Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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HAUNTED HOUSE
MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER WAS WAITING UP FOR MY GREAT GRANDFATHER
BECAUSE HE WAS WORKING NIGHTS FOR THE CANADIAN PACIFIC
RAILWAY IN NORTH BAY (?), ONTARIO (CANADA). WHILE SHE WAS
WAITING SHE HEARD A NOISE UPSTAIRS AND THOUGHT IT WAS ONE
OF THE CHILDREN SLEEPWALKING. SHE WENT UPSTAIRS, BUT
WHAT WAS MAKING GRANDMOTHER THE NOISE WAS THE GHOST OF
A 12 YEAR OLD GIRL. MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER WAS TOO TERRIFIED
TO TALK BUT COULD ONLY THINK THINGS TO THE GHOST.
MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE GOING TO
MOVE TO DETROIT AND THE GIRL NODDED HER HEAD NO. GREAT
GRANDMA THOUGHT TO THE GIRL YOU DON'T WANT US TO GO TO
DETROIT; THE GIRL NODDED NO AGAIN AND THEN FADED AWAY.
THEY DID FOR A WHILE MOVE TO DETROIT BUT WENT BACK TO
NORTH BAY TO FIND THE HOUSE UNOCCUPIED. WHEN SHE ASKED
WHY, SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE COUPLE THAT BOUGHT THE HOUSE
WHEN THEY LEFT WERE PUTTING THE PRESENTS AROUND THE TREE
FOR THEIR LITTLE GIRL ON CHRISTMAS EVE WHEN THEY HEARD
A NOISE UPSTAIRS. FEARING THAT IT WAS THEIR DAUGHTER
AND THAT SHE WOULD SEE THEM, THE HUSBAND WENT UPSTAIRS
TO CHECK. MOMENTS LATER THE WIFE HEARD HER HUSBAND
SCREAM AND WHEN SHE WENT UPSTAIRS FOUND HIM LYING DEAD
OF A HEART ATTACK. NO ONE HAS SINCE MOVED INTO THE
HOUSE AND IT STILL STANDS TODAY.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 09-28-1971
THE CHOCTAWS OF THE MISSISSIPPI HAVE MANY SUPERSTITIONS.
OF ALL, TWO ARE MOST IMPORTANT:
(1) BATS ALWAYS FLAP NEAR A WITCH'S HEAD. (P435, P442).
(2) BUZZARDS FORETELL DISASTER. (P444).
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Bird |
THERE IS BUT ONE HOUR A DAY BETWEEN A GOOD HOUSEWIFE
AND A BAD HOUSEWIFE.
Where learned: HOME ; ALLEN PARK
Keyword(s): MARRIAGE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 03-25-1971
WEAKNESS
THE THREE MICROBES OF WEAKNESS: REGRET, WORRY AND FEAR.
Submitter comment:
MY GRANDFATHER FIRMLY BELIEVES IN NOT REGRETTING WHAT
IS ALREADY PAST.
Where learned: HOME ; MINNESOTA ; ROUTE 1 ; STURGEON LAKE ; WRITTEN IN A LETTER
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 03-05-1970
POLISH DRAGON LEGEND
A LONG TIME AGO IN POLAND THERE WAS A TERRIBLE DRAGON, AND
EVERY MONTH HE FORCED THE PEOPLE TO BRING HIM A YOUNG GIRL TO
EAT. THE PEOPLE WERE VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS AND SO THEY WENT TO THEIR
KING KRAKUS AND ASKED HIM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS DRAGON. KRAKUS
THOUGHT ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME AND
FINALLY HE KILLED A SHEEP AND FILLED IT WITH TAR AND SULPHUR. HE
PUT THE SHEEP IN FRONT OF THE CAVE WHERE THE DRAGON LIVED AND
THE DRAGON CAME OUT AND BEGAN TO DEVOUR THE SHEEP, BUT THE TAR AND
SULPHUR BURNED TERRIBLE AND MADE HIM VERY THIRSTY. AND SO HE RAN TO
THE RIVER WISTA AND BEGAN TO DRINK, HE DRANK SO MUCH THAT HE
BECAME VERY HEAVY, FELL INTO THE WATER AND WAS DROWNED.
AND THE PEOPLE PROCLAIMED KRAKUS AS THEIR HERO, AND BUILT
A MONUMENT OUT OF EARTH IN HIS HONOR.
Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED IT FROM PAN (PAM?) NOWAK WHO TAUGHT HER POLISH
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Supernatural Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal |
Date learned: 00-00-1961
MYTH
MALTESE PEOPLE BELIEVE IN SPIRITS. THEY TAKE THE FORM OF A LITTLE
COLORED GENIE CALLED HARAS. A WOMAN FOUND MONEY EVERY DAY ON THE
DRESSER UNTIL ONE DAY SHE REVEALED HER SECRET TO HER NEIGHBOR. THE
FOLLOWING MORNING SHE WOKE UP SEVERELY BEATEN.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
THIS DAY WE FASHION DESTINY.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS ONE OF MY GRANDFATHER'S FAVORITE PROVERBS, AND
REFLECTS HIS BASIC PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE.
Where learned: HOME ; MINNESOTA ; ROUTE 1 ; STURGEON LAKE ; WRITTEN IN A LETTER
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 03-05-1970
VAMPIRE
YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL A VAMPIRE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO REFLECTION IN THE
MIRROR.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
VAMPIRE
THE ONLY WAY TO SCARE A VAMPIRE OFF AT NIGHT IS TO MAKE SIGN OF THE
CROSS.
Data entry tech comment: THERE ARE MANY STORIES LIKE THIS ONE ON ORIGINAL 5X8 CARDS.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
VAMPIRE
THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN KILL A VAMPIRE IS BY DRIVING A WOODEN STAKE
THROUGH HIS HEART WHILE HE SLEEPS.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
WEREWOLF
THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN KILL A REAL WEREWOLF IS WITH SILVER BULLETS.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
(AS HE TOLD IT)
TO HIS COFFIN BEFORE DAWN-BREAK, THAT'S WHAT HE LIVES IN, YOU KNOW.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING' IS THAT HE CAN STILL GET BACK AND DIE HIS EVIL
DEATH. SEE IF HE GETS BACK AND SOMEONE HAS GOT AWAY WITH HIS DIRT
HE IS DONE IN. YOU SEE HE LIVES IN DIRT FROM HIS HOMELAND AND
NO OTHER AND SO IF IT AIN'T THE RIGHT DIRT HE'S DONE FOR.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire |
ST. PAUL'S GROTTO
UNDER A CHURCH IN RABAT, IS A GROTTO IN WHICH ST. PAUL AND HIS
COMPANIONS ARE SAID TO HAVE LIVED WHILE IN MALTA. LOCAL LEGEND
CLAIMS THAT WHATEVER AMOUNT OF STONE IS REMOVED FROM THIS GROTTO,
THE DIMENSIONS REMAIN THE SAME.
Where learned: HOME
Date learned: 11-11-1967
RED ROBIN
THE ROBIN GOT HIS BREAST RED WHEN HE PULLED A THORN OUT FROM
CHRIST'S HEAD WHEN HE WAS ON THE CROSS.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BIBLICAL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Characteristics of Animals |
Date learned: 11-02-1969
AN UNDERTAKING PROVERB
AN UNDERTAKER IS A FELLOW WHO NEVER SUCCEEDS IN BURYING HIMSELF
IN HIS WORK.
Submitter comment: HE HEARD IT IN SCHOOL.
Where learned: HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): DEDICATION TO JOB ; DEFINITION ; HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: 08-06-1964
EVIL EYE DISTRACTION
TO PREVENT A CHILD FROM BEING OVERCOME BY THE
EVIL EYE THE PEOPLE FROM INDIA PUT A BLACK
SPOT ON THE FOREHEAD OF THE CHILD,
THUS DISTRACTING FROM IT'S BEAUTY AND
KEEPING THE EVIL EYE AWAY.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; EAST QUAD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 03-05-1971
JULAFTON IS THE SWEDISH CHRISTMAS EVE FESTIVITY. THE ENTIRE FAMILY
SPENT THIS EVENING TOGETHER IN THEIR OWN HOME FEASTING ON SOME OF THE
DELECTABLE FOODS WHICH HAD BEEN PREPARED IN FORMER DAYS . OFTEN THE
FAMILY GATHERED FOR CHRISTMAS CAROLS AFTERWARD.
Submitter comment:
JULAFTON FOR THE INFORMANT WAS THE HAPPIEST OF ALL THE SWEDISH
TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS.
Where learned: HOME ; ROUTE 1 ; WRITTEN IN A LETTER
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Songs, caroling |
Date learned: 03-28-1970
TONGUE TWISTER
OATEN DOTEN, LITTEN DITTEN,
IITTEN LOTEN, DITTEN LITTEN
ET-SPEE-LEE-OAT, WHA-DAT-
AND CHEW
Submitter comment: TONGUE TWISTER TO INITIATE SOMEONE IN THE GROUP.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; OHIO ; CAMP ; WESTLAND
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 12-02-1971
UNCLE DING-DONG
Submitter comment:
WHEN INFORMANT WAS IN HIS EARLY TWENTIES, HE DROVE A
STREET-CAR ON A STREET WHICH WAS PRIMARILY TRAVELLED
BY CHILDREN. WHENEVER HE WOULD PASS BY CHILDREN HE WOULD
RING THE STREET-CAR BELL, AND SO IN THAT SMALL TOWN HE
BECAME KNOWN AS "UNCLE DING-DONG".
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: 02-08-1970
EPIPHANY
AMONG THE MINNESOTA SWEDES OF THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY FROM CHRISTMAS
DAY ONWARD A ROUND OF DINNER PARTIES OF RELATIVES AND FRIENDS WAS
ATTENDED UNTIL EPIPHANY OR THE 12TH DAY ENDED THE SEASON'S
FESTIVITIES.
Where learned: HOME ; ROUTE 1 ; WRITTEN IN A LETTER
Date learned: 03-28-1970