Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Italian returned 32 results.
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RIDDLE
Q: WHAT IS A BIGAMIST?
A: AN ITALIAN FOG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): SATIRE OF ITALIAN PRONUNCIATION OF ENGLISH
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- W4OO |
Date learned: 10-15-1972
CHRISTMAS EVE CUSTOM
THE ITALIANS NEVER DO DISHES AFTER CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; FOOD ; holiday ; Italian
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Christmas Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Night mealsSupper |
Date learned: 11-17-1968
IN A LITTLE ITALIAN CITY THERE LIVED A VERY POOR
MAN. ALL HE OWNED WAS AN OLD BICYCLE OF WHICH HE WAS
VERY PROUD. ONE DAY HE WENT TO A SMALL GROCERY
STORE TO BUY SOME VEGETABLES AND WHEN HE CAME
BACK, HE FOUND HIS BICYCLE ALL BROKEN INTO LITTLE
PIECES--PROBABLY SOME EVIL BOY DECIDED TO PLAY A
BAD JOKE ON HIM. THE MAN BEGAN TO CRY. AT THAT
TIME, A FUNERAL PROCESSION ARRIVED AND THE MAN JOINED THE
RELATIVES OF THE DEAD WOMAN, CRYING SO PITIFULLY THAT
A FRIEND OF THE DEAD WOMAN STOPPED HIM AND SAID,
"COME ON NOW, SHE WAS OLD AND DECREPIT, YOU KNOW."
TO THAT THE MAN REPLIED, "YES, BUT SHE STILL HAD
TWO PEDALS AND A HANDLE-BAR!"
Submitter comment:
THE ABOVE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE FUNNY STORIES CHILDREN
TELL IN ITALY. I REMEMBER HEARING AND TELLING ONE
SIMILAR TO THIS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSLATION---ITALIAN VERSION ON 5 X 8 CARD.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 10-06-1971
ITALIAN JOKE
AN ITALIAN PUT AN ADVERTISEMENT IN THE PAPERS THAT HE HAD DISCOVERED
A METHOD OF WRITING WITHOUT PEN AND INK, AND THAT HE WOULD GIVE THE
SECRET FOR A SMALL FEE. IN A FEW DAYS HE WAS FLOODED WITH REQUESTS
FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, TO WHICH HE REPLIED: "WRITE WITH PENCIL."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): TRICKSTER, ITALIAN
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote ITAL |
Date learned: 02-25-1982
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Mnemonic Device
Memory Verse:
In Italian:
"Le Vocali"
Ah, che cose strombe!
L'A con due gambe;
L'E con tre braccia;
L'O tondo in faccia.
Curioso e L'U
Che guarda in su;
Ma il piu carino
L'I col puntino.
In English:
Oh, what strange things!
The A with two legs;
The E with three arms;
The O's round face.
Different is the U that looks up;
But the cutest one is the I with the dot.
Submitter comment:
The TIalian children use this little rhyme to help remember the vowels
Data entry tech comment:
Motif and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C534] is crossed out. No replacement
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; VALENTES MENS FORMALWEAR
Keyword(s): Italian ; MEMORY ; MNEMONIC ; Mnemonic Device ; RHYME ; Vowels
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MNEM |
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Superstition
Italian Superstition:
Our family doesn't believe this, but my grandmother and some relatives do: when a pregnant woman craves for some specific food, and doesn't satisfy this crave, she will get a beauty mark in the shape of that food somewhere on her body. My cousin has a beauty mark similar to a pork chop and her mother claims to have craved for pork.
Data entry tech comment:
motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Reference
Original Bn [P680] crossed out and replaced with current classification
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; Myself
Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; CHILD ; Craving ; ETHNIC ; FOOD ; Italian ; Old Wives Tale ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): Reference
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Superstition: Pregnancy
Birth Marks:
After giving borth to a child, an Italian woman will ask the doctor, "are there any marks?" Immediately, if there were any, they would disappear.
Submitter comment:
This is another Italian "in" story
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P740.542, F542] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): BABY ; BIRTH ; Birth Mark ; CURE ; CURSE ; Delivery ; ETHNIC ; Italian ; PREGNANCY ; REMEDY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Play on Words
A specimen is an Italian astronaut.
Submitter comment:
I heard this while I was at Sacred Heart Seminary
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Submission card located in pile marked These don't sound traditional. Do not file yet.
Keyword(s): ETHNIC ; Italian ; Language ; PUN ; Spaceman ; Specimen ; TRANSLATION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Retort
Old saying for Italians when they are astonished is "Mama Mia."
It means "My Mother."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [S550] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; ETHNIC ; Italian ; RETORT ; Saying
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Proverb
So many heads, So many opinions.
Submitter comment:
Italian Proverb
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P800] crossed out. Replaced with current classficiation.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; ETHNIC ; HEAD ; Italian ; Maxim ; Opinion ; PROVERB ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Ethnic: Italian
IT IS AN OLD ITALIAN CUSTOM THAT DURING LENT NOTHING MADE FROM EGGS
ARE ( IS ) EATEN UNTIL HOLY SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
Submitter comment:
THIS CUSTOM WAS PASSED TO THE INFORMANT FROM HER MOTHER AND
ORIGINALLY CAME FROM SOUTHERN ITALY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated / 02-24-2011 / TRD
Where learned: NEW YORK ; PORT CHESTER
Keyword(s): ABSTINENCE ; CUSTOM ; Eggs ; ETHNIC ; FOOD ; holiday ; Italian ; Lent ; RELIGIOUS ; SELF-SACRIFICE
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Saturday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Christian Chronology |
Date learned: 11-28-1970
Verse
Worry:
Mama mia (means my mother)
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [S550] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Keyword(s): Expression ; Italian ; MOTHER ; Term ; Worry
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
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