Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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SUGAR AND VINEGAR AND CORNOIL CURES WARTS ON HANDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 11-07-1971
GOOD LUCK COMES TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM IF IT RAINS
ON THEIR WEDDING DAY.
Submitter comment: GERMAN SUPERSTITION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage P545.056 BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 11-07-1971
I REMEMBER A STORY ABOUT A VERY POOR MAN AND WOMAN WHO HAD
MANY CHILDREN. THE MAN WAS GOOD AND THE WOMAN WAS BAD.
EVERYDAY, WHEN THE MAN RETURNED HOME FROM WORK, HIS WIFE FED
HIM MEAT WITHOUT BONES. AND HE ALWAYS ASKED WHY THE MEAT
HAD NO BONES. THE WIFE REPLIED THAT THE BONES WERE HEAVY
AND MEAT WITHOUT BONES IS CHEAPER. THE HUSBAND ALWAYS ATE
BUT ASKED HIS WIFE HOW COME SHE NEVER ATE THE MEAT. TO
WHICH SHE REPLIED SHE HAD NO TEETH. ONE DAY THE HUSBAND
ASKED TO SEE HIS CHILDREN. COUNTING ONLY FIFTEEN HE
INQUIRED WHERE THE OTHERS WERE. THE WIFE ANSWERED THAT
THEY WERE AT THEIR GRANDMOTHER'S. EVERYDAY AFTER THAT
SHE WOULD TELL HER HUSBAND THAT SHE SENT ONE MORE TO
THEIR GRANDMOTHER.
ONE DAY WHEN THE HUSBAND CAME HOME, HE HEARD TALKING
UNDERNEATH A LARGE STONE NEAR THE HOUSE. HE LIFTED THE
ROCK AND SAW MANY BONES WHICH WERE SINGING:
OUR MOTHER HAS KILLED US
OUR FATHER HAS EATEN US
WE ARE NOT IN A COFFIN
AND WE ARE NOT IN THE CEMETERY.
REALIZING THE BONES WERE THOSE OF HIS CHILDREN HE BECAME
ANGRY AND KILLED HIS WIFE AND BURIED HIS CHILDREN.
THE MAN LIVED ALONE AND NEVER ATE MEAT AGAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Magic |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
I REMEMBER A STORY ABOUT A VERY POOR MAN AND WOMAN WHO HAD
MANY CHILDREN. THE MAN WAS GOOD AND THE WOMAN WAS BAD.
EVERYDAY, WHEN THE MAN RETURNED HOME FROM WORK, HIS WIFE FED
HIM MEAT WITHOUT BONES. AND HE ALWAYS ASKED WHY THE MEAT
HAD NO BONES. THE WIFE REPLIED THAT THE BONES WERE HEAVY
AND MEAT WITHOUT BONES IS CHEAPER. THE HUSBAND ALWAYS ATE
BUT ASKED HIS WIFE HOW COME SHE NEVER ATE THE MEAT. TO
WHICH SHE REPLIED SHE HAD NO TEETH. ONE DAY THE HUSBAND
ASKED TO SEE HIS CHILDREN. COUNTING ONLY FIFTEEN HE
INQUIRED WHERE THE OTHERS WERE. THE WIFE ANSWERED THAT
THEY WERE AT THEIR GRANDMOTHER'S. EVERYDAY AFTER THAT
SHE WOULD TELL HER HUSBAND THAT SHE SENT ONE MORE TO
THEIR GRANDMOTHER.
ONE DAY WHEN THE HUSBAND CAME HOME, HE HEARD TALKING
UNDERNEATH A LARGE STONE NEAR THE HOUSE. HE LIFTED THE
ROCK AND SAW MANY BONES WHICH WERE SINGING:
OUR MOTHER HAS KILLED US
OUR FATHER HAS EATEN US
WE ARE NOT IN A COFFIN
AND WE ARE NOT IN THE CEMETERY.
REALIZING THE BONES WERE THOSE OF HIS CHILDREN HE BECAME
ANGRY AND KILLED HIS WIFE AND BURIED HIS CHILDREN.
THE MAN LIVED ALONE AND NEVER ATE MEAT AGAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Magic |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT'S THE ROVING BEE THAT GATHERS THE HONEY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT FOOD WORK
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
SAY IT WITH FLOWERS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
THERE'S ALWAYS A NUT ON EVERY FAMILY TREE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
THOUSANDS DRINK THEMSELVES TO DEATH BEFORE ONE DIES OF THIRST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
Keyword(s): ALCOHOL
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
NICKNAME
WHILE PLAYING A GAME OF TOUCH FOOTBALL, WE NICKNAMED A PLAYER WHO WAS
6'4"TALL AND 250 POUNDS - - "SUGAR BEAR."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: 09-00-1969
A FIST CLENCHED WITH THE TIP OF THE THUMB EXTENDED
BETWEEN THE FOREFINGER AND MIDDLE FINGERS MEANS
"FIGA Z MAKIEM" WHICH TRANSLATED FROM POLISH INDICATES
"NOTHING."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero SPEECH -- Nothing |
Date learned: 00-00-1951
HOW SHORT YOU ARE
AN ENLISTED MAN'S GESTURE INDICATED THE LENGTH OF TIME
LEFT IN SERVICE. IT CONSISTS IN EXTENDING THE THUMB
AND FOREFINGER, REST OF THE FINGERS CLOSED IN A FIST.
THE AMOUNT OF SPACE BETWEEN THE TWO FINGERS IS
PROPORTIONAL TO THE AMOUNT OF TIME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quantity or weight SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 09-14-1968
WHEN A BLACK CAT CROSSES YOUR PATH, SPIT AND TURN AROUND
THREE TIMES. THIS STOPS THE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.22 BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22 SPEECH -- Magical Luck |
Date learned: 11-14-1971
RIDDLE
WHAT'S RED, HANGS ON A TREE AND SQUEALS?
A HERRING: IT'S RED BECAUSE IT'S PAINTED THAT WAY,
HANGS BECAUSE IT WAS HUNG THERE AND SQUEALS
JUST TO MAKE IT HARDER TO GUESS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
THIN WAFERS OF UNLEAVENED BREAD ARE DIVIDED BETWEEN THE GUESTS AT
A CHRISTMAS EVE GATHERING. THE PEOPLE WISH EACH OTHER
TRADITIONAL GREETINGS.
Submitter comment:
THE WAFER IS MEANT TO SYMBOLIZE THE EUCHARIST AND BASICALLY THE
COMING OF CHRIST.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.82 |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
ONE EMPTY CHAIR IS PLACED AT THE TABLE DURING CHRISTMAS
SUPPER FOR ANY POOR BEGGAR OR SUCH WHO MIGHT WANDER
IN. SUCH A PERSON IS ALWAYS INVITED IN AND FED.
Submitter comment:
Polish [custom]
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
Keyword(s): POLISH CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Christmas |
Date learned: 00-00-1954
GROCERY STORE GAME.
GROCERY STORE GAME. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE PLAYING. ONE PERSON
STARTS BY SAYING," I WENT TO THE STORE AND BOUGHT SOME..."
THE NEXT PERSON REPEATS WHAT THE FIRST SAID AND ADDS SOMETHING TO
THE LIST. WHEN SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING OUT OF SEQUENCE, THAT PERSON
IS OUT. THE WINNER IS THE ONE WHO CAN REMEMBER THE WHOLE LIST.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
Keyword(s): GAME ; Grocery ; MEMORY
James Callow Keyword(s): CUMULATIVE
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Memory |
Date learned: 00-00-1981
JUMP ROPE RHYME
JOHNNY OVER THE OCEAN,
JOHNNY OVER THE SEA,
JOHNNY BROKE A TEA CUP
AND BLAMED IT ON ME.
I TOLD MA,
MA TOLD PA;
JOHNNY GOT A LICKIN;
HEE, HEE, HAW!
SALT, VINEGAR,
MUSTARD, PEPPER!
(Gradual increase of speed)
Submitter comment:
(GRADUAL INCREASE OF SPEED)
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; SPEED-JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED
A PERSON LEAVING A HOUSE SAYS, "SEE YOU LATER."
OCCUPANT ANSWERS, "THANKS FOR THE WARNING."
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-27-1971
"TOP OF THE MORNING TO YOU!, AND
THE BACK OF MY HAND."
Submitter comment: JEST WITH FRIEND
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 12-02-1971
ONE FRIEND TO ANOTHER WHO IS LISTLESS:
"KEEP THIS UP AND YOU'LL WEAR YOURSELF OUT."
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-29-1971