The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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PARODY OF "MY BONNIE"

MY BONNIE HAS TUBERCULOSIS, MY BONNIE HAS ONLY ONE LUNG;
SHE SPITS UP THOSE BLOODY RED OYSTERS, AND ROLLS THEM AROUND
WITH HER TONGUE.

COME UP, COME UP, COME UP DEAR DINNER, COME UP} COME UP}
REPEAT CHORUS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): GORE ; SICKNESS

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery

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This a mystery, but anytime my sister got sick, I got a
fever. When her fever went down, so did mine. This happened
when we hadn't even seen each other for a week.

Submitter comment: My sister and I were not twins. She was three and one half
years older than I.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

James Callow Keyword(s): sympathetic sickness

Subject headings:

BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

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To her knowledge, when a child of Greek descent is born, he or
she is given a charm (a golden eye) to protect him or her from what
is called a "matiasma." Roughly translated it means "given the eye"
or "eyed." This happens when someone admires someone out of jealousy
out loud. For example, "His voice is so incredible. I wish I had it."
Once one is eyed, if he or she is not wearing the charm or if one
doesn't say "ftousou" which is a Greek word that means "to spray
saliva," he or she is condemned to sickness. (When said, ftousou
literally sprays saliva in the person's face.)

Submitter comment: This particular superstition is feared by my informant because,
as a child, she was "eyed" and became seriously ill. All was tried to
lower my informant's fever but nothing worked. Finally, with
hesitation, a witch doctor was summoned and the fever disappeared
within a single day. To this day she has believed in the curse and
gave me and her other son the golden eye. However, both have been
misplaced and to this date have not been found.

Where learned: GREECE

Keyword(s): AILMENT ; SICKNESS ; unexplained

James Callow Keyword(s): amulet, talisman

Subject headings:

Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman
BELIEF -- Witch Shaman
BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: 00001943CA

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WHY IS A BARBER POLE RED AND WHITE STRIPED? RED STANDS
FOR BLOOD AND WHITE STANDS FOR BANDAGES BECAUSE THE BARBER
ALWAYS DID THE BLEEDING FOR ALL KINDS OF AILMENTS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; ROCKWOOD

Keyword(s): Ailments ; Bandages ; Barber ; Barber Pole ; Bleeding ; COLOR ; CURE ; DISEASE ; HAIR ; ILLNESS ; Pole ; PREVENTION ; Red ; SICKNESS ; Signal ; Symbolize ; White

Subject headings:

BELIEF -- Sign Color
BELIEF -- Color

Date learned: 07-28-1968

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showing 4 items