Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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COURTSHIP CUSTOM
THE OLDEST DAUGHTER PUTS THE DOG OUTSIDE. HER FUTURE BOYFRIEND
WILL COME FROM THE DIRECTION THE DOG RUNS.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT FIRST HEARD THIS IN POLAND AROUND 1910. THIS IS A
COURTSHIP CUSTOM AND SUPERSTITION WITH ELEMENTS OF PREDICTION
INVOLVED. IT SEEMS TO IMPLY THAT THE DOG HAS SOME TYPE OF POWER
SINCE HE IS THE INSTRUMENT USED TO FORETELL THE FUTURE.
THIS IS A POSITION DIRECTION INDICATOR OF THE FUTURE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; CA00001910
POLISH CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
AT CHRISTMAS, PUT HAY ON A TABLECLOTH. IN THE MIDDLE PUT THE
CHRISTMAS WAFERS. EVERYONE MAKES A WISH THEN. AFTER THE MEAL
THE DOG IS GIVEN WHATEVER IS LEFT OVER FROM THE MEAL.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT FIRST LEARNED THIS AROUND 1910 IN POLAND. NO REASON
WAS OFFERED AS TO WHY THIS CUSTOM WAS DONE. THE MENTION OF A WISH
COULD LEAD TO SPECULATION ABOUT LUCK OR PREDICTION. ALSO, WHAT
HAPPENS IF THE HOUSEHOLD DOES NOT HAVE A DOG?
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 BELIEF -- P122 BELIEF -- Mammal |
Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; CA00001910
DEATH SUPERSTITION
IF A PICTURE FALLS AND NO ONE PICKS IT UP OR TOUCHES IT, THEN
THERE IS GOING TO BE A DEATH IN THE FAMILY.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT FIRST HEARD THIS IN POLAND AROUND 1910. FALLING
PICTURES ARE OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH DEATH. HOWEVER, THIS ADDS THE
STIPULATION THAT IF THEY ARE NOT TOUCHED, DEATH RESULTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; CA00001910
DEATH SUPERSTITION
WHEN YOU HEAR KNOCKING AT NIGHT, SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE. THE
INFORMANT HEARD KNOCKING ON TWO NIGHTS AND THE DEATH OF TWO
RELATIVES FOLLOWED.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD OF THIS DEATH PREDICTOR IN POLAND AROUND 1910.
SINCE SHE CLAIMS THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO HER, SHE HELD A GREAT
CONVICTION TO ITS TRUTH. KNOCKING IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH
COMMUNICATION FROM THE DEACEASED. PERHAPS, THE DEAD WILL WARN OF
AN UPCOMING DEATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two Observation BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; CA00001910
DEATH SUPERSTITION
IF YOU GO TO COMMUNION ON NINE FRIDAYS IN A ROW, THEN YOU WILL
HAVE A HAPPY DEATH.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD OF THIS AROUND 1910 IN POLAND. SHE IS VERY
RELIGIOUS AND PLACED HIGH REGARD ON THIS CUSTOM. PERHAPS NINE IS
A LUCKY NUMBER AND ACTS AS A MEDIUM FOR A GOOD DEATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Ninths / Nine CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; CA00001910
RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
PRAY TO SAINT ANTHONY FOR LOST THINGS.
PRAY TO SAINT JUDE FOR A HOPELESS CAUSE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD OF THESE PRAYER RITUALS IN POLAND AROUND 1910.
THE COLLECTOR HAS ALSO HEARD OF PRAYING TO PARTICULAR SAINTS FOR A
SPECIAL PURPOSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; CA00001910
SUPERSTITION
THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY WOULD PUT A CRADLE, FULL OF STRAW, IN A TREE,
HOPEFULLY, A STORK WOULD MAKE ITS NEST THERE. WHEN THE STORK
THROWS ONE OF HER BABIES OUT OF THE NEST, THIS MEANS THAT THERE
WILL BE A BAD SUMMER.
Submitter comment:
THIS WEATHER PREDICTOR WAS FIRST HEARD BY THE INFORMANT AROUND 1910
IN POLAND. A STORK, CRADLE AND GOOD SUMMER ALL SYMBOLIZE LIFE.
THIS IS HINDERED BY A BIRD FALLING FROM THE CRADLE (DEATH) CAUSING
A BREAK IN THE LINK (A BAD SUMMER).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation Favorites BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Measure of time Summer BELIEF -- Use of Object BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; CA00001910
WEATHER SUPERSTITION
IF YOU CAN SEE THE STARS AT NIGHT, IT WILL BE A SUNNY DAY TOMORROW.
BUT, IF YOU CANNOT SEE THE STARS, IT WILL RAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT FIRST HEARD THIS WEATHER PREDICTOR IN POLAND AROUND
1910. TO THE COLLECTOR, IT SEEMS COMMON SENSE, SINCE IF YOU CAN
SEE THE STARS, THEN THERE ARE NO CLOUDS. IF THERE ARE NO CLOUDS
NO RAIN CAN BE PRODUCED. HOWEVER, THE INFORMANT HAD A VERY
STRONG CONVICTION THAT THIS THEORY WAS INFALLIBLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sun BELIEF -- Star BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; CA00001910
JUMP ROPE RIME
------AND------SITTING IN A TREE
K-I-S-S-I-N-G.
FISRT COMES LOVE.
THEN COMES MARRIAGE
THEN COMES------WITH A BABY CARRIAGE
Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED THIS FROM HER NEIGHBORHOOD PLAYMATES IN NEW YORK CITY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; FOLEY HALL
Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 03-30-1967
ROPE JUMPING RIME
MARGIE HAD A BABY, NAMED HIM TINY TIM
PUT HIM IN THE BATHTUB TO TEACH HIM HOW TO SWIM.
HE DRANK UP ALL THE WATER, HE ATE UP ALL THE SOAP.
MARGIE CALLED THE DOCTOR, MARGIE CALLED THE NURSE, MARGIE CALLED
THE LADY WITH THE ALLIGATOR PURSE.
IN CAME THE DOCTOR, IN CAME THE NURSE, IN CAME THE LADY WITH THE
ALLIGATOR PURSE.
DEAD SAID THE DOCTOR, DEAD SAID THE NURSE, DEAD SAID THE LADY WITH
THE ALLIGATOR PURSE.
OUT WENT THE DOCTOR, OUT WENT THE NURSE, OUT WENT THE LADY WITH THE
ALLIGATOR PURSE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER NEIGHBORHOOD PLAYMATES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; FOLEY HALL
Keyword(s): CALL-RHYME ; CHARACTER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 03-30-1967
JUMP ROPE RIME
SAILOR GIRL, SAILOR GIRL, DRESSED IN BLUE
THESE ARE THE THINGS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
SALUTE TO THE CAPTAIN
CURTESY (COURTSY?) TO THE QUEEN
TURN MY BACK TO THE DIRTY MARINE}
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER NEIGHBORHOOD PLAYMATES.
BUFFALO, N.Y.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; FOLEY HALL
Keyword(s): ACTION-RHYME ; CHARACTER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 03-29-1967
ROPE JUMPING RIME
LITTLE SUZIE SAUCER
SITTING IN A SAUCER
WEEPING AND CRYING
BECAUSE HER MOTHER'S DYING
RISE SUZIE RISE
WIPE YOUR EYES
POINT TO THE EAST,
POINT TO THE WEST
POINT TO THE ONE YOU LOVE THE BEST.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS ON THE PLAYGROUND IN CLEVELAND, OHIO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; FOLEY HALL
Keyword(s): ACTION-RHYME ; CHARACTER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 03-29-1967
TEDDY BEAR.
TEDDY BEAR, TEDDY BEAR TURN AROUND,
TEDDY BEAR, TEDDY BEAR, TOUCH THE GROUND
TEDDY BEAR, TEDDY BEAR
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
MY ANCESTRY
AS A CHILD I WAS ALWAYS TOLD BY MY FATHER AND GRANDFATHER
THAT OUR FAMILY WAS DESCENDED FROM ONE OF THE ANCIENT IRISH
KINGS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Secular hero |
On Devil's Night, scoop cow manure into a bag, put it on the
porch of someone that you don't like, set it on fire, ring the
doorbell, then hide to watch them get a shoe full of manure while
trying to stomp out the fire.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): Prank
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F103 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00-00-1987
Never do laundry on New Year's Day or you will wash someone out
of the family. My mother did it once, two loads of colored clothes
and one load of white clothes. Two of the darker family members died
and the lightest also passed.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Measure of time Working BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 00-00-1982
When pregnant if the child is carried high it's a boy and if
carried low it's a girl.
James Callow comment:
Of the five items in Puckett, Ohio, only no. 719 (from a
student nurse of English, Irish, Scottish heritage) equates a male
baby with high carriage; the four items in no. 720 all say that a
fetus carried low will turn out to be a boy.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00-00-1988
LORD LORD, YOU ARE SO GOOD TO ME. OH MY LORD YOU ARE SO GOOD
TO ME. LORD YOU DONE WHAT THE WORLD COULD NOT DO.
Submitter comment:
WILLIE DOTSON WAS BORN IN BROWNSVILLE, TENNESSEE IN 1910. THIS
SONG WAS SUNG TO HER MOTHER AND WAS PASSED DOWN TO HER.
WILLIE DOTSON WAS CRYING WHEN SHE SANG THIS SONG TO ME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious |
Date learned: 11-00-1987
NEVER KILL A DADDY LONG LEG SPIDER OR IT WILL RAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00-00-1965 ; 10-00-1987