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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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ITALIAN WORD

WHEN ITALIANS ANSWER THE PHONE, THEY SAY
"PRONTO" WHICH MEANS "I AM READY".

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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HAWAIIAN GESTURE

IN HAWAII THEIR TRADITIONAL GREETING IS "ALOHA" TO NEW ARRIVALS.
THIS CONSISTS OF PUTTING A LEI OF FLOWERS AROUND THEIR NECK
AND GIVING THEM A KISS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS

Keyword(s): GARLAND OF FLOWERS

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.2
SPEECH -- Greetings Salutations

Date learned: 04-05-1971

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WHENEVER SOME CATHOLICS DRIVE BY A CATHOLIC CHURCH, THEY
WILL TIP THEIR HAT TO SHOW REVERENCE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT TOLD ME THAT HIS FATHER ALSO TIPPED HIS HAT.
I ACTUALLY HAVE SEEN THE INFORMANT (MY FATHER) DO THIS
OUT OF HABIT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Head
SPEECH -- Religious

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MAGIC

A PERSON WEARING A FOUR LEAFED SHAMROCK CAN UNDERSTAND
BARKING DOGS.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT SAID IT WAS AN OLD IRISH CUSTOM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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HOLY WATER

WHENEVER YOU DIP YOUR HAND IN HOLY WATER, YOU SHOULD
SHAKE OFF THE EXCESS. EACH DROP OF THIS QUENCHES THE SOUL
OF A PERSON IN PURGATORY, AND THAT PERSON GOES TO HEAVEN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails
BELIEF -- Church

Date learned: 00001956 CHILDHOOD

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CUSTOM

SATAN AND HIS FOLLOWERS CELEBRATE FOUR SABBATHS IN THE FOUR
DIFFERENT SECTIONS OR COVENS OF THE WORLD AROUND THE SAME TIME
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH CELEBRATES ITS SEASONAL CHANGES. HE ALSO
HAS ONE BIG CEREMONY CALLED THE BLOODY SABBATH.
ON THIS DAY ALL FOUR COVENS GET TOGETHER FOR A GOOD TIME OF
SACRIFICE (A YOUNG PERSON'S WARM BLOOD) AND PUNISHMENT FOR
ALL WHO HAVE BEEN DISOBEDIENT TO SATAN AND THE INSTALLMENT OF
NEW WITCHES.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS

Keyword(s): Coven ; DEVIL ; DEVIL WORSHIP ; holiday ; PUNISHMENT ; Sabbath ; Sacrifice ; SATAN ; WITCHES

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Fixed DateFor specific dates, use the following system:
BELIEF -- Witch Shaman

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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RAILROAD TRACKS

WHILE RIDING IN A CAR, IF YOU PASS OVER ANY RAILROAD TRACKS
AND DO NOT PICK UP BOTH YOUR FEET OFF THE FLOOR, YOU WILL LOSE
YOUR BOY FRIEND.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS

James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Boyfriend ; FEET ; Railroad Tracks ; Relationship ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: Prediction / Divination
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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Entry filtered.

HOLLANDER JOKE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

TWO HOLLANDERS MET A NUN WITH A BROKEN ARM, ASKED HER
HOW SHE BROKE IT. "I FELL IN THE BATHTUB," SHE
REPLIED. ONE HOLLANDER SAID TO THE OTHER AS THEY
WALKED AWAY: "WHAT'S A BATHTUB?"
"I DON'T KNOW," HE REPLIED, "I'M NOT A CATHOLIC."

Submitter comment:

A FRIEND TOLD HIM THIS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman

Date learned: 11-03-1967

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DONALD DUCK

DONALD DUCK IS A ONE-LEGGED, ONE-LEGGED, ONE-LEGGED DUCK.
(JUMPER JUMPS ON ONE FOOT WHILE SINGING THIS LINE.)

DONALD DUCK IS A TWO-LEGGED, TWO-LEGGED, TWO-LEGGED DUCK.
(JUMPER JUMPS ON BOTH FEET WHILE SINGING
THIS LINE.)

DONALD DUCK IS A THREE-LEGGED, THREE-LEGGED, THREE-LEGGED DUCK.
(JUMPER HOPS ON BOTH FEET AND PUTS ONE HAND DOWN ON THE GROUND FOR EACH JUMP WHILE SINGING THIS LINE.)

DONALD DUCK IS A FOUR-LEGGED, FOUR-LEGGED, FOUR-LEGGED DUCK.
(JUMPER JUMPS ON BOTH FEET AND PUTS
BOTH HANDS DOWN ON THE GROUND WHILE SINGING THIS LINE.)

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

 

Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS

Keyword(s): ACTION RHYME ; CHARACTER

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

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HAWAIIAN FOOD

THE HAWAIIANS EAT FOR THEIR STARCH - TORO ROOT POUNDED
AND MIXED WITH WATER FOR A FASTE. THEY EAT IT WITH THEIR FINGERS.

Where learned: GRAND RAPIDS ; TOLD AT INFORMANTS HOME

Keyword(s): STARCH

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Manner of preparation

Date learned: 04-08-1971

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The Ants Go Marching

The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah.
The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah.
The ants go marching one by one, the last one stops to pick up a gun,
And they all join in to go down, in the ground, and come out in the rain. Bum, bum, bum.

Oh, the ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah.
The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah.
Oh, the ants go marching two by two, the last one stops to tie his shoe,
And they all join in to go down, in the ground, and come out in the rain. Bum, bum, bum.

Oh, the ants go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrah.
The ants go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrah.
Oh, the ants go marching three by three, the last one stops to climb a tree,
And they all join in to go down, in the ground, and come out in the rain. Bum, bum, bum.

Oh, the ants go marching four by four, hurrah, hurrah.
The ants go marching four by four, hurrah, hurrah.
Oh, the ants go marching four by four, the last one stops to shut the door,
And they all join in to go down, in the ground, and come out in the rain. Bum, bum, bum.

Oh, the ants go marching five by five, hurrah, hurrah.
The ants go marching five by five, hurrah, hurrah.
Oh, the ants go marching five by five, the last one stops to take a dive,
And they all join in to go down, in the ground, and come out in the rain. Bum, bum, bum.

Oh, the ants go marching six by six, hurrah, hurrah.
The ants go marching six by six, hurrah, hurrah.
Oh, the ants go marching six by six, the last one stops to pick up sticks,
And they all join in to go down, in the ground, and come out in the rain. Bum, bum, bum.

Oh, the ants go marching seven by seven, hurrah, hurrah.
The ants go marching seven by seven, hurrah, hurrah.
Oh, the ants go marching seven by seven, the last one stops to fly to heaven,
And they all join in to go down, in the ground, and come out in the rain. Bum, bum, bum.

Oh, the ants go marching eight by eight, hurrah, hurrah.
The ants go marching eight by eight, hurrah, hurrah.
Oh, the ants go marching eight by eight, the last one stops to shut the gate,
And they all join in to go down, in the ground, and come out in the rain. Bum, bum, bum.

Oh, the ants go marching nine by nine, hurrah, hurrah.
The ants go marching nine by nine, hurrah, hurrah.
Oh, the ants go marching nine by nine, the last one stops to pick up a dime,
And they all join in to go down, in the ground, and come out in the rain. Bum, bum, bum.

Oh, the ants go marching ten by ten, hurrah, hurrah.
The ants go marching ten by ten, hurrah, hurrah.
Oh, the ants go marching ten by ten, the last one stops to
Start again!

 

 

 

 

Submitter comment:

Tune: "When Johnny Comes Marching Home"

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

 

Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children

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Great Big Gobs

Great big gobs of greasy, grimy gopher guts,
Mutilated monkey's meat, Little birdies' dirty feet.
Great big gobs of greasy, grimy gopher guts,
Mutilated monkey's meat, Little birdies' dirty feet. . .

 

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children

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