Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 2126 returned 433 results.
Belief: Weather
Weather:
If it rains before seven, it stops before eleven.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [B462] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Dup. of WPP
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): NATURE ; Predicting ; PREDICTING WEATHER ; Rain ; RHYME ; Sky ; TIME ; WEATHER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
HALLOWEEN
HELP THE POOR.
MY PANTS ARE TORE.
GIVE ME SOME MONEY
AND I'LL BUY SOME MORE.
Submitter comment: HEARD THIS A LONG TIME AGO FOR HALLOWEEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): BEGGING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival C840.1031 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween |
Date learned: 11-11-1967
NAMING CUSTOM
IT IS AN OLD MEXICAN CUSTOM TO GIVE A CHILD HIS MOTHER'S
MAIDEN NAME AS HIS MIDDLE NAME. RICK KALOSKI WOULD BE RICK
SMITH KALOSKI AND HIS KIDS WOULD BE RICK SMITH JONES KALOSKI.
NAMES GET VERY LONG AND THIS IS HOW ONE TRACES THEIR FAMILY
TREE. RICK ACTUALLY OBSERVED THIS IN SOME PARTS OF MEXICO
CITY, 1960.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; COLUMBIA REALTY OFFICE
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
DENI GRAS, LEGENDARY CHARACTER OF BREESE, ILLINOIS
THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO LIVED IN AN OLD HOUSE, NEVER TOOK BATHS,
WORE RAGS, (AND) CARRIED TWO POWDER KEGS AS BUCKETS FROM COAL
MINE. (A) SCAVENGER, (SHE) LIVED OFF ANYTHING SHE COULD FIND.
(SHE) ALWAYS HAD A SMILE ON HER FACE. (SHE WAS) PROMINENT BY
HER SILENCE AND ANTI-SOCIALNESS.
(SHE WAS) FOUND IN BED WITH A PARALYTIC STROKE. (SHE) DIED IN
A HOSPITAL SEVERAL YEARS LATER WITHOUT UTTERING A WORD.
THIS DENI GRAS WAS MORE OR LESS FEARED BY THE CHILDREN. SORT OF
TRAGIC IN A WAY. THE WAY IT WAS RELAYED TO ME, SHE MUST HAVE
REALLY BEEN A CHARACTER FITTING FOR DAMON RUNYON NICHE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; ILLINOIS ; BREESE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-02-1968
GREEK FOOD CUSTOM
GREEKS USE ONLY RED (DYED) EGGS AT EASTER TIME. THIS IS TO
SYMBOLIZE THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. THEY ARE CALLED MIMIKOS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; COLUMBIA REALTY OFFICE
Keyword(s): COLOR SYMBOLISM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs |
Date learned: 02-17-1971
Entry filtered.
WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND IN MY PRIME I USED TO GET IT ALL THE TIME,
NOW THAT I AM OLD AND GETTING GRAY I ONLY GET IT ONCE A DAY.
Submitter comment:
THIS LITTLE VERSE WAS TOLD TO ME BY A MAN WHO HAD LIVED FOR
MANY YEARS IN THE THUMB AREA. HE HAD HEARD THIS WHEN HE WORKED FOR
A LUMBER COMPANY IN THAT AREA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE
I HAVE A LITTLE FINGER,
I HAVE A LITTLE TOE,
AND WHEN I GET BIGGER,
I'LL HAVE A LITTLE BEAU.
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
James Callow Keyword(s): ITERATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Matrimony |
Date learned: 00-00-1939
AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE
CAN'T THINK
BRAIN DUMB
INSPIRATION WON'T COME
POOR INK
BUM PEN
BEST WISHES
AMEN
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS WRITTEN IN THE INFORMANT'S AUTOGRAPH BOOK WHEN SHE GRADUATED
FROM EIGHTH GRADE AT ST. MICHAEL'S SCHOOL IN SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
DUTCH GIRL
A HAND-CLAPPING GAME THAT IS PLAYED TO THIS RHYME:
I AM A PRETTY LITTLE DUTCH GIRL,
AS PRETTY AS CAN BE.
AND ALL THE BOYS AROUND MY BLOCK,
GO CRAZY OVER ME.
SOME WILL GIVE ME PEACHES.
SOME WILL GIVE ME PEARS.
SOME WILL GIVE ME FIFTY CENTS,
AND KICK ME DOWN THE STAIRS.
I DON'T WANT THEIR PEACHES,
I DON'T WANT THEIR PEARS,
ALL I'LL TAKE IS THE FIFTY CENTS,
AND KICK THEM DOWN THE STAIRS.
Submitter comment:
THE CLAPPING SEQUENCE IS:
BOTH HANDS ON LAP, CLAP TOGETHER, HIT EACH OTHER'S RIGHT
HAND (PALM TO PALM) -- CLAP TOGETHER.
HIT EACH OTHER'S LEFT HAND (PALM TO PALM), CLAP TOGETHER
HIT EACH OTHER'S TWO HANDS (PALM TO PALM), BOTH HANDS
ON LAP TOGETHER TWICE, CLAP, START AGAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 10-23-1970
READY OR NOT
APPLES, PEACHES, PUMPKIN PIE,
WHO'S NOT READY, HOLLER I.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND OF MINE, AND HE REMEMBERS THIS FROM
HIS CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse |
TAUNT
NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL GOOD MEN
TO COME TO THE AID OF THEIR PLANET.
Submitter comment:
THE TIME IS NOW FOR MEN TO WAKE UP AND REALIZE WHAT
HAS TO BE DONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): ANAPESTS ; GOOD MEN TO COME TO THE AID OF THEIR COUNTRY. ; PARODY: ON TYPING EXERCISE: NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
AQUONELE (POPPY SEEDS)
THE CHILDREN STAND IN A CIRCLE AND HOLDING HANDS.
THEY SING THE FIRST VERSE. SINGING ZODZIUS: "SEJA
SITAIP, VA IR VA KAIP"--THE CHILDREN DO SOWING MOTIONS
FIRST WITH THEIR RIGHT HAND, THEN THEIR LEFT. SINGING
ON, "TAIP, TAIP AQUONELES SEJA"--EVERYONE CLAPS TWICE
AND TURNS AROUND SLOWLY, IN A FULL CIRCLE, TO THE RIGHT.
THEY REPEAT AGAIN TO THE LEFT.
SINGING THAT THE POPPY SEEDS ARE COMING UP--THE CHILDREN
STOOP DOWN, SHOWING WITH THEIR FINGERS HOW THE POPPY
SEEDS ARE BREAKING THROUGH. THEY AGAIN CLAP 2 AND TURN
TO THE RIGHT, CLAP 2 AGAIN AND TURN TO THE LEFT.
Submitter comment:
SEJA SITAIP VA IR VA KAIP--SHOWING HOW THEY PLANT THE
POPPY SEEDS. SECOND QUOTE: THIS IS HOW, THIS IS HOW
THE POPPIES ARE PLANTED. SINGING OF HOW THEY ARE GROWING (THE POPPY SEEDS), THE CHILDREN STOOP DOWN AND SLOWLY RISE UP, SHOWING HOW HIGH THEY GROW. SINGING OF HOW THE POPPIES BLOOM, THE CHILDREN SLOWLY RAISE THEIR HANDS, HOLDING THEM TOGETHER, AND LEANING BACK JUST A LITTLE. SINGING OF HOW THE POPPIES RIPEN--THE CHILDREN, WITH HANDS RAISED, IMITATE WITH THEIR PALMS THE ROUND HEAD OF A POPPY. SINGING OF HOW THE POPPIES ARE SHAKEN DOWN, THE CHILDREN TURN ROWARDS EACH OTHER, PLACE THEIR HANDS ON EACH OTHERS ARMS ABOVE THE ELBOWS AND SHAKE. SINGING OF HOW THE POPPIES ARE BEING GRINDED--THE CHILDREN STOOP DOWN AND EVERYONE WITH THEIR RIGHT HAND MAKE A CIRCLE, IMITATING GRINDING. SINGING OF HOW TO EAT POPPIES--THE CHILDREN STAND AND THROW HANDFULS INTO THEIR MOUTHS. "POPPY SEEDS" IS A VERY POPULAR SONG AMONG THE LITTLE KIDS. NO ONE KNOWS WHERE IT ORIGINATED FROM OR WHO WROTE (IT), SO IT IS TRUE FOLKLORE. MY MOTHER'S STEP-MOTHER TOLD ME THAT SHE LEARNED THAT WHEN SHE WAS ONLY SEVEN YEARS OLD. SO IT'S PRETTY OLD. ALL OF THESE GAME-VERSES ARE OLD, BUT THE KIDS LOVE THEM.
A COMBINATION OF BOTH DANCE AND GAME.
Where learned: SOUTHFIELD ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 03-27-1972
COMMON WORD
MASHUGANAH
Submitter comment: IT IS A YIDDISH TERM FOR A CRAZY PERSON
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed SPEECH -- Common Word |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
GOOD LUCK. ( COLLECTOR'S TITLE ) ; GOOD LUCK: OBJECTS ( CLASSIFIER'S TITLE )
CARRY A SILVER DOLLAR OR TWO DOLLAR BILL.
Submitter comment: BECAUSE THEY ARE SO RARE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.1 |
Date learned: 10-02-1967
PARODY SUNG TO THE TUNE OF " PRETTY BABY "
EVERY PARTY NEEDS A POOPER
THAT'S WHY WE INVITED YOU...
PARTY POOPER, PARTY POOPER}}}
Submitter comment: WE'D SING THIS AT ANY LULL IN A PARTY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
AUTOGRAPH BOOK JOKE
TO PUT INTO AN AUTOGRAPH BOOK THE CLOSING, "LOOK IN THE CORNER".
THEN, WHEN THE DUPE LOOKS INTO THE CORNER, HE READS, "ONLY FOOLS
LOOK IN THE CORNER".
Submitter comment:
THIS IS AN AMERICAN JOKE THAT RAY HEARD IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
AT ST. MICHAEL'S IN SOUTHFIELD.
Where learned: SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion Z210 |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
SUPERSTITION
IF YOUR PALM ITCHES, YOU ARE GOING TO GET MONEY FROM
SOMEONE.
Where learned: SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching hands and feet |
Date learned: 00001970S
SUPERSTITION
IF YOUR EARS ARE RINGING, SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT YOU.
Where learned: SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | 842 Ringing ears / buzzing / hot, burning BELIEF -- Body part Senses Ears, noise in ear BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001970S
SUPERSTITION
IF YOUR NOSE ITCHES, YOU ARE GOING TO KISS A FOOL.
Where learned: SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Body part Senses Nose BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching nose SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1980