Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for LAND returned 82 results.
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL WE PLAYED A GAME CALLED
"NOMANS LAND". THERE WOULD BE TWO TEAMS, IT DIDN'T
MATTER HOW MANY KIDS THERE WERE TOTALLED BUT THE
NUMBER HAD TO BE EVEN BECAUSE WE WERE PAIRED OFF.
ONE TEAM STOOD ON ONE SIDE OF THE GRASS AND THE
OTHER TEAM OPPOSITE THEM WITH THE SIDEWALK IN BETWEEN.
THE OBJECT OF THE GAME WAS TO PULL YOUR OPPOSITE
PARTNER ONTO THE SIDEWALK WHICH WAS NOMANS LAND. THE
TEAM THAT HAD THE ONLY PLAYERS LEFT WERE THE WINNERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NO MAN'S LAND
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity |
HAWAIIAN CUSTOM
WHILE LIVING IN HAWAII, I LEARNED OF A CHARMING CUSTOM.
IT IS THE CUSTOM IN HAWAII FOR PEOPLE LEAVING THE
ISLANDS TO THROW A LEI OVERBOARD (OF COURSE THEY
MUST BE ON A SHIP). IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE PERSON
WILL RETURN SOMEDAY IF HIS LEI IS CARRIED BY THE
CURRENT BACK TO SHORE, BUT IF THE LEI IS CARRIED OUT
TO SEA HE IS DOOMED NEVER TO RETURN. THIS CUSTOM
DATES BACK TO THE TIMES WHEN THE HAWAIIAN WARRIORS
WOULD LEAVE THEIR PARTICULAR ISLAND TO VENTURE TO
ANOTHER ISLAND IN THEIR PRIMITIVE OUTRIGGERS. THE
WARRIORS WOULD ALL THROW A LEI OVERBOARD WITH THE
BELIEF THAT THE GODS WOULD PROTECT THEM IF THEIR LEI
RETURNED TO SHORE BUT THEY WOULD NEVER RETURN IF THEIR
LEI WENT OUT TO SEA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): LEI=GARLAND MADE OF FLOWERS, USUALLY WORN AROUND THE NECK.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object Plant |
Date learned: 03-30-1968
HAWAIIAN GESTURE
IN HAWAII THEIR TRADITIONAL GREETING IS "ALOHA" TO NEW ARRIVALS.
THIS CONSISTS OF PUTTING A LEI OF FLOWERS AROUND THEIR NECK
AND GIVING THEM A KISS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS
Keyword(s): GARLAND OF FLOWERS
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.2 SPEECH -- Greetings Salutations |
Date learned: 04-05-1971
"WAI" GESTURE
THIS IS DONE BY PUTTING THE HANDS TOGETHER IN A PRAYING
POSITION BEFORE YOUR FACE AND SLIGHTLY NODDING YOUR
HEAD. THIS GESTURE HOLDS THE SAME TRADITIONAL SIGNIFI-
CANCE AS THE AMERICAN HANDSHAKE, BUT ALSO SIGNIFIES
RESPECT, THANKS, AND APOLOGY.
James Callow comment: TIPS OF FINGERS OF BOTH HANDS AT LIPS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): THAILAND
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Gesture SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.1 SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.14 SPEECH -- Greetings Salutations SPEECH -- Respect |
Date learned: 10-24-1970
WHAT'S THE DIFFEENCE BETWEEN A HILL AND A PILL?
ONE'S HARD TO GET DOWN, THE OTHER'S HARD TO GET UP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): LAND
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
Potus Sack
In Ireland, people wear potus sacks around their neck to ward off illness.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Holistic ; ILLNESS ; IRELAND ; MEDICINE ; Potus
James Callow Keyword(s): ILLNESS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
THERE IS A LEGEND THAT SAYS THAT ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS IN
COUNTY SLIGO, IRELAND HAS A LUMP IN THE MIDDLE AND THE PEOPLE
SAY THAT ONE DAY THE DEVIL TOOK A BITE OF THE MOUNTAIN AND SPIT
IT AT CASHEL.
Submitter comment:
KATHY HEARD THIS FROM AN IRISHMAN WHILE HITCH-HIKING FROM CORK
TO LIMERICK IN IRELAND. CASHEL IS A ROCK ABOUT THREE HUNDRED FEET
HIGH WITH A RUIN OF A CASTLE AND CATHEDRAL ON IT. I BELIEVE IT WAS
ONCE THE SEAT OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS BUT AM NOT SURE. I DO NOT KNOW
IF THE MAN WHO TOLD KATHY BELIEVED IT BUT KATHY DOESN'T.
Data entry tech comment:
Additional (non-numbered) Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
[Please make a copy. Label it B472] - handwritten at the bottom of the card.
