Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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WHAT DO YOU THINK-MY HEAD'S A YOYO?
Submitter comment:
USED WHEN A PERSON FEELS THAT SOMEONE ELSE THINKS HE IS
COMPLETELY STUPID.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; WEST QUAD
Keyword(s): COMEBACK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-05-1971
TOO MUCH PRAISE
A PERSON MAY UNKNOWINGLY GIVE A BABY
OR A YOUNG CHILD THE EVIL EYE
BY PRAISING HIM.
Submitter comment:
MRS. NICHOLAS LEARNED THIS BELIEF FROM
HER MOTHER IN LAW WHO IS GREEK.
SHE IN TURN, NOW BELIEVES THIS TO BE TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 06-29-1964
PAIN FOR TALKING BACK TO YOUR PARENTS
IF YOU TALK BACK TO YOUR PARENTS
THE DEVIL WILL CUT OUT YOUR TONGUE
AND NAIL IT TO YOUR CHEST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 11-12-1969
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU SPIN A CHAIR AROUND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOR
SOMEONE WILL GO CRAZY.
Submitter comment:
HERE, A COMPARISON WAS MADE BETWEEN A SPINNING CHAIR AND A SPINNING
MIND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; LUNCHROOM
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 02-14-1979
PRAYER TO SAINTS
MANY ITALIAN WOMEN WHEN PRAYING TO A PARTICULAR SAINT
FOR A FAVOR WILL TURN THE STATUE TOWARD THE WALL AND REFUSE
TO LET IT FACE OUT AGAIN UNTIL THE PRAYER IS ANSWERED.
THIS IS USUALLY DONE IF A SEEMINGLY REASONABLE
LENGTH OF TIME HAS PASSED AND THE PRAYER IS STILL UNANSWERED.
THIS SHOWS THE PERSON'S DISSATISFACTION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 12-00-1969
IT IS GOOD LUCK TO STEP ON THE BASE ON YOUR WAY
OFF THE PLAYING FIELD WHEN YOU ARE PLAYING BASEBALL.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS WHEN HE WAS PLAYING BASEBALL
IN LESLIE, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LESLIE
| Subject headings: | 881 Games / Pastimes / Sports Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
NEW YEAR CUSTOMS OF THE SOUTH
IN CONJUNCTION WITH MAKING THEIR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS,
THE PEOPLE OF THE SOUTH, AND ESPECIALLY GEORGIA, HAVE
THE CUSTOM OF EATING BLACKEYED PEAS AND HOG JOWLS.
THIS COMBINATION WILL BE EATEN AT THE MAIN MEAL ON NEW
YEAR'S DAY. THE TRADITIONAL MEAL REPRESENTS A DESIRE
FOR GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
MR. CATES WAS BORN AND RAISED IN LAWRENCEVILLE, GEORGIA.
THIS IS WHERE HE LEARNED THE CUSTOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; CATES BAR ; LAWRENCEVILLE ; GOERGIA
| 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: 07-10-1964
IT FLOATS
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO KILLED ANOTHER MAN AND DUMPED
HIS BODY IN THE RIVER. THAT NIGHT WHILE HE WAS SLEEPING
HE HEARD A VOICE SAYING, "IT FLOATS, IT FLOATS." SO HE
JUMPED UP AND RAN DOWN TO THE RIVER, BUT HE COULDN'T
SEE THE BODY. THE NEXT NIGHT HE HEARD THE SAME VOICE
SAYING, "IT FLOATS, IT FLOATS." HE WENT BACK TO THE
RIVER, BUT HE COULDN'T FIND ANY BODY, SO HE WENT BACK
TO BED. THE NEXT NIGHT THE VOICE CAME AGAIN, SAYING
"IT FLOATS, IT FLOATS." HE WENT DOWN TO THE RIVER, BUT
HE COULDN'T FIND ANY FLOATING BODY. HE SAID "WHAT
FLOATS?" THE VOICE ANSWERED: "IVORY SOAP FLOATS."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ADVERTISING COMMERCIAL
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 10-30-1968
IT FLOATS
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO KILLED ANOTHER MAN AND DUMPED
HIS BODY IN THE RIVER. THAT NIGHT WHILE HE WAS SLEEPING
HE HEARD A VOICE SAYING, "IT FLOATS, IT FLOATS." SO HE
JUMPED UP AND RAN DOWN TO THE RIVER, BUT HE COULDN'T
SEE THE BODY. THE NEXT NIGHT HE HEARD THE SAME VOICE
SAYING, "IT FLOATS, IT FLOATS." HE WENT BACK TO THE
RIVER, BUT HE COULDN'T FIND ANY BODY, SO HE WENT BACK
TO BED. THE NEXT NIGHT THE VOICE CAME AGAIN, SAYING
"IT FLOATS, IT FLOATS." HE WENT DOWN TO THE RIVER, BUT
HE COULDN'T FIND ANY FLOATING BODY. HE SAID "WHAT
FLOATS?" THE VOICE ANSWERED: "IVORY SOAP FLOATS."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ADVERTISING COMMERCIAL
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 10-30-1968
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
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
AT CHRISTMAS TIME, THE CHURCH ORGANIST OF ST. PETER & PAUL
SELLS A SMALL WAFER CALLED OPLATIKA. THEY ARE SQUARE
AND TASTE LIKE A COMMUNION TYPE HOST. AFTER MIDNIGHT MASS,
THE FAMILIES HAVE A DINNER AT WHICH EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY
BREAKS OFF A PIECE AND EATS IT.
Submitter comment:
[St. Peter & Paul is a] Roman Catholic [church.]
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Oplatki CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Church |
Date learned: 11-02-1969
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT IS WHITE WHEN IT IS DIRTY AND BLACK WHEN IT IS CLEAN?
A: A BLACKBOARD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANTITHETICAL ; HARDWARE (A) ; NATURAL PHENOMENON (Q) COLOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
FORMULA SPEECH: SLIP
IF YOUR SLIP IS SHOWING SOMEONE MIGHT SAY TO YOU:
"IT'S SATURDAY ON SUNDAY."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SLIP
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-30-1971
LUCK
BEFORE A BASEBALL GAME ALL THE PLAYERS ON
SACRED HEART SEMINARY'S TEAM WOULD GATHER AROUND THE
COACH AND PLACE THEIR HANDS ON TOP OF HIS AND PRAY
A HAIL MARY, AND THEN "QUEEN OF VICTORY, PRAY FOR US."
THIS WAS DONE FOR LUCK IN WINNING THE GAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-00-1971
Entry filtered.
FIGURE OF SPEECH SAYING
HE STORMED UP A CAT.
Submitter comment: MEANING HE RAISED A FUSS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AMINAL MATAPHOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 10-08-1967
THE MOON SHINES TONIGHT ON CHARLIE CHAPMAN [sic]
HIS SHOES ARE CRAKLIN FOR WANT OF BLACKNIN
AND HIS OLD CARKY PANTS NEED A MENDIN
FOR THE WANT OF SENDIN, FOR THE GONE AWAY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
Keyword(s): PARODY ; RHYME ; SONG ; Tune ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
TEA BELIEF
IF YOU PICK UP THE BUBBLES IN A CUP OF TEA BEFORE YOU
DRINK IT, YOU WILL GET RICH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Brew of leaf, bark, root BELIEF -- Home BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 01-30-1968
HAIR CUTTING
THERE IS A BELIEF THAT THE MORE YOU CUT YOUR HAIR
THE FASTER IT WILL GROW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BALDNESS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |