Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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TAUNT
PITCHER'S ON A BEER WAGON.
Submitter comment:
SAID DURING LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME TO ROUSE UP THE
PITCHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 09-09-1969
BELIEF ABOUT BIRDS
WHEN BIRDS SQUEAK A GREAT DEAL AND FOR A PROLONGED
PERIOD, IT MEANS THAT RAIN WILL COME SHORTLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 11-23-1970
EVERY TIME A GIRL WHISTLES, IT MAKES THE BLESSED
MOTHER CRY
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-23-1970
EATING BREAD CRUSTS WILL GIVE A CHILD CURLY HAIR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 11-23-1970
IN MY FAMILY THE DRESS OF THE DEAD IS ALWAYS
SOMETHING THAT WAS A REMINDER OF HAPPY TIMES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
POLISH FUNERAL CUSTOM
THE SPOUSE, AS A PROOF OF HIS/HER LOVE, BURIES THE
WIFE/HUSBAND ROYALLY; IF THEY SCRIMP THEY DID
NOT REALLY LOVE EACH OTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-20-1971
WHEN ONE PASSES A GRAVEYARD THEY MUST HOLD THEIR BREATH
TILL THEY HAVE COMPLETELY PASSED IT BY.
Submitter comment:
I DID THIS WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I DON'T KNOW WHERE I
LEARNED IT, AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU
IF YOU DIDN'T. I DON'T BELIEVE IN IT, BECAUSE
NOTHING EVER HAPPENS TO ME WHEN I PASS GRAVEYARDS
AND DON'T HOLD MY BREATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHILE I LIVED IN IRELAND I NOTICED THAT THE PEOPLE
WOULD SAY THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN WE (AMERICANS) WOULD.
FOR EXAMPLE: THE TIME IS HALF-TWO, INSTEAD OF TWO
THIRTY AND I'LL SEE YOU TUESDAY A WEEK, INSTEAD OF
I'LL SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
AUTOGRAPH
ROSES ARE RED
VIOLETS ARE BLUE
SUGAR IS SWEET
AND SO ARE YOU. MM
BUT WHEN ROSES ARE WILTED
AND VIOLETS ARE DEAD
SUGAR IS LUMPY
AND SO IS YOUR HEAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; COMPLIMENT ; CONTRAST ; FLOWERS ; HUMOR ; INSULT ; METER: IAMBS ; METER: TROCHEES ; QUATRAINS ; SARCASM ; STUPIDITY ; SURPRISE ENDING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Roses are red and other such associations |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
ELEPHANT JOKE
QUESTION: WHAT DID THE GRAPE SAY WHEN THE ELEPHANT STEPPED ON IT?
ANSWER: NOTHING, IT JUST LET OUT A LITTLE WHINE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM ; RIDDLE JOKE: ELEPHANTS
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON WINE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-10-1968
WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL WE HAD A CUSTOM OF
DECORATING A GIRL'S LOCKER IF IT WAS HER
BIRTHDAY. IN ADDITION WE WOULD MAKE AN
ADORNMENT OF SOME KIND OF CANDY AND GUM FOR
HER TO WEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Art Craft |
Date learned: 12-00-1983
WHEN YOU BECAME A SENIOR AT MY HIGH SCHOOL
YOU BECAME INVOLVED IN THE PRACTICE OF
CHOOSING A "LITTLE SISTER" FROM THE FRESHMEN
CLASS. YOU BECAME A "BIG SISTER", AND HELPED
HER OUT WHENEVER YOU COULD. MANY NEW FRIENDS
WERE MADE THIS WAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 12-00-1983
ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATION
AT NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL ST. PATRICK'S DAY IS CELEBRATED
FOR A WHOLE WEEK WITH ACTIVITIES RANGING FROM A MASS ON
ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO AN ALL-DAY COMPETITION BETWEEN THE CLASSES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- FO31 |
Date learned: 00001979CA
AT ITALIAN WEDDINGS, DURING THE BRIDAL DANCE, THE
GRANDPARENTS OR OLDER RELATIVES OF THE COUPLE THROW
CONFETTI WITH PENNIES AT THE DANCERS IN HOPES THAT
THEY WILL HAVE PROSPERITY THROUGHOUT THEIR MARRIED
LIFE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Reception |
Date learned: 03-19-1971
AT A POLISH WEDDING, A DISH IS PLACED IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE DANCE FLOOR. IF A MALE GUEST WISHES TO HAVE
A DANCE WITH THE BRIDE, HE PLACES SOME MONEY IN
THIS DISH. THE BRIDE AND GROOM THEN, KEEP ALL
THIS MONEY. A POLISH WEDDING USED TO LAST FOR TWO
DAYS, THE SECOND DAY'S GUESTS WERE INVITED BACK
FOR LEFTOVERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Paying for dance |
Date learned: 11-22-1971
IN FRANCE ON A COUPLE'S WEDDING NIGHT, IT IS TRADITIONAL
THAT RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF THE COUPLE DISTURB THEM
THROUGH THE NIGHT BY PULLING PRANKS AND THROWING
ROCKS AT THEIR WINDOWS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS ; FRANCE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage F545.1341 |
Date learned: 03-24-1971
EVERY NEW YEAR'S EVE MY GRANDFATHER (MY MOTHER'S FATHER)
(NOW DECEASED) AT ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT WOULD WALK OUT
THE BACK DOOR AND AT MIDNIGHT WOULD WALK IN THE FRONT
DOOR AND BLESS THE FAMILY TO BRING IN A GOOD YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve BELIEF -- Use of Object BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 02-26-1971
ON THE STROKE OF TWELVE ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, A MAN IN THE
HOUSE WILL OPEN THE FRONT DOOR TO LET THE NEW YEAR IN AND
OPEN THE BACK DOOR TO LET THE OLD YEAR OUT.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER'S FATHER USED TO DO THIS EVERY YEAR, IT WAS
AN OLD ENGLISH CUSTOM. THIS IS STILL CONTINUED IN OUR
FAMILY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve BELIEF -- Use of Object BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 11-02-1971
WHEN WE WERE YOUNG WE'D PLAY A GAME CALLED "FROZEN TAG."
WHOEVER WAS IT WOULD HAVE TO CHASE EVERYONE AND TAG
THEM AND IF YOU WERE TAGGED YOU HAD TO STAND STILL
IN THE EXACT POSITION YOU WERE TAGGED IN UNTIL ALL
HAD BEEN TAGGED AND THE GAME WAS OVER. THE LAST ONE
TAGGED WAS IT FOR THE NEXT ROUND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 11-17-1971
CHINESE TAG
WHEN YOU PLAYED CHINESE TAG ONE PERSON WAS IT AND WHEN
HE TAGGED YOU, YOU HAD TO PUT ONE HAND WHERE HE
TAGGED AND GO TAG SOMEONE ELSE WHILE HOLDING YOUR
HAND WHERE YOU WERE TAGGED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN