Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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GOOD LUCK
WHEN YOU FIND AN OPEN SAFETY PIN PICK IT UP AND CLOSE IT
AND IT WILL BRING YOU GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.18 |
Date learned: 03-10-1970
If you have asthma, measure your height to a tree and mark
it. As the tree grows you will grow out of the asthma.
James Callow comment:
Puckett, Ohio, no. 2325: "If a child has asthma, take him
into the woods and find a young tree. Measure the child up to
the tree and mark his height by putting a nail into the tree. As
the tree grows the child will outgrow his asthma."
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): MEASURING
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Measure of space: distance, height, depth BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
If you break a mirror you will have seven years of bad luck.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
When walking down a street with someone, don't split a tree
or a pole because it is bad luck.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
Don't walk under a ladder, especially with someone on it.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
If you paint the bedroom walls blue, you will sleep your
best.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
If a picture falls off the wall by itself, someone you know
will die.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
There were three men on a boat, two white and one black.
While fishing in the ocean a storm came up and almost tipped the
boat over. One of the white men spoke to the other, "We need to
pray." The other white man said, "I don't know how to pray, but
we can get John, the black man, to pray for us." John began to
pray to the Lord, "Oh Lord, you know when I was in Mississippi
waiting for my sister to come in on the bus I wanted some water
and the sign said, Only whites. I went to the train station and
wanted some water and the sign said, Only whites. So if this boat
tips over and someone has to die, let it be Only whites."
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): Racial segregation
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
IN CANADA, THEY HAVE A CERTAIN SPIDER THAT MAKES A TICKING
SOUND, AND HE'S CALLED THE "TICKING SPIDER." THEY SAY THAT WHEN
YOU HEAR THIS SPIDER IN YOUR HOUSE, THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO
DIE. FUNNY THING, GRANDMA HEARD ONE, AND GRANDPA WELLS DIED.
Where learned: HOME ; BARRETT RD
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 08-13-1968
PROVERBIAL COMPARISON
NERVOUS AS A HEN ON A HOT SHOVEL
Submitter comment: MY GRANDMOTHER LEARNED THIS EXPRESSION AS A CHILD ON A FARM IN CASEVILLE, MICHIGAN
Where learned: HOME ; BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): BIRDS
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; ANXIETY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
Weather
IF IT RAINS, THE DEAD ARE HAPPY.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
EGG GAME
DURING THE EASTER RITUAL OF EATING THE BLESSED FOOD TAKEN TO THE
CHURCH, THE HARD BOILED EGGS ARE SMASHED. THE ONE WHOSE EGG
SMASHES LAST IS THE WINNER.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GAME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs |
Date learned: 11-02-1969
A RELIGIOUS TRADITION
"ON GOOD FRIDAY AT HOME WE WERE ALLOWED TO EAT ONLY
APPLES AND SODA CRACKERS FROM MIDNIGHT HOLY THURSDAY TO MIDNIGHT
GOOD FRIDAY, AND WE COULD ONLY DRINK WATER."
Submitter comment: LEARNED AS A CHILD AT HOME.
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; SELF-SACRIFICE--FASTING
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Thursday 663 Good Friday |
Date learned: 03-10-1967
A RELIGIOUS TRADITION
ON HOLY SATURDAY WE ALL WENT TO CHURCH FOR THE AFTERNOON SERVICES
WHICH WERE BLESSING THE NEW FIRE AND BLESSING HOLY WATER AND SOME
OTHERS. WE WOULD PICK UP SOME OF THE NEW HOLY WATER WHEN WE WENT
HOME FOR HOME USE.
Submitter comment: PRACTISED AS A CHILD AT HOME.
Data entry tech comment:
"AND SOME OTHERS." COULD POSSIBLY REFER TO THE BLESSING OF THE FOOD
WHICH IS TO BE EATEN ON EASTER SUNDAY.
Keyword(s): SWIECZONKA ; WATER
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Saturday BELIEF -- Prayer |
A RELIGIOUS TRADITION
"WE ALWAYS VISITED THE GRAVES OF OUR DEAD RELATIVES ON ALL
SOULS DAY. WE WOULD CLEAN UP THE GRAVE SITE, PUTTING DOWN SOME
FRESH FLOWERS AND SAY A FEW PRAYERS. WE ONLY DID THIS ON ALL
SOULS DAY THOUGH."
PRACTISED AS A CHILD AT HOME.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- November 2 All SoulsDay of the Dead |
Date learned: 03-10-1967
PROVERB
BE ASHAMED TO CATCH YOURSELF IDLE.
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-02-1969
THERE NEVER WAS A GOOD KNIFE MADE OF BAD STEEL.
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-02-1969
THEY THAT DO GOOD, NOT ONLY DO GOOD THEMSELVES, BUT
BY THEIR EXAMPLE ARE THE OCCASION OF MUCH GOOD BEING
DONE BY OTHERS.
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-02-1969
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 |
BELIEF
PLACE STATUE OF BLESSED VIRGIN IN THE ICE BOX
IF YOU WANT A FAVOR AND TAKE HER OUT ONLY AFTER IT IS GRANTED.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS DONE AT ST. MARY'S ACADEMY 1934-38.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 10-06-1970