Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 6954 returned 311 results.
AGING
THERE MAY BE SNOW ON THE ROOF, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE
FIRE'S OUT.
Submitter comment:
THE SNOW REFERS TO GREY OR WHITE HAIR AND THE FIRE
REFERS TO A YOUTHFUL HEART.
TOLD AS A QUIP.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; JACKSON ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-25-1970
SILVERWARE BELIEF
IF A PIECE OF SILVERWARE IS DROPPED, IT MEANS A VISITOR WILL COME
FROM THAT DIRECTION. IF THE PIECE IS A KNIFE, THE VISITOR WILL BE A
MAN; IF A FORK: A WOMAN; IF A SPOON: A CHILD.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S GRANDMOTHER TOLD HER THIS.
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 10-25-1970
BLONDIE AND DAGWOOD WENT TO TOWN/ BLONDIE BOUGHT AN EVENING GOWN/
DAGWOOD BOUGHT A PAIR OF SHOES/ COOKIE BOUGHT AN EVENING NEWS/ AND
IN THE NEWS IT SAID: CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO TEN
AND IF YOU MISS
YOU TAKE THE END.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; TOLD IN
Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; ENDURANCE ; Jump
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 01-28-1972
JUMP ROPE VERSE
POTATOES, TOMATOES, PEAS, AND CHEESE
YOUR MOTHER SAYS TO EAT ALOT OF THESE
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND'S YOUNGEST SISTER, AND SHE IS ABOUT EIGHT
YEARS OLD.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE ; TOLD IN
Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00001971 SPRING
SILENCE IS GOLDEN
IT IS BETTER TO BE SILENT AND BE THOUGHT A FOOL
THAN TO SPEAK AND REMOVE ALL DOUBTS.
Where learned: TOLD IN ; MONROE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 02-00-1972
BELIEF
THIRD ON A MATCH, I'LL DIE IN A WHORE HOUSE
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT'S BLACK ON TOP, BLUE ON THE BOTTOM, AND ALL OVER THE BEACH?
A: MOBY OIL SLICK
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-15-1972
A CRICKET IN A HOME BRINGS GOOD LUCK
Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S MOTHER STATED THIS IN 1925
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): PINOCCHIO
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Good luck P881.3 |
Date learned: 00-00-1929
TALE OF KISSING ELBO.
IF YOU KISS YOUR ELBO,
YOU WILL TURN INTO THE OPPOSITE SEX.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM ; TOLD IN
Keyword(s): ELBOW
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 01-26-1972
NAMING
MY GRANDMOTHER WAS FROM ONE OF THOSE LARGE FAMILIES. THEY WOULD BEGAN
TO NAME A BABY WHEN SOMEONE FROM THE FAMILY WOULD SAY, "OH YOU GOTTA
NAME IT AFTER ME." SO SHE ENDED UP WITH THE NAME OF HILDA, TINA,
MELISSA, AVA, ALVA, ALVATINE. SHE WENT THROUGH LIFE WITH THE NAME OF
ALVA.
Where learned: ALLEN PARK ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
FIRST BIRTHDAY
ON A BABY'S FIRST BIRTHDAY, PLACE A ROSARY, WHISKY
GLASS AND SOME MONEY BEFORE HIM. WHICHEVER HE PICKS
WILL BE WHAT HE BECOMES: A PRIEST, A DRUNK, OR
A WEALTHY PERSON.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS THIS WAS A PRACTICED CUSTOM AMONG HER FAMILY.
Where learned: TOLD IN ; MCKENDRICK ; ANCIENT DRAMA CLASS
Keyword(s): LIQUOR
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 02-12-1971
NEW YEARS'S CUSTOM
ON NEW YEAR'S A BUNCH OF KIDS KNOCKED ON THE DOOR SHOUTING LET THE
NEW YEAR IN. RUN AROUND THE TABLE THREE TIMES SHOUTING LET THE NEW
YEAR IN AND GET MONEY ON WAY OUT - GO TO THE NEXT HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): VISITING AND GIFT-GIVING ON NEW YEAR'S.
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's |
Date learned: 11-30-1972
IT IS A UKRAINIAN CUSTOM TO MIX POPPIES AND WHEAT TOGETHER AT
CHRISTMAS TIME. THEN TAKE THE MIXTURE IN A SPOON AND THROW IT IN THE
AIR AND TRY TO CATCH IT. IF YOU CATCH IT, YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; NORTH QUAD ; DORMS ; TOLD IN
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; PREDICTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Predictions CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Single dishes BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 02-07-1971
LIMERICK
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF NORWAY
WHO CASUALLY SAT IN A DOORWAY.
WHEN THE DOOR SQUEEZED HER FLAT
SHE EXCLAIMED, "WHAT OF THAT?"
THIS COURAGEOUS YOUNG LADY OF NORWAY.
Where learned: LETTER ; TOLD IN
Keyword(s): IMPUSSIBLE SPEECH ; RHYME: AABBA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
HAIR TODAY---BALD TOMORROW.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS YEARS BACK
PROBABLY AROUND THE LATE 1928S.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; TOLD IN
Keyword(s): CONTRAST ; ELLIPSIS ; PARODY OF HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: 10-05-1972
VACILE SAYS THAT THE GREEK PEOPLE ARE
BELIEVERS IN THE EVIL EYE. IF SOMEONE
LOOKS AT YOU IN THAT FASHION
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GET SICK OR DIE.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
"READY UP THE ROOM."
Submitter comment:
THIS IS SAID TO MEAN STRAIGHTEN THE ROOM. THIS PHRASE
IS ALWAYS USED BY THE INFORMANT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; DALLAS ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 02-15-1972
A SHARP TONGUE IS THE ONLY EDGED TOOL THAT GROWS
CONSTANT USE.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; DORM ROOM ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 03-22-1971
RIDDLE
OVER THE GROUND,
UNDER YOUR NOSE
IT HAS AS MANY HEELS AS TOES. (A PAIR OF SHOES).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): CLOTHING (A) WEARING APPAREL (A)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: 09-26-1972
SISTER EILEEN TOLD ME WHAT SHE KNEW TO BE
THE ORIGIN OF THE SAYING "GOD BLESS YOU" AFTER A SNEEZE.
SNEEZING SUPPOSEDLY SYMBOLIZES THE RIDDING
OF THE DEVIL FROM THE BODY AND SAYING GOD BLESS YOU
SYMBOLIZES THAT THE SPACE VACATED BY THE
DEVIL IS NOW ABLE TO BE TAKEN OVER BY GOD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID SHE KNEW THIS HER WHOLE LIFE BUT COULD NOT
VERIFY IT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; TOLD IN ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Prayer SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-17-1972