Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IF A BABY IS BORN ON FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH, THEN THAT
BABY WILL BE A GOOD ONE.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
| Subject headings: | 686 Specific number by specific number being described |
Date learned: 11-27-1970
IF IT RAINS DURING A WEDDING, THAT MARRIAGE WILL BE A
GOOD ONE.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Ceremony |
Date learned: 11-27-1970
BABY JOKE
WHAT IS RED ALL OVER AND SITS IN A CORNER?
A BABY PLAYING WITH RAZOR BLADES.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-27-1970
THEATER SUPERSTITION
IT IS BAD LUCK TO WHISTLE IN THE DRESSING ROOM BECAUSE IN THE
VAUDEVILLE DAYS THE MANAGER USED TO CANCEL ACTSBY USING A SPECIAL
WHISTLE.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; EDWARDSVILLE ; SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-00-1980
IT IS BAD LUCK TO WHISTLE BACKSTAGE BECAUSE YOU MIGHT MISS YOUR CUE
TO GO ON STAGE.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; EDWARDSVILLE ; SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-00-1980
Chug Song
Here's to (name) she's true blue
He's a drunkard through and through
So drink, chug-a-lug, chug-a-lug, chug-a-lug,
So drink, chug-a-lug, chug-a-lug, chug-a-lug,
So drink, chug-a-lug, chug-a-lug, chug-a-lug,
Hooray for (name), horray at last
Hooray for (name), she's the horse's ass.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; GLENVIEW ; 1104 Sheridan
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Social reunion |
Christmas Wafer
Before eating dinner on Christmas Eve the family break a Christmas wafer and wishes everyone good luck.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Silver Dollar
On New Year's Day you wash your hands, get them lathered and then wash them with a silver dollar. This brings wealth in the New Year.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
Nuts & Candy
Informant's father, on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, throws nuts and candy at everyone and wishes them good luck and good health.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
Pennies
Between Christmas and New Year's, informant puts pennies on all the window sills and this brings wealth in the next year.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
Three Kings
Informant writes the name of the Three Kings above the door after Christmas time for good luck (The Feast of the Three Kings).
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
Old and New Spirits
On New Year's, just at 12 o'clock, open the front and back doors or windows to let the old spirits out and the new ones in.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
Nobody Loves Me
Nobody loves me, everybody hates me.
Think I'll eat some worms.
Big ones, little ones, ishy, gishy, goo ones,
Ones that squiggle and squirm.
First one's greasy -- goes down easy
Second one sticks to your tongue.
Third one's custard, fourth one's mustard
Fifth one tries to run.
First you cut the heads off
Then you suck the juice out
Then you throw the skins away.
No one knows how (name) can live on worms three times a day.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; PLAYGROUND
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Ten Little Children
There were ten little children lying in bed
And the last one said: Roll over.
So they all rolled over and one fell off
And there were nine little children lying in bed
And the last one said: Roll over.
So they all rolled over and one fell off
And there were eight little children lying in bed
And the last one said: Roll over.
So they all rolled over and one fell off
And there were seven little children lying in bed
And the last one said: Roll over.
So they all rolled over and one fell off
And there were six little children lying in bed
And the last one said: Roll over.
So they all rolled over and one fell off
And there were five little children lying in bed
And the last one said: Roll over.
So they all rolled over and one fell off
And there were four little children lying in bed
And the last one said: Roll over.
So they all rolled over and one fell off
And there were three little children lying in bed
And the last one said: Roll over.
So they all rolled over and one fell off
And there were two little children lying in bed
And the last one said: Roll over.
So they all rolled over and one fell off
And there was one little child lying in bed
And he said: Good night!
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Modification of Historical Poem
Listen my children and you shall hear,
The midnight ride of the can of beer.
Down the alley and over the fence,
I've got the beer,
Who's got the ten cents?
Submitter comment:
Taught by Sister M. Eulalia in grade five. She learned this when she was a child which is easily seen by the price of the beer.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; PEORIA ; 5th grade teacher
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
It's Raining
It's raining, it's pouring,
The old man is snoring.
He went to bed, bumped his head,
And couldn't get up in the morning.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
If a bird flies in your window or sits on a window ledge it's a sign of bad news.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Even moderation ought not to be practiced to excess.
Submitter comment:
On a church bulletin board in Fairbury, Illinois; recorded in Catholic Digest Magazine.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY ; ILLINOIS ; church bulletin board ; Catholic Digest Magazine ; Fairbury
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture |
Winter Warning
Drive carefully! The doctors are vacationing in Florida!
Submitter comment:
News Bee Pub. 1968 Havey Illinois - Anonymous Author
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY ; ILLINOIS ; News Bee
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture |
Graffiti
Please help me, I am trapped behind this cement wall
(written backwards as if written from the inside)
Submitter comment:
Informant found this written in a subway tunnel.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; subway tunnel
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture |