Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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DEAD BIRD SUPERSTITION
A DEAD BIRD IN THE HOUSE MEANS THAT
THAT THERE WILL BE A DEATH IN THAT
SAME HOUSE SOON.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
BELIEF
IF A DOG HOWLS THERE WILL SOON BE A DEATH.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
SIGN OF BAD LUCK
WHEN A BIRD HITS YOUR WINDOW, THERE'LL BE DEATH IN THE FAMILY.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 11-19-1968
MRS. MURPHY'S PARENTS HAD A STORE WITH A SET OF GAS PUMPS IN FRONT
UNDER A ROOF THAT COVERED THE PORCH IN FRONT OF THE STORE ALSO.
ONE AFTERNOON MRS. MURPHY HEARD HER MOTHER SCREAM. A HEARSE HAD
PULLED UP AT THE GAS PUMPS UNDER THE ROOF. THERE WAS A CORPSE IN TH
HEARSE. HER MOTHER BELIEVED THAT THIS WAS AN OMEN THAT THERE WAS
SOON TO BE A DEATH IN THE FAMILY. BUT, THIS OMEN WAS ONLY GOOD IF
THE HEARSE WAS UNDER THE ROOF. HER FATHER HAD THE MAN MOVE THE
VEHICLE OUT FROM UNDER THE ROOF SO THAT THE OMEN COULD BE BROKEN.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 05-22-1965
WHEN IT THUNDERS IT MEANS THAT THEY'RE MOVING THE FURNITURE AROUND I
HEAVEN.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: MANY YEARS AGO
BELIEF
WHEN IT RAINS AND THE SUN SHINES AT THE SAME TIME,
THE DEVIL IS BEATING HIS WIFE.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
IF A SPIDER DROPS IN FRONT OF YOU WHEN YOU ARE WALKING
THIS MEANS THAT YOU WILL GET A LETTER IN THREE DAYS.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
CROPS WHICH GROW ABOVE THE GROUND SHOULD BE PLANTED IN THE
LIGHT OF THE MOON.
CROPS WHICH GROW BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE GROUND SHOULD BE
PLANTED IN THE DARK OF THE MOON.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
ALL AUTOMOBILES IN EUROPE MUST HAVE AN IDENTIFYING COUNTRY DECAL,
OVAL IN SHAPE, BLACK LETTERS ON WHITE BACKGROUND, ABOUT 8"X6".
S= SWEDEN, N= NORWAY, GB= GREAT BRITAIN, IR= IRELAND, B= BELGIUM,
F= FRANCE, E= SPAIN (ESPANA), I= ITALY, CH= SWITZERLAND
(SCHWEIZERLAND), D= GERMANY (DEUTSCHLAND), MC= MONACO, USA= UNITED
STATES OF A., A= AUSTRIA, L= LUXEMBOURG, N= NETHERLANDS (HOLLAND)
ETC...
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 12-00-1971
SYMBOLISM
THE PEACE SYMBOL ORIGINALLY IS A WATCH REPAIR SIGN-IT SIGNIFIES THE
TIME AT WHICH A CLOCK IS AT PERFECT BALANCE 8:19.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
EXCEPT IN THE SOUTHERN AND FAR EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, CHANGING
LANES ON AN EXPRESSWAY (AUTOSTRADA, AUTOBAHN, ETC...) IS ALWAYS
INDICATED BY THE TURN SIGNAL. WHILE PASSING, THE LEFT-HAND SIGNAL IS
LEFT ON UNTIL RETURNING TO THE RIGHT LANE.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 12-00-1971
THE ORIGIN OF THE SANDWICH
DID YOU KNOW THAT WHAT WE CALL A SANDWICH TODAY IS NOT REALLY A
SANDWICH? IT'S A SHREWSBURY} I'M SURE YOU HEARD THE STORY ABOUT
THE EARL OF SANDWICH INVENTING THAT DELICACY,
BUT THAT STORY IS FALSE, IT WAS INVENTED BY THE DUKE OF SHREWSBURY,
TO CELEBRATE HIS INVENTION, THE DUKE INVITED ALL OF THE NOBILITY
FROM FAR AND NEAR TO A BANQUET, WHERE HE WAS GOING TO INTRODUCE
THE SHREWSBURY. HE HAPPENED TO INVITE THE EARL OF SANDWICH.
THE EARL RECOGNIZED WHAT A GOOD THING THIS WAS, SO HE INVITED
THE DUKE OVER TO HIS CASTLE THE NEXT DAY.
WHEN THE EARL SAW THE DUKE ABOUT TO ENTER THE CASTLE, HE LIFTED UP
THE DRAWBRIDGE, AND THE DUKE FELL IN THE MOAT. HE THEN PULLED THE
PLUG AND THAT WAS THE LAST ANYONE SAW OF THE DUKE. THE EARL OF
SANDWICH TOOK THE INVENTION AND MADE IT POPULAR AND THAT IS WHY WE
CALL IT A SANDWICH.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD THE STORY FROM SOMEONE AT WESTERN MICHIGAN
UNIVERSITY, WHERE HE IS A STUDENT. HE WAS NOT SURE OF THE FELLOW'S
NAME, BUT HE KNEW THAT HE WAS FROM MASSACHUSETTS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): FOOD ; Invention ; NAME ; Origin ; Sandwich
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert Bread, rolls, etc. SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Date learned: 04-10-1965
DUST YOUR WHEAT
MUD YOUR OATS
AND YOU WILL ALWAYS GET A GOOD CROP.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
MANITOU BEACH, MICHIGAN NEAR ADDISON, MICHIGAN WAS NAMED
FOR SOME INDIAN NAMED MANITOU WHO HAD SETTLED THERE.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Explanation of a name SPEECH -- Place |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY THE COLLECTOR
PINGREE'S POTATOE PATCH
THE CITY OF DETROIT USED TO BE KNOWN AS PINGREE'S POTATOE PATCH.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SAID THIS NAME CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF A MAYOR OF DETROIT
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 04-13-1967
ROSES ARE RED VERSE
ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE.
ALWAYS BE GOOD AND GOD WILL BLESS YOU.
Submitter comment: THIS ITEM WAS WRITTEN IN THE AUTOGRAPH BOOK OF COLETTE BY SCHOOLMATE
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): ADVICE
| Subject headings: | 760 Autograph verse |
Date learned: 10-08-1967
HOPE IS A VIRTUE LOVING AND TRUE,
BUT BEAUTY IS THE GIFT GOD GAVE YOU
Submitter comment: ITEM WAS WRITTEN IN THE AUTOGRAPH BOOK OF COLETTE BY A SCHOOLMATE.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Tender sentiment |
Date learned: 10-08-1967
THE SEWER
BY THE SEWER I LIVED,
BY THE SEWER I DIED,
THEY CALLED IT MURDER,
BUT IT WAS SEWER-CIDE.
Submitter comment: GRADE SCHOOL AUTOGRAPH BOOK
Data entry tech comment: ADDED TITLE AND COMMAS
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): SUICIDE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Translations, plays on words, symbol writing |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
AUTOGRAPH
IF YOUR HUSBAND IS THIRSTY
AND HE WANTS A DRINK,
TAKE HIM TO THE KITCHEN
AND SHOW HIM TO THE SINK
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): COMMAND ; DRINK ; HUMOR ; MARRAIGE ; RHYME ABCB ; SURPRISE ENDING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Matrimony |
Date learned: 06-00-1962
AUTOGRAPH VERSE
WHEN THE GOLDEN SUN IS SETTING
AND THE EARTH NO MORE YOU TROD;
MAY YOUR NAME IN GOLD BE WRITTEN
IN THE AUTOGRAPH OF GOD.
Submitter comment:
THIS ITEM WAS WRITTEN IN THE AUTOGRAPH BOOK OF
COLETTE BY A SCHOOLMATE.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): BLESSING ; CHARM ; PIOUS ; PREPARATION FOR DEATH ; RHYME ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Pious reflection |
Date learned: 10-08-1967