Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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GARLIC KEEPS DRACULA AWAY-IT SCARES HIM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire |
Date learned: 03-15-1968
GHOST FESTIVAL CUSTOM
PRIESTS WHO ARE CALLED TAOISTS ARE SOMETIMES CHARGED
WITH THE DUTY OF CHASING GHOSTS AWAY BY RELIGIOUS
CEREMONIES. THEY WILL THROW RICE ALL AROUND THE
FLOOR AS A FINAL ASSURANCE OF CHASING GHOSTS AWAY.
THIS IS NOT DONE DURING A MARRIAGE CEREMONY.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN TAIWAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern |
Date learned: 02-12-1971
SWITCHING DAY
ACCORDING TO AN OLD POLISH CUSTOM, THE MONDAY AFTER
EASTER IS CALLED, "SWITCHING DAY." ON THIS DAY IN THE
MORNING, A BOY GOES OUT AND CUTS A SWITCH FROM A BUSH.
HE GOES TO A GIRL'S HOUSE WHERE HER MOTHER LETS HIM IN,
AND HE SWITCHES THE GIRL. WHEN HE IS DONE, THE
MOTHER PAYS HIM FOR SWITCHING HER DAUGHTER.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT FIRST HEARD OF THIS CUSTOM AT ABOUT THE
AGE OF FIVE FROM HER MOTHER; THE FIRST TIME THAT HER
MALE COUSIN CAME OVER TO SWITCH HER. SHE REMEMBERS
BEING SWITCHED TILL ABOUT THE AGE OF NINE OR TEN,
WHEN SHE FINALLY LOCKED HERSELF IN THE BATHROOM ON
THE MORNING OF SWITCHING DAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Monday Dyngus |
VERSE OF DAILY LIFE
WHEN A PERSON HAS SAID SOMETHING THAT HE SHOULDN'T
HAVE SAID, HE MAY APPROPRIATELY SAY:
OPEN MOUTH,
INSERT FOOT,
CHEW VIGOROUSLY.
Data entry tech comment: NOT VERSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-13-1968
FRENCH PRACTICAL JOKE
WHEN YOU MAKE UP THE BED SHEET, YOU COVER YOURSELVE
WITH (IT) TUCK IT AT THE HEAD OF THE BED. FOLD IT
HALF OVER AND BRING IT UP AGAIN, SO THAT IT'S LOOSE
AND THEN YOU PUT THE COVERS ON SO THAT IT LOOKS
ALL MADE UP. WHEN A PERSON ATTEMPTS TO GET INTO
BED, HIS FEET WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM ONE OF HER GIRLFRIENDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 03-01-1971
WHAT DO YOU CALL A 6'5" - 250 LB. NEGRO -
CARRYING A SWITCH-BLADE KNIFE?
SIR!
Submitter comment: HE LEARNED IT FROM A BOYFRIEND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 10-16-1967
ANECDOTE
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD DRESS IN THE
BASEMENT.
Submitter comment: TOM LEARNED IT FROM ONE OF HIS BOYFRIENDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PEOPLE........SHOULDN'T THROW STONES.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 10-16-1967
TURPEE AND THE THREE HABAKS
THERE WAS ONCE A LITTLE HOUSE, IN WHICH LIVED A LITTLE
OLD MAN, A LITTLE OLD WOMAN, AND A LITTLE DOG, NAMED
TURPEE. THERE WERE ALSO THREE HABAKS. NOW THE HABAKS
WANTED TO KILL THE LITTLE OLD MAN AND CARRY AWAY
THE LITTLE OLD WOMAN. SO ONE NIGHT, THEY CAME TO THE
LITTLE OLD HOUSE AND SAID, "LET'S KILL THE OLD MAN AND
CARRY AWAY THE OLD WOMAN." BUT TURPEE HEARD THEM AND
BARKED SO MUCH THAT THEY RAN AWAY.
NOW THE LITTLE OLD MAN HEARD THE DOG BARK; AND HE SAID,
"TURPEE, IF YOU BARK LIKE THAT TOMORROW NIGHT, I'LL
CHOP OFF YOUR TAIL."
WELL, THE NEXT NIGHT, THE THREE HABAKS CAME AGAIN AND
SAID, "LET'S KILL THE OLD MAN, AND CARRY AWAY THE OLD
WOMAN." BUT TURPEE HEARD THEM AND STARTED TO BARK,
AND HE SCARED THEM AWAY. NOW THE LITTLE OLD MAN ALSO
HEARD TURPEE BARK; AND HE SAID, "TURPEE, I'M GOING TO
CUT OFF YOUR TAIL." AND HE DID. AND HE SAID, "IF YOU
BARK LIKE THIS TOMORROW NIGHT, I'LL CHOP OFF YOUR HEAD."
THE NEXT NIGHT THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE HABAKS CAME;
TURPEE BARKED AND SCARED THE HABAKS AWAY, AND THE LITTLE
OLD MAN AWOKE. HE SAID, "TURPEE, I'M GOING TO CHOP
YOUR HEAD OFF." AND HE DID.
WELL, THE NEXT NIGHT WHEN THE THREE HABAKS CAME TO TRY
TO KILL THE LITTLE OLD MAN AND CARRY OFF THE LITTLE OLD
WOMAN, THERE WAS NO TURPEE TO BARK AND SCARE THEM AWAY;
BUT THE LITTLE OLD MAN HEARD THEM AND HID UNDER HIS BED.
NOW THE THREE HABAKS CAME RIGHT IN, BUT THEY COULDN'T
FIND THE LITTLE OLD MAN, SO THEY CARRIED THE LITTLE
OLD WOMAN AWAY IN A SACK.
