Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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LEGEND OF THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
THE CHURCH OF THE CHALDEANS WAS THE FIRST TO BE ESTABLISHED.
THE MAGI WHO VISITED JESUS, GIVING HIM GIFTS RETURNED
TO THE ORIENT FROM WHICH THEY CAME. THIS WAS IN MESOPOTAMIA.
CHALDEA WAS LOCATED THERE. THE MAGI BEGAN TO SPREAD THE
NEWS OF THE CHRIST AND JESUS TO ALL PEOPLES IN THE AREA
WHERE THEN THE EASTERN RITE CHURCH WAS BORN. JESUS WAS
PREACHED TO ALL PEOPLES THAT HE WILL SAVE THE WORLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: 10-17-1983
LEGEND OF THE FIRST LANGUAGE EVER SPOKEN
IN SAINT JOHN'S GOSPEL HE BEGINS WITH THE WORD WHICH WAS
IN THE BEGINNING. GOD MUST HAVE USED WORDS TO COMMUNICATE,
SO GOD, IN ORDER TO CREATE A LANGUAGE, USED ARAMAIC. HISTORY
RECORDS THAT ARAMAIC IS AN ANCIENT LANGUAGE USED DURING
THE FIRST CIVILIZATION IN HISTORY IN MESOPOTAMIA IN THE
AREA OF THE TIGRIS-EUPHRATES RIVERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Date learned: 10-17-1983
WHILE AT HER STAY AT MERRILAC (A CENTER FOR PREGNANT
TEENAGERS), TERRI HEARD MANY STORIES TIED WITH PREGNANCY.
IF YOU SMOKE WHEN YOU ARE PREGNANT, YOUR BABY WILL CRY
A LOT AFTER THE BIRTH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 11-00-1983
IF YOUR LOOKS CHANGE QUITE A BIT WHILE YOU ARE
PREGNANT, YOUR BABY WILL BE A GIRL.
Submitter comment:
SHE HEARD THIS AT THE MERRILAC CENTER FOR
PREGNANT TEENAGERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 11-00-1983
IF YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF DRINKS A DAY
DURING YOUR PREGNANCY, YOUR BABY WILL BE HEALTHIER
AFTER ITS BIRTH.
Submitter comment:
SHE HEARD THIS AT THE MERRILAC CENTER FOR
PREGNANT TEENAGERS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 11-00-1983
UNDERWATER TAG
THIS GAME IS PLAYED MUCH THE SAME AS ANY OTHER
TAG GAME. ONE PERSON IS IT. IT IS HIS JOB TO
CATCH THE OTHER PLAYERS. THIS GAME IS PLAYED
IN THE DEEP END OF A POOL. PLAYERS MUST SWIM
FROM ONE SIDE OF THE POOL TO THE OTHER, LENGTH-
WISE. THE PERSON WHO IS IT MUST CATCH THE
SWIMMERS AND DRAG THEM TO THE SURFACE. IF THE
SWIMMER ESCAPES ITS' GRASP BEFORE REACHING
THE SURFACE, AND TOUCHES THE OPPOSITE SIDE,
HE HAS NOT BEEN CAUGHT.
THIS GOES ON UNTIL EVERYONE IS CAUGHT.
WHEN A PERSON IS CAUGHT, HE THEN JOINS THE
PERSON WHO IS IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Water Ice Snow |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
CHANT
RIDE A HORSE TO BOSTON.
RIDE A HORSE TO LOO.
WATCH IT WHEN YOU GET THERE
THAT YOU DON'T FALL THROUGH.
"SAY THIS WHILE BOUNCING A BABY ON YOUR KNEE. WHEN YOU
SAY THE WORD "THROUGH," LET THE BABY DOWN CLOSE TO THE FLOOR."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
TARA TOOK TONY TOWARD TWO TINY TWISTED TWINKIES.
"I HAVE TWO COUSINS NAMED TARA AND TONY. WHEN THEY WERE
YOUNGER, TARA ALWAYS GAVE TONY TWINKIES THAT WERE SMASHED.
