Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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PROVERB
WHERE IT'S THIN, THERE IT BREAKS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-18-1968
NOT GIVEN
IF YOU DROP A DISHTOWEL SOMEBODY SLOPPY'S COMING TO YOUR HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
NOT GIVEN
SEE A PIN, PICK IT UP,
ALL THE DAY YOU'LL HAVE GOOD LUCK.
SEE A PIN, LEAVE IT LIE,
THROUGH THE DAY YOU'LL HAVE A CRY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 10-29-1967
NOT GIVEN
IF YOU SLEEP WITH WEDDING CAKE UNDER YOUR PILLOW, YOU WILL DREAM
ABOUT YOUR FUTURE HUSBAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
CLOTH ON THE WRIST
BESIDES USING A CLOTH ON THE WRISTS TO SOAK UP SWEAT, SOME
FOOTBALL PLAYERS USE IT FOR GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT KNEW IT AS GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 10-16-1967
NOT GIVEN
IF YOUR RIGHT HAND IS ITCHY YOU'RE GOING TO SHAKE HANDS.
IF YOUR LEFT HAND IS ITCHY, YOU'RE GOING TO GET MONEY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Legend |
Date learned: 10-29-1967
NOT GIVEN
IF YOU DROP A DISH TOWEL YOU'LL HAVE A VISITOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Legend |
SOLDIERS IN A FOXHOLE
IT IS BAD LUCK TO LIGHT THREE CIGARETTES ON THE SAME MATCH. THIS
STORY GOES BACK TO A WAR IN WHICH THREE MEN WERE IN A FOXHOLE.
THEY ALL WANTED A CIGARETTE. IT WAS AT NIGHT AND BY THE TIME
THE SOLDIER HAD LIT THE FIRST MAN'S CIGARETTE, THE ENEMY HAD
COCKED HIS RIFLE; BY THE TIME HE HAD LIT THE SECOND ONE, THE
ENEMY HAD AIMED HIS RIFLE; AND BY THE TIME HE WAS LIGHTING
HIS OWN, THE ENEMY SHOT HIM DEAD.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HIS FATHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Legend |
Date learned: 10-16-1967
THE FOX AND THE PRIEST'S WIFE
THE PRIEST'S WIFE WAS BOTHERING HER HUSBAND FOR A NEW FUR COAT.
IN THE MEANWHILE SHE WAS COOKING SOME CAKES AND PUTTING THEM
IN THE BACKYARD TO COOL OFF. A FOX CAME BY AND SAID, "GIVE
ME YOUR CAKES, I AM HUNGRY," THE WIFE SAID, "BEFORE I GIVE YOU THE
CAKES, I NEED A NEW COAT." THE FOX SAID TO THE PRIEST'S WIFE TO
GIVE HIM THE CAKES, AND TO TELL HER HUSBAND TO WAIT AT THE SAME
TIME TOMORROW IN THE BACKYARD WITH A GUN, AND TO SHOOT THE COAT
THAT WENT BY. THE FOX TOOK THREE MORE CAKES AND LEFT. HE WENT
INTO THE WOODS NEAR THE BROOK AND BEGAN TO EAT THE THREE CAKES.
THE FOX ATE THE FIRST CAKE, AND HAD TROUBLE WITH THE SECOND
ONE BUT MANAGED TO FINISH IT, BUT HE ONLY ATE ONE-HALF OF THE
THIRD CAKE. LATER ON, THE WOLF CAME BY AND ASKED WHERE THE FOX
HAD OBTAINED SUCH A FEAST. THE FOX SAID THAT HE HAD STOLEN THEM
FROM THE PRIEST'S WIFE WHO BAKES A NEW BATCH EVERY DAY AND LETS
THEM COOL OFF IN THE BACKYARD WHILE SHE GOES OFF TO TOWN. THE
WOLF THANKED THE FOX AND THE NEXT DAY, THE WOLF WENT THROUGH THE
WOODS INTO THE BACKYARD TO GET SOME FREE CAKES, WHEN, "BANG" AND
THE WIFE HAD A NEW WOLFSKIN COAT.
Submitter comment: JAMES LEARNED THIS IN HIS CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
Date learned: 10-10-1967
POLISH VERSION OF THE MEDUSA MYTH
LONG AGO THERE WAS A HUGE DRAGON WHICH WAS KILLING THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE. EVERYONE TRIED TO BATTLE AGAINST IT, BUT WHENEVER THE
DRAGON LOOKED AT ANYONE, THEY WERE INSTANTLY KILLED. BUT ONE DAY
A BRIGHT YOUNG PEASANT TOOK HIS SHIELD AND SHINED IT, SO THAT SOON
IT SHONE LIKE A MIRROR. WHEN HE CONFRONTED THE DRAGON WITH THIS
SHIELD, THE DRAGON SAW HIS OWN LIKENESS IN THE SHIELD AND FELL
DEAD. THE PEASANT BOY WAS TREATED LIKE A HERO FROM THAT DAY ON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
Date learned: 10-15-1971
TALE
THERE WAS ONCE A MOTHER WHO WAS EXPECTING A CHILD. SHE KNEW THAT
THE BABY WAS GOING TO BE DEFORMED, BUT WHEN THE BABY WAS BORN, IT
WAS ONLY AN EYE. THE DOCTOR WENT IN TO TALK TO THE MOTHER AND
TOLD HER THAT HER BABY WAS JUST AN EYE. THE MOTHER BECAME VERY
UPSET, STARTED CRYING, AND ASKED, "WHAT COULD BE WORSE?" THE
DOCTOR REPLIED, "IT'S BLIND."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Date learned: 10-00-1969
COURTSHIP
ITALIAN AND SPANISH PEOPLE CHAPERONE THEIR CHILDREN ON DATES UNTIL
THEY ARE MARRIED. BASICALLY, THIS CUSTOM IS RETAINED NOW BY ONLY
THE RICH AND PROPER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
NOT GIVEN
WE DRIVE ON THE RIGHT, AND EUROPE DRIVES ON THE LEFT.
Submitter comment: LEARNED THAT AT HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
CURSE
IN THE ORIENT, IF A PERSON REFUSES A GIFT, IT IS TANTAMOUNT TO
CURSING THE GIVER'S FAMILY (LIVING AND DEAD).
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT GOT THIS INFORMATION WHILE IN VIET NAM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-27-1969
CUSTOM
THE OLDEST CHILD IN THE FAMILY GETS TO RIDE IN THE FRONT SEAT OF
THE CAR.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S FAMILY CARRIED THIS OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
THE GHOST OF JOHN ANDRE
IN TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK, THERE IS A RESTAURANT IN THE HOUSE IN WHICH
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR SPY JOHN ANDRE WAS CAPTURED AND TRIED FOR
ESPIONAGE. OUTSIDE THIS RESTAURANT, THERE STILL STANDS THE TREE
THAT ANDDRE WAS HUNG FROM. THE LEGEND GOES THAT HIS SPIRIT STILL
HAUNTS THIS RESTAURANT. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS FOR PUBLICITY OR
IF IT IS TRUE, BUT THE PEOPLE OF TARRYTOWN STILL BELIEVE IT.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS WHILE EATING AT THIS RESTAURANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate |
LEGENDARY ARABIAN HERO
TARAK BEN ZIYAD OPENED SPAIN TO CONQUEST. WHEN HIS SHIPS REACHED
THE COAST, HE ORDERED THEM TO BE BURNED. HE THEN TOLD HIS MEN:
"THE ENEMY IS IN FRONT OF YOU AND THE SEA IS BEHIND YOU. FIGHT
OR BE DRIVEN INTO THE SEA." THEY FOUGHT AND WON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
MOONCAKE MESSAGES
MANY YEARS AGO, THE MONGOLS OCCUPIED CHINA. AFTER YEARS OF
SUPPRESSION, THE CHINESE ROSE UP AND DROVE THE MONGOLS OUT.
THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE INFORMATION PASSED ON IN MOONCAKES
BY THE CHINESE WOMEN. EACH OF THE MOONCAKES DISTRIBUTED ON
MOONCAKE DAY CONTAINED A MESSAGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
LEGEND OF GEORGE KATSOPAULOS
IN 1895, WHEN THE GREEKS WERE INVADING THE MACEDONIAN VILLAGES FOR
DRAFTEES, GEORGE WAS FOURTEEN. A GREEK OFFICER CAME TO GET
GEORGE'S FATHER FOR THE DRAFT, AND SINCE GEORGE'S FATHER REFUSED TO
GO, HE WAS KILLED ON THE SPOT BY THE OFFICER, IN FRONT OF GEORGE'S
EYES. GEORGE THEN STOLE A PISTOL AND SHOT THE GREEK OFFICER'S
FATHER. HE WAS HIDDEN BY FRIENDLY PEASANTS AND FINALLY SMUGGLED
INTO CANADA, WHERE HE STILL LIVES TODAY.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT'S FATHER TOLD HIM ABOUT GEORGE'S LIFE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 12-05-1967
MARRIAGE CUSTOM (POLISH)
ON THE MORNING OF THE WEDDING, THE BAND WHICH IS TO PLAY AT THE
RECEPTION CONGREGATES ON THE BRIDE'S PORCH AND MUSICALLY ESCORTS
HER TO THE CHURCH. AFTER THE CEREMONY THE BAND AGAIN ESCORTS THE
NEWLY MARRIED COUPLE TO THE HALL FOR BREAKFAST WHERE THEY ARE MET AT
THE DOOR BY THE BRIDE'S MOTHER WHO OFFERS THE COUPLE SOME SLICES OF
BREAD. THE MUSIC AND THE BREAD SIGNIFY THAT THE COUPLE SHALL ALWAYS
BE HAPPY AND THAT THEY SHALL NEVER BE HUNGRY IN THEIR MARRIED LIFE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT REMEMBERS THIS FROM HER CHILDHOOD WHEN IT WAS DONE
AT EVERY POLISH WEDDING. IT IS NOT OFTEN DONE IN THIS COUNTRY
ANYMORE EXCEPT IN STRICTLY POLISH NEIGHBORHOODS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FOOD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Band, orchestra play at bride's house |
Date learned: 01-09-1964