Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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NOISE MAKERS AND STREAMERS ARE ALWAYS AT NEW YEAR'S EVE
PARTIES TO CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR. THEY ARE USED WHEN
THE CLOCK STRIKES TWELVE.
Submitter comment: HEARD THIS IN GRADE SCHOOL.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve BELIEF -- Use of Object BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
THE FIRST ONE TO COME THROUGH THE DOOR ON NEW YEAR'S DAY
SHOULD BE A MAN, FOR GOOD LUCK. IF IT'S A WOMAN, IT'S
BAD LUCK. ALSO APPLIES TO THE FIRST PERSON WHO CALLS
YOU ON THE PHONE ON NEW YEAR'S DAY.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S FATHER BELIEVED STRONGLY.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-12-1972
IT IS COMMON CUSTOM FOR PEOPLE TO KISS ONE ANOTHER AT
THE START OF A NEW YEAR. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE AT
PARTIES ON NEW YEAR'S EVE.
Submitter comment: HEARD THIS AT HOME.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS ARE OPENED BY SOME FAMILIES ON
CHRISTMAS EVE.
Submitter comment: LEARNED THIS THROUGH MY FRIENDS.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Gifts, gift giving at Christmas |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS IN MOST FAMILIES, INCLUDING OURS,
ARE ALWAYS OPENED ON CHRISTMAS MORNING BEFORE
BREAKFAST.
Submitter comment: LEARNED THIS FROM OUR FAMILY.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Gifts, gift giving at Christmas |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
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
BEFORE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, PEOPLE CUT DOWN EVERGREEN
TREES AND STAND THEM UP IN THEIR LIVING ROOMS
BY MEANS OF SUPPORTS. THEY THEN DECORATE THESE
TREES WITH MULTI-COLORED BUBLS, LIGHTS, TINSEL,
ORNAMENTS OF ALL SORTS, STRINGED POPCORN, ETC.
THEY USUALLY LEAVE THEM UP TILL AFTER NEW YEAR'S
DAY.
Submitter comment: LEARNED THIS FROM HOME.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Christmas tree |
Date learned: 12-01-1967
CHRISTMAS CAROLS
DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, FAMILIES, CLUBS,
ORGANIZATIONS, ETC., GO AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS
OF COMMUNITIES AND SING CAROLS FOR THE
BENEFIT OF THE RESIDENTS. THE RESIDENTS COME
TO THE WINDOWS AND LISTEN TO THEM.
Submitter comment: LEARNED THIS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Songs, caroling |
Date learned: 12-01-1967
HIDE AND SEEK
THIS GAME IS PLAYED BY THREE OR MORE CHILDREN. ONE
PERSON IS "IT" AND CLOSES HIS EYES AND COUNTS TO FIFTY
AT THE BASE. EVERYONE ELSE HIDES. WHEN THE COUNTER
IS THROUGH COUNTING, HE GOES AND LOOKS FOR THE OTHERS.
WHEN HE SEES A PLAYER HE THEN RUNS TO THE BASE AND
SAYS, "ONE, TWO, THREE, ON (NAMES THE PERSON)." THE
HIDER ALSO RUNS TO THE BASE AND TOUCHES IT SAYING,
"FREE!" THE FIRST ONE TO THE BASE AND THROUGH WITH
THEIR SENTENCE WINS. THE HIDER IS EITHER CAUGHT OR
FREE. THE FIRST ONE CAUGHT IS "IT" FOR THE NEXT
GAME.
Submitter comment: LEARNED THIS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 11-30-1967
STONE SCHOOL
THIS IS A GAME PLAYED BY SMALL CHILDREN. ONE
PERSON IS CALLED THE TEACHER AND THE OTHERS ARE THE
PUPILS. THE SIDEWALK IS THE SCHOOL AND EACH BLOCK
IS A DIFFERENT GRADE. THE PUPILS ALL START FROM THE
FIRST CEMENT BLOCK. THE TEACHER TAKES A SMALL
STONE AND HOLDS IT BEHIND HER BACK. THEN CONCEALS THE
STONE BY CLENCHING IT IN EITHER OF HIS FISTS. HE
THEN PUTS BOTH FISTS IN FRONT OF HIM AND ONE PUPIL
GUESSES WHICH FIST HOLDS THE STONE. IF HE IS RIGHT
HE GRADUATES TO THE NEXT CEMENT BLOCK; IF HE IS
WRONG, HE FLUNKS AND STAYS WHERE HE IS. EACH PUPIL
GETS A TURN TO GUESS AND THERE ARE USUALLY ABOUT
TEN TO FIFTEEN CEMENT BLOCKS TO PASS.
