Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 34 returned 22195 results.
12001969
PALEFACE '(S) BARE FEET SHOULD NEVER TOUCH GROUND.
Submitter comment: A CANADIAN INDIAN PROVERB TOLD TO INFORMANT WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
IF YOU FORGET WHAT DAY IT IS, YOU WILL LOSE A FRIEND.
IF YOU ADD A DAY, YOU WILL GAIN A FRIEND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Measure of time |
Date learned: 02-14-1970
IF YOUR NOSE ITCHES, YOU ARE GOING TO KISS A FOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching nose |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
IF YOU DROP A DISH RAG, SOMEONE IS COMING WHO IS
DIRTIER THAN YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 02-14-1970
Entry filtered.
TALL TALE
ONE TIME A FRIEND ASKED MY FATHER IF HE COULD SEND SOMEONE
TO MILK HIS COWS THAT NIGHT BECAUSE HE WOULD BE GONE. MY FATHER
SAID HE WOULD SEND ME. THE FRIEND SAID TO TAKE AS MUCH MILK AS
WE NEEDED IN PAYMENT. THAT EVENING I MILKED HIS COWS AND TOOK A
GALLON BUCKET OF MILK BACK WITH ME. I WAS WALKING HOME WITH MY
LITTLE BROTHER WITH ME BY THE HAND. IT WAS DARK ALREADY. I HEARD A HOWL
FROM A WOLF. I LOOKED AROUND AND SAW A BIG GRAY WOLF TROT-
TING BEHIND US. I STARTED TO WALK A LITTLE FASTER DRAGGING MY
LITTLE BROTHER WITH ME SINCE HE COULDN'T KEEP UP. I LOOKED AGAIN
AND THE WOLF WAS GETTING CLOSER. WHEN I SAW THAT, I STARTED OUT
LIKE LIGHTNING. I WAS RUNNING SO FAST THAT MY LITTLE BROTHER WAS
DANGLING BEHIND ME, HOLDING ON TO MY HAND. HIS FEET DIDN'T TOUCH
THE GROUND MORE THAN TWICE ALL THE REST OF THE WAY HOME, THAT'S
HOW FAST I WAS RUNNING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale |
Date learned: 11-08-1968
EARACHE
AN EARACHE, A PAINFUL EXPERIENCE, CAN BE TERMINATED BY SIMPLY BLOWING
SMOKE INTO THE ACHING EAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
HICCUPS
MY FATHER TOLD ME THE CAUSE OF HICCUPS ACCORDING TO HEARSAY. GREASY
FOOD CAUSES AIR TO BE TAKEN IN THROUGH THE NAVEL
WHICH CAUSES THE RUSH OF AIR UPWARD
WHICH CAUSES THE GASP OR HICCUP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-30-1968
GOOD FRIDAY SUPPER
ON GOOD FRIDAY, ONE CAN ONLY HAVE ONE MEAL. HE SHOULD SPEND THE REST
OF HIS DAY CONTEMPLATING THE SERIOUS OCCASION WHICH THE DATE
REPRESENTS. THE MEAL SHOULD CONSIST OF COOKED NOODLES, PRUNES, AND
SMALL SQUARES OF BREAD. THIS AGAIN SHOULD REPRESENT THE SEVERITY
OF CHRIST'S DEATH AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO MANKIND.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A TRADITIONAL CUSTOM OF THE PEOPLE OF WESTPHALIA. MR.
STOERKEL IS FROM THIS AREA OF GERMANY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; SELF-SACRIFICE--FASTING ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | 663 Good Friday |
Date learned: 00001940S LATE
Crow on a fence,
Rain will go hence.
Crow on the ground,
Rain will come down.
Submitter comment:
My ex-mother-in-law lived on a farm. She saw a crow in the
barnyard and repeated this poem to me.
James Callow comment:
Puckett, Ohio, no. 34342: "Crow on the ground, / Rain will
come down." -- Slovenian, 1959.
Puckett, Ohio, no. 34858: "Crow on the fence, / Rain will
go hence." -- German, 1961.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MOUNT PLEASANT
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
Date learned: 00001970S
WHEN CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY WINS A FOOTBALL GAME, THE BAND
PLAYS A SONG TO A TREE. THE SONG IS THE SCHOOL FIGHT SONG, THE TREE
IS CALLED THE VICTORY TREE. WHEN THEY LOSE A FOOTBALL GAME,
THEY SING THE ALMA MATER TO THE VICTORY TREE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MOUNT PLEASANT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Emotion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 11-00-80
THE GHOST OF WORRINER HALL
MANY YEARS AGO ON CAMPUS WORRINER HALL BURNED. ONE PERSON
WAS BURNED TO DEATH IN FIRE. THE BUILDING STILL STANDS BUT IT
WAS GUTTED OUT IN THE FIRE. AT 3 A.M. SOMETIMES THE LIGHT
IN THE TOWER GOES ON. IT IS TURNED ON BY THE GHOST
OF THE BURNED PERSON, THE GHOST OF WORRINER HALL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MOUNT PLEASANT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-00-80
GATE NIGHT
GATE NIGHT IS THE NIGHT BEFORE
HALLOWEEN. GATE NIGHT GOT IT'S NAME FROM THE PRANK IT IS ASSOCIATED
WITH. PRANKSTERS AROUND THE MT. PLEASANT, MICHIGAN AREA REMOVE
ALL OUTHOUSE DOORS.
Submitter comment:
GATE NIGHT IS WHAT WE CALL DEVILS NIGHT AROUND THE DETROIT AREA.
I WOULD HAVE TO QUESS THAT GATENIGHT STARTED A LONG TIME AGO WHEN
OUTHOUSES WERE USED, BUT THE TRADITION IS STILL GOING ON ACCORDING TO
MY INFORMANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MOUNT PLEASANT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 11-00-80
WHEN A MEMBER OF THE FRATERNITY IN WHICH I(NEAL) BELONG BECOMES
ENGAGED HE IS THROWN INTO THE CHIPPEWA RIVER.
Submitter comment:
THIS TRADITION IS EXTREMELY INTERESTING TO ME.
IT IS MUCH LIKE THAT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH THROWING THE
GROOM OVER THE FENCE. I ASKED MY INFORMANT WHO STARTED THIS AND
WHY IT WAS DONE BUT HE DID NOT KNOW.
THE CHIPPEWA RIVER RUNS THROUGH MOUNT PLEASANT, MICHIGAN
INFORMATION ASKED FOR OF THIS
INFORMANT WAS RESTRICTED TO LORE
ABOUT CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MOUNT PLEASANT
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
BAD LUCK (COLLECTOR,S TITLE)
IT IS BAD LUCK TO GIVE ANYONE A SHARP OBJECT FOR A GIFT. TO RID YOURSELF OF THE BAD LUCK,
GIVE YOUR MOTHER A COPPER PENNY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ; CONVERSION; GIVING COIN (CLASSIFIER,S TITLE)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Conversions P883.1 |
Date learned: 09-17-1967
THE FATAL HAIRDO
WHEN THE BUBBLE HAIR DO FIRST BECAME POPULAR MY MOTHER IN LAW
WAS GETTING HER HAIR DONE REGULARLY FROM AN UNLICENSED BEAUTY
OPERATOR IN A HOME BASEMENT. ONE DAY SHE CAME HOME WITH THE FOLLOWING
STORY WHICH THE BEAUTY OPERATOR TOLD HER HAPPENED TO THE NIECE OF ONE
OF HER CUSTOMERS. THIS GIRL GOT A BUBBLE TYPE HAIRDO AND HAD IT
RATTED SO HIGH THAT SHE DIDN'T WANT TO WASH IT LEST IT LOSE ITS
TEXTURE. A LONG PERIOD OF TIME WENT BY (I'VE HEARD FROM TWO WEEKS TO
TWO MONTHS) AND SHE BECAME ILL. THE DOCTORS FINALLY EXAMINED HER
BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. A NEST OF SPIDERS HAD DEVELOPED IN HER HAIR
AND THEY HAD BURROWED INTO HER SKULL, CAUSING AN INFECTION WHICH
RESULTED IN BLOOD POISONING. SINCE THE INFECTION WAS SO CLOSE TO THE
BRAIN THERE WAS NOTHING THE DOCTORS COULD DO AND THE GIRL DIED.
Data entry tech comment: THERE ARE TWO OTHER STORIES LIKE THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): THE FATAL HAIRDO
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
HEART TROUBLE
FOXGLOVE CAN BE MADE INTO A TEA THAT FUNCTIONS AS DIGITALIS.
Data entry tech comment: DIGITALIS IS USED AS A HEART STIMULANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ;
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 11-00-1971
COUGH
VITAMIN C IS GREAT FOR A NAGGING MORNING COUGH.
Submitter comment: TOLD BY MOTHER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ;
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
COUGH
IF YOU HAVE A COUGH YOU SHOULD EITHER MIX HONEY WITH MILK OR BUTTER
AND MILK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ;
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 03-30-1971
COUGH MEDICINE
MY GRANDMOTHER MADE COUGH MEDICINE OUT OF HONEY, LEMON AND
CRUSHED ASPIRIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ;
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 10-23-1970