Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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SUPERSTITION
IF YOU HEAR A CAT CRYING IN THE NIGHT IT SIGNIFIES THAT A PERSON
CLOSE TO YOU IS GOING TO DIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SIMILAR TO DOG HOWLING
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 10-11-1971
SALESMAN'S TRADITION
METHODS OF DETERMINING A "MOOCK"
1) ALL HOUSE TRIM AND MAILBOX PAINTED ONE COLOR, USUALLY BRIGHT
2) NEW CAR OR CARS IN THE DRIVEWAY
3) UNKEMPT LAWN
4) "PECKER TRACKS"( SIGNS OF KIDS)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): DOOR-TO-DOOR SALESMAN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Trade & commerce |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
JINGLE BELL SONG
JINGLE BELLS SANTA SMELLS
RUDOLF RAN AWAY
OLD ST. NICK HURRY QUICK
AND GET SOME BAN TODAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BAN, A DEODORANT FOR BODY ODOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- FI22 |
ELEPHANT JOKE
WHY DO ELEPHANTS WEAR RED TENNIS SHOES?
TO HIDE IN THE STRAWBERRY FIELDS.
DID YOU EVER SEE AN ELEPHANT IN A STRAWBERRY FIELD?
THEY HIDE PRETTY GOOD, DON'T THEY?
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMPARE LION POWDER SHAGGY DOG STORY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 04-09-1967
KNOCK KNOCK JOKE
KNOCK KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
DOMINO
DOMINO WHO?
DOMINO THING IF YA AIN'T GOT THAT SWING.
Submitter comment: AT SOME PARTY
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Keyword(s): SONG TITLE: IT DON'T MEAN A THING IF YOU AIN'T GOT THAT SWING
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-03-1967
KNOCK KNOCK JOKE
KNOCK KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
CIGARETTE
CIGARETTE WHO?
CIGARETTE LIFE IF YOU DON'T WEAKEN.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Keyword(s): IT@S A GREAT LIFE IF YOU DON@T WEAKEN
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-03-1967
KNOCK KNOCK JOKE
KNOCK KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
GRETTA
GRETTA WHO?
GRETTA LONG LITTLE DOGGIE-GRETTA LONG
Submitter comment: GEORGETOWN U. FROM FRIENDS
Where learned: GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Keyword(s): COWBOY SONG ; NAME ; TITLE OR LINE FROM SONG: GET ALONG LITTLE DOGGIES
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-25-1967
RIDDLE
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LBJ AND LSD?
ONE'S A DOPE AND ONE'S A DRUG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): JOHNSON, LYNDON B. ; UNITED STATES PRESIDENT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-25-1967
BELIEF
A WOMAN BORN WITH A V-SHAPED HAIR-LINE WILL BE A YOUNG
WIDOW, IF SHE MARRIES AND WILL ALSO REMARRY SOON AFTER.
Submitter comment: FROM MOTHER
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): WIDOW'S PEAK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Sign Color |
Date learned: 11-05-1967
FOLK CURE
TO BRING SOMEONE OUT OF A FAINT, BURN A FEATHER.
Submitter comment: FROM HER MOTHER, MRS. METZEN, OF ENGLISH DESCENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
Keyword(s): ACRID ODORS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00001964 SUMMER
THE SCORPION IN THE HAIRDO
IT'S WRONG FOR GIRLS TO WEAR LARGE, RATTED HAIRDOS.
RECENTLY IN CALIFORNIA,A TEENAGE GIRL DIED, APPARENTLY WITHOUT CAUSE.
BUT THEY FOUND THAT SHE HAD BEEN WEARING THE SAME HAIRDO
FOR SIX MONTHS.
IT HAD GOTTEN SO DIRTY THAT A SCORPION GOT IN IT
AND MADE HIS NEST THERE
AND FINALLY HE BIT HER, AND SHE DIED.
Submitter comment: (I THINK SISTER REALLY BELIEVED THIS STORY.)
Where learned: 3RD OR 4TH GRADE CLASS
Keyword(s): FATAL HAIRDO ; SCORPION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak |
DON'T CARRY OR ACCEPT A TWO-DOLLAR BILL - IT BRINGS BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: (MRS. DEVEREUX LEARNED THIS FROM HER COUSIN AS A CHILD.)
Where learned: HOME ; LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): PARADOX
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two |
LITTLE RABBIT FOO-FOO
( SONG ) LITTLE RABBIT FOO-FOO RUNNIN' THROUGH THE FOREST
SCOOPIN' UP THE FIELD MICE AND HITTIN' THEM OVER THE HEAD.
