Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P686 returned 142 results.
MNEMONIC DEVICE
AN EASY WAY TO REMEMBER HOW MANY DAYS ARE IN EACH MONTH IS TO
COUNT ON ONE'S KNUCKLES. MONTHS WITH THIRTY ONE DAYS LIE ON THE
TOP OF THE KNUCKLE. MONTHS WITH THIRTY DAYS (29 FOR FEB.) WILL FALL
BETWEEN KNUCKLES. FOR EXAMPLE, JAN. IS ON TOP (HAS 31 DAYS) AND
FEB. IS IN BETWEEN (HAS 29 DAYS) ETC.
Submitter comment:
ALTHOUGH THIS TECHNICALLY IS NOT A MNEMONIC DEVICE SINCE NO
SPEAKING IS INVOLVED, IT IS A SIMPLE TASK USED TO HELP ONE REMEMBER.
WHEN THE COLLECTOR TRIED IT, IT WORKED WITHOUT FLAW IF YOU START
AT THE FIRST KNUCKLE WHEN PROCEEDING FROM JULY TO AUGUST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Month BELIEF -- Number BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-00-1980
FUNERAL PROCESSION SUPERSTITION
IF YOU COUNT THE NUMBER OF CARS IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION, SOMEONE
IN YOUR FAMILY WILL DIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 00-00-1945
IF YOU COUNT THE NUMBER OF CARS IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION YOU WILL HAVE
THAT MANY YEARS TO LIVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: CA00001975
IT IS A JEWISH CUSTOM TO PUT SALT IN THE CUPBOARD OF A
NEW HOME, SO THAT IT WILL BRING PLENTY OF FOOD TO
THE HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 11-02-1968
WHEN SHOPPING IN JAPAN, AMERICANS ARE OFTEN SURPRISED THAT THEY CAN
NOT BUY FOUR ITEMS IN A SET. SHI THE WORD FOR FOUR IS ALSO THE WORD
AS A SIGN OF DEATH. YOU CAN ONLY BUY THINGS IN GROUPS OF FIVE.
Where learned: JAPAN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 11-06-1987
ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, PEOPLE WOULD PRINT
THE NUMBER OF THE NEW YEAR ON A QUARTER
WITH RED NAIL POLISH. WHEN THE MONEY WAS
SPENT, IT WAS HOPED THAT THE QUARTER WOULD
RETURN TO THEM DURING THE YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COINS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
A SIX DIGIT NUMBER
I WAS RAISED WITH THE GANGSTERS, AND RAN WITH THE MACKS.
MY NATURE WAS WOMEN, MY MONEY WAS STACKS.
MY FINGERS WORE DIAMONDS. MY NECK WAS ALL GOLD.
MY HOMIES WERE HUSTLERS, FROM THE DRUGS THAT THEY SOLD.
BEAMERS AND BENZES WERE CARS OF MY CHOICE. MY LIMOS WERE CADDY'S
OR EITHER ROLL ROYCE.
MY DRESS SHOE WAS GATORS, MY SNEAKERS WAS NIKI. MY COLOR WAS
GREEN, BUT I'LL SETTLE FOR WHITE.
MY WEAPON WAS UZI, OR A.K.,
AT NIGHT IT WAS JAZZ AND HARD RAP IN THE DAY. I WAS QUICKER THAN
LIGHT, AND AS FEARLESS AS THUNDER. BUT NOW I AIN'T NOTHING BUT A
SIX-DIGIT-NUMBER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number |
ON YOUR BIRTHDAY YOU HAVE AS MANY CANDLES ON YOUR
CAKE AS THE NUMBER OF YEARS YOU ARE. IF YOU CAN BLOW
THEM ALL OUT IN ONE BREATH, A WISH THAT YOU MADE BEFORE
YOU BLEW THEM OUT WILL COME TRUE.
Submitter comment: HER FAMILY FOLLOWS THIS CUSTOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 02-08-1967
A FEMALE STUDENT ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN (ANN
ARBOR, MICHIGAN) IS NOT TRULY A U OF M COED UNTIL SHE HAS
BEEN KISSED UNDER THE ENGINEERING BUILDING ARCH AT THE STROKE
OF MIDNIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 10-13-1967
VIGALIA
A POLISH CELEBRATION FOR CHRISTMAS EVE IS CALLED
VIGALIA. THERE ARE AN ODD NUMBER OF COURSES AT THE
DINNER. STRICT POLISH PEOPLE HAVE STRAW ON THE
TABLE AND ONE VACANT PLACE FOR THE CHRIST CHILD.
