Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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ORIGIN OF OLD EXPRESSION
THE INFORMANT STATED THAT HE HEARD IT ON THE RADIO THAT THERE WERE
TWO CHURCHES IN LONDON, ST. PETER'S AND ST. PAUL'S. ST. PETER'S
WAS WEALTHY AND ST. PAUL'S WAS POOR. THE LAND AROUND ST. PETER'S
WAS SOLD AND THE MONEY GIVEN TO ST. PAUL'S. HENCE THE EXPRESSION,
"ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Medium of exchange SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-15-1967
GIANT STEPS (OR MOTHER, MAY I?)
THE LEADER POSITIONS HIMSELF APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET FROM
THE CONTESTANTS ALONG A SIDEWALK, ADDRESSING HIMSELF
ALTERNATELY TO THEM. HE SAYS, "YOU MAY TAKE THREE BABY
STEPS," FOR EXAMPLE. BUT THE KID MUST ANSWER, "MOTHER
MAY I?" AND RECEIVE IN TURN A "YES, YOU MAY!" FROM THE
"MOTHER." A "NO, YOU MAY NOT," AND NO ADVANCEMENT.
THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF STEPS ALLOWED IS LEFT TO "MOTHER'S"
DISCRETION. THERE ARE BABY STEPS--SHORT HEEL TO TOE
STEPS; GIANT STEPS, LARGEST STRIDES POSSIBLE; UMBRELLA
STEPS--STEPPING WHILE SPINNING ABOUT; BANANA STEPS--
STEPPING WHILE SLIDING THE FEET ON THE SIDEWALK.
FIRST TO (REACH) MOTHER WINS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SOUTHWEST
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
NUMBER RHYME TAUNT
IT WAS A TRADITION AT ALL CATHOLIC CENTRAL HIGH
SCHOOL'S ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES TO SAY:
AND THE SCORE GOES UP ANOTHER NOTCH C. C.,
ANOTHER NOTCH, C. C.
AFTER ALL POINTS SCORED FOR OUR TEAMS.
THIS INDICATED TO THE OPPOSITION THAT WE
WERE SCORING WHILE THEY WEREN'T AT THAT TIME.
James Callow comment: WHO SAID IT? COLLECTOR SAYS: AUDIENCE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HIGH SCHOOL ; DETROIT ; CATHOLIC CENTRAL
James Callow Keyword(s): CHEER
INITIATION INTO THE CLAN
1 WHO WAS JOHNNY AT THE CHURCH?
2 THE KISSING OF THE BAG PIPES
3 THE SACRED THIMBLE
Submitter comment:
THIS FAMILY TRADITION GOES BACK AS FAR AS THE FAMILY
COMING OVER FROM NOVA SCOTIA ONLY PEOPLE WHO MARRY INTO THE CLAN
OR GOOD FRIENDS HAVE TO BE INITATED
THIS HAPPENS AT EACH REUNION IN SUMMER
THE CLAN IS THE ANGUS MACK CLAN
SCOTCH AND IRISH ARE THE BACKGROUND
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: CA02001980
HOW THE ROBIN GOT ITS RED BREAST.
IT WAS COLD IN THE STABLE AT BETHLEHEM WHEN JESUS WAS BORN. IT HAD
RAINED THE NIGHT BEFORE AND TRY AS HE MIGHT JOSEPH COULDN'T LIGHT
A FIRE BECAUSE THE WOOD WAS WET. MARY HELD THE BABY TO KEEP HIM WARM
BUT JOSEPH NOTICED HOW SHE SHIVERED FROM THE COLD. HE KEPT FANNING
THE SPARKS WITH HIS HANDS, HOPING TO START A FLAME.
THERE WAS A BIRD IN THE RAFTERS WATCHING ALL THIS, AND WHEN JOSEPH
WENT TO GET MORE STRAW, THE BIRD FLEW DOWN AND BEGAN FANNING THE
SPARKS WITH HIS WINGS. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS A FIRE AND THE LITTLE
BIRD BURNED HIS BREAST. THE LITTLE BABE HAD SEEN THE HAPPENINGS AND
HE PROMISED THAT THE BIRD WOULD WEAR THE MARK OF HIS GOOD DEED,
HE WOULD HAVE A RED BREAST. THAT'S HOW THE ROBIN GOT HIS RED BREAST
AND EVERY TIME YOU SEE ONE, THINK OF THIS STORY AND YOU WILL HAVE
THE PEACE OF CHRISTMAS DESCEND UPON YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Characteristics of Animals |
Date learned: 06-00-1964
PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM
ITALIAN PROVERB
OUT OF THE MOUTH OF A DRUNKEN MAN YOU GET THE TRUTH
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-26-1969
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES SOMETIMES COME GEMS.
YOUNG CHILDREN WILL SAY TRUTHFUL THINGS WHERE OLDER PEOPLE
WILL AVOID IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-07-1971
PROVERBIAL PHRASE
OUT OF THE FRYING PAN AND INTO THE FIRE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 09-17-1970
SUPERSTITION
CUTTING NAILS ON SUNDAY RESULTS IN BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT VIEWS CUTTING THE NAILS AS A WAY TO WARD OFF SPIRITS,
PRIMARILY EVIL SPIRITS. CUTTING THE NAILS ON SUNDAY, THE DAY
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, IS TO WARD OFF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; LUNCHROOM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-14-1979
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
SHOPPER MYTH
MANY TIMES WHILE AT WORK I NOTICE THAT SHOPPERS WITH FEW ITEMS
WILL ALMOST ALWAYS STAND IN THE EIGHT ITEMS OR LESS LANE.
MANY TIMES THIS LANE IS MUCH LONGER THAN SOME OF THE OTHER
CHECK OUT LANES. I HAVE TO DIRECT THEM TO THE LESSER SOMETIMES
EMPTY LANES.
WHEN I ASK THEM WHY THEY WERE WAITING IN THE LONG LINES THEIR
REPLY IS THAT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS MANDATORY FOR THEM TO STAND
IN THE SPEEDY CHECK OUT LANE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; A&P FOOD STORE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
IF YOU LOOK IN A MIRROR AND STARE FOR SOMETIME IN
THE DARK, YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF TURNING OLD.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; SAINT HYACINTH SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 02-29-1972
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
NEVER MIND THE NOISE IN THE MARKET, JUST WATCH THE PRICE OF FISH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; CAUTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fish BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 01-26-1972
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