( SPOKEN ) AND ALONG COME THE GOOD FAIRY...AND SHE SAID,
" LITTLE RABBIT FOO-FOO, I'LL GIVE YOU 3 CHANCES,
( SUNG ) I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU RUNNIN' THROUGH THE FOREST, SCOOPIN'
UP THE FIELD MICE AND HITTIN' THEM OVER THE HEAD--AND--
IF YOU DON'T DO WHAT I TELL YOU, I'LL TURN YOU INTO A GOON " .
BUT THE NEXT DAY--
(SUNG) LITTLE RABBIT FOO-FOO WAS RUNNIN' THROUGH THE FOREST,
SCOOPIN' UP THE FIELD MICE AND HITTIN' THEM OVER THE HEAD.
( SPOKEN ) AND ALONG CAME THE GOOD FAIRY...AND SHE SAID,
" LITTLE RABBIT FOO-FOO, I'LL GIVE YOU 2 CHANCES, ETC.
BUT THE NEXT DAY--
( REPEATED, BUT NOW WITH ONLY 1 CHANCE )
( SPOKEN ) FOO-FOO BLEW HIS CHANCES, SO THE FAIRY TURNED HIM INTO A
GOON, AND
NARRATOR 1 " DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE MORAL IS?"
NARRATOR 2 " I SURE DO, "
( TOGETHER IN UNISON ) " HARE TODAY, GOON TOMORROW. "
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SANG THIS SONG FOR ME BY HERSELF, BUT IT ACTUALLY SHOULD
BE DONE WITH TWO PEOPLE, ONE ACTING AS NARRATOR AND THE OTHER AS
THE GOOD FAIRY. THE TUNE SHOULD BE SUNG TO THIS MELODY:
" G-G-G-A-B ( REST ) B ( REST ) - A-G-A-B-G-D
GGG-A-B-B-A-G-A-B-G " ( GUITAR NOTES )
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BRUNVAND C30 ; CANTE FABLE ; PUN ; SHAGGY DOG CANTE FABLE ; THE RABBIT THAT WAS CHANGED INTO A GOON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 12-02-1971
HICCUPS
BY STANDING ON ONE'S HEAD HE CAN RELIEVE HIS HICCUPPING.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT WAS TOLD BY ONE OF HIS PATIENTS.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): DOCTOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 10-13-1967
YEARLY GROWTH
WHILE ATTENDING A COUSIN'S BIRTHDAY PARTY, MY UNCLE JACK PLACED MY
COUSIN AGAINST THE DOOR JAM IN THE KITCHEN, TOOK OUT HIS KNIFE AND
NOTCHED MY COUSIN,S HEIGHT. LOOKING CLOSELY, I NOTICED THAT THE
HEIGHTS OF ALL THE FAMILY MEMBERS (6) WERE NOTCHED ON THE MOULDING
PIECE. ALSO, THEY WERE MARKED WITH THE APPROPRIATE BIRTHDATE. THUS
A RECORD OF GROWTH AND FINAL HEIGHT COULD BE MEASURED AND SAVED. I
HAVE ALSO NOTICED THIS CUSTOM IN OTHER HOMES SINCE THEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
Keyword(s): DOOR JAMB HEIGHT BIRTHDAY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Maturity |
SPIDER IN HAIR
A TEENAGE GIRL RATTED HER HAIR AND DIDN'T COMB IT OUT FOR TWO WEEKS.
SHE DIED SUDDENLY. AN AUTOPSY HAD TO BE PERFORMED TO DETERMINE THE
CAUSE OF DEATH. THEY FOUND THAT SPIDERS HAD MADE THEIR HOME IN HER
HAIR AND HAD EATEN THEIR WAY INTO HER BRAIN.
Submitter comment: HEARD SEVERAL TIMES ON U-D CAMPUS.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): DEATH INSECT LAZINESS ; FATAL HAIRDO
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
SPIDER LADY
A GIRL WAS GOING TO A BIG PARTY AND HAD HER HAIR DONE AT A SALON.
IT WAS FIXED IN A BEEHIVE WITH LOTS AND LOTS OF HAIRSPRAY. SHE LIKED
IT SO WELL THAT EVERYDAY SHE JUST PUT A LITTLE MORE SPRAY ON AND
NEVER TOOK IT DOWN OR WASHED IT. ONE DAY SHE SCRATCHED HER HEAD AND
BLOOD TRICKLED DOWN. SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WHEREUPON
EXAMINATION IT WAS REVEALED ANTS HAD COLONIZED IN HER HAIR.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): FATAL HAIRDO ; INSECT HAIRDO
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 02-20-1968
STORY ABOUT THE DEVIL,S DANCING IN THE WOODS
IT WAS HARVEST TIME AND ALL THE YOUNG FOLK WERE THRASHING THE GRAINS
THAT HAD JUST BEEN HARVESTED.
ONE AUTUMN NIGHT ABOUT 11 O,CLOCK WHILE THEY WERE THRASHING THE GRAIN
THEY HEARD MUSIC COMING FROM THE RAFTERS, THEY LOOKED UP AND SAW
SOME DEVILS DANCING UP IN THE LOFT. THESE DEVILS WERE ALL BLACK AND
ALL THEIR CLOTHING WERE BLACK. THEY DANCED ON ONE LEG AND ONLY HAD
ONE EYE AND ONE NOSTRIL. THE MUSIC WAS PLAYED ON A SMALL ACCORDION
AND FIDDLE.
THE YOUTHS WERE TYPICALLY BRAVE AND BOISTERIOUS AND DECIDED TO TAKE
THE INSTRUMENTS AWAY. THE DEVILS LEFT AT THE FIRST COCKS CROW
(ONE O,CLOCK) WITH A WHISTLE AND A BANG. SO THE NEXT NIGHT THE
YOUTHS , AS THE DEVILS WERE ABOUT TO LEAVE AT THE COCK,S CROW,
KNOCKED ONE INSTRUMENT OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE DEVILS.
BUT WHEN THEY REACHED THE INSTRUMENT IT WAS JUST A LARGE CHARRED
PIECE OF WOOD. THE NEXT NIGHT THE DEVILS CAME BACK AND BEGGED
CKRYVEL, KRYVEL GIVE US BACK OUR FIDDLE" BUT THE YOUTHS DID NOT
RETURN IT. THE TWO YOUTHS WHO HAD TAKEN IT HAD TO PREPARE THE
STOVE FOR DRYING OUT THE GRAINS BEFORE THE THRASHING. THEY THREW THE
CHARRED WOOD INTO THE STOVE BUT IT WOULDN,T BURN. SO THEY WENT TO
BED AND THE NEXT MORNING THE TWO WERE FOUND STRANGLED.
Submitter comment:
THIS STORY WAS TOLD TO MY GRANDMOTHER BT HER GRANDMOTHER WHEN SHE WAS
A CHILD. THE TIME IS APPROXIMATELY THE TURN OF THE CENTURY WHEN THE
STORY WAS TOLD. THE STORY TOOK PLACE AROUND 1850.
SHE TOLD MY GRANDMOTHER THAT SHE ACTUALLY SAW THESE DEVILS.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): DO NOT TAKE THINGS THAT DO NOT BELONG TO YOU -PAYMENT CAN BE COSTLY ; THEFT FORM DEVIL
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon |
KENTUCKY BEAR
THERE WAS A MOTHER AND FATHER IN KENTUCKY WHOSE THREE-YEAR-OLD
DAUGHTER CAME UP MISSING ONE DAY. SHE WAS SEARCHED FOR FOR FOUR DAYS
AND NOT FOUND. ON THE FOURTH DAY A MAN CAME TO HER HOUSE AND TOLD HER
PARENTS THAT HE WOULD SHOW THEM WHERE THEIR DAUGHTER WAS IF THEY
WOULD GIVE HIM A MEAL. THEY FED HIM AND AFTERWARD HE LED THEM INTO
THE WOODS. THE GIRL WAS FOUND NEAR A LOG WHERE A BEAR WAS BRINGING
HER FOOD. THE GIRL SAID THAT THE BEAR HAD BEEN TAKING CARE OF HER AND
FEEDING HER. NOT KNOWING ANY BETTER THE GIRL THOUGHT THE BEAR WAS A
DOG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ;
Keyword(s): DAUGHTER ; MISTAKEN IDENITY (BEAR THOUGHT TO BE A DOG) ; TO GIVE IS TO RECEIVE--STRANGER GIVEN MEAL FOR SHOWING PLACE OF LOST
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 11-20-1968
NEW YEAR CUSTOM
THERE IS A GREEK TRADITION WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BRING
GOOD LUCK. THERE IS A PASTRY CALLED PETA WHICH IS BAKED
IN A SQUARE PAN. BEFORE IT IS BAKED THE COOK PUTS
MONEY RANGING FROM A NICKEL TO FIFTY CENTS. IT USED TO BE
A FIFTY CENT PIECE BUT NOW THAT MONEY IS PRECIOUS IT'S GETTING
SMALLER AND SMALLER. ANYWAYS, THEY PUT THIS COIN IN THE DOUGH
AND BAKE IT. THE PERSON WHO GETS THE PIECE WITH THE COIN
WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK THAT WHOLE YEAR. THE CEREMONY HAPPENS ON
NEW YEAR'S DAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): DOUGH CALLED "FILO" ; GIFTGIVING ; GREEK CHEESE IS CALLED "FETA"
Date learned: 02-23-1972