Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Nation returned 121 results.
Superstition
A pregnant woman should mix her urine with Drano. The
resultant color determines the sex of the child.
Unfortunately, the informant (a nurse) forgets which color is
which.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Childbirth, divination
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Use of Object |
TO DETERMINE THE SEX OF A PREGNANT WOMAN'S BABY, TAKE
A NEEDLE AND THREAD IT WITH A LONG PIECE OF THREAD.
HOLD IT BY THE END OF THE THREAD SO THAT THE NEEDLE CAN
SWING FREELY. HOLD IT OVER THE PREGNANT WOMAN'S BELLY.
IF THE NEEDLE SWINGS IN A BACK AND FORTH DIRECTION THEN
THE BABY IS A BOY. IF THE NEEDLE SWINGS IN A CIRCULAR
MOTION, THEN THE BABY IS A GIRL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANAPEL
James Callow Keyword(s): SEX DETERMINATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00001930ca
If a pregnant woman is carrying her baby high
closer to the rib cage then it will be a girl.
If she carries lower, in the pelvic region,
then it is a girl.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
Keyword(s): SEX DETERMINATION
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 00001970S
If the pregnant woman is grouchy then she is going to have a
girl.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
James Callow Keyword(s): SEX DETERMINATION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00-00-1989
If the baby's heartbeat is strong while it is still inside
the mother that it is going to be a boy.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
James Callow Keyword(s): SEX DETERMINATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00-00-1989
One day Toto was at the park with his mother.
"I want to pee," Toto exclaimed in front of many people.
"Toto," his embarrassed mother said. "Don't say you have to pee,
Toto. Say you have to...whistle and I'll know what you mean."
The next day Toto went to a movie with his dad.
"Daddy," Toto said. "I want to whistle."
"Not here," his father replied.
"But father," Toto said again. "I really want to whistle."
"O.K. Toto," his angered father replied. "If you have to whistle,
then whistle quietly in my ear."
Where learned: GREECE
Keyword(s): urination, jokes
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 00001947CA
The souls of ancestors were reborn in other living things or
objects.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): African Reincarnation Myths
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-00-1992
Butter
Someone picks a yellow dandelion flower and places it under
someone's chin. If their chin showed yellow, they liked butter; if
it did not, they did not like butter. After this was established,
the head of the dandelion was popped off into the person's face.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE ; Neighborhood children
James Callow Keyword(s): DIVINATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 00001950S
Electronic Data Systems
My father is a systems analyst that supports General Motors
Corporation. He has many opportunities to work with GM's computer
specialists, Electronic Data Systems. He said that sometimes the
EDS technicians are so unhappy and surly that he renamed "E.D.S.",
"Every Day Sucks."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): Explanation
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Folk etymology SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Why we say "His name is Mud"
The doctor who treated John Wilkes Booth was Dr. Mud. This is
where the saying "his name is Mud" originated. This saying is
widespread and frequently used. An ancestor of Dr. Mud is currently
trying to clear the family name.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND BLANC
James Callow Keyword(s): Lincoln assassination
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate SPEECH -- FamilyGroup |
Date learned: 01-00-1991
To find water that is hidden below ground, hold two willow
branches (or two coat hangers which have been straightened
and then bent into an "L" shape) loosely in your hands. As
you pass over water, the sticks/wires will cross over one
another. When you move past the water, the sticks/wires will
uncross.
Submitter comment:
Elaine swears that her father has been able to discover
water by this method many times. She herself, being skeptical,
tried it and the procedure worked. Elaine has so much faith
in her father's ability, that she plans to have him locate a
new spot to drill a second well on her northern Michigan
property, since the well she has now is sluggish.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): DIVINATION ; dowsing ; PREDICTION ; WATER WITCHING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Water BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00001972CA
Entertainment: Game
A method children use to select teams or "it" is for everyone to hold out both fists and someone counts off on each fist"one-potato, two-potato, three-potato, four. Five-potato, six-potato, seven-potato more." The first fist on which "more" lands must be put behind back. The winner (or loser) can either be the first or last person to have both fists behind his back.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Choose ; COUNTING ; Elimination ; Entertainment ; Fists ; GAME ; POTATO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Entry filtered.
