Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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SHELLBACKS AND POLLYWOGS
MAYBE THREE TIMES A YEAR, A CERTAIN OUTFIT OF THE
NAVY CROSSES THE EQUATOR WHILE ON ROUTE. THIS IS
CONSIDERED A BIG DEAL TO CROSS THE EQUATOR, ESPECIALLY
FOR THE FIRST TIME. IF IT'S THE FIRST TIME, YOU ARE
CONSIDERED A POLLYWOG, IF IT ISN'T THE FIRST TIME,
YOU'RE A SHELLBACK. THIS ALL DAY AFFAIR IS A ROUGH
TIME FOR ANY POLLYWOG. THEY ARE BEATEN, HEADS ARE
SHAVED AND THERE IS A FREE FOR ALL, ROTTEN EGGS,
PAINT, OIL, RUNNING THROUGH TUNNELS OF GARBAGE, THE
POLLYWOG IS SUBJECTED TO ALL OF THIS MISERY.
AT THE END OF THE RICKETTS OLDEST FATTEST SHELLBACK, CALLED
KING NEPTUNE, SITS FOR ONE LAST RIB. EVERY SAILOR, AT LEAST
WITH THIS OUTFIT GOES THROUGH THIS NO MATTER WHAT RANK HE
IS AS LONG AS IT'S HIS FIRST TIME ACROSS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: 11-22-1971
FAMILY CUSTOM
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY IT IS A CUSTOM IN MY FAMILY TO HAVE A
PROGRESSIVE DINNER. WE FIRST GO TO ONE OF MY AUNT'S HOUSES
FOR DRINKS AND SOUP. THE NEXT HOUSE SERVES SALADS, THE
NEXT THE MAIN COURSE AND THE LAST HOUSE SERVES DESERT.
EVERY YEAR WE ROTATE SO THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT
AT YOUR HOUSE EACH YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: 01-30-1971
ALWAYS EAT SOME FORM OF PORK ON NEW YEAR'S TO INSURE
GOOD LUCK FOR THE NEW YEAR.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HAS NEVER EATEN ANYTHING BUT PORK ON NEW YEAR'S.
HE FEELS THAT THE EATING OF PORK HAS HELPED HIS LUCK
EVERY YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 03-05-1971
HELENA RUBINSTEIN
AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER ANY PLEDGE OF MY SORORITY MUST PLAY
THE GAME CALLED HELENA RUBINSTEIN. THE PLEDGES TOGETHER
MUST TELL THE MEMBER ASKING WHAT THEY THINK LOOKS GOOD OR
SHOULD BE CHANGED ABOUT THEM. TIMES GET TENSE FOR THE
PLEDGE THAT BEGINS TO CRITICIZE OR TEAR DOWN THE APPEAR-
ANCE OF ANY MEMBER. BUT THEN THE PLEDGES ARE TOLD TO
BE TRUTHFUL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
Keyword(s): "ARE" IN LINE 3300 UNDERLINED.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 10-08-1971
WHEN RIDING THROUGH A COUNTRY AREA, YOU DIVIDE THE
CHILDREN INTO TWO GROUPS, ONE TO EACH SIDE OF THE CAR.
THE CHILDREN THEN PROCEED TO COUNT ALL THE COWS THAT
THEY PASS ON THEIR SIDE OF THE CAR. IF A CEMETERY IS
PASSED, THE CHILDREN WHOSE SIDE IT IS ON LOSE THEIR
COUNT AND MUST START OVER AGAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C531 |
Date learned: 02-28-1971
BULLSHIT
EVERYBODY TAKES THE NAME OF AN ANIMAL AND ADDS THE WORD
"SHIT" TO IT. (E.G., DOGSHIT, CATSHIT, FROGSHIT).
NO ONE CAN TAKE BULLSHIT.
ONE PERSON STARTS: "WHO SHIT?--DOGSHIT!
THE PERSON WHO IS "DOGSHIT" MUST SAY "BULLSHIT" AND
THEN ANOTHER PERSON'S CODE NAME.
IF A PERSON FAILS TO RESPOND TO HIS CODE PROPERLY
HE OR SHE MUST TAKE A DRINK AND THEN CONTINUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Memory |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT CAN BE...
THIS IS A GAME PLAYED STRICTLY WITH WORDS CONTAINING
DOUBLE CONSONANTS. ONLY FEW IN THE ROOM ARE AWARE OF
JUST HOW IT WORKS. THOSE INFORMED BEGIN WITH EXAMPLES
"IT CAN BE YELLOW, BUT IT CAN'T BE BLUE." "IT CAN BE
CHILLY BUT IT CAN'T BE COLD" AND CONTINUE WITH THE
FORMULA "IT CAN BE...BUT IT CAN'T BE..." MANY
EXAMPLES ARE GIVEN AND THE AGGRAVATION BUILDS. THOSE
UNINFORMED BEGIN TO GET VERY UPSET AND TENSE. IT IS
SELDOM WHEN SOMEONE CATCHES ON TO THIS GAME WITH ONLY
FEW EXAMPLES. IT'S A LOT OF FUN IF YOU'RE ONE THAT
KNOWS WHAT'S HAPPENING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing |
Date learned: 10-22-1971
BLACK MAGIC
THIS GAME IS PLAYED AS SOMEWHAT OF A JOKE ON THE
UNINFORMED. BEFORE LEAVING THE ROOM "IT" SUPPOSEDLY
PICKS AN OBJECT IN THAT ROOM. WHEN HE RETURNS, A PERSON
KNOWING HOW TO PLAY THIS GAME, BEGINS TO ASK "IT"
"IS IT THE LAMPSHADE?" AND THE ANSWER IS "NO." THIS
PROCEEDS BACK AND FORTH, THOSE UNAWARE ARE BEGINNING
TO GET CONFUSED AT ACTION. FINALLY,"IT" IS ASKED "IS
IT THE CANDLE STICK?" (WHICH HAPPENS TO BE BLACK).
THIS IS "ITS" CLUE THAT THE NEXT OBJECT ASKED OF
HIM IS THE OBJECT THE KIDS PICKED BEFOREHAND. "IT"
CONTINUES TO BE CORRECT EACH TIME, AND THOSE UNAWARE
MUST FIGURE OUT HOW THIS MAGIC POWER HAS BEEN BESTOWED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing |
Date learned: 10-22-1971
SLUG BUG
A FEW YEARS AGO WHILE IN GRADE SCHOOL, WE'D PLAY THIS
LITTLE GAME WHILE TRAVELING. THE FIRST PERSON TO SEE
A VOLKSWAGON WOULD YELL OUT "SLUG BUG" AND,
CONSEQUENTLY, GOT TO SLUG THE OTHER PERSON IN THE ARM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE=VOLKSWAGON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 10-08-1971
JUMP ROPE--UNDER THE MOON
A. UNDER THE MOON--THE PERSON RUNS UNDER THE ROPE WHILE
IT IS BEING TURNED.
B. #1--THE PERSON JUMPS ONCE AT SLOW SPEED.
C. #2--THE PERSON JUMPS TWICE AT A NORMAL SPEED.
D. #3--THE PERSON JUMPS THREE TIMES ON HER RIGHT FOOT.
E. #4--THE PERSON JUMPS FOUR TIMES ON HER LEFT FOOT.
F. #5--THE PERSON JUMPS FIVE TIMES WITH HER EYES CLOSED.
G. #6--THE PERSON JUMPS SIX TIMES WHILE TURNING
AROUND CLOCKWISE.
H. #7--THE PERSON JUMPS SEVEN TIMES WHILE TURNING AROUND
COUNTERCLOCKWISE.
I. #8--THE PERSON JUMPS EIGHT TIMES ALTERNATING FEET
(RIGHT, LEFT, ....).
J. #9--THE PERSON JUMPS NINE TIMES WHILE CLAPPING ON EACH
JUMP.
K. #10--THE PERSON JUMPS TEN TIMES AT A FAST SPEED.
THE PERSON MUST REPEAT THE SERIES BACKWARDS. IF SHE
MISSES AT ANY TIME SHE MUST TAKE AN END AND WAIT HER
TURN. WHEN SHE RESUMES PLAY SHE MUST START FROM THE
BEGINNING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 03-01-1971
CHRISTMAS GAME
THE GAME IS CALLED "I'M THINKING OF A BULB."
IN ORDER TO PLAY, ONE PERSON HAS TO BE CHOSEN TO GO
FIRST. THIS LEADER THEN SAYS, "I'M THINKING OF A
BULB" AND DESCRIBES A CERTAIN BULB FOUND ON THE
CHRISTMAS TREE. IN TURN ALL THE OTHER PLAYERS
START TO GUESS WHICH BULB IT IS. THE PERSON WHO
GUESSES THE BULB THEN BECOMES THE LEADER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Christmas tree |
Date learned: 01-24-1971
BUBBLE GUM, BUBBLE GUM IN A DISH,/
HOW MANY BUBBLE GUMS DO YOU WISH? 1, 2,
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; TOLD AT INFORMANTS HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
BUBBLE GUM, BUBBLE GUM IN A DISH HOW MANY PIECES DO YOU WISH? 1,2,3,
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 09-00-1969
DUMB, DUMB, DO-DO/CATCH ME IF YOU CAN.
I CAN RUN FASTER THAN---CAN.
( THIS IS A CHASE GAME FOR JUMP ROPE. THE PERSON WHO SAYS THE RHYME
WILL JUMP SO MANY TIMES AND JUMP OUT. THE SECOND PERSON WILL JUMP IN
AND JUMP THE SAME NUMBER OF TIMES. CONTINUES UNTIL THE FIRST PERSON
IS CAUGHT OR SOMEONE MISSES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; TOLD AT INFORMANTS HOME
Keyword(s): CALL-RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 03-01-1971
ENGINE, ENGINE NUMBER NINE,/ GOING DOWN CHICAGO LINE. / IF THE TRAIN
JUMPS THE TRACK / DO YOU WANT YOUR MONEY BACK?
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 09-00-1969
JUMP ROPE VERSE
SPINACH, SPINACH IN MY DISH
SPINACH, SPINACH STINKS LIKE FISH
IF I DON'T EAT ALL MY SPINACH RIGHT
MOMMY WILL SEND ME TO BED EARLY TONIGHT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 11-00-1969
RHYME
SEE SAW MARGERIE DAW,
JACK SHALL HAVE A NEW MASTER,
A PENNY A DAY IS ALL HE CAN PAY,
CAUSE JACK CAN'T WORK ANY FASTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 09-00-1969
VERSE
SKIP, SKIP, HOP, HOP
MOMMY, MOMMY GAVE ME A POP
IF I SPILL THE POP
MOMMY, MOMMY WILL GIVE ME A SOCK
SKIP, SKIP, HOP, HOP
MOMMY MOMMY WILL GIVE ME A SOCK. SKIP, SKIP, HOP, HOP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
Keyword(s): ACTION-RHYME ; CHARACTER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 11-00-1969
RHYME
POLLY, PUT THE KETTLE ON
WE'LL ALL HAVE TEA
IN COMES (NAME)
OUT GOES (NAME)
Submitter comment: (JUMP ROPE RHYME)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
Keyword(s): CALL-RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 09-00-1969
Jump-Rope Rhyme
DOWN IN THE VALLEY, WHERE THE GREEN GRASS GROWS,
THERE SAT (NAME) AS SWEET AS A ROSE.
ALONG CAME (NAME) AND KISSED HER ON THE LIPS.
HOW MANY KISSES DID SHE RECIEVE?
THE PERSON JUMPS UNTIL SHE MISSES.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname and place of residence.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; TOLD AT INFORMANT'S HOME
Keyword(s): ENDURANCE JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 03-01-1971