Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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EATING A PIECE OF HERRING ON NEW YEAR'S EVE BRINGS GOOD
LUCK ALL YEAR LONG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; WALSH COLLEGE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 03-31-1970
BLESSING
SOMETIME IN MAY (A MOVEABLE DATE, SINCE IT IS A CERTAIN NUMBER OF
DAYS AFTER EASTER) FOR THREE DAYS THE PRIEST GOES AROUND WITH THE
PEOPLE IN PROCESSION PLACING WOODEN CROSSES EVERY SO OFTEN AND
BLESSING THE SURROUNDING AREA. THE PEOPLE ARE THEN SUPPOSE(D) TO
SAY 3 OUR FATHERS AND 3 HAIL MARYS.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; KALAMAZOO ; informant's home
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting After all |
Date learned: 02-18-1971
COUNTING OUT
AZA, TOOZA, KITCH CAN ASH CAN,
BOOZA BAM, SEE SAW BUCK, YOU'RE OUT.
Submitter comment:
INSTRUCTIONS--GROUP PUTS BOTH FEET IN A CIRCLE.
ELIMINATIONS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 03-00-1968
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
MOST ARMENIAN FAMILIES HAVE MANY DIFFERENT PASTRIES IN THEIR
HOMES DURING CHRISTMAS. THESE PASTRIES INCLUDE BAKLAVA (A HONEY
AND NUT PASTRY) AND A WHITE COOKIE WITH FLOUR OVER IT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HAS SEEN THESE FOODS IN ARMENIAN HOMES TODAY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Armenian ; Baklava ; CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; FOOD ; holiday ; PASTRY ; tradition
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Pastry |
Date learned: 11-01-1971
COUNTING OUT
ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO, THREE POTATO, FOUR,
FIVE POTATO, SIX POTATO, SEVEN POTATO, MORE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 10-01-1968
COUNTING DEVICE
1, 2, BUTTON MY SHOE
3, 4, SHUT THE DOOR,
5, 6, PICK UP STICKS,
7, 8, LAY THEM STRAIGHT,
9, 10, YOU'RE A BIG, FAT HEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
COUNTING OUT
ENGINE, ENGINE NUMBER NINE, COMING DOWN THE RAILROAD LINE,
WHICH COLOR DO YOU CHOOSE, GREEN--G-R-E-E-N, YOU ARE NOT IT.
Submitter comment:
THIS RHYME IS SAID AMONG MANY CHILDREN PLAYING TAG. ONE
PERSON RECITES THIS RHYME AND WHILE DOING SO, HE POINTS TO
A DIFFERENT PERSON ACCODING TO THE RHYTHM OF HE TUNE.
THE PERSON HE POINTS TO AT THE END OF THE TUNE IS LEFT
OUT OF THE CHOOSING FOR WHO WILL BE IT. THIS SYSTEM
CONTINUES UNTIL ONE PERSON IS LEFT WHO IS CHOSEN TO BE IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
COUNTING RHYME
ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE.
THREE, FOUR, CLOSE THE DOOR.
FIVE, SIX, PICK UP STICKS.
SEVEN, EIGHT, CLOSE THE GATE
NINE, TEN, BIG FAT HEN.
ELEVEN, TWELVE, GO TO HELL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
EASTER CELEBRATION
THE HIDING OF EASTER EGGS BY PARENTS AND THE FINDING OF THESE
EGGS BY THEIR CHILDREN.
Submitter comment:
FAMILY PRACTICE.
Data entry tech comment:
INFORMANT AND COLLECTOR ARE THE SAME PERSON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM ; 3135 PEBBLE LANE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Bunny |
Date learned: 10-24-1967
GAELIC FESTIVAL
IN EASTERN CANADA WE HAVE MANY GAELIC MODS. THESE ARE HIGHLAND
GATHERINGS WITH BAG PIPES, HIGHLAND DANCING AND COMPETITION THAT
GO BACK TO SCOTLAND. FAMILIES WEAR THEIR OWN TARTAN SKIRTS WHICH
IDENTIFIES THE FAMILY.
Submitter comment: ITEM WAS LEARNED IN NOVA SCOTIA ALTHOUGH COLLECTED IN DETROIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BOTSFORD GRADE SCHOOL ; CLARENCEVILLE DISTRICT
James Callow Keyword(s): BAGPIPES
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Irregular |
Date learned: 11-00-1982
THE CARROT MARCH
ON THE NIGHT BEFORE EASTER MORNING, WHEN THE CHILDREN PUT OUT THEIR
EASTER BASKETS FOR THE EASTER BUNNY TO FILL WITH CANDY, ALL THOSE WHO
WISH TO PARTICIPATE ARE EACH GIVEN A CARROT. THESE CARROTS ARE
HELD AT CHEST LEVEL POINTED VERTICALLY. THEN THE MARCH BEGINS. THE
HEAD OF THE HOUSE LEADS FOR AWHILE AND THEN ANOTHER DESIGNATED PARTY.
THE PARTICIPANTS WALK IN SINGLE FILE, FOLLOWING THE LEADER
WHEREVER HE GOES. A CHANT IS SUNG BY ALL PARTICIPANTS. IT GOES--
"OREO--OREO" IN A DEEP VOICE.
Submitter comment:
OUR FAMILY DOES THIS.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person. Instructor asked if her father or grandfather did this as children, and she said no, just her family.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | 663 663.12.30.7 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Bunny CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter baskets |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
COUNTING OUT RHYME
OSA TWSA, KITCHAN ASKCAN BUZZABAN, SEE-SAW BUCK. DONE AS YOU TAP ON THE TOES OF THE PLAYERS.
Submitter comment: CHICAGO VERSE
James Callow comment: RDNeedsReview
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 10-05-1967
EASTER EGG
ON EASTER IN ITALY YOU GET A BIG CHOCOLATE EASTER EGG. AT MASS THAT
DAY YOU BRING YOUR CHOCOLATE EGG TO CHURCH AND THE PRIEST BLESSES
THEM.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO, THREE POTATO, FOUR,
FIVE POTATO, SIX POTATO, SEVEN POTATO, MORE.
(YOU'RE NOT "IT")
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 11-12-1968
IN ORDER TO FIND WHO SHALL BE IT, OR WHO WILL GO FIRST IN
A CERTAIN GAME, THERE IS A VERSE THAT IS SAID TO FIND
THAT PERSON:
THE SKY IS BLUE,
HOW OLD ARE YOU?
WHILE TOUCHING EVERY FOOT IN THE CIRCLE. WHEN HE STOPS
AT A FOOT AFTER SAYING YOU, THAT PERSON GIVES HIS AGE AND
THEN THE NUMBER IS COUNTED OUT. AFTER THE COUNTING, WHERE-
EVER THE COUNTER STOPS, THAT PERSON IS OUT AND REMOVES
BOTH HIS FEET AND IS THEN OUT. THE POEM AND ACTIONS ARE
ARE REPEATED TIL ONE PERSON IS LEFT AND THAT PERSON IS
"IT" OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
MY MOTHER AND YOUR MOTHER WERE WASHING CLOTHES.
MY MOTHER PUNCHED YOUR MOTHER IN THE NOSE.
WHAT COLOR BLOOD DID SHE HAVE?
ALL THE CHILDREN PUT THEIR FEET IN A CIRCLE AND ONE PERSON
SAYS THE VERSE, TOUCHING EACH FOOT ON EACH WORD. THE
PERSON GETTING THE WORD "HAVE" WILL SAY A COLOR AND THAT
COLOR IS SPELLED OUT, TOUCHING EACH FOOT. WHEN THE LAST
LETTER OF THE COLOR IS SAID, THAT PERSON TAKES ONE FOOT
OUT. THIS PROCEDURE CONTINUES UNTIL THERE IS ONE FOOT
LEFT AND THAT PERSON IS "IT" OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 10-18-1971
ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO,
THREE POTATO, ORE
FIVE POTATO, SIX POTATO,
SEVEN POTATO, ORE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
EASTER EGG TRADITION
THERE IS A CUSTOM WITH THE POLISH PEOPLE OF PASSING AROUND THE
DINNER TABLE ONE BLESSED HARD-BOILED EASTER EGG. THE OLDEST MALE
MEMBER OF THE FAMILY BEGINS TO BREAK THE SLICES OF THE EGG WITH
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY. USUALLY A WISH IS MADE BETWEEN THE
TWO AND THEN SEALED WITH A KISS. HOWEVER, IF THE EGG DROPS, ONE OF
THE TWO WILL NOT LIVE TO SEE THE NEXT EASTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; informant's home
Keyword(s): FAMILY UNITY ; FOOD CUSTOM
Date learned: 03-27-1970
FOOTBALL CHEER
OU SA SA SA
OU SA SA SA
HIT 'EM ON THE HEAD WITH A BIG
Submitter comment:
THIS CHEER WAS DONE BY A SCHOOL WHOSE TEAM WAS
NICKNAMED THE POLISH IRONMEN.
Data entry tech comment: UNFINISHED
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A GROUP OF CHILDREN SIT IN THE CIRCLE AND ONE MEMBER PASSES
HIS OR HER SHOE TO THE PERSON HE WISHES, AND THIS PERSON
MUST DO WHAT THE OTHER PERSON SAYS, IF HE CANNOT, HE MUST
KEEP THE SHOE. THE CHILD IN THE END WITH THE MOST SHOES
IS THE LOSER. THIS RHYME IS SAID DURING THE GAME:
YOU MUST PASS THE SHOE FROM ME TO YOU
YOU MUST PASS THE SHOE AND DO WHAT I DO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse |