Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IF A GLASS OR PLATE BREAKS ON THE TABLE THEN YOU WILL HAVE GOOD
LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: CA00001965
KRAKOWIAK (POLISH DANCE)
LIKE THE AMERICAN SQUARE DANCE.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; NOT GIVEN ; HOME ; PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; LETTER ; OHIO ; NEW JERSEY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; AUTOGRAPH BOOK ; GROSSE POINTE ; HARPER WOODS ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; WARREN ; JAPAN ; RUSSIA ; GRAND RAPIDS ; SHIPLE HALL ; GARDEN CITY ; ROYAL OAK ; TOLEDO ; TRENTON ; FARMINGTON ; KALAMAZOO ; CANADA ; ONTARIO ; MARYGROVE COLLEGE ; DETROIT ; MAIL ; INDIANA ; DETROIT, ASSUMED ; TOLD AT HOME ; FERNDALE ; SOUTHFIELD ; TENNESSEE ; MACKENZIE HIGH SCHOOL ; HAMTRAMCK ; DEARBORN ; MINNESOTA ; ILLINOIS ; NEW YORK ; FLORIDA ; KOREA ; WISCONSIN ; NEW HAMPSHIRE ; STUDENT UNION ; READING ; AUSTRALIA ; Sylvania ; Sterling Heights ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; OAK PARK ; SOUTHGATE ; STURGEON LAKE ; REDFORD ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA ; ROSEVILLE ; LINCOLN PARK ; TRAVERSE CITY ; HUNTINGTON WOODS ; PONTIAC ; TROY ; PORT CHESTER ; SOUTH AMERICA ; BROOKVILLE ; MONTREAL ; SEOUL ; NORTH OLMSTED ; EASTOWN THEATER ; ERIE ; University of Notre Dame ; FRANKLINVILLE ; TORONTO ; TOLD AT ; TOLD BY ; TOLD IN ; SCRANTON ; MONROE ; GLENVIEW ; MOSCOW ; GULLEY ; FINLAND ; HARBOR BEACH ; HOUGHTON LAKE ; Hudson Lake ; INDIANAPOLIS ; JONESBORO ; KANSASVILLE ; LEXINGTON ; MASSILLON ; MAUCH CHUNK ; MELVINDALE ; MILFORD ; NEW ROCHELLE ; NIAGARA FALLS ; PANAMA CITY ; PATAGONIA ; ARGENTINA ; RESIDENCE HALL ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES ; TOLD AT HONORS HOUSE ; AMERICAN HISTORY CLASS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dance |
HOW TO REMEMBER SOMETHING YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN
IF YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING COME BACK IN THE HOUSE AND COUNT
TO TEN OR ELSE GO THROUGH THE ALPHABET SLOWLY. YOU WILL ALMOST
ALWAYS REMEMBER WHAT IT IS YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS FROM MY MOTHER ABOUT 1950.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): SPEED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Number P686.3.10 |
Date learned: 05-12-1965
ENGAGEMENT RING
IF A BOY GIVES YOU AN ENGAGEMENT RING ON A SPECIAL DAY LIKE YOUR
BIRTHDAY, CHRISTMAS, EASTER, ETC., IT CAN BE REGARDED AS A GIFT
AND NEED NOT BE RETURNED. YOU MUST RETURN IT IF HE GIVES IT TO
YOU ON AN ORDINARY DAY.
Submitter comment:
I LEARNED THIS INFORMATION FROM MY GIRL FRIEND, MARGIE SMITH,
ABOUT 1960.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Date learned: 05-12-1965
BIRTHDAY CANDLES
IF YOU CAN BLOW OUT THE CANDLES ON YOUR BIRTHDAY CAKE WITH ONE
BLOW, YOUR WISH WILL COME TRUE. YOU MUST NOT TELL ANYONE YOUR
WISH OR IT WILL NOT COME TRUE.
Submitter comment:
I LEARNED THIS INFORMATION FROM MY PARENTS WHEN I WAS A YOUNG
CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- P647 BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 05-12-1965
HAUNTED HOUSE
THE HOUSE IN WHICH DAISY, HER SISTERS AND BROTHERS, HER MOTHER
AND FATHER LIVED WAS A TEN ROOM HOUSE WITH SIXTEEN WINDOWS. IT
WAS BUILT BY A RICH OLD MAN WHO WAS THOUGHT BY THE FAMILY TO HAVE
LEFT SOME MONEY SOMEWHERE IN THE HOUSE. THE OLD MAN DIED, LEAVING
HIS MONEY, WHICH HE WANTED FOR POOR PEOPLE.
THE MOSES FAMILY MOVED INTO THIS HOUSE TO SHARE CROP THE FARM. THE
OLD MAN, AFTER HE DIED, TRIED TO COME BACK AND TELL THEM WHERE THE
MONEY WAS. HE FIRST ATTEMPTED TO FRIGHTEN THEM AWAY. AFTER HE
COULDN'T SUCCEED, HE CAME BACK IN MANY FORMS. THE FIRST WAS AS A
BABY CRYING. AND, EVERY TIME THE MOON WOULD CHANGE, HE WOULD COME
IN DIFFERENT FORMS: MULE AND WAGON AND A HORSE AND BUGGY WOULD
APPEAR TO COME ACROSS THE CEILING OF THE HOUSE. STILL, HE
COULDN'T FRIGHTEN THEM AWAY. BUT WHEN THE SOUND OF A BABY CRYING
CAME FROM UNDER THE PORCH AND CARRIED ON FOR THREE WEEKS, THE
MOSES FAMILY FINALLY LEFT.
DAISY SAID THE OLD MAN DIDN'T WANT PEOPLE TO FIND THE MONEY, AND
SINCE THEY WOULD IF THEY LIVED THERE, HE NEVER LET PEOPLE LIVE
THERE LONG BECAUSE OF HIS FRIGHTENING WAYS. THREE FAMILIES HAVE
ATTEMPTED TO LIVE THERE SINCE THE MOSES FAMILY.
Submitter comment: ORIGIN: CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
THE DEAD GIRL
THERE WAS A MOTHER AND SHE WAS SO SICK. HER LITTLE GIRL HAD JUST
DIED. SHE SAID TO HER HUSBAND: "I JUST HAVE TO HAVE A DOCTOR."
NO SOONER HAD SHE SAID THIS THAN THE DOOR OPENED AND IN CAME THE
DOCTOR. THE FATHER SAID TO HIM: "WE DIDN'T CALL YOU. HOW DID
YOU KNOW TO COME HERE?" THE DOCTOR SAID: "WHY, YOUR LITTLE GIRL
CAME AND GOT ME AND TOLD ME TO HURRY OVER." THIS LITTLE GIRL WAS
DEAD, YOU KNOW, SO THE FATHER THOUGHT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A
MISTAKE. HE WAS GLAD THE DOCTOR WAS THERE THOUGH. HE WENT TO
THE CLOSET TO HANG UP THE DOCTOR'S COAT. AS HE WAS HANGING IT UP,
HE NOTICED HIS LITTLE GIRL'S COAT THAT HAD BEEN HANGING THERE EVER
SINCE SHE DIED, AND IT WAS ALL WET.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT DOES NOT REMEMBER WHERE SHE HEARD THIS STORY, BUT
KNOWS THAT IT WAS ABOUT 1920.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 05-12-1965
RUTA (COMMON NAME FOR GIRLS AMONG LITHUANIANS)
A LONG, LONG TIME AGO, WHEN UNPASSABLE FORESTS STILL EXISTED,
THERE WAS A DUKE THAT GOVERNED LITHUANIA. ALL THE OTHER DUKES
WERE AFRAID OF KARIBUTAS AND BOWED THEIR HEADS TO HIM. KARIBUTAS
WAS BRAVE AND POWERFUL. HE LIVED BETWEEN TWO FORESTS IN HIS
STRONG CASTLE. HE WAS VERY HAPPY WITH HIS WEALTH, RESPECT, BUT
HIS GREATEST JOY WAS HIS ONLY DAUGHTER WHOM HE LOVED VERY MUCH.
THEY CALLED HER RUTA.
