Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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TEACHER SUPERSTITION
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS MAKE THE WORST PARENTS.
Submitter comment:
LEARNED FROM FELLOW TEACHERS AND SOME OF HER OWN STUDENTS IN
YONKERS, NEW YORK.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; YONKERS
James Callow Keyword(s): IRONY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 12-29-1963
HUNGARIAN SUPERSTITION
NEVER STEP OVER A PERSON WHEN HE IS LYING IN BED OR IT WILL BRING
HIM GREAT DANGER.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER HUNGARIAN FATHER.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; YONKERS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Home BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 12-22-1963
POLISH SUPERSTITION
IF YOU DROP A PIECE OF BREAD ON THE FLOOR, YOU MUST PICK IT UP
IMMEDIATELY AND KISS IT, OR ELSE YOU HAVE SINNED.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER POLISH MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS VERY YOUNG.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; YONKERS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Gesture |
SUPERSTITION
AT 12 MIDNIGHT, NEW YEAR'S EVE, YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY
OPEN YOUR FRONT DOOR TO LET THE OLD YEAR OUT AND
WELCOME THE NEW YEAR IN.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; YONKERS
Keyword(s): SYMBOLIC ACTION
Date learned: 12-31-1963
CUSTOM--ITALIAN
ON EASTER SUNDAY, BAKE A LOAF OF BREAD USING A WHOLE EGG, SHELL
AND ALL, IN THE DOUGH.
Submitter comment:
LEARNED AS A YOUNG WOMAN LIVING IN ITALY.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; YONKERS
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday |
Date learned: 12-29-1963
MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB,
THE DOCTORS WERE SURPRISED.
BUT THEY WERE EVEN MORE SURPRISED,
WHEN MAC DONALD HAD A FARM.
James Callow comment: RDNeedsReview
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK ; WILLIAMSVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): BIRTH CONNOTATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults |
Date learned: 06-00-1965
THE PUTTING TOGETHER OF THE HANDS AND SLIGHTLY BOWING
FROM THE WAIST--MEANING, "PRAY PLEASE SHUT UP. I'D
LIKE TO SPEAK."
Where learned: BUFFALO ; HIGH SCHOOL ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Instructions Directions Silence |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Custom
Wedding Custom:
When a woman in her family is engaged to be married, the aunts on her fahter's side give a shower gift to her which is a pure white negligee. This is a sign that the perspective groom has been accepted as a member of the family.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME ; NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
Keyword(s): Engagement ; FAMILY ; GIFT ; Shower ; WEDDING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Entry filtered.
CZECHOSLOVAKIAN CHRISTMAS EVE CUSTOM
SMALL BUNS ARE BAKED FOR THE HOLY SUPPER. BEFORE THE
SUPPER BEGINS, THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY AND SOME MEMBERS OF
THE FAMILY, GO TO THE BARN. THEY GIVE A SMALL BUN TO EACH
OF THE ANIMALS. THEY BELIEVE THE ANIMALS ARE SPECIAL SINCE
THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES PRESENT WITH THE HOLY FAMILY ON
THAT FIRST CHRISTMAS NIGHT. THE FAMILY RETURNS TO THE
HOUSE AND THEIR HOLY SUPPER BEGINS. THEY ALSO PARTAKE OF
THE SMALL BUNS. THE BREAD COMMEMORATES THE CHRIST CHILD
WHO IS THE BREAD OF LIFE.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; SLOATSBURG
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: 00001980S
Belief: Children
Determining Sex of Unborn Child:
A pin on a thread, if held motionless over the wrist of an expectant mother, can determine sex of child by the motion which it takes up after it is perfectly still. If pin or needle takes up a circular motion than first child weill be a girl. If needle takes up back and forth motion then a boy. If pin stops and then moves again, this can be used to predict the future sex and number of children.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P860] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME ; NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
Keyword(s): ANAPEL ; BELIEF ; Biology ; BIRTH ; CHILDREN ; CUSTOM ; Forecasting ; gender ; Ordain ; Pendulum ; Predictions ; SEX
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
IF YOU STEP ON A BLACK ANT, IT'S GOING TO RAIN.
Submitter comment:
AS A CHILD THE INFORMANT REALLY BELIEVED THIS AND TRIED
HER HARDEST NOT TO STEP ON BLACK ANTS.
Where learned: NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00001950S LATE
AN ITCHY NOSE MEANS YOU ARE GOING TO GET COMPANY.
Where learned: NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching nose |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
MOST PEOPLE SAY "GOD BLESS YOU" TO A PERSON WHO HAS JUST
SNEEZED BASED ON A BELIEF THAT THE DEVIL WILL ENTER
YOUR BODY UNLESS THIS PHRASE IS SAID AT THAT TIME.
ALSO, YOUR HEART IS SUPPOSED TO STOP BEATING INSTANT-TANEOUSLY AFTER A SNEEZE, AND THIS PHRASE IS ALSO
SAID TO KEEP YOUR HEART BEATING.
Submitter comment:
I DON'T ACTUALLY BELIEVE THE BASIS FOR THE USE OF
THIS PHRASE.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.8 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT SMOKING WILL STUNT YOUR
GROWTH.
Submitter comment: I THINK THAT THIS BELIEF IS NOT REALLY BASED ON FACT.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.8 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A TRADITIONAL POLISH EASTER-TIME CUSTOM IS THE BLESSING
OF THE EASTER BASKET ON HOLY SATURDAY. THE EASTER
BASKET CONTAINING SAMPLES OF THE FOOD WHICH IS TO BE
EATEN ON EASTER SUNDAY. THE FOOD IS PLACED IN THE
DECORATED BASKET AND BROUGHT TO THE CHURCH, WHERE IT
IS BLESSED. THE BLESSED FOOD IS THEN EATEN ALONG
WITH THE REMAINING FOOD DURING A BIG EASTER SUNDAY
MORNING BREAKFAST. USUALLY A LAMB MADE FROM BUTTER
IS ALSO GOTTEN AT EASTER-TIME AND BLESSED AND EATEN WITH
THE BREAKFAST.
Submitter comment: THIS CUSTOM IS STILL IN PRACTICE AT MY HOUSE.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Saturday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A POLISH CHRISTMASTIME CUSTOM INVOLVES WRITING THE
INITIALS OF THE THREE KINGS ABOVE ENTRANCE DOORS TO
YOUR HOUSE ON JANUARY 6. THIS IS DONE WITH WHITE
CHALK. THE THREE INITIALS ARE K., M., AND B., FOR
KASPER, MELCHIOR, AND BALTHAZAR. JANUARY 6 IS THE
FEAST OF THE THREE KINGS.
Submitter comment: THIS PRACTICE IS NO LONGER BEING FOLLOWED AT MY HOUSE.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
"Your mother, my, mother, live across the way,
1515 East Broadway. Every night, they have a fight,
And this is what they say:
Icka, Bocka, Soda cracker,
Does your mother chew tobacker?"
As a counting out rhyme, yes or no would be
chosen and then spelled out, such as "Y-E-S spells
yes and you are not it."
As a jumprope rhyme, "yes, no, yes, no" would be repeated
until you fell.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
CLINTON STREET RUN
IN BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, THERE IS A LENGTH OF CLINTON
STREET THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE 100 BARS ALONG ITS LENGTH.
DURING THE 1930S, IT WAS A FEAT OF MANLINESS TO GO DOWN
THE STREET AND HAVE A BEER AT EACH BAR. THIS WAS
THE CLINTON STREET RUN. ONLY TWO MEN EVER COMPLETED
THE RUN. ONE IS NOW THE MAYOR OF NEARBY ENDICOTT,
NEW YORK, AND HE PASSED OUT AND DIDN'T WAKEN FOR TWO
DAYS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; NEW YORK ; BINGHAMTON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 03-17-1972 ; 00001930S
CLINTON STREET RUN
IN BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, THERE IS A LENGTH OF CLINTON
STREET THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE 100 BARS ALONG ITS LENGTH.
DURING THE 1930S, IT WAS A FEAT OF MANLINESS TO GO DOWN
THE STREET AND HAVE A BEER AT EACH BAR. THIS WAS
THE CLINTON STREET RUN. ONLY TWO MEN EVER COMPLETED
THE RUN. ONE IS NOW THE MAYOR OF NEARBY ENDICOTT,
NEW YORK, AND HE PASSED OUT AND DIDN'T WAKEN FOR TWO
DAYS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; NEW YORK ; BINGHAMTON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 03-17-1972 ; 00001930S