Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 3010 returned 558 results.
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FORMULA SPEECH
IF A PERSON OF ITALIAN DESCENT IS ARGUING WITH A STUBBORN
PERSON IN ENGLISH, HE MAY SAY "CAPO D-CHUCCO" PRONOUNCED
(COP/DA/CHUCK), WHICH MEANS "YOU HAVE A HEAD LIKE A MULE."
Submitter comment: I HAVE HEARD THE INFORMANT USE THIS MANY TIMES.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; FRANKLINVILLE ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-0000
FORMULA SPEECH
IF TWO PEOPLE TALKING TO EACH OTHER SAY THE SAME THING AT THE SAME
TIME, THEN THE FIRST TO SAY "OWE ME A COKE, TOUCH BLACK, NO CHANGE
BACK" IS ENTITLED TO A COKE BOUGHT BY THE OTHER PERSON.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK ; TOLD IN
Keyword(s): TALKING
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 09-00-1968
I've never heard this version from anyone else:
Ring around the rosey,
Pocket full of posey,
Johnny's in the sugar bowl,
We all fall down.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; Kenmore ; Kindergarten
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Song Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dance |
MENSTRUATION SUPERSTITION
NEVER HAVE A TOOTH FILLED DURING MENSTRUATION OR IT WILL FALL OUT.
Submitter comment: SOURCE NOT REMEMBERED.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; JAMAICA
James Callow Keyword(s): DENTISTRY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 12-24-1963
JEWISH SUPERSTITION: MENSTRUATION
NEVER TOUCH PICKLES DURING MENSTRUATION OR THEY WILL GO BAD.
Submitter comment:
LEARNED FROM A JEWISH GIRL FRIEND WHOSE GRANDMOTHER WARNED HER
ABOUT THIS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; JAMAICA
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Manner of preparation Preservation |
Date learned: 12-24-1963
JAMAICAN SUPERSTITION
NEVER TRY TO CUT A DRESS OUT ON A FRIDAY OR IT WON'T TURN OUT.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM A LADY-FRIEND FROM JAMAICA.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; JAMAICA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Home BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
SUPERSTITION
ALAYS CUT YOUR HAIR WHEN THE MOON IS GROWING, NEVER SHRINKING,
AND IT WILL GROW FASTER.
Submitter comment: SOURCE NOT REMEMBERED.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; JAMAICA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
BAR MITZVAH
MY IRISH (VERY MUCH SO) SISTER ATTENDED THE BAR
MITZVAH OF A NEIGHBOR'S SON. THERE WAS A STROLLING
VIOLINIST AT THE VERY GALA, VERY JEWISH FETE, WHO WENT
FROM TABLE TO TABLE PLAYING REQUESTS. WHEN HE CAME
TO THE TABLE WITH MY VERY IRISH LOOKING SISTER AND
HER VERY IRISH LOOKING HUSBAND, THE VIOLINIST DIDN'T
EVEN ASK FOR A REQUEST, BUT UPON TAKING ONE LOOK AT
THE COUPLE, STARTED TO PLAY, "WHEN IRISH EYES ARE
SMILING."
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Maturity |
Date learned: 00-00-1966
SEEING IS BELIEVING AND FEELING IS THE NAKED TRUTH.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
GREEK LEGEND
FROM ANCIENT TIMES ONWARD, IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN THAT PIGS COULD BE
TRAINED TO BECOME HOUSEHOLD PETS. IT IS SAID ALSO THAT IF PIGS
WERE KEPT LEAN AND STRONG, THEY WOULD BE CAPABLE OF SWIMMING FAIRLY
LONG DISTANCES. HISTORY RECORDS THAT THE PIRATES WHO LIVED ALONG
THE SOUTHERN SHORE OF CILICIA IN ASIA MINOR AND IN PHOENICIA WOULD
RUTHLESSLY PLUNDER THE MANY SMALL ISLANDS IN THE AEGEAN SEA. ODDLY
ENOUGH, THESE PIRATES, ALTHOUGH CONSTANTLY AT SEA, RARELY LEARNED
TO SWIM. FROM THIS GREW A LEGEND IN GREECE ABOUT THREE BOYS WHO
LIVED ON AN ISLAND IN THE AEGEAN SEA.
THEY WERE SWINEHERDS WHO EARNED THEIR DAILY BREAD AND CHEESE BY
TENDING THE PIGS OF A WEALTHY PRINCE OF THE MAINLAND. THE YOUNG
BOYS LEARNED THEIR PIGS WERE VERY CLEVER AND COULD BE TAUGHT
TRICKS. DIFFERENT PIGS LEARNED DIFFERENT TRICKS, BUT ALL THE PIGS
LEARNED ONE PARTICULAR TRICK, TO ANSWER A CALL ON THE BOYS' PIPES.
IN RETURN, THEY RECEIVED A SPECIAL FOOD TREAT.
LIFE ON THE ISLAND WAS PEACEFUL AND HAPPY, UNTIL ONE DAY A WILD
STORM BLEW A STRANGE SHIP CLOSE TO SHORE. IT WAS A PIRATE SHIP.
THE BOYS TRIED TO HIDE THE PIGS, BUT THE PIRATES FOUND THEM ANYWAY.
THE BOYS WRE SAD UNTIL ONE OF THEM REALIZED MAYBE THE PIGS COULD BE
SAVED. THE BOYS TOOK OUT THEIR PIPES AND BLEW THE SAME THREE NOTES
THEY ALWAYS DID FOR THE SPECIAL TREAT. THE PIGS HEARD AND KNEW
JUST WHAT TO DO. THEY RAN TO THE SIDE OF THE SHIP CLOSEST THE
SHORE. THE SUDDEN SHIFT IN WEIGHT MADE THE SHIP TIP TO ONE SIDE,
FIRST, JUST A LITTLE, THEN MORE AND MORE. WATER STARTED TO RUSH
IN OVER THE SIDES. THE SHIP BGAN TO SINK. THE CREW COULDN'T SWIM:
THEY FLOUNDERED IN THE WATER FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN ALL THAT WAS
LEFT WAS A BIG RING OF BUBBLES IN THE BLUE SEA. THE PIGS SWAM
SWIFTLY TO SHORE AND THE BOYS REWARDED THEM WITH A VERY SPECIAL
TREAT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT READ THIS IN "PIGS AND PIRATES" BY DAVID WHITE, NEW
YORK, 1969.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
YOURS TILL COWS GIVE BEER.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS SIGNED IN THE COLLECTOR'S EIGHTH GRADE
SIGNATURE BOOK.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | Z210 |
Date learned: 00-00-1958
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DUCH PROVERB
TO MARRY ONCE IS A DUTY, TWICE A FOLLY, THRICE IS MADNESS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WEST SENECA
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-00-1969
FELLOW AT CONFESSION, TELLS PRIEST HE HAD INTERCOURSE
TEN TIMES LAST NIGHT. ADULTERY? NO, WIFE. WHY TELL
ME? WANTED TO TELL SOMEBODY.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK ; JOKE COLLECTION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man |
Date learned: 10-05-1971
APPLAUSE: INSTEAD OF CLAPPING ONE'S HANDS, SNAPPING OF
FINGERS WAS SUBSTITUTED, PARTICULARLY IN COFFEE HOUSES
OR THE LIKE.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Congratulations Appreciation |
Date learned: 00001959-1960
PROVERB
CONFUCIUS SAY, "SOME SQUIRRELS WORK AND WRESTLE WITH TREES
TO GET NUTS. WISE SQUIRRELS TAKE TIME AND SPREAD LIMBS."
Submitter comment:
THIS SAYING MEANS THAT SOMETIMES THERE IS AN EASIER WAY
TO ACCOMPLISH SOME GOALS.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
RIDDLE
WHY IS TENNIS SUCH A NOISY SPORT?
BOTH PLAYERS ALWAYS RAISE A RACKET.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 05-00-1990
RIDDLE
WHAT DO WEEDS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE IN COMMON?
IF YOU GIVE THEM AN INCH THEY WILL TAKE A YARD.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
James Callow Keyword(s): GREED ; MEASUREMENT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 05-00-1990