Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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" Miss Susie had a tugboat, the tugboat had a bell,
Miss Susie went to heaven, the tugboat went to
Hello operator, please ring me number nine,
And if you disconnect me, I'll kick you right behind
The 'frigerator, there was a piece of glass,
Miss Susie fell upon it, and broke her little
Ask me no more questions, I'll tell you no more lies,
Miss Susie told me all of this,
The day before she died."
Where learned: NEW YORK ; Kenmore
James Callow Keyword(s): ASS ; HELL ; REFRIGERATOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Song |
IF A MAN CONFESSED ANYTHING ON HIS DEATHBED, IT WAS THE
TRUTH; FOR NO MAN COULD STARE DEATH IN THE FACE AND LIE.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; SIGNET BOOK ; THE NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1945
WEDDING TRADITION
ORIGINALLY, THE WEDDING RING WAS PLACED
ON THE THIRD FINGER OF THE LEFT HAND BECAUSE IT WAS THOUGHT
TO BE CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO THE HEART BY THE
"VENA AMORIS", THE VEIN OF LOVE.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK ; WEDDING SHOWER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails |
Date learned: 10-00-1969
AT THE END OF A JEWISH WEDDING CEREMONY, THE GROOM MUST STEP ON AND
BREAK A SHOT GLASS. THIS IS DONE FOR GOOD LUCK
Submitter comment: THIS WAS LEARNED IN HEMSTEAD, NEW YORK
Where learned: NEW YORK ; HEMSTEAD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Stepping on wine glass BELIEF -- Good luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
ON THE FINAL SCHOOL DAY OF EACH YEAR, WE WOULD CHANT THIS
REFRAIN:
NO MORE SCHOOL;
NO MORE BOOKS;
NO MORE TEACHERS' DIRTY LOOKS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM ; NEW YORK ; HEMPSTED ; LONG ISLAND
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
THE STATUE OF THE MINUTEMAN AT RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE FIRES HIS
MUSKET WHENEVER A VIRGIN GRADUATES. THE MUSKET HAS NEVER BEEN HEARD.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; TROY
James Callow Keyword(s): PESSIMISM INDIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
It was the custom of young Cuban boys who were trying
to prove their manhood to dive into the waters of Havana
Harbor,near the old prison, and ride the sharks. It was
said that the sharks frequented the harbor because political
prisoners were placed in an underwater dungeon to be eaten
by the sharks.
Submitter comment:
This need to confront death and danger in order to establish
"machismo" is also seen in such activities as bullfighting.
This story was told to Carmen by her father, Gustavo Sebastian
Albore', who was very proud that he had been brave enough to
ride the sharks. Gustavo was proud also of his Castillian
Spanish parents, since in his mind, to be "Cuban"
meant to be black. He always, therefore, referred to himself
as "Castillian" whenever someone asked him his nationality.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; NEW ROCHELLE
Keyword(s): Courage, test, Hispanic, rite-of-passage
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Maturity |
Date learned: 00001930S
PROVERBIAL COMPARISON
AS COLD AS A WITCH'S TIT.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; NEW ROCHELLE
Keyword(s): CLIMATE ; DEFINITION ; SUPERNATURAL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Entry filtered.
PROVERB IN VERSE (?)
EVEN THE SEVERED BRANCH GROWS AGAIN,
AND THE SUNKEN MOON RETURNS:
WISE MEN WHO PONDER THIS ARE NOT TROUBLED IN ADVERSITY.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; HINDU BOOK CENTER
James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION ; OPTIMISM ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Observation of galactic or celestial bodies |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
PARODY OF "BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC"
GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH
TEACHER HIT ME WITH A RULER
I MET HER AT THE DOOR
WITH MY TRUSTY FORTY-FOUR
AND THERE AIN'T NO TEACHER ANYMORE.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): ANTI-TEACHER ; EUPHEMISM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORED BY COLLECTOR.
PUT A CONTRIBUTION ON THE STATUE OF A SAINT DURING A PROCESSION
AND THAT SAINT WILL PRAY FOR YOU.
Submitter comment:
THE STATUES ARE DRESSED IN CLOAKS AND VEILS. THE MONEY IS PINNED ON
THE CLOAKS AND VEILS.
THIS WAS ORIGINALLY LEARNED IN WATERTOWN, NEW YORK
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WATERTOWN
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1937
IN ITALIAN TRADITION, THE GODFATHER IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE
SECOND FATHER, AFTER THE ORIGINAL FATHER. FOR THIS REASON A
PARTY IS HELD ON THE BAPTISM DAY TO WELCOME THE GODFATHER INTO
THE FAMILY. IT IS USALLY HELD AT THE HOME OF THE ORIGINAL PARENTS.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS ORIGINALLY LEARNED IN WATERTOWN, NEW YORK
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WATERTOWN
Date learned: 00-00-1937
AT AN ITALIAN WEDDING IT IS TRADITIONAL FOR THE BRIDE AND GROOM TO
PASS OUT CANDY AND COOKIES TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. OFTEN
THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WILL SHOW UP FOR THE WEDDING. THE IDEA IS
THE IDEA IS THAT THE NEW HUSBAND AND WIFE ARE GIVING THIER FIRST
PARTY FOR THE COMMUNITY
Submitter comment: THIS WAS ORIGINALLY LEARNED IN WATERTOWN, NEW YORK
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WATERTOWN
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00-00-1942
ON GOOD FRIDAY, THE HOUSE IS OPEN TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
ONLY BREAD AND WATER IS SERVED BECAUSE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY EATS
ONLY ONE MEAL FROM THURSDAY TO SUNDAY.
Submitter comment:
THE CITY OF WATERTOWN, IS ONE OF THE LARGER UPPER NEW YORK STATE
CITIES. THERE IS A VERY DIVERSIFIED GROUPS OF PEOPLE. MY FATHER
LIVED IN A MOSTLY. ITALIAN SECTION OF THE CITY
THE ITALIANS DO NOT EAT FROM DINNER WEDNESDAY TO EASTER DINNER ON
SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
THIS WAS ORIGINALLY LEARNED IN WATERTOWN, NEW YORK
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WATERTOWN
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F633 F633.12 Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: 00-00-1942
THE WIDOW MAY NOT GO TO ANY FESTIVALS EXCEPT RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS
FOR A YEAR.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS ORIGINALLY LEARNED IN WATERTOWN, NEW YORK
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WATERTOWN
Date learned: 00-00-1939
THE WIDOW MUST GO TO MASS EVERY MONTH FOR THE SOUL THAT DIED.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS ORIGINALLY LEARNED IN WATERTOWN, NEW YORK
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WATERTOWN
Date learned: 00-00-1939
TH.E WIDOW MUST WEAR BLABLACK FOR A YEAR AFTER THE DEATH
Submitter comment: THIS WAS ORIGINALLY LEARNED IN WATERTOWN, NEW YORK
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WATERTOWN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 00-00-1939
AFTER A WEDDING THE FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS OF THE MARRIED COUPLE
GATHER AROUND THEIR WINDOW AND SING AND MAKE NOISE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS DONE TO DISTRACT THEIR FREINDS DURING THE HONEYMOON
THIS WAS ORIGINALLY LEARNED IN WATERTOWN, NEW YORK
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WATERTOWN
James Callow Keyword(s): CHARIVARI
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Serenade Charivari CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF YOUR PATRON SAINT. MAKE A CAKE FOR THE PERSON
WHOSE SAINT DAY IT IS.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS ORIGINALLY LEARNED IN WATERTOWN, NEW YORK
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WATERTOWN
Date learned: 00-00-1959