Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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ON EASTER MONDAY (DYNGUS) LITTLE BOYS KNOCK ON THE
DOORS OF LITTLE GIRLS' HOUSES. THE GIRLS MUST LET THEM
IN, AND IF THEY CAN SWITCH THE GIRLS WITH STICKS,
THE GIRLS MUST GIVE THE BOY AN EASTER EGG. ON
TUESDAY, THE GIRLS HIT THE BOYS WITH STICKS AND
POUR PERFUME ON IT (THEM?)
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Monday Dyngus CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Tuesday Revenge Day |
Date learned: 11-04-1969
HIDE AND SEEK
THE PLAYERS WOULD CHOOSE AN "IT" WHO WAS USUALLY THE
SCAPEGOAT OF THE GROUP. THE OTHERS WOULD RUN AND
HIDE AS THE IT COUNTED. AFTER COUNTING, HE WOULD
BEGIN TO SEEK OUT THE HIDDEN KIDS. IF HE SPOTS ONE,
HE CALLS OUT THE NAME AND RUNS BACK TO TOUCH A
DESIGNATED TELEPHONE POLE. IF HE BEATS THE PERSON
BACK, THE PERSON WHO LOST IS THE NEW "IT." WHEN HE
CAN'T FIND ANYONE, HE YELLS OUT "I GIVE UP" AND THE
GAME IS RESTARTED.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
THE MIDNIGHT GHOST
THIS IS A GAME SIMILAR TO HIDE AND SEEK. THE "GHOST"
BLINDS HIS EYES AND COUNTS TO 12 WHILE THE OTHER
CHILDREN RUN AND HIDE. WHEN HE IS DONE COUNTING,
HE SAYS, "THE MIDNIGHT GHOST WALKS" AND STARTS
LOOKING FOR THE OTHER KIDS. THE ONES WHO ARE HIDDEN
TRY TO RUN TO THE "GHOUL" (GOAL) WITHOUT BEING
TOUCHED BY THE MIDNIGHT GHOST. IF THEY ARE TOUCHED
THE FIRST ONE TO BE TOUCHED IS IT FOR THE NEXT ROUND.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
MOTHER, MAY I?
THIS IS A GAME WHERE THE OBJECT IS TO REACH THE PERSON
WHO IS "IT," BY TAKING DIFFERENT SIZE STEPS. THE
FIRST PERSON CALLS OUT TO THE "IT" "MOTHER, MAY I TAKE
FOUR GIANT STEPS?" HERE, THE NUMBER OF STEPS IS
ARBITRARY AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF STEPS.
THERE IS THE GIANT STEP--THE PERSON TAKES HIS LONGEST
STRIDE; THE BABY STEP--THE PERSON TAKES ONE FOOT AND
PLACES HIS HEEL OF ONE FOOT TO THE TOE OF THE OTHER;
THE BANANA PEEL--THE PERSON KEEPS ONE FOOT STATIONARY
AND PIVOTS AS FAR AS HE IS ABLE WITH THE OTHER; THE
RABBIT HOP--THE PERSON HOPS WITH BOTH FEET TOGETHER;
THE UMBRELLA TURN--STEPPING OUT WITH ONE FOOT WITH ARMS
OUTSTRETCHED AND THEN TURNING AROUND BY MOVING THE
OTHER FOOT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE "IT."
ALTHOUGH THE PERSON MAY ASK FOR SO MANY STEPS, THE
FINAL DECISION IS UP TO THE "IT." IF HE APPROVES, YOU
EXECUTE THE NUMBER OF STEPS AND THE TYPE OF STEP
AGREED UPON. IF HE DOES NOT, HE TELLS YOU HOW MANY
STEPS TO TAKE OF ONE KIND. IF YOU FORGET TO BEGIN EACH
REQUEST WITH "MOTHER, MAY I," YOU RETURN TO THE
STARTING POINT AND BEGIN AGAIN.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
HOP SCOTCH
THE WAY THE GAME IS PLAYED ON THE DIAGRAM BELOW IS AS
FOLLOWS: A STONE IS THROWN (OR A PIECE OF TAR) ONTO
ONE OF THE SQUARES. IF IT BOUNCES OUTSIDE THE LINES,
YOU MUST WAIT FOR ANOTHER TURN BEFORE YOU TRY AGAIN.
THE STONE OR TAR MUST BE THROWN ON ALL OF THE NUMBERS
IN SEQUENCE, I.E., 1, 2, 3, ETC. THEN THE PERSON MUST
GET TO HIS STONE BY HOPPING. ONE FOOT IS HOPPED ON IN
THE 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, AND 12TH SQUARES AND THE OTHERS
MUST BE HOPPED ON SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE LEFT AND RIGHT
FEET. SO, THE WAY TO GET TO THE 7TH SQUARE, FOR
EXAMPLE WOULD BE: 1 (RIGHT), 2-3 (RIGHT AND LEFT) 4
(RIGHT), 5 (RIGHT), 6-7 (RIGHT AND LEFT). YOU THEN
PICK UP YOUR MARKER AND REVERSE THE PROCESS.
THE GAME ENDS WHEN YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY GONE TO 12
AND BACK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM THE OTHER CHILDREN IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE
PEOPLE ASSEMBLE IN A CIRCLE. ONE PERSON REMAINS
IN THE CENTER. THIS PERSON GOES AROUND TAPPING
EACH PERSON ON THE HEAD. HE SAYS "DUCK" AS HE TAPS
EACH ONE. HOWEVER, WHEN HE TAPS ONE AND SAYS "GOOSE,"
THIS DESIGNATED PERSON MUST CHASE HIM. THE OBJECT
IS TO GET TO THE CHOSEN ONE'S PLACE BEFORE HE TAGS
YOU. IF YOU DO, THE "GOOSE" IS NOW IN THE MIDDLE.
IF HE TAGS, HOWEVER, IT'S BACK IN THE MIDDLE FOR YOU.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 03-00-1970
THOSE WHO ARE PRONE TO TELL ALL THEY KNOW GENERALLY TELL
MORE THAN THEY KNOW.
Where learned: HOME ; WARREN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 03-07-1970
JUNGLE PATCHING
THE DRIVER OF THE CAR DRIVES UP ON A LAWN AND STOPS.
HE THEN TORQUES THE ENGINE AND PUTS THE CAR INTO
GEAR, WHICH CAUSES THE WHEELS TO CHEW UP THE LAWN
IN TWO IDENTICAL LINES. THE RESULT IS TWO PARALLEL
TRACKS OF BARRED EARTH.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SAW IT HAPPEN A COUPLE OF TIMES.
Where learned: HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; Prank
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00001967 SUMMER
CHOOSING UP SIDES
THE TWO CAPTAINS WOULD TAKE A BAT. ONE WOULD THROW IT
TO THE OTHER MAN, WHO WOULD CATCH IT AROUND THE
TRADEMARK. THE THROWER WOULD THEN PLACE HIS HAND
ON TOP OF THE BAT WHERE THE OPPONENT HAD CAUGHT IT.
THEY WOULD THEN ALTERNATE HANDS ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP
OF THE BAT. WHEN THERE WAS NO MORE ROOM FOR A FULL
HAND, THE MAN WHOSE TURN IT WAS WOULD PLACE HIS HAND
OVER THE BAT AND GRAB AS MUCH OF IT AS HE COULD,
WITHOUT PUSHING HIS OPPONENT'S HAND FROM HIS POSITION
ON THE BAT. ONCE HE HAD GOTTEN HIS GRIP, THE OPPONENT
WOULD LET GO AND HE WOULD TRY TO THROW THE BAT OVER
HIS SHOULDER FOR A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
PASTIME (DRAWING)
A LOT OF PEOPLE SIT AROUND A TABLE. EACH PLAYER HAS
A PIECE OF PAPER AND A PENCIL. FIRST EACH PERSON
DRAWS A HEAD. THEN HE FOLDS OVER THE PIECE OF
PAPER, SO NO ONE CAN SEE WHAT HE HAS DRAWN, AND
PASSES IT TO THE PLAYER ON HIS RIGHT. HE JUST LEAVES
TWO LINES OF THE NECK COMING DOWN, SO THE NEXT PERSON
WILL KNOW WHERE TO ATTACH THE BODY. THIS PERSON
DRAWS A BODY DOWN TO THE WAIST, FOLDS OVER THE PAPER
AND LEAVES TWO LINES FOR THE NEXT PERSON. THEN
EVERYONE DRAWS A BODY FROM THE WAIST DOWN TO THE KNEES.
LAST OF ALL, ARE THE KNEES DOWN TO THE FEET.
WHEN THE PAPER ARE OPENED UP, THE PICTURES ARE
REALLY NIFTY.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 02-21-1971
BALL GAME
THIS GAME WAS PLAYED WITH A RUBBER BALL. EACH TIME
A NUMBER WAS SPOKEN, THE BALL WAS BOUNCED. AFTER
THREE, YOU WOULD SAY "O'LARRY" AS YOU WOULD AFTER SIX
AND NINE TOO. WHEN YOU SAID "O'LARRY" YOU WOULD ALSO
BRING YOUR LEG UP OVER THE BALL. WHEN YOU GOT TO TEN,
YOU WOULD SAY "TEN O'LARRY OH," BOUNCE THE BALL AND
BEGIN AGAIN.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
A TISKET, A TASKET, A GREEN AND YELLOW BASKET, I WROTE A LETTER TO MY
MOTHER AND ON THE WAY I DROPPED IT, I DROPPED IT, I DROPPED, AND ON
THE WAY I DROPPED IT, I WROTE A LETTER TO MY MOTHER AND ON THE WAY I
DROPPED IT.
WHILE THIS IS BEING CHANTED, ONE PERSON TAKES A HANDKERCHIEF AND
CIRCLES AROUND A RING FORMED BY THE OTHERS.
HE DROPS THE HANDKERCHIEF
BEHIND ONE, AND THEN THAT PERSON MUST CIRCLE THE OTHERS, REPEATING
THE PROCEDURE.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): ACTION-RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1954
CUPS AND SAUCERS, DISHES AND PLATES, HOW MANY DISHES DID YOU BREAK?
1, 2, 3, ETC. THE JUMPER KEEPS JUMPING UNTIL HE MISSES.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 10-04-1967
BLUE-BELLS, COCKLE SHEELS,/ EEVY, IVY, OVERS.
MOTHER IN THE KITCHEN
FATHER IN THE WOODS./ BABY IN THE CRADLE, FAST ASLEEP. HOW MANY HOURS
DID SHE SLEEP? ( COUNT TIL MISS)
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 11-11-1968
BLUEBERRY MUFFINS/ AND COOKIES IN A TIN,/ WHEN I CALL YOUR BIRTHDAY/
PLEASE JUMP IN JAN., FEB.,(THOSE WAITING IN LINE JOIN THOSE
JUMPING WHEN THE MONTH OF THEIR BIRTHDAY IS CALLED.
A LONG ROPE IS USED.)
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): CALL-RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 11-10-1968
BUBBLE GUM BUBBLE GUM IN A DISH,
HOW MANY PIECES DO YOU WISH? 1, 2, 3,
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 01-22-1968
CIGARS FOR BIRTH
IT IS A QUITE COMMON CUSTOM FOR A FATHER TO HAND OUT CIGARS TO HIS
FRIENDS AFTER HIS FIRST CHILD HAS BEEN BORN.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFT-GIVING
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 02-22-1968
CHING, CHANG CHINAMAN/ SITTING ON A BENCH/ HE MADE A BUCK OUT OF 15
CENTS./ HE MISSED./ HE MISSED./ HE MISSED LIKE THIS.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; SPEED-JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 10-01-1967
DUM-DUM DODO, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN/ I CAN RUN FASTER THAN ANYBODY
CAN. DUM-DUM DODO, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN.
I CAN RUN FASTER THAN---CAN.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): CALL-RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 09-18-1968
ENGINE, ENGINE NUMBER NINE,/ RUNNING ALONG THE CHICAGO LINE/ ENGINE
ENGINE NUMBER NINE WHEN SHE'S POLISHED SHE WILL SHINE.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 11-12-1968