Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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SEASONAL TRADITION
AMONG PEOPLE OF POLISH-AMERICAN EXTRACTION, EASTER MONDAY IS KNOWN
AS "SPRINKLE DAY." ON THIS DAY THEY SPRINKLE EVERYONE THEY MEET
WITH PERFUME. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BRING GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER FIRST LEARNED OF THIS CUSTOM WHEN SHE WAS TEACHING IN THE
DELRAY SECTION OF DETROIT ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant is collector's mother.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
Keyword(s): DYNGUS DAY ; LUCK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Monday Dyngus BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
EXPRESSION
"WELL I'LL BE A BLUE-NOSED BABOON!"
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER REPORTS THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE FAVORITE
EXPRESSIONS OF A STUDENT OF HERS, GERRY SCOTT, WHO
COMES ORIGINALLY FROM EASTERN KENTUCKY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: 09-00-1963
SLANG WORDS
THE WORD "MELLOW" MEANS SOMETHING IS ADMIRABLE, OR THOUGHT WELL OF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: 10-15-1969
SLANG WORD
THE WORD "GROOVY" MEANS SOMETHING IS ADMIRED, LIKED, THOUGHT WELL OF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: 10-15-1969
CHRIST JOKE
DO YOU KNOW HOW CHRIST RECEIVED HIS NAME? WELL, WAY BACK WHEN,
THESE THREE GUYS CAME TO VISIT THE BABE WHO, AS YOU KNOW, WAS
BORN IN THIS OLD CAVE. NOW THIS CAVE WAS VERY, VERY LOW AND ONE
OF THESE THREE GUYS WAS EXTREMELY TALL. AFTER KNEELING FOR A
LONG TIME BEFORE THE BABE, THE TALL ONE, FORGETTING THE KIND OF
PLACE HE WAS IN, ROSE QUICKLY AND BANGED HIS HEAD. "JESUS
CHRIST!" SHOUTS HE. AND MARY TURNS TO JOSEPH, UPON HEARING THIS,
AND SAYS, "GEE, JOSEPH, THAT WOULD BE A BETTER NAME THAN
ARCHIBALD."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Baptism Naming rite |
Date learned: 01-06-1967
HAUNTED HOUSE
ABOUT 50 YEARS AGO, IN WEST SALEM TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA, A YOUNG
MAN SOON TO BE MARRIED BUILT A HOUSE ON BARRY ROAD FOR HIS BRIDE.
HOWEVER, WHEN THE DAY OF THE WEDDING ARRIVED, THE YOUNG MAN CHANGED
HIS MIND AND STOOD UP HIS INTENDED BRIDE.
THE HOUSE WAS NEVER LIVED IN BY ANYONE AND IS BELIEVED BY
RESIDENTS OF THE AREA TO BE HAUNTED BY THE COUPLE.
Submitter comment:
MY AUNT, FROM WHOM I HEARD THIS STORY, LIVES IN THE AREA OF THE
SUPPOSEDLY HAUNTED HOUSE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE ; WEST SALEM TOWNSHIP
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Other Structure for Private Use BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 10-00-1964
IN SCOTLAND IT IS BELIEVED THAT ON THE NIGHT OF A FULL MOON SOME
MEN TURN INTO WEREWOLVES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Werewolf Vampire |
Date learned: 01-20-1970
LEGENDARY ECCENTRIC
ABOUT 75 YEARS AGO IN COUNTY CLARE, IRELAND, THERE LIVED
AN OLD WOMAN NAMED BIDDY EARLY. SHE WAS AN ECCENTRIC,
AND MANY STORIES GREW UP ABOUT HER. EVERYTHING THAT
WENT WRONG IN THE COUNTY WAS BLAMED ON BIDDY, AND PEOPLE
BEGAN TO CONSIDER HER A WITCH. EVEN TODAY, PARENTS
IN COUNTY CLARE WARN MISBEHAVING CHILDREN, "BIDDY
EARLY WILL GET YOU."
