Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Sew returned 16 results.
A HOUSEWIFE CANNOT CUT DRESS MATERIAL ON A FRIDAY.
THIS WILL BRING BAD LUCK WHEN THE DRESS IS WORN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MILFORD
James Callow Keyword(s): SEWING
Date learned: 09-22-1968
RETURN OF THE DEAD
AROUND 1940 A WOMAN NAMED BESSIE SABOL DIED IN SOUTHWEST
DETROIT. MRS. HURLEY ASSISTED IN THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR BURIAL
AND SUBSEQUENTLY WAS ASKED TO STAY WITH THE DAUGHTER OF THE
WOMAN, WHO FEARED LIVING ALONE IN THE HOME. SEVERAL OTHERS
HAD STAYED WITH THE WOMAN, BUT HAD LEFT WITH STORIES OF A
GHOST IN THE HOME. MRS. HURLEY STAYED IN THE HOME FOR
2 DAYS. THE THIRD NIGHT LOUD BANGING AND CLANGING NOISES
WERE HEARD IN THE PANTRY, MRS. HURLEY WENT TO
INVESTIGATE AND SAW THE GHOST OF THE DEAD WOMAN CLEANING UP THE
MESS THAT THE DAUGHTER HAD LEFT IN THE PANTRY. THE POTS AND PANS
WERE SCATTERED ALL ABOUT. THIS WOMAN HAD BEEN KNOWN FOR
HER NEATNESS. MY GRANDMOTHER TOLD THE DAUGHTER THAT AS LONG
AS SHE KEPT THE PANTRY CLEAN, THE NOISES WOULD STOP. THEY
DID, AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN HEARD SINCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): GHOST RETURNS TO DO HOUSEWORK
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Favorites BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 11-11-1974
GOOD FRIDAY BELIEF
IT IS A SIN TO USE A NEEDLE ON GOOD FRIDAY, OR TO USE ANY KIND OF
ANIMAL FATS ON GOOD FRIDAY.
Submitter comment:
SHE LEARNED THESE BELIEFS FROM HER MOTHER AS A CHILD, BUT DOES NOT
BELIEVE IN THEM OR PRACTICE THEM NOW. (1920'S)
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; IRON ; SEWING ; WORK TABOO
| Subject headings: | 663 Good Friday |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
Entry filtered.
DON'T START A DRESS ON FRIDAY, BECAUSE YOU'LL NEVER LIVE
TO SEE IT FINISHED.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; MURFREESBORO
Keyword(s): SEWING SEW
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Routine activity BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time Routine activity |
Date learned: 06-18-1972
NEVER, NEVER MAKE A BABY'S CAP BEFORE THE BABY ARRIVES
OR YOU'LL HAVE BAD LUCK WITH THE BABY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; MADISON
James Callow Keyword(s): SEWING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 07-10-1973
RIDDLE
WHAT IS BLACK AND HAS PIMPLES ON TOP?
-- A SEWER TOP
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): SEWER
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
Goblin Story
A few years ago, in the main plant of Valente's Men's Formal Wear, the general manager, Marty Rapp, and David Palm were cleaning out the drainage wells beside the 50 pound washers down in the laundry. These wells are about 3 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep. Marty, being general manager, directed, while Dave did the cleaning. All of a sudden, Dave found himself being pulled into the well. He was waist deep in the murky water before Marty pulled him out by the arm. Maybe it was well that Marty was there directing, far Max, a vile, loathsome creature that lives in the sewers under Valente's had tried to pull Dave down into his submarine lair. For what purpose, no one knows, but it is certain it wouldn't have been pleasant. From then on, people are cautioned not to walkalone in the laundry in the dark.
Submitter comment:
For us at Valente's, Max is something to blame accidents on. Dave didn't really get pulled into the well, Marty pushed him in. Though, if you ask anyone there about Dave falling into the well, you will probably get the version with Max in it, then the real one.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; VALENTES MENS FORMALWEAR
Keyword(s): FANTASY ; Goblin ; Lore ; Mischief ; OMEN ; SEWER ; Submarine ; SUPERNATURAL ; WATER
| Subject headings: |
Goblin Story
A few years ago, in the main plant of Valente's Men's Formal Wear, the general manager, Marty Rapp, and David Palm were cleaning out the drainage wells beside the 50 pound washers down in the laundry. These wells are about 3 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep. Marty, being general manager, directed, while Dave did the cleaning. All of a sudden, Dave found himself being pulled into the well. He was waist deep in the murky water before Marty pulled him out by the arm. Maybe it was well that Marty was there directing, far Max, a vile, loathsome creature that lives in the sewers under Valente's had tried to pull Dave down into his submarine lair. For what purpose, no one knows, but it is certain it wouldn't have been pleasant. From then on, people are cautioned not to walkalone in the laundry in the dark.
Submitter comment:
For us at Valente's, Max is something to blame accidents on. Dave didn't really get pulled into the well, Marty pushed him in. Though, if you ask anyone there about Dave falling into the well, you will probably get the version with Max in it, then the real one.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; VALENTES MENS FORMALWEAR
Keyword(s): FANTASY ; Goblin ; Lore ; Mischief ; OMEN ; SEWER ; Submarine ; SUPERNATURAL ; TRICKSTER ; WATER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Ethnic: Polish
House Initiation / Polish Custom:
Put a cat in a house before you move into it and there will always be good luck.
Submitter comment:
A neighbor came over to borrow our cat for one of their relatives who had just bought a new house. These relatives of ournaighbors had just recently come over from Poland. I don't know the people's names and the neighbor doesn't live around here any more.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F532] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications.
Message on the bottom of card:
[Please copy this item on the yellow card below so it will ALSO be filed under F686]
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Myself
Keyword(s): CAT ; ETHNIC ; fortune ; Good ; House ; Housewarming ; LUCK ; OMEN ; POLAND ; POLISH ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing BELIEF -- Mammal |
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 |
Retort
I feel like a tailor.
How's that?
sew-sew.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; Fabric ; HUMOR ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; SEWING ; Tailor ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
TO FIX A MOUSE EATEN HOLE IN A GARMENT BRINGS BAD LUCK
TO THE MENDER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 09-01-11
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BELZONI
Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; Fix ; Garment ; Hole ; LUCK ; Mend ; Mouse ; Sew
James Callow Keyword(s): MENDING SEWING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
Date learned: 06-06-1973
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
IF YOU VISIT PEOPLE IN A NEW HOME, BRING BREAD AND SALT
AS A GIFT, AND THE PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS HAVE PLENTY TO EAT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY ; UTICA
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; BREAD ; Eat ; FOOD ; GIFT ; Housewarming ; Salt ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-31-1969
SEWING ON SUNDAY
IF YOU SEW ON SUNDAY YOU WILL HAVE TO REMOVE ALL THE
STITCHES WITH YOUR NOSE WHEN YOU DIE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; NOSE ; PUNISHMENT ; Sew ; SEWING ; Stitches ; Sunday ; SUPERSTITION ; WORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN