Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Ate returned 400 results.
"M'AN COCO POTE D'ENFER" IS A WOMAN WHO LIVES IN AN UNDERWATER
CAVE, AND IT IS BELIEVED THAT SHE ATTACKS FISHERMEN AND DIVERS.
Submitter comment:
SOME PEOPLE SAID THAT THEY HAVE BEEN IN HER UNDERWATER CAVE, AND
WHAT THEY SAW WAS A HUGE TABLE FULL OF DISHES.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
Keyword(s): "M'AN COCO" MEANS "MADAME COCO". "POTE D'ENFER" MEANS "HELL'S GATE" ; SUPPOSELY THAT IS WHERE SHE LIVES. ; WHICH IS THE NAME OF THE NORTHERN EXTREMITY OF GUADELOUPE, AND
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Supernatural Being |
Date learned: 00-00-1966
GHOST STORY
"A FRIEND OF MY BOYFRIEND'S MOVED INTO A HOUSE THAT USED TO BE
OWNED BY A COLONEL IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. ONE NIGHT WHEN MY
BOYFRIEND'S FRIEND'S PARENTS WERE OUT OF TOWN, MY BOYFRIEND WENT
OVER THERE TO SPEND THE NIGHT. HIS FRIEND WAS AFRAID OF THE HOUSE.
HE SAID THAT HE HEARD WEIRD NOISES ALL THE TIME. SO, THE TWO OF
THEM MADE AN AGREEMENT; THEY WOULD SLEEP IN SEPARATE BEDROOMS AND
IF EITHER OF THEM HEARD OR SAW ANYTHING, THEY WOULD WRITE IT DOWN
AND SHOW IT TO EACH OTHER (THIS WAS ACTUALLY IN FUN BECAUSE THEY
DIDN'T REALLY EXPECT TO SEE OR HEAR ANYTHING). HOWEVER, AS THEY
WERE GOING UP TO THEIR ROOMS, THEY SAW A MAN DRESSED IN A
CONFEDERATE'S UNIFORM. EACH OF THEM RAN INTO A ROOM AND WROTE
DOWN WHAT THEY SAW--THEY SAW THE SAME THING. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THEY
SPENT THE NIGHT AT MY BOYFRIEND'S HOUSE THAT NIGHT."
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
Keyword(s): CONFEDERATE GHOST
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001979CA
GHOST STORY
"A LITTLE BOY GOT KILLED BY A TRAIN WHEN HE WAS PLAYING
ON SOME RAILROAD TRACKS. HE HAD BEEN TOLD NOT TO PLAY
ON THE TRACKS. THE TRAIN HIT HIM REAL HARD AND PULLED HIM
FOR A REAL LONG WAY. THE TRAIN CUT HIS BODY UP INTO
HUNDREDS OF PIECES. HIS MOM AND DAD WENT UP AND DOWN THE
TRACKS PICKING UP HIS BODY PARTS. IF YOU LISTEN AT NIGHT
AT THE TIME THE BOY WAS KILLED, YOU CAN HEAR HIM CALLING
TO HIS MOM AND DAD. HE SAYS,'MOMMY, HERE'S A PIECE OF ME.
AND HERE'S ANOTHER PIECE OF ME.'"
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SHAMOKIN
Keyword(s): DISOBEYED PARENTS
James Callow Keyword(s): DISMEMBERMENT BY MISFORTUNATE ACCIDENT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 00001934CA
THIS VERSE WAS TAKEN FROM MY MOTHER'S GRADE SCHOOL AUTOGRAPH BOOK.
MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB
AND TIED IT TO THE HEATER
AND EVERYTIME IT TURNED AROUND
IT BURNT ITS LITTLE SEATER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): "SEATER" IS A EUPHEMISM FOR BUTTOCKS ; HUMOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1954
MY FATHER USED TO TELL ME THAT THE REASON HE WAS SUCH A
GOOD SWIMMER WAS BECAUSE HE ATE LOTS OF TAPIOCA PUDDING.
HE SAID THAT HE WAS NOT "PUDDING" ME ON, BUT IT WAS REALLY
MADE FROM FISH-EYES.
Submitter comment:
HER FATHER, JOHN ARTHUR "DUTCH" GRUBER, ONCE SWAM ACROSS
THE DETROIT RIVER, AND BACK AGAIN. HE DIED IN 1978.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert BELIEF -- Secular hero BELIEF -- Fish BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001940S
SEE SEE MY PLAYMATE
THIS SONG WAS SUNG WHILE PLAYING A GAME:
SEE SEE MY PLAYMATE
COME OUT AND PLAY WITH ME
AND BRING YOUR DOLLY SWEET
CLIMB UP MY APPLE TREE
SLIDE DOWN MY RAINBOW
INTO MY CELLAR DOOR
AND WE'LL BE JOLLY FRIENDS
FOR EVER MORE, MORE, MORE.
Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED THE SONG WHILE SHE WAS A CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights ; WHILE GROWING UP
Keyword(s): PLAYMATE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001970'S
Balinese custom
If water is drunk from a brook or stream that appears to be
magical, it looks like lard, it is called Sleeping Water which
brings great wealth, happiness and health.
Where learned: Bali ; Indonesia
Keyword(s): WATER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Water BELIEF -- Running water Large current. BELIEF -- Running water Small current. |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE
LOWER PENINSULA HOLD UP THEIR RIGHT OR LEFT HAND
LIKE A MITTEN AND POINT TO THE PLACE ON THEIR HAND
WHICH SHOWS THE LOCATION OF THE CITY IN WHICH
THEY LIVE.(POINT TO THE PALM ON THE RIGHT HAND OR
BACKHAND OF THE LEFT.)
Submitter comment:
THE LOWER PENINSULA OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN LOOKS
LIKE A MITTEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
James Callow Keyword(s): GEOGRAPHY OF A STATE
| Subject headings: | Favorites SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970S
THE BUZZARDS HAVE RETURNED TO HINCKLEY OHIO YEARLY ON
MARCH 15 FOR MANY YEARS, WHEN FROZEN CARCASSES FROM A
CHRISTMAS EVE COMMUNITY HUNT BEGAN DEFROSTING AS SPRING
APPROACHED. PEOPLE WEARING BUZZARDS COSTUMES WAIT FOR
THE BUZZARDS WHO ROOST ON ROCKY LEDGES IN A NEARBY
LAKE. THIS USUALLY MARKS THE END OF THE WINTER SEASON.
THE CARCASSES ARE THERE EVERY YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
Keyword(s): BIRDS ; DATE ; SEASONS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 15 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Winter |
Date learned: 00001980S
PRIVACY STATEMENT
THIS IS AN (A) AND (B) CONVERSATION SO YOU CAN (C) YOUR
WAY OUT.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A SAYING USED TO DISPATCH A PERSON THAT IS BEING
NOSEY AND TRYING OF OVERHEAR A CONVERSATION THAT IS NOT
PRIVATE AND ONLY FOR THE PARTIES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE
CONVERSATION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
Keyword(s): PRIVATE CONVERSATION
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001970CA
PEA GREEN SOUP
THIS IS A RIDDLE JOKE THAT LEADS THE UNKNOWING PERSON TO SAY
SOMETHING EMBARRASSING. AFTER EACH QUESTION THE PERSON
ANSWERS: "PEA GREEN SOUP."
Q:"WHAT DID YOU HAVE FOR BREAKFAST?"
A:"PEA GREEN SOUP."
THE QUESTIONS CONTINUE WITH LUNCH, DINNER AND MIDNIGHT SNACK.
THE LAST QUESTION DOESN'T SEEM OBVIOUS UNTIL ANSWERED.
Q:"WHAT DID YOU DO ALL NIGHT?"
A:"PEA GREEN SOUP."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; THE VALLEY SCHOOL ; GRAND BLANC
James Callow Keyword(s): PEE=URINATE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
Miss Susie had a steamboat. The steamboat had a bell.
Miss Susie went to heaven. The steamboat went to hell(o)
Operator connect me number nine, and if you disconnect me,
I'll kick you right behind the fridgerator, there laid a
piece of glass. Miss Susie fell upon it and broke her
little ass(k) me no more questions. Tell me no more lies.
Miss Susie told me all of this the day before she died
her hair all purple. She died her hair all pink. She died
her hair all polka dots, and washed it down the sink me
in the ocean, sink me in the sea, sink me in the toilet,
but please don't pee on me.
Submitter comment:
Sometimes this song is sung just by school aged children,
and at other times two girls will do an alternating, hand
clapping rhythm with each other.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HEMLOCK
James Callow Keyword(s): Hello Hell Ass Ask Dyed ; PEE=URINATE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 00001980S
There goes (insert a playmate's name) floatin' down the
Delaware, chewing on his underwear, couldn't 'ford another
pair. Ten days later eaten by polar bear. Poor old
polar bear died.
Submitter comment:
My brothers and sisters and I used to sing this to antagonize
each other.
Sung to the tune "Old Grey Mare."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HEMLOCK
James Callow Keyword(s): Afford ; Eaten
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001980S
A FRIEND OF MINE USES "GREETINGS AND HALLUCINATIONS" AS A
GREETING INSTEAD OF "GREETING AND SALUTATIONS."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): DELIBERATE MALAPROPISM
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
"Say Say O' Playmate
Say say o' playmate come out and play with me. / You and your
dolly three, climb up my apple tree. / Slide down my rainbow, into
my cellar door, / and we'll be jolly friends for ever more, more,
more, more, more.
So sorry playmate, I cannot play with you. / My dolly has
the flu, she spit up on her toe. / Ain't got no rainbow, ain't
got no cellar door. / But we'll be jolly friends for ever more,
more, more, more, more.
Submitter comment:
The first paragraph is the part the first child would sing
to the other child. Then the second child would reply to the
first paragraph with the answer. This was a hand clapping game
for children to play and also was used sometimes as a jump rope
chant.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sandusky
Keyword(s): O Little Playmate
Date learned: 00-00-1978
Entry filtered.
Michigan, My Michigan
Michigan, my Michigan,
The state I love,
It looks just like a mitten,
But it fits just like a glove!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): State rhymes
James Callow Keyword(s): Shape of state of Michigan
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.326 |
Date learned: 01-00-1986
Hands Up to 85
To play this game there should be at least 3 or more players.
(The more players the more interesting a game!) The players stand
in a circle clapping each others hands throughout the entire game.
This game is usually played by young girls.
Object: To name something different about the subject your group
has chosen.
Rules: No one can repeat anything already named.
Players must not hesitate or demonstate.
Players must keep on the beat of the clap.
The rhyme: Hands up to 85,
Gonna get,
Names of,
(Name the subject) e.g., boy names
No hesitation,
No demonstration,
So let's go,
Starting with,
(Name the player to begin).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): hesitate or demonstrate ?
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 01-00-1992
BREAKING OF BREAD
DURING NEW YEAR, BEFORE DINNER, THE FAMILIES GATHER TOGETHER
AND EACH MEMBER HAS A PIECE OF "ANGEL BREAD " (UNLEAVENED
BREAD). THEN EACH MEMBER BREAKS A PIECE OFF EACH OF THE
OTHER MEMBERS PIECE OF "ANGEL BREAD" WHILE WISHING THEM THE
BEST OF EVERYTHING FOR THAT SEASON, FOLLOWED BY A KISS
OR A HAND SHAKE. AFTER EVERYONE HAS EXCHANGED, THE PIECES
ARE EATEN.
IF A MEMBER IS OUT OF TOWN THE OUT OF TOWNER SENDS A PIECE
OF "ANGEL BREAD" IN A GREETING CARD TO THE FAMILY FOR
EXCHANGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Saying
We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Anticipate ; Bridge ; Cross ; Language ; Saying
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Group of Vowels and Consonants, and of Words |