Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IF YOU OPEN AN UMBRELLA IN THE HOUSE, IT WILL BRING
BAD LUCK.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WILSON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Umbrella |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU BREAK A MIRROR YOU WILL HAVE SEVEN YEARS BAD
LUCK.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WILSON
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Bad luck Mirror |
Date learned: 03-12-1972
PUT BIRDS' NESTS IN YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE TO BRING GOOD
LUCK.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WILSON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 BELIEF -- Good luck Animals |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
JUMP-ROPE RIME
1,2, BUTTON YOUR SHOE
3, 4, SHUT THE DOOR
5, 6, PICK UP STICKS
7, 8, THEY (LAY) THEM STRAIGHT
9, 10, THE BIG FAT HEN.
11, 12, DIG AND DELVE
13, 14, MAIDS A COURTING
15, 16, MAIDS IN THE KITCHEN
17, 18 MAIDS IN WAITING
19, 20, MY STOMACH IS EMPTY
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WILSON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 03-12-1972
MY MOTHER, WHO'S NOW 74, HAS ALWAYS SERVED PORK AND SAUER-
KRAUT ON NEW YEAR'S DAY FOR THE PAST 53 YEARS, EVER SINCE
SHE'S BEEN MARRIED AND I CAN'T REMEMBER HER SERVING
ANYTHING DIFFERENT WHEN I WAS GROWING UP SINCE PORK AND
SAUERKRAUT BROUGHT GOOD LUCK FOR THE COMING YEAR. MY
SISTER STILL FOLLOWS THIS AND BELIEVES IN IT.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WILSON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 03-12-1972
WHEN A CHILD IS BORN THE FATHER HANDS OUT CIGARS.
BLUE CIGAR BANDS INDICATE A BOY; PINK A GIRL.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WILSON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
CUSTOM
ALWAYS PUT THE HEAD OF YOUR BED TOWARDS THE NORTH.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WILSON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Sleeping |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHEN YOU FOLD YOUR HANDS WHEN GOING TO COMMUNION, YOU
CROSS YOUR THUMBS TO FORM A CROSS. THIS IS TO
REMIND YOU OF JESUS DYING ON THE CROSS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WILSON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHEN YOU GENUFLECT TO THE LORD, YOU DO SO ON
YOUR RIGHT KNEE. WHEN YOU GENUFLECT TO THE PEOPLE
YOU DO SO ON YOUR LEFT KNEE.
WHEN SAYING THE CONFITEOR, YOU BEAT YOUR BREAST THREE (3)
TIMES ON THE WORDS, "THROUGH MY FAULT, THROUGH MY
FAULT, THROUGH MY MOST GREVIOUS FAULT." THIS IS DONE
TO IMPOSE PUNISHMENT FOR YOUR SINS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WILSON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BODY PART BELIEF
EATING CARROTS WILL IMPROVE YOUR EYESIGHT.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WILSON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BODY PART BELIEF
EAT BREAD CRUSTS AND YOUR HAIR WILL BECOME CURLY.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WILSON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 03-12-1972
YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK WHEN YOU BEND OVER
BACKWARDS AND KISS THE BLARNEY STONE (IN IRELAND).
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WILSON
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Good luck Objects SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PUTTING A HORSESHOE ABOVE A DOOR WILL BRING GOOD
LUCK.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WILSON
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Wall Partition Door Window BELIEF -- Good luck Horseshoe |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
NOT GIVEN
NEVER THANK (ANYONE) FOR FLOWERS OR PLANTS BECAUSE THEY WILL WILT.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WILSON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
NEVER PUT A HAT ON A BED--IT WILL BRING BAD LUCK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WILSON
Keyword(s): Bed ; BELIEF ; CLOTHING ; Fashion ; Hat ; LUCK ; Placement ; PREDICTION ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.) BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) |
Date learned: 03-12-1972
RED LIGHT--GREEN LIGHT
I REMEMBER PLAYING THIS GAME IN NEW YORK WHEN I WAS IN
GRADE SCHOOL CALLED "RED LIGHT--GREEN LIGHT." THE DEAL
WAS THAT ALL THE KIDS WOULD LINE UP IN ABOUT 3 OR 4
DIFFERENT LINES AND ONE KID WOULD BE FACED THE OTHER
WAY ABOUT A MEDIUM SIZED DRIVEWAY DISTANCE AWAY.
THE SINGLE KID WOULD CALL OUT "RED LIGHT" OR "GREEN
LIGHT." IF HE SAID RED LIGHT, THE PLAYERS COULD NOT MOVE.
IF HE SAID "GREEN LIGHT," THEY COULD PROCEED FORWARD
DOWN THE DRIVEWAY TOWARDS THIS KID. THE KID WHO WOULD
REACH THE SINGLE KID WOULD THEN BE THE NEXT CALLER OF
"RED LIGHT" OR "GREEN LIGHT."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NEW YORK ; ROSEVILLE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity |
Date learned: 03-03-1970
THE HAUNTED ROOM
THE INFORMANT SAYS THAT THERE IS A ROOM IN HER HOUSE,
FURNISHED WITH VERY OLD FURNITURE, WHICH NO ONE USES.
SHE SAYS IT IS ALWAYS VERY CHILLY, EVEN IN THE SUMMER
AND "GIVES HER THE CREEPS." ONCE, SHE AND SOME FRIENDS
TRIED TO HOLD A SEANCE IN THE ROOM. ONE OF THE GIRLS
STARTED SCREAMING AND PULLING HER HAIR. THE INFORMANT
BELIEVES THE ROOM TO BE HAUNTED.
Submitter comment:
GIRL GOES INSANE WHEN SEANCE IS HELD IN CHILLY, HAUNTED ROOM WITH OLD
FURNITURE.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; RUSHFORD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 07-00-1970
FLYING SAUCER?
THERE WAS A RUMOR AROUND RUSHFORD, NEW YORK THAT SOMEONE
HAD SEEN A SERIES OF LIGHTS IN THE WOODS OFF OF ONE OF
THE NEARBY ROADS. UPON INVESTIGATION IN THE MORNING,
THE PERSON FOUND A CLEARING IN THE WOODS WHERE A RING
OF CHARRED GRASS WAS FOUND INSIDE A CIRCULAR DITCH
ABOUT FORTY FEET IN DIAMETER.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; RUSHFORD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Celestial Body |
KICK THE CAN
TAKE A CAN, KICK IT HIGH, AND WHILE FLYING, ALL
THE PLAYERS HIDE EXCEPT "IT" WHO KICKED THE CAN.
"IT" HAS TO FIND EVERYBODY. IF HE DIDN'T, HE
REMAINED "IT."
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A GAME PLAYED IN NEW YORK IN THE 1930S BY THE
INFORMANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NEW YORK ; ROSEVILLE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 02-19-1970 ; 00001930S
WE PLAYED A BASEBALL GAME IN NEW YORK CALLED
"FLIES AND GROUNDERS." ONE MAN HIT THE BALL TO A
GROUP OF FIELDERS WHO HAD TO ACCUMULATE FIVE FLIES
AND 10 GROUNDERS TO BE THE NEXT BATTER.
Where learned: NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 12-00-1971