Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 34 returned 22195 results.
IT IS AN IRISH TRADITION TO PLACE THE CORPSE OF A DECEASED
FAMILY MEMBER IN THE CORNER OF THE ROOM DURING HIS WAKE
AND TOAST THE DEPARTED MEMBER OF THE FAMILY AND WISH HIM WELL
IN HIS DEATH. A DRINK OF IRISH WHISKEY IS ALSO PLACED IN THE
CORPSE'S DRINKING HAND SO THAT HE CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE TOAST.
Submitter comment:
THE TRADITION WAS FOLLOWED IN THE RYAN FAMILY UNTIL THE DEATH
OF EDWARD RYAN (FORMER HUSBAND OF FLORENCE) IN 1979.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1946
IF YOU CATCH SOMEONE SAYING A WORD BEGINNING WITH THE LETTER B, YOU
HIT THEM UNTIL THEY SAY B-B-BUTCHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-00-1987
ON THE LAND OF MARS
WHERE THE BABIES SMOKE CIGARS
EVERY PUFF THEY TAKE
IS ENOUGH TO KILL A SNAKE
WHEN THE SNAKES ARE DEAD
THEY PUT ROSES IN THEIR HEADS
WHEN THE ROSES DIE
THEY PUT DIAMONDS IN THEIR EYES
WHEN THE DIAMONDS BREAK
THAT'S THE END OF 1948
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS RHYME/SONG BY HER GRADE SCHOOL SISTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 11-00-1987 ; 11-00-1987
BLONDIE AND DAGWOOD WENT DOWNTOWN./ BLONDIE BOUGHT AN EVENING GOWN./
DAGWOOD BOUGHT A PAIR OF SHOES,
COOKIE BOUGHT THE EVENING NEWS./ THIS
IS WHAT IT SAID- LADY ON ONE FOOT, ONE FOOT, ONE FOOT,/ LADY ON TWO
FEET, TWO FEET, TWO FEET,
LADY ON THREE FEET, THREE FEET, THREE FEET,
LADY ON FOUR FEET, FOUR FEET, FOUR.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; BERKELEY
Keyword(s): ACTION-RHYME ; CHARACTER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 11-03-1967
NAMING
ITALIANS AND GREEKS WILL NEVER NAME ANY BOY-CHILD AFTER HIS FATHER
BECAUSE SUCH A NAMING INSURES BAD LUCK OR SOMETHING FATAL HAPPENING
TO THE BOY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTED AT HER HOME
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
JUMP ROPE RIME
ONE, TWO, THREE, OH LARRY MY FIRST NAME IS MARY
SITTING ON A HUCKLEBERRY
ONE, TWO, THREE, OH LARRY
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT REMEMBERS USING THIS RIME DURING THE NINETEEN
THIRTIES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CLINTON TOWNSHIP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 11-00-1982
IT IS BAD LUCK TO LOOK BACK IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-00-1987 ; 11-00-1987
IT IS BAD LUCK TO COUNT THE CARS IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs |
Date learned: 11-00-1987 ; 11-00-1987
HIGH, LOW, JOLLY PEPPERS
SALTY, SLEEPY JOLLY PEPPERS
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A JUMP ROPE RHYME. YOU JUMP HIGH WHEN IT SAYS HIGH, AND
LOW WHEN IT SAYS LOW. THE TWIRLERS TWIRL FAST AT SALTY, AND
SLOW AT SLEEPY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1977 ; 11-00-1987
WITCH BELIEF
WHILE LIVING IN ITALY, THE INFORMANT'S GRANDFATHER USED TO SEE
A CERTAIN HORSE CROSSING A CERTAIN CREEK EVERY DAY. ONE DAY THE
HORSE STOPPED AT THE BANK AND DID NOT CROSS, BUT STOOD THAT
WAY, UNMOVING. THIS GRANDFATHER ATTRIBUTED THE HORSE'S REACTION
TO THE PRESENCE OF A WITCH.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT'S GRANDFATHER WAS WHOLLY CONVINCED OF THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CLINTON TOWNSHIP
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal BELIEF -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: 11-00-1982
DOWN, DOWN, BABY DON'T SHAKE THE ROLLER COASTER
SWEET, SWEET, BABY I'LL NEVER LET YOU GO
CAUGHT YOU WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND NAUGHTY, NAUGHTY
DIDN'T DO THE DISHES LAZY, LAZY
JUMPED OUT THE WINDOW CRAZY, CRAZY
SHIMMY SHIMMY COCOA PUFFS
SHIMMY SHIMMY RYE
SHIMMY SHIMMY POW
Submitter comment:
HAND WAVE FOR ROLLER COASTER; CROSS ARMS FOR BABY; SHAME WITH TWO
FINGERS RUBBING; RUB HANDS TOGETHER FOR DISHES; ACT LIKE SLEEPING
FOR LAZY; ARCH WITH HAND FOR JUMPED OUT THE WINDOW; POW IS THE FIST
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): GESTURES ACCOMPANY SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dramatic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1977 ; 11-00-1987
MISS SUZI HAD A TUGBOAT.
