Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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POEM
MAY YOUR PATH BE STRUED WITH FLOWERS
WELCOME BE ON EVERY SIDE
MAY YOUR HOME BE VERY HAPPY
MAY NO SORROWS ENTER THERE
MAY SWEET ROSES BLOOM AROUND YOU
AND LOVE GREET YOU EVERYWHERE
MAY YOUR FRIENDS BE MOST FAITHFUL
AND NO THOUGHTLESS WORD IMPLANT
THAT WOULD MAKE YOU FEEL UNHAPPY
OR WOULD WOUND YOUR KINDER HEART
Submitter comment:
POEM BY ALBERT WALLEN, WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA
IN AUTOGRAPH BOOK OF LATE MRS. GEORGE A. SCHNEIDER
AND LATE CLARA SPIELBUSCH, TOLEDO, OHIO
Data entry tech comment: IMPLANT MIGHT BE IMPART
Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; FLOWERS ; FRIENDSHIP ; HAPPINESS ; KINDNESS ; METAPHOR ; METER: TROCHEES ; REPETITION ; RHYME: ABCADAEFCA ; SERIOUSNESS ; SINCERITY ; STANZA ; WISH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Tender sentiment |
Date learned: 11-21-1965
WHEN YOU SEE A CHIMNEY SWEEP, QUICKLY PULL OFF A BUTTON FROM YOUR
CLOTHING TO PREVENT BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT FOUND THIS AMUSING BUT IMPRACTICAL.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; OCCUPATIONS: CHIMNEY SWEEPING
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22 |
Date learned: 10-08-1971
THERE IS A TRIBE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF NIGERIA CALLED FULANI.
IF A YOUNG MAN FROM THIS TRIBE WANTS TO MARRY, A CERTAIN RITUAL
WILL BE PERFORMED FOR HIM WHICH THE WHOLE VILLAGE WILL WITNESS.
THE YOUNG MAN WHO WANTS TO MARRY WILL PULL OFF HIS CLOTHES EXCEPT
HIS SHORT PANTS, AND HE WILL BE GIVEN SEVERAL LASHES OF CANE AT THE
BACK. IF HE CRIES, HE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO MARRY, BECAUSE IT IS
ASSUMED THAT HE IS NOT MATURED TO MARRY. BUT IF HE DOES NOT CRY
THE ELDERS OF THE VILLAGE WILL GLADLY GIVE HIM THE BRIDE TO WED.
Where learned: NIGERIA
James Callow Keyword(s): SWITCHING WHIPPING
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
AT PARTIES, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT HAVE ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGES SERVED, I NOTICED THAT WHEN A PERSON GETS
SLIGHTLY TIPSY, HE WILL PICK UP A CAT (IF THERE IS ONE
AROUND), AND START SWINGING IT BY THE TAIL. MOST OF
THE TIMES, THE PERSON SWINGING THE CAT WILL HOP UP ON
A PIECE OF FURNITURE, SUCH AS A TABLE, CHAIR, OR COUCH,
JUST TO SHOW OFF WHAT HE IS DOING.
Submitter comment:
AT A GRADUATION PARTY, MY FRIEND BEGAN SWINGING HIS
CAT BY THE TAIL, AND A FEW SECONDS LATER WAS HOLDING
ONLY THE TAIL. I TOLD THIS EVENT TO SEVERAL PEOPLE
AND FOUND OUT THE ABOVE ITEM. NEEDLESS TO SAY, MY
FRIEND'S CAT STILL DOESN'T LIKE HIM, AND PROBABLY
NEVER WILL.
ONE THING THAT I NOTICED DIFFERENT BETWEEN THIS
INCIDENT AND THE ITEM WAS THAT MOST OF THE TIME WHEN OTHER
PEOPLE WERE SWINGING THEIR CATS BY THE TAILS, THE CATS STAYED
ATTACHED TO THEIR TAILS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE ; DETROIT ; ROSEVILLE
Keyword(s): ANIMAL TORTURE ; EXPRESSING HAPPINESS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
IF IT'S RAINING AND THE SUN IS SHINING THE DEVIL IS ABUSING HIS
WIFE AND IF YOU WANT TO HEAR IT PUT A HAIRPEN AND STICK IT
IN THE GROUND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HAIRPIN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 11-00-1987
MISS SUZI HAD A TUG BOAT, THE TUG BOAT HAD A BELL.
MISS SUZI WENT TO HEAVEN, THE TUG BOAT WENT TO
HELL-O OPERATOR, PLEASE GIVE ME NUMBER NINE, AND
IF YOU DISCONNECT ME, I'LL KICK YOU RIGHT BEHIND
THE 'FRIGERATOR, THERE LAID A PIECE OF GLASS,
MISS SUZI FELL UPON IT AND BROKE HER LITTLE
AS-K ME NO MORE QUESTIONS, PLEASE TELL ME NO MORE
LIES, MISS SUZI TOLD ME ALL OF THIS THE DAY BEFORE SHE
DIED HER HAIR ALL PURPLE, SHE DYED HER HAIR ALL RED,
SHE DYED HER HAIR ALL POLKA DOTS AND IT ALL RAN DOWN
THE SINK, GLUG, GLUG, GLUG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): HAND GAME OR JUMPING COUNTING GAME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime C500.560 |
Date learned: 09-00-1988
Wearing opals when you are not a Scorpio is only bad
luck if you are single; if you are married they won't
harm you.
Submitter comment:
Jane, a friend of Elinor's, states that wearing an opal if
you are not supposed to interferes in the finding of
a husband. She then told Elinor that she could wear
an opal if she wanted to, since she was married.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): horoscope, astrology, spinster, advice, reassurance, gems
James Callow Keyword(s): JEWELRY
Date learned: 00001987ca
DR. SNIDER HEARD THE PHRASE:
"DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE MULE GOING BLIND,
HIT HIM IN THE HEAD WITH A LOADED LINE."
A FEW TIMES WHILE GROWING UP. HE DOESN'T REMEMBER
WHY HE HEARD IT, BUT HE REMEMBERS THINKING IT WAS A SLAVE
CONCEPT ABOUT BEATING PEOPLE INTO SUBMISSION.
Submitter comment:
AFTER TELLING THIS TO ME, DR. SNIDER EXPLAINED
THAT HIS FAMILY NEVER OWNED SLAVES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WEST BLOOMFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; WHIPPING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 BELIEF -- Mammal PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 09-12-1990
If you tip a cow when it is asleep the milk from that cow
will become sour.
Submitter comment:
A farmer told our family this story when we stopped to
buy some fresh fruits and vegetables from his farm on our
way to Traverse City.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TRAVERSE CITY
Keyword(s): drink, sour.
James Callow Keyword(s): cow tipping
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Mammal |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
On Halloween, when the trick-or-treating is over you go and knock
over the cows and let the chickens out of their house. This is done
to the people who did not give out treats.
Submitter comment: This was done by friends in Mississippi during the 1960's.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): cow tipping
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F103 BELIEF -- Mammal |
Date learned: 00-00-1987
Chest Cold Cure
The following is done to cure a chest cold: An 8 oz. glass is
used and the rim is warmed over a open flame (as on a gas or wood
burning stove). While the glass is still very warm, almost hot,
the glass is placed directly on the chest, starting at either the
right or left side and held in place until it cools. This
procedure is repeated until the entire chest has been covered. If
a more severe condition exists, as in bronchitis, first a small
incision is made with a sharp instrument (knife) to allow bleeding,
then the heated glass is placed over the portion of the chest where
the incision has been made. Again this procedure is repeated until
the entire chest area has been covered.
Submitter comment:
This procedure for healing chest colds and bronchitis was
widely used in Poland. I questioned my mother as to whether or not
this actually worked and she maintains that it did. She did tell
me that this procedure left red rings on the chest and it was
actually quite painful since the glass had to be quite hot and the
incisions that were made occasionally left some scars.
James Callow comment:
See Puckett, Ohio No. 8526: "For a bad cold in the chest, heat
the inside of a small whiskey glass and put the mouth of the glass
on the person's chest. The skin will puff slightly and the cold
will be cured."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
James Callow Keyword(s): Cupping on the sternum.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
CHUGGING CONTESTS
A FAVORITE PASTIME AT PARTIES IS FOR EVERYONE TO GET
A MUG FULL OF BEER AND SEE WHO CAN CHUG IT DOWN THE
FASTEST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHUG=SWALLOW, WITHOUT STOPPING.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity |
Date learned: 03-29-1968
WHEN SOMEBODY IS SWEEPING THE FLOOR, AND THEY SWEEP
AROUND A GIRL, SHE WILL GROW UP TO BE AN OLD MAID.
Submitter comment:
HER MOTHER, RAISED IN KENTUCKY, TOLD HER THIS WHEN
THE INFORMANT WAS TEN YEARS OLD.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Measure of time Working |
Date learned: 04-18-1965
IF A GIRL IS NOT MARRIED BY THE TIME SHE IS TWENTY-ONE,
SHE WILL END UP AN OLD MAID.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT, WHO IS THE COLLECTOR'S GRANDMOTHER,
SAID THAT HER MOTHER TOLD HER THE TALE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Number P686.1.21 |
Date learned: 02-27-1965
IF SOMEONE SWEEPS ACROSS YOUR FEET WITH A BROOM, YOU
WILL BE AN OLD MAID.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S MOTHER HAD ALWAYS TOLD HER THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship |
Date learned: 10-13-1971
IF YOU SWEEP ON A YOUNG GIRL'S FEET, SHE WON'T GET
MARRIED.
Submitter comment: FROM MY MOTHER--COLLECTOR.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
IF YOU SWEEP UNDER A GIRL'S FEET, SHE'LL NEVER GET
MARRIED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND'S MOTHER, AND SHE REMEMBERS THIS
FROM HER CHILDHOOD IN ALABAMA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALABAMA ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship |
Date learned: 00001971 SPRING
IF YOU TAKE THE LAST PIECE OF CANDY, COOKIE, PIECE OF
MEAT, ETC., IT MEANS YOU WILL BE AN OLD MAID.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 10-18-1971
IF YOU TAKE THE LAST PIECE OF FOOD ON THE PLATE, YOU'LL
BE AN OLD MAID.
Submitter comment:
TOLD TO HER BY HER GRANDMOTHER. NEVER SAID IN REFERENCE
TO MEN BEING BACHELORS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 10-25-1970
IF YOU TAKE THE LAST COOKY ON A PLATE, YOU WILL BE
AN OLD MAID.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 09-24-1969