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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for FUNCTION returned 213 results.
A boy raised his arm to hit his mother and God struck him dead
in his tracks. When he was to be buried, his parents were unable
to close the casket because his arm had remained above his head in
the position to strike his mother. The parents eventually had to
break the boy's arm to close the casket.
Submitter comment:
This was told to children to prevent them from ever raising an
arm to strike a parent.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Gods PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-00-1991
Thunder is really potatoes rolling down a hill after God
spills a cart full of them.
Submitter comment:
This was told to children at one time to prevent them from
being afraid of thunder.
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00-00-1956
Thunder is really the angels bowling in Heaven.
Submitter comment:
This was told to children to prevent them from being afraid of
thunderstorms.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Angel BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 02-00-1992
This is a saying I learned from my mother when I was younger:
"If you keep making that expression your face will freeze like
that." What she meant by this was that if I continually made a
certain expression my face would someday freeze with that
expression on it. She said this to me through my childhood and
still says it to me today. I think it was her way to keep me
from making faces. Unfortunately, it has not worked!
James Callow comment: Cf. Hand, North Carolina no. 172.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1982
When I was in high school and started drinking coffee my
mother was against it. She told me that drinking coffee would
stunt my growth and that it was not for children. Since then, I
always hear people say exactly what my mother told me about
coffee and wonder whether it is true or if it is just a way of
getting kids to not drink coffee.
James Callow comment: See Puckett, Ohio, nos. 1667, 5524.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Non-alcoholic fruit beverage Coffee BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1984
Louie and the Ditch
When I was a little girl, all my cousins and aunts and uncles
would meet at my grandparents' house on Sundays for dinner. There
was a sandbox under a "helicopter tree" which was made for us to
play in. We also played down the hill, and rode bikes in the
driveway. The only place we were not allowed to play was in or
around "Louie's Ditch." This was a ditch by the road at the edge
of the farm which was covered by trees and would become filled with
water after the rains. Anytime we became too wild or were being
bad, Grandma or one of the aunts or uncles would remind us that
Louie comes and takes bad children into his ditch, so we had to be
good. This also worked if they wanted us to come into the house;
they would say that Louie was coming, or that they had just seen
him; this also kept us from going all the way to the back of the
field.
Submitter comment:
I asked my grandma how this had started, and she said she
started saying it after a stray dog came onto the property one day
and all of us kids were afraid of it. This technique was used for
years, and is still used today with my younger cousins. But,
within the past couple years, my grandparents had to sell off much
of their property because of high taxes, and a developer bought it.
There are now separated condominiums where the field used to be,
and a driveway to access the condominiums from the road where
"Louie's Ditch" used to be, so the use of this story has been
modified to keep the kids from going around the front of the house,
by the road.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate |
Date learned: 00001970'S
WHEN PARENTS WANT TO MAKE THEIR SONS EAT VEGETABLES, THEY TELL THEM IT WILL PUT HAIR ON THEIR CHEST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 11-22-1968
WEATHER BELIEF
AS A YOUNG BOY IN CANADA I WAS ALWAYS TOLD BY MY MOTHER THAT I SHOULD NEVER KILL A SPIDER. SHE SAID IF I KILLED A SPIDER IT WOULD RAIN ALL DAY, AND SPOIL MY FUN.
Submitter comment:
I GUESS SHE JUST DIDN'T LIKE ME TO KILL SPIDERS.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant learned this many years ago.
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: CANADA ; MONTREAL
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7 |
Date learned: MANY YEARS AGO
Entry filtered.
IF YOU SING AT THE TABLE, YOUR CHILDREN WILL HAVE HORNS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; DORM ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): SATAN DEVIL IMPS
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Date learned: 04-02-1969
ICE CREAM SODA,
STRAWBERRY TART,
TELL ME THE INITIALS OF YOUR SWEETHEART.
A, B, C, D,...
Where learned: OHIO ; NEW BREMEN
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
TO TAKE THE LAST PIECE OF BREAD IS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; TABLE MANNERS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. BELIEF -- Number Last events: the last person to the table... BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-08-1973
IF YOU TURN AROUND DURING A CHURCH SERVICE YOU WILL HAVE BAD
LUCK BECAUSE YOU WERE NOT PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE
PRIEST.
Submitter comment:
Mary E. Rush; Deceased. Housewife - Italian. Donora, Penn.
I remember her saying these things ever since I was a child. She got most of them from her friends and mother.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-26-1973
A TIME TO AVOID BAKING CAKES AND BREAD
IF YOU WANTED TO BAKE EITHER A BREAD OR A CAKE THAT NEEDED TO RAISE
BEFORE BAKING, YOU SHOULD NOT DO IT DURING YOUR MENSTRUAL PERIOD
BECAUSE THE BREAD OR CAKE WOULD NOT RAISE.
Submitter comment:
TOLD TO INFORMANT BY HER MAID, MRS. BERTHA REID, NEGRO, WHO WAS 48
AT THE TIME.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): BODILY FUNCTIONS
| Subject headings: | Prediction / Divination Food Drink -- Manner of preparation Process Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert |
Date learned: 07241968 REID, BERTHA, MRS.
IF YOU WEAR A SCAPULAR AROUND YOUR NECK AND DIE WITH
IT ON, YOU WILL GO DIRECTLY TO HEAVEN. HOWEVER,
A STORY TOLD BY AN ELEMENTARY NUN GOES, A COUPLE
WAS IN A CAR NECKING AND PETTING; THEY BOTH HAD
SCAPULARS; ON THE WAY HOME, THE BOY HAD AN
ACCIDENT, IN WHICH HIS HEAD WAS SEVERED FROM HIS
BODY AND THE SCAPULAR WAS HANGING ON A TREE, THIS
INFERRING THAT HE WENT STRAIGHT TO HELL.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD BY A NUN AS A WARNING TO HER STUDENTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; LANSING-REILLY
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET ; BELIEF TALE ; FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-06-1970
IF YOU WEAR A SCAPULAR AROUND YOUR NECK AND DIE WITH
IT ON, YOU WILL GO DIRECTLY TO HEAVEN. HOWEVER,
A STORY TOLD BY AN ELEMENTARY NUN GOES, A COUPLE
WAS IN A CAR NECKING AND PETTING; THEY BOTH HAD
SCAPULARS; ON THE WAY HOME, THE BOY HAD AN
ACCIDENT, IN WHICH HIS HEAD WAS SEVERED FROM HIS
BODY AND THE SCAPULAR WAS HANGING ON A TREE, THIS
INFERRING THAT HE WENT STRAIGHT TO HELL.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD BY A NUN AS A WARNING TO HER STUDENTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; LANSING-REILLY
James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF TALE AMULET FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-06-1970
IF YOU STICK OUT YOUR TONGUE, YOU ARE KISSING THE
DEVIL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION?
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.14 SPEECH -- Respect |
Date learned: 04-02-1971
Custom
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
When you fart if you don't call "Safeties," Everyone calls "Sluggers" and everyone gets to slug you.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F530] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BODILY FUNCTIONS ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; CUSTOM ; Fart ; GAME ; Gas ; Play ; SAFETY ; Slugger ; tradition
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
KITCHEN BELIEF
PUT UTENSILS IN A WARM OVEN FOR A FEW MINUTES AFTER YOU
HAVE WASHED AND DRIED;THIS KEEPS THEM FROM RUSTING.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK
Keyword(s): ADVICE ; BELIEF ; Household ; Housekeeping ; Lore ; Maintenance ; Rust ; UTENSILS
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE ; FUNCTION ; Positive
| Subject headings: | Custom |
Date learned: 01-25-1971
BELIEF
YOU PUT NAIL POLISH IN THE ICE BOX. IT KEEPS THE POLISH FROM
GETTING THICK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Keyword(s): BEAUTY ; BELIEF ; Cold ; CUSTOM ; Makeup ; Nail ; POLISH ; TRICK
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE ; FUNCTION ; Positive
| Subject headings: | Custom |
Date learned: 01-20-1971