Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for PLANT returned 107 results.
PLANTING BELIEF
WHEN YOU WANT TO PLANT A ROSE BUSH FROM ONE OF ITS STEMS, CUT THE
STEM WITH FIVE LEAVES SHOWING; THEN PLANT THE STEM WITH ONLY TWO OF
THE LEAVES ABOVE GROUND AND THE ROSE BUSH WILL TAKE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): NUMBER ; PLANTING CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 04-04-1972
PLANTING RULE
IT IS A CUSTOM IN THE VILLAGE OF WENGEN, SWITZERLAND THAT YOU NEVER
PLANT BEANS WHILE THE MOON IS GROWING (THE PHASE FROM A NEW
MOON TO A FULL MOON). IF THIS RULE IS VIOLATED, THE BEANS
"JUST DON'T GROW."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; COLLECTORS HOME
Keyword(s): PLANTING CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: 10-28-1970
LIGHT TREE
WHAT TREE CAN YOU HOLD IN YOUR HAND?
A PALM TREE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOES NOT REMEMBER WHERE HE LEARNED THIS
Where learned: WASHINGTON DC
Keyword(s): BODY PART PLANT STRENGTH ; CONUNDRUM
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 09-12-1967
RIDDLE
WHAT IS ORANGE AND WRITES?
A BALL POINT CARROT.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): COLOR ; PLANT VEGETABLE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-26-1967
HARDER TO BEND A TREE WHEN THE TRUNK IS BIG AND OLD
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY INFORMANT
Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS ; OLD AGE? ; PLANT METAPHOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 12-04-1965
CASPERILLA TEA IN THE SPRING WILL THIN THE BLOOD.
Data entry tech comment:
BURDOCK ROOT TEA
SASSAFRAS TEA
OTHER REFERENCES IN ARCHIVE RECOMMEND THE USE OF
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): PLANT CURE ; PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE ; SARSAPARILLA TEA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 09-00-1968
UNDERTAKER (COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; ROSES ARE RED, AND OTHER SUCH ASSOCIATIONS (CLASSIFIER'S TITLE)
ROSES ARE RED/ VIOLETS ARE BLUE
MY FATHER IS AN UNDERTAKER/ AND HE'LL GET YOU.
Where learned: SCRAPBOOK
Keyword(s): PARODY ; PLANTS FLOWERS ; QUATRAIN DEATH ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Roses are red and other such associations |
Date learned: 06-00-1965
The Ant and the Grasshopper
All day long all through the warm days of summer, a green
grasshopper went happily about. Whenever the grasshopper was
thirsty, he would sip nectar from any plant he saw. One
afternoon, as the grasshopper was leaping from flower to flower,
he saw beneath him a little black ant struggling to carry a fat
leaf bigger than himself. "Little friend," said the grasshopper,
"What are you doing down there?" "Why, I am carrying this leaf
off to my nest. I must fill my nest with food to last through
winter." "Winter?" said the grasshopper. "Who cares about
winter? Why don't you climb up to this flower and enjoy its
sweet nectar? Winter will take care of itself." "That isn't the
way things work in this world," said the ant. "Winter will be
here soon. The flowers will be gone, and there will be nothing
to eat." "Well, suit yourself," said the grasshopper. And off
he went, singing happily and having no cares at all. The ant
returned to carry each leaf, but he did not mind. He knew he
would have enough to last the winter. Soon the cold weather
came. The ant was snug in his
nest with plenty of food to eat. The grasshopper? He had
nothing to eat and soon was no more. A WISE PERSON KNOWS THAT
SUMMER DOES NOT LAST FOREVER.
Submitter comment: My informant remembers reading this fable in Aesop.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
Keyword(s): Nectar = A sweet liquid secreted by plants
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale BELIEF -- Measure of time Winter |
Date learned: 11-00-1991
MISTLETOE
DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, MISTLETOE IS HUNG FROM
CHANDELIERS, ARCHWAYS, ETC. WHEN A PERSON STANDS
UNDER THIS MISTLETOE, THE FIRST PERSON OF THE
OPPOSITE SEX TO COME UP TO SUCH PERSON, IS TO KISS
HIM OR HER.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM PARENTS WHEN VERY YOUNG.
Keyword(s): PARASITE ; poison ; POISONOUS PLANT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Mistletoe and other greenery |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
MISTLETOE
DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, MISTLETOE IS HUNG FROM
CHANDELIERS, ARCHWAYS, ETC. WHEN A PERSON STANDS
UNDER THIS MISTLETOE, THE FIRST PERSON OF THE
OPPOSITE SEX TO COME UP TO SUCH PERSON, IS TO KISS
HIM OR HER.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM PARENTS WHEN VERY YOUNG.
Keyword(s): PARASITE ; poison ; POISONOUS PLANT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Mistletoe and other greenery |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
PUT ST. JOHN'S WORK (WORT?) IN (A) PILLOW TO FORETELL ONE'S
FUTURE IN DREAMS.
Where learned: HOME ; VIRGINIA, ASSUMED ; NORTH GARDEN
Keyword(s): PLANT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Dreams BELIEF -- Use of Object Plant |
Date learned: 03-29-1969
RIDDLE
WHAT IS FULL OF HOLES YET HOLDS WATER?
-- A SPONGE.
Keyword(s): PLANT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
Custom/Belief
Belief, Custom - Planting:
On the feast day of St. Andrew everyone plants cucumbers to ensure a good planting season for the year.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P535, F643] crossed out and replaced with F535
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cucumbers ; CUSTOM ; HARVEST ; Offering ; PLANT VEGETABLE ; RELIGIOUS ; St. Andrew ; VEGETABLE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 |
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 |
Custom: Holiday
ON CHRISTMAS EVE EACH MEMBER OF THE FAMILY LIGHTS A BAYBERRY
CANDLE AND THEN MAKES A WISH. IF THE CANDLES ARE ALLOWED TO
BURN TO THE ENDS THEN THE WISH WILL COME TRUE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A CUSTOM CARRIED OUT IN THE INFORMANT'S FAMILY FOR
SEVERAL GENERATIONS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated and Motifs added / 02-28-2011 / TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
Keyword(s): Bayberry ; Candle ; CUSTOM ; FAMILY ; Herb ; holiday ; PLANT ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; SYMBOL ; WISH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.2 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Lights and candles |
Custom; Agriculture
Plant corn by the dark of the moon
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; CORN ; Crop ; CUSTOM ; FARMING ; HARVEST ; Lore ; MOON ; PLANT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time F574.82.242.5 |
Custom; Agriculture
Plant cucumbers by the dark of the moon. If you plant them by the light of the moon, they will just make vines.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; Crop ; Cucumber ; Dark ; FARMING ; LIGHT ; Lore ; MOON ; PLANT ; VEGETABLE ; Vine
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Working |
Custom; Agriculture
Plant potatoes in February in the dark of the moon.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; CUSTOM ; Dark ; FARMING ; HARVEST ; MOON ; PLANT ; Potatoes
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time F574.82.640 |
Custom; Agriculture
Plant beans when the sign is in the arms and the moon is dark.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ;
Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; Arms ; Astrological ; ASTRONOMY ; Beans ; Dark ; FARMING ; MOON ; PLANT ; PLANTING ; SIGN ; Sky
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Working |
Custom; Agriculture
Plant beans on Good Friday
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; Beans ; FARMING ; Good Friday ; holiday ; PLANT ; Religious Holiday
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour |