Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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BABCI AND BABUSZKA BOTH ARE NAMES FOR GRANDMOTHER.
CIOCIA IS USED FOR AUNT AND MATAA FOR MOTHER, OJCIEC
FOR FATHER.
Submitter comment:
THESE ARE NAMES THAT JULIE USES FOR HER RELATIVES. THE NAMES
FOR GRANDMOTHER ARE SIMILAR IN USE TO NANA AND GRANDMA. I'VE
SEEN ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE SAME WORD USE FOR GRANDMOTHER
FROM ANOTHER FRIEND WITH SIMILAR POLISH BACKGROUND WHO ALSO
LIVES IN WARREN, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: 00001970S
STATUES AND FIGURINES OF ELEPHANTS WITH THEIR TRUNKS UP
IN THE AIR ARE A GOOD LUCK CHARM. ELEPHANTS WITH THEIR TRUNKS
DOWN ARE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001976CA
HORSERADISH WILL PUT HAIR ON YOUR CHEST.
IF A CHILD EATS A LOT OF HORSERADISH, HE WILL GROW UP
TO HAVE A HAIRY CHEST.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS LEARNED FROM MY GRANDFATHER WHO DID NOT DISTINGUISH
BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE CHILDREN WHEN TELLING OF THESE MAGICAL
POWERS OF HORSERADISH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00001976CA
In order to find out if we were compatible with another
person, usually a boy we liked, we used to do a test.
First you write down the name of the person you like
and your name on paper. Then under both names you draw
a line across. Under the line you write the numbers one
through five. Then under the number one you write the
number of A's in the names, under the number two you
write the number of E's and so on with I, O, and U.
Then you add the numbers and the more times you have
the same numbers next to each other the more compatible
you are.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00-00-1982
At slumber parties we used to play a game called
Truth or Dare (Formally: Truth, Dare, Double Dare
Promise or Repeat). This game is best when played by
many people. Any person begins by saying a person's
name, then, "Truth, dare, double dare, promise or
repeat?" If the person picks truth, they have to
tell the truth about whatever the asker asks. If
the person does not want to answer, they have to do
a dare. If they pick dare, they have to do the dare
the asker tells them. If they pick promise they have to
promise to do whatever they are told. If they pick
repeat they have to repeat whatever they are told.
If the category double dare is chosen, then the
person picked has to do the designated dare with
another person in the group. Now, usually, the two
categories of truth and dare are used. Then if the
person does not want to answer the question they have
to take the dare.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 00001980S
This a mystery, but anytime my sister got sick, I got a
fever. When her fever went down, so did mine. This happened
when we hadn't even seen each other for a week.
Submitter comment:
My sister and I were not twins. She was three and one half
years older than I.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): sympathetic sickness
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
It is customary in my family when someone gets married to give
the bride the following: something old, something new,
something borrowed, something blue.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 01-00-1980
Every Christmas, my grandmother made each grandchild two
ornaments. They were styrofoam and were covered with
sequins which were fastened on with pins and glue.
The foam was in the shape of a wreath of a rocking
horse or some other item. To add a special touch,
often eyes were added and lace was added to dress
up the ornaments. Today, our Christmas tree has
nothing but homemade ornaments on it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Christmas tree |
Date learned: 01-00-1976
When I was a child, I always looked under the bed and in
the closet before going to bed to show the bad spirits that
they could not come in and scare me in the middle of the
night.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 01-00-1974
When walking down the sidewalk, don't walk on the cracks or
you will turn into the ugliest girl in the school. We used
to play this walking to elementary school.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT HAS A RED, GREEN AND WHITE HOUSE WITH LITTLE BLACK
PEOPLE INSIDE?
A: A WATERMELOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BUILDING (Q) ; EATABLES (A) ; METAPHORICAL ; PERSONS (Q) COLOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Before you move into a new house you should have it
blessed. It is supposed to bring bad luck if you don't.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
To keep bad spirits away, make a necklace out of garlic
and onions and keep it on your pillow.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 01-00-1978
My parents bought a statue at a little market in Aruba.
There, it is customary to carry on the tradition of carving.
Ours is a black lady wearing a turban on her head with her
eyes closed. She is made out of mahogany. She looks so
peaceful that we wonder if she isn't a goddess to the
people in Aruba.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Art Craft ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Wood Gourd BELIEF -- Gods |
Date learned: 03-00-1988
Red Rover
We had a catwalk next to my house and two people used to
stand at each end. The people at the opposite end would
yell, "Red rover, red rover, send Sherri right over."
I would then have to run to the other end as fast as possible
or the person at the end I came from could try to catch me
after ten seconds.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 01-00-1977
Witch
This is played on the front lawn. Someone is the witch
and must count to ten before turning around. The side of
the house is home base. The object is to try to get to
the rock on the boulevard before being caught by the witch.
If caught, that person now must be the witch.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 06-00-1978
Four Square
The game is played in the street. Each of four people must
stand in a square. One person hits the ball to any of the
other three people he chooses. The object is to hit the
ball so people will be knocked out of the game. The last
remaining person is the winner.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 01-00-1975
Marco Polo
We used to play this game in my neighbor's pool. Whoever is
"it" yells Marco, and all others in the pool must say Polo.
The object is to stay away from the aggressor. The person
who is it has his eyes closed and must keep them that way
until he catches someone in the pool.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Water Ice Snow |
Date learned: 01-00-1976
Ring Around the Rosie
Ring around the rosie,
Pocket full of posie,
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down!
Submitter comment:
The first three lines of this rhyme are sung while
the participants are holding hands and turning clockwise
in a circle. For the last line, all of the children fall
down on the grass and giggle.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 01-00-1977
Late Last Night
Late last night, when we were all in bed,
Ole Lady Leary took her lantern to the shed,
The cow kicked it over, and blinked her eye and said,
There'll be a hot time in the ole barn tonight,
Fire! Fire! Fire!
Submitter comment: This was a song sung on the playground at my elementary school
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
Date learned: 00-00-1976