Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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LEGEND OF ST. BEATUS
IN THE MIDDLE AGES, THERE WAS A RICH YOUNG MAN WHO WENT AROUND
WITH HIS SWORD AND HELMET, LIVING AN EASY LIFE. IT IS TOLD THAT
HE CAME NEAR A BIG CAVE (AT THE BORDER OF LAKE THUN), AND HAD TO
FIGHT A BIG DRAGON. HE KILLED THE DRAGON, BUT WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED
HIMSELF. THERE WERE NO VILLAGES NEAR, AND HE TOLD HIMSELF THAT HE
WOULD BECOME A HERMIT IF HE SURVIVED. IN THIS LARGE CAVE, THERE WAS
A SPRING, AND BY DRINKING THE WATER HE BECAME WELL. HE THEN
STUCK TO HIS PROMISE, AND BECAME A HERMIT FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): PLEDGE
James Callow Keyword(s): LAKE OF THUN, SWITZERLAND
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 10-28-1970
CHRISTMAS BELIEF
IF A MAN DOES NOT ENTER THE HOUSE FIRST ON CHRISTMAS
MORNING, THE HOUSE WILL BE PLAGUED WITH SICKNESS AND
BAD LUCK DURING THE COMING YEAR. (THE STRONGER THE
MAN THE BETTER THE LUCK).
Submitter comment: THIS CUSTOM IS PRACTICED BY POLISH AMERICANS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): FIRST ON CHRISTMAS
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. |
Date learned: 10-25-1970
CHRISTMAS BELIEF
IF A MAN DOES NOT ENTER THE HOUSE FIRST ON CHRISTMAS
MORNING, THE HOUSE WILL BE PLAGUED WITH SICKNESS AND BAD
LUCK DURING THE COMING YEAR. (THE STRONGER THE MAN THE
BETTER THE GOOD LUCK). THIS CUSTOM IS PRACTICED BY POLISH-AMERICANS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING ; SEXIST
Date learned: 10-25-1970
NAMES
IT IS AN ITALIAN CUSTOM NOT TO HAVE MIDDLE NAMES. MARINA
HERSELF HAS NO MIDDLE NAME AND NEITHER DOES ANYONE IN
HER FAMILY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; COLUMBIA REALTY OFFICE
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
TAUNT
PUT UP, OR SHUT UP! (PROVE IT)
Submitter comment: JUST PICKED IT UP.
Where learned: SOUTHFIELD ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-11-1967
IF IN HEAVEN WE DON'T MEET,
HAND IN HAND WE'LL STAND THE HEAT.
AND IF THE HEAT GETS TOO HOT,
PEPSI COLA HITS THE SPOT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): HELL POP SODA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults |
Date learned: 07-25-1964
(NAME) IN THE TUB
MOTHER FORGOT TO PUT IN THE PLUG,
OH MY GOODNESS, OH MY SOUL!
THERE GOES (NAME) DOWN THE HOLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults |
Date learned: 07-25-1964
HE HURRIED ON, FOR IT WAS LATE,
HE RAN BEFORE HER TO OPEN THE GATE,
HE WANTED TO THANK HER, BUT DIDN'T KNOW HOW,
FOR HE WAS A FARMER AND SHE A COW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults |
Date learned: 07-25-1964
CAN'T THINK, BRAIN NUMB,
INSPIRATION WON'T COME.
POOR INK, BAD PEN,
THAT'S ALL
AMEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults |
Date learned: 07-25-1964
EGG JOKE (SIC)
Q: WHAT IS HARD ON THE OUT SIDE, SOFT ON THE INSIDE, AND IMPOSSIBLE
TO GET INTO WITHOUT BREAKING IT ?
A: AN EGG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): ACTION (Q) ; EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; STATE OF BEING (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 11-10-1969
PERSON NICKNAME
BLOOD
Submitter comment: WHAT ERIC CALLS HIS BROTHERS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: 07-00-1978
BELIEF ABOUT A FRIENDSHIP BRACELET
A RAWHIDE BRACELET IS GIVEN TO YOU BY YOUR FRIEND
AS A TOKEN OF YOUR FRIENDSHIP. IT CONSISTS OF FOUR KNOTS.
ONE THE BIGGEST, IS A SQUARE KNOT REPRESENTING SOME EVIL.
THE OTHER THREE REPRESENT IN ORDER, YOUR FRIEND, YOURSELF
AND A WALL. THIS IS SAID TO MEAN THAT AS LONG AS YOU HAVE YOUR FRIEND
YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO FACE EVIL HEAD ON, BECAUSE YOUR FRIEND IS IN
FRONT OF YOU, AND THE WALL IS BEHIND YOU.
IT WAS SAID THAT YOU HAD TO WEAR THESE BRACELETS FOR A PERIOD OF
ONE YEAR, OR UNTIL THEY ROTTED OFF.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): Bracelet ; FRIENDSHIP ; Friendship Bracelet ; JEWELRY ; Knot ; SIGN ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-23-1970
PLANTING RULE
IT IS A CUSTOM IN THE VILLAGE OF WENGEN, SWITZERLAND THAT YOU NEVER
PLANT BEANS WHILE THE MOON IS GROWING (THE PHASE FROM A NEW
MOON TO A FULL MOON). IF THIS RULE IS VIOLATED, THE BEANS
"JUST DON'T GROW."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; COLLECTORS HOME
Keyword(s): PLANTING CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: 10-28-1970
AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE
WHEN YOU GET MARRIED,
AND YOUR HUSBAND GETS CROSS,
PICK UP A ROLLING PIN,
AND SHOW HIM WHO'S BOSS.
Submitter comment:
THIS VERSE WAS WRITTEN IN THE INFORMANT'S AUTOGRAPH BOOK WHEN SHE WAS
IN SIXTH GRADE AT ST. ANTHONY'S SCHOOL IN DAYTON, OHIO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Matrimony |
Date learned: 00-00-1939
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT HAS ONE LEG AND HIS HEART IN HIS HEAD?
A: A STUFFED CABBAGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; METAPHORICAL ; PART OF THE BODY (Q)
James Callow Keyword(s): VEGETABLE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE
DON'T IT MAKE YOU MAD?
AND DON'T IT GET YOUR GOAT}
WHEN YOU GET IN THE BATHTUB,
AND THEN YOU LOOSE (SIC) THE SOAP}
Submitter comment:
THIS VERSE WAS WRITTEN IN THE INFORMANT'S AUTOGRAPH BOOK WHEN SHE
LIVED IN DAYTON, OHIO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults |
COMMON WORD
BOMB
Submitter comment: IT MEANS SOMETHING IS GOOD OR GREAT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: 07-00-1978
SHARP THINGS FOR PRESENTS (COLLECTOR,S TITLE) ; CONVERSION; GIVING COIN (CLASSIFIER,S TITLE)
IT IS VERY BAD LUCK FOR ANYONE TO GIVE YOU A PIN FOR A PRESENT OR
FOR THAT MATTER ANYTHING SHARP.
TO OVERCOME THIS WITHOUT HURTING THE GIVER,S FEELINGS INSIST ON HIS
TAKING A PENNY FOR THE GIFT.
THIS WAY YOU WILL HAVE PAID FOR THE GIFT AND IT WILL NOT BE BAD LUCK.
IF IT IS A BOY WHO GIVES YOU THE PIN YOU WILL SURELY BREAK UP SOON.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FRON HER MOTHER, CARRIE ADAMS, ABOUT 1920
Where learned: SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Conversions P883.18 |
Date learned: 05-12-1965
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