Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for POSITION returned 662 results.
SHOES
LEAVING SHOES IN THE WRONG ORDER BRINGS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ;
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: CA1963-1975
HORSESHOE
THROW A HORSESHOE OVER YOUR SHOULDER FOR GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: HOME ; SCHOOL ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms BELIEF -- Good luck P881.12 |
Date learned: CA1963-1975
WAITRESS BELIEF ABOUT SILVERWARE
NEVER PUT SILVERWARE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF A CUSTOMER
OR YOU WON'T GET A TIP.
Submitter comment:
THIS HAS A LOT TO DO WITH A RIGHTHANDED CUSTOMER
HAVING TO REACH OVER FOR HIS SILVERWARE.
Where learned: HOME ; SCHOOL ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; RIGHTHANDEDNESS ; TIPPING
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food |
Date learned: CA1963-1975
BODY PART BELIEF
IF YOUR RIGHT HAND ITCHES, YOU WILL LOSE MONEY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 02-19-1972
EYES JUMPING
IF YOUR LEFT EYE JUMPS CONSTANTLY, YOU ARE GOING TO GET MAD. IF
YOUR RIGHT EYE JUMPS, YOU ARE GOING TO BE GLAD ABOUT SOMETHING.
Submitter comment: THIS HAS TOLD TO HAVE ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO INFORMANT.
Where learned: WINSTON SALEM
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
SHOES
ONE MUST NOT LEAVE HIS SHOES ON THE FLOOR AT THE END OF ONES BED,
AS THE LEPRACHAUNS WILL COME AND DANCE IN THEM AT NIGHT.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY HIS GRANDFATHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION PLACEMENT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Use of Object Human beings and their activities |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
FAIRY BELIEF
IN IRELAND,
THE FAIRIES WERE BAD TOO. THEY WOULD COME BY THE NIGHT AND MILK THE
COWS AND HAVE A PICNIC AND WHEN YOU CHURNED THE MILK YOU WOULD HAVE
NO BUTTER. THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD SHOOT THEM WAS TO PUT A SILVER
COIN IN THE GUN, ALONG WITH THE AMMUNITION. AT TWELVE MIDNIGHT,
THEY COULD TAKE YOU FOR A VERY LONG WALK AND KEEP YOU WALKING UNTIL
THE COCKS WOULD CROW AT 4 A.M. BUT YOU COULD FOOL THEM IF YOU
TURNED YOUR COAT INSIDE OUT AND BLESSED YOURSELF WITH THE SIGN OF
THE CROSS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
BELIEF
IF YOU SPILL SALT, BE SURE TO PICK SOME OF IT UP BETWEEN THUMB
AND FIRST FINGER AND THROW IT ACROSS THE RIGHT SHOULDER. IT GOES
IN THE DEVIL'S EYES. HE WILL NOT TEMPT YOU TO DO ANYTHING WRONG.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
Q: WHY ARE A COWARD AND A LEAKY FAUCET THE SAME?
A: THEY BOTH RUN.
Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER VARIANT IN U OF D FOLKLORE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; HARDWARE (Q) ; METAPHORICAL NONOPPOSITIONAL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PRETENDED OBSCENE RIDDLE
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
Q: WHAT IS A FOUR LETTER WORD FOR INTERCOURSE?
A: TALK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; COMMUNICATION (Q) ; LITERAL NONOPPOSITIONAL
James Callow Keyword(s): SEX
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 09-00-1971
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT ARE PEOPLE ALWAYS WILLING TO SHARE?
A: WORK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (A) ; CATCH ; LITERAL NONOPPOSITIONAL ; PERSONS (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 09-20-1968
RIDDLE
Q: IF YOU HAVE A DUCK BEFORE 2 DUCKS AND A DUCK BEHIND 2 DUCKS,
AND A DUCK IN THE MIDDLE , HOW MANY DUCKS DO YOU HAVE?
A: 3 DUCKS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): ANIMAL (A) ; ANIMAL (Q) ; LITERAL NONOPPOSITIONAL ; PUZZLE
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RIDDLE
Q: WHO ALWAYS GOES TO BED WITH HIS SHOES ON?
A: A HORSE
Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER EXAMPLE IN THE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL (A) ; LITERAL NONOPPOSITIONAL ; WEARABLE (Q) ; WISDOM
James Callow Keyword(s): HORSESHOES
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT IS IT THAT GOES AROUND ALL DAY GRUNTING WITHOUT BEING SICK,
AND IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING WITHOUT HAVING LOST ANYTHING?
A: A PIG.
Submitter comment: DIRECTLY TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMAL (A) ; ANTITHETICAL OPPOSITIONAL ; WISDOM
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
RIDDLE
Q: IF YOU LIVED IN A HOUSE, ALL FOUR SIDES OF WHICH HAD A SOUTHERN
EXPOSURE. WHAT COLOR WOULD BE THE BEAR WHICH WALKED BY?
A: WHITE - HE WOULD BE A POLAR BEAR AT THE NORTH POLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL (A) ; ANIMAL AND BUILDING (Q) ; ANTITHETICAL OPPOSITONAL
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THOUGHT TEASER
Q: IF YOU ARE IN A ONE ROOM HOUSE WHICH HAS ONE WINDOW ON EACH
WALL AND EACH WINDOW HAS A SOUTHERN EXPOSURE. AS YOU LOOK OUT ONE
OF THE WINDOWS AND SEE A BEAR OUTSIDE, WHAT COLOR IS THE BEAR?
A: IT IS WHITE! IT'S A POLAR BEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BATTLE CREEK
Keyword(s): ANIMAL (Q)
James Callow Keyword(s): BUILDING (Q) ; HARD WARE (Q) ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT IS ALWAYS BROKEN BEFORE IT IS USED?
A: AN EGG.
Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER VARIANT IN U OF D FOLKLORE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTION (Q) ; CAUSAL OPPOSITIONAL ; EATABLES AND DRINKS (A)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RIDDLE
Q: THERE IS A ROOM - IT HAS NO WALLS. IT HAS NO DOORS.
IT HAS NO FLOOR. WHAT KIND OF A ROOM IS THAT?
A: A MUSHROOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BUILDING (Q) ; EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; PRIVATIONAL OPPOSITION
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RIDDLE
Q: TAKE OFF MY SKIN, I WONT CRY...BUT YOU WILL. WHAT AM I?
A: AN ONION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTION (Q) ; CAUSAL OPPOSITIONAL ; EATABLES AND DRINKS (A)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
HANDLESS - A PRIVATIONAL RIDDLE
Q: WHAT HAS TWO ARMS BUT NO HANDS?
A: AN ARMCHAIR.
Submitter comment: HEARD BY INFORMANT FIVE YEARS AGO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HUNTINGTON WOODS
Keyword(s): FURNITURE (A) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q) ; PRIVATIONAL OPPOSITIONAL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 10-28-1968