Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for F103 returned 111 results.
FLORIDA HALLOWEEN CUSTOM
"WE WERE ALWAYS RUNNING AROUND ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT. WE DIDN'T GO
TRICK OR TREATING LIKE THEY DO NOW, BUT WE'D GO LOOK FOR HOT-STEAMS
ON THE COUNTRY ROADS. THEY WERE LIKE GHOSTS THAT WOULD STRETCH
ACROSS THE ROAD AND BLOCK THE WAY. IF THEY CAUGHT YOU, THEY'D
SUCK YOUR BREATH, AND TO PREVENT IT, YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO SAY MM
"ANGEL BRIGHT, LIFE IN DEATH
GET OFF THE ROAD, DON'T SUCK MY BREATH'. MM
WE BELIEVED IN HOT-STEAMS, BUT WE NEVER DID SEE ONE".
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT FIRST LEARNED OF "HOT-STEAMS" FROM CHILDHOOD FRIENDS
IN FLORIDA. SHE STATED THAT SHE HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT HOT-STEAMS
UNTIL SHE READ HARPER LEE'S "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD",
WHICH MENTIONED HOT-STEAMS WITH THE SAME RHYME.
Where learned: OHIO ; FLORIDA ; ALLIANCE ; EUSTIS
Date learned: 11-13-1980 ; 00001920S
MARY MCINTOSH
AT MIDNIGHT ON HALLOWEEN GO INTO A ROOM ALONE AND STAND IN FRONT OF A
MIRROR. NEXT SAY MARY MCINTOSH 10 TIMES WITH
YOUR EYES CLOSED. THEN STAMP
YOUR RIGHT FOOT 10 TIMES. NOW OPEN YOUR EYES AND IN THE MIRROR YOU
WILL SEE HOW MARY MCINTOSH DIED. SHE STABBED HERSELF IN THE HEAD.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD TO ME IN NEW ORLEANS IN THE 1960'S.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness Spirit / Mind / Body Observation Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween |
Date learned: 00001960S
HOLLOWEEN RHYME
HELP THE POOR, MY PANTS ARE TORE,
GIVE ME SOME MONEY TO BUY SOME MORE.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival C840.645 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween |
Date learned: 00-00-1966
ARGENTINIAN HALLOWEEN
IN ARGENTINA, EL DIA DE CARNIVAL IS A DAY LIKE HALLOWEEN.
IT IS ONE WEEK LONG IN LATE SPRING.
WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A HALLOWEEN LIKE THE UNITED STATES BUT
EVERYONE DRESSES UP IN VARIOUS COSTUMES AND THEN THEY PARADE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY. THE WHOLE CITY PARADES AROUND IN
THEIR COSTUMES. THERE ARE ALSO ORGANIZED CLUBS WHICH PARADE DOWN
THE STREETS WITH THE LEADERS AND OFFICIALS OF THE CITY. HAVING
WATER FIGHTS AND SHAVING CREAM FIGHTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY
IS ALSO A PART OF THE CELEBRATION.
THIS TAKES PLACE ONE WEEK LONG IN LATE SPRING.
Where learned: SOUTH AMERICA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
ON HALLOWEEN THERE WAS A LITTLE POEM WE WOULD ALL
CHANT OR SAY AT PARTIES OR WHILE OUT TRICK OR
TREATING. IT WENT LIKE THIS:
THE WORMS CRAWL IN.
THE WORMS CRAWL OUT.
IN YOUR STOMACH
AND OUT YOUR MOUTH,
AND IF YOU SEE A HEARSE GO BY,
THEN YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival C840.1031 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween |
Date learned: 04-00-1983
DING DONG DITCH
MY SON AND HIS FRIENDS PLAY THIS VARIATION ON RINGING
DOORBELLS AND HIDING ON DEVIL'S NIGHT. THEY ONLY BOTHER
PEOPLE WITH LARGE SHRUBS IN FRONT OF THEIR HOMES SO
THEY CAN JUMP DOWN AND HIDE AFTER THE DISTURBANCE.
Submitter comment: THE BOYS ARE FROM NINE TO ELEVEN YEARS OLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F103 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
DEVIL'S NIGHT
"MY MOTHER TOLD ME THAT BACK IN THE 1800'S
THAT DEVIL'S NIGHT WAS NOT CALLED DEVIL'S
NIGHT. IT WAS CALLED TURNING OF THE SOULS
NIGHT BECAUSE ON DEVIL'S NIGHT THE DEAD
PEOPLE IN THEIR GRAVES WOULD TURN OVER IN
THEIR GRAVES."
Submitter comment:
SHE WAS NERVOUS WHEN SHE RECORDED THE STORY.
SHE WAS ALSO AFRAID TO LET OTHERS HEAR HER
VOICE ON THE TAPE RECORDER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F103 BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001800S ; 10-00-1985
"DARK LADY"
ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT, AT 12:00 A.M.,
TELL A GIRL TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR--
SHUT OFF ALL LIGHTS--AND TELL THE
GIRL TO REPEAT THREE TIMES "DARK LADY."
TELL HER NOT TO LOOK AWAY BUT KEEP
LOOKING AT HERSELF. IF HER FACE GLOWS
SHE IS A WITCH, IF IT DOESN'T SHE IS SAFE.
Submitter comment: LEARNED AT A TEENAGE PARTY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 00-00-1984
"SLEEPY HOLLOW"
A MADMAN ESCAPED FROM A MENTAL INSTITUTION. HE WAS RUNNING
AND REACHED AN OLD BRIDGE ON SLEEPY HOLLOW ROAD. THE MADMAN
THEN KILLED ANOTHER MAN AND HUNG HIM FROM THE BRIDGE. IF
ANYONE GOES TO THE BRIDGE ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT, HE WILL SEE
THE MAN HANGING FROM THE BRIDGE, AND IF HE STAYS VERY LONG,
THE MADMAN WILL APPEAR AND TRY TO KILL HIM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 11-00-1985
HALLOWEEN IS CELEBRATED MUCH THE SAME IN GREECE AS IT IS
IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT IN THE UPPER PENNISULA. ARTA, AS
IT IS CALLED, FEARS ALL HALLOWS EVE. PEOPLE DO NOT LEAVE THEIR
HOMES FOR FEAR THAT SPIRITS WILL OVERTAKE THEM AND DESTROY THEM.
THIS IS THE ONE NIGHT OF THE YEAR THAT PERSONS FROM ARTA BELIEVE
SPIRITS ROAM FREE. THESE SPIRITS CAN BE RESTORED TO LIFE IF
THEY CAN FIND A LIFE TO REPLACE THEM IN THE LAND OF THE DEAD.
GOAT'S BLOOD IS PAINTED ON EVERY FRONT DOOR IN THE SIGN OF
A CROSS TO WARD AWAY THESE EVIL SPIRITS. A LARGE MEAL IS
EATEN THAT NIGHT, FOR THE VILLAGERS BELIEVE THAT THE SPIRITS
CANNOT LIFT A LIVING PERSON AND CARRY HIM OFF IF HE IS FILLED
WITH FOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights ; WHERE I FIRST HEARD THIS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00-00-1948
ON HALLOWEEN, THE BOYS WOULD MAKE A TOY
OUT OF A RING OF HEAVY THREAD PUT THROUGH A
BUTTON. HOLDING BOTH ENDS BY BOTH INDEX FINGERS,
THEY WOULD SPIN IT SO THAT IT WOULD TWIST THE
BUTTON IN THE CENTER. BY PULLING THE INDEX
FINGERS BACK AND FORTH SIDEWAYS, IT WOULD MAKE
THE BUTTON SPIN VERY FAST. THEN THEY WOULD
SNEAK UP ON THE FRONT PORCH OF THE HOUSE
TO THE LIVINGROOM WINDOW AND IF THEY
GOT IT SPINNING AND TOUCHED THE WINDOW IT WOULD MAKE
A BUZZING SOUND AND SCARE ANYONE WHO WAS SITTING
NEAR THE WINDOW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Toy |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
WHILE WE WENT OUT TRICK-OR-TREATING
ON HALLOWEEN, WE WOULD YELL, "HELP THE
POOR, MY PANTS ARE TORE."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN
THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN ALL SKIN AND BONES, OHH, OHH, OHH,
SHE LIVED DOWN BY THE OLD GRAVE YARD, OHH, OHH, OHH, OHH
ONE NIGHT SHE THOUGHT SHE'D TAKE A WALK, OHH, OHH, OHH.