Submitter comment: I PLAYED THIS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN VERY SMALL.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement C560.14 |
Date learned: 11-30-1967
KICK THE CAN
THIS GAME IS PLAYED BY THREE OR MORE PERSONS. ONE
PERSON IS "IT" AND COUNTS TO FIFTY AT A BASE, WHICH
IS A CAN. EVERYONE ELSE HIDES. WHEN THROUGH COUNTING,
THE COUNTER GOES AND LOOKS FOR THE OTHERS; WHEN HE SEES
SOMEONE HE RUNS AND KICKS THE CAN. THE PERSON WHO IS
SEEN ALSO RUNS AND KICKS THE CAN. THE FIRST ONE TO
KICK THE CAN WINS. THE HIDER IS EITHER CAUGHT OR IS
FREE. ANY HIDER MAY RUN TO THE CAN AND KICK IT ANY
TIME HE WISHES UNTIL ALL HIDERS ARE IN. THE FIRST ONE
CAUGHT IS "IT" FOR THE NEXT GAME.
Submitter comment: LEARNED THIS GAME IN NEIGHBORHOOD.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-30-1967
CROSSING YOUR FINGERS WHEN YOU COME UPON A DIFFICULT
TASK OR CHALLENGE SYMBOLIZES GOOD LUCK. PEOPLE
OFTEN CROSS THEIR FINGERS FOR OTHER PEOPLE AS
WELL AS THEMSELVES.
Submitter comment: LEARNED THIS LONG AGO THROUGH PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails BELIEF -- Good luck Body parts and functions |
Date learned: 12-02-1967
AFTER USING SALT, YOU SHOULD THROW A PINCH OF IT
OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER TO INSURE GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment: HEARD THIS FROM A FRIEND.
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Good luck Activities |
Date learned: 12-04-1967
IF YOU BREAK A MIRROR, SEVEN YEARS OF BAD LUCK WILL
COME YOUR WAY.
Submitter comment: HEARD THIS LONG AGO.
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Bad luck Mirror |
Date learned: 12-04-1967
BAD LUCK WILL COME TO A PERSON WHO WALKS UNDER
A LADDER.
Submitter comment: HEARD THIS AS A CHILD.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Angular forms BELIEF -- Bad luck Ladder (angles, pyramid, etc.) |
Date learned: 11-28-1967
BAD LUCK WILL COME TO ONE WHO OPENS AN
UMBRELLA IN A HOUSE.
Submitter comment:
HEARD THIS FROM A FRIEND AFTER OPENING THE
UMBRELLA IN HIS HOUSE IN 1963.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Umbrella |
Date learned: 10-00-1963
BAD LUCK WILL COME TO ONE WHO HAS A BLACK CAT
CROSS HIS PATH.
Submitter comment: HEARD THIS WHEN I WAS A CHILD.
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Bad luck Animals |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
IF A SINGLE GIRL TAKES A TWIG FROM A CHERRY TREE
DURING THE WINTER TIME AND BRINGS IT IN THE HOUSE AND
PUTS IT IN A GLASS OF WATER TO BLOOM, SHE WILL KNOW
IF SHE WILL MARRY WITHIN A YEAR. IF THE TWIG GIVES
A BLOSSOM SHE WILL, IF IT DOESN'T, SHE WON'T.
| Subject headings: | 862 Use of object for determining future spouse |
Date learned: 02-11-1972
IF YOU KILL A SPIDER IT WILL RAIN.
Submitter comment: HEARD THIS FROM A FRIEND LONG AGO.
Date learned: 12-01-1967