Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 1916 returned 247 results.
AN OLD POLISH CUSTOM
TO CHASE BUGS AND EVIL SPIRITS FROM YOUR HOME, MARK THE EDGES OF THE
DOORS AND WINDOWS WITH CHALK WHICH HAS BEEN BLESSED ON JANUARY 6.
Submitter comment:
MY GRANDMOTHER RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION FROM HER HUSBAND, MANY
YEARS BEFORE HIS DEATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany |
AGNUS DEI
AFTER THE EASTER LAMB CAKE IS MADE AND DECORATED, IT IS TAKEN TO THE
CHURCH ON EASTER MORNING TO BE BLESSED BY THE PRIEST FOLLOWING THE
MASS. THIS LAMB CAKE, BEARING A TINY SILK BANNER WITH A CROSS ON
IT, REPRESENTS CHRIST, THE VICTORIOUS LAMB OF GOD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS MY GRANDMOTHER. THIS IS A VERY POPULAR POLISH CUSTOM, WHICH IS EVEN OBSERVED IN MANY POLISH PARISHES IN THIS COUNTRY. MY GRANDMOTHER HAS KNOWN THIS CUSTOM ALL HER LIFE.
Data entry tech comment:
AGNUS DEI MEANS "THE LAMB OF GOD" WHEN TRANSLATED FROM THE LATIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE ; Grandmother
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday |
Date learned: 04-08-1965
AN OLD POLISH EASTER CUSTOM
ONE EASTER EGG IS CUT SO THAT EACH FAMILY MEMBER WILL HAVE ONE PIECE.
THE IMPORTANCE OF EVERYBODY'S EATING PART OF THE ONE EGG IS THE
LESSON OF ONENESS AND FAMILY UNITY. THIS CUSTOM IS USUALLY OBSERVED
JUST BEFORE THE BREAKFAST MEAL ON EASTER SUNDAY.
Submitter comment:
MY GRANDMOTHER LEARNED THIS CUSTOM AS A LITTLE GIRL SINCE HER FAMILY
HAD ALWAYS OBSERVED IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): FAMILY UNITY ; FOOD CUSTOM
PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM
NOTHING VENTURE, (SIC) NOTHING GAINED
Submitter comment:
I HEARD THIS IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN
SOURCE NOT REMEMBERED
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS
James Callow Keyword(s): AMBITION ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-18-1967
PROVERB IN VERSE
NOTHING IS HARDER TO TAKE THAN A TIME OF OVERABUNDANCE (IN THE
SENSE THAT WEALTH CAN RUIN THE CHARACTER OF A HUMAN BEING)
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS IN MUNICH, GERMANY
THIS IS SIMILAR TO AN ENGLISH SAYING THAT I HAVE HEARD
OFTEN IN FERNDALE MICHIGAN. MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL
Data entry tech comment: ORIGINAL 5 X 8 CARD CONTAINS GERMAN TEXT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
James Callow Keyword(s): GOOD FORTUNE ; IRONY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 12-04-1967
Entry filtered.
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
NEVER CROSS A BRIDGE BEFORE YOU GET TO IT
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS IN FERNDALE MICHIGAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; MAKING DECISIONS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 09-23-1967
WEATHER PROVERB
ABENDROT SCHON WETTERBOT.
TRANSLATION: THE EVENING SUN (IF CLEAR AND RED) INDICATES GOOD
WEATHER TOMORROW.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS IN REGENSBERG, GERMANY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION ; RHYME ; SYMBOL ; TRANSLATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
PREGNANCY BELIEF
INFORMANT HAS REPEATEDLY HEARD THAT BATHING IN PREGNANCY CAUSES THE
BABY TO DROWN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
CONTRACEPTION BELIEF
ONE OF THE INFORMANT'S PATIENTS, A POOR SOUTHERN BLACK WOMAN,
LIVING NOW IN THE INNER CITY OF DETROIT, TOLD HER OF A
CONTRACEPTIVE METHOD COMPOSED OF GROUND GINGER WHICH YOU MUST GRIND
YOURSELF, AND VASELINE RUBBED GENEROUSLY WITHIN THE WOMAN.
Submitter comment:
SHE WAS FROM ALABAMA AND ALREADY HAD SIX CHILDREN.
INFORMANT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PREGNANCY BELIEF
INFORMANT HAS BEEN TOLD SEVERAL TIMES BY HER PATIENTS, MOSTLY
POOR BLACK GHETTO RESIDENTS, THAT A BABY WILL LOOK
LIKE THE PERSON THE PREGNANT WOMAN HATES THE MOST. A POSSIBLE
PARTIAL EXPLANATION OF THIS IS THE HIGH PERCENTAGE OF DESERTED MOTHERS,
HATING THE LOST FATHER, OR LOVERS, SEE A RESEMBLANCE IN THE CHILD TO THE FATHER.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PREGNANCY BELIEF
INFORMANT HAS HEARD REPEATEDLY FROM HER PATIENTS, POOR BLACK
WOMEN, THAT A PREGNANT WOMAN MUST NOT RAISE HER HANDS ABOVE HER
HEAD OR SHE WILL STRANGLE HER UNBORN BABY.
Submitter comment:
THERE IS, OF COURSE, NO MEDICAL TRUTH IN THIS, BUT IT IS WIDELY
BELIEVED.
INFORMANT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
HEARTBURN IN PREGNANCY
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN GETS HEARTBURN, HER CHILD WILL BE BORN
WITH A LOT OF HAIR.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND'S MOTHER, AND SHE HEARD WHEN A GIRL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 04-00-1971
HOLY COMMUNION
WHEN I WAS 8 I BELIEVED IF I CHEWED THE HOST, MY TEETH WOULD ROT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
EDGE-WISE
WHEN GIVING A GIFT WITH SHARP EDGES, A PENNY SHOULD BE GIVEN
FOR EACH EDGE SO THAT THE FRIENDSHIP WILL NOT BE CUT.
Submitter comment: FROM HER MOTHER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATIC ; SYMBOLISM UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
ONE GIRL ASKS A BOY, 'MAKE ME A PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH.'
SO HE MADE IT. HE WAS ABOUT TO CUT IT WHEN THE GIRL SAID, ' DO
NOT CUT IT BECAUSE THAT WAY ALL THE FLAVOR GOES OUT.'
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
James Callow Keyword(s): KNIFE
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Manner of preparation Food Drink -- Plant food Nut BELIEF -- Home |
Date learned: 09-26-1965
BELIEF
ONE GIRL ASKED A BOY TO MAKE HER A PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH.
HE MADE IT, BUT SHE SAID NOT TO CUT IT, LEST THE FLAVOR GO OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
James Callow Keyword(s): FOOD ; KNIFE
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Manner of preparation Food Drink -- Plant food Nut BELIEF -- Home |
Date learned: 09-26-1965
MOON BELIEF
IF YOU CUT YOUR HAIR ON A FULL MOON IT WILL GROW TWICE AS LONG.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SHAVED HER DAUGHTER'S HEAD WHEN SHE WAS VERY YOUNG
BECAUSE SHE HAD A SCALP DISEASE. NOW HER DAUGHTER HAS
SHOULDER LENGTH HAIR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Moon |
Date learned: 12-07-1971
THE WAY TO GET RID OF AN EAR ACHE, IS TO GET A BETSY BUG, WHICH
ONLY HAS TWO DROPS OF BLOOD IN IT, PULL HIS HEAD OFF WHILE STANDING
OVER THE PERSON WITH THE EAR ACHE, AND LET THE TWO DROPS OF BLOOD
FALL IN THE INFECTED EAR. THE EAR ACHE WILL DISAPPEAR.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S MOTHER DID THIS FOR HER EAR ACHE WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD.
HER MOTHER WOULD GET UP EARLY EVERY MORNING FOR THREE MORNINGS
AND CRAWL UNDER THE HOUSE AND DIG UNTIL SHE FOUND A BETSY BUG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 12-07-1971
MORTAL SINS--SHOCK THEATRE
AT HOLY NAME GRADE SCHOOL IN BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN, ONE OF THE NUNS
USED TO TELL THE KIDS THAT WATCHING 'SHOCK THEATER' (A WEEKLY SHOW
WHICH PRESENTED HORROR MOVIES) WAS A MORTAL SIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- P439 BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN