Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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MOTHER MAY I
WHEN I WAS A CHILD THE GROUP I PLAYED WITH PLAYED " MOTHER MAY I."
IN THIS GAME, ONE PERSON BECAME "MOTHER". THE OBJECT WAS TO GET
FROM ONE LINE TO ANOTHER. YOU DID THIS BY DOING WHAT MOTHER SAID.
MOTHER WOULD TELL YOU TO TAKE A GIANT STEP, PINCH STEP, SIDE STEP,
HOP, SKIP, JUMP OR ANYTHING ELSE. BEFORE THE PERSON COULD DO IT HE
MUST ASK "MOTHER MAY I?" AND SHE WOULD ANSWER "YES, YOU MAY" OR NO
"YOU MAY NOT". SNEAKING STEPS WERE SOMETIMES ALLOWED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POLITENESS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity |
Date learned: 10-07-1972
EASTER BASKETS ARE HIDDEN FROM THE CHILDREN ON THE NIGHT BEFORE.
IN THE MORNING THE CHILDREN FIND THE BASKETS WITH THEIR NAME ON IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Palm Sunday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Season CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter baskets |
Date learned: 10-07-1972
WHEN WE VISITED SOMEONE FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE FIRST OF THE
YEAR WE HAD TO TAKE THEM SOMETHING. IF THE FAMILY WAS NOT
TAKEN SOMETHING THEY WOULD BE IN NEED FOR THE REST OF THE
YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFT-GIVING AT NEW YEAR'S SEASON
Date learned: 10-20-1972
NEVER STEP OVER A BABY, IF YOU DO IT WILL NOT GROW, AT ALL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-05-1972
WHEN A PERSON HAS TRENCH MOUTH CALL THE PREACHER. HE BLOWS INTO
THE PERSON'S MOUTH AND THE TRENCH MOUTH IS CURED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC ; VINCENT'S ANGINA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curer |
Date learned: 10-05-1972
PERSON KNOCKED OUT
HALF CUP OF VINEGAR
TWO TABLESPOONS OF SODA
TAKE THE VINEGAR AND SODA AND DISSOLVE THEM TOGETHER, THIS
MIXTURE WILL WAKE THE PERSON UP QUICKLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON
James Callow Keyword(s): UNCONSCIOUS INSENSIBLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 11-01-1972
HAY FEVER
BUY A BOTTLE OF LYCERINE. PUT IT UP YOUR NOSE WITH A GLASS
TUBE. QUICKLY CLEARS YOUR HAY FEVER FOR SEVERAL HOURS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON
James Callow Keyword(s): LISTERINE? GLYCERINE?
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 11-01-1972
BOWEL TREATMENT
FOUR GLASSES OF WATER, IF THIS FAILS TO WORK TAKE SIX OUNCES OF
COTTON SEED OIL FOLLOWED BY A GLASS OF MILK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON
James Callow Keyword(s): CONSTIPATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 11-02-1972
ACUTE INDIGESTION
TAKE ONE TEASPOON OF CHAMAMILE FLOWER HERBS TO ONE CUP OF HOT
WATER, STEEP THIS MIXTURE AND DRINK IT. IT WILL CAUSE PERSON
TO BELCH IF MIXED PROPERLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON
James Callow Keyword(s): CAMOMILE ; CHAMOMILE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 11-02-1972
PLANT BEANS DURING THE FULL MOON, THAT WAY YOU WILL HAVE BEANS
THAT ARE FULL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F476 BELIEF -- Moon |
Date learned: 11-02-1972
WHEN TAKING A SHOT OF WHISKY DRINK A GLASS OF WATER.} / THIS WILL
KEEP YOU FROM GETTING ULCERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON
James Callow Keyword(s): WHISKEY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-01-1972
FOR CUTS ON YOUR HANDS SPIT WHISKY ON THE CUT. WHISKY WILL
KILL THE GERMS AND PREVENT INFECTION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON
James Callow Keyword(s): WHISKEY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 10-01-1972
IF IT'S RAINING AT SEVEN
IT WILL QUIT BY ELEVEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON
James Callow Keyword(s): FEMININE RHYME ; RHYME: AA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 10-01-1972
SPIDER IN THE EAR
PUT SOME WATER AND OLIVE OIL OR CASTER OIL TOGETHER AND POUR IN
EAR AND SPIDER WILL COME OUT.
Where learned: OHIO ; LUCAS COUNTY
James Callow Keyword(s): CASTOR OIL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 10-03-1972
NEVER THROW OUT THE BACK DOOR WHAT YOU BRING IN THE FRONT, IT
WILL CAUSE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: OHIO ; LUCAS COUNTY
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-03-1972
LUCK
IF A MAN IS THE FIRST PERSON TO KNOCK ON YOUR DOOR ON A MONDAY
MORNING, YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK ALL OF THAT WEEK. HOWEVER, IF A
WOMAN KNOCKS, IT WILL BE BAD LUCK. THE INFORMANT SAID THIS ACTUALLY
HAPPENED TO HER MOTHER ONCE. INFORMANT WAS NOT SURE OF ACTUAL
CIRCUMSTANCES.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. Favorites BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-25-1972
OLD LADY MACK
OLD LADY MACK MACK, MACK, ALL DRESSED IN BLACK, BLACK, BLACK. WITH
SILVER BUTTONS, BUTTONS, BUTTONS, ALL DOWN HER BACK, BACK, BACK.
SHE ASKED HER MOTHER, MOTHER, MOTHER, FOR FIFTEEN CENT, CENT, CENT.
TO SEE THE ELEPHANT, ELEPHANT, ELEPHANT, JUMP THE FENCE, FENCE,
FENCE. SHE JUMPED SO HIGH, HIGH, HIGH, TILL HE TOUCH THE SKY, SKY
SKY. AND HE NEVER CAME BACK, BACK, BACK, TILL THE FOURTH OF JULY-
LY-LY. I REMEMBER PLAYING THIS HAND GAME WHEN I WAS ABOUT TEN YEARS
OLD. IT TAKES TWO PEOPLE, BOTH FACING EACH OTHER. WE CLAP OUR
HANDS TOGETHER TO THE RHYME UNTIL WE PICKED UP A GOOD RHYTHM. THE
FIRST ONE TO LOSE THE RHYTHM WAS OUT.
James Callow Keyword(s): FINAL ITERATION
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
OMEN
MY MOTHER SAID, HER MOTHER TOLD HER, THAT WHENEVER SHE THOUGHT SHE
HEARD SOMEONE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR AND THERE WAS NO ONE THERE, IT WAS
A SIGN OF SOMEONE DEAD COMING TO GET YOU. MY GRANDMOTHER SAID THE
YET" AND THE DEAD PERSON WILL RETURN TO HIS GRAVE.
James Callow comment: A LINE OF TEXT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN LOST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MYSTERIOUS SOUND
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-24-1972
PROVERB
A MAN WHO KNOWS AND KNOW THAT HE KNOWS, FOLLOW HIM.
James Callow Keyword(s): ITERATION WORD PLAY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |