Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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Witches are seen as using a broom for two reasons; one it
shows that the female member is the mistress of the house
and this represents orderliness and cleanliness. It also
represents that during harvest time the witches raise their
brooms to the desired height they wish their crops to grow.
Submitter comment: Brian learned this from a lecture at Oakland University.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: 00001980S
Only Child
At dinner times a person can tell who an only
child is because they eat the slowest. I am an
only child and always the last to leave the table.
This was told to me by another only child.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
Date learned: 11-16-1990
Yugoslavian Christening
The christening is done at a hall. The baby is passed
around to each guest. When the guest gets to hold the
baby, they pinch him/her cheeks and put a card with money in
her dress.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Baptism Naming rite SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 11-16-1990
Yugoslavian Wedding
When the guests arrive, they must knock on the bride's
bedroom door. When she opens the door they must offer
her money. If the bride doesn't feel it is enough, she
won't let the guest in to visit her.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 11-16-1990
Yugoslavian Wedding
Each person in the wedding party has
to give the bride and groom a party within one
year. This is 34 parties in all.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Number P686.1.33 |
Date learned: 11-16-1990
Yugoslavian Wedding
Each side has 14 people standing up in the wedding.
No one in the wedding party can be married, except
for the maid of honor.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Number P686.1.14 |
Date learned: 11-16-1990
On the day of an outside party, hang a rosary on
a tree. This will be a token of good luck so that
it doesn't rain. My friend's mother did on the
day of her daughter's graduation party--it did not rain.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 11-16-1990
If someone wants to sell a house and aren't getting
too many offers, bury a statue of St. Joseph in the
backyard. The house will be sold. My boyfriend's
mother did this and their house was sold in a week.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
IF YOU VISIT PEOPLE IN A NEW HOME, BRING BREAD AND SALT
AS A GIFT, AND THE PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS HAVE PLENTY TO EAT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-31-1969
GERMAN PRAYER
ICH BIN KLEIN,
MEIN HERZ IST REIN,
SOLL NIEMANN DREN WEHEN,
ALTS JESUS ALEIN. AMEN.
I AM SMALL,
MY HEART IS PURE,
LET NO ONE LIVE IN IT
BUT JESUS ALONE. AMEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 09-22-1969
GOD MADE THE BEES,
AND THE BEES MADE THE HONEY.
WE DO THE WORK,
AND THE TEACHER GETS THE MONEY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
BLOODY MURDER
"IT" GOES AND HIDES WHILE THE CHILDREN SITTING ON
"HOME" SING THE FOLLOWING SONG:
ONE O'CLOCK, TWO O'CLOCK, THREE O'CLOCK ROCK
FOUR O'CLOCK, FIVE O'CLOCK, SIX O'CLOCK ROCK
SEVEN O'CLOCK, EIGHT O'CLOCK, NINE O'CLOCK ROCK
TEN O'CLOCK, ELEVEN O'CLOCK, TWELVE O'CLOCK
MIDNIGHT!
"MIDNIGHT" IS YELLED AS LOUD AS POSSIBLE SO THAT "IT" MAY
KNOW THAT THE CHILDREN ARE COMING. THE CHILDREN SEPARATE
AND LOOK FOR "IT". IF A CHILD SEES "IT" AND HASN'T YET BEEN
TOUCHED BY "IT", THAT CHILD WILL SCREAM "BLOODY MURDER" AND
RUN TO HOME. THE OTHER CHILDREN ALSO SCREAM "BLOODY MURDER"
AND RUN TO HOME. IT IS UNWISE TO BE LAST FOR BY THEN "IT" HAS
GOTTEN TO THE AREA OF HOME BASE AND GUARDS HOME SO THAT THE
PLAYERS CAN'T GET THROUGH. THE PLAYERS TOUCHING HOME BASE THEN
FORM A HUMAN CHAIN, LINKING HANDS, AND TRY TO REACH THE
TRAPPED PLAYERS. IF THEY CAN REACH THE CHAIN THEY ARE "SAFE".
IF SOMEONE IS TOUCHED BY "IT" THEY BECOME "IT" FOR THE NEXT
GAME. OTHERWISE THE ORIGINAL "IT" IS "IT" AGAIN AND THE GAME
BEGINS AGAIN. THIS GAME WAS ALWAYS PLAYED AT NIGHT. "IT"
COULD HIDE BETTER AND THE DARKNESS ADDED TO THE FEAR AND
EXCITEMENT. THE BOUNDARIES WERE ALWAYS SETTLED BEFORE HAND AS
WELL AS A TIME LIMIT FOR FINDING "IT".
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Flint
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Hiding Searching |
Date learned: 05-00-1978
IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC, DEPENDING UPON HOW A GIRL WEARS HER FLOWER,
SIGNALS THE DEGREE OF HER AVAILABILITY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 11-01-1971
RED ROBIN
THE ROBIN GOT HIS BREAST RED WHEN HE PULLED A THORN OUT FROM
CHRIST'S HEAD WHEN HE WAS ON THE CROSS.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BIBLICAL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Characteristics of Animals |
Date learned: 11-02-1969
GRANDMA'S ICEMAN CAME BY ONCE A WEEK IN HIS HORSE AND
WAGON. SHE USED TO PUT A SIGN IN THE WINDOW SO HE KNEW
HOW MANY POUNDS TO BRING IN. IN THOSE DAYS GRANDMA STILL
COULD NOT AFFORD AN ELECTRIC FREEZER. ANYHOW, THE
ICEMAN WOULD CUT THE BLOCKS OUT IN THE STREET, AND US
KIDS WOULD RUN OUT AND EAT THE BROKEN CHIPS; AS LONG
AS THE HORSE HADN'T POOPED! THE ICEMAN TOLD US THAT HIS
ICE CAME STRAIGHT FROM SANTA CLAUS AT THE NORTH POLE.
WE BELIEVED HIM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; GRANDMAS HOME
Keyword(s): DELIVERYMAN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Secular hero BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
Date learned: 00001940S
NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM
WASHING WITH A PIECE OF SILVER
SO THE NEW YEAR WILL BE PROSPEROUS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CONTAGIOUS MAGIC ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
Date learned: 10-22-1968
MY MOTHER WAS A BAKER, A BAKER, A BAKER.
MY MOTHER WAS A BAKER AND THIS IS WHAT SHE SAID UMM, UMM.
MY FATHER WAS A GARBAGE MAN, A GARBAGE MAN, A GARBAGE MAN.
MY FATHER WAS A GARBAGE MAN AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAID UMM, UMM,
P-U.
MY SISTER WAS A MOVIE STAR, A MOVIE STAR, A MOVIE STAR.
MY SISTER WAS A MOVIE STAR AND THIS IS WHAT SHE SAID UMM, UMM,
P-U, CURLY WHIRLY, WHOOP-D-DO.
MY BROTHER WAS A COWBOY, A COWBOY, A COWBOY.
MY BROTHER WAS A COWBOY AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAID UMM, UMM, P-U,
CURLY WHIRLY, WHOOP-D-DO, BANG, BANG, YOU'RE DEAD FIFTY BULLETS
IN THE HEAD.
MY GRANDFATHER WAS A TAILOR, A TAILOR, A TAILOR.
MY GRANDFATHER WAS A TAILOR AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAID UMM, UMM, P-U,
CURLY WHIRLY, WHOOP-D-DO, BANG, BANG, YOU'RE DEAD FIFTY BULLETS IN
THE HEAD, OUCH.
Submitter comment: YOU PINCH THE PERSON YOU ARE TELLING THIS TO WHEN YOU SAY OUCH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Flint
James Callow Keyword(s): CUMULATIVE ; INCREMENTAL REPETITION
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
Date learned: 00-00-1978 ; 11-00-1987
AT A POLISH WEDDING, AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE HALL OR RECEPTION AREA
EACH MALE OVER SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE MUST DRINK TO THE BRIDE AND
GROOM WITH POLISH VODKA. IT SYMBOLIZES CONFIDENCE , APPROVAL AND
ACCEPTANCE INTO THE SOCIETY AS MAN AND WIFE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAWKS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Maturity CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Reception BELIEF -- Number P686.1.16 |
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN EATS A PART OF A COOKED OR FRIED CHICKEN, THE
PART THAT WAS EATEN BY THE WOMAN WILL BE MISSING FROM THE CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAWKS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
GAME VERSE
IN ITALIAN:
GIRO GIRO TONDO
GIRO GIRO TONDO
CASCA IL MONDO
CASCA LA TERRA
TUTTI GIU PERTERRA!
ENGLISH:
ROUND ROUND AROUND
ROUND ROUND AROUND
FALLS THE WORLD
FELL THE EARTH
EVERYONE ON THE GROUND!
Submitter comment:
THE ABOVE VERSE IS USED IN CONNECTION WITH A GAME THE YOUNG
CHILDREN PLAY IN ITALY. ACCORDING TO GIOVANNI, IT IS SIMILAR
TO "RING AROUND THE ROSIE." THE CHILDREN DANCE AROUND IN A
CIRCLE AND WHEN THE LAST LINE IS SUNG, THEY ALL FALL TO THE
GROUND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.523 |
Date learned: 10-09-1971