Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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GIZZARD
SOAP IS GOOD FOR THE GIZZARD.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
YOUR MOTHER, MY MOTHER LIVE ACROSS THE WAY
EVERY NIGHT THEY HAVE A FIGHT
AND THIS IS WHAT THEY SAY,
YOUR OLD MAN IS A DIRTY OLD MAN
CAUSE HE WASHES HIS FACE WITH THE FRYING PAN
HE COMBS HIS HAIR WITH THE LEG OF THE CHAIR.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
TALL TALE: JOHN MUSKOVICH (PRONOUNCED MUS-KOH'-VICH)
DID I EVER TELL YOU THE STORY OF THE GREATEST AMERICAN--JOHN
MUSKOVICH? ONE DAY JOHN WAS SITTING AT THE LOCAL BAR IN MINOOKA,
PENNSYLVANIA WHEN THE GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA, MILTON SCHAPP, WAS
ON TELEVISION. JOHN TURNED TO HIS BUDDY AND SAYS, "HEY, THERE'S
MY BUDDY MILTY; ME AND MILT HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR A LONG TIME."
HIS BUDDY RESPONDS, "ARE YOU TELLING ME YOU ARE FRIENDS WITH THE
GOVERNOR OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS STATE?" TO WHICH JOHN REPLIES,
"YEAH." HIS BUDDY SAYS, "WELL, I'LL BET YOU TEN DOLLARS THAT YOU
DON'T REALLY KNOW THE GOVERNOR." SO THAT AFTERNOON THE TWO GUYS
GOT INTO THE CAR AND WENT OFF TO HARRISBURG. SOON AFTER THEY
WALKED INTO THE CAPITAL BUILDING, NONE OTHER THAN MILTON SCHAPP
CAME WALKING DOWN THE HALL. AS SOON AS SCHAPP SAW JOHN HE SAYS,
"JOHN MUSKOVICH, HOW YA DOIN'. LONG TIME . . . ." SO JOHN WON
THE TEN DOLLARS.
THE NEXT DAY JOHN AND HIS BUDDY WRE BACK IN MINOOKA WATCHING THE
TELEVISION WHEN PRESIDENT NIXON CAME ON. JOHN IMMEDIATELY SAYS,
"HEY, THERE'S MY BUDDY TRICKY DICK." HIS BUDDY SAYS, "WAIT A
MINUTE. YESTERDAY YOU SAID YOU KNEW THE GOVERNOR, NOW YOU SAY
YOU KNOW THE PRESIDENT. I'LL BET YOU $100 THAT YOU DON'T KNOW
THE PRESIDENT." AND THE NEXT MORNING THE TWO WERE OFF TO WASHING-
TON, D.C. THEY WERE WALKING OUTSIDE OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND PAT
NIXON JUST HAPPENED TO BE OUT ON THE LAWNS AND SHE IMMEDIATELY
SPOTS JOHN AND SAYS, "JOHN MUSKOVICH! HOW ARE YOU? IT'S BEEN A
LONG TIME. DICK WILL BE SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU." AND JOHN WON THE
$100.
ABOUT A WEEK LATER BACK AT THE MINOOKA BAR, THE TWO MEN WERE TALK-
ING AND JOHN'S BUDDY SAID, "LAST WEEK YOU SAID YOU KNEW THE GOVER-
NOR AND THEN THE PRESIDENT; I BET THE NEXT THING YOU'LL SAY IS
THAT YOU KNOW THE POPE!" TO WHICH JOHN REPLIES, "HEY, ME AND PAUL
BEEN FRIENDS FOR A LONG TIME." HIS BUDDY SAYS, "OKAY, I'LL BET
YOU $1,000 YOU DON'T KNOW THE POPE." AND THE NEXT DAY THE TWO ARE
ON A PLANE HEADED FOR THE VATICAN. WHEN THEY GET THERE IT JUST
HAPPENED THAT THE POPE WAS HAVING AN AUDIENCE WITH THE PUBLIC THAT
AFTERNOON. JOHN DECIDED TO LEAVE HIS BUDDY IN THE CROWD AND
HEADED IN TO SEE THE POPE HIMSELF. JUST AFTER JOHN WALKS OUT ON
THE BALCONY WITH THE POPE, THERE'S A BIG COMMOTION IN THE CROWD AND
JOHN SEES THAT HIS BUDDY HAD PASSED OUT. JOHN COMES RUNNING DOWN
AND GETS OVER TO HIS BUDDY AND SAYS, "HEY, WHAT HAPPENED?" HIS
BUDDY REPLIES,"THERE WERE THESE TWO NUNS NEXT TO ME AND ONE SAID
TO THE OTHER, 'WHO'S THAT UP THERE WITH JOHN MUSKOVICH?'"
