Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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JUMP-ROPE RHYME
JACK BE NIMBLE, JACK BE QUICK,
JACK, JUMP OVER THE CANDLESTICK.
SIXTY-NINE, SEVENTY-TWO,
HOW MANY POP-UPS CAN YOU DO?
COME ON AND JUMP, JUMP, JUMP UNTIL YOU'RE THROUGH.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 11-00-1974
JUMP-ROPE RHYME
HEY, EVERYBODY, WE'RE GOING TO GATHER AROUND MEXICO. TWO UP, TWO
BACK, BOSS TURN, BIRD'S NEST, OH, BABY NOW, ONE, TWO, THREE, COUNT
UNTIL SHE MISSES.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 11-00-1974
MEANS OF CAUSING ILLNESS
OH IT'S CHERRY JUICE AND LEAVES,
THAT GIVE YOU THE DRY HEAVES,
IN THE HALLS, IN THE HALLS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit |
Date learned: 11-00-1973
MEANS OF CAUSING OR AVOIDING ILLNESS
IF YOU MASTURBATE REGULARLY, YOU WILL GET A SERIOUS CASE OF ACNE, AND
EVENTUALLY YOUR PALMS WILL BECOME VERY HAIRY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-00-1973
CURE FOR HICCUPS
IF YOU HAVE THE HICCUPS, HERE IS A REMEDY TO CURE THEM.
FIRST YOU MUST FIND THE LONGEST BLADE OF GRASS FROM YOUR FRONT YARD.
NEXT, YOU TAKE THE BLADE OF GRASS AND GENTLY INSERT IT INTO YOUR
NOSE. BY DOING THIS A FEW TIMES, EVENTUALLY THIS WILL CAUSE YOU TO
SNEEZE, WHICH WILL IN TURN CAUSE YOU TO LOSE YOUR HICCUPS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 10-00-1973
CURE FOR WARTS
IF YOU HAVE A WART ON YOUR BODY, YOU MUST DO THE FOLLOWING:
A) CUT AN ONION IN HALF
B) RUB THE ONION ON THE WART
C) BURY THE ONION OUTSIDE SOMEWHERE
IF THIS PROCEDURE IS FOLLOWED CORRECTLY, THE WART WILL DISAPPEAR IN
A FEW DAYS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; CAMPUS
Date learned: 11-00-1973
CURE FOR HEADACHES
IF YOU HAVE A HEADACHE OR A BUMP ON YOUR HEAD, IN ORDER TO STOP THE
PAIN OR SWELLING, YOU MUST DO THE FOLLOWING FIVE STEPS:
1) GET SOME POTATOES
2) CUT THEM IN HALVES
3) CUT THEM IN QUARTERS
4) PUT THEM IN A TOWEL
5) WRAP THE TOWEL AROUND YOUR HEAD, OR AROUND THE BUMP
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 10-00-1973
BELIEF
IF YOU GO SWIMMING IN THE OCEAN, OR ANY OTHER LARGE BODY OF WATER ON
HOLY THURSDAY, YOU WILL TURN INTO A FISH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Thursday Favorites BELIEF -- Fish BELIEF -- Still water Large body. |
Date learned: 10-00-1973
FIRE ESCAPE COUNTERWEIGHTS
THERE IS AN OLD CUSTOM IN CHICAGO OF ELABORATELY DESIGNING THE
COUNTERWEIGHTS ON THE LAST SECTION OF A FIRE ESCAPE (THAT PORTION
OF THE ESCAPE THAT KEEPS THE LAST SECTION RAISED), THESE WEIGHTS
ARE CAST IRON AND THE CASTINGS HAVE INTRICATE DESIGNS OF LETTERS OR
FIGURES. THIS CUSTOM SHOWS UP ON SOME FAIRLY
OLD BUILDINGS I'VE
SEEN SOME FROM THE 20S), HOWEVER, THE NEWER BUILDINGS HAVE DIFFERENT
FIRE ESCAPE SYSTEMS SO IT'S NOT DONE ANYMORE.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- M 84 |
Date learned: 00001960S
RUN MY GOOD SHEEP RUN
PLAYERS FOR THIS GAME ARE DIVIDED INTO TWO TEAMS, EACH WITH A CAPTAIN
(ABOUT EIGHT PLAYERS ARE NEEDED). EACH TEAM MEETS AND DETERMINES A
THREE-WORD CODE, (USUALLY COLORS), 1 STANDING FOR FAR AWAY, 1 FOR
COMING CLOSER AND ONE FOR VERY CLOSE. ONE TEAM IS THEN PICKED TO
HIDE AND THEIR CAPTAIN HIDES THEM, THEN COMES BACK TO THE OTHER TEAM
WHO ARE THE SEARCHERS. HE ACCOMPANIES THEM WHILE THEY LOOK FOR HIS
SHEEP (TEAM). WHILE THEY ARE SEARCHING HE CALLS OUT THE CODE WORDS
TO INFORM HIS TEAM OF THEIR PROGRESS. HE CAN ALSO CALL OUT OTHER
WORDS TO CONFUSE THE SEARCH TEAM. WHEN FINALLY THEY GET VERY CLOSE
TO HIS TEAM AND COULD SEE THEM FROM WHERE THEY ARE, HE CALLS RUN MY
GOOD SHEEP RUN AND BOTH TEAMS RACE BACK TO THE STARTING POINT. THE
FIRST TEAM (IN THE FORM OF ANY MEMBER) TO REACH THAT POINT WINS.
THE TEAMS THEN EXCHANGE ROLES AND A RUNNING SCORE IS KEPT.
Submitter comment:
I LEARNED THIS GAME FROM MY PARENTS WHO PLAYED IT ON THE WEST SIDE
OF CHICAGO IN THE 1930S.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; WESTCHESTER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: CA00001960
CRACKS
STEP OVER A CRACK AND YOU'LL BREAK THE DEVIL'S DISHES.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
TURKEY-DAY
THERE IS A CUSTOM IN AMERICA IN WHICH THE PRIMARY FOOD ON
THANKSGIVING IS TURKEY. IT IS BELIEVED THAT WHEN THE PILGRIMS
CELEBRATED THE FIRST THANKSGIVING, THE INDIANS GAVE THEM TURKEY
TO EAT, AND IT HAS CARRIED OVER.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Autumn Fall Harvest Thanksgiving |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
GOOD CORN
"KNEE HIGH BY THE FOURTH OF JULY" MEANS THE CORN CROP IS DOING
WELL.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 00-00-1962
ITCHING EYES
IF YOUR LEFT EYE ITCHES, YOU'LL CRY. IF YOUR RIGHT EYE ITCHES,
YOU'LL LAUGH.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS A FRIEND OF MINE WHO REMEMBERS THIS FROM HER CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
BLACK BIRD
IF A BLACK BIRD FLIES INTO THE HOUSE, IT MEANS THAT SOMEONE IS
GOING TO DIE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS MY GRANDMOTHER, AND THIS IS APPARENTLY A CHILDHOOD
BELIEF.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
UNEXPECTED GUESTS
WHEN EATING A MEAL, IF YOU SHOULD TAKE A SECOND PIECE OF BREAD BEFORE
FINISHING THE FIRST, IT IS AN INDICATION THAT A STRANGER WILL BE
COMING TO THE HOUSE.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
MORE VISITORS
IF YOU DROP A KNIFE, A MAN IS COMING TO VISIT YOUR HOUSE. IF YOU DROP
A FORK OR A SPOON, THE VISITOR WILL BE A WOMAN.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 00-00-1963
CHARM
THE ACORN MADE OF TIN OR COPPER.
IT HAD ONCE BEEN THE CUSTOM FOR PEOPLE TO CARRY A DRIED
ACORN FOR SUSTAINING YOUTHFULNESS AND VIGOR.
NOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE A WAYWARD LOVER RETURN
TO HIS OR HER COMPANION.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration |
GOOD NIGHT
GOOD NIGHT, SLEEP TIGHT.
DON'T LET THE BED BUGS BITE.
IF THEY DO, PUT THEM IN A STEW
AND GET UP AND EAT THEM AT HALF PAST TWO.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): FOOD ; GORE ; INSECTS ; INTERNAL RHYME ( TWO PAIRS) ; RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
WEREWOLF BELIEF
IF YOU LOOK BACK AT THE MOON OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER,
YOU WILL IMMEDIATELY ENCOUNTER A WEREWOLF.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire |
Date learned: 00-00-1970