Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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APPEAL
JACK FELL DOWN AND BROKE HIS CROWN,
WHAT YOU THINK OF YOURSELF IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT
OTHERS THINK OF YOU.
Submitter comment:
SHE USED PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH IN EXPLAINING THIS ITEM.
THE INFORMANT SEEMS TO REMEMBER THIS ITEM FROM HER EARLY ADOLESCENT
YEARS IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE SHE LIVED FOR 16 YEARS. SHE
WAS CUNNING IN THE WAY SHE TOLD THIS ITEM. HER ASSOCIATES IN THE
ROOM MAY HAVE PROMOTED THIS ACTION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): MORALE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00001960S
BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU LEAVE HERE
DON'T LET THE DOOR KNOB HIT YOU
WHERE THE GOOD LORD SPLIT YOU.
THIS MEANS GOOD-BYE AND BE CAREFUL, OUT HERE IN THIS WORLD.
Submitter comment:
SHE USED A PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH IN EXPLAINING THIS ITEM.
THE INFORMANT SEEMS TO REMEMBER THIS ITEM FROM HER EARLY ADOLESCENT
YEARS IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE SHE LIVED FOR 16 YEARS. SHE
WAS CUNNING IN THE WAY SHE TOLD THIS ITEM. HER ASSOCIATES IN THE
ROOM MAY HAVE PROMOTED THIS ACTION.
THIS IS A VERSE THAT SHE REMEMBERED FROM MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): CROTCH OR BUTTOCKS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech |
Date learned: 00001960S
IRISH GIFT GIVING CUSTOM
ALWAYS PUT MONEY (SILVER) IN A WALLET OR PURSE THAT YOU ARE
GIVING AS A GIFT. THIS SHOWS YOU WISH THE PERSON TO BE
PROSPEROUS.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS CUSTOM FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFT-GIVING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 11-22-1974
NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM
INFORMANT'S GRANDMOTHER, ON NEW YEAR'S EVE GOES OUT THE BACK DOOR
AT 11:59 AND SLOWLY WALKS TO THE FRONT DOOR AND WALKS IN AT 12:01
SIGNIFYING THE END OF THE OLD YEAR AND THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW
YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOLS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve |
Date learned: 11-22-1974
POLISH EASTER CUSTOM - WIGILIA
ON EASTER SATURDAY A BASKET CONTAINING KIELBASA (SAUSAGE),
SALT AND PEPPER, VINEGAR, WATER, EGGS, BUTTER, HAM, BACON AND
HORSERADISH IS TAKEN TO THE CHURCH AND BLESSED BY THE PRIEST.
THEN ON EASTER SUNDAY MORN A SOUP IS MADE FROM ALL OF THESE
INGREDIENTS AND EATEN BY THE FAMILY.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS DONE IN INFORMANT'S HOME AS A CHILD AND IS STILL DONE
AS A PARENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FOOD
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Saturday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 10-15-1974
KNOCK, KNOCK. WHO'S THERE? JOKE
KNOCK, KNOCK. WHO'S THERE? BANANA. BANANA WHO? KNOCK, KNOCK. WHO'S
THERE? BANANA. BANANA WHO? KNOCK, KNOCK. WHO'S THERE? BANANA.
BANANA WHO? KNOCK, KNOCK. WHO'S THERE? BANANA. BANANA WHO? KNOCK,
KNOCK. WHO'S THERE? ORANGE. ORANGE WHO? ORANGE WHO GLAD I DID NOT
SAY BANANA?
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: CA00001968
POLISH PRAYER
ZA TWE MAMO PRACE TROSKI BEDA PROSIE MATKI BOSKI BY CIE
OBDARZYLA ZDROWIEM JAK WOSNE VIECEJ POWIEM. TRANSLATION: FOR ALL
YOUR WORK AND WORRY, I BESEECH THE MOTHER OF GOD TO GIFT YOU
WITH HEALTH AND WHEN I GROW UP I'LL TELL YOU MORE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTIONAL SHIFT: GIFT AS VERB ; PIOUS GOOD WISHES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival C840.643 Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 21 equinox to June 20 |
Date learned: 11-07-1974
POLISH CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
AT CHRISTMAS, THE FATHER SNEAKS OUTSIDE AND PROCEEDS TO KNOCK ON
THE DOORS AND WINDOWS. THE MOTHER WARNS THE CHILDREN THAT THE WOLF
IS COMING. THE FATHER ENTERS THE HOUSE THROUGH THE BACK DOOR. HE
HAS A BLANKET OVER HIS HEAD AND A "TURON" IN HIS HANDS. A "TURON"
IS THE HEAD OF A WOLF ON A STICK WITH FLAPPING JAWS CONTROLLED BY
A ROPE. THE FATHER CHASES THE KIDS AROUND THE ROOM THEN SNEAKS
BACK OUTSIDE.
Submitter comment:
MOST OFTEN THE "TURON" IS HOMEMADE AND PASSED ON FROM FATHER TO
ELDEST SON. THIS WAS DONE BY MY GRANDFATHER IN DETROIT BUT MY
FATHER DOES NOT OBSERVE THE CUSTOM ANYMORE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MASK
Date learned: 10-10-1974
POLISH CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
THE FAMILY ALWAYS SETS AN EXTRA PLACE AT THE TABLE FOR THE
CHRISTMAS MEAL IN CASE ANYONE COMES IN NEED OF FOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CHARITY HOSPITALITY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below. |
Date learned: 10-10-1974
POLISH PROVERB
GOSC W DOMU; BOG W DOMU. TRANSLATION: GUEST IN THE HOUSE; GOD IN
THE HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS ; HOSPITALITY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-10-1974
POLISH PLAY RHYME
TU, TU, TU, KOKASZKA JUBALA JAGELKI; TU, TU, TU, FRU PAJEHALA DO
ZICZKI PO TRZEWICKI. TRANSLATION: HERE, HERE, HERE, THE BANTAM WAS
PECKING CHERRIES; HERE, HERE, HERE, FRU, SHE WENT TO THE LAKE FOR
SLIPPERS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS ITEM FROM HER MOTHER AND USED IT WITH HER
CHILDREN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL: CHICKEN
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: 09-20-1974
AH, AH, KOTKI DWA, SZARE BURE OBY DWA. TRANSLATION: OH, OH, KITTENS
TWO, GRAY AND BLACK ARE THE TWO
Submitter comment: RECITED WHILE ROCKING INFANT TO SLEEP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; COLORS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.366 Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 09-20-1974
FLY LEAF PROSE
IN CASE OF FIRE, THROW IN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BOOK ; FLY-LEAF INSCRIPTION
| Subject headings: | Z220 |
Date learned: CA00001968
FLY LEAF PROSE
IF YOU ARE HUNGARY, EAT THIS BOOK; IT IS FULL OF BOLOGNA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PUNS ON PLACE NAMES
| Subject headings: | Z220 |
Date learned: CA00001968
JUMP ROPE RHYME
1, 2, 3, ALARRY;
4, 5, 6, ALARRY;
7, 8, 9, ALARRY;
10 ALARRY, KINGDOM COME.
Submitter comment: SPELLING OF ALARRY CAME FROM INFORMANT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 10-16-1974
PRACTICAL JOKE
WHEN A NEW WORKER BEGINS TO CLEAN TOILETS FOR THE FIRST TIME AT
COBO HALL, HE IS ASKED REPEATEDLY BY THE OLDER WORKERS IF HE HAS
A STATE BOARD OF HEALTH CARD. IF HE SAYS NO, WHICH HE ALMOST
CERTAINLY WILL, HE IS REPRIMANDED FOR NOT TELLING THE SUPERVISOR
AND RISKING A POSSIBLE FINE AGAINST THE COMPANY.
Submitter comment:
THIS QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKED OF ALL WORKERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, AT
LEAST SINCE I STARTED WORK THERE 3 1/2 YEARS AGO.I FOUND OUT FROM
OTHER WORKERS THAT THEY ALSO WERE ASKED THIS QUESTION. THE LONGEST
WORKING EMPLOYEE ASKED WAS A WORKER WITH 10 YEARS SENIORITY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOAX PRACTICAL JOKE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
COUNTING OUT RHYME
AKA BAKA SODA CRACKER;
AKA BAKA BOO.
AKA BAKA SODA CRACKER,
OUT GOES YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NONSENSE WORDS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: CA00001961
COUNTING-OUT RHYME
MY MOTHER AND YOUR MOTHER WERE HANGING CLOTHES,
MY MOTHER PUNCHED YOUR MOTHER IN THE NOSE,
WHAT COLOR WAS THE BLOOD? (THE PERSON TO WHOM THE CALLER IS POINTING
NAMES A COLOR) EXAMPLE-BLUE
B-L-U-E SPELLS BLUE AND I WILL NOT PICK YOU.
Submitter comment:
THIS COUNTING-OUT RHYME WAS A FAVORITE OF THE KIDS IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE SELDOM WOULD A COLOR BE CHOSEN VERY OFTEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SPELLING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: CA00001961
HOW TO KEEP A BELLY-BUTTON FROM GROWING OUTWARD
IF YOU TAPE A SILVER DOLLAR TO A YOUNG NEWBORN'S NAVEL IT WILL
PREVENT THE NAVEL FROM GROWING OUTWARD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT DIDN'T BELIEVE IT WORKED EVEN THOUGH HER MOTHER TOLD HER
IT DID.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-00-1973
MNEMONIC DEVICE
ST. WAPINAC-L
Submitter comment:
THIS IS WHAT HE USED TO REMEMBER THE PRESIDENT'S CABINENT AS IT WAS
IN THE YEAR 1938.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MNEM |
Date learned: 10-00-1973