Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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CZECHOSLOVAKIAN CHRISTMAS EVE CUSTOM
SMALL BUNS ARE BAKED FOR THE HOLY SUPPER. BEFORE THE
SUPPER BEGINS, THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY AND SOME MEMBERS OF
THE FAMILY, GO TO THE BARN. THEY GIVE A SMALL BUN TO EACH
OF THE ANIMALS. THEY BELIEVE THE ANIMALS ARE SPECIAL SINCE
THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES PRESENT WITH THE HOLY FAMILY ON
THAT FIRST CHRISTMAS NIGHT. THE FAMILY RETURNS TO THE
HOUSE AND THEIR HOLY SUPPER BEGINS. THEY ALSO PARTAKE OF
THE SMALL BUNS. THE BREAD COMMEMORATES THE CHRIST CHILD
WHO IS THE BREAD OF LIFE.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; SLOATSBURG
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: 00001980S
SLAVIC BREAD TRADITIONS
MY GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS MADE BREADS AND ROLLS FOR CHRISTMAS.
WITH THE LEFTOVER DOUGH WHICH THEY CALLED SLINGSHOT BREAD
SHE WOULD MAKE THE FIGURE OF THE BABY JESUS. THIS IS A
CROATIAN SLAVIK TRADITION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FOOD SCULPTURE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Pastry ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Raw Material ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Finished Product |
Date learned: 00-00-1941
JACK HAGGERTY
MY NAME IS JACK HAGGERTY, FROM GREENVILLE I CAME.
MY VIRTUE'S DEPARTED, AT LAST I PROCLAIM.
THE STRONG DARTS OF CUPID HAVE CAUSED ME MUCH GRIEF.
MY HEART'S TORN ASUNDER, I GET NO RELIEF. MM MM
MY STORY I'LL TELL YOU WITHOUT NO DELAY,
HOW A SWEET LITTLE LASSIE, MY HEART STOLE AWAY.
SHE WAS THE BLACKSMITH'S OWN DAUGHTER, ON THE FLAT RIVER SIDE
AND I ALWAYS INTENDED TO MAKE HER MY BRIDE. MM MM
I WORKED ON THE RIVER, I EARNED QUITE A STEAK.
I WAS STEADFAST AND STEADY, I NE'ER PLAYED THE RAKE.
FROM TOP BAR TO HOUSE TOP, I WAS VERY WELL KNOWN.
THEY CALLED ME JACK HAGGERTY, THE PRIDE OF THE TOWN. MM MM
ONE DAY ON THE RIVER, A LETTER I RECEIVED.
IT CAME FROM MY TRUE LOVE, FROM ME SHE WAS RELIEVED.
SHE'D MARRIED AN OLD LOVE, SHE HAD LONG TIME DELAYED
AND THE NEXT TIME I'D SEE HER, SHE'D NOT BE A MAID. MM MM
TO HER MOTHER JANE TUCKER, I LAY ALL THE BLAME.
SHE CAUSED HER TO FORSAKE ME, GO BACK ON MY NAME.
SHE CAST OFF THE LOGGER, THAT GOD WOULD SOON TIE
AND LEFT ME A WANDERER TO THE DAY THAT I DIE. MM MM
SO ITS FAREWELL FLAT RIVER, FOR ME THERE'S NO REST.
I'LL SHOULDER MY PEEVE, AND I WILL GO WEST.
I'LL GO TO MUSKEGON, SOME COMFORT TO FIND
AND I'LL LEAVE THIS FLAT RIVER AND ITS GAY GIRLS BEHIND. MM MM
COME ALL YOU BOLD RAFTMEN, WITH HEARTS KIND AND TRUE.
DON'T DEPEND ON A WOMAN, YOU'LL GET LEFT IF YOU DO.
BUT IF YOU EVER MEET ONE WITH DARK CHESTNUT CURL,
JUST REMEMBER JACK HAGGERTY AND THE FLAT RIVER GIRL. MM MM
THE SONG JACK HAGGERTY WAS ABOUT A YOUNG MAN FROM OVER BY
THE GREENVILLE AND GRAND RAPIDS AREA. HIS GIRL, THAT HE
THOUGHT HE WAS TO MARRY, RAN OFF AND MARRIED ANOTHER. SO
THIS SONG WAS FORMED AS A WARNING TO THE OTHER RIVER BOYS
TO BEWARE OF WHAT THE GIRLS MIGHT DO TO THEM. AT THAT AGE
IN HISTORY, MANY EVENTS AND LORE WERE LEFT BEHIND IN THE
FORM OF SONGS OR POEMS.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A VERY POPULAR VERSION OF A VERY POPULAR LUMBER-
JACK BALLAD. THERE ARE ABOUT SIX OTHER VERSIONS OF THIS
SHANTY-BOY BALLAD. IT IS MOST COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE FLAT
RIVER GIRL."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HOUGHTON LAKE
Keyword(s): LINE 91900 STAKE FOR STEAK ; LINE 94300 RAFTSMEN FOR RAFTMEN
James Callow Keyword(s): LUMBERJACK
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C230 |
Date learned: 00001930S
IN ORDER TO HARM, SOME PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR PHYSICAL APPEARANCE.
MOST OF THE TIME THEY BECOME DOGS AND THEY ATTACK THEIR ENEMIES.
Submitter comment:
ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, WHEN TWO PERSONS USED TO HAVE AN ARGUMENT,
MOST OF THE TIME ONE OF THEM WOULD SAY TO THE OTHER: "I WILL
GET YOU, BUT IT WON'T BE ME, IT WILL BE SOMETHING ELSE." THIS
"SOMETHING ELSE" WOULD BE THE DOG.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFORMATION SHAPE-SHIFTING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 00-00-1966
SOME "FOSSOYEUR", IN ORDER TO MAKE SOME MONEY, SELL DIRT FROM
CEMETERIES, WATER FROM TOMBS, AND ALSO SKULLS TO "QUIMBOISEURS".
THE "QUIMBOISEURS" USED TO PAY IN A CERTAIN WAY SO THAT THEY DO
NOT GET BAD LUCK OR MISFORTUNE. FOR INSTANCE, THE DIRT AND THE
WATER WERE SOLD IN GLASS CONTAINERS, AND THEY PAY FOR THEM WITH
WHITE ROCKS OR SILVER JEWELRY, AND ON THE OTHER HAND, THE SKULL
WAS PAID FOR WITH GOLD.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
Keyword(s): "FOSSOYEURS" ARE GRAVEDIGGERS ; "QUIMBOISEURS" ARE PEOPLE THAT ; PRACTICE WITCHCRAFT AND ALSO WHITE MAGIC.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Curer |
Date learned: 00-00-1973
MY GRANDFATHER BELIEVED THAT IF YOU THREW A HAIR FROM A HORSE'S
TAIL INTO A RAINBARREL IT WOULD TURN INTO A SNAKE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFORMATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
GHOST STORY
"A LITTLE BOY GOT KILLED BY A TRAIN WHEN HE WAS PLAYING
ON SOME RAILROAD TRACKS. HE HAD BEEN TOLD NOT TO PLAY
ON THE TRACKS. THE TRAIN HIT HIM REAL HARD AND PULLED HIM
FOR A REAL LONG WAY. THE TRAIN CUT HIS BODY UP INTO
HUNDREDS OF PIECES. HIS MOM AND DAD WENT UP AND DOWN THE
TRACKS PICKING UP HIS BODY PARTS. IF YOU LISTEN AT NIGHT
AT THE TIME THE BOY WAS KILLED, YOU CAN HEAR HIM CALLING
TO HIS MOM AND DAD. HE SAYS,'MOMMY, HERE'S A PIECE OF ME.
AND HERE'S ANOTHER PIECE OF ME.'"
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SHAMOKIN
Keyword(s): DISOBEYED PARENTS
James Callow Keyword(s): DISMEMBERMENT BY MISFORTUNATE ACCIDENT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 00001934CA
SONG
MCDONALDS IS YOUR KINDA PLACE
HAMBURGERS IN YOUR FACE.
FRENCH FRIES UP YOUR NOSE,
COKES DOWN YOUR PANTYHOSE.
LAST TIME I WAS THERE,
THEY FRIED MY UNDERWEAR.
MCDONALDS IS YOUR KINDA PLACE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM SOME FRIENDS IN SCHOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MC'DONALD'S IS A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT CHAIN.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001978CA
RAIN RHYME
IT'S RAINING, IT'S POURING,
THE OLD MAN IS SNORING.
BUMPED HIS HEAD
ON THE HEAD OF THE BED
AND COULDN'T GET UP
IN THE MORNING.
Submitter comment:
THIS RHYME WAS SAID WHENEVER THERE WAS A THUNDERSTORM. THE
OLD MAN'S SNORING REFERRED TO THE THUNDER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; REDFORD
James Callow Keyword(s): NAME FOR GOD: OLD MAN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.465 |
Date learned: 00-00-1973
ENGINE #9 TAG RHYME
ENGINE, ENGINE, NUMBER NINE,
GOING DOWN CHICAGO LINE.
IF THE TRAIN FALL OFF THE TRACK,
DO YOU WANT YOUR MONEY BACK?
YES, NO, MAYBE SO?
