Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Red returned 289 results.
IF YOU PLAY WITH PUPPY, PUPPY WILL LICK YOUR MOUTH.
Submitter comment:
THIS MIGHT SOUND A LITTLE STRANGE, TILL YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
THE THINGS YOU DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO SEE, YOU SHOULDN'T DO AT ALL
BECAUSE THERE'S BOUND TO BE A MISTAKE SOMETIME, TO CAUSE YOUR
REPUTATION TO FALL.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): EMPLOYMENT ANIMALS DOGS
James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION PREDICTION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 02-01-1972
IF YOU'RE TOO SWEET A MAN, EVERYBODY WILL LICK YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): LOLLIPOP NAIVETE
James Callow Keyword(s): GENTLE DISPOSITIONS TEMPT PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM ; OBSERVATION PREDICTION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 09-23-1971
Entry filtered.
( IRISH PROVERB )
IN ALL THINGS TWO.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS AN OLD IRISH SAYING. INFORMANT GOT THIS FROM HER FRIEND WHO'
( WHOSE ) GRANDMOTHER SAID IT. THE GRANDMOTHER WAS MARY DELAHAUTE WH
YATES ( YEATS ) WROTE HIS LOVE POEMS TO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER
Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS ; OBSERVATION PREDICTION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
POLISH PROVERB
IN A LITTLE WHILE, MANY SOULS WILL FACE GOD.
TRANSLATION OF
QUIELE DUSZ STANIE ZA CHWILE, PRZED BAGIEM. (POLISH)
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A SAYING OFTEN USED BEFORE A BATTLE. MY FATHER REMEMBERS THI
FROM POLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): DEATH ; PREDICTION ; WAR
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- War BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-26-1967
IN GOD WE TRUST, ALL OTHERS PAY CASH.
Submitter comment: BLASON POPULAIRE AGAINST CATHOLICS}
Data entry tech comment:
ALTHOUGH THIS IS IDENTIFIED BY THE COLLECTOR AS A BLASON POPULAIRE
AGAINST CATHOLICS, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE OBJECT OF THE PROVERB IS
MORE PROBABLY BELIEVERS IN GOD IN GENERAL, AND THEN ONLY IF "IN GOD
WE TRUST" IS SAID MOCKINGLY OR SARCASTICALLY.
Where learned: SARAH FISHER HOME FOR CHILDREN
Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; CREDIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: 03-00-1970
WEATHER RHYME
IN THE MORNING MOUNTAINS,
IN THE EVENING FOUNTAINS.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; CONTRAST ; ELLIPSIS ; FEMININE RHYME ; OBSERVATION PREDICTION ; PARALLELISM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 09-07-1969
Entry filtered.
A SWARM OF BEES IN MAY
IS WORTH A LOAD OF HAY;
A SWARM OF BEES IN JUNE,
IS WORTH A SILVER SPOON.
A SWARM OF BEES IN JULY,
ISN'T WORTH A FLY.
Submitter comment:
ANOTHER OLD SAYING OF HIS FATHER, CLOSELY LINKED TO THE
TIME WHEN BEES PRODUCE THE MOST HONEY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COUPLET ; HONEY ; INCOME ; MONTHS OF YEAR ; OBSERVATION ; PREDICTION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 03-10-1968
KNOCK KNOCK JOKE
KNOCK, KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
GOLIATH
GOLIATH WHO?
GO-LIATH DOWN, YOU LOOKETH TIRED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRANKLIN VILLAGE
James Callow Keyword(s): GO LIE DOWN, YOU LOOK TIRED
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00001960S
PENCIL TEST
THIS TEST IS TO DETERMINE HOW MANY CHILDREN A WOMAN WILL
BEAR, AND WHAT SEX THEY WILL BE. HOLD A PENCIL WITH A NEEDLE IN
THE ERASER, SUSPENDED BY A THREAD, OVER HER LEFT ARM. THE
ARM IS HELD WITH THE PALM UP, THE HAND IN A FIST. THE PENCIL
WILL CIRCLE OVER THE WOMAN'S ARM BETWEEN CHILDREN, SWING VER-
TICALLY TO INDICATE A GIRL, AND HORIZONTALLY TO INDICATE A BOY.
A DIAGONAL SWING INDICATES TWINS. A STRONG SWING INDICATES A
HEALTHY CHILD WITH A STRONG PERSONALITY.
Submitter comment:
THIS TEST HAS BEEN USED ON ALL THE WOMEN ON MY FATHER'S SIDE
OF THE FAMILY AND HAS WORKED WITH 90 PERCENT ACCURACY. CK[ IRONY
Where learned: IOWA ; ESTHERVILLE
Keyword(s): PREDICTION
James Callow Keyword(s): IRONY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Use of Object Domestic object, wax, needle, dishware BELIEF -- Use of object for determining number of children or sex of unborn |
Date learned: 07-00-1983 ; 00001900CA
IN AFGHANISTAN, THE VARIOUS MOUNTAIN TRIBES PLAY A
POPULAR GAME. THE GAME GOES LIKE THIS.
THE MEN OF THE TRIBE, MOUNTED ON HORSEBACK, ARE EQUIPPED
WITH POLES THAT HAVE A LONG BLADE ON THE END. WHILE ON
HORSEBACK, THEY MUST KILL A YOUNG CALF WITH THEIR POLES
AND CUT OFF THE HEAD. THEN THEY MUST ROLL THE HEAD OF THE
CALF FROM ONE END OF THE FIELD TO THE OTHER, AND THEN
BACK AGAIN TO WHERE THEY STARTED. THE ONE IN POSSESSION
OF THE HEAD AT THIS POINT WINS THE GAME.
Submitter comment:
SINCE THE SOVIET INVASION OF AFGHANISTAN, THE AFGHANIS
NOW USE CAPTURED SOVIET POW'S FOR THIS GAME INSTEAD OF
THEIR CATTLE, WHICH THEY FEEL THAT THEY MUST CONSERVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BEHEADING ; SEVERED HEAD OF HUMAN USED AS BALL ; WAR PRISONERS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- War |
Date learned: 08-00-1987
When a horse rolls on the ground, it means that a
bad storm is coming.
Submitter comment:
Elaine heard this from her maternal grandmother (who was
French - Canadian and lived near Escanaba, Michigan).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): Prediction, rain, unnatural occurrences
Date learned: 00001972CA
If you leave food uneaten at a big family gathering
you will have bad weather the next day. Conversely,
if you make sure that all the food has been consumed,
you will be sure to have good weather on the morrow.
Submitter comment:
Elinor heard this saying while a young girl. She has
been told that it is a German belief. To this day in her
family, the phrase "Finish it so it'll be a good day
tomorrow" is used to encourage everyone to eat.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRASER
Keyword(s): function, prediction, celebrations, meals
Date learned: 00001950S
Question: What is black and white and red all over?
Answer: A newspaper.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Pun on read - red.
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00001970S
THIS IS A BELIEF IN MY FAMILY, THEY BELIEVE THAT BY KEEPING A
A PIECE OF RED CLOTH IN THEIR POSSESSION THEY ARE PROTECTED
FROM EVIL AND HARM, FOR THIS CLOTH SIGNIFIES THE SHROUD THAT
COVERED JESUS WHEN HE ROSE FROM DEATH AFTER DYING ON THE
CROSS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
Keyword(s): RED BELIEF
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Color BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 00001980S
TICK, TACK, TOE
AND AROUND WE GO
AND WHERE WE STOP
NOBOBY KNOWS.
THE PERSON CLOSES HIS EYES AS HE RECITES THIS VERSE.
HE CIRCLES THE CHART WITH A POINTER AND WHERE THE
VERSE ENDS, HE POINTS TO THE PLACE WHERE HE STOPS.
AS MANY POINTS HE POINTS TO, THAT'S THE AMOUNT HE
GETS. AT THE END OF THE GAME, THE PERSON WITH THE
MOST POINTS WINS.
Submitter comment: I USED TO PLAY THIS WHEN I WAS SMALL, IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SEE NUMBERED, WHEEL-CHART, DRAWN ON 5 X 8 CARD.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime C500.750 |
Date learned: 11-28-1967
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
Custom
Pounding a preacher is a Methodist custom of welcoming a new preacher by having a fellowship supper and at the end surprising him with the homemade gifts each person has brought.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Covered ; CUSTOM ; Dish ; Fellowship ; FOOD ; Gathering ; GIFTS ; Homemade ; Potluck ; Pounding ; Preacher ; RITUAL ; Supper ; SURPRISE ; tradition
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church |
Custom
Fellowship Supper is a custom that Methodists have of a covered dish supper.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Community ; Covered ; CUSTOM ; Dish ; Fellowship ; FOOD ; Gathering ; Methodist ; Potluck ; RELIGION ; RITUAL ; Supper
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church |