Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for FUNCTION returned 213 results.
SLOVAK FUNERAL CUSTOM
AFTER COMING BACK FROM A FUNERAL TOUCH A STOVE, WASH YOUR HANDS,
AND SAY "GO TO HEAVEN".
Submitter comment:
JOHN MIHAL
LEARNED THIS ITEM FROM HIS FATHER'S PARENTS WHO WERE
SLOVAK IMMIGRANTS. THEY NOW LIVE IN ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails |
Date learned: 10-15-1975
WEDDING DANCE CUSTOM
IT IS A CZECHOSLOVALKAN CUSTOM THAT AT THE WEDDING RECEPTION ALL THE
ADULT MALES SHOULD DANCE WITH THE BRIDE. BUT TO DANCE WITH HER, THE
MAN HAS TO PAY HER A DOLLAR, WHICH HE SHOULD PIN TO HER DRESS. AT
THE END OF THE NIGHT SHE IS COVERED WITH MONEY.
Submitter comment:
ITEM NOT TOLD IN INFORMANT'S WORDS. THIS CUSTOM DIDN,T HAVE A
SPECIFIC REASON' BUT IT,S PROBABLY TO HELP THE NEWLYWEDS ON THEIR
WAY. AT A WEDDING THE INFORMANT ATTENDED A GROUP OF MEN REFUSED
TO DANCE WITH THE BRIDE. THIS WAS NOT RECEIVED WARMLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Paying for dance |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
PROVERB
HE WHO WASHES FACE MUST FIRST WASH NYLONS.
Submitter comment:
USED BECAUSE THERE ARE SIX FEMALES IN THE FAMILY WHO ALWAYS WASH
THEIR NYLONS IN THE BATHROOM SINK.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
A CRUSTY HELP
IF YOU EAT THE CRUST OF YOUR BREAD IT WILL MAKE YOUR HAIR CURLY.
Submitter comment:
LINDA SAID THIS TO HER 5 YEAR OLD SISTER
WHO WOULD NOT FINISH HER BREAD.
SHE USED THIS TO TRY TO CONVINCE HER TO EAT IT.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak |
Date learned: 10-27-1969
BIG NOSE
CHRIS BELIEVED, WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG, THAT IF SHE TOLD A LIE
HER NOSE WOULD GROW.
Submitter comment: SHE THINKS HER PARENTS LED HER TO THAT BELIEF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; LYING ; PINOCCHIO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Nose BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-22-1968
DRINKING COFFEE
DRINKING COFFEE WILL TURN YOU INTO A NEGRO.
Submitter comment: TOLD TO JUDY BLOOMFIELD WHEN A CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Non-alcoholic fruit beverage Coffee |
Date learned: 10-30-1968
A LATE BATH
THIS IS TOLD TO YOUNG CHILDREN: IF YOU DON'T TAKE YOUR
BATH EARLY YOU WILL SEE THE WATER MOVING AROUND AS A GHOST IS
IN THE TUB.
Submitter comment:
TOLD BY GRANDMOTHER
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; FUNCTION ; GHOST ; KIDS ; THREAT ; WATER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
BOOGIEMAN BELIEF
WHEN I WAS A KID MY PARENTS USED TO TELL ME THAT OLD UNCLE
GEORGE WAS THIS GHOST THAT LIVED IN THE BASEMENT AND
THAT HE WOULD COME UP AT NIGHT AND EAT ME ALIVE IF I WAS BAD.
(I USED TO HAVE A PICTURE IN MY MIND
OF EXACTLY WHAT UNCLE GEORGE LOOKED
LIKE. HE WAS EXTREMELY OLD AND DUMB, LIKE JETHRO.)
Submitter comment:
JETHRO IS A MUSCLE BOUND HILLBILLY OF A SUCCESSFUL TV SHOW CALLED
THE "BEVERLY HILLBILLIES".
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): Boogieman ; CHILDREN ; FUNCTION ; Legend ; Scare ; SUPERSTITION ; Tale ; THREAT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 11-02-1970
CHILD BED WETTING
IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF YOU PLAY WITH MATCHES YOU WILL WET THE BED.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): CAUSE ; FUNCTION ; MATCHES
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-19-1968
FEET
DON'T EVER PUT YOUR SHOES ON THE TABLE OR YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SORE
FEET.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 02-07-1972
PIMPLES
IF YOU GO TO THE BATHROOM WITH FOOD IN YOUR MOUTH
YOU WILL GET PIMPLES ON YOUR TONGUE.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY HIS PARENTS
WHEN HE WAS NINE YEARS OLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; COLLECTORS HOME ; HARPER WOODS
Keyword(s): CAUSE ; FUNCTION ; URINATION, DEFECATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
POEM
LITTLE MARY DRANK SOME WATER/
NOW SHE IS NO MORE./FOR WHAT SHE TOOK FOR H2O WAS H2SO4
Submitter comment:
SHE GAVE ME THIS LITTLE DITTY, QUITE A POPULAR WAY TO
REMEMBER THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM.
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM ; FUNCTION ; WATER AND SULPHURIC ACID
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
VERSE WITHIUT MUSIC
KINDERGARTEN BABY,/ WASH YOUR FACE ON GRAVY.
THEY ARE SULKING OR ACTING LIKE A BABY.
Submitter comment: THIS IS SAID TO SOMEONE WHEN YOU ARE SCORNING THEM BECAUSE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): FEMININE RHYME ; FUNCTION ; IMPERFECT RHYME: BABY/ GRAVY ; REBUKE ; RHYME: AA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 12-06-1965
VERSE
I'LL TELL YOU A STORY ABOUT JACK ONORY,
AND NOW MY STORY'S BEGUN.
I'LL TELL YOU ANOTHER, ABOUT HIS BROTHER,
AND NOW MY STORY'S DONE.
Submitter comment:
TOLD TO ME WITHOUT THE AID OF A BOOK QUITE OFTEN AT BEDTIME,
AFTER MY ATTEMPTS TO STAY UP LONGER STARTED TO ANNOY MY FATHER.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; INTERNAL RHYME ; NUTSHELL NARRATIVE ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
SPECTACLES
FOUR EYES, DOUBLE CHIN,/ ENOUGH TO MAKE THE MONKEY GRIN.
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): COUPLET FUNCTION NONSENSE ; GLASSES INSULT ; RHYME: AA
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech |
AUTOGRAPH VERSE (COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; ANNOUNCING A SIGNATURE (CLASSIFIER'S TITLE)
I THOUGHT AND THOUGHT, I THOUGHT IN VAIN,
BUT ALL I COULD THINK OF WAS TO SIGN MY NAME.
Submitter comment:
THIS ITEM WAS WRITTEN IN THE AUTOGRAPH BOOK OF COLETTE'S BY A
SCHOOLMATE.
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; IMPERFECT RHYME ; ITERATION ; RHYME: AA ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Announcing a signature |
Date learned: 10-08-1967
AUTOGRAPH BOOK (COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; ANNOUNCING A SIGNATURE (CLASSIFIER'S TITLE)
IT TICKLES ME/ IT MAKES ME LAUGH/ TO THINK YOU WANT/ MY AUTOGRAPH
Data entry tech comment: LINES DIVIDED BY KEYPUNCHER
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Announcing a signature |
Date learned: 09-00-1968
VERSE AUTOGRAPH MATERIAL (COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; ROSES ARE RED, AND OTHER SUCH ASSOCIATIONS (CLASSIFIER'S TITLE)
ROSES ARE RED,/ VIOLETS ARE BLUE/ WHEN I TAKE A SHOWER/ I THINK
OF YOU. DRIP, DRIP, DRIP SUSAN ADAMS
Where learned: AUTOGRAPH BOOK ; HOLY NAME GRADE SCHOOL
Keyword(s): INSULT SLANG ; PARODY ; QUATRAIN FUNCTION ; RHYME: ABCBD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Roses are red and other such associations |
Date learned: 06-00-1961
FEE, FI, FO, FUM. I SMELL THE BLOOD OF AN ENGLISHMAN.
BE HE LIVE OR BE HE DEAD
ILL BREAK HIS BONES TO BAKE MY BREAD.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS THIS WHENEVER HE HEARS A GREEN GIANT COMMERCIAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTIONAL SHIFT
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.642 |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
BELIEF
CRACKING THE KNUCKLES WILL ENLARGE THE JOINTS.
Submitter comment: THIS SUPERSTITION IS USUALLY PROMULGATED BY ANNOYED PARENTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MILFORD
Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 00-00-1979