RUTA HAPPILY RAN THROUGH THE CASTLE, SINGING LITHUANIAN SONGS.
(SHE) REJOICED AT THE FLOWERS, BIRDS' SINGING, HUNDRED-YEAR-OLD
OAKS' RUSTLING. SHE OFTEN SAT UNDER THE OLD TREES AND LISTENED
TO THEIR RUSTLING. THE DUKE'S DAUGHTER LISTENED TO THE OLD OAKS'
STORIES, AS OLD AS THEMSELVES--AS WELL AS SECRETIVE. SHE DIDN'T
EVEN NOTICE HOW HER JOYFUL DAYS OF YOUTH RAN BY.
WHEN SHE BECAME OF AGE, IMMEDIATELY FROM ALL OVER, RICH YOUNG
PRINCES AND DUKES STARTED COMING AND ASKING HER HAND IN MARRIAGE.
AND RUTA WAS SO BEAUTIFUL THAT ANYONE WHO LOOKED AT HER PROMISED
THAT HE WOULD EVEN GIVE HIS LIFE FOR HER. BUT RUTA WASN'T READY
TO GET MARRIED, SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GET MARRIED, AND THEREFORE,
DIDN'T PROMISE ANYONE.
BUT THE DUKE GOT TIRED OF LIVING ALONE AND DECIDED TO FIND HIMSELF
A SON-IN-LAW. HE FELT THAT HIS STRENGTH WAS WEAKENING, OLD AGE
WAS SETTING IN. HE CALLED RUTA TO HIS SIDE ONE TIME AND TOLD HER
THAT HE WANTS TO HAVE A SON-IN-LAW AND FOR HER, A HUSBAND. HE
SAID THAT SHE SHOULD FORGET ALL HER CHILDISH IDEAS AND THOUGHTS
AND HELP HIM TO FIND HER A HUSBAND. IF SHE DIDN'T FIND ONE IN
SIX MONTHS, THEN HE'LL HAVE TO APPOINT A HUSBAND FOR HER.
RUTA BECAME VERY SAD AFTER HEARING HER FATHER'S PLANS AND ORDERS.
SHE FELL AT HIS FEET AND BEGGED HIM, WITH TEARS IN HER EYES, TO
HAVE PITY ON HER AND NOT TO THROW HER TO A HUSBAND. BUT HER
FATHER TOLD HER THAT SHE MUST DO WHAT SHE IS TOLD.
BUT RUTA CRIED TILL WEAKENED, SHE FELL AT MILDO'S FEET (THE GODDESS
OF PURITY) AND VOWED THAT SHE WOULD KEEP HER VIRGINITY AND BECOME A
PRIESTESS. SHE KNEW THAT HER FATHER WOULD NOT LET HER DO THIS, SO
SHE DECIDED TO RUN AWAY TO ONE OF THE ROMUVAS (HOLY PLACE WHERE AN
ETERNAL FIRE BURNED TO ONE OR TWO OF THE GODS).
ON A WINDING FOREST TRAIL HURRIED A WHITE DRESSED GIRL. HER GOLDEN
HAIR, BEING MUSSED BY A GENTLE BREEZE, FELL ON HER SHOULDERS. THIS
WAS THE PRINCESS RUTA. THROUGH THE FORESTS SHE CAME ALONE TO
ROMUVA AND KNOCKED ON THE GATES. SHE WAITED A LONG TIME, WHEN ONE
OF THE PRIESTS CAME AND RECOGNIZED HER AND WELCOMED HER.
EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, THE SAME PRIEST TOOK RUTA TO THE HIGH
PRIEST. GOD'S SERVANT LISTENED TO HER, HER REASONS THAT BROUGHT
HER TO THIS HOLY PLACE. RUTA TOLD THE STORY OF HER LIFE, HER
FATHER'S DECISION AND FALLING TO HER KNEES, BEGGED THE HIGH PRIEST
TO ACCEPT HER AS A PRIESTESS.
THE HIGH PRIEST LISTENED TO HER COMPLAINTS. HIS WISE FOREHEAD
WRINKLED, HIS FACE CLOUDED OVER, BUT THE PRINCESS'S TEARS SOFTENED
HIS HEART AND WITHOUT THINKING OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN LATER, (HE)
ACCEPTED HER AS A PRIESTESS.
THE DUKE KARIBUTAS WAS SADDENED DEEPLY WHEN HE FOUND OUT THAT HIS
DAUGHTER HAD DISAPPEARED. HE BLINDLY WALKED THROUGH HIS CASTLE,
AS IF HE HAD LOST HIS WEALTH AND PRIDE. THE UNHAPPY FATHER CRIED,
JUST LIKE A MOTHER CRIES THAT HAS LOST HER LAST CHILD. HE ORDERED
EVERYONE TO LOOK FOR HER EVERYWHERE, JUST SO THAT THEY WOULD FIND
HER. THE ONE WHO FINDS HER, HE PROMISED, WOULD RECEIVE GREAT
REWARDS.
THEY SEARCHED FOR HER EVERYWHERE--THE PRINCES' AND DUKES' CASTLES,
THE ORDINARY HUTS, AND EVEN THE ROMUVAS.
ONCE, WHEN THE PRINCESS WAS MINDING THE HOLY FLAME, ONE OF THE
PRIESTS CAME AND TOLD HER THAT SOME OF HER FATHER'S MESSENGERS
HAD COME TO SEARCH FOR HER. RUTA PALED AS MUCH AS FRESHLY WOVEN
LINEN WHEN SHE HEARD THIS, AND RAN OUT INTO THE SACRED FOREST.
THERE SHE FELL UNDER AN OAK TREE AND BITTERLY STARTED TO CRY,
BEGGING THE GODS TO HAVE PITY ON HER AND NOT TO HAND HER OVER TO
HER FATHER.
THE MIGHTY GODS HEARD HER PLEAS AND PITIED HER. BUT THEY DIDN'T
WANT HER TO DEPART FROM THE EARTH WITHOUT LEAVING SOME SORT OF
SIGN, SO THEY TURNED HER INTO A SWEET SMELLING FLOWER.
THE MESSENGERS, LOOKING FOR THE PRINCESS, FOUND THE MAGICAL FLOWER
WHICH SMELLED SWEETLY IN THE WHOLE LAND. THEN THEY UNDERSTOOD
WHAT HAPPENED. IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE PRINCESS, THEY NAMED THAT
FLOWER HER NAME--RUTA.
Submitter comment:
TRANSLATED FROM LITHUANIAN BY RAMUNI STONYS. IN OLD LITHUANIA,
THE PEOPLE WORSHIPPED ANYTHING THAT WAS ALIVE--NOT GOD HIMSELF
DIRECTLY. FOR EXAMPLE, LIGHTNING, THUNDER, WIND, SUN, MOON,
TREES, ETC.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious BELIEF -- Marriage |
BALL OF FIRE
A MAN WAS FOUND DEAD IN HIS BEDROOM WITH HIS THROAT CUT AND HIS
WRISTS CUT. NO ONE WOULD EVER SLEEP IN THE ROOM WHERE THE MAN
DIED BECAUSE A BALL OF FIRE APPEARED UNDER THE BED. IT WOULD
COME OUT FROM UNDER THE BED AND HIT THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE ROOM
AND THEN RETURN TO ITS RESTING PLACE.
THEY THOUGHT THAT THE MAN HAD BEEN MURDERED, BUT THEY WERE NEVER
ABLE TO FIND THE MURDERER.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS STORY FROM HER MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS A
CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate PROSE NARRATIVE -- Air Weather Fire PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 08-11-1964
IF YOU PUT YOUR DRESS ON AND THE HEM STAYS TURNED UP
THAT IS A SIGN OF GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS
A YOUNG GIRL ABOUT 1915.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.) |
Date learned: 05-12-1965 ; 00-00-1915
NEVER PUT NEW SHOES ON A TABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL
HURT YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 08-11-1964
WHEN THE HEM OF A DRESS IS TURNED UP, THAT MEANS THAT
YOU WILL BE GETTING ANOTHER DRESS SOON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Use of Object Dress, buttons, jewelry |
Date learned: 08-11-1964
IF A PALM ITCHES, IT MEANS YOU WILL GET MONEY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching hands and feet |
PREMONITION
GERTRUDE CLELAND WAS MY SISTER. SHE TOLD MY FATHER
ONE MORNING THAT HE DID NOT HAVE TO GO TO WORK. HE
ASKED HER WHY AND SHE SAID THAT HIS BOSS'S WIFE HAD
DIED. HE WENT TO WORK ANYWAY, BECAUSE GERT WAS
VERY SMALL AT THE TIME AND HE THOUGHT SHE WAS MAKING
UP STORIES. WHEN HE GOT THERE HE WAS TOLD THAT THERE
WAS NO WORK THAT DAY, FOR THE WIFE OF THE BOSS HAD DIED.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT WAS THERE ABOUT 1895 WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- P820 P820.546 BELIEF -- Dreams Foretelling a death |
Date learned: 05-12-1965
THE BELIEF IN HOUSE DEMONS IN THE OLD DAYS OF LITHUANIA WAS
VERY STRONG, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE FARMERS. IF A FARMER WAS
SUCCESSFUL IN HIS FARMING AND BUSINESS, THEN PEOPLE STARTED TALKING
THAT HE HAD A HOUSE DEMON FOR A FRIEND. IT WAS BELIEVED THAT
THE DEMON FLEW VERY FAST, JUST LIKE LIGHTNING. AND NO ONE KNOWS
EXACTLY HOW HE LOOKED. IF A FARMER BEFRIENDS A DEMON, THE DEMON
WILL STEAL CORN AND GRAIN FROM OTHER FARMERS AND BRING IT TO HIS
FRIEND. THEIR FAVORITE KIND OF FOOD IS SCRAMBLED EGGS. THE
FARMER WHO WISHES TO BEFRIEND A HOUSE DEMON SHOULD LEAVE A PLATE
OF SCRAMBLED EGGS EVERY NIGHT OUTSIDE BY HIS OWN DOOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 01-19-1972
BELIEF ABOUT A FRIENDSHIP BRACELET
A RAWHIDE BRACELET IS GIVEN TO YOU BY YOUR FRIEND
AS A TOKEN OF YOUR FRIENDSHIP. IT CONSISTS OF FOUR KNOTS
ONE THE BIGGEST, IS A SQUARE KNOT REPRESENTING SOME EVIL.
THE OTHER THREE REPRESENT IN ORDER, YOUR FRIEND, YOURSELF
AND A WALL. THIS IS SAID TO MEAN THAT AS LONG AS YOU HAVE YOUR FRIEND
YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO FACE EVIL HEAD ON, BECAUSE YOUR FRIEND IS IN
FRONT OF YOU, AND THE WALL IS BEHIND YOU.
IT WAS SAID THAT YOU HAD TO WEAR THESE BRACELETS FOR A PERIOD OF
ONE YEAR, OR UNTIL THEY ROTTED OFF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBERS ; POSITION DIRECTION ; SYMBOL
Date learned: 10-23-1970
EXPECTANT MOTHERS
JEWISH MOTHERS BELIEVE THAT IT IS BAD LUCK TO GIVE A BABY
A SHOWER BEFORE IT IS BORN, THE SAME IS TRUE WHILE IN THE HOSPITAL.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S FATHER DID THIS FOR HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): SEMITISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-12-1971
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
THE ARMENIAN SANTA CLAUS IS CALLED BUFFANA. IT IS A LEGEND
THAT AT CHRISTMAS TIME BUFFANA GOES THROUGH ALL THE STREETS OF
ARMENIA AND PASSES OUT PRESENTS TO ALL THE POOR CHILDREN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 BELIEF -- Religious hero SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 02-26-1971
SAYING
ONE THREAD OF KINDNESS DRAWS MORE THAN A HUNDRED HORSES
Submitter comment: W. W. BREESE, M.D., "WELL SPRINGS OF TRUTH," 1883, P. 144.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): NUMBERS
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Number P686.1.100 PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-05-1968
PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM
ONE WHO IS AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS IS AFRAID TO LEARN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; EDUCATION ; FUNCTION ; INQUISITIVENESS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 09-25-1967