Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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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 |
BLESSING OF FLOWERS
WHEN THE INFORMANT WAS A GIRL, FLOWERS WERE BLESSED ON AUGUST
FIFTEENTH, THE ASSUMPTION. THE CUSTOM CAME FROM POLAND. THE
FLOWERS WERE THEN HUNG IN THE ATTIC TO DRY AND WERE BURNED ON
THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- August 15 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
Date learned: 03-00-1968
A CUSTOM IN JANOWIEC, POLAND
ON THE FEAST OF ST. BLAISE, IT WAS A CUSTOM TO BLESS APPLES IN
JANOWIEC, POLAND.
SINCE ST. BLAISE WAS THE SAINT WHO WOULD GUARD THROATS, THESE
APPLES WOULD BE EATEN WHENEVER ONE'S THROAT WAS SORE, TO CURE IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- February 3 BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 11-28-1967
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
KEEP COOL
IF, IN THE SUMMER, YOU ARE HOT.
PUT A CUCUMBER ON YOUR FOREHEAD.
Submitter comment: TOLD TO RONDA BY HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNION LAKE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 11-06-1967
BAD LUCK
DON'T BUY A BROOM IN AUGUST BECAUSE ITS BAD LUCK
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MONROE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Measure of time Month |
Date learned: 10-07-1972
EASTER CUSTOM
A FEW DAYS BEFORE EASTER MY MOTHER WOULD TAKE A BASKET OF FOOD TO THE
PRIEST TO BE BLESSED. THIS WAS FOR GOOD HEALTH IN THE COMING YEAR.
Submitter comment: THE BASKET OF FOOD CONSISTED OF THE MAIN FOODS THE FAMILY ATE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MONROE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 10-07-1972
EASTER CUSTOM
AT EASTER EVERYBODY AT THE DINNER TAKES A BITE OF THE SAME EGG.
THIS IS SO EVERYBODY WILL GET ALONG DURING THE NEXT YEAR.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S FAMILY DID THIS WHEN SHE WAS SMALL
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MONROE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday |
Date learned: 10-07-1972
WEDDING CUSTOM
AT A POLISH WEDDING THE BRIDE IS TAKEN TO THE CHURCH BY THE ENTIRE
WEDDING PARTY AND THE BAND
Submitter comment: INFORMANT WITNESSED THIS AT THE WEDDING OF A NIECE 2 YEARS AGO
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MONROE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Morning before wedding |
Date learned: 10-07-1972
BELIEF
IN A JEWISH HOME IF A GENTILE EATS FROM ONE OF THEIR PLATES THE
PLATES ARE BURIED TO PURIFY THEM AGAIN
Submitter comment: INFORMANT WITNESSED THIS 20 YEARS AGO
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MONROE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Food container |
Date learned: 10-07-1972
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