Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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MY MOTHER IS OF ITALIAN DESCENT. EVERYTIME MY FIANCE AND
I WANTED TO GO OUT AND BUY ANYTHING OF GREAT VALUE,
IF IT WAS A FRIDAY NIGHT, MY MOTHER WOULD NOT LET US
GO TO THE STORE. IF YOU BUY ON FRIDAY NIGHT, IT IS
BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-27-1971
EGGPLANT WILL REMOVE WARTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 02-27-1971
IF YOU WANT TO GET RID OF A WART COVER IT WITH A RAW
POTATO AND PRESS IT FOR A FEW MINUTES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): POULTICE ; TRANSFER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 09-15-1969
IF YOU WANT TO GET RID OF A WART HAVE SOMEONE BUY IT
FROM YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): SALE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 09-15-1969
IRISH SUPERSTITION: NEVER POSTPONE A WEDDING DATE; IT IS
BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Time or day of ceremony |
Date learned: 04-06-1971
THIS GAME IS PLAYED AT HALLOWEEN IN IRELAND. FOUR
SAUCERS ARE PLACED ON A TABLE. ONE CONTAINS CLAY,
ANOTHER WATER, ANOTHER ROSARY BEADS AND THE FOURTH
ONE CONTAINS A RING. THE PLAYER IS BLINDFOLDED
AND THEN MUST TOUCH A SAUCER. THE ONE HE TOUCHES
IS TO INDICATE HIS FUTURE. CLAY=DEATH; WATER=WILL CROSS
THE OCEAN; ROSARY=RELIGIOUS LIFE; AND RING=MARRIAGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; IRELAND ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween BELIEF -- Use of Object Occasions Events |
Date learned: 11-00-1970
IN POLAND, THE WAY A GIRL FIGURES OUT IF A GUY LIKES
HER IS THAT SHE WILL PICK THE PETALS OFF OF A
FLOWER, SAYING: "LOVES ME, LIKES ME, RESPECTS ME,
DOESN'T WANT ME, DOESN'T CARE, IS ONLY KIDDING."
SHE CONTINUES THIS WAY UNTIL SHE GETS TO THE LAST
PETAL WHICH GIVES HER THE ANSWER.
Submitter comment: I KNOW THIS FROM MY MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; POLAND
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of object for determining true love P861.2 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN DETERMINING THE SEX OF AN UNBORN CHILD, WHILE
STILL IN THE MOTHER'S WOMB, A SPECIAL MEDALLION
WAS USED. THE MEDALLION WAS SILVER AND WAS HUNG FROM
A RATHER LENGTHY CHAIN. IT WAS HUNG IN FRONT OF
THE PREGNANT WOMAN'S ABDOMEN BY A FRIEND. THE
MEDALLION WAS THEN REPORTED TO BEGIN TO SPIN ON
THE CHAIN. IF THE OBJECTS SPINS TO THE LEFT, THE
CHILD IS A GIRL, IF TO THE RIGHT, THE CHILD IS A
BOY.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT'S SOURCE WAS A FORMER NEIGHBOR IN
DEARBORN, MICHIGAN, WHOSE NAME SHE COULD NOT
REMEMBER. SHE REMEMBERED THE NEIGHBOR AS BEING
FROM THE SOUTH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of object for determining number of children or sex of unborn P863.4 |
Date learned: 06-00-1963
WHENEVER ONE OF THE SMALLER CHILDREN IN OUR FAMILY
LOSES ONE OF HIS OR HER TEETH, HE (OR SHE) PUTS IT
UNDER THE PILLOW FOR THE TOOTH FAIRY WHO LEAVES
A QUARTER FOR THE TOOTH IN THE MORNING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
CHAIN LETTER
THIS IS A PRAYER:
TRUST THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT AND ALWAYS ACKNOWLEDGE
HIM AND HE WILL LIGHT YOUR WAY.
THIS PRAYER HAS BEEN SENT TO YOU FOR GOOD LUCK. THE
ORIGINAL COPY CAME FROM THE NETHERLANDS. IT HAS BEEN
AROUND THE WORLD NINE TIMES. THE LUCK HAS BEEN SENT
TO YOU. YOU ARE TO RECEIVE GOOD LUCK WITHIN FOUR
DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THIS LETTER. THIS IS NO JOKE.
YOU WILL RECEIVE IT IN THE MAIL. PLEASE DO NOT SEND
MONEY. DO NOT KEEP THIS LETTER. IT MUST LEAVE WITHIN
96 HOURS AFTER RECEIVING IT. A U.S. OFFICER RECEIVED
$7,000. VON ELLIOT $60,000, BUT BECAUSE HE BROKE THE
CHAIN, HE LOST IT. WHILE IN THE PHILLIPINES, GENERAL
NOPAK LOST HIS LIFE 6 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THE COPY.
HE FAILED TO CIRCULATE THE PRAYER. HOWEVER, BEFORE HIS
DEATH HE RECEIVED $775 HE HAD WON. PLEASE SEND 20
COPIES AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU ON THE FOURTH DAY.
ELIMINATE THE FIRST NAME ON THE LIST AND ADD YOUR
NAME ON THE BOTTOM. (LIST OF NAMES FOLLOWED).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | 686 Fourths / Quarters BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 02-00-1968
SWEDISH LITTLE PEOPLE TALE.
MY GRANDFATHER TOLD ME SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I WAS A SMALL
CHILD, AND ALSO WHEN HE WAS SOMEWHAT UNDER THE WEATHER--
THE SWEDES DO LIKE TO DRINK--ABOUT ONE TIME WHEN HE WAS
YOUNG AND HE WAS COMING HOME LATE IN THE AFTERNOON, BUT
HE HAD TO CROSS THIS CAVERN. THERE WAS A LOG ACROSS
THIS DITCH. WELL, JUST AS HE GOT UP TO THIS LOG, HE
LOOKED DOWN AND, WOOOOOOO, HE SAW A LITTLE MAN. HE
NEVER SAW ONE BEFORE AND HE DIDN'T BELIEVE IN THEM
BEFORE THAT TIME. WELL, HE RAN BACK AND GOT HIS DAD,
MY GREAT GRAND DAD, AND THEY BOTH CAME BACK TO THE
VERY SAME SPOT, BUT NO LITTLE MAN! BUT THERE WAS
SMALL FOOTPRINTS, AND THEY FOLLOWED THEM FOR A WAYS
BUT THEY DISAPPEARED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
SUPERSTITION
ON A SPECIFIC STREET IN DETROIT {MICHIGAN} IT IS
BELIEVED THAT A LITTLE GIRL WAS ONCE HIT BY A CAR
COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL, AND NOW HER SPIRIT REMAINS
THERE AND KNOCKS ON CARS AFTER DARKNESS, WHEN THEY
PASS OVER THIS STREET.
Submitter comment: HEARD MANY TIMES FROM FRIENDS FOR ENTERTAINMENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
IN A SMALL TOWN IN NEW YORK STATE, A YOUNG ENGINEER
WAS TRYING TO PURCHASE AN OLD TWIN ENGINE AIRPLANE.
THE OWNER TOLD HIM THAT THE PLANE HAD BEEN BURNT
DOWN TO THE SKELETON OF THE PLANE YEARS BEFORE.
THE PLANE BURNT QUICK BECAUSE IT WAS A FABRIC-
COVERED PLANE. THE ENGINEER STARTED THE PLANE UP WITH
THE HELP OF THE OWNER AND THEN HE SAT ALONE IN THE
COCKPIT READING THE GAUGES. SUDDENLY, A MAN WITH AN
OLD BROWN FLIGHT JACKET AND LEATHER HELMET TAPPED
HIM ON THE SHOULDER AND SAID, "GET OUT QUICK, PLANE'S
ON FIRE!" THE ENGINEER JUMPED OUT AND RAN FROM THE
PLANE. WHEN HE TURNED AROUND NOTHING WAS LEFT BUT THE
SMOLDERING SKELETON.
WHEN THE OWNER ASKED HIM WHAT HAPPENED, WHEN HE
RETURNED, THE ENGINEER TOLD THE WHOLE STORY AND
DESCRIBED THE MAN WHO WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. THE
OWNER REPLIED, "THAT SOUNDS LIKE MY BROTHER." THE
ENGINEER THEN ASKED WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM. THE OWNER
THEN SAID, "HE DIED WHEN THE PLANE BURNT THE FIRST
TIME YEARS BEFORE!"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): REPEATED TRAGEDY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE LEGEND OF THE TRUMPETER OF CRACOW
IN OLD POLAND THERE IS A LEGEND CONCERNING A CHURCH TOWER
AND ITS TRUMPETER, WHO WAS PLEDGED TO SOUND THE ANGELUS
TO THE PEOPLE OF CRACOW WITH A BEAUTIFUL MELODY.
ONCE, WHEN THE PEOPLE WERE DEFENDING THEIR CITY AND CHURCH
AGAINST THE HEATHEN TARTARS, THEY WERE ON THE VERGE OF
GIVING IN TO THE ONSLAUGHT OF GENGHIS KHAN. WEAK AND
WOUNDED, THEY WERE READY TO GIVE THEMSELVES OVER TO THE
MERCILESS ENEMY, WHEN A FAMILIAR SOUND ROSE ABOVE THE
FIGHTING AND GAVE THEM NEW STRENGTH AND COURAGE. IT WAS
THE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET FROM THE TOWER OF THE CHURCH
OF PANNA MARJA, THE CHURCH OF "LADY MARY," PLAYING
THE ANGELUS. THE TRUMPETER NEVER FINISHED HIS SONG,
SINCE A TARTAR ARROW KILLED HIM. CRACOW WAS SAVED, HOWEVER,
BY HIS INSPIRATION.
EVER AFTER, THE TRUMPETERS OF PANNA MARJA HAVE LEFT
THE MELODY UNFINISHED IN MEMORY OF THE TRUMPETER OF
CRACOW, WHO DIED RATHER THAN TO LET THE WHIM OF A HEATHEN
KEEP HIM FROM FULFILLING HIS VOWS TO MARY.
THE MELODY IS PLAYED, DAILY, TO THIS DAY FROM THE CHURCH
TOWER. THERE, IN CRACOW, I HEARD IT MYSELF, AS WELL AS
THE LEGEND, WHICH I KNEW FROM CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): KRAKOW
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE LEGEND OF KRAKUS
AFTER THE FOUNDING OF POLAND (550 A.D.) BY A LEGENDARY
HERO NAMED LECH, THERE FOLLOWED TWELVE PALANTINES.
THEIR RULING WAS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. FINALLY, THE
PEOPLE CHOSE A YOUNG PRINCE NAMED KRAKUS. HE WAS KNOWN
TO HAVE KILLED A TERRIBLE DRAGON LIVING IN A CAVE,
UNDER THE HILL OF WOWEL NEAR THE VISTULA RIVER,
AFTER WHICH THE CITY OF KRAKOW, OR CRACAW, WAS BUILT.
SINCE KRAKUS WAS SUCH A JUST AND NOBLE RULER, THE PEOPLE
BUILT UP A MOUND, BY HAND, IN HONOR OF HIM. THIS MOUND
EXISTS TO THIS DAY.
THE LEGEND OF KRAKUS' VICTORY OVER THE FIERY DRAGON GOES
LIKE THIS:
FOR MANY YEARS THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THIS AREA FEARED THE
DRAGON THAT LIVED IN THE CAVE. OFTEN HE WOULD ROAR
WHEN HE WAS HUNGRY, SHAKING THE EARTH AS HE DID. ONCE
A YEAR THE DRAGON WOULD COME OUT INTO THE FIELDS WHERE
THE SHEPHERDS HAD THEIR SHEEP GRAZING. HE WOULD ROAR
WITH FIRE COMING OUT OF HIS MOUTH. TO SATISFY THE ANGRY
DRAGON, THE PEOPLE WOULD OFFER A YOUNG MAIDEN, EVERY YEAR,
{FOR HIM} TO CONSUME. HE WOULD THEN RETURN TO HIS CAVE
FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
KRAKUS, BEING A CLEVER YOUNG MAN, DECIDED TO CONQUER THIS
DRAGON. THE PEOPLE PROMISED HIM THE KINGDOM IF HE COULD.
