Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Button returned 7 results.
WHY DO SAILOR UNIFORMS HAVE THIRTEEN
BUTTONS ON THEIR PANTS?
THEY REPRESENT THE ORIGINAL THIRTEEN
COLONIES.
Submitter comment: MY HUSBAND GAVE ME THIS EXPLANATION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BUTTONS
| Subject headings: | 686 Specific number by specific number being described CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Lower body and legs |
Date learned: 10-00-1987
SHERLOCK HOLMES RIDDLE
SHERLOCK HOLMES DIES AND GOES TO HEAVEN AND SAINT PETER
WANTS TO FIND OUT IF THIS GUY WAS REALLY THE FAMOUS SHERLOCK
HOLMES. SO HE LINES UP EVERYONE IN HEAVEN (THEY ARE ALL NUDE)
AND ASKS HIM TO PICK OUT ADAM AND EVE. SHERLOCK SAYS, "THOSE
TWO". HOW DID HE KNOW?
-- ADAM AND EVE DID NOT HAVE ANY NAVELS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): BELLY BUTTON
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
Trick
Trick:
A tricky person will point at a button on your clothing and ask "Do you want that?" If you say "yes," then he rips it off and gives it to you. If you are unfortunate enough to say "no," he rips it off and throws it away.
Submitter comment:
Be careful who you pull this trick on. He should not be Dick the Bruiser.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): BULLY ; Button ; CLOTHING ; JOKE ; Prank ; Tease ; TRICK ; TRICKSTER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Retort
Q: So what?
Retort: Buttons on eggs, zippers on bananas.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Bananas ; BUTTONS ; COMEBACK ; Eggs ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Sew ; SEWING ; Wisecrack ; Zippers
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Language
Tongue Twister:
Blue bottom trousers, buttons made of brass, loose around the ankles tight around the ass. Ask me any questions surely I won't tell, if you don't believe me you can go to WELL...hello operator give me number nine; if the line is busy give me back my dime.
Other endings might be "you look like frankenstein" or any "-ine" ending.
Submitter comment:
He learned it in school when he was about 10 or 11
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Taste? Also, Verse?
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Blue ; Button ; Dime ; GAME ; Jump Rope ; Language ; Operator ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; RHYME ; SONG ; TONGUE TWISTER ; Trousers ; WORDPLAY
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
BUTTON BELIEF
YOU SHOULD NOT SEW A BUTTON ON YOUR OWN GARMENTS (ON YOUR BODY)
UNLESS YOU ARE CHEWING SOMETHING.
Submitter comment:
THE REASON IS THAT YOU SEW THINGS ON DEAD PEOPLE. A JEWISH
CUSTOM.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Button ; CUSTOM ; Dead ; Deceased ; Jewish ; Mend ; Sew ; Sew ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | Custom CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 04-00-1968
BUTTONING CLOTHING (COLLECTOR,S TITLE)
CLOTHING BUTTONED THE WRONG WAY SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED, BECAUSE YOUR
LUCK WILL ALSO CHANGE.
Submitter comment:
TOLD TO ME AT HOME
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Button ; CLOTHES ; CLOTHING ; Fashion ; LUCK ; Mismatched ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- P833 P833.22 |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR