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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, THE FIRST TO STEP ACROSS THE PORCH MUST BE A
MALE OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK ALL YEAR LONG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Bad luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, DO ONLY THOSE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO HAPPEN THE
REST OF THE YEAR. DO NOT PAY BILLS OR YOU WILL BE PAYING BILLS
ALL YEAR. DO NOT DO ANY HARD WORK OR YOU WILL END UP WORKING HARD
ALL YEAR LONG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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MAY YOUR DAY BE BRIGHT
MAY YOUR LIFE BE IN CLOVER
MAY EVERYTHING TURN OUT RIGHT
AND MAY YOUR TOILET NEVER RUN OVER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST ; HUMOR

Subject headings: 730 Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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IT IS NOT THIS CANDLE ALONE I STICK
BUT MY LOVE'S HEART I MEAN TO PRICK
IF (INSERT ANY NAME) BE ASLEEP OR AWAKE
I'LL HAVE (INSERT ANY NAME) COME TO ME AND SPEAK.

Submitter comment: THIS IS DONE TO BRING YOUR LOVER TO YOU. YOU SAY THIS
WHILE STICKING PINS INTO A CANDLE.
INFORMANT SAW THIS IN A MAGAZINE AND WROTE IT
DOWN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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KEEP YOUR SKIRTTAIL DOWN AND YOUR UNDERWEAR UP.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT TOLD ME THAT HER MOTHER USED TO GIVE HER THIS ADVICE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- B545
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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NEVER GIVE YOUR LOVE A WATCH
IT WILL TICK YOUR LOVE AWAY.
NEVER BUY YOUR LOVE SHOES
YOUR LOVE WILL WALK OUT OF YOUR LIFE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT TOLD ME THAT SHE FOLLOWS THIS ADVICE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage

Date learned: 02-00-1982

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IT IS BAD LUCK TO GO SWIMMING BEFORE THE FEAST OF SAINT JOHN THE
BAPTIST, (JUNE 24)

Where learned: DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June 23
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June 24 St. John's Day / Midsummer Day
BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.2

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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BURN PALMS DURING A STORM TO BRING ABOUT BETTER WEATHER

Where learned: DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Weather sign or control

Date learned: 10-00-1972

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METHOD OF CURING

WASH YOUR FACE IN THE MORNING DEW
AND YOU WILL GET RID OF FRECKLES.

Data entry tech comment: THIS SECTION OF THE ARCHIVES CONTAINS SEVERAL SIMILAR ITEMS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SAINT MATTHEWS CHURCH

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 00-00-1959

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FORMULA SPEECH

THE WEATHER IN WASHINGTON DC IS NOTORIOUS FOR QUICK CHANGES.
TOURISTS ARE TOLD UPON ASKING ABOUT IT, "IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT
WAIT A MINUTE."

Where learned: DETROIT

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 11-00-1972

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CURE

REMEDY FOR ACHES AND PAINS RESULTING FROM PHYSICAL LABOR:
1 TABLESPOON TURPENTINE AND SUGAR; DRINK

Where learned: DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Remedy

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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WHEN YOU ACCIDENTALLY SPILL SALT, INFORMANT TAKES
A FEW GRAINS OF SALT AND THROWS IT OVER EACH
SHOULDER FOR GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; GRADE SCHOOL ; REDFORD ; SAINT MARYS

James Callow Keyword(s): ACCIDENT ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Good luck Activities

Date learned: 02-12-1970

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MARRIAGE CUSTOMS

SOMETHING WHITE, USUALLY A LACY HANDKERCHIEF, IS PASSED ON
TO THE FEMALE MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILY WHEN THEY GET MARRIED.
EACH FEMALE HAD WORN IT ON HER WEDDING DAY, AND SAVED IT FOR
THE NEXT TIME ANOTHER MEMBER WAS TO BE MARRIED.

Where learned: DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage

Date learned: 0001950S

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RUGBY PARTY FESTIVITIES

AFTER HEAVY "BETTING" BT VETERANS FROM BOTH TEAMS, FOUR ROOKIES ARE
TRICKED INTO THIS FARCE. THE ROOKIES ARE CONVINCED THAT THIS IS
VERY IMPORTANT FOR TEAM PRIDE. THEY ARE TOLD THAT THE BIGGEST ONE
OF THEM IS TO PICK UP THE OTHER THREE. THE OTHER THREE ARE TIED
TOGETHER. EACH TEAM TRIES TO LIFT THE PLAYERS FASTER THAN THE
OTHER TEAM. WHEN THE CROWD IS AT A FEVER PITCH, THE COUNT OF
1, 2, 3 LIFT IS SHOUTED. AT THE WORD "LIFT" EVERYBODY AT THE PARTY
THROWS THEIR BEER ON THE UNSUSPECTING ROOKIES.

Submitter comment: THIS USUALLY BRINGS THE HOUSE DOWN

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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GRANDPA REMEMBERS WHEN HIS MOTHER DIDN'T HAVE SUPPER ON TIME
USUALLY THE EXCUSE WAS THE BUTCHER GAVE HER A TOUGH PIECE OF
MEAT. OF COURSE, THE OVER THE FENCE GOSSIPING WITH NEIGHBORS
ALL AFTERNOON HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SATIRE OF WOMEN SEXISM

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.

Date learned: 10-07-1972

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GRANDPA REMEMBERS WHEN HIS MOTHER USED TO CUT PAPER SQUARES,
ABOUT 8 INCHES BY 8 INCHES EXACT. THIS WAS AFTER THE SUNDAY
PAPERS HAD BEEEN READ. AFTER JUDGING THE PILE SHE SAID, "SON
ATTACH THIS PILE TO THE PEG IN THE OUTHOUSE."

Submitter comment: THESE PAPERS WERE USED AS TOILET PAPER.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTIONAL SHIFT: NEWSPAPERS CONVERTED INTO TOILET PAPER

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home

Date learned: 10-07-1972

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JOSE

JOSE LIVED IN A SMALL MEXICAN VILLAGE AND WON A CONTEST TO SEE
FOR FREE A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME. THE VILLAGE BEING SMALL,
GOT HIM DRESSED AND PREPARED AND SENT HIM OFF WITH A BRASS BAND
ON HIS RETURN, THE CITIZENS GAVE HIM A HERO'S WELCOME. THEY WENT
TO THE SCHOOL SO HE COULD TELL THEM OF HIS VISIT AND EXPERIENCES
IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY. HE MOST REMEMBERED WHEN 53,333 PEOPLE STOOD
UP BEFORE THE GAME AND SANG "JOSE CAN YOU SEE?".

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): STAR-SPANGLED BANNER

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote

Date learned: 10-07-1972

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GRANDPA TELLS WHEN HE WENT TO SCHOOL. HE WENT TO CHURCH EVERY
SUNDAY WITH HIS MOTHER, AFTER BOTH CAME HOME HE WOULD GET A SMACK
IN THE HEAD. HE WONDERED FOR A LONG TIME WHAT FOR. BUT AS HE GOT
OLDER HE KNEW THE NUNS AND MOTHER USED TO STAND TOGETHER AFTER
CHURCH AND WHAT WAS SPILLED BETWEEN THE TWO HE NEVER COULD FIND
OUT.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PUNISHMENT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church

Date learned: 10-07-1972

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IT'S NOT THE COUGH THAT CARRIES YOU OFF, IT'S THE COFFIN THEY
CARRY YOU OFF IN.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS SAID AS A HUMOROUS EXPRESSION WHENEVER SOMEONE HAD A COUGH.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PUN

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 10-07-1972

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GRANDMA'S DAYS, WAYBACK

SHE USED TO SEND THE SON TO THE BUTCHER SHOP AND TELL HIM TO BE
SURE AND GET A DOG BONE. THIS WAS USUALLY FOR FREE AND BEFORE THE
DAYS WHEN SAUSAGE WAS $2.00 A POUND. SO GRANDMA USED THE DOG BONE
TO FEED THE FAMILY FIRST WITH A GOOD SOUP OR STEW AND THE DOG
STILL HAD ENOUGH TO EAT AFTER TWO MEALS.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): RISE IN PRICES

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Food

Date learned: 10-07-1972

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