Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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A JEWISH PERSON MUST BE BURIED WITHIN FORTY-EIGHT HOURS OF DEATH
Submitter comment: LEARNED IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
Where learned: NEW YORK ; BROOKLYN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 08-00-1975
LENTEN CUSTOM
IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THERE IS A CUSTOM ON ASH WEDNESDAY IN WHICH
THE PEOPLE GO TO CHURCH AND RECEIVE ASHES ON THEIR FOREHEADS TO
REMIND THEM THAT THEY WERE ONCE DUST, AND SOMEDAY THEY WILL
RETURN TO DUST. ALSO, THIS REMINDS THEM TO BE PENITENT AND
HUMBLE DURING THE LENTEN SEASON, AND TO MAKE SACRIFICES.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; PORT CHESTER
Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | 663 Mardi Gras 663 Ash Wednesday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Season CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Palm Sunday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Monday |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
WHEN TWO KIDS SAY THE SAME THING AT THE SAME TIME,
WHOEVER SLAPS THE OTHER FIRST GETS A FREE COKE.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; NIAGARA
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001950S
GAME SUPERSTITION
IN BOWLING THERE IS A SUPERSTITION THAT IF
SOMEONE MAKES THREE STRIKES IN A ROW, THE PERSON SCORING
SHOULD NOT FILL IN THE SCORE EXCEPT X'S FOR FEAR OF BAD LUCK FOR THE
BOWLERS NEXT ROLLS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; PORT CHESTER
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.6 |
Date learned: 12-00-1970
RINGING IN THE EAR
A RINGING IN YOUR RIGHT EAR MEANS YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR SOMETHING
GOOD. A RINGING IN YOUR LEFT EAR MEANS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR
SOMETHING BAD.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; NIAGARA
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
LEAP YEAR
A GIRL CAN ASK A GUY TO MARRY HER IF IT IS LEAP YEAR.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; NIAGARA FALLS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage During leap year |
Date learned: 00001950S
SEASONAL CUSTOM -- SUMMER
ON THE FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, WHICH IS ON THE FIRST DAY OF
SUMMER, SINGLE GIRLS IN POLAND MAKE WREATHES OF THE FIRST SUMMER
FLOWERS AND THROW THEM ON THE LAKE OR POND. IF THE WREATHES FLOAT,
SHE WILL BE MARRIED THAT YEAR, IF IT SINKS, SHE WILL NOT.
Data entry tech comment: FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST: JUNE 24
Where learned: NEW YORK ; NIAGARA FALLS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June 24 St. John's Day / Midsummer Day CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Summer BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Number BELIEF -- Use of Object |
YOU KNOW HOW THEY GOT HONEYMOON? IN ENGLAND, IF THEY
DRANK HONEY UNDER THE LIGHT OF THE MOON ON THEIR
WEDDING NIGHT, THEY WOULD HAVE GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Explanation of a name BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 07-25-1968
WHOEVER CATCHES THE WEDDING BOUQUET WILL BE THE NEXT ONE
TO GET MARRIED.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Bouquet toss |
Date learned: 00-00-1973
WEARING "SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING BORROWED,
SOMETHING BLUE BRINGS GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Good luck |
WORD ORIGIN
MR. FINK AND HIS BEST FRIEND THEY WERE IN LOVE WITH THE
SAME GIRL AND IN TURN THIS GIRL WAS IN LOVE WITH BOTH
OF THEM, SO THEY DECIDED THEY WOULD HAVE A BOW AND
ARROW DUEL OVER HER. MR. FINK ASKED HIS FRIEND TO PUT
AN APPLE ON HIS HEAD AND HE WOULD PUT ONE ON HIS AND WHO
EVER COULD SHOOT THE APPLE OFF WOULD WIN THE GIRL. AND
MR. FINK, THE BASTARD, SHOT FIRST AND HIT HIS FRIEND
RIGHT HERE (POINTS BETWEEN THE EYES). AND THEY JUST
ADDED THE "RAT" TO "FINK" AND THAT MEANS TO DO YOUR
FRIEND IN.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
James Callow Keyword(s): RATFINK--SLANG
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 07-25-1968
IF A BIRD FLIES INTO THE HOUSE, THAT HOUSE WILL BE VISITED BY
DEATH WITHIN THE WEEK.
Submitter comment: TOLD TO MY INFORMANT BY MR. JOSEPH SCHECHTER, NEW YORK CITY,
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; TENNESSEE ; NEW YORK ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 07-24-1968
IF I USED THE NAME OF GOD IN VAIN, THEN GOD WOULD STRIKE
ME DEAD.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK ; SIGNET BOOK ; THE NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY ; PAGE 82
James Callow Keyword(s): CURSING ; SWEARING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00-00-1945
WHEN A GREEK COMPLIMENTS A KID, YOU HAVE TO BLOW
ON HIM TO GET THE EVIL EYE (SPIRIT) AWAY, BECAUSE
THE EVIL EYE IS JEALOUS.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 07-25-1968
IN ORDER TO RID YOURSELF OF A WART THE FOLLOWING IS NECESSARY.
EACH MORNING BEFORE BRUSHING YOUR TEETH PLACE SOME OF YOUR
SALIVA ON THE WART. THE WART WILL DISAPPEAR IN TWO WEEKS.
Submitter comment:
MR. MOORE ACTUALLY DOES THIS IN ORDER TO RID HIMSELF OF A
WART AND CLAIMS THAT IT WORKS.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 03-28-1970
FUNERAL SUPERSTITION
MY MOTHER WAS PREGNANT AT THE TIME AN IRISH RELATIVE
DIED. MY SUPERSTITIOUS IRISH RELATIVES TOLD HER THAT
IF SHE ATTENDED THE FUNERAL, HER CHILD WOULD BE BORN
DEAD. MY STUBBORN GERMAN MOTHER LAUGHED AT THEIR
WARNINGS, AND ATTENDED THE FUNERAL. A FEW MONTHS
LATER SHE GAVE BIRTH TO VERY HEALTHY TWINS (UNDERLINED.)
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
IT IS BAD LUCK TO OPEN A TELEGRAM.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
Date learned: 03-28-1970
I HAD OBSERVED THIS TRADITION FOR MANY YEARS, BUT IT
WAS TOLD TO ME BY MY INFORMANT ON A PARTICULAR OCCASION
AND WAS CONFIRMED BY MANY OTHER PEOPLE AS BEING A
REAL TRADITION.
A REAL IRISH WAKE IS ALWAYS FOLLOWED BY A BIG PARTY.
IT IS TO REPRESENT THE JOY FELT BY ALL THAT THE DEAD
PERSON HAS FINALLY LEFT THIS WORLD OF TROUBLE TO
RECEIVE HIS HEAVENLY REWARD. THERE IS ALWAYS PLENTY OF
FOOD AND DRINK TO GO ALONG WITH THE REMINISCING.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PROVERB
WAMMER FLUCHT IHERM FISCHE, FANGT MER NIX.
Submitter comment:
IF YOU SWEAR WHILE FISHING, YOU WILL NOT CATCH ANY FISH.
TRADITION OF PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): ADVICE ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-00-1965
FLIRTATION WALK
AT WEST POINT IF YOU TAKE YOUR GIRL FRIEND DOWN FLIRTATION WALK
AND KISS HER UNDER THE KISSING ROCK YOU WILL MARRY.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WEST POINT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 BELIEF -- P535 SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1970