HE TOOK A LAMB, CUT IT OPEN, AND STUFFED IT WITH
BRIMSTONE. HE LEFT THIS LAMB OUT IN THE FIELD WHEN THE
ANGRY DRAGON CAME OUT. SEEING NO YOUNG MAIDEN AROUND,
THE HUNGRY DRAGON QUICKLY DEVOURED THE LAMB. SUDDENLY,
HE WAS VERY THIRSTY. IN HIS THIRST, HE WENT TO THE
VISTULA RIVER TO DRINK. HE DRANK AND DRANK, UNTIL HE
BURST OPEN. THUS THE TERRIBLE DRAGON WAS DEAD AND
KRAKUS WAS THE HERO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE LEGEND OF WANDA
WANDA WAS THE DAUGHTER OF KRAKUS, A LEGENDARY HERO
AND POLISH RULER IN PAGAN TIMES. A YOUNG GERMAN PRINCE,
NAMED RYDYGIER, WANTED TO MARRY WANDA WHEN SHE WAS
REIGNING. SHE DID NOT WANT TO MARRY HIM, AS HE WAS
A GERMAN. IN ORDER TO FORCE THIS MARRIAGE, RYDYGIER
BROUGHT HIS WHOLE ARMY TO THE CITY OF CRACOW, WHERE
WANDA RULED. WANDA'S ARMY CONQUERED HIS AND SO THAT
HER PEOPLE WOULD NOT HAVE TO SUFFER FOR HER CAUSE, SHE
THREW HERSELF INTO THE VISTULA RIVER. IT IS ALSO SAID
THAT WANDA HAD VOWED HER DEATH TO THE GODS IF HER ARMY
CONQUERED RYDYGIER'S. IN HER HONOR A MOUND WAS BUILT,
BY HAND, BY HER PEOPLE, WHICH EXISTS TODAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; POLAND
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE WANDERING JEW IN JANOWIEC, POLAND
IT IS BELIEVED IN JANOWIEC, POLAND, A SMALL VILLAGE,
THAT THERE IS A WANDERING JEW WHOM NOONE REALLY
REALLY KNOWS BUT ONLY SEES FROM TIME TO TIME IN THE
AREA. THIS "WANDERING JEW" IS MOST LIKELY SEEN
BRINGING ON A STORM; THAT IS, AS HE CROSSES THE
VALLEY OF JANOWIEC A STORM FOLLOWS BEHIND HIM.
THE INHABITANTS OF JANOWIEC BELIEVE THIS,
PARTICULARLY THE OLD ONES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; POLAND
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 10-22-1967
THE WATER SPRITES' BOAT
THE CHILDREN IN NORWAY ARE TAUGHT NEVER TO LEAVE A TINY NAIL
SLIVER ANYWHERE FOR THE WATER SPRITES TO FIND. THE LITTLE
SPRITES COLLECT ALL THE CUTTINGS THEY CAN FIND, BECAUSE THEY ARE
BUILDING A GREAT BOAT OUT OF THEM. WHEN THE BOAT IS FINISHED
THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO SAIL IT INTO A FJORD, AND ON REACHING THE
END, THE BOAT WILL EXPLODE AND CAUSE SUCH AN EARTHQUAKE
THAT THE WORLD WILL COME TO AN END.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): FINGERNAILS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
AMONG THE SWEDISH OF AMERICA, AS AMONG THEIR ANCESTORS,
THERE IS BELIEVED TO BE LITTLE PEOPLE. AND THEY ARE
REFERRED TO AS "THE LITTLE PEOPLE" OR IN SWEDISH
"TANTAGUBAN."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
LEGEND OF THE FIRST WOMAN IN NEW ORLEANS
THE FIRST TO SETTLE NEW ORLEANS WERE MEN, AND NO WOMEN.
THESE FRENCHMEN BECAME SOMEWHAT DOWNHEARTED OVER THE
LACK OF WOMEN, AND SO A DELEGATION WROTE THE KING OF
FRANCE AND GAVE AN ULTIMATUM TO HIM, WHICH CONSISTED
OF GIVING THE KING THE OPTION TO EITHER SEND OVER
WOMEN OR WATCH THE MEN COME HOME TO FRANCE. THE KING
WENT TO THE JAIL AND FOUND 400 WHORES AND THIEVES, AND
HE SENT THEM TO AMERICA. WELL, THIS WAS FINE FOR A
WHILE, BUT THEN THE NEW ORLEANS' MEN DECIDED THEY
NEEDED WIVES THAT WERE RESPECTABLE. THEY FELT THEY
COULD NOT MARRY THE WOMEN THAT WERE FIRST SENT OVER.
SO A DELEGATION WENT TO FRANCE TO CONVINCE AT LEAST
100 MIDDLE CLASS WOMEN TO COME TO NEW ORLEANS, AND
THIS THEY DID BY BRIBE OF MONEY. THESE GIRLS WERE
CALLED THE CASKETTE GIRLS. IT IS SAID THAT
STRANGELY ALL 400 OF THE WHORES WERE BARON {BARREN?}
YET THE 100 OR SO MIDDLE CLASS WOMEN BORE THE GREAT
SOCIETY OF NEW ORLEANS' ELITE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- B439 |
Date learned: 10-00-1968