Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
NO TICKEE, NO WASHEE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): CHINESE LAUNDRY ; NO CLAIM CHECK, NO MERCHANDISE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-02-1968
LENTEN DISHES
IN BULGARIA IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE LONG LENTEN FAST,
EVERY DISH IN THE HOUSE IS SCRUBBED TO REMOVE ANY POSSIBLE MEAT
RESIDUE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SAID THIS IS DONE BECAUSE DURING THE SEVERAL WEEKS OF
LENT IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH, NO MEAT CAN BE EATEN.
Where learned: HENDRICKSONS PHARMACY ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ABSTINENCE
| Subject headings: | 663 Lent Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Pre Lent |
Date learned: 03-21-1970
PROVERB
WHERE THE DEVIL CAN'T MANAGE,
HE'LL SEND A WOMAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-16-1968
I work with a teacher by the name of Penny Coin.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOROUS NAME
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname SPEECH -- FamilyGroup |
Date learned: 03-22-1992
STANDING IN THE SEVENTH INNING OF A BASEBALL GAME.
Submitter comment: LEARNED IT WHEN I SAW IT ON T.V.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SPRING CUSTOM __ PALM SUNDAY
THE UKRANIAN PEOPLE USED TO BLESS PUSSY WILLOWS INSTEAD OF PALMS
AFTER THE PUSSY WILLOWS WERE BLESSED AT CHURCH THEY WOULD BE TAKEN
HOME BY EACH FAMILY. IN THE HOME THEY WERE PLACED ABOVE A HOLY
PICTURE. AT THE END OF THE DAY ALL THE OLD PUSSY WILLOWS WERE
BURNED. THIS DAY WAS SOMETIMES CALLED WILLOW SUNDAY. WILLOWS
WERE USED BECAUSE PALMS WERE COSTLY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT KNEW OF THIS PRACTICE THROUGH A FRIEND AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF MICHIGAN. HIS NAME IS SMENA RAKOVSKEY.
Where learned: HOME ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM ; WILLOW
| Subject headings: | 663 Palm Sunday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Tuesday |
Date learned: 10-25-1971
PALM SUNDAY CUSTOM
EVERY PALM SUNDAY PALMS ARE BROUGHT HOME FROM CHURCH AND PLACED
SOMEWHERE IN THE HOME.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; RECALLED IN DORM ROOM
Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | 663 Palm Sunday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Tuesday |
ALL SOULS DAY CUSTOM AMONG CREOLES IN NEW ORLEANS
ON THE EVE OF ALL SOULS DAY, THE CREOLES WOULD TAKE CANDLES AND
LUNCHES TO THE CEMETARY TO KEEP AN ALL NIGHT VIGIL AMONG THEIR
DECEASED RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- November 1 All Saints CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-01-1968
REMEDY
FOR TONSIL CASES THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO BOIL POTATOES WITH
THEIR SKINS ON. WHEN THEY ARE DONE MASH THEM A LITTLE WITH A FORK,
PUT THEM IN A SCARF AND WRAP THE SCARF AROUND THE NECK.
THE HEAT WILL DRAW OUT THE INFECTION.
Submitter comment: MEMORIES OF HOMELAND GERMANY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BEAUTY SHOP
Keyword(s): POULTICE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 01-00-1971
GRAFFITI
LOVE IS A FOUR-LETTER WORD.
Data entry tech comment:
INFORMANT ASSUMED TO BE THE COLLECTOR.
FOUR-LETTER WORDS WERE KNOWN AS SWEAR WORDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; COLLECTED IN LAVATORY
Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM RETORT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
TIME AND TIDE WAITS FOR NO MAN.
Submitter comment:
DON'T PUT OFF SOMETHING BECAUSE YOU CAN NEVER
RECAPTURE TIME.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-06-1971
IT IS THE AMISH CUSTOM FOR ONLY THE MEN AND THE
ELDERS TO ATTEND SUNDAY SERVICES, WHICH ARE HELD IN THE
DEACONS' HOMES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BOOK BUILDING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
GOOD FRIDAY
IN ST. CROIX, VIRGIN ISLANDS, GOOD FRIDAY IS OBSERVED IN THE
STRICTEST MANNER. EVERYONE WEARS BLACK ALL DAYS ( DAY ) AND ACTS AS
IF A VERY CLOSE RELATIVE HAS JUST DIED. THEY ARE VERY RELIGIOUS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 663 Good Friday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Sign Color |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
EASTER CUSTOMS
BASKETS FULL OF CANDY ARE PREPARE(D) THE DAY BEFORE EASTER AND ARE
TAKEN TO THE CHURCH TO BE BLESSED. A LITTLE PIECE OF EVERYTHING MUST
BE EATEN THAT DAY. ALSO, A LITTLE HORSERADISH MUST BE EATEN ON
EASTER.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; SWIECZONKA
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Saturday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
My father's grandmother was Delphine Charbonneau
(descendant of Toussaint Charbonneau).
Her mother (he can't remember her name) moved
into a former house of ill repute (because of the
low price). She had it exorcised by a priest, and on
her first day there, she stood at the foot of the
stairs and shouted, "I'm not afraid of devils or
anything." A cold hand slapped her in the face and
knocked her off the landing. She moved out the next
day. This happened in Detroit.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Riddle
There is a traditional riddle that goes,
"What is black and white and read all over?"
The answer, of course, is a newspaper.
When I was younger, in our neighborhood
we made up many variations on this answer.
All of them involved black and white animals,
covered with blood. Examples include bloody
dalmatians, skunks, zebras, snow leopards, etc.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00001975CA
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Seconds / Twice / Two BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Good luck PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
VISITING A CHURCH (COLLECTOR'S TITLE)
ON YOUR FIRST VISIT TO A CHURCH, COUNT THE STEPS
AND MAKE A WISH ON THE LAST ONE.
Where learned: HOME ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs |
Date learned: 01-00-1970
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN CRAVES A FOOD, BUT REFUSES IT AND
TOUCHES HER BODY, THE BABY WILL BE MARKED IN THE SAME
PLACE AS THE MOTHER TOUCHED HERSELF. THIS IS A
LEBANESE BELIEF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; DETROIT BOARD OF EDUCATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-17-1970
ROPE JUMPING RIME
MY MOTHE SENT ME TO THE STORE
AND TOLD ME WHAT TO BUY
(CAN'T REMEMBER THE INTERVAL)
I GAVE HIM BACK HIS PEACHES, I GAVE HIM BACK HIS PEARS,
I GAVE HIM BACK HIS FIFTY CENTS
AND KICKED HIM DOWN THE STAIRS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN HAMMOND, INDIANA GRADE SCHOOL)
(ED. NOTE: THIS IS AN EXTREMELY SWEETENED STORY VERY SIMILAR TO ONE
FOUND IN DEEP DOWN IN THE JUNGLE.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; FOLEY HALL
Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; PLAIN-JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 03-30-1967