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 9 returned 1262 results.
PART OF BOYSCOUT INITIATION CONSISTS OF CERTAIN
RITUALS. PART OF WHICH, THE YOUNG SCOUT ANSWERS
ALL QUESTIONS WITH THE MAGIC WORD "WODANOSSIAM."
FREELY TRANSLATED MEANS: WHAT AN ASS I AM.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
SIMON SAYS
ONE PLAYER IS SELECTED AS THE LEADER. HE STANDS IN
THE FRONT OF THE ROOM AND THE OTHER PLAYERS STAND IN
THE AISLES FACING THE LEADER. THE LEADER GIVES
COMMANDS, SOME OF WHICH ARE PREFACED BY "SIMON SAYS."
AND SOME OF WHICH ARE NOT. THE PLAYERS MUST DO
EVERYTHING THAT BEGINS WITH "SIMON SAYS," BUT HAVE
AN OPTION ON THE OTHERS. ANY PLAYER WHO MAKES A
MISTAKE, IF CAUGHT BY THE LEADER, MUST BE SEATED.
AFTER THE LEADER HAS CAUGHT THREE ERRORS BY PLAYERS
ANOTHER LEADER IS SELECTED AND GAME CONTINUES WITH
THOSE SEATED REJOINING.
Submitter comment:
KATHY DOES NOT REMEMBER SOURCE. PROBABLY IN HER
NEIGHBORHOOD.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-01-1967
BLIND MAN'S BLUFF
THE PLAYERS ARE IN A CIRCLE FORMATION WITH ONE
PLAYER, THE BLIND MAN, IN THE CENTER AND BLIND-
FOLDED. THE CIRCLE MOVES AROUND UNTIL THE BLIND MAN
SLAPS HIS HANDS. HE THEN POINTS TOWARD THE CIRCLE OF
PLAYERS AND CALLS THE NAME OF ANY ANIMAL. THE PLAYER
TO WHOM HE IS POINTING MUST MAKE A NOISE LIKE THAT
ANIMAL AND THE BLIND MAN GUESSES WHO THE PLAYER IS.
THREE TRIALS ARE GIVEN HIM. IF HE IS SUCCESSFUL IN
GUESSING THE NAME OF THE PLAYER, THEN THAT PLAYER
BECOMES THE BLIND MAN. IF HE DOESN'T GUESS CORRECTLY
THE GAME IS COMPLETED WHEN HE DOES.
Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED AS A CHILD IN NEIGHBORHOOD.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-01-1967
DROP THE HANDKERCHIEF
THE PLAYERS STAND IN A CIRCLE FORMATION FACING THE
CENTER OF THE CIRCLE. ONE CHILD IS IT AND HE RUNS
AROUND THE CIRCLE AND DROPS A HANDKERCHIEF BACK OF
AND CLOSE TO ANOTHER PLAYER. HE CONTINUES TO RUN
AROUND THE CIRCLE AND THE PLAYER BEHIND WHOM THE
HANDKERCHIEF WAS DROPPED PICKS IT UP AND RUNS IN THE
DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THAT TAKEN BY THE OTHER PLAYER.
THE PLAYER WHO FIRST REACHES THE PLACE IN THE CIRCLE
VACATED BY THE SECOND PLAYER IS SAFE AND THE OTHER
PLAYER IS IT. THE CHILD WHO IS IT TAKES OR KEEPS
THE HANDKERCHIEF AND THE GAME IS REPEATED.
Submitter comment: MARY LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-01-1967
RED LIGHT
THE PLAYER SELECTED TO BE IT STANDS ON A GOAL LINE
MARKED ACROSS ONE END OF THE PLAY AREA. THE OTHER
PLAYERS ARE ON A STARTING LINE AT THE OPPOSITE END.
THE CHILD WHO IS IT CALLS, "GREEN LIGHT!" HE TURNS
HIS BACK TO PLAYERS AND COUNTS ALOUD, "1-2-3----10,
RED LIGHT!" THE PLAYERS START ON THE SIGNAL "GREEN
LIGHT!" AND RUN TOWARD THE GOAL LINE, BUT THEY MUST
STOP ON THE WORDS, "RED LIGHT." ON THIS SIGNAL
IT TURNS TO FACE THE PLAYERS. IF HE SEES A PLAYER
MOVING HIS FEET, HE SENDS HIM BACK TO THE STARTING
LINE. EACH PLAYER TRIES TO BE THE FIRST TO THE GOAL
LINE.
Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED AS A CHILD IN NEIGHBORHOOD.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 11-01-1967
RUN SHEEP RUN
ON THE ORDER OF HIDE-AND-SEEK, EXCEPT THAT THE SEEKER
HAD A HELPER WHO TOLD THE HIDER HOW CLOSE HE WAS
TO BE DISCOVERED. BLUE=CLOSE; YELLOW=CLOSER; RED=
REAL CLOSE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 11-17-1968
JOHNNIE ON THE PONY OR BUC BUC
FIVE PEOPLE GET IN LINE AND BEND OVER. IN THIS
POSITION, THEY GRAB ONTO SOMETHING IN ORDER TO BALANCE
THEMSELVES. NOW ONE BY ONE, OTHER PEOPLE BEGIN TO
JUMP ON THE FIVE IN POSITION. AS THEY JUMP ON, THEY
YELL, "BUC, BUC #1," AND THEN THE NEXT PERSON YELLS
"BUC, BUC #2," AND SO ON UNTIL THE FIVE COLLAPSE.
THE FIVE MAN TEAM WHICH HOLD THE LARGEST NUMBER OF
PEOPLE ON ITS BACK IS THE BUC, BUC CHAMPION.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 11-11-1968
IF YOU CUT OFF THE TIP OF YOUR PIECE OF PIZZA,
AND EAT IT LAST, YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
SHE WAS CORRECTING SOMEONE FOR EATING THEIR
PIZZA TIP FIRST.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Last events: the last person to the table... BELIEF -- Good luck Food and drink |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF A PENNY ROLLS YOUR WAY IN A PENNY ANTE POKER GAME,
IT WILL BRING YOU GOOD LUCK AND THE POT TOO.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS DURING A POKER, IN WHICH
HE WAS ENGAGED.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | 881 Games / Pastimes / Sports BELIEF -- Good luck Money |
Date learned: 04-10-1965
TO BREAK A MIRROR CAUSES SEVEN YEARS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Bad luck Mirror |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU PUT A HAT ON A BED, IT IS BAD LUCK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): Bed ; BELIEF ; CLOTHING ; Fashion ; Hat ; LUCK ; Placement ; PREDICTION ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.) BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) |
Date learned: 10-00-1969
IN THE THEATRE, IT IS COMMONLY BELIEVED THAT A HAT
ON THE BED IN THE DRESSING ROOM ON OPENING NIGHT
WILL BRING BAD LUCK TO THE PLAY OR COMPANY.
Submitter comment:
MARY GOT FROM HER MOTHER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): Actor ; Bed ; BELIEF ; CLOTHING ; Fashion ; Hat ; LUCK ; Placement ; Play ; PREDICTION ; Stage ; SUPERSTITION ; THEATER
| Subject headings: | DRAMA -- Secular BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.) BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
AN UMBRELLA IN THE HOUSE IS BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: DOESN'T REMEMBER (SOURCE).
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Umbrella |
Date learned: 11-25-1967
TO SEE A PIN AND LEAVE IT BE IS SURE TO BRING
BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: UNKNOWN SOURCE
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Sharp objects |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT IS BAD LUCK TO TRY TO COUNT STARS.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Star BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
IF YOU EAT YOUR MEAT BEFORE YOUR POTATOES AT
SUPPPERTIME, YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable Food Drink -- Meat BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
IF YOU ARE SEWING AND USING A THIMBLE, AND LOSE THE
THIMBLE THROW THE GARMENT OUT, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS
FOR IT CAN ONLY BRING BAD LUCK.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time Working BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
Date learned: 09-00-1969
IF SOMEBODY GOES IN ONE DOOR AND OUT THE OTHER, (THEY)
HE WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WAS NOT SURE WHERE HE HEARD THIS, BUT HE
ADDED IT HAPPENED TO HIM ONCE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck Leaving Entering Returning home Travel |
Date learned: 04-18-1965
IF THREE PEOPLE LIGHT THEIR CIGARETTE, IT IS BAD
LUCK--THAT IS, IF IT IS OFF THE SAME MATCH.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SAID THAT HE THOUGHT THAT THIS
TRADITION STARTED DURING WORLD WAR I. HE SAID
THAT IF THREE SOLDIERS GOT A LIGHT ON THE SAME
MATCH, THE ENEMY WOULD HAVE TIME TO SPOT THEM
BECAUSE OF THE LIGHT FLICKERING.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: 05-01-1965
MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT FRIDAY THE 13TH IS BAD LUCK.
BUT DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT. THE REAL DAY OF BAD LUCK
IS TUESDAY THE 17TH.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THAT TUESDAY THE 17TH HAS ALWAYS
BEEN UNLUCKY FOR HIM.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Date learned: NOT GIVEN