPORTING THE BODY AS IT MEANT THAT IT WOULD PASS
THROUGH STATE LINES. TO OVERCOME THIS, HE CARRIED THE BODY ON HIS
LAP ON AN AIRPLANE, SO THAT SHE WOULD BE BURIED IN HER HOMETOWN.
Submitter comment:
THE GIRL DID EXIST, AND SHE DID DIE IN THE STATED MANNER, BUT THE
REST OF THE STORY IS QUESTIONABLE.
Where learned: MEXICO ; CD VALLES
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
RETORT
WERE SOMEONE TO SNEEZE WHILE SAYING SOMETHING, ONE WOULD REPLY "GOD
BLESS YOU, AND WHAT YOU SAID IS TRUE."
Submitter comment: USUALLY SPOKEN IN FLEMISH
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001930S ; 02-16-1980
ODD NUMBERS
IT IS BAD LUCK TO SET AN ODD NUMBER OF PLACES AT THE TABLE. SET AN
EXTRA TO SUPPLEMENT THE ODD NUMBER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Favorites Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals BELIEF -- Number Odd number (not specific) |
Date learned: 00001930S ; 02-16-1980
BELIEF
IF YOU STRIKE ONE OF YOUR PARENTS YOUR HAND WILL STICK OUT OF YOUR
GRAVE.
Submitter comment: MRS. KUBERT IS OF POLISH DECENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001920S ; 02-16-1980
BELIEF
WHEN A GIRL'S MOTHER IS MENDING THE DRESS HER DAUGHTER IS WEARING,
HER MOTHER REQUESTS THAT SHE HOLD A THREAD IN HER MOUTH, SO SHE WON'
SEW UP HER DAUGHTER'S BRAINS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001920S ; 02-16-1980