Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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BOHEMIAN FUNERAL
A BOHEMIAN FUNERAL IS AN INITIATION CEREMONY. THIS PARTICULAR
DESCRIPTION TELLS THAT THERE IS A PERSON PLAYING DEAD IN
A COFFIN, AND THE CANDIDATES MUST KISS THE CORPSE. WHEN
THEY LEAN OVER TO KISS THE CORPSE, HE SQUIRTS THEM IN THE
FACE WITH WATER.
Submitter comment:
THIS CEREMONY WAS USED BY THE U. OF D. CHORUS THIS FALL.
U. OF D.=UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT, DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, GREEKS AND ARMENIANS BAKE A LOAF OF
BREAD WITH A COIN IN IT. AT DINNER, THE LOAF IS CUT
IN AS MANY PIECES AS THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE FAMILY
AND WHOEVER GETS THE COIN WILL BE LUCKY FOR THE COMING
YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Date learned: 02-26-1971
YOU EAT A HERRING BETWEEN FIVE MINUTES BEFORE TWELVE AND
TWELVE MIDNIGHT ON NEW YEAR'S EVE. THIS IS DONE SO THAT
YOU WILL BE RICH IN THE COMING YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: 10-28-1970
IF THE FIRST PERSON TO ENTER A HOUSE ON NEW YEAR'S DAY
IS A WOMAN, THAT HOUSEHOLD WILL HAVE BAD LUCK AND
SICKNESS THROUGHOUT THE NEW YEAR. (I WAS TOLD THAT
THIS IS AN ENGLISH CUSTOM.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.42 |
Date learned: 10-25-1970
COW FIGHT CUSTOM
IN THE SPRING OF THE YEAR, IN SOME SWISS STATES, A
COW FIGHT IS HAD. THIS IS A BIG AFFAIR, SOMEWHAT
LIKE A SPECIAL HORSE RACE IN OUR COUNTRY. (BETS
ARE EVEN MADE ON THE OUTCOME.) THIS FIGHT IS TO
DETERMINE WHICH COW, THE STRONGEST, CAN WEAR THE
BIGGEST BELL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; COLLECTORS HOME
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting F663.9 |
Date learned: 10-28-1970
BUILD A CRIB
DURING ADVENT, TAKE A LITTLE BOX AND COVER IT. EVERY
TIME YOU DO SOMETHING GOOD, PLACE A PIECE OF STRAW INTO
THE BOX. THE IDEA IS TO BUILD A CRIB FOR CHRIST BY
CHRISTMAS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | 645 September 23 Equinox to December 20 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Straw |
Date learned: 11-10-1969
IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA--BAY AREA--A TYPE OF SOURDOUGH
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food |
Date learned: 10-02-1968
DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE
THE PARTICIPANTS SIT IN A BIG CIRCLE WITH ONE PERSON
AS THE "GOOSE." THE GOOSE GOES AROUND THE CIRCLE
TAPPING THE PEOPLE ON THE HEAD SAYING "DUCK," UNTIL HE
LABLES ONE "GOOSE." THE NEW GOOSE CHASES THE OLD ONE
AROUND THE CIRCLE ONCE TRYING TO CATCH HIM. THE NEW
GOOSE MUST CATCH THE OLD BEFORE THE OLD REACHES THE
PLACE WHERE THE NEW WAS SITTING, OR THE NEW REMAINS
THE GOOSE AND THE GAME CONTINUES. IF THE OLD IS
CAUGHT, HE IS THE GOOSE AGAIN AND THE GAME CONTINUES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 10-23-1970
WHAT TIME IS IT, MR. FOX?
THIS GAME IS PLAYED WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE. ONE
PERSON IS THE FOX. THE OTHERS LINE UP ON ONE SIDE,
AND SAY, "WHAT TIME IS IT, MR. FOX?" HE THEN
ANSWERS WITH A TIME. WHEN HE SAYS 12 O'CLOCK, THEY
ALL RUN TO THE OTHER SIDE AND HE TRIES TO TOUCH
ANYONE THAT GOES BY. IF HE TOUCHES SOMEONE, THAT
PERSON MUST REMAIN IN THAT SPOT. THE GAME CONTINUES
AS BEFORE, EXCEPT NOW THE CAUGHT PEOPLE TRY TO TOUCH
THE RUNNERS WITHOUT MOVING THEIR FEET FROM THE SPOT
THEY ARE FIXED TO. THE FOX IS THE ONLY ONE THAT
CAN MOVE. THE LAST ONE LEFT IS THE WINNER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 10-13-1970
GAME FOR TRAVELING
IT WAS A DUTCH-GERMAN TRADITION THAT FAMILIES DRIVING
THROUGH THE COUNTRY--SUNDAY DRIVES WERE THE THING TO
DO THEN--AND ON TRIPS, WELL, THE THREE OF US (HERSELF
AND TWO SISTERS) USED TO BE IN THE BACK AND YOU PLAYED
GAMES TO KEEP THE KIDS QUIET. AND ONE OF THE OLD
FAVORITES WAS THAT YOU LOOKED IN THE FIELDS FOR A GRAY
OR WHITE HORSE AND WHOEVER WAS THE FIRST TO SEE HIM
WOULD MOISTEN THE THUMB ON THEIR RIGHT H AND WITH THEIR
TONGUE AND FIRMLY STRIKE THE PALM OF THE LEFT HAND WITH
THE MOISTENED THUMB AND THEN FORM THE RIGHT HAND INTO A
FIST AND STAMP THE PALM OF THE LEFT HAND THAT HAD BEEN
MOISTENED WITH THE THUMB. THEN YOU WATCHED ALL CARS AND
PEOPLE FOR A RED-HEAD AND THE FIRST ONE TO SUCCEED
IN FINDING THE HORSE AND RED HEAD GOT THEIR WISH.
YOU WOULD REPEAT THE SAME PROCEDURE WITH THE RED HEAD
AS WHEN YOU SAY (SAW?) THE HORSE.
Submitter comment: HAPPENED AS A GIRL LIVING IN DETROIT (MICHIGAN).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 05-10-1965
GA GA
A GAME PLAYED WITH A KICKBALL THAT IS STARTED BY
DROPPING THE BALL AND LETTING IT BOUNCE THREE
TIMES (GA GA GA). YOU MAY NOT LET THE BALL TOUCH
YOU ABOVE THE KNEES, OR YOU ARE OUT. YOU MUST KICK
THE BALL WHILE IT IS ON THE GROUND AND TRY TO KNOCK
SOMEONE ELSE OUT. THE LAST ONE LEFT IS THE WINNER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 10-23-1970
FUDGE, FUDGE CALL THE JUDGE./ MOMMY'S GONNA HAVE A NEW BORN BABY/ IT
ISN'T A GIRL. IT ISN'T A BOY./ JUST A PLAIN OLD BABY./ WRAP IT UP IN
TOLIET PAPER./ SEND IT DOWN THE ELEVATOR. FIRST FLOOR: STOP/ SECOND
FLOOR : MISS/ THIRD FLOOR : JUMP UNTIL YOU MISS
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; ENDURANCE ; Jump
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 10-01-1967
IT IS AN ARMENIAN CUSTOM TO BREAK AN EGG ON A NEW
CAR FOR GOOD LUCK. AS A MATTER OF FACT, KELI
TOLD ME, IT IS GOOD LUCK TO BREAK AN EGG ON
ANYTHING NEW. HER MOTHER RECENTLY PURCHASED NEW
CARPETING AND BROKE AN EGG ON IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. Food Drink -- Animal product Egg BELIEF -- Good luck Food and drink |
Date learned: 02-26-1971
IF YOU STEPPED ON A WHIFFLE HEN, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO
BRING YOU GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment: GERMAN BELIEF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck Animals |
Date learned: 10-06-1968
IF YOU FIND A LADY BUG IN YOUR HOUSE, THIS IS A
GOOD LUCK SIGN. A CRICKET IN YOUR HOUSE MEANS
GOOD LUCK TOO.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS INFORMATION FROM HER MOTHER
ABOUT 1910 IN DETROIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck Animals |
Date learned: 05-12-1965 ; 00-00-1910
IT IS VERY BAD LUCK TO BE HIT BY A BROOM.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THAT ONCE HER FATHER EVEN GOT INTO
A FIST FIGHT BECAUSE SOMEONE HAD HIT HIM WITH
A BROOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Broom Sweeping |
Date learned: 08-00-1964
DO NOT PLACE YOUR HAT ON THE BED, OR YOU WILL HAVE
BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER, CARRIE
ADAMS, ABOUT 1910.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
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: 05-12-1965
IF YOU OPEN AN UMBRELLA IN THE HOUSE YOU WILL HAVE
BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER IN ABOUT
1910.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Umbrella |
Date learned: 00-00-1910
IT IS BAD LUCK TO CLIP ONE'S TOENAILS AT NIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Bad luck Body parts and functions |
Date learned: 02-26-1971
DO NOT SING OR TELL YOUR DREAM BEFORE BREAKFAST OR
YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK. SOMETIMES, IF YOU TELL YOUR
DREAM BEFORE BREAKFAST, IT WILL COME TRUE.
Submitter comment: ABOUT 1915.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. BELIEF -- Dreams BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
Date learned: 00-00-1915