Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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THE HITCH-HIKER GIRL
ONE NIGHT IT WAS RAINING VERY HARD. TWO PEOPLE WERE DRIVING DOWN
THE ROAD TOWARD WALLACEBURG. BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THEY SAW A
GIRL DRESSED IN A FORMAL, WAITING FOR A RIDE. THEY STOPPED THE
CAR AND ASKED HER IF THEY COULD GIVE HER A LIFT. SHE GOT IN AND
THEY NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NOT A DROP OF WATER ON HER. ON THE
WAY TO WALLACEBURG, ONE OF THE PEOPLE TURNED AROUND TO TALK TO
HER AND SHE WAS GONE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS INFORMATION FROM HER UNCLE, ALEX
MACDONALD, IN ABOUT 1925 IN PORT LAMBTON. HE TOLD HER THAT THIS
HAS HAPPENED TO QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WHILE GOING TO WALLACEBURG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Magic ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Vehicle propelled by mechanical or other force on land |
Date learned: 05-12-1965
EARACHE
THE BLOWING OF STRONG CIGAR SMOKE INTO THE EAR TO CURE EARACHES. THE
HER CHILDHOOD. SHE ALSO SAID IT WORKED.
ABOVE MENTIONED PERSON SAID THAT SHE HAD DONE IT MANY TIMES DURING
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): GERMAN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 09-25-1968
BAPTISM
IN THE ARNENIAN CHURCH A CHILD IS NOT TO GO
IN THE ARNENIAN CHURCH A CHILD IS NOT TO GET HIS HAIR CUT BEFORE HE'S
BAPTIZED. INFORMANT SAYS THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT BUT SHE'S NOT
SURE WHY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; COLUMBIA REALTY OFFICE
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. |
Date learned: 02-26-1971
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
IT IS AN ITALIAN CUSTOM TO OPEN CHRISTMAS
PRESENTS ON CHRISTMAS EVE AFTER DINNER INSTEAD
OF CHRISTMAS MORNING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; COLUMBIA REALTY OFFICE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Gifts, gift giving at Christmas |
Date learned: 02-09-1971
BIRTH
IT IS A GREEK CUSTOM FOR A WOMAN NOT TO GO TO CHURCH FOR 40 DAYS
AFTER A BABY IS BORN. THIS IS BECAUSE SHE IS CONSIDERED "UNCLEAN".
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; COLUMBIA REALTY OFFICE
James Callow Keyword(s): CHURCHING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour BELIEF -- Number P686.1.40 |
Date learned: 02-17-1971
LEMONADE RECIPE
FIRST OF ALL YOU MAKE A BATCH OF LEMONADE THE WAY YOU ALWAYS
DO. NEXT TO ADD A DELIGHTFUL TRULY LEBANESE FLAVOR YOU ADD ROSE
WATER TO TASTE (ABOUT 2 TABLESPOONS A GALLON).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Flavoring Extract Food Drink -- Non-alcoholic fruit beverage Citrus |
Date learned: 10-00-1977
Entry filtered.
CURE FOR A COLD
YOU MEASURE ONE OUNCE OF WHISHY, ONE OUNCE HONEY AND ONE OUNCE
LEMON JUICE INTO A GLASS, STIR, AND DRINK JUST BEFORE BEDTIME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 11-00-1977
FAMILY TRADITION
EVERY JUNE OUR FAMILY GETS TOGETHER TO TALK OVER THE PAST YEAR
AND TO RENEW OLD FREINDSHIPS. THIS YEAR JUNE 1978 WILL BE THE
FAMILYIS FIFTIETH REUNION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June |
Date learned: 11-00-1977
TERROR TALE
I REMEMBER IN THE SUMMER OF 1964, I WAS AN ACTIVE SIX YEAR OLD.
MY FRIENDS AND I WOULD GO TO THE HILL AT THE SOUTHFIELD CIVIC
CENTER AND RUN UP AND DOWN IT FOR FUN AND EXCITEMENT. THE
GARDENER OVER THERE TOLD US ABOUT HOOP SNAKES. HE SAID THEY WERE
SNAKES ROLLED UP LIKE HOULA HOOPS AND THEY ROLL DOWN HILLS.
HE TOLD US TO RUN ZIG ZAG SO AS NOT TO GET CAUGHT BY THE LITTLE
CREATURES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
BLASON POPULAIRE
WHAT DOES BOAC STAND FOR?
Submitter comment: BETTER ON A CAMEL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Blason Populaire RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-00-1977
SIGN OF THE CROSS
WHENEVER I TAKE A TEST OR AM ABOUT TO EMBARK ON A HOMEWORK
ASSIGNMENT I WILL WRITE A LITTLE CROSS ON THE FIRST LINE.
I RECALL LEARNING THIS FROM MY SECOND GRADE TEACHER AT A PAROCHIAL
SCHOOL. THE CROSS WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP US TO DO WELL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
ACNE CURE
I HEARD FROM SOME SINCE FORGOTTEN SOURCE THAT THE DRINKING OF BEER
WILL HELP TO CLEAR UP ACNE.
Submitter comment: I TRIED THIS LAST SUMMER AND ALMOST LOST MY JOB.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Fermented BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
ACNE CURE
IT WAS MENTIONED TO ME SOME TIME AGO THAT THE DAILY EATING OF A
CUBE OF ACTIVE YEAST WOULD CLEAR UP ACNE. THE YEAST SHOULD BE
EATEN DAILY UNTIL THE ACNE DISAPPEARS AND THEN AT INTERMITANT
INTERVALS TO KEEP THE ACNE UNDER CONTROL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
RELIGIOUS BELIEF
WHENEVER I PASS IN FRONT OF AN ALTER, AS IN CHURCH I GENUFLECT
AS A SIGN OF RESPECT. I LEARNED THIS SOME TIME IN GRADE
SCHOOL, I BELIEVE THE SECOND GRADE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
CURING RHEUMATISM
A SWISS METHOD OF CURING RHEUMATISM IS TO TAKE THE FUR
OF A MARMOT AND PLACE IT OVER THE AREA IN PAIN.
THIS WILL CAUSE THE PAIN TO GO AWAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): ANIMAL CURE ; IMITATIVE MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 10-28-1970
NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM
FOR THE LAST FIVE MINUTES OF THE OLD YEAR, AND THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES
OF THE NEW YEAR, IT IS NECESSARY TO SWEEP ONE'S HOUSE FROM BACK
TO FRONT. YOU SWEEP THE HOUSE TO "SWEEP OUT" TROUBLE AND SICKNESS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; collector's home
Keyword(s): BROOM ; SYMBOLIC ACTION
Date learned: 10-25-1970
Never open an umbrella in a building.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
If you have asthma, measure your height to a tree and mark
it. As the tree grows you will grow out of the asthma.
James Callow comment:
Puckett, Ohio, no. 2325: "If a child has asthma, take him
into the woods and find a young tree. Measure the child up to
the tree and mark his height by putting a nail into the tree. As
the tree grows the child will outgrow his asthma."
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): MEASURING
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Measure of space: distance, height, depth BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
If you break a mirror you will have seven years of bad luck.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-07-1992