Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY,
COME AGAIN SOME OTHER DAY,
LITTLE CHILDREN WANT TO PLAY.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS FROM MY MOTHER WHEN I WAS A CHILD.
Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.646 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU PICK A DANDELION AND PLACE IT UNDER SOMEONE'S
CHIN AND YOU SEE A YELLOW SPOT OR SHADOW UNDER HIS
CHIN, THEN THIS PERSON LIKES BUTTER.
Submitter comment:
I BELIEVED THIS WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG BUT AM QUITE
SKEPTICAL OF IT NOW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; LINCOLN PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object Plant |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP,
A BAG OF PEANUTS AT MY FEET,
AND IF I DIE BEFORE I WAKE,
I GIVE THE LORD A STOMACH ACHE.
Submitter comment: I REMEMBER THIS AS A PARODY OF A SCHOOL PRAYER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; LINCOLN PARK
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE BIG FAMILY WASH IS ALWAYS DONE ON A MONDAY.
Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
DETERMINING SEX OF UNBORN CHILD
IF THE HEARTBEAT OF THE UNBORN CHILD IS FAST, IT
IS SAID TO BE A BOY; IF THE HEARTBEAT IS SLOW, IT
IS SAID TO BE A GIRL.
Submitter comment: SOURCE NOT REMEMBERED.
Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 11-10-1967
FORMULA SPEECH
WHEN TWO PEOPLE SAY THE SAME THING AT THE SAME TIME,
ONE PERSON CAN COUNT TO TEN AND IF THE OTHER PERSON
DOESN'T STOP HIM, HE OWES HIM A COKE. (COCA-COLA.)
Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
DRUNK JOKE
TWO WOMEN WERE WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND SAW A DRUNK AND A PIG IN THE GUTTER. ONE LADY SAYS TO THE OTHER: "YOU CAN TELL A MAN WHO BOOZES BY THE COMPANY HE CHOOSES." SO THE PIG GOT UP AND SLOWLY WALKED AWAY.
Submitter comment: UNDERLINE, SLOWLY.
Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 10-16-1967
IN EUROPE, DRIVERS INDICATE TO HITCHHIKERS THAT
THEY CAN'T PICK THEM UP OR ARE GOING ONLY A SHORT
DISTANCE BY WAVING THEIR HAND UP AND DOWN.
Submitter comment: EXPERIENCED DURING SUMMER TRIP TO EUROPE.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Travel Hitchhiking |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHEN YOU ARE SUDDENLY STARTLED, SPITTING WILL AVOID
ANY HARM FROM COMING TO YOU.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; EVIL EYE ; PREVENTION ; Spitting ; Startle ; SUPERSTITION ; SURPRISE ; Ward
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- P670 P670.88 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHEN ONE SEES A LOVELY CHILD, ONE MUST SPIT ON THE
GROUND TO WARD OFF THE EVIL EYE, TO PREVENT SICKNESS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): BABY ; BEAUTY ; BELIEF ; CHILD ; CUSTOM ; EVIL ; EVIL EYE ; Eye ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Prevent ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.12 |
Date learned: 11-19-1971
KNOCK ON WOOD FOR LUCK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; GESTURE ; Knock ; Knocking ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION ; WOOD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 |
Date learned: 09-00-1968
Entry filtered.
IN ORDER TO RETAIN A CERTAIN STREAK OF LUCK WHICH YOU
PRESENTLY HAVE GOING FOR YOU, ONE SHOULD CROSS HIS
FINGERS, I.E., INDEX FINGER AND THIRD FINGER OVER IT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cross ; Crossing ; CUSTOM ; Finger ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 |
Date learned: 00001950S
IN ORDER TO RELIEVE ONE'S GUILT WHEN TELLING A LIE,
ONE CROSSES THE INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGERS OF ONE HAND.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Date learned: 10-02-1967
A NEGATING GESTURE
WHEN ONE IS MAKING A PROMISE THAT HE DOESN'T
WANT TO KEEP, HE SIMPLY CROSSES HIS FINGERS WHILE MAKING
THE PROMISE. BY CROSSING HIS FINGERS, HE NEGATES HIS
PROMISE AND HE ISN'T HELD RESPONSIBLE.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Magical Crossing fingers |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A BOW TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
IN BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCHES TODAY, SOME PEOPLE
STILL PRACTICE AN OLD CUSTOM OF GETTING DOWN ON ALL
FOURS AND TOUCHING THE FLOOR WITH THEIR BROWS,
THUS SIGNIFYING A BOW TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.
Where learned: HAMTRAMCK ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts 686 Fourths / Quarters CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.3 SPEECH -- Religious |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHENEVER YOU HEAR AN AMBULANCE, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS MAKE
THE SIGN OF THE CROSS AS A LITTLE PRAYER FOR WHATEVER
HAS HAPPENED.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): SIREN
Date learned: 03-12-1970
IT IS CORRECT TO TIP YOUR HAT WHEN PASSING A CHURCH.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Head SPEECH -- Religious |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNICATIONS WHEN SPEAKING IS NOT
ALLOWED DURING AN "AIR SITUATION" THE INDEX FINGER
WHEN POINTED AT THAT PERSON GOING TO BE ON "THE AIR"
BY USE OF THE WHOLE FOREARM IN BENDING AT THE
ELBOW, MEANS THE PERSON CAN BEGIN, OR START.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT IS IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNICATIONS AND
HAS USED THIS SIGNAL TO INSTRUCT A PERSON WHO IS ON
THE AIR TO BEGIN.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): COMMUNICATIONS? CLEAR AS MUD.
James Callow Keyword(s): BROADCASTING
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 10-31-1971
IN A RADIO OR TELEVISION STUDIO SITUATION ONE OR TWO
HANDS RAISED IN THE AIR WITH THE PALMS FACING THE
PERSON ON THE AIR INDICATES TO THAT PERSON TO GET
READY OR TO STAND BY FOR ANOTHER SIGNAL TO COME.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT IS IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNICATIONS AND
HAS USED THIS GESTURE AND HAS SEEN OTHERS USE A
GESTURE OF SIMILAR NATURE WHEN SPEAKING DURING AN
"AIR SITUATION" IS PROHIBITED.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): BROADCASTING
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 11-01-1971