Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Children returned 92 results.
Superstition
How Many Children?
Thread a needle and hold it at the top, next to your left wrist. If you keep watching for awhile, the needle and thread will move all by itself. If it moves in circles, for example, three times, that means you will have three daughters someday. If it sways back and forth, that means you will have the respective number of sons. If the needle and thread don't move at all, you will be childless.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P542, P860] crossed out. Replaced with current Classification
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BIRTH ; Childbirth, divination ; CHILDREN ; FUTURE ; GAME ; gender ; NUMBER ; Offspring ; Ordaining ; SUPERSTITION ; TRICK
James Callow Keyword(s): Reference
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Entertainment: Game
Jump Rope Song:
Not last night, but the night before, 24 robbers came knocking at my door. I went out (jump out of rope) to let them in (jump back in) and here's what they said to me:
"Spanish Dancer do the kicks, kicks, kicks, kicks, (jump with legs far apart)
Spanish Dancer do the splits, splits, splits, splits, (jump up with legs extended)
Spanish Dancer turn around, round, round, (turn rope)
Spanish Dancer Touch the ground, ground, ground. (touch the ground)
Submitter comment:
The informant learned it from the neighborhood kids
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C570] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; Entertainment ; GAMES ; Jump Rope ; Play ; RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Entertainment: Game
Jump Rope Song:
Mable, Mable, set the table. Don't forget the salt, but don't forget the red hot peppers. (when "red peppers" is said, the rope is spun faster.)
Submitter comment:
The informant learned it from neighborhood kids.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C570] crossed out / replaced with current classification
Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Diversion ; Entertainment ; GAME ; Jump Rope ; Play ; RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Superstition: Animals
La Cicilia (Snake Belief):
This is a little short snake (type of viper) which is blind and hisses. It comes out once a year on the feast of the Madonna degli Angeli. On this feastday no child is left alone for the people believe that these vipers seek babies and small children. The vipers are believed to have the spirit of the devil within them and seek little children's souls.
Submitter comment:
My mother really believes this story and claims to have seen them.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Written on the right hand side of the card: Date? Unknown.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Babies ; CHILDREN ; Feast ; FESTIVAL ; holiday ; Holy Day ; Prey ; Serpent ; Snake ; Soul ; Viper
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Mammal |
Language
Weather Verse:
Rain Rain, go away. Come again another day.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Dup. of WPP
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ;
Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Language ; Play ; Rain ; RHYME ; SONG ; VERSE ; WEATHER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
Language
RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY, COME AGAIN ANOTHER DAY.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD / Updated on 1-13-2011
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Language ; Play ; Rain ; RHYME ; SONG ; VERSE ; WEATHER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
Date learned: 03-00-1968
Language
Folk Song by Children:
RAIN RAIN GO AWAY, COME AGAIN ANOTHER DAY.
Submitter comment:
A SONG ALL LITTLE CHILDREN USED TO SING WHEN IT STARTED TO RAIN.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD / Updated on 01-13-2011
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Language ; Play ; Rain ; RHYME ; SONG ; VERSE ; WEATHER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
Date learned: 10-02-1977
Language
RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY
COME AGAIN ANOTHER DAY.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD / Updated on 01-13-2011
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Language ; Play ; Rain ; RHYME ; SONG ; VERSE ; WEATHER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
Date learned: 09-13-1973
Language: Weather
Rain, rain, go away. Come back another day.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
KW: WP
Dup. of WPP
Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Language ; Play ; Rain ; RHYME ; SONG ; VERSE ; WEATHER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
Proverb
Little pitchers have big ears.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The words (Not Pictures) is written under the submission, along with [sic]. On the back of the card, Callow has written: Type as is. A good illustration of narration in folklore.
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects.
Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDREN ; CONVERSATION ; Eavesdrop ; Listen ; METAPHOR ; Overhear ; Speak ; TABU
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Language: Games
Pastime:
If you see another child with money you yell- "Butts on you." He then must share anything he buys with that money with you. However, when he pulls out his money, if he yells - "fan butts" first, then he doesn't have to share his purchases.
Submitter comment:
Bill used to play this as a child when he was given money, or if one of his friends was given money. He said it was common to yell this.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Miscellaneous grammar correction written on card.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): Buy ; CHILDREN ; Currency ; Dollars ; GAME ; MONEY ; Own ; Ownership ; Pastime ; Purchase ; Share
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime SPEECH -- Formula |
Entry filtered.
Toast
May all your children be born bald and naked.
Data entry tech comment:
There were two identical cards for this submission: The only difference is that one listed an informant and the other did not. I included the informant in the submission and combined the cards to avoid duplicate entries.
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Bald ; CHILDREN ; DRINKING ; Naked ; Social ; TOAST
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Formula |
Toast
may your children have rich parents.
Submitter comment:
She heard this from a Polish disk jockey who was from Chicago.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; DRINKING ; ETHNIC ; fortune ; PARENTS ; POLISH ; Riches ; Social ; TOAST ; WEALTH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech 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 |
Proverb
Children should be seen but not heard
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V600, V300] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; CHILDREN ; FAMILY ; Heard ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; SEEN ; Sight ; Sound ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Proverb
Children should be seen and not heard.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V200] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Hear ; Heard ; Maxim ; Parenting ; PROVERB ; Rearing ; See ; SEEN ; Sight ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Proverb
Children should be seen and not heard.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F533] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Hear ; Heard ; Maxim ; Parent ; Parenting ; PROVERB ; Rearing ; See ; Sight ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Proverb
Little pitchers have big ears.
Submitter comment:
I heard this in Ferndale, MI
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; CHILDREN ; Maxim ; METAPHOR ; Pitcher ; PROVERB ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
Children should be seen not heard.
Submitter comment:
When company is over, they should not talk unless spoken to.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V200] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; CHILDREN ; Heard ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; Raising ; Rearing ; SEEN ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |