Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 1688 returned 52 results.
BEWARE OF THE BLACKBIRDS
WHEN COMBING YOUR HAIR, BE SURE NOT TO LET A STRAND
OR A CLUMP OF YOUR HAIR FALL TO THE GROUND
WHERE A BLACKBIRD CAN PICK IT UP, FOR IF HE DOES,
YOU WILL GO CRAZY.
Where learned: WORK
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 09-19-1969
ROSES
IF A GIRL WEARS A ROSE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER HEAD IT MEANS SHE IS
SINGLE AND AVAILABLE. IF IT IS ON HER LEFT SIDE IT MEANS SHE IS
MARRIED.
Where learned: WORK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Signs of availability |
Date learned: 07-00-1967
BELIEF (COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; BAD LUCK: GESTURES (CLASSIFIERHS TITLE)
THE THIRD PERSON ON A MATCH IS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; WORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.22 |
Date learned: 01-29-1968
GENERAL FOLKLORE
A MAN IN ENGLAND IN THE 1500,S COULD BE CRUSHED TO DEATH BY BEING
PLACED BETWEEN TWO BOARDS WHICH WERE LOADED WITH STONES, FOR NOT
PLEADING GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY AT THE BAR IN THE COURTS. BECAUSE
THIS WOULD HOLD UP THE COURTS AND DELAY OTHER TRIALS.
Where learned: WORK
Keyword(s): PLEADING ENGLISH COURTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Common law |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
SAYING
ROB HAW THE GLECAE (GLASCOW) GLUTTON/ STOLE LAMB AND A LEG OF MUTTON.
Submitter comment: VOLUNTEERED
Where learned: WORK
Keyword(s): FEMININE RHYME ; RHYME: AA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 09-22-1968
AN OMEN
IF THERE IS A PIECE OF STRING, THREAD
LYING ON YOUR CLOTHES, THIS IS A SIGN
MEANING THAT YOU ARE GOING TO RECEIVE
A LETTER OR PACKAGE.
Where learned: WORK ; J L HUDSONS
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 10-13-1969
SHE HAD A DREAM THAT HER DEAD MOTHER CAME DOWN
AND TOLD HER TO PLAY A 3 DIGIT NUMBER SO WHEN
SHE WOKE THE NEXT DAY SHE PLAYED THE NUMBER AND
IT CAME OUT STRAIGHT!
Submitter comment:
WHEN YOU DREAM OF DEAD PEOPLE DO WHAT THEY TELL
YOU TO DO BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME IT WILL BRING
YOU GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: WORK ; MAILROOM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Dreams BELIEF -- Good luck |
BELIEF
WHEN YOU GO VISITING, ALWAYS LEAVE BY THE SAME DOOR
THROUGH WHICH YOU ENTERED.
Where learned: WORK
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 12-02-1967
INDIAN CORN SOUP
IN ORDER TO MAKE INDIAN CORN SOUP, ONE MUST FIRST
OBTAIN SOME INDIAN CORN STALKS. TAKE THE STALKS
AND PLACE THEM IN A PAN OVER A FIRE. THE HEAT
WILL CAUSE THE CORN KERNELS TO POP. TAKE THE POPPED
KERNELS AND WASH THEM FIRST IN ASHES AND THEN
IN LYE. REPEAT THIS PROCEDURE TWICE. AFTER COMPLETING
THE KERNEL WASHING, PLACE THE CORN IN A POT FILLED
WITH WATER, ADD SALT AND BRING THE MIXTURE TO A BOIL.
LET THE WATER BOIL FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. THEN THE SOUP
SHOULD BE DONE.
Where learned: DETROIT, ASSUMED ; WORK ; J L HUDSONS ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Mixed preparation in liquid |
Date learned: 10-13-1969
PROVERB
FIGURES DON'T LIE, BUT LIARS CAN FIGURE.
Where learned: WORK
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-03-1967
I DON'T KNOW
THERE IS A CERTAIN CHEMISTRY TEACHER AT U. OF D.
WHO ASKED A REALLY TOUGH PROBLEM ON THE FINAL. ONE
OF THE FELLOWS IN THE CLASS SIMPLY WROTE, "I DON'T
KNOW," FOR THE ANSWER AND THE TEACHER GAVE HIM CREDIT.
HE SAID THAT WAS THE RIGHT ANSWER FOR HIM--HE DIDN'T
KNOW.
Submitter comment:
BOB HEARD THIS STORY AT SCHOOL THIS FALL AND SAYS THAT
IT HAPPENED AT FINALS LAST JUNE. IT IS TOLD FOR TRUE.
Where learned: WORK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Date learned: 11-00-1963
CUSTOM
SMOKING IS ALWAYS A CEREMONY TO INDIANS. THEY DON'T
SMOKE ALONE; ALL IMPORTANT DECISIONS ARE OPENED
WITH A SMOKE.
Where learned: WORK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP
PUT 25 DOLLARS AT MY FEET,
PUT SYRUP IN MY HAND,
SO I CAN SUP MY WAY TO THE PROMISED LAND.
Where learned: WORK
James Callow Keyword(s): PARODY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 10-30-1971
Entry filtered.
Entry filtered.
BURIAL CUSTOM OF NAVAL AIRFORCE
IN THE NAVAL AIRFORCE A SQUADRON IS USUALLY MADE UP OF
FOUR OR FIVE PLANES. WHEN ONE OF THE MEMBERS DIES, THE
OTHERS FLY OVER THE BURIAL SERVICE IN FORMATION, MINUS
THE DECEASED MEMBER LEAVING AN EMPTY PLACE IN THE
FORMATION.
Submitter comment:
TOLD AT WHITEHEAD AND KALES MILL STREET PLANT AND NOTED
ON ALL TV STATIONS AT FUNERALS OF THE ASTRONAUTS.
Where learned: DETROIT, ASSUMED ; WORK ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Saying
Format for answering telephone:
"Barker's Morgue, you stab 'em, we slab 'em."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Verse?
Where learned: WORK
Keyword(s): JOKE ; Morgue ; Saying ; Slab ; Stab ; TELEPHONE ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
REMOVAL OF THE EVIL EYE
ON ONLY ONE DAY OF THE YEAR CAN A PERSON BE TAUGHT HOW TO REMOVE THE
EVIL EYE. THE TIME IS BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 2:00 AM CHRISTMAS
MORNING. THE WORDS HAVE TO BE MEMORIZED SINCE THEY ARE NOT WRITTEN
DOWN AND CANNOT BE WRITTEN DOWN. IT IS TAUGHT BY AN OLD WOMAN TO A
YOUNG WOMAN; OR AN OLD MAN TO YOUNG MAN, BUT NOT BY A MAN TO A
WOMAN; OR A WOMAN TO A MAN. AFTER THE PRAYERS ARE TAUGHT, A DISH
OF OLIVE OIL AND A DISH OF WATER ARE PREPARED. THE PERSON MAKES THE
SIGN OF THE CROSS ON SOMEONE'S FOREHEAD WHILE SAYING A PRAYER. THEN
HE DIPS HIS FINGER IN THE OIL AND DROPS THE OIL IN THE WATER. IF
IF THE OIL SEPARATES INTO BALLS, THE PERSON HAS AN EVIL EYE AND MORE
PRAYERS ARE SAID. THEN THE DISH OF WATER WITH THE OIL IN IT IS
THROWN IN THE STREET WHERE BUGGIES (TODAY CARS) CAN RUN OVER IT;
AND THE SPELL WOULD BE BROKEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; WORK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Predictions |
Date learned: 07-00-1964
Entry filtered.
THE AGE-OLD SAYING, "THRICE A BRIDESMAID, NEVER A
BRIDE," IS RELATED TO THE SUPERSTITIOUS IDEA OF
"NEVER TWO, WITHOUT THREE."
Submitter comment: FROM RELATIVES
Where learned: WORK
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 11-28-1967