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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 5608 returned 179 results.
"Goodie Edition"
Submitter comment:
This is the colloquial phrase used by residents of
McBain, Michigan to indicate someone or something that
is particularly run-down or slovenly.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): Sarcasm, derision
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Proper Name |
It is bad luck to name a boat after a boy instead of a girl.
Submitter comment:
Elinor's dance instructor was concerned that a friend of hers
would regret that she had named her boat after her son.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): ship, christening, advice
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities SPEECH -- Proper Name |
It is bad luck to open an umbrella in the house only
if you place it over your head.
Submitter comment:
Elinor's dance instructor is very convinced of this belief's
veracity, and dislikes her students bringing umbrellas into
class.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): proscription, advice
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Umbrella BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
Date learned: 00001987ca
If you are going to wear jewelry with opals, it is
better luck to wear an odd number of opals than an
even number.
Submitter comment:
Elinor's friend, Jane, states that the ring (or other piece
of jewelry) will be stronger this way.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): Advice, gems
Date learned: 00001980S
An opal will shine more brightly for someone who
is supposed to wear it, but will look dull, or will crack,
if the wrong person wears it. If you have Scorpio rising
in your astrological sign, that is as good as being born
under Scorpio.
Submitter comment:
Annie, an acquaintance of Elinor's, complimented Elinor
on the beauty of her opal ring. When Elinor related her
misgivings about wearing the ring, Annie reassured her
that it was safe, since Scorpio was her rising sign. She
also warned her not to let anyone wear it, as the ring
might crack if that person was not born under the proper
sign.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): Advice, gems
Date learned: 00001980S
OPPOSITES DAY
IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, A POPULAR THING TO DO IS DECLARE AN
OPPOSITES DAY. ONCE DECLARED, ANY INSULT DIRECTED AT A PERSON
WAS REVERSED. IF BILLY SAID ERIC WAS MEAN, AND ERIC DECLARED
OPPOSITES DAY, IT WAS AS IF BILLY HAD SAID THAT ERIC WAS NICE.
THIS IS OFTEN USED IN THE MIDDLE OF HEATED ARGUMENTS.
KIDS CAN USE THIS TO REVERSE PERSONAL INSULTS: "YOU ARE STUPID",
"YOU ARE UGLY"; AND PHYSICAL INSULTS: "YOUR CLOTHES DON'T
MATCH", "YOUR MAMMA WEARS ARMY BOOTS."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
James Callow Keyword(s): INVERSION
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Irregular |
Date learned: 00001976CA
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
GREEN M&M CANDIES MAKE A PERSON HORNY.
CHILDREN AND EVEN ADULTS WOULD ALWAYS SCRAMBLE TO GET THE
PRECIOUS FEW GREEN M&M'S IN A BAG OF THE CANDIES SO THAT
THEY MIGHT HAVE BETTER LUCK FINDING OR STAYING WITH A MATE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): APHRODISIAC ; CANDY ; COLOR ; Green ; Sexuality ; Urban Legend
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXUALLY AROUSED = HORNY ; SLANG
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 00001976CA
RED M&M CANDIES CAUSE CANCER.
RUMORS WERE CIRCULATING NATIONWIDE ABOUT CARCINOGENIC NATURE
OF THE DYE USED TO MAKE RED M&M'S. THIS WAS STRENGTHENED WHEN
M&M BEGAN SELLING M&M'S WITHOUT RED CANDIES. THE RED CANDIES
WERE BROUGHT BACK AROUND 1985, BUT MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL LEERY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): CANDY
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001980CA
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN IS CARRYING A BABY LOW, THE BABY IS A BOY.
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN IS CARRYING A BABY HIGH, THE BABY IS A GIRL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00001976CA
WHEN A PERSON MAKES A SMALL JOB SEEM BIGGER THAN IT ACTUALLY
IS, HE IS SAID TO BE "MAKING A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
James Callow Keyword(s): ALLITERATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 00001980CA
FINGER AND TOENAILS SHOULD BE CUT WITH CLIPPERS WHILE
THE NAILS ARE WET LIKE AFTER A SHOWER. DOING THIS
WILL ELIMINATE CRACKING AND SPLITTING OF NAILS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails |
Date learned: 00001977CA
PYRAMIDS
USE A STANDARD DECK OF CARDS AND EVERYONE HAS A DRINK.
MAKE A FLAT PYRAMID OUT OF CARDS, USUALLY FIVE ROWS, WITH
THE FIRST ROW HAVING ONE CARD THE SECOND HAVING TWO AND SO
ON TO FIVE CARDS IN THE FIFTH ROW. THE CARDS ARE LAID OUT FACE
DOWN. THEN FIVE TO SEVEN CARDS ARE DEALT TO EACH PLAYER
(DEPENDING ON HOW MANY PLAYERS THERE ARE). THE SINGLE CARD IN
THE TOP ROW IS OVERTURNED. WHOEVER HAS THAT CARD (IN A
DIFFERENT SUIT) CAN TELL SOMEONE ELSE TO DRINK. IF HE
HAS TWO OR MORE OF THE SAME CARD HE CAN HAVE AS MANY
PEOPLE DRINK AS THERE ARE OF THAT CARD (EX- TWO KINGS,
THE PLAYER CAN HAVE TWO PEOPLE TAKE A DRINK) OR YOU CAN
GIVE ALL THE DRINKS TO ONE PERSON. FOR THE FIRST ROW THERE'S
ONE DRINK FOR EACH CARD, THE SECOND HAS TWO DRINKS PER
CARD, ETC. UP TO FIVE DRINKS PER CARD. PLAYERS CAN ALSO TRY TO
BLUFF AND TRY TO CONVINCE ANOTHER PLAYER THAT THEY HAVE A
CARD AND THE PERSON THEY CHOOSE SHOULD DRINK. IF THE BLUFFER
IS CONFRONTED (SOMEONE SAYS "BULLSHIT")THEN THE BLUFFER HAS
TO TAKE DOUBLE THE DRINKS HE WAS TRYING TO GIVE AWAY. IF THE
PERSON WASN'T BLUFFING AND IS CONFRONTED THE CONFRONTER MUST
TAKE DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF DRINKS.
VARIATIONS:
FOR GETTING A LOT MORE DRUNK IN A SHORTER AMOUNT OF TIME
YOU CAN REVERSE THE NUMBER OF DRINKS PER ROW SO THAT IT'S
ONE DRINK FOR ALL THE CARDS IN ROW FIVE AND FIVE DRINKS
FOR THE ONE CARD IN ROW ONE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS JULIE'S FAVORITE DRINKING GAME; SHE PLAYS IT VERY
OFTEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 01-00-1989
So long as time goes on, death continues.
But Jews believe that the spirit of man lives
long after his body has died. Death will end
only with the coming of the kingdom of God.
Submitter comment: Jewish belief, learned and believed until death.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001970S
FLINCH
WHEN YOUNGER, WE USED TO PLAY A GAME CALLED FLINCH, IN
WHICH ONE PERSON WOULD MAKE A SUDDEN MOVEMENT TOWARDS
ANOTHER, USUALLY IN THE FACE AREA. IF THE PERSON
BLINKED, OR FLINCHED, THE AGGRESSOR WAS ALLOWED
TO HIT THE OTHER IN THE ARM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
NEVER THROW A HAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BED,
BECAUSE IT WILL BRING YOU BAD LUCK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): Bed ; BELIEF ; CLOTHING ; Fashion ; Hat ; LUCK ; Placement ; PREDICTION ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.) BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) |
Date learned: 02-07-1972
IF A WOMAN PUTS HER SLIP ON INSIDE-OUT IN THE
MORNING, SHE SHOULD NOT CHANGE IT BECAUSE SHE'LL
HAVE BAD LUCK FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.) |
Date learned: 02-07-1972
IF THERE'S A KNOCK ON THE DOOR BUT WHEN YOU GO TO ANSWER
IT, THERE'S NO ONE THERE, IT MEANS YOU'RE LETTING
DEATH IN THE HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-07-1972
NEVER CARRY LILIES WHEN YOU GET MARRIED, BECAUSE
THEY'LL BRING MISFORTUNE. THEY ARE THE FLOWER OF DEATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Bouquet |
Date learned: 02-07-1972
KRAKOWIAK (POLISH DANCE)
LIKE THE AMERICAN SQUARE DANCE.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; NOT GIVEN ; HOME ; PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; LETTER ; OHIO ; NEW JERSEY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; AUTOGRAPH BOOK ; GROSSE POINTE ; HARPER WOODS ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; WARREN ; JAPAN ; RUSSIA ; GRAND RAPIDS ; SHIPLE HALL ; GARDEN CITY ; ROYAL OAK ; TOLEDO ; TRENTON ; FARMINGTON ; KALAMAZOO ; CANADA ; ONTARIO ; MARYGROVE COLLEGE ; DETROIT ; MAIL ; INDIANA ; DETROIT, ASSUMED ; TOLD AT HOME ; FERNDALE ; SOUTHFIELD ; TENNESSEE ; MACKENZIE HIGH SCHOOL ; HAMTRAMCK ; DEARBORN ; MINNESOTA ; ILLINOIS ; NEW YORK ; FLORIDA ; KOREA ; WISCONSIN ; NEW HAMPSHIRE ; STUDENT UNION ; READING ; AUSTRALIA ; Sylvania ; Sterling Heights ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; OAK PARK ; SOUTHGATE ; STURGEON LAKE ; REDFORD ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA ; ROSEVILLE ; LINCOLN PARK ; TRAVERSE CITY ; HUNTINGTON WOODS ; PONTIAC ; TROY ; PORT CHESTER ; SOUTH AMERICA ; BROOKVILLE ; MONTREAL ; SEOUL ; NORTH OLMSTED ; EASTOWN THEATER ; ERIE ; University of Notre Dame ; FRANKLINVILLE ; TORONTO ; TOLD AT ; TOLD BY ; TOLD IN ; SCRANTON ; MONROE ; GLENVIEW ; MOSCOW ; GULLEY ; FINLAND ; HARBOR BEACH ; HOUGHTON LAKE ; Hudson Lake ; INDIANAPOLIS ; JONESBORO ; KANSASVILLE ; LEXINGTON ; MASSILLON ; MAUCH CHUNK ; MELVINDALE ; MILFORD ; NEW ROCHELLE ; NIAGARA FALLS ; PANAMA CITY ; PATAGONIA ; ARGENTINA ; RESIDENCE HALL ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES ; TOLD AT HONORS HOUSE ; AMERICAN HISTORY CLASS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dance |