Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for TRICK returned 40 results.
Belief: Animal
How to catch a Monkey:
The way to catch a monkey is to take a cocnut and druill a hole with a one inch diameter into it. Hollow out the coconut and fill it with nuts, and place it in a tree. A monkey will come and stick his hand in the hold to grab the nuts because of his greed. In fact, even when the monkey is caught, the coconut will have to be cracked from around the monkey's hand.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [B600] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; Bait ; CATCH ; Coconut ; FOOD ; Monkey ; NUTS ; Primate ; Trap ; TRICK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Superstition: Animals
If you have a snake in a can with you while a magician is doing his tricks, none of his tricks will work since the snake breaks the magician's spell.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; CAN ; Expose ; MAGIC ; Magician ; Serpent ; Snake ; Tricks
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Proverb
You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Submitter comment:
You can't always teach an old person the enw way certain things are done.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AGE ; ANIMAL ; DOG ; METAPHOR ; New ; Old ; Tricks ; YOUTH
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Toast
An Irish Toast:
On St. Patrick's Day, the Irish drink to the snakes being driven out of Ireland.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): DRINKING ; ETHNIC ; holiday ; Irish ; SNAKES ; Social ; St. Patrick ; TOAST
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Formula |
Proverb
You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Adapt ; AGE ; Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Change ; DOG ; Maxim ; New ; Old ; PROVERB ; TRICK ; Tricks ; VERSE ; Young
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
IF A PERSON IS SERIOUSLY ILL AND NOT EXPECTED TO RECOVER,
GO BUILD A COFFIN AND SET IT IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. SO
WHEN DEATH COMES TO TAKE AWAY THAT PERSON, HE WILL SEE
THE COFFIN AND THINK THAT ANOTHER DEATH HAS ALREADY
GOTTEN HIM. DEATH WILL GO AND THE PERSON WILL RECOVER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; MCKENZIE
James Callow Keyword(s): Coffin ; DEATH ; Fool ; ILLNESS ; Reaper ; TRICK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 10-14-1973
"WOODS' KIDS"
WHEN CERTAIN UNFAVORABLE HAPPENINGS OCCUR WITHIN THE
ROSSER HOME, THE WOODS' KIDS ALWAYS TAKE THE BLAME. THESE
SMALL CREATURES INHABIT THE WOODS BEHIND THE HOUSE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): Blame ; FAMILY ; Fanciful ; Invisible ; Legend ; Tale ; TRICKSTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Legend |
Date learned: 02-00-1972
Riddle - Question
If you had oly one match, and enered a room in which there was a kerosene lamp, an oil heater, and a wood burning stove, which would you light first?
Answer: The match
Data entry tech comment:
Entered by TRD
Keyword(s): GAME ; RIDDLE ; Trick Question
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Riddle - Question
A farmer had 17 sheep. All but nine died. How many were left?
Answer: Nine.
Data entry tech comment:
Entered by TRD
Keyword(s): RIDDLE ; SHEEP ; Trick Question
| Subject headings: |
Riddle - Question
Some months have thirty days some have thirty one. HOw many months have twenty eight?
Answer: all of them.
Data entry tech comment:
Entered by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): CALENDAR ; Dates ; Month ; PUZZLE ; RIDDLE ; Trick Question
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Riddle - Question
How many animals of each species did Moses take on the ark with him?
Answer: Moses didn't build the ark, Noah did.
Data entry tech comment:
Entered by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; Ark ; Moses ; Noah ; QUESTION ; RELIGION ; RIDDLE ; Trick Question
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
ST. PAT
THE MOST POPULAR AND WIDE-SPREAD STORY ABOUT SAINT PATRICK IS
THAT THANKS TO HIM, IRELAND HAS ABSOLUTELY NO SNAKES. IT IS BELIEVED
THAT ST. PAT REMOVED THE SNAKES IN THE "PIED PIPER" FASHION.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): IRELAND ; Irish ; Legend ; Lore ; Saint Patrick ; SNAKES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
NUNS PRAY TO ST. PATRICK
WHEN NUNS ARE DRIVING IN A CAR AND WANT TO GET SOMEWHERE IN
A HURRY, THEY PRAY TO ST. PATRICK SO THAT HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CHANGE
ALL THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS GREEN
Submitter comment:
THIS IS PRACTICED BY THE INFORMANT'S DAUGHTER, WHO IS A NUN,
AND SAID THIS IS A COMMON PRACTICE AMONG NUNS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Nuns ; Patron ; Saint ; Saint Patrick ; Saint Patrick ; Traffic
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
CROAGH PATRICK
IT IS BELIEVED THAT ST. PATRICK IS BURIED AT THE TOP OF
CROAGH PATRICK MOUNTAIN. PEOPLE FOR PENANCE GO ON THEIR KNEES
UP THE MOUNTAIN AND CELEBRATE MASS.
Data entry tech comment:
SPELLING CORRECTED BY KEY PUNCHER
Updated by TRD
Where learned: OHIO
Keyword(s): BURIAL ; Legend ; MOUNTAIN ; Saint ; Saint Patrick
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 12-01-1969
BELIEF
YOU PUT NAIL POLISH IN THE ICE BOX. IT KEEPS THE POLISH FROM
GETTING THICK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Keyword(s): BEAUTY ; BELIEF ; Cold ; CUSTOM ; Makeup ; Nail ; POLISH ; TRICK
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE ; FUNCTION ; Positive
| Subject headings: | Custom |
Date learned: 01-20-1971
STAIN REMOVER
USE A PEELED POTATO TO REMOVE ANY STUBBORN INK STAINS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): Domestic ; Domesticity ; Household ; Ink ; POTATO ; Stain ; Stain Remover ; Tip ; TRICK
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE ; Positive
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption BELIEF -- Home |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
HOME STAIN REMOVER
USE CORN STARCH ON A FRESH STAIN TO REMOVE THE STAIN
Submitter comment:
I've seen corn starch remove a red wine stain from a white carpet.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): Corn Starch ; Domesticity ; Household ; Stain ; Stain Remover ; Tip ; TRICK
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Fermented BELIEF -- Home |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
FOLK DEODORANT
USE BAKING SODA AS A DEODORANT FOR UNDERARMS
AND FEET. USE BAKING SODA ON VOMIT TO ELIMINATE THE
UNPLEASANT ODOR.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): Baking Soda ; Deodorant ; Domesticity ; Household ; HYGIENE ; Odor ; REMEDY ; Smell ; Tip ; TRICK ; Vomit
James Callow Keyword(s): SODIUM BICARBONATE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Home |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
DEATH
YOU CAN TELL IF SOMEONE IS DEAD BY PUTTING A MIRROR UNDER THEIR NOSE,
AND LOOK FOR MOISTURE DUE TO BREATHING TO SETTLE ON THE MIRROR.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; NORTH QUAD 201
Keyword(s): BREATH ; DEATH ; LIFE ; MEDICAL ; Mirror ; SIGN ; Signal ; TRICK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-27-1971
SAINT PATRICK'S DAY FESTIVAL AND BELIEFS
SAINT PATRICK DERTA GEROGADE E FRANC OR ALBAN. THAT MEANS SAINT
PATRICK CAME FROM FRANCE OR ENGLAND. WE WERE TAUGHT THAT EXPRESSION
AS CHILDREN. HE WAS SENT BY POPE CELESTINE TO BRING THE CATHOLIC
FAITH TO IRELAND. HE KILLED ALL THE SNAKES IN IRELAND BY SQUASHING
THEM WITH HIS STAFF. HE DIDN'T REALLY EXIST THOUGH. WE WOULD
CELEBRATE SAINT PATRICK'S DAY IN ENGLAND BY WEARING ALL GREEN.
Submitter comment:
"SPELLMAN, BURKE, AND I WOULD GO OUT FOR A WALK IN THE COUNTRY BECAUSE
WE HAD NO MONEY AND WE DIDN'T WANT THOSE DAMN ENGLISH TO THINK WE
WERE STAYING HOME ON SAINT PATRICK'S DAY."
MY MOTHER, WHO IS FROM IRELAND, WENT TO NURSING SCHOOL IN ENGLAND IN
1947. SHE CAME FROM A POOR FAMILY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Celebrate ; Green ; holiday ; IRELAND ; Irish ; Legend ; Lore ; Origin ; Saint Patrick's Day ; Tale
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 00-00-1947 ; 11-22-1979