Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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CHALDEAN COURTSHIP CUSTOM
IF A CHALDEAN IS NOT MARRIED AND IS JUST GOING OUT WITH A PERSON OF
THE OPPOSITE SEX AND UP UNTIL THEY ARE MARRIED A AN EXTRA PERSON
MUST BE WITH THEM ON ANY KIND OF DATE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
CHALDEAN PREDICTION
WHENEVER YOUR FORTUNE IS TOLD A PIECE OF CHOCOLATE CANDY IS GIVEN
TO YOU. YOU THEN DRINK A CUP OF THICK CREAMY COFFEE. AFTERWARDS,
TURN IT UPSIDE DOWN ONTO THE SAUCER AND LET IT SET FOR A MINUTE.
THEN THE FORTUNE TELLER READS YOUR FORTUNE FROM THE DIFFERENT LINES
THE LEFT OVER COFFEE DRIPPINGS MADE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: CA0001978
"BAR MITZVAH"-THIS IS A JEWISH CELEBRATION WHEN BOYS BECOME MEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Maturity |
NEW BORN CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS NAMED AFTER A DEAD RELATIVE, NEVER ONE
THAT IS LIVING. THERE ARE NO JUNIORS OR SENIORS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 01-06-1972
AMERICAN PROVERB
TO BUILD SOUNDLY, YOU MUST THINK CONSTRUCTIVELY.
Submitter comment:
SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN IS A VERY BUSINESS-ORIENTED CITY HARBORING
MANY JEWISH COMMUNITIES WHICH STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF SUCCESS.
THE INFORMANT WORKS IN THE SOUTHFIELD AREA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: CA00001972
KVAILYS (THE DUMMY)
ONE TIME, THERE LIVED A BOY WITH HIS MOTHER. ONE
DAY, HIS MOTHER CALLED TO HIM AND ASKED HIM TO GO
TO HIS GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE TO SEE IF SHE WAS ALL
RIGHT. HE WENT AND AS A PRESENT, HIS GRANDMOTHER
GAVE HIM A NEEDLE. ON THE WAY HOME, HE SAW A WAGON
LOAD OF HAY GOING BY, SO HE DECIDED TO HOP ON IT AND
GET A RIDE. THINKING TO HIMSELF THAT HE MUST BE VERY
CAREFUL AND NOT LOSE THE NEEDLE, HE STUCK IT IN THE
HAY BESIDE HIM. WHEN HE GOT HOME, HIS MOTHER ASKED
HIM IF HE GOT ANYTHING. HE TOLD HER THAT GRANDMOTHER
HAD GIVEN HIM A NEEDLE, BUT HAVING STUCK IT IN THE
HAY, HE CAN'T FIND IT. HIS MOTHER TOLD HIM THAT HE
SHOULD HAVE STUCK THE NEEDLE IN HIS HAT AND THEN HE
WOULDN'T HAVE LOST IT. HER SON SAID THAT HE WILL
REMEMBER THAT NEXT TIME.
THE FOLLOWING WEEK, HIS GRANDMOTHER INVITED HIM
OVER AGAIN. THIS TIME, BEFORE HE LEFT, SHE GAVE HIM
A PUPPY. REMEMBERING WHAT HIS MOTHER SAID ABOUT THE
NEEDLE AND STICKING IT IN YOUR HAT, HE STUCK THE PUPPY
UNDER IT. BY THE TIME HE GOT HOME, THE PUPPY WAS DEAD.
WHEN HE GOT HOME, HE TOLD HIS MOTHER WHAT HAPPENED
AND SHE TOLD HIM THAT HE SHOULD'VE TIED SOME ROPE
AROUND HIS NECK AND WALKED HIM HOME. HE SAID THAT
HE'LL REMEMBER THE NEXT TIME.
SOON AFTER THAT, HIS GRANDMOTHER INVITED HIM OVER
AGAIN AND THIS TIME SHE GAVE HIM A LARGE SLAB OF
BACON. REMEMBERING WHAT HIS MOTHER SAID ABOUT THE
PUPPY, HE TIED SOME ROPE AROUND THE BACON AND
DRAGGED IT HOME. BUT ON THE WAY, THE DOGS GOT
A WIFF OF THE BACON AND THEY RAN UP AND DEVOURED
IT. WHEN THE DUMMY GOT HOME, HE TOLD HIS MOTHER
WHAT HAPPENED, AND SHE THREW UP HER ARMS IN THE
AIR AND CRIED: "I GIVE UP ON YOU! HOW COULD A
SON OF MINE BE SO STUPID?" AND SHE SENT HIM UP TO
BED WITH NO DINNER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): SEE STORY OF EPANDAMANDUS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 03-28-1972
LEGEND
THIS INFORMANT STATES THERE ARE MANY STORIES IN
ARMENIAN TRADITION ABOUT A GREAT PHILOSOPHER CALLED
NASAHADEHJA. ONE DAY NASAHADEHAJA WAS RUNNING
AROUND THE STREETS OF ARMENIA YELLING FOR HIS
DAUGHTER. A WOMAN CAME UP TO HIM AND ASKED:
"NASAHADEHAJA, WHY ARE YOU CALLING FOR YOUR DAUGHTER
WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A DAUGHTER?" HE SAID, "THEN WHY
AM I RUNNING AROUND CALLING FOR HER?" SHE SAID,
YOU ANSWER ME THAT!" HE SAID, "WELL, IF I HAD A
DAUGHTER, I WOULD BE CALLING FOR HER, BECAUSE I'D
BE WORRIED SHE'D BE GOING OUT WITH AN ODDAR (NON-
ARMENIAN). KAREN THOUGHT THIS STORY WAS EXTREMELY
FUNNY AND LAUGHED HEARTILY AS SHE TOLD IT TO ME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 02-26-1971
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THE MAN IN THE ELEVATOR
ONE DAY A MAN LOOKED OUT HIS WINDOW AND SAW A MAN
CARRYING SOMETHING. THE MAN LOOKED AT HIM AND HIS FACE
WAS THE MOST HIDEOUS THING HE HAD EVER SEEN. THE NEXT
DAY THIS SAME MAN WHO WAS LOOKING OUT HIS WINDOW
WENT TO GET INTO AN ELEVATOR. HE SAW THIS MAN WITH
THE HIDEOUS FACE IN THE ELEVATOR AND DECIDED NOT TO
GET IN. IT IS A GOOD THING THAT HE DIDN'T, BECAUSE
THE CABLE BROKE AND THE ELEVATOR WAS SMASHED; EVERYONE
IN IT WAS KILLED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT DOES NOT REMEMBER WHERE SHE HEARD THIS
STORY, BUT THINKS IT WAS ABOUT 1920.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man |
Date learned: 05-12-1965
CAMP CUSTOM
AT GIRL SCOUT CAMP, THE OLDEST GROUP OF GIRLS DRESS UP
AS "FAIRIES." THEY WAKE UP THE YOUNGEST GROUP ABOUT
MIDNIGHT AND TAKE THEM TO A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE WOODS.
THERE, THEY ARE GIVEN 'FAIRY JUICE' TO DRINK, AND THEN
LED BACK TO BED. THE NEXT DAY, THAT IS THE BIG JOKE
AT THE CAMP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 10-23-1970
CLASS RING CUSTOM
A HIGH SCHOOL CLASS RING IS WORN WITH THE NUMERALS
(YEAR OF GRADUATION) FACING TOWARD THE FINGERTIPS IF
THE STUDENT HASN'T GRADUATED YET. THE NUMERALS ARE
REVERSED AFTER GRADUATION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 06-00-1967