Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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MEAL PRAYER
BLESS THIS FOOD
BLESS THIS MEAT.
COM'N JESUS, LET'S EAT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PARODY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 10-12-1971
SNIPE HUNT
PART OF INITIATION AND USUALLY SUCKED UP BY NAIVE
FRESHMEN ON THEIR FIRST CAMPOUT. STORY IS TOLD
OF RARE ANIMALS WHO ARE AFRAID OF LIGHT AND COME OUT
ONLY AT NIGHT. THEREFORE A HUNT IS PLANNED TO CATCH
SOME. NEW SCOUTS ARE TEAMED UP WITH EACH OTHER
AND OLDER SCOUTS TEAM UP WITH OLDER SCOUTS. EACH
PAIR IS GIVEN A PAPER BAG AND THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT
SNIPE ARE SMALL, FAST, NOISELESS AND EASILY SCARED
BY SOUND AND LIGHT. THEY ALL GO OUT AND OLDER
SCOUTS SLIP BACK, LEAVING TENDERFEET OUT ALL NIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BOY SCOUTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
MEAL PRAYER
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND HOLY GHOST.
WHO EASTS THE FASTEST, GETS THE MOST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PARODY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 10-06-1971
BRIDE'S NAME CHANGE IN MARRIAGE:
CHANGE THE NAME, BUT NOT THE LETTER,
CHANGE FOR WORSE INSTEAD OF BETTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 860 Belief |
Date learned: 03-09-1971
BELIEF CONCERNING SNEEZING
ONE FOR A WISH
TWO FOR A KISS
THREE FOR A LETTER,
FOUR TO GET BETTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.477 |
LEGEND IN VERSE - PENNY WHISTLE PEDDLER
CHORUS: I HOPE YOU MEET THE PEDDLER WITH THE FEATHER
IN HIS HAT,
THE PENNY-WHISTLE MAN WITH THE ORANGE-COLORED CAP.
BELLS ON HIS CAP AND A RAGGLE TAGGLE KIND OF GRIN
HE'LL TEACH YOU HOW TO LOVE IF YOU BELIEVE IN HIM.
VERSE 1: HE NEVER HEARD OF WAR IN THE PLACE HE DWELLS.
THERE'S MUSIC AND LAUGHTER AND THE MAGIC TALES HE TELLS.
NO ONE'S EVER NASTY. SNAKES AND DOGS DON'T EVER BITE
LITTLE CHILDREN NEVER CRY, THEY'RE HAPPY DAY AND NIGHT.
CHORUS:
VERSE 2: IN THE MISTY MYSTIC LAND BENEATH DARK HILLS
THE PENNY-WHISTLE PEDDLER LIVES AND HE WEAVES HIS MAGIC
SPELLS.
IF YOU EVER HEAR HIS PIPING COMING DOWN SOME FOREST GLADE,
OPEN YOUR MIND AND LOVE AND NEVER BE AFRAID.
CHORUS:
VERSE 3: WE ARE SAD TO TELL YOU THE WHISTLEMAN HAS GONE.
TODAY YOU NEVER HEAR OF HIM, THE SOUND OF WAR AND HATE HAVE
COME.
BUT IF CHILDREN LOVE EACH OTHER AND NARROW MINDS ALL PASS
AWAY,
THE PENNY-WHISTLE MAN WILL BE BACK SOMEDAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.430 |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
KING OF THE FAIRIES (IRISH)
UP THE AIRY MOUNTAIN
DOWN THE RUSHY GLEN,
WE DAREN'T GO A HUNTING
FOR FEAR OF LITTLE MEN.
WEE FOLK, GOOD FOLK
TROOPING ALL TOGETHER,
GREEN JACKET, RED CAP
AND A WHITE OWL'S FEATHER.
BY THE CRAGGY HILLSIDE
THROUGH THE MOSSES BARE
THEY HAVE PLANTED THORN TREES
FOR PLEASURE HERE AND THERE.
IS ANY MAN SO DARING
AS TO DIG THEM UP IN SPITE
HE'LL FIND THE SHARPEST THORNS
IN HIS BED AT NIGHT.
REPEAT STANZA 1.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.423 |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
DRINKING AGE
IN GERMANY, THEY HAVE A STANDARD REPLY TO CHILDREN WHEN THEY
ASK IF THEY ARE OLD ENOUGH TO DRINK; THE PARENTS ASK IF
THEY CAN REACH THE BOTTLES IN THE WINE CELLAR.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WENT TO SCHOOL IN GERMANY WHILE HER FATHER,
AN ARMY OFFICER, WAS STATIONED THERE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Maturity |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF A BABY SAYS "MAMA" FIRST, THE NEXT CHILD WILL BE A
GIRL. IF THE BABY DAYS "DADA" FIRST, THE NEXT CHILD
WILL BE A BOY.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A SUPERSTITION COMMON IN THE OSWALD FAMILY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 09-20-1967
A PERSON SUSPENDS A NEEDLE ON A STRING OVER ANOTHER
PERSON'S WRIST. THIS IS TO DETERMINE HOW MANY
CHILDREN YOU WILL HAVE AND WHETHER THEY WILL BE BOYS
OR GIRLS. IF THE NEEDLE MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE, YOU
WILL HAVE GIRLS, BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS, BOYS. THE
NUMBER OF TIMES THE NEEDLE SWINGS DETERMINES THE
NUMBER OF CHILDREN YOU WILL HAVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-00-1966
PROVERB
UKRAINIAN CUSTOM: HABYRAU' CU RYSNORO I CBORO HU IGY PAU' CU.
LEARN ANOTHER'S CULTURE, BUT DON'T SHUN YOUR OWN.
Data entry tech comment: TRANSLATED
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 09-24-1965
YOU CAN ALWAYS PREDICT THE SEX OF A CHILD BY TAKING A
GOOD LOOK AT THE MOTHER, AND THE WAY SHE IS CARRYING
THE BABY. IF SHE CARRIES THE BABY FAR BACK (THAT IS,
SHE GROWS VERY BROAD IN THE HIPS), THEN THE CHILD
WILL BE A BOY. HOWEVER, IF SHE MAINTAINS HER NORMAL
FIGURE, BUT GROWS AN EXTREMELY LARGE BELLY (THEREFORE
CARRYING THE BABY FAR TO THE FRONT), THEN THE CHILD
WILL BE A GIRL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-17-1970
TO DETERMINE THE SEX OF A BABY BEFORE IT IS BORN, TELL
THE EXPECTANT MOTHER THAT THERE IS SOMETHING ON HER
HAND. IF SHE LOOKS AT THE TOP SIDE OF HER HAND,
SHE WILL HAVE A BOY BECAUSE THIS SIDE IS DRY AND
ROUGH. IF SHE LOOKS AT THE PALM SIDE, SHE WILL HAVE
A GIRL BECAUSE THIS SIDE IS SMOOTHER AND SOFTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-13-1971
DOCTORS ARE NEVER WRONG
THIS IS A SURE FIRE METHOD FOR A DOCTOR TO BE 100% CORRECT
IN DETERMINING THE SEX OF THE UNBORN CHILD: TELL THE
MOTHER ONE SEX VERBALLY AND WRITE THE OPPOSITE ONE DOWN
ON PAPER FOR FUTURE USE. WHEN THE BABY IS BORN, THE
DOCTOR SAYS DON'T YOU REMEMBER ME SAYING THAT, AND IF
SHE OBJECTS, THAT SHE KNOWS HE SAID THE OPPOSITE, HE
PULLS OUT THE PAPER AND PRESENTS THAT TO HER AS EVIDENCE
THAT HE SAID THAT SEX.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
EXPECTANT MOTHERS
FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS: GIVE THEM A LOTTA PEA SOUP AND CRABS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 02-04-1972
SIESTA
IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ON A WORK DAY, EVERYBODY
GOES HOME FOR LUNCH FROM 12 TO 2. THIS TWO HOUR BREAK
IS CALLED A SIESTA. NO BODY WORKS DURING THIS PERIOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Sleeping |
Date learned: 10-24-1968
AT A POLISH FUNERAL, THE HYMN "WITLAG KROLOVO" IS
ALWAYS SUNG INSTEAD OF THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC
"IN PARADISO" AS THE BODY IS BEING TAKEN OUT OF THE
CHURCH. THIS IS A SONG TO MARY. THE PEOPLE PETITION
MARY IN THE SONG TO MEET THE SOUL OF THE DECEASED IN
HEAVEN.
AT THE BURIAL, FLOWER PETALS ARE PLACED ON THE CASKET
BY ALL THE MOURNERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-15-1971
ST. PATRICK DROVE ALL THE SNAKES OUT OF IRELAND; HE
DROVE THEM INTO THE SEA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 11-01-1971
WHENEVER YOU PASS A CATHOLIC CHURCH, YOU SHOULD BOW
YOUR HEAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church |
Date learned: 01-20-1968
THE HAND OF GOD IS NEARER THAN THE DOOR
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-18-1970