The original Boggs Number [P400] is crossed out and B425 and B472 are written next to it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; PARTY
Keyword(s): Castle ; Cathedral ; DEVIL ; GEOLOGY ; IRELAND ; IRISH BELIEF ; MOUNTAIN ; NATURE ; Pagan ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS LEGEND ; Rock ; Rock Formation
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
Irish Belief
"It is a known fact," Mr. Faron said, "that every Irishman has his own personal leprechaun that sits on his shoulder and pulls his earlobe every time another Irishman tells him a lie."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Boggs Number [B423 (elf) P423] crossed out and P423 is written next to it.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; LITTLEFIELD
Keyword(s): Detection ; EARS ; IRELAND ; Irish ; Leprechaun ; Lie ; Lie Detection
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Custom
Buddhists wear miniature images of buddha around their necks. When displaying the image of the Lord Buddha in the homes or elsewhere, the Thai are careful to place the image high enough so that no human can be at a higher level or walk above the image.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F538] crossed out. Not replaced with anything.
Submission card was located in pile labeled To Be Classified
Where learned: WHILE STATIONED IN THAILAND
Keyword(s): BUDDHA ; Buddhism ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; RELIGIOUS CUSTOM ; SYMBOL ; THAILAND
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom BELIEF -- Use of Object Religious objects |
Custom
Greetings:
Offering salt and bread and flowers is a way of greeting a person who has arrived from a long trip. This custom is one which was performed commonly in S.E. Poland and in Ukraine many years ago (prior to WWI) at that time it was used to greet any traveler regardless of his social position. Now recently it is used only in greeting people like priests, bishops, government officials, etc.
Submitter comment:
Although informant mentioned that this custom is carried out in Europe, I myself have observed this several months ago when people in a Ukrainian church greeted a bishop which had just been released from prison by the Russians.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; FLOWERS ; GREETING ; POLAND ; Salt, Bread ; Social Class ; Ukraine
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Ethnic: Scottish
Never cut your fingernails on Sunday.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The word Legend has been crossed out from the top of the card.
Original BN [P400, P644, P43, P880] have been crossed out/replaced with current classifications
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Keyword(s): DAYS OF THE WEEK ; ETHNIC ; GROOMING ; Scotland ; SCOTTISH ; Superstition, Belief
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time F574.5 (SUNDAY) BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Ethnic: Irish
Some more: when these men arrived they would not work either - it seems the air strip went over a large mound and this is Ireland is recognized as a grave yard for the "Little People" and to disturb it is unheard of. So to this day the strip is still uncompleted. [sic]
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Card was located in a pile marked with [?].
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Keyword(s): Airport ; Airstrip ; BELIEF ; BURIAL ; ETHNIC ; GRAVEYARD ; IRELAND ; Irish ; Legend ; Little People ; Mound ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Entry filtered.
Entry filtered.
Ethnic Joke: Hollander
Hollander Joke:
When the Hollanders bury their dead, they bury them standing up with the top half sticking out of the grave. These are used as the tombstones.
Submitter comment:
This joke was told to me by a boy from Flanders.
Hollander jokes are typical in Belgium.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Written in the bottom left of the card: Does this imply that the Hollanders are cheap? A response in different handwriting (probably the collector's): YES!!
Where learned: BELGIUM
Keyword(s): BURIAL ; DEATH ; ETHNIC ; Funeral ; GRAVEYARD ; Headstones ; Holland ; Hollander ; Offensive ; Tasteless
James Callow Keyword(s): Hollander
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery |
Ethnic:Polish
Naming:
It is a custom in Poland, that a child is not given the name of a living grandparent, for fear that either the grandparent or the child will die within seven years.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: CANADA ; WINNIPEG ; MANITOBA
Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; Cultural ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; FAMILY ; Naming ; POLAND
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Baptism Naming rite |
Ethnic: Polish
Wedding Custom:
Offering bread and wine to newlyweds just before they leave the reception is a traditional way of wishing good luck for them. [sic]
Submitter comment:
This little ceremony was observed at several Polish weddings that I attended.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: Myself
Keyword(s): BLESSING ; CEREMONY ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; FOOD ; LUCK ; MARRIAGE ; POLAND ; POLISH ; WEDDING ; Wine
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Ethnic: Polish
House Initiation / Polish Custom:
Put a cat in a house before you move into it and there will always be good luck.
Submitter comment:
A neighbor came over to borrow our cat for one of their relatives who had just bought a new house. These relatives of ournaighbors had just recently come over from Poland. I don't know the people's names and the neighbor doesn't live around here any more.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F532] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications.
Message on the bottom of card:
[Please copy this item on the yellow card below so it will ALSO be filed under F686]
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Myself
Keyword(s): CAT ; ETHNIC ; fortune ; Good ; House ; Housewarming ; LUCK ; OMEN ; POLAND ; POLISH ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing BELIEF -- Mammal |
Superstition: Animals
Turtles:
A belief in N.E. [New England?] states that if a snapping turtle bites you, it will hang on to you till the full moon and it will then let go.
Submitter comment:
I learned this from an old Fisherman.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P600, P752] crossed out. Replaced with Current Classification
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; Bite ; Full Moon ; New England ; Region ; Snap ; SUPERSTITION ; Turtle
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
Superstition: Pregnancy
Superstition:
A Polish pregnant woman must be shielded from the sight of cripples, any people that are ugly, abnormal or diseased for fear of "marking" the child.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Able-ism ; Able-ist ; BELIEF ; BIRTH ; ETHNIC ; Ignorant ; POLAND ; POLISH ; PREGNANCY ; PREGNANT ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |