Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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REMEMBERING THE DAYS OF THE MONTHS SAY:
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER,
APRIL, JUNE, AND NOVEMBER;
ALL THE REST HAS (HAVE) THIRTY-ONE
EXCEPT FEBRUARY WHO COULD NOT WAIT
AND IT JUST HAS TWENTY-EIGHT.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle |
Date learned: 10-21-1973
IF IT RAINS ON EASTER SUNDAY, IT WILL RAIN FOR THE NEXT
SEVEN DAYS.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
Date learned: 09-16-1973
TONGUE TWISTER
OATEN DOTEN, LITTEN DITTEN,
IITTEN LOTEN, DITTEN LITTEN
ET-SPEE-LEE-OAT, WHA-DAT-
AND CHEW
Submitter comment: TONGUE TWISTER TO INITIATE SOMEONE IN THE GROUP.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; OHIO ; CAMP ; WESTLAND
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 12-02-1971
SLEEPING IN CHURCH
IF YOU FALL ASLEEP IN CHURCH, AN USHER WILL COME AND TICKLE
YOUR NOSE TO WAKE YOU.
Submitter comment:
DONE TO INFORMANT IN YOUNGER DAYS.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Nose BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SLEEPING IN CHURCH
IF YOU FALL ASLEEP IN CHURCH, AN USHER WILL COME AND TICKLE
YOUR NOSE TO WAKE YOU.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THIS WAS DONE TO HIM IN HIS YOUNGER DAYS.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant told to collector, his son, during childhood.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; OHIO ; CANTON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Nose BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT IS GOOD LUCK TO FIND A HORSESHOE OR GOOD LUCK
WILL COME TO YOU IF YOU CARRY ONE.
Submitter comment: HEARD THIS AS A CHILD.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck Horseshoe |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
FLYLEAF PROSE
BORED OF EDUCATION AND
FLUNK NOW, AVOID THE JUNE RUSH
Submitter comment:
THESE TWO PHRASES WERE IMMENSELY POPULAR FOR TEXTBOOK USE IN MY
FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE CLASSES AT CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN
CANTON, OHIO. BY THE TIME JUNIOR AND SENIOR CLASSES WERE REACHED,
THE NOVELTY HAD WORN OFF AND IT JUST WAS NOT "THE THING TO DO." BUT
THE NEW FRESHMAN-SOPHOMORE CLASSES HAD PICKED IT UP, AND CHECKING
BACK, ITS USE STILL EXISTS POPULARLY WITH THE FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES
OF TODAY. SOME OF IT IS UNDOUBTEDLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT TODAY'S
UNDERCLASSMEN ARE USING THE SAME BOOKS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN BY YES-
TERDAY'S UNDERCLASSMEN, BUT SOME OF IT IS NEWLY WRITTEN BY THE STU-
DENTS THEMSELVES.
BESIDES BEING WRITTEN ON THE FLYLEAVES, THE PHRASES ARE ALSO
WRITTEN ON FOREDGES.
| Subject headings: | Favorites Z220 |
Date learned: 10-00-1973
RIDDLE
Q: HOW FAR CAN YOU GO INTO THE WOODS?
A: HALFWAY, BECAUSE THEN YOU START COMING OUT THE OTHER SIDE.
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENTS ; PARTICULAR AREA (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
BELIEF
DO NOT GIVE ANY SHARP OBJECTS, (SCISSORS, KNIVES, ETC.)
AS A GIFT. YOU WILL SEVER YOUR FRIENDSHIP WITH THAT PERSON.
Submitter comment: INFORMANTS MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS VERY DEVOUT IN THIS BELIEF.
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; HOSTILITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 02-12-1972
PENNY SAVED
A PENNY SAVED IS A PENNY EARNED
Submitter comment: HEARD THIS WHEN I WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL
James Callow Keyword(s): ECONOMY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-04-1967
NUMBER THIRTEEN
IT IS UNLUCKY TO WEAR ANYTHING WITH THE NUMBER THIRTEEN ON IT OR TO
OWN ANYTHING WITH THIRTEEN ON IT.
HEARD THIS IN GRADE SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | 686 Specific number by specific number being described |
Date learned: 11-26-1967
MOSLEM BURIAL
DURING WORLD WAR II THE AMERICANS FOUGHT THE GERMANS
AND ITALIANS IN NORTH AFRICA. THE MOSLEMS WERE CAPTURED
BY OUR ENEMIES AND MADE TO FIGHT US. THESE MOSLEMS HAD
A UNIQUE WAY OF BURYING THEIR DEAD: THEY DUG A HOLE
ABOUT FOUR FEET DEEP AND STOOD THE CORPSE UP ON ITS
FEET, THEN BURIED HIM COMPLETELY, LEAVING HIS CHEST
ON UP ABOVE THE GROUND LEVEL. THE REST OF THE CORPSE
WAS COVERED BY A MOUNT OF DIRT. WHEN IT RAINED VERY
HARD, THE GROUND WOULD WASH AWAY AND UPPER PART OF THE
CORPSES WERE VISIBLE, MAKING A VERY GORY SIGHT.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD TO ME AT OUR HOUSE.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-26-1967
MANGER
MANY PEOPLE PUT FIGURINES RESEMBLING THE NATIVITY
SCENE UNDER THEIR CHRISTMAS TREES. THESE SMALL
STATUES ARE USUALLY A FEW INCHES IN HEIGHT.
Submitter comment: LEARNED THIS FROM HOME.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Manger scenes |
Date learned: 12-01-1967
MISTLETOE
DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, MISTLETOE IS HUNG FROM
CHANDELIERS, ARCHWAYS, ETC. WHEN A PERSON STANDS
UNDER THIS MISTLETOE, THE FIRST PERSON OF THE
OPPOSITE SEX TO COME UP TO SUCH PERSON, IS TO KISS
HIM OR HER.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM PARENTS WHEN VERY YOUNG.
Keyword(s): PARASITE ; poison ; POISONOUS PLANT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Mistletoe and other greenery |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
THE GROOM SHOULD NEVER LOOK AT THE BRIDE BEFORE THEY
ARE MARRIED ON THEIR WEDDING DAY. IF HE DOES, BAD
LUCK WILL COME TO HIM.
Submitter comment: HEARD THIS MANY YEARS AGO BEFORE A WEDDING.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Separation before wedding |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
EVERY BRIDE MUST HAVE ON SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING
NEW, SOMETHING BORROWED, AND SOMETHING BLUE WHEN
SHE GOES UP TO THE ALTAR.
Submitter comment: HEARD THIS LONG AGO BUT DON'T KNOW WHO FROM.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Wear something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
IT IS THE CUSTOM AT WEDDINGS TO THROW RICE AT THE BRIDE
AND GROOM AS THEY LEAVE THE CHURCH. THE RICE IS A
SYMBOL OF FERTILITY AND SO THIS THROWING OF RICE IS
A HOPE THAT THE NEWLY MARRIED COUPLE HAVE CHILDREN.
Submitter comment: LEARNED THIS A FEW YEARS AGO.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Rice |
Date learned: 12-02-1967
THE BRIDE THROWS THE BOUQUET WHEN SHE LEAVES THE
CHURCH. THE GIRL WHO CATCHES THE FLOWERS WILL
BE THE NEXT GIRL PRESENT TO GET MARRIED.
Submitter comment: HEARD THIS FROM A FRIEND MANY YEARS AGO.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Bouquet toss |
Date learned: 11-26-1967
IF YOU EAT SAUERKRAUT ON NEW YEAR'S EVE YOU'LL BECOME
RICH.
Submitter comment: MY FATHER TOLD ME THIS AT HOME.
Date learned: 11-24-1967
THE LAST BLAST
IT IS A COMMON CUSTOM AMONG THE AMERICANS TO GET INEBRIATED
ON NEW YEAR'S EVE.
Submitter comment: HEARD THIS AT HOME.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve Food Drink -- Drink |
Date learned: 11-27-1967