Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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DEVIL'S NIGHT
WHEN I WAS YOUNG, THE NIGHT BEFORE HALLOWEEN, DEVIL'S
NIGHT, WE WOULD GO OUT AND PLAY TRICKS ON PEOPLE.
ONE TRICK WAS TO FILL A PAPER BAG UP WITH MANURE, THEN
PUT IT ON THE DOORSTEP OF SOMEONE'S HOUSE. THEN,
WE WOULD LIGHT THE BAG ON FIRE, AND RING THE DOORBELL.
WE'D RUN AND HIDE. WHEN THE PERSON WOULD ANSWER THE
DOOR AND SEE THE BURNING BAG, HE'D RUN OUT AND START
STAMPING IT. THEN HE'S START CUSSING AND YELLING
WHEN HE'D SEE HIS SHOE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 02-15-1972
CUSTOM IN JAPAN FOR JAPANESE TO WRITE POETRY AT CERTAIN
PARTIES, SUCH AS A MOON-GAZING PARTY WHERE ONE SITS IN
THE MOONLIGHT AND MAKES POEMS; OR A FLOWER-VIEWING
PARTY WHERE ONE HANGS POEMS ON THE FLOWER BRANCHES.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THE ABOVE WHILE LIVING IN JAPAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 08-01-1964
JAPANESE CARRY FLOWERS WITH THE TOPS FACING DOWNWARDS
BECAUSE IT IS NOT THE APPEARANCE OF THE FLOWERS THAT
ARE BEING CARRIED THAT IS CONSIDERED, INSTEAD, JAPANESE
CONSIDER A THING INVISIBLE UNTIL IT IS SETTLED INTO
ITS PROPER PLACE. MOREOVER, JAPANESE SELDOM CARRY
FLOWERS UNLESS TO GRAVES OR TEMPLES. FLOWERS FOR THE
HOUSE ARE BOUGHT FROM FLOWER BENDORS WHO COME TO THE
DOOR. FLOWERS ARE NEVER WORN, NOR ARE THEY SENT AS
GIFTS BECAUSE THEY WHITHER AND DIE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS WHILE GROWING UP IN JAPAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Daily Life |
Date learned: 08-01-1964
JAPANESE CHILDREN (EXCEPTING THE LOWER CLASSES) DO
NOT EAT ON THE STREET OR IN PUBLIC PLACES; ONLY AT
THE TABLE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS WHILE GROWING UP IN JAPAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Daily Life |
Date learned: 08-01-1964
IT IS A JAPANESE CUSTOM TO HAVE A "SHADOW TABLE" FOR
ONE'S ABSENT FIANCE OR HUSBAND (AS DURING THE WAR) OR
A DEAD HUSBAND, ETC. THAT IS A PLACE WAS ALWAYS SET
AND FOOD SERVED AT MEALS FOR THE ABSENT AS IF HE WERE
ACTUALLY PRESENT. IN THE CASE OF THE FIANCE, IT WAS
A METHOD BY WHICH THE BRIDE-TO-BE LEARNED TO GROW
AWARE OF THE NEEDS AND COMFORTS OF HER HUSBAND-TO-BE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS WHILE GROWING UP IN JAPAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Daily Life |
Date learned: 08-01-1964
JAPANESE DO NOT PRAISE ANY MEMBER OF THEIR FAMILY AS
THE EXPRESSION OF APPROVAL IN ANY FORM IS CONSIDERED
BAD FORM. IN FACT, WHEN SPEAKING OF A DAUGHTER OR
SON (HOWEVER BRILLIANT OR DUTIFUL) A PARENT WILL
DEPRECIATE HER OR HIM.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THE ABOVE WHILE GROWING UP IN JAPAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Daily Life |
Date learned: 08-01-1964
POLITENESS IS A SOCIAL CUSTOM IN JAPAN THAT HAS BEEN
CULTIVATED TO ITS FINEST POINT. POLITE RESTRAINT IS
SEEN IN TWO WOMEN ABOUT TO ENTER A DOOR, AND WHO
SPEND TEN SECONDS OR SO, BOWING AWAY, URGING THE
OTHER TO GO FIRST. IT LITERALLY GOVERNS EVERY PHASE
OF JAPANESE LIVING.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THE ABOVE WHILE GROWING UP IN
JAPAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Daily Life |
Date learned: 08-01-1964
MARRIED COUPLE TALE
ONE DAY A MAN'S WIFE WOKE UP AND TOLD HER HUSBAND THAT
SHE HAD A BAD DREAM AND THAT HE SHOULDN'T GO TO WORK
BECAUSE SHE FELT SURE SOMETHING TERRIBLE WOULD HAPPEN
TO HIM. SO HER HUSBAND STAYED IN BED THAT MORNING;
AND WHILE HE WAS IN BED, A LARGE MIRROR THAT HUNG
ABOVE THE BED FELL AND KILLED HIM.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT TOLD THIS AS A TRUE STORY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Married couple |
Date learned: 02-22-1970
TIN CAN COPPER
FOR THIS GAME YOU WILL NEED A BIG EMPTY CAN. THE PERSON THAT IS IT
IS THE TIN CAN COPPER. HE GUARDS THE TIN CAN. THE OBJECT OF THE
GAME IS FOR THE COPPER TO ARREST ALL OF THE PLAYERS AS THEY TRY TO
KICK THE CAN. THE TIN CAN COPPER STAYS IN THE AREA OF THE TIN CAN
PROTECTING IT FROM THE OTHERS. THE OTHER CHILDREN TRY TO SUCCEED IN
KICKING THE CAN AWAY FROM THE COPPER. BEFORE THE COPPER CAN CHASE
THE CHILD HE MUST FIRST RETURN THE CAN TO THE SAME SPOT. ONCE THE
CAN HAS BEEN REPLACED THE COPPER CAN TRY TO CATCH THE OTHERS. IF A
CHILD IS CAUGHT BEFORE THE CAN IS KICKED AGAIN THAT PERSON IS CAUGHT
FOR THE REST OF THE GAME.
Submitter comment:
THE WORD COPPER IN THIS GAME MUST HAVE ORIGINATED FROM THAT TIME
BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD IT IN OLD MOVIES. THERE IS A VARIATION OF
THIS GAME I USED TO PLAY. WE CALLED IT KICK THE CAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Hiding Searching Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00001930S
AUTOGRAPH BOOK
ROSES ARE RED . VIOLETS ARE BLUE. MY HEART PANTS FOR YOU.
Submitter comment:
MARY TOLD ME THAT IN THE PLACE OF THE WORDS HEART AND PANTS, THEY
WOULD DRAW A PICTURE OF A HEART AND A PAIR OF PANTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): PICTOGRAPHIC VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 00001930S
AUTOGRAPH BOOK
ROSES ARE RED. VIOLETS ARE BLUE. SUGAR IS SWEET AND SO ARE YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 00001930S
REMEDY
WHEN YOU HAVE A STONE BRUISE YOU CAN DRAW OUT THE SORENESS BY
PUTTING COW MANURE IN YOUR SOCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00001930S
REMEDY
THIS REMEDY CAN BE USED FOR ANY TYPE OF RASH. TAKE OATMEAL AND BAKING
SODA AND PUT THEM TOGETHER IN A SOCK. RUN A BATHTUB OF WATER WHILE
YOU HAVE THE SOCK TIED TO THE END OF THE FAUCET. THIS WAY THE THINGS
INSIDE THE SOCK WILL FILTER INTO THE BATHTUB. THIS TAKES AWAY THE
ITCH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00001930S
REMEDY
RAW BACON WITH PEPPER MAKES A POULTICE FOR DRAWING OUT PAIN OR
SORENESS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 00001930S
SAINT MAGNUS - APOSTLE OF THE ALLGAU
IN FUSSEN THERE IS A WATERFALL WHICH IS SPRING-FED FROM TYROL.
THE WATER FROM THE FALL FLOWS INTO A VERY NARROW GORGE.
ONE DAY ST. MAGNUS, THE APOSTLE OF THE ALLGAU, WAS BEING CHASED
BY HIS ENEMIES. THEY CORNERED HIM ABOVE THE WATERFALL. ST. MAGNUS HAD
TWO CHOICES: JUMP AND DROWN IN THE RUSHING WATERS OR BE CAPTURED BY
HIS ENEMIES. HE JUMPED AND MADE IT ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE GORGE.
TODAY, THERE STILL EXISTS A FOOTPRINT IN THE ROCK WHERE ST.
MAGNUS LANDED. NO MATTER WHAT MAN TRIES TO STEP INTO IT OR WHAT SIZE
SHOE HE WEARS, HIS SHOE WILL FIT THE FOOTPRINT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS LEGEND ; SAINT'S LEGEND: SAINT MAGNUS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 10-10-1968
IF THE SUN SHINES WHEN IT RAINS, IT WILL RAN SOMETIME DURING
THE NEXT DAY.
Submitter comment: NONE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): WEATHER
| Subject headings: | 800 |
Date learned: 01-00-1968
WEATHER PROBERB
IF THE SNOW GOES CRISS-CROSS
ON THE FIRST DAY OF SNOW,
IT WILL BE A LONG HARD WINTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): RIME
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Weather Proverb |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
WEATHER PROVERB
IF YOU HAVE A GREEN CHRISTMAS
YOU WILL HAVE A WHITE EASTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST ; METONYMY: GREEN FOR LACK OF SNOW ; METONYMY: WHITE FOR SNOW ; OBSERVATION ; SNOW
Date learned: 00-00-1968
LEGENG OF POLAND
DURING WORLD WAR II THE GERMANS BOMBED THE TOWN OF CHESTOCHOWA.
THE CHURCH IN THAT TOWN WAS HIT, BUT THE STATUE OF THE BLESSED
MOTHER WAS NOT TOUCHED WHILE EVERYTHING AROUND IT WAS DEMOLISHED.
IT IS CONSIDERED A MIRACLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
A MAN ACCEPTED A BET OF $200 TO GO INTO A CEMETERY AT NIGHT AND
POUND A STAKE INTO THE GROUND. AS HE WAS POUNDING THE STAKE,
SOMETHING KEPT ON PULLING ON HIS COAT. HE SCREAMED AND DIED. THE
POLICE CAME INTO THE CEMETERY AND FOUND HIS COAT WAS CAUGHT UNDER
THE STAKE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): FEAR TEST
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 01-00-1968