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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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HAUNTED POST OFFICE

IN 1916 A PAINTER WAS WORKING IN A DETROIT POST OFFICE.
HE HAD SPILLED SOME PAINT ON HIMSELF. HE WAS WORKING
NEAR THE FUSE BOX WHEN IT SHORTED, SPARKS FLEW OUT
AND IGNITED THE PAINT. HE WAS BURNED TO DEATH IN A
FEW MINUTES. A YEAR LATER, TO THE DAY, PEOPLE HEARD
SCREAMS IN THE BUILDING AND RAN IN AND FOUND A MAN
BURNED TO DEATH. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF A FIRE IN OR
AROUND THE BUILDING. THREE YEARS LATER, TO THE DAY,
THAT POST OFFICE BURNED TO THE GROUND.
FIREMEN REPORTED HEARING SCREAMS FROM INSIDE, BUT NO
ONE WAS EVER FOUND. A PARKING LOT WAS EVENTUALY BUILT
ON THE SITE. PEOPLE STILL REPORT HEARING SCREAMS FROM
THE AREA DSN ALSO REPORT SEEING FIRES ON THE LOT.
THE SCREAMS AND FIRE REPORTS ALWAYS COME ON THE
ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORIGINAL DEATH, OCTOBER 31ST.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HALLOWEEN ALL SOULS DAY

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 03-30-1968

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RIDDLE

WHAT IS FILLED EVERY MORNING AND EMPTIED EVERY NIGHT
EXCEPT ONCE A YEAR WHEN IT IS FILLED AT NIGHT AND
EMPTIED IN THE MORNING?
-- A STOCKING WHEN WEARING IT AND AT CHRISTMAS.

Where learned: HOME ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): holiday

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 10-00-1967

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Custom

Good Friday and Planting Custom:

Potatoe [sic] seeds should be planted, if at all possible, on Good Friday.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [F663] has been crossed out and replaced with F535

Where learned: HOME ; NEW YORK ; LeRoy

Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; CUSTOM ; FARMING ; Good Friday ; HARVEST ; PLANT VEGETABLE ; POTATO ; Religious Holiday ; VEGETABLE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535

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Superstition

Superstition:

Anything tried on Friday the 13th will fail.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P880.6] crossed out and replaced with P574.5

Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; HOME

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CURSE ; DATE ; Day ; Friday ; jinx ; SUPERSTITION ; TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA ; Weekday

James Callow Keyword(s): TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA

Subject headings: 686 Specific number by specific number being described
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour

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Ethnic: Scottish

Never cut your fingernails on Sunday.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

The word Legend has been crossed out from the top of the card.

Original BN [P400, P644, P43, P880] have been crossed out/replaced with current classifications

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Keyword(s): DAYS OF THE WEEK ; ETHNIC ; GROOMING ; Scotland ; SCOTTISH ; Superstition, Belief

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time F574.5 (SUNDAY)
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

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Belief: Children

Wednesday's Child:

Wednesday's Child is full of woe.

Submitter comment:

(A person born on Wednesday is believed to be ill-fated through-out life.)

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BIRTH ; Born ; CHILDREN ; DAYS OF THE WEEK ; DESTINY ; Destiny, Fate ; Wednesday ; WOE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

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Numerology

If the numerical number of your birthday coincides with your actual age, then you will have good luck that year.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P686, P800] crossed out/replaced with current classifications

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Birthday, Numerology, Numbers ; LUCK ; OMEN

James Callow Keyword(s): Birthday ; Birthday Belief ; NUMEROLOGY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- P647
BELIEF -- Use of Object

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Entry filtered.

Custom/Belief

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

School Custom Concerning Dress:

Anyone who wore green and yellow to school on Thursday was considered to be "queer."

Submitter comment:

I can recall this as being practiced while I was in grade school.

Data entry tech comment:

motifs added by TRD

Where learned: Myself

Keyword(s): COLOR ; DRESS ; Green ; Homophobia ; HOMOSEXUALITY ; Presentation ; SCHOOL ; SLANG ; Thursday ; YELLOW

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School

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Custom

Common Law Custom:

Informant never does family laundry on Sunday, because it is a day of rest and is frowned upon byu herself and other members of the family. Laundry hanging outside on a line is considered disgraceful.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [F539] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: HOME ; NEW YORK ; LeRoy

Keyword(s): Chores ; CUSTOM ; Domestic ; LAUNDRY ; Sunday

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour

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Myth

Easter Bunny:

The Easter Bunny - A big rabbit with a white tail who hides eggs around your house.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P429] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; HOME

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; Bunny ; CUSTOM ; Easter ; Eggs ; Hare ; holiday ; MYTH ; Rabbit

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal

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Custom: Holiday

On February 2nd, the groundhog is said to come out of his place of hibernation to see if winter is over. If it is over, he will see his shadow, and if he does not see it, the groundhog returns for another six full weeks of winter.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

original BN [B462.642] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; CUSTOM ; Groundhog ; holiday ; SEASONS ; Shadow ; Spring ; WINTER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal

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Custom: Holiday

Rudolph:

In conjunction with the legend of Santa Claus is his famous team of reindeer. The leader being Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Every child knows the song about Rudolph, and looks upon him as a sort of hero of Christmas.

Data entry tech comment:

Motif added by TRD

Where learned: CHICAGO

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; Hero ; holiday ; Legend ; MYTH ; Reindeer ; Rudolph ; Santa

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal

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Belief: Animal

A snake having been killed will not die until sundown

Submitter comment:

Informant was skeptical as to this belief

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; DEATH ; Kill ; Serpent ; Snake ; Sundown ; SUPERSTITION ; Time of day

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Animal

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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

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Superstition

12 came around for study of Friday the 13th

Data entry tech comment:

[unknown if pencil mark is meant to cross out the entry or if it is a simple accidental mark of the pencil.]

Entered by TRD

James Callow comment:

Pencil mark through entry

Keyword(s): DATE ; Friday ; NUMBER ; Numeral ; Twelve ; Weekday ; Weekend

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Number P686.1.17

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Proverb

Proverbial Metaphor:

Every dog has its day.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects.

KW: ALX,X4X

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; Day ; DOG ; PATIENCE ; Reward

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Proverb

One today is worth two tomorrows.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): NUMBERS ; One ; Today ; TOMORROW ; Two

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

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Toast

An Irish Toast:

On St. Patrick's Day, the Irish drink to the snakes being driven out of Ireland.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DRINKING ; ETHNIC ; holiday ; Irish ; SNAKES ; Social ; St. Patrick ; TOAST

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech
SPEECH -- Formula

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APOKRIES

THIS IS THE PRE-LENTEN HOLIDAY, A THREE WEEK FESTIVITY, AND PRECEDES
THE FORTY-NINTH DAY PRE-EASTER LENTEN PERIOD.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Easter ; ETHNIC ; FESTIVAL ; Greek ; holiday ; Lent

James Callow Keyword(s): FESTIVAL ; Greek

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Christian Chronology

Date learned: 00-00-1980

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Proverb

Never start a new project on Friday, because you will never finish it.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Friday ; Maxim ; Project ; PROVERB ; VERSE ; WORK

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

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