Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for CAN returned 163 results.
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"MAMA, MAMA" JOKE
CHILD: MAMA, MAMA, YOU KNOW I HATE MY SISTER'S GUTS.
MOTHER: SHUT UP AND KEEP EATING.
THIS ITEM WAS COLLECTED WITH MANY SIMILAR ITEMS THROUGH
NUMEROUS MEETINGS AT VARIOUS BARS IN DETROIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CANNIBALISM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote Food Drink -- Food |
Date learned: 00001970S ; 03-00-1980
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IN GERMANY MY MOM AND DAD SHOPPED AT A LOCAL BUTCHER. LATER MY MOM
FOUND OUT HE GOT SOME OF HIS MEAT FROM HUMANS. MY MOM WOULD NOT
EAT MEAT FOR A LONG TIME AFTER THAT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY
James Callow Keyword(s): CANNIBALISM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business Food Drink -- Meat BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
IN ORDER TO GET THE FRUIT, YOU HAVE TO CLIMB THE TREE.
Submitter comment:
(YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD FOR WHAT YOU GET.) MARILOU'S INFORMANT WAS HE
GRANDMOTHER BRIDGET O'CONNOR, 81, WIDOWED, IRISH FROM LONDON,
ONTARIO.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): METAPHOR ; OBSERVATION ; PARALLELISM
James Callow Keyword(s): CANADA
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-08-1972
WHAT WEIGHS 1000 LBS. AND CHEEPS?
TWO 500 LB. CANARIES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BIRDS: CANARIES ; RIDDLE JOKE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
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WEATHER BELIEF
A BLACK BELIEF IS THAT BLACKS HAVE A GREATER SUSCEPTIBILITY TO
PNEUMONIA WHEN IT RAINS AND ARE BEST PROTECTED FROM THIS BY
WEARING A HAT.
Submitter comment: BLACK CUSTOM
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AFRO-AMERICAN
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Head BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00001940S
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THE HAIRY HAND
ONCE THERE WAS A YOUNG GIRL WHO WAS WANDERING AROUND
OUTSIDE WHEN SHE FELL INTO A DEEP HOLE. HELPLESS AND
AFRAID, SHE CRIED FOR HELP. A WITCH APPEARED AND PROMISED
TO HELP IF THE GIRL WOULD EAT A HAIRY HAND.
THE WITCH LEFT AND THE GIRL HID THE HAND UNDER A ROCK.
WHEN THE WITCH RETURNED AND ASKED IF THE GIRL HAD EATEN
THE HAND, SHE REPLIED THAT SHE HAD. BUT THE WITCH CALLED
FOR THE HAND AND THE HAND TOLD THE WITCH WHERE IT WAS
HIDDEN. THIS CONTINUED A FEW MORE TIMES UNTIL THE GIRL
HID THE HAND AGAINST HER STOMACH, INSIDE OF HER CLOTHES.
WHEN THE WITCH RETURNED AND CALLED FOR THE HAIRY HAND,
IT ANSWERED THAT IT WAS IN THE GIRL'S STOMACH. THINKING
THAT THE GIRL HAD EATEN THE HAND, THE WITCH FREED HER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CANNIBALISM
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman |
ON THE FEAST OF ST. BLAZE, CATHOLICS GET THEIR THROATS
BLESSED IN ORDER TO BE PROTECTED FROM CHOKING OR RECEIVING
ANY INJURY TO THEIR THROAT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CANDLES ; ST. BLAISE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 11-08-1985
A COMMON BATTLE PRACTICE OF THE MOHAWK INDIANS WAS TO CUT
OUT A PIECE OF THEIR OPPONENT'S HEART AND EAT IT AS A SYMBOL
OF VICTORY. THEY ALSO WERE REQUIRED TO DRINK THEIR ENEMY'S
BLOOD. DEER HUNTERS TODAY CARRY ON THIS TRADITION BY
DRINKING THE BLOOD OF THE FIRST DEER THAT THEY KILL
Submitter comment:
I WAS AT AN OUTDOOR FIRING RANGE WITH MY DAD WHEN HE
BEGAN TALKING WITH A MAN ABOUT DEER HUNTING. THE MAN
CLAIMED HE WAS OF MOHAWK INDIAN DESCENT, AND TOLD US THE ABOVE
STORY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MARYSVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): CANNIBALISM ; HUNTING
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. |
Some people say that a man of dark color is crazy about a
high yellow, but high yellow will throw you, and when
you come home, there will be another mule kicking in your
stall. A brown skin girl is the best gal after all.
Where learned: VIRGINIA
James Callow Keyword(s): African-American color of skin
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Color SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1939
"Great Green Gobs"
(sung to the tune of "The Old Gray Mare")
Great green gobs of greasy, grimy, gopher guts
Mutilated monkey meat
Dirty little birdies' feet
French fried eyeballs lying in a pool of blood,
And I forgot my spoon!
Submitter comment:
This "classic" children's parody of the "The Old Gray Mare"
was learned by Terry in Ohio during the 50's. It is still
being sung in much the same manner by children in the Detroit
area, as well as children in the Chicago area. Probably
versions of it are sung throughout the United States.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
Keyword(s): mock horror, cannibalism, humor, gore
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001950S
RED M&M CANDIES CAUSE CANCER.
RUMORS WERE CIRCULATING NATIONWIDE ABOUT CARCINOGENIC NATURE
OF THE DYE USED TO MAKE RED M&M'S. THIS WAS STRENGTHENED WHEN
M&M BEGAN SELLING M&M'S WITHOUT RED CANDIES. THE RED CANDIES
WERE BROUGHT BACK AROUND 1985, BUT MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL LEERY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): CANDY
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001980CA
IF WE CANTELOPE, LETTUCE MARRY.
Submitter comment:
ONE OF MY DAD'S FAVORITE LINES.
HE USED IT TO TEASE US, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE
WERE TOO SERIOUS ABOUT SOMETHING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Flint
James Callow Keyword(s): CANTALOUPE ; PUN
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
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In slavery times, a couple wishing to be married was required
to jump the broom. If they both successfully jumped over, it was
a sign of a good, long, happy marriage.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): African Wedding customs
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 03-00-1978
The souls of ancestors were reborn in other living things or
objects.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): African Reincarnation Myths
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-00-1992
Food: Recipe
Spiced Watermelon Rind:
9 cups (3lbs) cubed white watermelon rind. (remove all green skin)
4 cups water (1 glln)
2 tbsp salt
5 cups sugar
2 cups cider vineegar
1 cup cold water
1 sliced lemon
1 tbsp whole cloves
1 tbsp whole all spice
1 tbsp coarsley chopped cinnamon
Cover watermelon rind with 4 cups water. Add salt and let stand minute. Drain. Cover with more cold water in sacepan. Cook, covered, over low heat until tender, about 2 hours. Drain. Meanwhile, combine sugar, vinegar and remaining 1 cup cold water. Tie spices and lemon slices in a cheesecloth bag. Drop into vinegar mixture. Boil 5 minutes. Then add watermelon rind and cook until rind is transparent - about 45/60 minutes. Remove bag of spices. Pack rind and syrup into jars and seal. For crisper rind, add 2 tbsp powdered alum to water in which rind is first cooked.
Keyword(s): Canning ; FOOD ; Jar ; Meal ; RECIPE ; Rind ; Spiced ; Watermelon
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Manner of preparation Preservation |