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 5782 returned 64 results.
KICKBALL
THIS GAME IS PLAYED LIKE BASEBALL BUT NOT QUITE. IN THIS
GAME ANY NUMBER CAN PLAY AS LONG AS THERE IS AN EQUAL
NUMBER OF PLAYERS SO THAT THEY CAN BE SPLIT UP INTO TWO
TEAMS. AS IN BASEBALL THE OBJECT OF THE GAME IS TO GET
MORE POINTS OUT OF A NUMBER OF INNINGS THAN THE OTHER
TEAM. THE GAME IS PLAYED IN A FIELD WITH THREE BASES AND
A HOME PLATE. THE ONLY BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS GAME
AND BASEBALL IS THAT A SOFT KICKBALL IS USED INSTEAD OF A
BASEBALL AND THE BALL IS KICKED, NOT HIT BY A BAT. BUT ALL
OTHER ELEMENTS OF THIS GAME ARE LIKE THOSE OF BASEBALL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00001970CA
THERE IS AN OLD WIVES' TALE THAT SAYS THAT WHEN A WOMAN IS
IN THE PROCESS OF GIVING BIRTH TO A CHILD THE ANGEL OF
DEATH CIRCLES HER BED NINE TIMES. ONCE FOR EVERY MONTH OF
HER PREGNANCY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
Keyword(s): PREGNANCY SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | 686 Ninths / Nine Favorites BELIEF -- Angel BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001950CA
NONSENSE SONG
I WENT TO THE ANIMAL FAIR...THE BIRDS AND THE BEES WERE
THERE...THE BIG BABOON BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON WAS
COMBING HIS AUBURN HAIR... THE MONKEY HE GOT DRUNK...
AND BLEW IN THE ELEPHANT'S TRUNK.. THE ELEPHANT SNEEZED
AND FELL TO HIS KNEES AND THAT WAS THE END OF THE MONK,
THE MONK, THE MONK, THE MONK, THE MONK.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A NONSENSE SONG SUNG BY CHILDREN PURELY FOR THE
FUN OF IT, AND ITS ENTERTAINMENT VALUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001970CA
If a black cat crosses the road in front of you and it is
crossing to the left, that means something bad is going to
happen. If the cat crosses to the right then that means
something good is going to happen.
Submitter comment:
This was told to me by my mother while we were in the process
of running into the back of a bus on the way to school one
morning. She said the reason why this happened was because of
the black cat we saw crossing to the left.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
The Sun and the Wind
The Wind decided one day that he was the strongest creature
in the sky. As soon as the Sun came out that day, he said, "My
friend the Sun, let's have a contest to see who is stronger?"
This idea did not seem very good to the kindly Sun, who had only
just come out, "If you please, Wind, I would just as soon not do
that. I have a long day ahead of me to spread my sunshine." I
believe you know I am stronger than you. I will find someone
else to play this game with me." At this the Sun became a bit
annoyed with the Wind and decided after all that he would be
willing to try his strength. "How shall we play our game?" said
the Sun. "I know," said the Wind. "There's a traveler down
below who is wearing a heavy coat. Let's see who can get that
coat off the traveler's back. I'll go first." The Wind blew as
hard as he could. But whenever the Wind blew, the traveler
wrapped his coat tighter and tighter about him. Finally the Wind
could blow no more. Then the Sun turned on his kindly rays and
warmed the traveler up until the man had no need for his coat.
Soon enough, the man took off his coat and carried it on his arm.
"You win," said the Wind, who had learned a Lesson. KINDLY
ACTIONS CAN DO MORE THAN FORCE.
Submitter comment: My informant remembers reading this fable in Aesop.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Sun PROSE NARRATIVE -- Wind Whirlwind Hurricane Cyclone Tornado PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
Date learned: 11-00-1991
The Ant and the Grasshopper
All day long all through the warm days of summer, a green
grasshopper went happily about. Whenever the grasshopper was
thirsty, he would sip nectar from any plant he saw. One
afternoon, as the grasshopper was leaping from flower to flower,
he saw beneath him a little black ant struggling to carry a fat
leaf bigger than himself. "Little friend," said the grasshopper,
"What are you doing down there?" "Why, I am carrying this leaf
off to my nest. I must fill my nest with food to last through
winter." "Winter?" said the grasshopper. "Who cares about
winter? Why don't you climb up to this flower and enjoy its
sweet nectar? Winter will take care of itself." "That isn't the
way things work in this world," said the ant. "Winter will be
here soon. The flowers will be gone, and there will be nothing
to eat." "Well, suit yourself," said the grasshopper. And off
he went, singing happily and having no cares at all. The ant
returned to carry each leaf, but he did not mind. He knew he
would have enough to last the winter. Soon the cold weather
came. The ant was snug in his
nest with plenty of food to eat. The grasshopper? He had
nothing to eat and soon was no more. A WISE PERSON KNOWS THAT
SUMMER DOES NOT LAST FOREVER.
Submitter comment: My informant remembers reading this fable in Aesop.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
Keyword(s): Nectar = A sweet liquid secreted by plants
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale BELIEF -- Measure of time Winter |
Date learned: 11-00-1991
Cure
To avoid the swelling of a minor contusion; one should cover
the contusion with a heavy piece of metal and press. When the
metal feels hot on the contusion, remove it. There will be no
swelling, but there might be discoloration of the skin.
Submitter comment:
My informant received this information from her grandmother
when she was a young girl.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Cure
To remove the pinkeye; one should take the milk from a woman
who is breast feeding and put a few drops into the eye for two
days.
