Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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WEARING GARLIC, OR HAVING IT IN YOUR POSSESSION DRIVES AWAY EVIL
SPIRITS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EXORCISM
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Flavoring BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 11-19-1972
DETERMINING SEX
WHEN A WOMAN IS PREGNANT YOU HAVE HER SIT ON THE FLOOR AND WHATEVER
HAND SHE LEANS ON WILL DETERMINE THE SEX OF THE CHILD. RIGHT HAND IS
A BOY AND LEFT HAND IS A GIRL.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER AND INFORMANT DOES NOT HOLD
IT TO BE TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
James Callow Keyword(s): RIGHT-HANDEDNESS SEXISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 09-25-1972
VERSE
YOUR HEART IS NOT A PLAYGROUND,
YOUR HEART IS NOT A TOY,
BUT IF YOU WANT IT BROKEN,
JUST GIVE IT TO A BOY.
WANT IT BROKEN, JUST GIVE IT TO A BOY.
Submitter comment:
THIS VERSE WAS TAKEN FROM AN AUTOGRAPH BOOK BELONGING TO THE
INFORMANT,
WHO IS MY MOTHER. THIS SAME VERSE WAS FOUND THREE TIMES IN THE
BOOK, SO IT MUST HAVE BEEN A POPULAR VERSE WITH THE EIGHTH GRADE
AT NICHOLS SCHOOL IN DETROIT, JUNE 1944.
Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): RHYME: ABCB ; SEXISM
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 06-09-1944
THE FIRST PERSON TO ENTER A PERSON'S HOUSE ON MONDAY MORNING,
SHOULD BE A MALE OR OTHERWISE YOU'LL HAVE BAD LUCK THE REST OF THE
WEEK.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING ; SEXISM
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 12-00-1972
GRANDPA REMEMBERS WHEN HIS MOTHER DIDN'T HAVE SUPPER ON TIME
USUALLY THE EXCUSE WAS THE BUTCHER GAVE HER A TOUGH PIECE OF
MEAT. OF COURSE, THE OVER THE FENCE GOSSIPING WITH NEIGHBORS
ALL AFTERNOON HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SATIRE OF WOMEN SEXISM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Date learned: 10-07-1972
LUCK
IF A MAN IS THE FIRST PERSON TO KNOCK ON YOUR DOOR ON A MONDAY
MORNING, YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK ALL OF THAT WEEK. HOWEVER, IF A
WOMAN KNOCKS, IT WILL BE BAD LUCK. THE INFORMANT SAID THIS ACTUALLY
HAPPENED TO HER MOTHER ONCE. INFORMANT WAS NOT SURE OF ACTUAL
CIRCUMSTANCES.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. Favorites BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-25-1972
VISITOR
IT IS A SIGN OF BAD LUCK IF YOUR FIRST VISITOR ON
NEW YEAR'S DAY IS A WOMAN.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY A CO}WORKER WHO IS A BLACK
GIRL OF THE MUSLIM FAITH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING ; SEXISM
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.2 |
Date learned: 10-25-1972
EVIL EYE
YOUNG WOMEN ARE THE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE THE EVIL EYE BECAUSE
THEY ARE SLY AND VICIOUS.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 03-13-1975
EVIL EYE
OLD WOMEN ARE THE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE THE EVIL EYE BECAUSE
THEY ARE THE MOST DOMINANT.
Submitter comment: HE CONSIDERS THIS A MALTESE BELIEF.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 03-21-1975
DREAMS
ONLY THE WOMEN OF THE FAMILY CAN INTERPRET DREAMS,
BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES GIFTED WITH INSIGHT.
Submitter comment: HE CONSIDERS THIS A MALTESE BELIEF.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body |
Date learned: 03-21-1975
SAINT PATRICK'S DAY
THE MEN OF IRISH FAMILIES MARCH IN PARADES ALL DAY WHILE
THE WOMEN SIT AT HOME WITH OTHER FEMALE RELATIVES.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM?
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 17 Feast of St. Patrick |
Date learned: CA1960-1975
TESTS
SMOKE ONLY BEFORE AND AFTER A TEST AND YOU WILL PASS IT.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): MAGICAL CONTROL ; SMOKING TABU DURING EXAMINATIONS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School |
Date learned: CA1963-1975
TESTS
WEAR YOUR FAVORITE COLOR ON THE DAY OF A TEST AND YOU WILL PASSIT.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ;
James Callow Keyword(s): EXAMINATIONS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: CA1963-1975
LIMERICK
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
A HANDSOME YOUNG BOY NAMED PAT,
WITH GIRLS WOULD ENJOY THIS AND THAT.
HE MEANT TO CUDDLE AND KISS,
WHEN HE SPOKE ABOUT THIS,
JUST GUESS WHAT HE MEANT BY HIS THAT.
Submitter comment:
THESE LIMERICKS WERE LEARNED OF IN A SIXTH GRADE ENGLISH CLASS
AT SAINT HEDWIG GRADE SCHOOL. THE BOOK THEY WERE TAKED FROM
IS NOT KNOWN BY ME BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD BY THE TEACHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXUAL EUPHEMISM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 00001960S
SENSE OF EVIL
IT IS THE OPINION OF MANY PEOPLE THAT ANIMALS HAVE AN EXTRA SENSE.
THIS SENSE--A PRESENT OF THE CREATOR--TELLS THEM WHEN EVIL PERSONS
OR BEINGS ARE ABOUT. THUS, WHEN A HORSE REARS FOR NO APPARENT
REASON AT ALL, IT IS SAID THAT HE IS SPOOKED, AND THAT WHICH
SPOOKS HIM IS USUALLY THE APPROACH OF MR. DEATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EXTRASENSORY ; PREMONITION
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Characteristics of Animals BELIEF -- Animal |
PRETENDED OBSCENE RIDDLE
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
Q: WHAT IS A FOUR LETTER WORD FOR INTERCOURSE?
A: TALK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; COMMUNICATION (Q) ; LITERAL NONOPPOSITIONAL
James Callow Keyword(s): SEX
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 09-00-1971
Entry filtered.
RIDDLE
Q: ON WHAT DAY OF THE YEAR DO WOMEN TALK THE LEAST?
A: THE SHORTEST.
Submitter comment: TRANSLATED FROM LITHUANIAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENTS (A) ; PERSONS (Q)
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 02-17-1971
RIDDLE
Q: WOMEN ARE LIKE MONEY.
A: YOU HAVE TO KEEP THEM BUSY OR THEY LOSE INTEREST.
James Callow comment: DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A RIDDLE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; METAPHORICAL ; MONETARY ITEM (Q)
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Blason Populaire RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 09-30-1967
(RIDDLE) ABOUT CHILDREN
Q: WHY ARE SOME CHILDREN LIKE FLANNEL?
A: BECAUSE THEY SHRINK FROM WASHING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; METAPHORICAL NONOPPOSITIONAL ; TEXTILE (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR