Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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BEFORE EASTER SUNDAY EVERYONE WOULD GATHER THE FOOD
WHICH WOULD BE EATEN FOR THE EASTER DINNER AND PUT THEM
IN A BASKET. THIS BASKET WOULD BE LINED WITH A VERY
DELICATE LACE CLOTH. THEY WOULD CARRY THE BASKETS OF
FOOD TO CHURCH AND PUT THEM IN THE AISLES. THE
PRIEST WOULD COME AROUND AND BLESS THE FOOD.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID THIS WAS AN OLD POLISH CUSTOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Date learned: 02-20-1972
THIS GAME IS COMMONLY CALLED "REDLIGHT-GREENLIGHT"
AND ANY NUMBER OF CHILDREN MAY PLAY. ONE PERSON
STANDS FAR AWAY (MAYBE 80 FEET OR SO) FROM THE OTHER
CHILDREN WHO ARE IN A LINE. HE HAS HIS BACK TURNED TO
THEM AND HE YELLS OUT, "GREENLIGHT," AND THEY ALL RUN,
WALK, OR TRY TO SNEAK UP BEHIND HIM. THE LEADER THEN
YELLS OUT, "REDLIGHT," MEANING FOR THEM TO STOP, AND
HE TURNS AROUND AS SOON AS HE SAYS IT. ALL THOSE HE
SAW MOVING, HE SENDS BACK TO THE STARTING LINE AND THE
OTHERS STAY IN THEIR NEW POSITION. THE GAME CONTINUES
IN LIKE MANNER UNTIL ONE PERSON FROM THE GROUP GETS
ALL THE WAY TO THE FINISH AND TAGS THE CALLER.
THEN THAT PERSON BECOMES THE CALLER. (SEE DIAGRAM)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00001950S
RED ROVER
AN OLD AMERICAN GAME THAT MIGHT HAVE ORIGINATED LONG
AGO IS THE GAME, RED ROVER. THE CHILDREN PAIR OFF INTO
TWO TEAMS STANDING A DISTANCE APART, BUT FACE TO FACE.
ONE TEAM CALLS A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITE TEAM OVER BY
SINGING: "RED ROVER, RED ROVER, LET (NAME OF PERSON
TO BE CALLED) COME OVER." THE PERSON CALLED OVER MUST
RUN THROUGH THE LINE FORMED BY THE TEAM HOLDING AND
LOCKING ARMS. IF THEY BREAK THROUGH THE LINE, THEY
CAN TAKE BACK THE LOSING TEAM'S BEST MEMBERS AND IF
THEY DON'T THEY MUST REMAIN ON THE CALLING TEAM'S SIDE.
THE TEAM WITH ALL THE MEMBERS AT THE END WINS THE GAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
STATUES
ONE CHILD IS THE 'BUYER,' ONE IS THE 'SELLER,' AND
ALL THE REST BECOME STATUES. THE SELLER TAKES EACH
CHILD, IN TURN, BY THE ARM, SWINGS HIM AROUND AND
AROUND, THEN LETS GO. THE CHILD FREEZES INTO A
POSITION; THE BUYER COMES IN AND TOUCHES (IN TURN)
EACH STATUE AND THE STATUE PERFORM TRICKS. THE
BUYER DECIDES WHICH STATUE HE LIKES THE BEST, PUR-
CHASES IT, AND THAT STATUE BECOMES THE BUYER FOR THE
NEXT GAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
THIS GAME IS CALLED "WHAT TIME IS IT, MR. FOX?" IT IS
PLAYED BY AS MANY CHILDREN AS WANT TO, USUALLY 10-20.
ONE PERSON IS CHOSEN TO BE MR. FOX AND ALL THE OTHERS
ARE LINED NEXT TO EACH OTHER IN A LINE. IN UNISON,
THEY ALL SAY TO MR. FOX, "WHAT TIME IS IT MR. FOX?"
MR. FOX YELLS ONE OF THE HOURS ON THE CLOCK, SUCH AS
2:00 AND ALL CHILDREN TAKE TWO STEPS TOWARD THE GOAL
BEHIND MR. FOX. THE IDEA OF THE GAME IS TO GET TO
THE GOAL LINE WITHOUT MR. FOX TAGGING YOU FIRST. YOU
CANNOT BE TAGGED IN THE SAFETY AREA. WHEN MR. FOX
YELLS OUT, "MIDNIGHT!" ALL PLAYERS RUN FOR THE GOAL
AND HE TRIES TO TAG ONE OF THEM. WHOEVER HE TAGS
BECOMES THE NEW MR. FOX FOR THE NEXT GAME.
Submitter comment: SEE DIAGRAM ON 5 X 8 CARD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
BLUE BELLS, COCKER SHELLS, EEVY, IVY, OVER
THE CHILDREN HOLDING THE
ENDS OF THE ROPE, SWAY THE ROPE BACK AND FORTH. THE PERSON WHO IS TO
JUMP, STANDS ALONG SIDE OF THE ROPE AND THEN
THOSE HOLDING THE ENDS OF
THE ROPE BEGIN TO SWAY IT BACK AND FORTH WHILE CHANTING THE VERSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
AFTER THE BRIDE LEAVES THE CHURCH AND ENTERS THE
RECEPTION HALL, SHE IS GIVEN BREAD, WATER AND SALT.
SHE TAKES A BIT OF THE BREAD AND DRINKS SOME WATER.
SHE CARRIES THE SALT INTO THE HALL WITH HER.
THIS IS FOR GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THIS WAS AN OLD POLISH CUSTOM. IT
WAS DONE TO BRING THE BRIDE GOOD LUCK IN LIFE.
THE BREAD AND WATER STAND FOR FOOD, AND THE SALT
FOR WEALTH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Good luck Food and drink BELIEF -- Good luck Activities |
Date learned: 02-20-1972
LADY BUG, LADY BUG, FLY AWAY HOME.
YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE, AND YOUR CHILDREN ARE BURNING.
Submitter comment:
THE PERSON SAYING THIS IS SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE GOOD
LUCK FOR SENDING THE LADY BUG HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck Animals |
Date learned: 08-00-1967
BREAKING A MIRROR GIVES SEVEN YEARS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Bad luck Mirror |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT IS BAD LUCK TO LEAVE A HAT LAYING ON A BED.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Keyword(s): Bed ; BELIEF ; CLOTHING ; Fashion ; Hat ; LUCK ; Placement ; PREDICTION ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.) BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) |
Date learned: 00-00-1961
THREE ON A MATCH IS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: 02-17-1970
AN ENGLISH IVY PLANT IN THE HOUSE WILL BRING BAD
LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT STRONGLY BELIEVES THIS. SHE CLAIMS
THAT WHENEVER SHE HAD SUCH A PLANT IN THE HOUSE,
THE RESULT WAS NOTHING BUT BAD LUCK UNTIL SHE
DISPOSED OF THE PLANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Bad luck Plants |
Date learned: 02-27-1971
IT'S BAD LUCK TO HAVE A PREGNANT WOMAN IN YOUR
WEDDING PARTY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Bad luck Crucial moment of life |
Date learned: 02-18-1971
AFTER YOU HAVE DRESSED AND YOU NOTICE SOMETHING
IS INSIDE OUT, LEAVE IT, OR IT WILL BRING YOU
BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Conversions Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.) |
Date learned: 02-17-1970
FOR GOOD LUCK AT A CARD TABLE, WALK AROUND YOUR CHAIR
FROM THE RIGHT SIDE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Conversions Games Pastimes Sports |
Date learned: 02-17-1970
NEVER GO BACK INTO YOUR HOUSE FOR SOMETHING YOU HAVE
FORGOTTEN WITHOUT SITTING DOWN AND COUNTING TO TEN.
THIS WILL CHANGE YOUR LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness BELIEF -- Conversions Leaving Entering Returning home Travel |
Date learned: 02-17-1970
TO GET RID OF A FEAR MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS WITH
THE LEFT HAND.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HIS MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications |
Date learned: 08-11-1964
BRIDES MARRIED IN GREEN, ASHAMED TO BE SEEN.
BRIDES MARRIED IN RED, WISH YOU WERE DEAD.
BRIDES MARRIED IN BROWN, TALK OF THE TOWN.
BRIDES MARRIED IN YELLOW, ASHAMED OF THE FELLOW.
BRIDES MARRIED IN BLUE, HE'LL ALWAYS BE TRUE.
BRIDES MARRIED IN WHITE, YOU'LL ALWAYS BE RIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 01-20-1971
A HORSE SHOE HUNG ABOVE THE DOOR OF A HOME WILL BRING
GOOD FORTUNE TO THE FAMILY AND KEEP HARM AWAY FROM
THE HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Emblem |
Date learned: 00-00-1961
DEATH KNELL
IF YOU HEAR A RINGING IN YOUR EARS, IT MEANS THAT SOMEONE
YOU KNOW IS GOING TO DIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-27-1971