IT IS BAD LUCK TO BURN SASSAFRAS IN YOUR FIREPLACE.
THE SMOKE WILL RISE UP AND SPREAD AROUND AND EVERYBODY
WILL FALL OUT WITH YOU.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ALIENATION ; ARGUMENT
WHEN YOU MOVE DON'T EVER MOVE THE CAT OR THE BROOM.
IF YOU DO, YOU WON'T GET ALONG WITH YOUR NEW
NEIGHBORS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ALIENATION ; ARGUMENT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001928 CA.
IF YOU AND A FRIEND ARE WALKING TOGETHER AND A TREE OR
POLE COMES BETWEEN YOU, BOTH OF YOU MUST SAY "BREAD AND
BUTTER," OR YOU'LL HAVE A FIGHT
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ARGUMENT ALIENATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Formula |
Entry filtered.
( PUNCH LINE FROM A SONG)
THERE ONCE WAS A FAMOUS SKIN DIVER NAMED OSEE WHO WAS
ASKED TO TEST A NEW UNDERWATER FLASHLIGHT, INVENTED BY
A PROFESSOR DAWNSEARLY. TO CONDUCT THE TEST, THE
SKINDIVER, THE PROFESSOR AND SOME PROFESSIONAL TEST
CONDUCTORS TOOK A SHIP TO THE NEAREST MURKY WATERS.
OSEE SUBMERGED IN A DIVING SUIT EQUIPPED WITH AN
INTERCOM. HE TOLD THE MAN ON BOARD THAT HE WAS TURNING
ON THE FLASHLIGHT. THEN, THROUGH THE INTERCOM THEY
ASKED THE FATAL QUESTION: "OSEE, CAN YOU SEE BY THE
DAWNSEARLY LIGHT?"
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): NATIONAL ANTHEM
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 11-02-1970
THE JACKSON WHITES
THERE IS A TOWN IN UPPER NEW JERSEY WHICH WAS FOUNDED
BY REVOLUTIONARY WAR DESERTERS. LATER ON, THIS TOWN
WAS INFILTRATED BY RUNAWAY SLAVES. THE DESCENDANTS
OF THE DESERTERS AND THE SLAVES INTERMARRIED AND FORMED
A CLOSED SOCIETY, BASED ON INTERMARRIAGE. THESE
"JACKSON WHITES" STILL EXIST TODAY AND HAVE RESORTED
TO KIDNAPPINGS OF SMALL INFANTS TO KEEP THE
GENERATIONS FROM DYING OUT. RUMORS HAVE IT, THAT
THEY MURDER, AND RAPE ANY OUTSIDER WHO TRIES TO
INTERFERE INTO THEIR ACTIVITIES.
Submitter comment: LEROY LEARNED THIS BY HIS PARENTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MISCEGENATION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- B439 |
Date learned: 09-25-1967
( PUNCH LINE FROM A SONG)
THERE ONCE WAS A FAMOUS SKIN DIVER NAMED OSEE WHO WAS
ASKED TO TEST A NEW UNDERWATER FLASHLIGHT, INVENTED BY
A PROFESSOR DAWNSEARLY. TO CONDUCT THE TEST, THE
SKINDIVER, THE PROFESSOR AND SOME PROFESSIONAL TEST
CONDUCTORS TOOK A SHIP TO THE NEAREST MURKY WATERS.
OSEE SUBMERGED IN A DIVING SUIT EQUIPPED WITH AN
INTERCOM. HE TOLD THE MAN ON BOARD THAT HE WAS TURNING
ON THE FLASHLIGHT. THEN, THROUGH THE INTERCOM THEY
ASKED THE FATAL QUESTION: "OSEE, CAN YOU SEE BY THE
DAWNSEARLY LIGHT?"
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): NATIONAL ANTHEM SONG: OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE, BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT.
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 11-02-1970