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS ANOTHER RHYME TO DETERMINE WHO WOULD BE IT IN A
GAME OF TAG. WHATEVER THE CHOICE WAS (YES, NO, MAYBE SO),
WAS SPELLED OUT. WHOEVER THE KING SAYER WAS POINTING
TO ON THE LAST LETTER WOULD NOT BE IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; REDFORD
James Callow Keyword(s): NAME FOR PERSON CHOOSING "IT" IN A GAME: KING SAYER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.500 SQ[ 84 SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
JOKE
DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE ACCIDENT AT THE ARMY CAMP? NO, WHAT
HAPPENED? A JEEP RAN OVER A POPCORN BOX AND KILLED TWO KERNELS.
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN: KERNELS FOR COLONELS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
SAYING
THE WAY TO A MAN'S HEART IS THROUGH HIS STOMACH
Submitter comment:
SHE WAS MARRIED TO THE SAME MAN FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
SHE IS THE MOTHER OF THIRTEEN CHILDREN.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; MOBILE
James Callow Keyword(s): COOKING FOOD ; LOVE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
Entry filtered.
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY IT IS A TRADITION TO EAT
"HOP 'N' JOHN'S." IT IS SAID THAT IF YOU EAT THIS MEAL
YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
Submitter comment:
"HOP 'N' JOHNS" IS A SOUTHERN MEAL MADE UP OF
BLACK EYE PEAS WITH RICE AND HAM CHUNKS.
TO GET THE BEST OF LUCK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
THE BLACK EYE PEAS SHOULD START SOAKING ON
NEW YEAR'S EVE UNTIL MORNING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FOOD
Date learned: 00001970CA
MIKE'S GRANDFATHER WAS ALWAYS CONFUSING HIM WHEN
HE WAS YOUNGER BY SAYING "DO YOU WALK TO WORK OR
TAKE YOUR LUNCH?" AFTER THIS WAS SAID MIKE WAS
DUMBFOUNDED FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): JOKES
James Callow Keyword(s): FORCED DILEMMA
| Subject headings: | Favorites RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00001978CA
THIS VERSE WAS TAKEN FROM MY MOTHER'S GRADE SCHOOL AUTOGRAPH BOOK.
MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB
AND TIED IT TO THE HEATER
AND EVERYTIME IT TURNED AROUND
IT BURNT ITS LITTLE SEATER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): "SEATER" IS A EUPHEMISM FOR BUTTOCKS ; HUMOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1954
THE PROPER WAY TO MAKE AN ACID SOLUTION
"DO AS YOU AUGHTER ADD ACID TO WATER."
Submitter comment:
THIS LITTLE RYME HELPS YOU TO REMEMBER THE SAFE WAY
TO MIX ACID AND WATER TO GET AN ACID SOLUTION.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): CACOGRAPHY: AUGHTER FOR OUGHT TO
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MNEM |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
MY FAMILY HAS ALWAYS SAID THAT (A) PERSON WHOSE BIRTHDAY
IT WAS COULD NOT TALK WHEN EATING HIS PIECE OF CAKE.
CAUSE IF THEY DID, THEIR WISH WOULD NOT COME TRUE. IT
WAS JUST A RULE. IT WAS WHAT WE WERE TOLD. WE NEVER
QUESTIONED IT.
Submitter comment:
IT IS STILL A FAMILY TRADITION TODAY. (EVEN THOUGH MY
WISHES DON'T ALWAYS COME TRUE.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DINING ROOM ; ROSEVILLE
Keyword(s): MUTE
James Callow Keyword(s): FOOD
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- P647 |
Date learned: 00001940S
In order to the determine the sex of an unborn child
tie a needle to a thread and hold it over the stomach
of the woman. If you are very still, the needle will
begin to swing. If it goes in a circular motion, the
child will be a girl. If it goes in a straight line,
then it will be a boy.
Submitter comment:
Elaine says that her father never misses with this
technique, and that he has used it to determine the
sex of chicks while still in the egg. The only time
that they thought he might not be accurate in his
prediction was when his daughter-in-law was pregnant,
and the needle swung both ways. Later the daughter-in-
law gave birth to twins -- a boy and a girl. Elaine
believes that not everyone is capable of using this
method; that you must have a special talent for it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): pendulum, forecasting, anapel
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object BELIEF -- Use of object for determining number of children or sex of unborn |
Date learned: 00001940S
SEASHELL
SEASHELL TACOBELL EASY IVORY OVER.
NOW HERE COMES THE TEACHER WITH ARITHMETIC.
TWO AND TWO EQUAL FOUR AND FOUR EQUAL EIGHT.
NOW LET'S DO OUR EXERCISE.
JUMP UP AND TURN AROUND
TOUCH THE GROUND.
JUMP ROPE RHYME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MODERN FOLKLORE
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00001980S