Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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THIS IS SAID WHENEVER CHILDREN MISBEHAVE OR BECOME OBNOXIOUS. "I
LIKE YOU BETTER STILL."
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-07-1972
MUD PUT ON MOSQUITO BITES STOPS THEM FROM ITCHING AND MAKES THEM
GO AWAY FASTER.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POULTICE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 08-00-1969
CORN MEAL MUSH IS GOOD FOR COLDS AND FLU AND SOMETIMES SORE
THROATS.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 08-00-1969
WIPING A YOUNG CHILD'S FACE WITH A BABY'S DIRTY DIAPER WILL KEEP
THAT CHILD FROM HAVING ACNE. IT ALSO MAKES A GOOD COMPLEXION.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-07-1972
THE GIFT
ONCE, IN A FAR AWAY PLACE A TRIBE OF PEOPLE LIVED. THE KING OF
THE PEOPLE LIVED IN A LARGE GRASS HUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
VILLAGE. THE KING HAD A LARGE THRONE MADE OF BRONZE AND IVORY
WEIGHING MANY TONS. A NEIGHBORING TRIBE WISHING TO MAKE FRIENDS
PRESENTED THE KING WITH A NEW THRONE MADE OF GOLD AND SILVER.
NOW, THIS NEW THRONE WAS MUCH NICER THAN THE OLD ONE, SO THE
KING BEGAN USING HIS NEW THRONE. MEANWHILE, THE OLD THRONE WAS
PUT INTO THE ATTIC . ONE DAY A LARGE ELEPHANT STAMPEDED BY,
SHAKING THE GROUND WITH IT'S STEPS. THE KING WAS SITTING ON HIS
THRONE AT THE TIME AND GOT UP TO SEE WHAT THE COMMOTION WAS ALL
ABOUT. AS HE GOT UP, THE OLD THRONE FELL THROUGH THE CEILING AND
CRUSHED HIM. THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS..."KING'S WHO LIVE IN GRASS
HOUSES SHOULDN'T STOW THRONES."
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: 02-00-1972
Entry filtered.
ADVENT CALENDAR
FOR ADVENT ONE OF THE KIDS IN THE FAMILY (USUALLY THE OLDEST)
WOULD MAKE AN ADVENT CALENDAR. THIS CONSISTS OF TWO LARGE
PIECES OF CARDBOARD PUT TOGETHER. THERE WOULD BE A PICTURE ON ONE
SIDE AND CERTAIN ITEMS IN THE PICTURE WOULD BE NUMBERED AND MADE
SO IT COULD BE OPENED. BEHIND EACH NUMBER (ONE FOR EACH DAY
OF DECEMBER) WOULD BE A PICTURE AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY WOULD
GUESS WHAT IT WOULD BE. ALWAYS BEHIND #25 WOULD BE THE
NATIVITY SCENE. ONLY ONE NUMBER WOULD BE OPENED A DAY. THERE
WAS NO REWARD FOR GUESSING THE RIGHT PICTURE.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname and place of residence.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 645 645.2 Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Month CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
Date learned: 10-07-1972
RUGBY PARTY GAMES
EQUIPMENT: TWO GROCERY CARTS, TWO POOL CUES, ONE BARROOM
OBJECT:
ONE MAN IS PLACED IN EACH CART, AND ANOTHER PUSHES THE CART.
THE PLAYERS TRY TO BEAT EACH OTHER INTO SUBMISSION BY
RUSHING AT EACH OTHER AND POKING EACH OTHER WITH THE POOL
CUES.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS GAME, AND IS USUALLY PLAYED BY THE DUMBER
MEN ON THE SQUAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
RUGBY PARTY GAME
OBJECT:
TAKE TEN PEOPLE AND ARRANGE THEM LIKE BOWLING PINS ON A BEER
SOAKED FLOOR. SLIDE A HUMAN BOWLING BALL TOWARDS THE PACK.
THE SCORE IS KEPT IN THE SAME WAY AS IN BOWLING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
UNWRITTEN RULE OF RUGBY
WHEN THE GAME IS OVER, IT IS OVER. IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO BE
A RUGBY PLAYER THAN TO BE ON A WINNING TEAM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
THERE IS A LILY PAD ON A POND. EVERY DAY IT DOUBLES IN SIZE
IN 30 DAYS IT WILL COVER THE WHOLE POND. HOW MANY DAYS BEFORE IT
COVERS HALF THE POND?
TWENTY-NINE DAYS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 02-00-1982
BASKETBALL PLAYERS CONSIDER IT BAD LUCK TO STAND UNDER A HANGING
SCOREBOARD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Games Pastimes Sports |
EACH APRIL THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SAINT FRANCIS CLUB MEETS ONE
LAST TIME BEFORE THE NEWLY-ELECTED BOARD TAKES OFFICE. THE SAINT
FRANCIS CLUB IS A UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT SOCIAL COOPERATIVE AND
STUDENT ORGANIZATION. FOR THE LAST MEETING OF THE OLD BOARD, ALL
FORMALITY IS DROPPED BECAUSE IT IS NOT REALLY MEANT TO BE A SERIOUS
MEETING. THE OFFICIAL REPORTS THAT ARE NORMALLY GIVEN ARE
DISCOURAGED, AND IT IS REALLY AN OCCASION FOR JOKING AND DRINKING AND
JUST HAVING A GOOD TIME IN THE TRADITONAL CLUB SPIRIT, WHILE THE
SECRETARY RECORDS THE MINUTES BACKWARDS (SO THAT THEY MUST BE READ
IN A MIRROR). THIS HAS BEEN AN ANNUAL TRADITION FOR SOME TIME NOW,
AND THE ENTIRE BOARD USUALLY SHOWS UP FOR THIS MEETING, AN OTHERWISE
RARE OCCURENCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- April CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 03-00-1979
TRADITION
"TAKING PEOPLE OUT" IS A LONG TRADITION AT THE SAINT FRANCIS CLUB,
AN ALL-MALE SOCIAL COOPERATIVE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT. TAKING
SOMEONE OUT REFERS TO TAKING A MEMBER OUT INTO THE COURTYARD AND
DUMPING COLD WATER ON HIM. THIS IS DONE ONLY TO MEMBERS FOR SUCH
OCCASIONS AS BIRTHDAYS OR WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING STUPID AT
DINNER. IT IS ALWAYS DONE IN WARM WEATHER AND IN FUN. AT TIMES
ALMOST EVERYONE AT DINNER WILL GO OUT, SUCH AS THE FIRST NICE DAY
IN THE SPRING. I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR BACK THIS GOES, BUT IT HAS BEEN
DONE FOR YEARS BEFORE I JOINED THE CLUB IN 1978.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting |
DRINKING GAME
A GAME PLAYED BY THREE OR MORE PLAYERS. A GLASS IS FILLED WITH BEER,
THE FIRST PERSON TRIES TO BOUNCE A QUARTER OFF THE TABLE OR OTHER
SURFACE AND INTO THE GLASS OF BEER. IF HE MISSES HE MAY PASS TO THE
NEXT PLAYER OR TRY AGAIN. IF HE MISSES THE SECOND TIME HE MUST
DRINK THE BEER. IF HE MAKES IT ON EITHER TURN HE CHOOSES THE PERSON
THAT DRINKS THE BEER.
Submitter comment:
THERE IS NO WINNER, YOU EITHER TRY TO GET DRUNK YOURSELF OR GET
SOMEONE ELSE DRUNK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Drink |
WEATHER BELIEF
WHEN THE LONG LACY FINGERS OF THE SEAS WHITECAPS TOUCH EACH OTHER,
THE WIND IS BLOWING IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Wind Whirlwind Hurricane Cyclone Tornado BELIEF -- Still water Large body. BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
WEATHER BELIEF
RED SKY AT MORNING, SAILOR TAKE WARNING
RED SKY AT NIGHT, SAILOR'S DELIGHT
Submitter comment:
THE MORNING RED SKY SIGNALS A BAD STORM, WHILE THE NIGHT SIGNALS A
A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO COME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
DRINKING THE DOLPHINS
CEREMONY WHERE A SUBMARINER RECEIVES HIS DOLPHIN PIN FOR COMPLETING
THREE CRUISES. THE PIN IS PLACED IN A PITCHER OF BEER AND THE
SUBMARINER MUST GUZZLE THE BEER DOWN, CATCHING THE DOLPHIN PIN IN
HIS TEETH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Irregular |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
PLANTING CUSTOM
DURING HARVEST, THE FARMER WITH THE BEST HARVEST, GIVES A PARTY
TO WHICH ALL THE OTHER FARMERS ARE INVITED AND THEY CELEBRATE HIS
GOOD FORTUNES, GIVING HIM A TITLE FOR HIS ACHIEVEMENT.
Submitter comment: THIS IS DONE IN NIGERIA
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F476 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Autumn Fall Harvest Thanksgiving BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
GOOD LUCK
IF YOU ARE WORKING AND YOU STUMBLE ON A ROCK WITH YOUR RIGHT FOOT,
GOOD LUCK IN THE FUTURE. IF IT IS THE LEFT FOOT THEN THE FUTURE
HOLDS BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN NIGERIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time Working BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-00-1981