MY GRANDFATHER MADE UP THIS TONGUE TWISTER ABOUT THEM.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): Language ; RIDDLE ; SPEECH ; TONGUE TWISTER
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- S5570 |
Date learned: 08-00-1985
YOU CAN PLAY THIS GAME WITH ANY NUMBER OF PLAYERS. ONE
PERSON STARTS BY SAYING THE FIRST LETTER OF A WORD (T)
THAT HE IS THINKING OF (TREASURE). THE SECOND PERSON SAYS
THAT LETTER (T) PLUS ANOTHER ONE (E) WITH A WORD IN MIND
(TEACHER). THE NEXT PERSON ADDS ON TO TE WITH A LETTER (X)
IN MIND FOR HIS WORD TEXTURE. THE NEXT PERSON MUST ADD ON.
IF HE THINKS THE PREVIOUS PLAYER IS BLUFFING, BECAUSE HE
THINKS THE PREVIOUS PLAYER HAS NO WORD IN MIND FOR TEX, THE
PREVIOUS PLAYER MUST STATE HIS WORD(TEXTURE). THE PLAYER THAT
CHALLENGED NOW HAS A POINT BECAUSE HE COULD NOT THINK OF A
WORD THAT BEGAN WITH TEX AND THE OTHER PLAYER WAS NOT
BLUFFING. IF A PLAYER ENDS A WORD, SUCH AS G, GU, GUM,
BECAUSE HE COULD NOT THINK OF A LONGER WORD BEGINNING WITH
GU, THEN HE GETS A POINT. WHOEVER GETS TEN POINTS FIRST
IS THE LOSER OF THE GAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Mental Activity |
Date learned: 07-00-1985 ; 00-00-1970
IF YOU SLEEP ON YOUR STOMACH DURING YOUR FIRST TWO
MONTHS OF PREGNANCY, YOUR BABY WILL BE STRONG AND
HEALTHY. "MY GRANDMOTHER TOLD ME THIS WHEN I WAS
PREGNANT WITH MY FIRST CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Measure of time Month BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 06-00-1985 ; 00-00-1981
THE REASON A WOMAN WEARS HER WEDDING RING ON THE FOURTH
FINGER OF HER LEFT HAND, IS TO SYMBOLIZE THE BRIDE'S
FAITHFULNESS AND STRONG TIE TO HER HUSBAND. THE RING
FINGER IS THE LEAST MOVEABLE OF ALL THE FINGERS, AND IT
IS THE HARDEST TO MANIPULATE; LIKEWISE THE BRIDE SHOULD BE
STEADFAST AND STATIONARY IN HER MARRIAGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- PP43 PP43.21 |
Date learned: 11-00-1985 ; 00-00-1970
ONCE THERE WAS A SMALL VILLAGE IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE A VALLEY. IN
THE VILLAGE THERE LIVED A FAMILY WITH A SCHOOL-AGED CHILD NAMED
SANJAY. EACH DAY DURING CROP SEASON THE FAMILIES THAT LIVED IN THE
VILLAGE WOULD GO DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TO THE VALLEY TO WORK WITH THE
CROPS. SANJAY DIDN'T LIKE GETTING UP IN THE MORNING TO WORK THE
CROPS, SO HE WOULD WAIT UNTIL MOST OF THE FAMILIES WERE DOWN THE
MOUNTAIN. THEN HE WOULD YELL "FIRE! FIRE!" AND ALL THE FAMILIES
WOULD RUSH BACK TO THE VILLAGE AND THE DAY OF WORK WOULD BE LOST.
ONE DAY THERE WAS A REAL FIRE. WHEN SANJAY YELLED "FIRE! FIRE!"
NO ONE CAME UP THE MOUNTAIN. THE VILLAGE BURNED DOWN AND SANJAY
DIED IN THE FIRE.
Submitter comment:
STORY WAS LEARNED IN GRADE SCHOOL. THE NAME OF THE BOY COULD
BE CHANGED TO FIT THE CLASS IN SCHOOL.
James Callow comment: LIKE THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
IN THE JUNGLE OF ANIMALS THE LION IS KING. EACH DAY THE LION WOULD
GO AROUND THE JUNGLE AND ASK THE ANIMALS THAT LIVED IN THE JUNGLE
WHO WAS KING. IF THE ANIMAL DIDN'T ANSWER THAT THE LION WAS KING,
THE LION WOULD EAT HIM. ONE DAY A LITTLE RAT GOT FED UP WITH THE
LION. WHEN THE LION ASKED HIM WHO WAS KING, HE SAID THAT THERE WAS
SOMEONE ELSE WHO CLAIMED HE WAS KING. THE LION WAS OUTRAGED. THE
RAT SAID HE WOULD SHOW THE LION WHO SAID HE WAS KING. THE RAT LED
THE LION TO A DEEP WELL. HE TOLD THE LION THAT THE IMPOSTER WAS IN
THE WELL. WHEN THE LION YELLED INTO THE WELL THAT HE WAS KING, HIS
ECHO HOLLERED BACK, "I AM KING OF THE JUNGLE!" THIS MADE THE LION
SO MAD THAT HE JUMPED INTO THE WELL AND DROWNED.
Submitter comment: THIS STORY WAS LEARNED IN GRADE SCHOOL IN INDIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
WHY WE DON'T EAT COWS IN INDIA
THERE WAS A GOD NAMED SHANKER. HE HAD A MESSENGER NAMED COW.
SHANKER WOULD PASS HIS ORDERS DOWN TO THE PEOPLE THROUGH COW.
ONE DAY SHANKER TOLD COW TO TELL THE PEOPLE TO TAKE 3 SHOWERS A
DAY AND EAT 2 MEALS A DAY. COW FORGOT SHANKER'S ORDERS AND TOLD
THE PEOPLE TO TAKE 1 SHOWER A DAY AND EAT 3 MEALS. SHANKER BECAME
SO OUTRAGED THAT HE TURNED COW INTO THE ANIMAL KNOWN AS THE COW.
THE PEOPLE STOPPED EATING COWS FOR FEAR THAT THEY WOULD BE EATING
THEIR MESSENGER OF THE GODS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HIS FAMILY. HE IS A HINDU. THIS IS A
BASIC HINDU STORY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Animal Life PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal BELIEF -- Mammal |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
JAIN BUDDHISTS DON'T EAT MEALS AFTER SUNSET FOR FEAR THAT THEY
WILL EAT GERMS AND SIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): JAIN IS A CLASS OF BUDDHISTS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
EACH STATE IN INDIA SPEAKS A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE
WERE BELIEVED TO BE SETTLERS AFTER THE TOWER OF BABEL DISASTER.
Submitter comment:
EACH STATE IN INDIA HAS A SEPARATE LANGUAGE BUT EACH SPEAKS
ENGLISH
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
TAKE A DIP IN THE GANGA RIVER AND YOU WILL WASH AWAY YOUR SINS.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A HINDU RITUAL. THE RIVER IS FAST RUNNING AND VERY
POLLUTED. A DIP IN THIS RIVER COULD KILL YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): GANGES? ; RITUAL BATHING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Running water Large current. |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
IN INDIA, POOR PEOPLE ARE CREMATED AND THEIR REMAINS ARE SET AFLOAT
ON THE GANGA RIVER IN A CLAY WATER URN.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A HINDU CUSTOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): GANGES?
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
IN INDIA, RICH PEOPLE'S BODIES ARE SET AFLOAT IN A BOAT ON THE
GANGA RIVER WITH CLOTHING AND FOOD FOR A WEEK AS A BURIAL.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A HINDU CUSTOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): GANGES?
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
IF A MALE OR FEMALE IS FOUND NOT TO BE A VIRGIN BEFORE MARRIAGE,
HE OR SHE BECOMES AN OUTCAST OF SOCIETY, NEVER TO MARRY.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A CUSTOM OF INDIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00-00-1967