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 3010 returned 558 results.
A MIXTURE OF LARD AND TURPENTINE MAY BE RUBBED ON
CHEST FOR RELIEF OF COLDS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; LE ROY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
FOR WAX IN THE EARS: WRAP A PENCIL WITH AN OLD CLOTH,
LIGHT A CANDLE AND DRIP THE WAX ALL OVER THE CLOTH,
REMOVE THE PENCIL, PLACE THE END OF THE WAX COVERED
CLOTH IN THE EAR, LIGHT THE CLOTH AND IT WILL DRAW
THE WAX OUT.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; LE ROY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Ears, noise in ear BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
FOR CHILL BLAND (FROSTBITE), CUT A RAW ONION OR
POTATO IN HALF AND RUB AFFECTED AREA.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; LE ROY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
PUT AN ONION IN A SOCK AND PIN NEXT TO A BABY'S
CHEST TO LOOSEN A CHEST COLD.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; LE ROY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
IF A PERSON HOLDS A YELLOW DANDELION FLOWER UNDER HIS
CHIN AND HIS CHIN GLOWS YELLOW, THEN THAT PERSON
LIKES BUTTER.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; LE ROY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 01-00-1971
YOU CAN TELL IF A PERSON IS A VIRGIN IF HE OR SHE
CAN PEEL OFF THE LABEL OF A BEER BOTTLE WITH HIS
THUMBNAIL IN A CONTINUOUS STROKE WHILE HOLDING IT
ONLY WITH THE HAND WITH THE THUMB DOING THE PEELING.
Submitter comment:
I WAS ASKED TO PERFORM THIS WHILE AT A LOCAL TAVERN
IN LE ROY, NEW YORK.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; LE ROY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 07-00-1971
THERE ARE NONE SO BLIND AS THEY WHO WILL NOT SEE.
Submitter comment: FAVORITE EXPRESSION OF INFORMANT'S DECEASED MOTHER.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; LE ROY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
VOCABULARY OF GROUP
TRUCK DRIVERS WILL LET OTHER TRUCKS AND SOME CARS KNOW WHEN THEY
HAVE SAFELY PASSED BY FAR ENOUGH, SO THAT THEY MAY CUT BACK INTO THE
TRAVELING LANE, BY FLASHING THEIR HEADLIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN.
THIS LETS THE PASSING TRUCK KNOWN ( KNOW ) HE IS CLEARED ENOUGH TO
CUT BACK IN. THE PASSING TRUCK ACKNOWLEDGES THANKS BY IN TURN
FLASHING HIS LIGHTS. THIS IS GENERALLY ONLY DONE ON FOUR-LANE
HIGHWAYS. IT CAN BE DONE AT NIGHT AND IN THE DAY TIME. I HAVE
PERSONALLY OBSERVED THIS ON THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; LeRoy
Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILES AND TRUCKS
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
NICKNAME
BECAUSE OF MY ABILITY TO RUN VERY QUICKLY IN GRADE SCHOOL, AND DUE TO
MY BUCK TEETH AT THAT TIME, I WAS NICKNAMED "RABBIT." A NICKNAME
WHICH I HAVE CARRIED WITH ME EVEN TO THIS DAY (3-71).
Where learned: NEW YORK ; LeRoy
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
HOMES- TO REMEMBER GREAT LAKES NAMES. H-HERON, O-ONTARIO,
M-MICHIGAN, E-ERIE, S-SUPERIOR.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; LeRoy
Keyword(s): SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
Custom
Good Friday and Planting Custom:
Potatoe [sic] seeds should be planted, if at all possible, on Good Friday.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F663] has been crossed out and replaced with F535
Where learned: HOME ; NEW YORK ; LeRoy
Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; CUSTOM ; FARMING ; Good Friday ; HARVEST ; PLANT VEGETABLE ; POTATO ; Religious Holiday ; VEGETABLE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 |
Retort
Following comment is made to someone who has insulted you:
"I resemble that remark."
The slip of the tongue is intentional.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Sense?
Classification?
The words Tongue Twister have been crossed out.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; Syracuse University ; Syracuse
Keyword(s): INSULT ; Language ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; Resemble ; Resent ; RETORT ; WORDPLAY
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Tongue Twister
Following comment is made to someone who has insulted you. The slip of the tongue is intentional:
You're casting asparagus on my reputation.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Not really a tongue twister, is it?
Where learned: NEW YORK ; Syracuse University ; Syracuse
Keyword(s): INSULT ; Language ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; Reply ; REPUTATION ; RETORT ; WORDPLAY
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
BAD LUCK OMEN
ACCORDING TO THIS INFORMANT, IT IS
AN OLD POLISH SUPERSTITION THAT IF ONE WEARS
A HAT INSIDE A HOUSE, IT MEANS THAT
SOMEONE IN THE FAMILY WILL SOON BECOME SICK.
Where learned: HOME ; BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: SPRING 00001964
FAIRY BELIEF
IN IRELAND,
THE FAIRIES WERE BAD TOO. THEY WOULD COME BY THE NIGHT AND MILK THE
COWS AND HAVE A PICNIC AND WHEN YOU CHURNED THE MILK YOU WOULD HAVE
NO BUTTER. THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD SHOOT THEM WAS TO PUT A SILVER
COIN IN THE GUN, ALONG WITH THE AMMUNITION. AT TWELVE MIDNIGHT,
THEY COULD TAKE YOU FOR A VERY LONG WALK AND KEEP YOU WALKING UNTIL
THE COCKS WOULD CROW AT 4 A.M. BUT YOU COULD FOOL THEM IF YOU
TURNED YOUR COAT INSIDE OUT AND BLESSED YOURSELF WITH THE SIGN OF
THE CROSS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
FAIRY BELIEF
PALLICKS FARTH WAS A HALF MILE FROM MY HOME, A DRUMBLIN OR
RIDGE OF DIRT 8010 FEET HIGH, SHAPED LIKE A BIG BOWL. EVERY NIGHT
AFTER SUNDOWN THE LEPRECHAUNS WOULD COME AND DANCE UNTIL THE COCKS
WOULD CROW IN THE MORNING AND BY SOME MYSTERIOUS POWER,
THEY WOULD PULL UP A BOWLEN, THAT IS WHAT WE CALL THE GOLDEN ROD.
THEY COULD TURN IT INTO A HORSE AND RIDE OFF UNTIL THE NEXT EVENING.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFORMATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
BELIEF
IF YOU SPILL SALT, BE SURE TO PICK SOME OF IT UP BETWEEN THUMB
AND FIRST FINGER AND THROW IT ACROSS THE RIGHT SHOULDER. IT GOES
IN THE DEVIL'S EYES. HE WILL NOT TEMPT YOU TO DO ANYTHING WRONG.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
BLESSED MOTHER BELIEF
A WHISTLING WOMAN YOUNG OR OLD IS INSULTING THE BLESSED MOTHER.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
James Callow Keyword(s): VANITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
IF YOU HEAR A HEN CROW LIKE A ROOSTER, BE SURE TO KILL HER THE
SAME DAY.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
Keyword(s): HEN ROOSTER CROWING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Animal Husbandry Farming Ranching |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
BLESSED MOTHER BELIEF
A WHISTLING WOMAN YOUNG OR OLD IS INSULTING THE BLESSED
MOTHER OF GOD.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
Keyword(s): Feminine ; INSULT ; Ladylike ; Whistle ; Whistling
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.432 BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 03-11-1972