Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for MOTHER returned 53 results.
Belief: Children's Song
If you step on a crack you'll break your mother's back.
Submitter comment:
Stepping on Cracks Superstition
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out and replaced with C860.740
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Myself
Keyword(s): Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; GAME ; Line ; MOTHER ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Retort
Lebanese expression "Ya Adrah" which translated means "Mother of God, Help"
Submitter comment:
Is often (frequently) used when someone slips or barely misses hurting themselves.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Grammatical corrections.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; ETHNIC ; God ; Help ; Lebanese ; MOTHER ; RETORT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
Did your mother have any children that lived?
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
[To What?] is written next tot he title.
Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; COMEBACK ; INSULT ; MOTHER ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
You spot a victim and wiat until someone passes your victim in the hall or down the street, then run up to your victim and mumble, "Boy did SHE give you a dirty look!"
Your victim naturally questions, "Who??" and you retort, "Mother Nature."
Submitter comment:
This was a favorite of the nasty boys in grade school.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Attractive ; COMEBACK ; Homely ; INSULT ; Looks ; Mother Nature ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Proverb
Step on a crack. Break your mother's back.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME ; ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Back ; Crack ; Maxim ; MOTHER ; PROVERB ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Language: Rhyme
REMEMBER ME, WHEN THIS YOU SEE
AND ALWAYS BEAR IN MIND
THAT YOUR MOTHER WILL BE A FRIEND TO YOU WHEN OTHERS
ARE UNKIND.
Submitter comment:
AUTOGRAPH BOOK NOW AT INFORMANT'S HOME IN ST. CLAIR
SHORES, MICHIGAN. BOOK BELONGS TO GERTRUDE CARROLL
NOW, CAROLINE SLINEY'S DAUGHTER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated / 02-24-2011 / TRD
James Callow comment:
NOT WRITTEN IN VERSE FORM
Keyword(s): AUTOGRAPH ; Friend ; Kind ; Language ; MOTHER ; RHYME ; Unkind ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Remember me |
Proverb
The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.
Submitter comment:
Original Submission Card also had This written by the collector:
Proverbial Comparison
Proverbial Metaphor
The hand that Rocks the cradle rules the world.
A barking dog never bites.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
The Baughman that Callow refers to above may be:
Ernest W. Baughman's Type and Motif-Index of the Folktales of England and North America (1966).
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V700] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Callow has crossed out Proverbial Comparison and A Barking Dog never Bites.
Written across card:
Don't put more than ONE item on a card. Moreover, don't turn in proverb if you don't understand section V of Boggs and Chapter 5 of Baughman.
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Cradle ; Hand ; Maxim ; METAPHOR ; MOTHER ; PROVERB ; Rocks ; Rule ; VERSE ; World
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V600] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Invention ; Maxim ; MOTHER ; NECESSITY ; PROVERB ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Submitter comment:
From - Uncertain
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V300] crossed out. Replacedw tih current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Demand ; Invention ; Maxim ; MOTHER ; NECESSITY ; Need ; PROVERB ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Verse
Worry:
Mama mia (means my mother)
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [S550] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Keyword(s): Expression ; Italian ; MOTHER ; Term ; Worry
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Saying
Step on a crack you'll break your mother's back
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Back ; Crack ; Line ; MOTHER ; Saying ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Childrens' Rhyme
Everyday we go to shop
At the bakery, I like to stop
And point my finger and say "let's try it."
But my mother replies, "You're on a diet."
Oh, how happy I will be
When Mother no longer says to me:
"You can't eat this, You can't eat that,
Cause this and that will make you fat."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Bakery ; CHILDREN ; Eat ; Fat ; Language ; MOTHER ; RHYME ; Shop ; SONG ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
GETTING WET IN THE RAIN BEFORE THE BABY IS TWO MONTHS OLD
WILL KILL THE NEW MOTHER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 09-01-11
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BELZONI
Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; DEATH ; Die ; infant ; Kill ; MOTHER ; MOTHERHOOD ; OMEN ; PREGNANCY ; Rain ; Wet
James Callow Keyword(s): AGE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 08-21-1973
EATING ROOTED VEGETABLES--POTATOES, CARROTS--WILL KILL A
NEW MOTHER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BELZONI
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Carrots ; Consume ; DEATH ; Eat ; FOOD ; Kill ; Mom ; MOTHER ; New ; Potatoes ; PREGNANCY ; Root ; VEGETABLES
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
SHOULD A PREGNANT OR A NEW MOTHER EAT MUSTARD GREENS
BEFORE HER CHILD IS TWO MONTHS OLD SHE WILL DIE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BELZONI
Keyword(s): AGE ; BABY ; BELIEF ; Consume ; DEATH ; Die ; Eat ; FOOD ; Greens ; infant ; Kill ; Mom ; Mom ; MONTHS ; MOTHER ; Mustard ; Mustard Greens ; PREGNANCY ; Two
James Callow Keyword(s): AGE
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Seconds / Twice / Two Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 06-10-1973
IF A WOMAN EATS CATFISH BEFORE HER BABY IS TWO MONTHS
OLD SHE WILL DIE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BELZONI
Keyword(s): AGE ; BABY ; BELIEF ; Catfish ; Consume ; DEATH ; Die ; Eat ; FISH ; FOOD ; infant ; Kill ; Mom ; MONTHS ; MOTHER ; PREGNANCY ; Two
James Callow Keyword(s): AGE
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two Food Drink -- Meat Fish and other animal life related to water BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 04-15-1973
IF A NEW MOTHER EATS FISH BEFORE THE BABY IS AT LEAST
THREE MONTHS OLD SHE WILL DIE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BELZONI ; Deovelente Road
Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; Consume ; DEATH ; Die ; Eat ; FISH ; FOOD ; infant ; Kill ; Mom ; MOTHER ; PREGNANCY
James Callow Keyword(s): AGE
THE MOTHER'S TEMPERAMENT DURING PREGNANCY WILL BE
REFLECTED IN THE CHILD'S PERSONALITY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BELZONI
Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; CHILD ; Fetus ; Mom ; MOTHER ; PERSONALITY ; PREGNANCY ; Reflection ; Temperament ; TRANSFERENCE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 06-08-1973
A BABY'S HAIR TEXTURE CAN BE MADE DIFFERENT FROM ITS
MOTHER'S OR FATHER'S HAIR BY THE PREGNANT MOTHER
RUBBING HER HAND OVER THE HEAD OF A PERSON HAVING
THE DESIRED COLOR AND TEXTURE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BELZONI
Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; CHILD ; COLOR ; Father ; HAIR ; MOTHER ; PREDICTION ; PREGNANCY ; Texture
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 09-00-1973
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN LAUGHS AT A DEFORMED PERSON, HER
CHILD WILL BEAR THAT PERSON'S DEFORMITY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BELZONI ; Deovelente Road
Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; Deformity ; Disability ; Fetus ; infant ; Laugh ; Mock ; Mom ; MOTHER ; PREGNANCY ; TRANSFERENCE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 06-21-1973