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
GAME
TWO OR MORE PEOPLE PLAY DREDEL. THE DREDLE IS SHAPED LIKE A TOP BUT
WITH FIVE SIDES. EACH SIDE A HEBREW LETTER ON IT, EACH LETTER MEANS A
GOOD OR BAD PRIZE. ONE PERSON SPINS AND WHATEVER HE LANDS
ON THAT'S
WHAT HE WINS. EACH PERSON ONLY SPINS ONCE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 06-00-1972
IF YOU BRUSH YOUR HAIR ONE HUNDRED TIMES EVERY DAY, YOU WILL ALWAYS
HAVE SHINY HAIR.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT FIRMLY BELIEVES THIS.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Number P686.1.100 BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-05-1972
PREDICTION DIVINATION
AN ITCHY NOSE MEANS YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A QUARREL OR FIGHT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 01-00-1970
BELIEF ABOUT FOOD
EATING THE CRUST OF THE BREAD WILL GIVE YOU CURLY HAIR.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
DEVIL BELIEF
WHISTLING IN THE HOUSE BRINGS OUT THE DEVIL.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.8 |
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
A PARTNERSHIP IS A POOR SHIP TO SAIL ON
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): PUN
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; FUNCTION ; OBSERVATION ; REVERSAL
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
EASTER CUSTOM
CHEESE PIES MUST BE EATEN AT EASTER.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting F663.1!2 |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
"DINGUS"
ON EASTER MONDAY, YOU WOULD KNOCK AT PEOPLE'S DOORS AND POUR WATER
ON THEIR HANDS. THEN YOU WOULD SAY A POLISH SAYING AND THEY WOULD
GIVE YOU COOKIES OR SOMETHING.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S MOTHER PRACTICED THIS CUSTOM WHEN SHE WAS IN POLAND.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): DYNGUS DAY ; EASTER GIFTS ; FOOD CUSTOM ; WATER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Monday Dyngus |
Date learned: 03-05-1972
AT EASTER THE GREEK PEOPLE DECORATE EGGS WITH PAINTINGS AND
SEQUINS. MANY CONTAIN TRIANGLES WHICH IS THE SIGN OF THE TRINITY.
IT IS CONSIDERED A PRIVILEGE TO GET ONE AND IT IS KEPT IN THE
FAMILY AND HANDED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.
Submitter comment:
THESE EGGS ARE CALLED RESURRECTION EGGS.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Angular forms |
Date learned: 03-01-1972
HOLY WEEK CUSTOM
ON EASTER SUNDAY EACH PERSON TAKES AN EASTER EGG THAT HE PARTICULARLY
LIKES. THEN HE AND ANOTHER PERSON MAKE A WISH. THEY THEN HIT THE
EGGS TOGETHER AND THE EGG THAT IS NOT CRACKED WILL GRANT THE WISH
OF THE HOLDER.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share same surname.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): GAME
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
PREDICTION DIVINATION
IF A HOLY PICTURE FALLS OFF THE WALL AND THE GLASS DOESN T BREAK,
IT MEANS THAT SOMEONE IN THE FAMILY, NOT NECESSARILY IMMEDIATE
FAMILY, IS GOING TO DIE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 04-01-1972
PREDICTION DIVINATION
IF THE COWS ARE STANDING UP, THE FISHING WILL BE GOOD. IF THE COWS
ARE LYING DOWN, THE FISHING WILL BE BAD.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
PREDICTION DIVINATION
CROOKED PICTURE IS A SIGN OF DEATH.
Submitter comment: IRISH.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
PREDICTION DIVINATION
A HOWLING DOG MEANS DEATH.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
IF YOU GIVE SOMEONE A WALLET AS A PRESENT ALWAYS PUT A
COIN IN IT ( SOMETHING SMALL SUCH AS A PENNY OR A DIME).
THIS IS DONE SO THAT THE RECEIVER WILL ALWAYS HAVE MORE
MONEY IN THE FUTURE THAN HE HAD AT THE TIME OF THE GIFT.
A LARGE SUM OF MONEY WILL NEVER BE PUT IN THE WALLET AT ITS GIVING.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
NEW YEAR'S DAY CUSTOM
GO OUT THE BACK DOOR TO LET OUT THE OLD YEAR AND IN THE FRONT
DOOR TO LET IN THE NEW YEAR.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): SYMBOLIC ACTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Fixed DateFor specific dates, use the following system: F640.1231 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
THE IRISH CUSTOM AT CHRISTMAS TIME IS TO LEAVE EVERY SINGLE
LIGHT IN THEIR HOME BURNING. SIGNIFICANCE IS TO LIGHT THE WAY
FOR THE SAVIOUR WHO WAS BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Lights and candles |
Date learned: 04-00-1972