Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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LITTLE SALLY SAUCER
GROUP FORMS A CIRCLE AROUND "SALLY" AND CHANTS:
LITTLE SALLY SAUCER,
SITTING IN HER SAUCER.
RISE, SALLY, RISE,
WIPE OUT YOUR EYES.
POINT TO THE EAST,
POINT TO THE WEST,
POINT TO THE VERY ONE
THAT YOU LOVE BEST.
PERSON POINTED AT REPLACES "SALLY" IN THE CIRCLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALPENA ; SAINT BERNARD SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 11-06-1970
CHILD WORMS
ITALIANS BELIEVE THAT STOMACH WORMS IN CHILDREN CAN BE CURED
BY HAVING THE CHILD WEAR A SPRIG OF GARLIC AROUND HIS NECK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MILFORD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
PROVERBIAL VERSE
DO NOTHING, KNOW NOTHING
NIENTE SE TA,
NIENTE SE SA.
Data entry tech comment: ITALIAN PROVERB
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MILFORD
James Callow Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS ; PARALLELISM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 09-22-1968
ITALIAN PROVERB
DON'T CRY OVER SPILLED OIL
Data entry tech comment: ITALIAN VARIANT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MILFORD
Keyword(s): FOOD
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 09-22-1968
ITALIAN PROVERB
AQUA FRESCA REFRESCA SUE CORE. (ITALIAN)
Submitter comment: COLD WATER REFRESHES THE HEART. (LITERAL TRANSLATION)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MILFORD
Keyword(s): HUMAN BODY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 09-22-1968
PROVERB
A PROVERB SUPPOSEDLY ORIGINATING IN ITALY
UNA MANO LAVA CON LARTRA
ONE HAND WASHES THE OTHER
Data entry tech comment: ORIGINAL 5 X 8 CARD CONTAINS ITALIAN TEXT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MILFORD
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 09-22-1968
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT IS GREEN ON THE MOUNTAIN, BLACK IN THE MARKET PLACE,
AND RED IN THE HOUSE?
A: CHARCOAL.
Submitter comment: DIRECTLY TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BUILDING (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENON (Q) ; PARTICULAR AREA (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
COUGH
FOR A COUGH, MIX HONEY, BROWN SUGAR, LEMON, VINEGAR, AND BUTTER, AND
DRINK IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ;
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 03-01-1971
ITCH BELIEF
IF YOUR NOSE ITCHES ON THE LEFT SIDE,
SOMEONE IS TALKING UNFAVORABLY ABOUT YOU.
IF IT ITCHES ON THE RIGHT SIDE,
SOMEONE IS SAYING GOOD THINGS ABOUT YOU.
IF YOUR WHOLE NOSE ITCHES,
THEN THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT YOU IN GENERAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ;
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Body part Senses Nose |
NAMING CUSTOM
IT IS AN OLD MEXICAN CUSTOM TO GIVE A CHILD HIS MOTHER'S
MAIDEN NAME AS HIS MIDDLE NAME. RICK KALOSKI WOULD BE RICK
SMITH KALOSKI AND HIS KIDS WOULD BE RICK SMITH JONES KALOSKI.
NAMES GET VERY LONG AND THIS IS HOW ONE TRACES THEIR FAMILY
TREE. RICK ACTUALLY OBSERVED THIS IN SOME PARTS OF MEXICO
CITY, 1960.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; COLUMBIA REALTY OFFICE
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
STY
TO GET RID OF A STY PLACE A TEABAG ON IT.
Data entry tech comment: THERE ARE 3 OTHER REFERENCES IN THIS SECTION OF THE ARCHIVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ;
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 09-16-1968
NAMES
IT IS AN ITALIAN CUSTOM NOT TO HAVE MIDDLE NAMES. MARINA
HERSELF HAS NO MIDDLE NAME AND NEITHER DOES ANYONE IN
HER FAMILY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; COLUMBIA REALTY OFFICE
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
DENI GRAS, LEGENDARY CHARACTER OF BREESE, ILLINOIS
THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO LIVED IN AN OLD HOUSE, NEVER TOOK BATHS,
WORE RAGS, (AND) CARRIED TWO POWDER KEGS AS BUCKETS FROM COAL
MINE. (A) SCAVENGER, (SHE) LIVED OFF ANYTHING SHE COULD FIND.
(SHE) ALWAYS HAD A SMILE ON HER FACE. (SHE WAS) PROMINENT BY
HER SILENCE AND ANTI-SOCIALNESS.
(SHE WAS) FOUND IN BED WITH A PARALYTIC STROKE. (SHE) DIED IN
A HOSPITAL SEVERAL YEARS LATER WITHOUT UTTERING A WORD.
THIS DENI GRAS WAS MORE OR LESS FEARED BY THE CHILDREN. SORT OF
TRAGIC IN A WAY. THE WAY IT WAS RELAYED TO ME, SHE MUST HAVE
REALLY BEEN A CHARACTER FITTING FOR DAMON RUNYON NICHE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; ILLINOIS ; BREESE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-02-1968
My aunt heard this story from a friend whose
friend had it happen to her. She had gone to
a large nursery and bought a cactus that was
about two or three feet tall. She had just had
a baby and was home alone all day caring for it.
When she sat down to rest she thought she saw the
the cactus moving a little. When she told her
husband he just figured that she was fatigued from
taking care of the baby all day. One day it really
started to bother her so she called the store.
The manager got on the phone and told her not to
panic but to put the cactus in a dark closet and
to leave the house until he arrived. A few minutes
later, they arrived, went into the house, covered
it up and carried it to a truck. The manager was
also sending an exterminator to the house.
Apparently a whole shipment of cactuses from the
southwest had eggs laid in them by tarantulas.
When the sun warmed up the cactus, the eggs would
begin to hatch and that's what gave the cactus the
appearance of moving. If they don't eat their way
out, the cactus will literally explode from the
pressure created by all the baby tarantulas inside.
Submitter comment:
I thought that this story was true, but in the
last couple years I've heard other people tell
similar stories. I think my aunt also thought it
was true.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00001980S
WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE REINDEER IN THE SONG "JINGLE BELLS?"
GIVE UP? BOB TAILS!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
TALE
IN DETROIT AROUND THE EARLY FIFTIES THERE WAS A TALE ABOUT
A YOUNG GIRL WHO WAS HIT AND KILLED BY A CAR ON ONE OF THE SIDE
STREETS. WHEN YOU DROVE OVER THE SPOT WHERE SHE WAS KILLED
THERE WOULD BE A RAPPING SOUND ON THE SIDE PANELS OF YOUR CAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): KNOCK-KNOCK STREET
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
ONE OF THE FOOTBALL PLAYERS ON MY TEAM THOUGHT IT WAS BAD LUCK TO
WASH HIS PRACTICE UNIFORM AFTER A WIN. THUS AFTER 5 WINS IN A ROW
HIS UNIFORM BECAME SO DIRTY AND SMELLY WE SORT OF HOPED WE'D LOSE.
Submitter comment:
FOOTBALL TEAMS TEND TO BE VERY SUPERSTITIOUS, THERE ARE MANY ODDITIES
THAT SOME PLAYERS HELD, BUT THIS ONE WAS ONE OF THE STRANGEST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVERVIEW
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
ONE OF MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATES HAD QUITE A SKILL WHEN IT CAME TO
BELCHING. HE COULD BELCH ENTIRE SENTENCES IN VERY LOUD AND GROSS
MANNER. ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PRANKS WAS TO FILE INTO THE LIBRARY AND
HAVE OUR EXPERT BELCHER HIDE IN A SECLUDED PART OF THE LIBRARY. WHEN
THINGS BECAME STILL, THE BELCHER WOULD LET GO WITH "QUIET PLEASE"
AND THE ENTIRE LIBRARY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE NUN WOULD LAUGH.
Submitter comment:
MY SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL WAS QUITE CRAZY. WE MORE OR LESS
THRIVED ON PRANKS AND PRACTICAL JOKES. DAVE'S BELCHING EXPERTISE WAS
ONE OF THE FUNNIEST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVERVIEW
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
FOR A SORE THROAT, GARGLE WITH URINE.
Data entry tech comment: THERE ARE 2 OTHER SIMILAR REFERENCES IN THIS SECTION OF THE ARCHIVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ;
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
METHOD OF CURING
"SORES ARE HEALED BY LITTLE MEN WHO WORK AT NIGHT KNITTING THE
EDGES BACK TOGETHER. DON'T PICK THE SCABS BECAUSE THEY WILL
HAVE TO WORK OVERTIME."
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HER MOTHER'S LADYFRIEND WHO VISITS
QUITE OFTEN. ALISON HEARD THIS WHEN SHE WAS A YOUNG CHILD (1950'S)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ;
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Curer BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 11-19-1971