THE TUGBOAT HAD A BELL.
MISS SUZI WENT TO HEAVEN
THE TUGBOAT WENT TO
HELLO OPERATOR. GIVE ME #9
AND IF YOU DISCONNECT ME,
I'LL KICK YOU RIGHT
BEHIND THE FRIGERATOR THERE WAS A PIECE OF GLASS.
MISS SUZI FELL UPON IT
AND BROKE HER LITTLE
ASK ME NO MORE QUESTIONS.
TELL ME NO MORE LIES.
MISS SUZI TOLD ME ALL OF THIS
THE DAY BEFORE SHE
DYED HER HAIR ALL PURPLE
SHE DYED HER HAIR ALL BLUE.
SHE DYED HER HAIR ALL POLKA DOTS
AND THAT'S THE WAY IT GREW.
Submitter comment:
THIS SONG IS SUNG QUICKLY RUNNING THE WORDS AT THE END OF THE LINE
ALL TOGETHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): COMIC RHYMES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00-00-1976 ; 11-00-1987
JINX
IN THIS GAME ONE PERSON HITS ANOTHER AND THE PERSON THAT WAS HIT IS
JINXED. THIS MEANS THAT THE PERSON THAT WAS HIT CANNOT SPEAK UNTIL
HIS/HER NAME IS MENTIONED IN THE NORMAL CONVERSATION. THIS MEANS
THAT SOMEONE CANNOT SAY HIS/HER NAME JUST TO UNJINX HIM/HER UNLESS
THEY SAY HIS/HER NAME IN NORMAL CONVERSATION. IF THE JINXED PERSON
DOES TALK, THEN FOR EACH TIME HE/SHE SPEAKS HIS/HER NAME MUST BE
SAID AGAIN BEFORE HE/SHE WILL BE FREE OF THE JINX.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity |
Date learned: 11-00-1987 ; 11-00-1987
WHEN YOU DROP A KNIFE ON THE FLOOR, SOMEONE IN THE FAMILY WILL GET
SICK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1975 ; 11-00-1987
WHEN YOU DROP A FORK ON THE FLOOR, COMPANY WILL COME FROM THE
DIRECTION IT'S POINTING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00-00-1975 ; 11-00-1987
CHICKEN COOP
CHICKEN COOP IS A GAME WHERE TWO OR MORE PEOPLE ARE "IT" DEPEND-
ING ON HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE PLAYING. ALL THE PLAYERS WHO ARE NOT
"IT" GO AND HIDE. "IT" MUST FIND THEM, TAG THEM, AND THEN PLACE
THEM IN THE CHICKEN COOP (LIKE A JAIL). "IT" MUST HAVE EVERYONE
IN THE COOP BEFORE "IT" CAN WIN. THE OTHER PLAYERS MAY FREE SOME-
ONE FROM THE COOP WHILE "IT" IS LOOKING FOR OTHER PEOPLE. THEY
JUST RELEASE THEM FROM THE COOP AND SCREAM "FREE" SO THAT "IT"
WILL KNOW THAT SOMEONE HAS BEEN FREED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Hiding Searching |
Date learned: 00-00-1979 ; 11-00-1987
FESTIVAL
THE NIGHT BEFORE HALLOWEEN IS OFTEN CALLED "DEVIL'S NIGHT" SINCE
THIS IS THE TIME FOR PRANKS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F103 |
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