Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 602.21 returned 105 results.
THE RAISING OF THE HAND TO GAIN ATTENTION IN A
CLASSROOM.
Where learned: CLASSROOM THINKING
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 09-25-1968
SCHOOL CUSTOM
IN SCHOOL, IT IS A CUSTOM TO RAISE YOUR HAND TO BE
CALLED UPON FOR AN ANSWER.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS IN SCHOOL IN 1955-1956.
Where learned: PORT CHESTER ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 00001955-1956
FINGER IN FRONT OF THE LIPS MEANS: SILENCE OR BE QUIET.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.14 SPEECH -- Instructions Directions Silence |
Date learned: 09-29-1965
THE PUTTING TOGETHER OF THE HANDS AND SLIGHTLY BOWING
FROM THE WAIST--MEANING, "PRAY PLEASE SHUT UP. I'D
LIKE TO SPEAK."
Where learned: BUFFALO ; HIGH SCHOOL ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Instructions Directions Silence |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
MAKING THE SIGN OF THE CROSS
THIS IS USED IN DRIVING OFF THE DEVIL, ACCORDING TO
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Date learned: 03-10-1971
A BOW TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
IN BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCHES TODAY, SOME PEOPLE
STILL PRACTICE AN OLD CUSTOM OF GETTING DOWN ON ALL
FOURS AND TOUCHING THE FLOOR WITH THEIR BROWS,
THUS SIGNIFYING A BOW TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.
Where learned: HAMTRAMCK ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts 686 Fourths / Quarters CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.3 SPEECH -- Religious |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU CROSS YOUR FINGERS OR TOES OR TWO PIECES OF
HAIR, ETC., IT MEANS WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ISN'T
THE TRUTH, BUT IT'S ALL RIGHT TO LIE ABOUT IT.
Submitter comment:
SHE SAID THAT SHE LEARNED IT FROM FRIENDS WHEN
SHE WAS YOUNG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Date learned: 02-08-1967
WHEN TELLING A LIE, CROSS THE FINGERS OF YOUR LEFT HAND
AND YOU WON'T BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LIE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A BELIEF COMMON IN THE OSWALD FAMILY AS WELL
AS IN MY OWN GRADE SCHOOL DAYS CIRCA 1960.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: 09-20-1967
IF A PERSON IS TELLING THE OTHER PERSON SOMETHING AND
THE OTHER PERSON HAS ASKED FOR THE TRUTH, AND THE
PERSON TELLING THE STORY CROSSES HIS FINGERS, WHEN HE
DOES SO, THEN HE IS TELLING THE PERSON AN UNTRUTH AND
IT IS BELIEVED NOT TO HAVE THE CONSEQUENCES O A LIE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU TELL A LIE WITH YOUR FINGERS CROSSED, IT IS NOT
A LIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
Date learned: 03-10-1970
WHEN YOU'RE TELLING A LIE, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CROSS
YOUR FINGERS OR YOUR FEET.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SAINT RITAS CONVENT
Date learned: 03-01-1970
IF YOU'RE TELLING A LIE, CROSS YOUR FINGERS BEFORE YOU
SAY IT AND IT WON'T BE A LIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Date learned: 11-29-1969
IN ORDER TO RELIEVE ONE'S GUILT WHEN TELLING A LIE,
ONE CROSSES THE INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGERS OF ONE HAND.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Date learned: 10-02-1967
LUCKY SAYING
WHEN TWO PEOPLE HAPPEN TO SAY THE SAME WORD AT EXACTLY
THE SAME TIME, IT IS GOOD LUCK IF THEY LINK THEIR
LITTLE FINGERS AND REPEAT PAIR NOUNS, SUCH AS HAM
AND EGGS, SALT AND PEPPER, STICKS AND STONES, ETC.
FOLLOWING THIS A WISH IS MADE BY EACH PERSON, BUT
IT IS NOT REVEALED OR IT WON'T COME TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts Favorites BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Magical Good luck |
Date learned: 10-02-1965
SCRATCHING YOUR HEAD. DONE WITH FOREFINGER AS IF TO
STIMULATE YOUR MIND TO REMEMBER SOMETHING OR TO
THINK BETTER.
Submitter comment:
PICKED IT UP IN JERSEY CITY, N. J. WHEN I WAS 7 OR 8
YEARS OLD IN ABOUT 1954.
Where learned: NEW JERSEY ; JERSEY CITY
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Thinking Remembering Forgetting |
Date learned: 00-00-1954
SOME PEOPLE SNAP THEIR FINGER WHEN THEY FORGOT OR FORGET
SOMETHING. THEY USUALLY SAY "HEY, OR UM, SURE,
FORGOT ALL ABOUT IT." THEY TAKE THEIR INDEX FINGER
AND THEIR THUMB, RUB THEM TOGETHER, CAUSING A POP
THAT GOES "SNAP."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Thinking Remembering Forgetting |
Date learned: 01-30-1971
SNAPPING YOUR FINGERS IS A SIGN THAT YOU HAVE JUST
REMEMBERED SOMETHING THAT YOU HAD FORGOTTEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Thinking Remembering Forgetting |
Date learned: 11-16-1967
GESTURE JOKE
WHAT'S THE OTHER HALF OF THIS? (CUPPED HAND WITH FINGERS
SPREAD).
THE ANSWER IS THE SAME...CUPPED HAND WITH FINGERS
SPREAD IN REVERSE DIRECTION.
Data entry tech comment: DIAGRAM ON 5 X 8 CARD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): NON-OPPOSITIONAL LITERAL
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote SPEECH -- Games Riddles Jokes RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-15-1965
GESTURE JOKE
YOU ASK "WHAT IS THIS? ACCOMPANIED WITH THE GESTURE:
INDEX FINGER OF LEFT HAND TOPPED BY BUNCHED FINGERS
OF RIGHT HAND.
ANSWER: A SPIDER ON TOP A FLAG POLE.
Data entry tech comment: DIAGRAM ON 5 X 8 CARD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote SPEECH -- Games Riddles Jokes RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-15-1965