THERE IS ALSO A CUSTOM WHERE A WAFER IS PASSED FROM
PERSON TO PERSON, AND EACH ONE TAKES A PIECE.
THIS IS A POLISH CUSTOM AND A FAMILY TRADITION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Oplatki CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Straw BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 04-11-1967
POLISH SUPERSTITION
IT IS A POLISH SUPERSTITION THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN ODD
NUMBER OF COURSES AT A CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER. THIS IS
A FAMILY TRADITION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Menus BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 04-11-1967
STREETLIGHT GAME--GAME OF FIRSTS
WHEN THE FIRST STREETLIGHT COMES ON, YOU ARE TO YELL OUT,
"ZERO, FIRST STREETLIGHT!" ANOTHER PERSON SHOUTS, "ZERO,
SECOND STREETLIGHT!" THE PERSON WHO SAYS, "ZERO, THIRD
STREETLIGHT!" GETS HIT BY THE REST OF THE GROUP.
Submitter comment:
WE USED TO PLAY THIS EVERY NIGHT WHEN THE STREETLIGHTS WOULD
COME ON. THEN EVERYBODY CAUGHT ON AND WE WOULD HAVE TO
COMPEL SOMEONE TO TAKE THE THIRD PART SO THE GAME
COULD FINISH AND WE COULD SWAT SOMEBODY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE FIRST PERSON TO SEE THE STREET LIGHTS COME ON AT
NIGHT WOULD COUNT OUT LOUD FROM ONE TO TEN AND YELL
"FIRST TO SEE THE STREETLIGHTS COME ON." THIS WAS
THE EXTENT OF THE GAME AND YOU WOULD CONTINUE ON
WITH WHAT YOU WERE DOING.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 00001950S LATE
LUCK STRIKE GAME
UPON SEEING AN EMPTY LUCKY STRIKE CIGARETTE PACK,
YOU TRY TO STEP ON IT WITH YOUR FOOT WITHOUT ANYBODY
ELSE SEEING YOU. THEN YOU ARE ALLOWED TO PUNCH THE
FIRST PERSON WHO COMES NEAR ENOUGH, SAYING, "LUCKY
STRIKE!" YOU MUST SAY "WIPED IT OFF!" OR THAT PERSON
CAN PUNCH YOU BACK USING THE SAME PACK. YOU USUALLY
PUNCHED THE PERSON IN THE ARM.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 00001950S
LIFT FOR STRENGTH
WHEN MY BROTHERS AND SISTER WERE CHILDREN, WE WOULD RUN
TO LIFT SOME HEAVY OBJECT--TABLE, CHAIR, BUCKET OF COAL--
WHENEVER WE HEARD THE FIRST THUNDER OF THE YEAR. WE
WERE INITIATED INTO THIS PRACTICE BY MY MOTHER AND
DAD WHO BELIEVED THAT IF YOU LIFTED SOMETHING HEAVY AT
THE SOUND OF THUNDER FOR THE FIRST TIME, DURING THE
YEAR, WE WOULD ALL BE HEALTHY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY,
STRONG, DURING THE COMING YEAR.
Submitter comment:
DURING A RECENT CONVERSATION WITH MY MOTHER, SHE
REMINDED ME OF THIS PRACTICE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Number BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 05-15-1965
IF YOU ARE HURT, WHATEVER AILMENT YOU HAVE WILL BE HEALED
BEFORE YOU ARE MARRIED TWICE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 03-10-1970
IF YOU GO TO CHURCH NINE FIRST FRIDAYS IN A ROW,
YOU WILL NEVER DIE WITHOUT A PRIEST AT YOUR SIDE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 03-02-1972
IF YOU COUNT THE NUMBER OF CARS IN A FUNERAL
PROCESSION, YOU'LL BE THE NEXT TO DIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- War BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 11-00-1970
IF IT RAINS THE DAY YOU MARRY, THAT IS HOW MANY
TEARS YOU WILL SHED DURING YOUR MARRIED LIFE.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER COLLECTED THIS SUPERSTITION FROM A WOMAN
WITH WHOM SHE WORKED. MRS. HAIRSTON LEARNED IT FROM
HER MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CRYING
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 02-00-1967
FOR EACH RIBBON A GIRL CUTS AT HER BRIDAL SHOWER, SHE
WILL HAVE A CHILD (CUTS TEN RIBBONS, SHE'LL HAVE TEN
KIDS.)
Submitter comment: HEARD IT FROM HIS MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Breaking of BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 11-00-1970