NOW, THE POOR LITTLE OLD MAN KNEW WHY TURPEE HAD BARKED,
HE WAS SORRY. SO HE TOOK THE LITTLE DOG'S HEAD AND TAIL,
AND HE PUT TURPEE BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.
SO, THE LITTLE OLD MAN AND TURPEE SET OUT AFTER THE THREE
HABAKS. THE LITTLE DOG BARKED SO HARD THAT HE SCARED
THE THREE HABAKS, AND THEY DROPPED THE SACK AND RAN AWAY.
THE LITTLE OLD MAN GOT THE LITTLE OLD WOMAN OUT OF THE
SACK AND THE LITTLE OLD MAN AND THE LITTLE OLD WOMAN
AND TURPEE WENT HOME AND LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER--
BE(CAUSE) TURPEE WOULD ALWAYS PROTECT THEM.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS TALE FROM HER GRANDFATHER WHEN
SHE WAS ABOUT FIVE YEARS OLD. SHE WAS IN KINDERGARTEN
AT THE TIME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
LEGEND
ON THE EAST SIDE OF DETROIT ON STRASBURG STREET NEAR SEVEN MILE AND
HOOVER, A GIRL WAS HIT BY A CAR. HER DRESS GOT CAUGHT IN THE DOOR
AND SHE WAS DRAGGED ALONG. SHE KEPT KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF THE CAR
BUT NO ONE HEARD HER. NOW, EVERYTIME THAT YOU DRIVE DOWN STRASBURG
STREET YOU HEAR A KNOCKING ON YOUR CAR DOOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AUTO ACCIDENT ; KNOCK-KNOCK STREET
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 03-15-1968
BEWARE OF BOYS WHOSE EYES ARE BLUE,
THEY'LL KISS YOU ONCE AND ASK FOR TWO.
BEWARE OF BOYS WITH EYES OF GREEN,
THEY'LL KISS YOU ONCE AND NEVER BE SEEN.
BEWARE OF BOYS WITH EYES OF BLACK,
THEY'LL KISS YOU ONCE AND NEVER COME BACK.
YOU WILL KNOW ALL KINDS OF JOYS,
IF YOU WILL ONLY BEWARE OF BOYS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ADVICE ; COLOR OF EYES AS BASIS OF PERSONALITY TRAITS ; COUPLETS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
LUCK
IN JAPAN THE NUMBER 4 IS BAD LUCK.
Data entry tech comment: THERE ARE FOUR SIMILAR ITEMS IN THIS SECTION OF THE ARCHIVE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Fourths / Quarters |
Date learned: 11-25-1969
DEATH CUSTOM
IF ONE OF YOUR WISDOM TEETH COMES OUT
ONE OF YOUR RELATIVES WILL DIE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN THAILAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-12-1971
IF YOU STEP OVER A PERSON YOU SHOULD STEP BACK OVER THEM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; WARREN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-08-1965
TURONIE
IN POLAND, THE PERIOD BETWEEN THE NEW YEAR AND THE BEGINNING
OF LENT IS CHARACTERIZED BY PARDIES AND MASQUERADE BALLS THAT
REACH THEIR HEIGHT ABOUT THE LAST PRE_LENTEN THURSDAY. THESE
ACTIVITIES DERIVE FROM THE OLD CUSTOM OF DRESSING IN ANIMAL AND
MONSTER COSTUMES TO FEND OFF EVIL SPIRITS FROM HOMES TO FIELDS
TO INSURE A BOUNTIFUL HARVEST. FOLK LEGEND ASCRIBED SUCH
MAGICAL PROPERTIES TO GOATS, STORKS, BEARS, WOLVES, AND THE
"AUROCKS" (AN EXTINCT WELD OX) AND THE CUSTOM IS KNOWN AS "TURONIE".
(NAMED AFTER THE WELD OX OR "TUR").
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Winter CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Pre Lent |
Date learned: 10-11-1972
IF ONLY ONE HALF OF YOUR CIGARETTE GETS LIT, IT MEANS
SOMEBODY LOVES YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Number P686.1.05 |
Date learned: 03-15-1968
IF YOUR LEFT PALM IS ITCHY AND YOU SCRATCH IT ON WOOD, THEN
YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE MONEY.
IF YOUR RIGHT PALM IS ITCHY AND YOU SCRATCH IT ON WOOD,
THEN YOU ARE GOING TO RECEIVE MONEY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching hands and feet |
Date learned: 01-26-1968
Jump-Rope Rhyme
DOWN IN THE VALLEY WHERE THE GREEN GRASS GROWS, THERE SAT CAROL, SWEET AS A ROSE.
ALONG CAME JOHN AND KISSED HER ON THE CHEEK.
HOW MANY KISSES DID SHE RECEIVE?
1, 2, 3, ETC. (UNTIL THE PERSON JUMPING ROPE MISSES.)
Where learned: LIBRARY
Keyword(s): ENDURANCE JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
SUPERSTITION
THE NUMBER THIRTEEN IS IT REALLY LUCKY OR UNLUCKY.
Submitter comment: FROM FRIENDS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; DETROIT ; WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
| Subject headings: | 686 Specific number by specific number being described |
Date learned: 10-09-1967
TOM SWIFTY
"LET'S GO DOWN TO THE CELLAR" TOM SAID DESCENDENTLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON DESCEND
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Wellerism Quotation |
Date learned: 12-00-1967
THE OWL
AN OWL AFTER A RECENT OPERATION, WAS QUOTED AS SAYING:
'SINCE THEN I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO HOOT WORTH A SHIT,
OR SHIT WORTH A HOOT!'
Submitter comment:
I FOUND THIS ON A WALL OF THE MEN'S JOHN AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF DETROIT LIBRARY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; LAVATORY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |