Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IF YOU SEE A BLACK BEETLE LYING ON HIS BACK THE WEATHER IN THE
NEAR FUTURE WILL BE BAD. IF YOU HELP THE BEETLE YOU WILL HAVE BAD
LUCK IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00001940S
FOR GOOD LUCK: IF YOU FALL DOWN YOU SHOULD KISS THE GROUND
WHERE YOU HAVE FALLEN. IF YOU EVER WALK OVER THE SPOT AGAIN, YOU
WILL BE GRANTED A WISH OR GIVEN GREAT LUCK IN THE FUTURE.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Date learned: UNKNOWN
IF A WORKMAN IS KILLED WHILE BUILDING A BRIDGE, HIS
GHOST WILL BE ENTOMBED IN THE TOWERS, AND AT TIMES IT
IS POSSIBLE TO HEAR HIM TRYING TO KNOCK HIS WAY OUT.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.13 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
CATCH THE WIND
IF YOU HAVE LOST A LOVE, IF YOU CAN CATCH THE WIND
AND HOLD IT, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO "CATCH" YOUR LOVE
BACK AND HOLD IT FOREVER.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Keyword(s): IMPOSSIBLE TASK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
FOR A PERSON TO TRIM HIS NAILS ON SUNDAY BRINGS HIM BAD LUCK.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck |
ENDLESS TALE
ONCE UPON A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT
A BUNCH OF INDIANS SAT AROUND THE FIRE
AND THE CHIEF STOOD UP AND SPOKE
"ONCE UPON A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT
A BUNCH..."
THIS STORY GOES ON AND ON AND ON.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
PROVERB
LET THY FRIENDS KNOW THEE BUT NOT KNOW THEE WELL BECAUSE MEN
EASILY FORD THAT SEE THE SHALLOWS.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-01-1968
COMMON WORD
"GROOVY"IS THE IN-WORD ESTABLISHED BY A NOTED DISC-JOCKEY.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Keyword(s): RADIO
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Common Word |
Date learned: 04-00-1968
NAMING
IN JEWISH TRADITION, IT IS LIKE A CURSE TO NAME SOMEONE
AFTER A PERSON WHO IS ALIVE.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
MARY NAMES
MY PARENTS HAD EIGHT CHILDREN AND ALL THE GIRLS WERE NAMED,
IN A WAY, AFTER MARY. MAUREEN IS AN IRISH DERIVATIVE; MY SISTERS ARE
NAMED DEIDRE MARY AND SHEILA MARIE. MY PARENTS ARE BOTH CATOLIC.
ALSO, MY MOTHER AND HER MOTHER ARE NAMED "MARY."
Where learned: UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
ARMBRUSTERS
THE WORD "ARMBRUST" MEANS CROSSBOW. IT IS OF GERMAN DERIVATION. THE
ARMBRUSTERS WERE THE CROSSBOWMEN IN THE GERMAN ARMY, THE ELITE CORPS
OF THE ARMY. THESE CROSSBOWMEN WERE HIGHLY-THOUGHT OF AND REVERED IN
SOCIETY, AS WELL AS PROTECTED IN BATTLE. THE ARMBRUSTERS WERE ORIGI-
NALLY LEASED IN THE BLACK FOREST. THE ARMBRUSTER COAT OF ARMS IS A
RAM'S HEAD ON A BLACK FIELD WITH GOLD STARS.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
CANOE TERMINOLOGY
DEAD-HEAD. USUALLY A SUBMERGED TREE OR LOG THAT IS IN THE WATER AND
IS TO BE AVOIDED.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
PERSONAL NICKNAME
EVERY TIME, SINCE HIS MARRIAGE, THAT MY UNCLE REFERS TO HIS WIFE -
MY AUNT, WHO IS POLISH - HE "ENDEARINGLY" REFERS TO HER AS "THE
POLACK." NO MATTER WHERE HE IS OR WITH WHOM, MY POOR AUNT SHIRLEY
IS ALWAYS "THE POLACK."
Where learned: UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
NICKNAME
I HAVE A YOUNGER SISTER WHO TELLS ME THAT THE LAST PERSON TO HANG UP
HIS COAT IN THE CLOAK ROOM IS A "BLACK-EYED BOOB."
Where learned: UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
NICKNAMES
AWFUL ART AND EASY ED. (REFERRING TO THE DIFFICULTY OF RECEIVING A
GOOD GRADE FROM BOTH FR. LOVELYS.)
Where learned: UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
NICKNAME
IT IS COMMON TO CALL SOMEONE WHO WEARS EYE GLASSES "FOUR-EYES."
Where learned: UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
NAMING
IF THE FIRST-BORN CHILD IS A GIRL, SHE MUST BE NAMED FOR THE BLESSED
MOTHER. IN OUR FAMILY ALL THE OLDEST GIRLS (INCLUDING MYSELF) HAVE
MARY OR MARIE FOR THEIR FIRST OR MIDDLE NAME.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
NAMING
CHRIS WAS BORN FIVE DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND THEREFORE WAS NAMED
AFTER CHRISTMAS. HER NAME IS CHRISTINE CAROL WHEELER.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
NAMING CUSTOM
JEWS NAME THEIR CHILDREN AFTER A DEAD RELATIVE.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
NAME
I WAS THE FIRST CHILD BORN OF MY PARENTS. MY FATHER WAS STATIONED IN
THE ARMY AT SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AT THE TIME OF MY BIRTH. SINCE I WAS
THE ONLY PERSON ON EITHER SIDE OF MY PARENT'S FAMILY TO BE BORN
OUT OF STATE, MY MOTHER FELT I WOULD FEEL OUT OF PLACE WHEN I
WOULD RETURN TO MICHIGAN. TO REMEDY THIS FEELING, MY MOTHER
BAPTIZED ME WITH THE MIDDLE NAME OF CLAIRE; AFTER LAKE ST.
CLAIRE -- WITH A FINAL "E" IN MY NAME TO DESIGNATE FEMININITY.
NOW HER BABY WOULD FEEL AS IF SHE HAD SOME MICHIGAN IN HER.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: UNKNOWN