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 46 returned 1126 results.
BAD LUCK TO GIVE YOUR BOYFRIEND AN ELECTRIC SHAVER,
BECAUSE YOU WILL BREAK UP.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 04-15-1971
IT'S BAD LUCK TO HAVE YOUR PICTURE TAKEN WITH YOUR
BOYFRIEND.
James Callow Keyword(s): Photography
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
Date learned: 04-15-1971
SUPERSTITION
ITS GOOD FOR A BEE TO STING YOU BECAUSE IT MAKES YOUR CELLS WORK.
James Callow Keyword(s): VITALIZING BEE STING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
{THE FATAL HAIRDO}
THERE WAS A WOMAN WHO WENT TO THE BEAUTY PARLOR TO GET A "BEE HIVE"
HAIRDO. THE HAIR IS RATTED AND PLACED ON A WAXED PAPER CONE AND
BUILT INTO A HIVE SHAPE. THERE WERE COCKROACH EGGS ON THE PAPER
AND THE WOMAN DIDN'T BOTHER TO WASH HER HAIR FOR A FEW WEEKS,
THE EGGS HATCHED. THE WOMAN AT FIRST THOUGHT THE ITCHING WAS DUE
TO HER NOT HAVING WASHED HER HAIR FOR SUCH A LONG TIME. IN FACT,
THE COCKROACHES ATE THROUGH TO HER BRAIN AND SHE DIED. PEOPLE
DISCOVERED THE COCKROACHES AFTER SHE HAD DIED.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS STORY WHILE LIVING IN A SMALL TOWN IN
WESTERN OHIO, BELLEVUE, AROUND 1959.
Where learned: OHIO ; DETROIT ; BELLEVUE
James Callow Keyword(s): DEVASTATING COCKROACHES, NOT SPIDERS
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 09-20-1972
LITTLE BOY
IN MANNPISSE, IRELAND THERE IS A STATUE OF A LITTLE BOY URINATING.
THE STORY HAS IT THAT A LITTLE BOY WAS LOST AND HIS FATHER LOOKED
ALL OVER FOR HIM. THE FATHER SAID THAT IF HE FOUND THE LITTLE
BOY, HE WOULD BUILD A STATUE OF THE LITTLE BOY DOING WHATEVER THE
FATHER FOUND HIM DOING. THE LITTLE BOY WAS FOUND URINATING AND
A STATUE WAS BUILT.
Where learned: OHIO
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Monument |
Date learned: 12-01-1969
(TALE FILLED WITH CONTRADICTION)
ONE BRIGHT MORNING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,
TWO DEAD BOYS GOT UP TO FIGHT.
BACK TO BACK THEY FACED EACH OTHER,
DREW A SWORD AND SHOT EACH OTHER.
A DEAF POLICEMAN HEARD THE NOISE
AND CAME AND GOT THE TWO DEAD BOYS.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS FROM MY COMPANIONS.
Where learned: OHIO
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative Prose Narrative |
Date learned: 00001950S
BIRTH: TREATMENT OF EXPECTANT MOTHERS
FOR EVERY BABY YOU HAVE YOU WILL LOSE A TOOTH.
Where learned: OHIO ; NORTH OLMSTED
Keyword(s): CHILDBIRTH ; LOSS OF TEETH ; PREGNANCY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-08-1970
LITTLE BOY
IN MANNPISSE, IRELAND THERE IS A STATUE OF A LITTLE BOY URINATING.
THE STORY HAS IT THAT A LITTLE BOY WAS LOST AND HIS FATHER LOOKED
ALL OVER FOR HIM. THE FATHER SAID THAT IF HE FOUND THE LITTLE
BOY, HE WOULD BUILD A STATUE OF THE LITTLE BOY DOING WHATEVER THE
FATHER FOUND HIM DOING. THE LITTLE BOY WAS FOUND URINATING AND
A STATUE WAS BUILT.
Where learned: OHIO
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Monument |
Date learned: 12-01-1969
RIDDLE
HOW DID THE MAUMEE RIVER GET ITS NAME?
AN INDIAN SQUAW WAS CROSSING THE RIVER AND DROPPED HER BABY INTO
THE RIVER. THE BABY CRIED OUT, "MAUMEE, MAUMEE."
Where learned: OHIO ; DEFIANCE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-00-1978
SUPERSTITION
WHEN ONE HEARS NOISES THREE DAYS AFTER BURYING A LOVED ONE
MEANS HIS SPIRIT CAME BACK TO THANK THE FAMILY FOR ALL THEY
HAVE DONE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
Keyword(s): Haunting ; SPIRIT ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 10-22-1968
Proverb
Time and Tide wait for no man.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Man ; Maxim ; NATURE ; PROVERB ; Tide ; TIME ; VERSE ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
TAKE THE SEEDS OF AN APPLE AND NAME THEM FOR YOUR LOVERS. THROW
THEM ONE BY ONE INTO A FIRE. THE SEED THAT MAKES THE LOUDEST NOISE
IS THE LOVE THAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU.
Where learned: OHIO ; DEFIANCE
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
Proverb
The early bird catches the worm.
Submitter comment:
Heard it in gradeschool.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V600] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; BIRD ; Early ; Forethought ; Late ; Maxim ; METAPHOR ; PROVERB ; VERSE ; Worm
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
IF THE HEM OF A GIRL'S DRESS IS ACCIDENTLY TURNED UP, IT MEANS
THAT HER LOVER IS THINKING ABOUT HER. THE GIRL SHOULD KISS THE
HEM AND MAKE A WISH BEFORE TURNING THE HEM DOWN. THE WISH THAT
SHE HAS MADE WILL COME TRUE WITHIN A WEEK.
Where learned: OHIO ; DEFIANCE
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
(TALE FILLED WITH CONTRADICTION)
ONE BRIGHT MORNING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,
TWO DEAD BOYS GOT UP TO FIGHT.
BACK TO BACK THEY FACED EACH OTHER,
DREW A SWORD AND SHOT EACH OTHER.
A DEAF POLICEMAN HEARD THE NOISE
AND CAME AND GOT THE TWO DEAD BOYS.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS FROM MY COMPANIONS.
Where learned: OHIO
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative Prose Narrative |
Date learned: 00001950S
TO CHOOSE BETWEEN TWO LOVERS, TAKE TWO APPLE SEEDS AND NAME ONE FOR
EACH PERSON. SPIT ON THE SEEDS AND STICK THEM ON YOUR FOREHEAD.
THE SEED THAT STAYS ON THE LONGEST WILL LET YOU KNOW WHO IS THE
RIGHT MAN FOR YOU.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT REMEMBERS HEARING ABOUT THIS IN A MAGAZINE.
Where learned: OHIO ; DEFIANCE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
Proverb
Good, Better, Best / Never let it take a rest / Till your good is better / And your better best.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Bn [V700] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Keyword(s): Ability ; Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Best ; Better ; Good ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; RHYME ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
TO FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE GOING TO MARRY, TAKE AN APPLE BY THE
STEM AND TWIST THE APPLE WHILE YOU ARE SAYING THE ALPHABET.
THE LETTER THAT YOU ARE SAYING WHEN THE STEM BREAKES IS THE INITIAL
OF THE PERSON YOU ARE GOING TO MARRY.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT REMEMBERS DOING THIS WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER.
Where learned: OHIO ; DEFIANCE
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
WHEN I WANT MY TRUE LOVE BY ME
I SHAPE MY SHOES INTO A T.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS DONE TO BRING YOUR LOVER TO YOUR SIDE. YOU SAY THIS AFTER
YOU HAVE ARRANGED YOUR SHOES SO THAT THE TOE OF THE RIGHT SHOE
TOUCHES THE MIDDLE OF THE LEFT SHOE.
INFORMANT REMEMBERS READING ABOUT THIS IN A MAGAZINE.
Where learned: OHIO ; DEFIANCE
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Lower body and legs BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Emblem |
Date learned: 02-00-1982
A GOOD LOVE POTION IS MADE FROM THE WEB OF WILD DUCK'S FEET. THE
FOOT IS DRIED AND POWDERED. IF YOU PUT THIS IN A CUP OF COFFEE
OR A GLASS OF MILK, THE PERSON WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER. BUT IF THE
JUICE IS USED, THE LOVE WILL GO SOUR.
Where learned: OHIO ; DEFIANCE
James Callow Keyword(s): APHRODISIAC
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Meat Bird Poultry BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 03-00-1982