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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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BREAD

IN GREECE IT IS BAD LUCK TO PLACE A LOAF OF BREAD UPSIDE DOWN
ON THE TABLE

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.21

Date learned: 11-28-1972

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BELIEF LUCK

IF YOU BEND BACKWARDS AND KISS THE BLARNEY STONE IN IRELAND YOU WILL
HAVE GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CONTORTION ; POSITION DIRECTION BACKWARDS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck P881.1
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 06-00-1972

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POLISH JOKE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

Q: HOW DOES A POLLACK SPELL FARM ?
A: E I E I O

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): REFRAIN FROM "OLD MC DONALD HAD A FARM," A CHILDREN'S SONG

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Poli

Date learned: 06-00-1972

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RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

THE JEWISH PEOPLE FAST ON THE HOLIDAY YOM KIPPUR.

Submitter comment: YOM KIPPUR OR THE DAY OF ATONEMENT IS THE HOLIEST DAY OF THE YEAR.
GOD DECIDES ON THIS DAY WHO SHALL LIVE AND WHO SHALL DIE.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON

James Callow Keyword(s): FASTING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Autumn Fall Harvest Thanksgiving
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

Date learned: 00-00-1950

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RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

THE JEWISH PEOPLE LEAVE A GLASS OF WATER OUTSIDE WHEN GOING TO A
FUNERAL. THEY WASH THEIR HANDS WITH IT WHEN THEY RETURN FROM THE
CEMETARY.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON

James Callow Keyword(s): CEMETERY ; PURIFICATION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 00-00-1950

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MURDER PROSE

THIS CHICK AND GUY IN CLEVELAND WERE OUT IN THE PARK AND THE
GUY IN THE
CAR THOUGHT HE HEARD NOISES, BUT DIDN'T PAY ANY ATTENTION. THE
SECOND TIME HE HEARD IT, HE KNEW IT WAS A NOISE BEING DONE
DELIBERATELY.
IT KEPT UP AND THE GUY DECIDED TO GET OUT; BY THE WAY, THIS WAS A
CONVERTIBLE. HE TOLD THE GIRL TO LOCK THE DOORS AND GET DOWN ON THE
FLOOR. HE STEPS OUT. SO HE'S OUTSIDE, NOW THIS IS PRETTY LATE AT
NIGHT. SHE GOT PRETTY WORRIED BECAUSE HE DIDN'T COME BACK.
THE NEXT THING
SHE KNOWS IS A FAINT SCRATCHING ON THE TOP OF THE CAR IN A
RHYTHMIC MOTION.
SHE DOESN'T DO ANYTHING, ONLY EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID.
LATER ANOTHER
CAR PULLS UP, SHE COULDN'T SEE WHO IT WAS. THEN SHE SAW A
FLASHLIGHT FLASHING AROUND IN THE CAR. IT WAS A COP. HE SAID
FOR HER
TO GET OUT. THE COP SAID DON'T LOOK BEHIND YOU AND GET INTO
MY CAR.
SHE DID, BUT HER CURIOSITY WAS AROUSED. IT WAS JUST THE BREAK OF
DAWN, SO THERE WAS JUST ENOUGH LIGHT. SO SHE LOOKED BEHIND AND
SAW HER
BOYFRIEND HANGING BY HIS NECK FROM A TREE SWINGING ABOVE THE CAR.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL

James Callow Keyword(s): OHIO ; PARKING

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being

Date learned: 09-25-1972

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DISTILLERY PROSE

THIS ONE HAPPENED IN NORTH CAROLINA. THERE WAS THIS GUY NAMED LOSS
HONEYCUTT
AND HIS PROFESSION WAS BREEDING BULLS. ON THE SIDE HE RAN A
DISTILLERY. BACK IN THOSE TIMES, I THINK IT WAS THE EARLY 1900'S, AS
FAR AS POLICEMEN AND GUYS LIKE THAT, THEY DIDN'T FIND OUT TOO MUCH
ABOUT
DISTILLERIES, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE ILLEGAL AND EVERYTHING. BUT
BY MOUTH OR WHATEVER, THE AUTHORITIES FOUND OUT THAT LOSS WAS RUNNING
THIS DISTILLERY AND MAKING PRETTY GOOD MONEY ON IT. SO ONE DAY TWO
LOCAL
SHERIFFS DECIDED TO PAY LOSS A VISIT. IT SO HAPPENS THAT THE
POLICE
WERE SEEN GOING IN THERE TO BREAK UP THE STILL AND OF COURSE A
CROWD BEGAN TO GATHER OUTSIDE HIS HOUSE. AND THEY WAITED AND WAITED,
BUT THE TWO SHERIFFS NEVER CAME OUT. THE PEOPLE GOT KIND OF CONCERNED
AND WENT TO THE POLICE STATION AND TOLD THEM THAT THE TWO SHERIFFS
HADN'T COME OUT OF THE HOUSE. SO THE POLICE INVESTIGATED. THEY WENT
INTO THE HOUSE AND DOWN INTO THE BASEMENT WHERE THE STILL WAS LOCATED
AND THERE WAS LOSS MAKING WHISKEY. IT SO HAPPENS THAT LOSS HAD DONE
AWAY WITH THE TWO SHERIFFS AND HAD MADE WHISKEY OUT OF THEM.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL

James Callow Keyword(s): CANNIBALISM: PEOPLE DISTILLED INTO WHISKEY

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being

Date learned: 09-25-1972

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CHILDREN'S VERSE

ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE GREEN. / MY FACE IS FUNNY BUT YOUR'S IS A
SCREAM.

Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; DORM ; UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR

James Callow Keyword(s): INSULT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse

Date learned: 09-23-1972

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CHILDREN'S BELIEF

IF YOU WEAR YOUR SOCKS TO BED, YOUR FEET WILL NOT GROW.

Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; DORM ; UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR

James Callow Keyword(s): SLEEPWEAR ATTIRE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 09-22-1972

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TOOTH ACHE BELIEF

IF YOU WEAR TIGHT ROLLERS IN YOUR HAIR, IF WILL GIVE YOU TOOTH ACHES.

Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; DORM ; UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR

James Callow Keyword(s): HIDDEN CONNECTION ; TOOTHACHE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 09-22-1972

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SMOKY THE BEAR RIDDLE

HOW COME SMOKY THE BEARS' WIFE CAN'T ET PREGNANT? EVERYTIME SHE
GETS HOT. HE HITS HER WITH A SHOVEL.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL

James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL OF FIRE PREVENTION

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 09-28-1972

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GRAFFITI

FLUSH TWICE, IT'S A LONG WAY TO THE MESS HALL.

Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; DORM ; UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR ; WINDSOR

James Callow Keyword(s): SATIRE OF QUALITY OF FOOD IN THE INSTITUTION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture

Date learned: 09-24-1972

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GRAFFITI

DON'T CHANGE DICKS IN THE MIDDLE OF A SCREW. SO VOTE FOR NIXON IN 72.

James Callow Keyword(s): PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ; PUN ; SLANG

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 09-27-1972

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Proverb

NO SENSE CRYING OVER SPILT MILK.

Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; DORM ; UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR

James Callow Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 09-24-1972

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CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

IN THE EVENING ON CHRISTMAS EVE A KNOCK WOULD BE HEARD AT THE DOOR.
UPON OPENING IT CANDY WOULD BE THROWN INTO THE ROOM BY WHOM WAS
BELIEVED TO BE ST. NICHOLAS. IT WAS A SIGN THAT THE CHILDREN IN THE
HOUSE HAD BEEN GOOD AND COULD EXPECT A VISIT FROM SANTA CLAUS THE
NEXT MORNING.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector share the same surname.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): GIFTGIVING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F122
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20

Date learned: 10-14-1972

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BAD LUCK

NOBODY COULD TOUCH MY FATHER'S RAZOR STRAP BECAUSE IT WAS BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S FATHER ACTUALLY BELIEVED THIS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.1

Date learned: 10-14-1972

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CURE FOR WARTS

TO GET RID OF WARTS, RUB A FRESHLY PICKED MUSHROOM ON THE WART AND
THROW IT OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER. THE WART WILL DISAPPEAR IN 2 DAYS.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID AN OLD GERMAN TOLD HIM THIS WHEN HE WAS} YOUNG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): LEFT DIRECTION POSITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 10-03-1972

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PROVERB

BE HONEST, MAKE FRIENDS AND HELP PEOPLE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID THIS WAS THE PHILOSOPHY OF A MAN HE WORKED FOR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CHARITY

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 10-12-1972

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CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

AT CHRISTMAS A SPECIAL WAFER WITH A HOLY PICTURE ON IT WAS PASSED
AROUND THE DINNER TABLE AND EVERYONE TOOK A BITE. IT WOULD BRING
GOD'S BLESSING ON EVERYONE

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT'S FAMILY DID THIS WHEN SHE WAS SMALL

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MONROE

James Callow Keyword(s): OPLATKI

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F122
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20

Date learned: 10-07-1972

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LOOP THE SPOOK

ON ROMEO PLANK ROAD AND 33 IN ROMEO, MICHIGAN, THERE IS A LITTLE
BRIDGE. YOU PARK YOUR CAR ON THE BRIDGE AND WAIT. A RED LIGHT COMES
OUT OF THE FIELD AND TOWARD YOUR CAR. YOUR CAR STARTS ROCKING. THE
EIGHT FOOT TALL GHOST OF A MAN WHO WAS MURDERED OUT THERE LIVES
UNDER THE BRIDGE AND COMES OUT WHENEVER A CAR COMES.

Submitter comment:

DID NOT BELIEVE THE LEGEND

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; St. Clair Shores

James Callow Keyword(s): MYSTERIOUS LIGHT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Abnormal in size
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

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