Submitter comment:
I COLLECTED THIS STORY FROM FATHER HAYES OF THE PALLOTINE
FATHERS. HE GREW UP IN COUNTY CLARE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; IRELAND ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001963 WINTER ; 00-00-1888
CHRIST JOKE
DO YOU KNOW HOW CHRIST RECEIVED HIS NAME? WELL, WAY BACK WHEN,
THESE THREE GUYS CAME TO VISIT THE BABE WHO, AS YOU KNOW, WAS
BORN IN THIS OLD CAVE. NOW THIS CAVE WAS VERY, VERY LOW AND ONE
OF THESE THREE GUYS WAS EXTREMELY TALL. AFTER KNEELING FOR A
LONG TIME BEFORE THE BABE, THE TALL ONE, FORGETTING THE KIND OF
PLACE HE WAS IN, ROSE QUICKLY AND BANGED HIS HEAD. "JESUS
CHRIST!" SHOUTS HE. AND MARY TURNS TO JOSEPH, UPON HEARING THIS,
AND SAYS, "GEE, JOSEPH, THAT WOULD BE A BETTER NAME THAN
ARCHIBALD."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Baptism Naming rite |
Date learned: 01-06-1967
HAUNTED HOUSE
ABOUT 50 YEARS AGO, IN WEST SALEM TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA, A YOUNG
MAN SOON TO BE MARRIED BUILT A HOUSE ON BARRY ROAD FOR HIS BRIDE.
HOWEVER, WHEN THE DAY OF THE WEDDING ARRIVED, THE YOUNG MAN CHANGED
HIS MIND AND STOOD UP HIS INTENDED BRIDE.
THE HOUSE WAS NEVER LIVED IN BY ANYONE AND IS BELIEVED BY
RESIDENTS OF THE AREA TO BE HAUNTED BY THE COUPLE.
Submitter comment:
MY AUNT, FROM WHOM I HEARD THIS STORY, LIVES IN THE AREA OF THE
SUPPOSEDLY HAUNTED HOUSE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE ; WEST SALEM TOWNSHIP
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Other Structure for Private Use BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 10-00-1964
IN SCOTLAND IT IS BELIEVED THAT ON THE NIGHT OF A FULL MOON SOME
MEN TURN INTO WEREWOLVES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Werewolf Vampire |
Date learned: 01-20-1970
LEGENDARY ECCENTRIC
ABOUT 75 YEARS AGO IN COUNTY CLARE, IRELAND, THERE LIVED
AN OLD WOMAN NAMED BIDDY EARLY. SHE WAS AN ECCENTRIC,
AND MANY STORIES GREW UP ABOUT HER. EVERYTHING THAT
WENT WRONG IN THE COUNTY WAS BLAMED ON BIDDY, AND PEOPLE
BEGAN TO CONSIDER HER A WITCH. EVEN TODAY, PARENTS
IN COUNTY CLARE WARN MISBEHAVING CHILDREN, "BIDDY
EARLY WILL GET YOU."
Submitter comment:
I COLLECTED THIS STORY FROM FATHER HAYES OF THE PALLOTINE
FATHERS. HE GREW UP IN COUNTY CLARE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; IRELAND ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman SPEECH -- Formula |
IF YOUR NOSE ITCHES, YOU'RE GOING TO CATCH A FOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Nose BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching nose |
Date learned: 10-17-1970
THIS WAS COLLECTED 4/1/67 FROM MY MOTHER WHO WAS
RELATING SOME OF THE OLD WIVES' TALES CONCERNING
NEWBORN CHILDREN.
YOU SHOULD NEVER CUT THE FINGERNAILS OF A NEWBORN
CHILD, BUT RATHER, YOU SHOULD BITE THEM. FOR IF YOU
CUT THEM, THE CHILD WILL BECOME A THIEF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
Date learned: 04-01-1967
IN SCOTLAND, IT IS BELIEVED THAT ON THE NIGHT OF A
FULL MOON, SOME MEN TURN INTO WEREWOLVES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SCOTLAND ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire BELIEF -- Moon |
Date learned: 01-20-1970
HIGH SCHOOL TABOOS
IF A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WEARS GREEN AND YELLOW
TOGETHER ON A THURSDAY, THIS MEANS THAT HE IS AN
ODD PERSON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Color |
Date learned: 10-03-1969
EACH NEW FAMILY WE VISITED, MY MOTHER INSISTED THAT
MY FATHER ENTER THE HOME FIRST. WHEN I ASKED HER
WHY, SHE SAID THAT IF A MAN (EXCLUDING ANY MALE
LIVING IN THE HOME) IS THE FIRST PERSON TO ENTER
THE HOUSE ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, THE FAMILY WILL HAVE
GOOD LUCK. BUT IF A WOMAN ENTERS THE HOUSE FIRST,
THERE WILL BE BAD LUCK FALL UPON THE HOUSE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS SUPERSTITION AS A CHILD
IN WINDLIER, PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
IT IS BAD LUCK TO STEP ON A CRACK, YOU MAY BREAK
YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
Date learned: 10-20-1969
IT IS BAD LUCK TO OPEN AN UMBRELLA IN THE HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Umbrella |
Date learned: 09-11-1969
IT IS BAD LUCK TO WALK UNDER A LADDER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Angular forms BELIEF -- Bad luck Ladder (angles, pyramid, etc.) |
Date learned: 10-20-1969