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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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PROVERB IN VERSE

ON YOUR WEDDING DAY YOU SHOULD WEAR SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW,
SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLUE, AND A PENNY IN YOUR
SHOE FOR GOOD LUCK

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CLOTHING ; COLOR ; MONEY

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb C880.400
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Wear something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue

Date learned: 03-20-1967

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BLASON POPULAIRE

PACELLI WOULDN'T BE CAUGHT WITH HIS VERBAL PANTS DOWN

Data entry tech comment: ORIGINAL 5 X 8 CARD STATES THAT THE INFORMATON WAS RECEIVED
IN A LETTER.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): CLOTHING ; WORDS

James Callow Keyword(s): UNPREPARED

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Secular hero
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor
PROVERB -- Blason Populaire

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PLAYING BOTH ENDS AGAINST THE MIDDLE IS A FAT MAN
TRYING TO BUCKLE HIS BELT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DEFINITION

James Callow Keyword(s): CLOTHING ; FUTILITY

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor
PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 04-00-1968

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PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT.

Where learned: OHIO ; Sylvania

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; RETORT ; SYMBOL ; THINK IT OVER

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula
PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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PROVERBIAL METAPHOR

AN OLD SAYING TO EXPRESS DISGUST OVER A NICE THING
BEING RUINED BY NEGLECT IS CALLED
PUTTING A TUXEDO ON A HOG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; ANIMAL ; CLOTHING ; CONTRAST ; INCONGRUITY

James Callow Keyword(s): COVER UP: SURFACE DRESSING

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 03-10-1968

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HAT TRICK

WHAT DID THE TIE SAY TO THE HAT?
YOU GO ON AHEAD, I AM GOING TO HANG AROUND.

Where learned: KENTUCKY ; LOUISVILLE

Keyword(s): PERSONIFICATION CLOTHING

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 09-22-1967

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KNOCK KNOCK JOKE

KNOCK KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
DOMINO
DOMINO WHO?
DOMINO THING IF YA AIN'T GOT THAT SWING.

Submitter comment: AT SOME PARTY

Where learned: UNKNOWN

Keyword(s): SONG TITLE: IT DON'T MEAN A THING IF YOU AIN'T GOT THAT SWING

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 11-03-1967

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MARRIAGE CUSTOM IN LEBANON

THE OLDEST GIRL GENERALLY GETS MARRIED FIRST. IF THE OLDEST GIRL
DOES NOT GET MARRIED FIRST, PEOPLE THINK THAT THERE IS SOMETHING
WRONG WITH HER. THE YOUNGER SISTERS THEN MUST WAIT FOR THE OLDEST TO
GET MARRIED. THIS CUSTOM IS BEGINNING TO BE LOST AND PUT ASIDE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MARYGROVE COLLEGE ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHRONOLOGY OF MARRIAGE WITHIN FAMILY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Signs of availability

Date learned: 00001968 FALL

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MARRIAGE CUSTOMS:

WHEN IT COMES TO MARRIAGE THE GREEKS FEEL THE OLDEST GIRL SHOULD BE
MARRIED FIRST AND THE REST FOLLOW IN SUCCESSION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHRONOLOGY OF MARRIAGE WITHIN FAMILY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Signs of availability

Date learned: 11-14-1969

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DRESS LUCKY ( COLLECTOR'S TITLE ) ; GOOD LUCK: HUMAN BEINGS AND THEIR ACTIVITIES ( CLASSIFIER'S TITLE )

THE GREEK PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT IT IS GOOD LUCK TO WEAR YOUR UNDERWEAR
INSIDE OUT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CLOTHING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck P881.2

Date learned: 06-29-1964

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LUCK (COLLECTOR,S TITLE) ; CONVERSION; UNDERWEAR-SLIP (CLASSIFIER,S TITLE)

IF YOU PUT SLIP ON INSIDE-OUT,
IT IS GOOD LUCK TO LEAVE IT THAT WAY, BUT BAD LUCK TO CHANGE IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CLOTHING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22

Date learned: 00-00-1955

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BUTTONING CLOTHING (COLLECTOR,S TITLE)

CLOTHING BUTTONED THE WRONG WAY SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED, BECAUSE YOUR
LUCK WILL ALSO CHANGE.

Submitter comment:

TOLD TO ME AT HOME

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Button ; CLOTHES ; CLOTHING ; Fashion ; LUCK ; Mismatched ; SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; MAGIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- P833 P833.22

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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STORY ABOUT THE DEVIL,S DANCING IN THE WOODS

IT WAS HARVEST TIME AND ALL THE YOUNG FOLK WERE THRASHING THE GRAINS
THAT HAD JUST BEEN HARVESTED.
ONE AUTUMN NIGHT ABOUT 11 O,CLOCK WHILE THEY WERE THRASHING THE GRAIN
THEY HEARD MUSIC COMING FROM THE RAFTERS, THEY LOOKED UP AND SAW
SOME DEVILS DANCING UP IN THE LOFT. THESE DEVILS WERE ALL BLACK AND
ALL THEIR CLOTHING WERE BLACK. THEY DANCED ON ONE LEG AND ONLY HAD
ONE EYE AND ONE NOSTRIL. THE MUSIC WAS PLAYED ON A SMALL ACCORDION
AND FIDDLE.
THE YOUTHS WERE TYPICALLY BRAVE AND BOISTERIOUS AND DECIDED TO TAKE
THE INSTRUMENTS AWAY. THE DEVILS LEFT AT THE FIRST COCKS CROW
(ONE O,CLOCK) WITH A WHISTLE AND A BANG. SO THE NEXT NIGHT THE
YOUTHS , AS THE DEVILS WERE ABOUT TO LEAVE AT THE COCK,S CROW,
KNOCKED ONE INSTRUMENT OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE DEVILS.
BUT WHEN THEY REACHED THE INSTRUMENT IT WAS JUST A LARGE CHARRED
PIECE OF WOOD. THE NEXT NIGHT THE DEVILS CAME BACK AND BEGGED
CKRYVEL, KRYVEL GIVE US BACK OUR FIDDLE" BUT THE YOUTHS DID NOT
RETURN IT. THE TWO YOUTHS WHO HAD TAKEN IT HAD TO PREPARE THE
STOVE FOR DRYING OUT THE GRAINS BEFORE THE THRASHING. THEY THREW THE
CHARRED WOOD INTO THE STOVE BUT IT WOULDN,T BURN. SO THEY WENT TO
BED AND THE NEXT MORNING THE TWO WERE FOUND STRANGLED.

Submitter comment: THIS STORY WAS TOLD TO MY GRANDMOTHER BT HER GRANDMOTHER WHEN SHE WAS
A CHILD. THE TIME IS APPROXIMATELY THE TURN OF THE CENTURY WHEN THE
STORY WAS TOLD. THE STORY TOOK PLACE AROUND 1850.
SHE TOLD MY GRANDMOTHER THAT SHE ACTUALLY SAW THESE DEVILS.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DO NOT TAKE THINGS THAT DO NOT BELONG TO YOU -PAYMENT CAN BE COSTLY ; THEFT FORM DEVIL

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon

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PROVERB

WOMEN HAVE SEVENTY-SEVEN THOUGHTS AT ONCE.

Submitter comment: MY GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS SAID THIS.
SEXIST COMMENT, ANTI-FEMINISM

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): THINKING

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Number P686.1.77
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim
PROVERB -- Blason Populaire

Date learned: 01-00-1979

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INSIDE OUT

IF YOU PUT SOMETHING ON INSIDE OUT DON'T CHANGE IT OR YOU WILL HAVE
BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT ACTUALLY SAID THIS ON SUCH AN OCCASION.

Keyword(s): CLOTHING ; CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS

James Callow Keyword(s): DRESSING ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22

Date learned: NONE GIVEN

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RIDDLE

WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU CROSS AN ELEPHANT AND A COW?
PEANUT BUTTER.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM A FRIEND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMALS: COWS ; ANIMALS: ELEPHANTS ; RIDDLE JOKE: CROSSING ONE THING WITH ANOTHER

James Callow Keyword(s): HYBRID

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 10-13-1967

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"SOUCOUNIANT" OR "VOLANT" ARE PEOPLE THAT TAKE OFF THEIR SKIN AND
GO SUCK ANIMALS' BLOOD. THEY HAVE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH
THEIR ARMS AND THEY CAN FLY. IF YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO GET BACK
INTO THEIR SKIN, YOU ADD SOME SALT, GARLIC, LEMON, ETC. TO THE
SKIN WHICH IS USUALLY LEFT IN A BIG BUCKET. ANOTHER WAY TO STOP
THEM IS TO DRAW A CROSS WITH A KNIFE, AND AT THE INTERSECTION OF
THE TWO LINES YOU STAB THE KNIFE.

Submitter comment: MOST OF THE TIMES, THE "SOUCOUNIANTS" ARE WOMEN. I REMEMBER MANY
YEARS AGO THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED THAT THEY CAUGHT ONE AND
THEY TOOK HER TO THE HOSPITAL.

Where learned: GUADELOUPE

Keyword(s): "VOLANT" MEANS SOMETHING THAT COULD FLY.

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire

Date learned: 00-00-1967

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IN REFERENCE TO OPPORTUNITY: WHEN ONE DOOR
IS SHUT, ANOTHER OPENS.

Submitter comment: HE BELIEVES IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CYCLICAL THINKING

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 00-00-1970 ; 00-00-1985

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MY MOTHER ALWAYS TELLS ME THAT TO BE TOO HAPPY
MEANS THAT SOMETHING BAD WILL HAPPEN TO YOU TO
BALANCE THE MEASURE. SO IF THINGS ARE GOING RIGHT,
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, BUT DON'T BE TOO VOCAL, OR
SOMETHING BAD IS SURE TO OCCUR!!!

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

James Callow Keyword(s): COMPENSATION CYCLICAL THINKING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

Date learned: 09-00-1985

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TAKE A DIP IN THE GANGA RIVER AND YOU WILL WASH AWAY YOUR SINS.

Submitter comment: THIS IS A HINDU RITUAL. THE RIVER IS FAST RUNNING AND VERY
POLLUTED. A DIP IN THIS RIVER COULD KILL YOU.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

James Callow Keyword(s): GANGES? ; RITUAL BATHING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Running water Large current.

Date learned: 00-00-1967

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