Submitter comment:
The informant's mother told her to do this for her son and it
worked.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Animal |
Enemies
A woman who practices "who-do" told her this when she visited
relatives in Chester County, Tennessee. To get rid of someone
that is no longer welcomed in your home, one should pour salt on
the doorway when the person leaves and sweep the salt out on the
ground.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
James Callow Keyword(s): Hoodoo
Date learned: 02-10-1992
How To Become Invisible
Find a black cat. On a full moon go to where the roads cross
and boil a kettle of water. Drop the cat into the water. Boil
the flesh off the bones. Put the bone between your eyes and then
in your mouth. This will allow you to become invisible. Take
the bone out of your mouth and you will become visible again.
James Callow comment:
See Hyatt 5: nos. 10061, 10076, 10078, 10082-10086, 10091-
10095, etc. for the invisibility (disappearance) effect. Also
see Hyatt 1: 74-97 for an earlier section on the black cat bone.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 02-10-1992
To Remove A Mole
In the south people would use a strand of horse hair and
heavy oil to remove a hanging mole. Put a lot of heavy grease on
the mole and very tightly tie the horse hair on the mole. Keep
the hair tied on the mole for three days and the mole will fall
off.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 02-10-1992
Cure
To stop a keloid from growing, one should place the keloid on
the face of a dead love one.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
James Callow Keyword(s): Loved one
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 02-10-1992
Entry filtered.
If you skin your knee or elbow let a dog lick it for two days
and it will heal.
Submitter comment:
This is what her father told her to do when she was younger
and she said it worked and felt a lot better than alcohol.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 02-10-1992
IT IS CONSIDERED A SIGN OF GOOD LUCK TO "STAMP"
THE FIRST FEW ROBINS ONE SEES IN THE SPRING. THIS
MERELY CONSISTS OF LICKING THE THUMB AND THEN
PLACING THE WET SPOT ON THE BACK OF THE OTHER
HAND. THEN THIS SPOT IS "STAMPED" A COUPLE OF
TIMES WITH THE OTHER FIST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck Animals SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 11-01-1968
LEGEND OF THE DUNE COVERED LUMBER CAMP ON LAKE
THERE IS SAID TO BE AN OLD LUMBER VILLAGE WHICH WAS
ABANDONED AND EVENTUALLY COVERED UP BY THE SAND OF THE
DOONS {DUNES} NEAR THE LAKE MICHIGAN. WHEN THE WIND
BLOWS VERY HARD, THOUGH, YOU CAN SEE THE TOPS OF THE
HOUSES. THIS PLACE IS CALLED GOSHORN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
LEGEND: WHY BURNT CHIPS ALWAYS FLOAT UP ALONG SHORE ON LAKE
SOMEWHERE AROUND THE 1920'S A MAN WHO WAS QUITE RICH SAILED IN HIS
YACHT BETWEEN BENTON HARBOR AND PORT HURON. HIS WIFE HAD DIED,
AND HE WAS VERY DESPONDENT. ONE NIGHT NEAR BENTON HARBOR, HIS
BOAT, WHICH HAD HE AND HIS THREE CREWMEN ABOARD, CAUGHT FIRE.
RESCUE EFFORTS FAILED AND THE BOAT FINALLY SANK OFF GLEN,
MICHIGAN. EVEN TODAY BURNT CHIPS STILL FLOAT UP ALONG THE SHORE
OF THE BIG LAKE.
Data entry tech comment: BENTON HARBOR AND PORT HURON, MICHIGAN, ARE ON LAKE HURON,
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
Date learned: 11-00-1968
LEGEND OF THE DUNE COVERED LUMBER CAMP ON LAKE
THERE IS SAID TO BE AN OLD LUMBER VILLAGE WHICH WAS
ABANDONED AND EVENTUALLY COVERED UP BY THE SAND OF THE
DOONS {DUNES} NEAR THE LAKE MICHIGAN. WHEN THE WIND
BLOWS VERY HARD, THOUGH, YOU CAN SEE THE TOPS OF THE
HOUSES. THIS PLACE IS CALLED GOSHORN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
LEGEND: WHY BURNT CHIPS ALWAYS FLOAT UP ALONG SHORE ON LAKE
SOMEWHERE AROUND THE 1920'S A MAN WHO WAS QUITE RICH SAILED IN HIS
YACHT BETWEEN BENTON HARBOR AND PORT HURON. HIS WIFE HAD DIED,
AND HE WAS VERY DESPONDENT. ONE NIGHT NEAR BENTON HARBOR, HIS
BOAT, WHICH HAD HE AND HIS THREE CREWMEN ABOARD, CAUGHT FIRE.
RESCUE EFFORTS FAILED AND THE BOAT FINALLY SANK OFF GLEN,
MICHIGAN. EVEN TODAY BURNT CHIPS STILL FLOAT UP ALONG THE SHORE
OF THE BIG LAKE.
Data entry tech comment: BENTON HARBOR AND PORT HURON, MICHIGAN, ARE ON LAKE HURON, NOT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
Date learned: 11-00-1968
TOO GOOD FOR WORDS
WHEN TWO INDIVIDUALS (USUALLY ATHLETES) SLAP THE PALMS
OF THEIR HANDS TOGETHER, THEY ARE MAKING A GESTURE OF
MUTUAL CONGRATULATION. IF BOTH HANDS OF BOTH PERSONS
ARE SLAPPED THE MEANING IS REINFORCED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts 686 Seconds / Twice / Two SPEECH -- Congratulations Appreciation |
Date learned: 09-15-1969