SHE WALKED DOWN BY THE OLD GRAVE YARD, OHH, OHH, OHH, OHH.
SHE SAW THE BONES ALL LAYING AROUND, OHH, OHH, OHH, OHH.
SHE WENT TO THE CLOSET TO GET A BROOM, OHH, OHH, OHH, OHH.
SHE OPENED THE DOOR AND BOO!
Submitter comment: THIS IS A CHILDREN'S HALLOWEEN SONG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween |
Date learned: 10-00-1972
On Halloween night, put a bucket of sand or a broom
outside your door. If a soul comes by and wants to
harm you, it will have to count every grain of sand
or broom bristle first. By the time that the spirit
has done this, it would be daytime and it would have
to go back where it came from.
Submitter comment:
This story was told to Maryann by her Italian father,
who heard it from his grandfather.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
Keyword(s): ghost, precaution, All Souls' Day
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs BELIEF -- Good luck Broom Sweeping BELIEF -- Control Prevention Provocation Protection |
Date learned: 00001930S
IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT IF YOU LIE ON THE GRAVE OF SOMEONE ON
HALLOWEEN NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT, YOU WILL BECOME POSSESSED BY THE
SPIRIT OF THAT PERSON. THE ONLY WAY TO RID YOURSELF OF THE
SPIRIT IS TO PERFORM THE SAME ACT ON THE NEXT HALLOWEEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 04-01-1990
EVERY YEAR FOR HALLOWEEN ALL THE CHILDREN PUT THEIR COSTUMES
ON AT THE SAME TIME. THE ONE VOTED BY THE PARENTS TO HAVE THE
BEST COSTUME GETS THE HALLOWEEN SURPRISE MEAL AND GIFT.
Submitter comment: THIS TRADITION HAS BEEN DONE IN JASON'S FAMILY FOR 50 YEARS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PORT HURON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween |
Date learned: 00001940S
On Devil's Night, scoop cow manure into a bag, put it on the
porch of someone that you don't like, set it on fire, ring the
doorbell, then hide to watch them get a shoe full of manure while
trying to stomp out the fire.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): Prank
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F103 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00-00-1987
On Halloween, when the trick-or-treating is over you go and knock
over the cows and let the chickens out of their house. This is done
to the people who did not give out treats.
Submitter comment: This was done by friends in Mississippi during the 1960's.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): cow tipping
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F103 BELIEF -- Mammal |
Date learned: 00-00-1987
Origins of Halloween
Samhain, October 31, is the Celtic feast of the dead, honoring the
Aryan Lord of Death, Samana (the Irish call it the Vigil of Saman).
Witches still leave offerings of "soul cakes" for the deceased
ancestors, a custom that has been transformed into the giving of
treats to the travelers who wander about on that night (i.e., "trick
or treat").
In ancient times it was believed that if the right offerings and
sacrifices were not made, the spirits of the dead would take advantage
of the opening in the seam between the worlds to come and do harm and
mischief to the living.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MANCHESTER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 01-00-1992
Holiday
Halloween was never one of my favorite holidays, because even
at a young age it represented something evil to me. But one of the
rituals was to purchase a big, healthy pumpkin and clean its
insides out, so we may carve any figuration that we wanted. That
was fun, but the best part of it all was eating all of the
candy I received from trick-or-treating.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween |
Date learned: 10-31-1970