Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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WHEN YOU GET AN UNEXPECTED CHILL IT MEANS THAT SOMEONE IS
STEPPING OVER YOUR GRAVE.
Submitter comment: YOUR GRAVE SHOULD BE INTERPRETED AS YOUR FUTURE BURIAL SITE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1974 ; 11-00-1987
HOLD YOUR BREATH WHEN PASSING A CEMETERY SO YOU DON'T END
UP BURIED THERE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1974 ; 11-00-1987
THUNDER IS NOTHING BUT GOD RE-ARRANGING HIS FURNITURE.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY HER MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS
YOUNGER SO THAT SHE WOULD NOT BE AFRAID OF THE THUNDER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder |
Date learned: 00-00-1972 ; 10-00-1987
THE BAKER'S DOZEN
THE BAKER'S DOZEN IS THE QUANTITY OF THIRTEEN. THIS CAME ABOUT
BECAUSE THE BAKER WAS ALWAYS ACCUSSED OF SHORT CHANGING THEIR
CUSTOMERS. WHAT WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING WAS THE LITTLE BOY THAT
WAS PICKING UP THE BAKED GOODS FOR HIS MOTHER WAS EATING ONE
OF THE TREATS ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE BAKERY. SO TO AVOID
THIS PROBLEM THE BAKER CREATED THE BAKER'S DOZEN SO THAT
HIS CUSTOMERS WOULD NOT THINK THAT HE IS SHORT CHANGING THEM
AND ALSO SO THAT THE MESSENGER WOULD HAVE A TREAT FOR THE
TRIP HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of quantity or weight |
Date learned: 00001973CA
CIGARETTE SUPERSTITION.
IN ORDER TO INSURE GOOD LUCK THE FIRST CIGARETTE THAT YOU
TAKE OUT OF YOUR PACK TURN IT UPSIDE DOWN AND PUT IT BACK
IN THE PACK AND SAVE IT FOR YOUR LAST SMOKE OF THE PACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Number P686.2 BELIEF -- Good luck |
CIGARETTE SUPERSTITION.
NEVER OPEN THE SIDE OF THE PACK OF CIGARETTES WHICH HAS
THE SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING OR YOU WILL GET LUNG CANCER
FOR SURE.
Submitter comment:
THE SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING IS ON ONE OF THE VERTICAL
SIDES OF A PACK OF CIGARETTES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001982CA
GOD BLESS YOU
IT IS CUSTOMARY TO TELL SOMEONE "GOD BLESS YOU" AFTER THEY HAVE
SNEEZED BECAUSE IT IS BELIEVED THAT WHEN ONE SNEEZES THEY ARE
EXPELLING DEMONS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001975CA
A CHILDREN'S RYME
LIAR, LIAR PANTS ON FIRE YOUR NOSE IS AS LONG AS A TELEPHONE WIRE.
Submitter comment: THIS RHYME IS SAID TO ONE BELIEVED TO BE LYING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 00001970CA
THE MIRACLE FROM FR. SOLONIUS
MANY YEARS AGO MY MOTHER JUDITH WAS A VERY SICK CHILD. SHE
WAS IN THE HOSPITAL WITH APPENDICITIS. BECAUSE THE INFECTION
IN HER APPENDIX WAS SO SEVERE IT HAD CAUSED HER TO GET PNUEMONIA.
BECAUSE MY MOTHER HAD PNEUMONIA SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE
THE SURGERY TO REMOVE THE INFECTED APPENDIX BECAUSE SHE WOULD
DIE ON THE TABLE. MY GRANDMOTHER, THELMA PATTERSON, HAD NOWHERE
ELSE TO TURN SO SHE WENT TO THE CAPUCHIN MONASTERY
ON KERCHEVAL IN DETROIT. SHE ASKED TO SEE ONE OF THE PRIESTS
AND SHE WAS GIVEN FR. SOLONIUS. SHE ASKED FATHER SOLONIUS
TO SAY A PRAYER FOR HER LITTLE GIRL AND HE DID. THE NEXT DAY
WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER WENT TO SEE JUDITH SHE WAS MUCH BETTER
AND WAS WELL ENOUGH TO GO THROUGH THE SURGERY. NEEDLESS TO
SAY JUDITH FULLY RECOVERED.
Submitter comment: FR. SOLONIUS IS UP FOR SAINTHOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Curer |
CHILDREN SHOULD BE SEEN AND NOT HEARD.
Submitter comment:
MY GRANDMOTHER FROM EURPOE USED TO ALWAYS
TELL MY BROTHER'S AND I THIS WHEN COMPANY
WAS COMING OVER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 03-00-1984
YOU CAN'T MAKE A SILK PURSE OUT OF A SOW'S EAR.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER USED TO TELL ME THIS WHEN
I WANTED TO PLAY WITH MY BROTHERS AND
THEIR FRIENDS WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 03-00-1984
CHILDREN HAVE FUN WITH THE IDEA OF REARRANGING
PEOPLE'S NAMES. IN THIS EXAMPLE ONE SWITCHES THE
FIRST LETTER OF THE FIRST NAME WITH THE FIRST
LETTER OF THE LAST NAME TO COME UP WITH A NEW NAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Mental Activity SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 11-00-1983
JUMP ROPE RHYME
SEE-SEE MY PLAYMATE. COME OUT AND PLAY WITH ME
AND BRING YOUR DOLLIES THREE,
CLIMB UP MY APPLE TREE.
SLIDE DOWN MY RAINBOW,
INTO MY CELLAR DOOR.
AND WE'LL BE JOLLY FRIENDS FOREVER MORE.
Submitter comment:
I COLLECTED THIS FROM MY COUSIN, BECAUSE I THOUGHT
IT WAS INTERESTING THAT I HAD LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement C560.50 Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse |
Date learned: 11-00-1983
A BLIND MAN WALKS INTO A STORE WITH HIS SEEING EYE DOG,
AND STARTS TO SWING HIM AROUND BY HIS TAIL. THE
CLERK THEN SAID, "CAN I HELP YOU SIR?" THE BLIND MAN
REPLIED, "NO THANKS, I AM JUST LOOKING AROUND!"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-00-1983
WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU THROW A LEOPARD INTO A POT
OF BOILING WATER? YOU WOULD GET A POT OF STEW!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 10-00-1983
THE BONES
THE BONES ARE A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. THEY LOOK LIKE RIB BONES
AND ARE ABOUT 6 INCHES LONG. A GUY WOULD PLACE THREE OF THEM
BETWEEN HIS FINGERS AND CLICK THEM TOGETHER TO MAKE SOUNDS.
Submitter comment:
THE BONES COME FROM INDIANA AND WERE FOUND ANYWHERE THERE WAS
MUSIC. THEY WERE USUALLY CURVED, BLACK IN COLOR, AND USED TO KEEP
TIME THE WAY WE USE A DRUM TODAY. THE INFORMANT SAID THAT SOME
PEOPLE WERE SO GOOD AT IT THAT "YOU COULD TELL WHAT SONG HE WAS
PLAYING JUST FROM THE BONES."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Music ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Musical instrument SPEECH -- To Be Heard |
TO KEEP CIDER SWEET, WHEN IT HAS REACHED THE DESIRED LEVEL, ADD A
TUMBLER OF GRATED HORSERADISH TO EACH 24 GALLONS AND STIR A LITTLE
TO MIX.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT GOT THIS OUT OF AN OLD BOOK ON HOUSEHOLD TIPS. SHE
THINKS THE BOOK WAS PUBLISHED IN THE 1920'S.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Non-alcoholic fruit beverage |
Date learned: 03-04-1982
TO FRESHEN STALE BREAD, WRAP THE LOAF IN A CLEAN CLOTH AND DIP
IT INTO BOILING HOT WATER FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. THEN TAKE OFF THE
CLOTH AND BAKE THE LOAF FOR 10 MINUTES IN A SLOW OVEN.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD IN INDIANA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Cereal |
Date learned: 03-04-1982
BELLING.
WHEN SOMEONE GETS ENGAGED, ALL THE TOWNSPEOPLE FIND A NIGHT WHEN
THEY'RE TOGETHER AND TAKE TIN CANS AND POTS AND STUFF TO MAKE NOISE.
THIS BRINGS THE COUPLE OUT AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO TREAT EVERYBODY
TO GET THEM TO GO AWAY.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT, WINIFRED MIRTO, LEARNED THIS CUSTOM IN INDIANA BUT
BELIEVES IT ORIGINATED ELSEWHERE, PROBABLY IN PENNSYLVANIA
WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA-DUTCH. THE TREAT THE COUPLE USUALLY GAVE WAS
CANDY BARS, BUT IT REALLY CAME DOWN TO WHATEVER THEY COULD AFFORD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 03-04-1982
A CURE FOR SNAKEBITES IS TURPENTINE. HAVE IT IN A BOTTLE, PLACE MOUTH
OF BOTTLE DIRECTLY OVER THE SPOT, AND BRING THE TURPENTINE DIRECTLY
IN CONTACT WITH THE BITE BY HOLDING THE BOTTLE UPSIDE-DOWN. IT SHOULD
BE HELD THERE UNTIL RELIEF COMES. IT USUALLY TAKES LESS THAN FIFTEEN
MINUTES.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT GOT THIS OUT OF AN OLD BOOK ON HOUSEHOLD TIPS. SHE
THINKS THE BOOK WAS PUBLISHED IN THE 1920'S.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 03-04-1982