Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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ELEPHANT JOKE
Q. HOW DO YOU KNOW IF AN ELEPHANT'S IN YOUR BED?
A. YOU CAN'T GET IN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1982
ELEPHANT JOKE
Q. WHY DID THE ELEPHANT USE IVORY SOAP?
A. BECAUSE HE WANTED TO CLEAN HIS TUSKS.
Submitter comment:
IVORY IS A BRAND OF SOAP.
THE CATCH IS THAT AN ELEPHANT'S TUSKS ARE MADE OUT OF
IVORY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1982
ELEPHANT JOKE
Q. WHAT DID THE ELEPHANT SAY WHEN HE GOT ANGRY?
A. TUSK TUSK TUSK
Submitter comment: PUN TUSK TUSK TUSK = TISK TISK TISK OR TSK TSK TSK
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1982
This is a saying I learned from my mother when I was younger:
"If you keep making that expression your face will freeze like
that." What she meant by this was that if I continually made a
certain expression my face would someday freeze with that
expression on it. She said this to me through my childhood and
still says it to me today. I think it was her way to keep me
from making faces. Unfortunately, it has not worked!
James Callow comment: Cf. Hand, North Carolina no. 172.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1982
When I was younger (approx. 5 years old) the kids in my
neighborhood would never knock on the door if they wanted you to
come out and play. Instead they would stand on the sidewalk in
front of your house and repeatedly call out your name. The
reason for doing this was because we were all afraid of our
friend's parents. This practice continued for years until I was
about 10 and we were finally all brave enough to knock on each
other's doors. We did notice, however, that the younger children
seemed to follow our tradition of calling out their friends to
play.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Common law SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
When I was younger my mother always used to tell me to never
go outside with a wet head in the winter because my head would
freeze and I would catch a cold.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
James Callow Keyword(s): TEMPERATURE
Date learned: 00-00-1977
When I was in high school and started drinking coffee my
mother was against it. She told me that drinking coffee would
stunt my growth and that it was not for children. Since then, I
always hear people say exactly what my mother told me about
coffee and wonder whether it is true or if it is just a way of
getting kids to not drink coffee.
James Callow comment: See Puckett, Ohio, nos. 1667, 5524.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Non-alcoholic fruit beverage Coffee BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1984
POLISH BURIAL CUSTOM
BEFORE THE DECEASED IS TAKEN TO THE CEMETERY, THE
FUNERAL PROCESSION TAKES THE DECEASED PAST HIS OR HER
HOUSE FOR THE LAST TIME, AS A GOODBYE GESTURE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
NO FUNERAL HOMES IN IRELAND. THE DEAD PERSON OR CORPSE IS
LAID OUT ON THE BED. THEN WHEN BEING TRANSFERRED FROM THE
BED TO THE CASKET THE SIX CHAIRS WHICH THE CASKET HAS
BEEN RESTING ON ARE ALL TURNED UPSIDE DOWN FOR THE REST
OF THE DAY.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT RECALLS WHEN THIS WAS DONE AT HER FATHER'S WAKE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; IRELAND ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-00-1970
AFTER THE BURIAL SERVICES, THE PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED
THE FUNERAL GO TO A DINNER MADE BY THE RELATIVES OF
THE DECEASED. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO SYMBOLIZE THE
REJOICING, THAT THE DEPARTED ONE IS NOW REACHING
LIFE EVERLASTING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-12-1968
WHEN A PERSON DIES HE IS BURIED WITHIN 24 HOURS. THIS
IS DONE IN MALTA, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT EMBALM THE
DECEASED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MALTA ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 03-13-1970
BIRTHDAY CUSTOMS:
CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS WITH A CAKE AND CANDLES.
THE ONE CANDLE "TO GROW ON." SPANKING THE PERSON
ONCE FOR EACH YEAR HE HAS LIVED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: 09-29-1968
BRIDE WEARING A PENNY IN HER SHOE ON HER WEDDING DAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Penny in shoe |
Date learned: 10-02-1968
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW,
SOMETHING BORROWED,
SOMETHING BLUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Wear something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue |
Date learned: 10-04-1968
AFTER THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY, THE BRIDE AND THE GROOM
GO TO THE HALL OR THE HOUSE WHERE THE RECEPTION IS TO
BE HELD. THE FIRST THINGS THAT THEY EAT WHEN THEY
ARRIVE CONSIST OF WATER, SALT AND BREAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Bread and salt |
Date learned: 02-24-1970
THE PEOPLE AT THE RECEPTION PICK UP A FORK, KNIFE OR
SPOON AND HIT IT AGAINST THE DISHES. THIS IS A SIGN
FOR THE BRIDE AND GROOM TO KISS.
THIS IS DONE QUITE OFTEN DURING THE SUPPER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Glassware tapping |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT IS A TRADITION THAT A HUSBAND CARRY HIS NEW BRIDE
OVER THE THRESHOLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Carrying bride over threshold |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
POLISH CUSTOM: AFTER THE DAY OF THE WEDDING, THE
PARENTS OF THE BRIDE OR THE GROOM INVITE THE
WEDDING PARTY OVER TO THE HOUSE FOR DINNER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage F545.152 |
Date learned: 02-24-1970
WINTER CUSTOM
BUILDING SNOWMEN; USING CHARCOAL (EYES) AND
CARROTS (NOSE), AND SCARVES FOR DECORATION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Winter |
EASTER BUNNY, BASKET, EGGS; LILLIES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Elements |
Date learned: 10-07-1968