Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 6796 returned 49 results.
EASTER DAY
THE FOOD THAT WAS BLESSED ON SATURDAY MUST BE EATEN FOR BREAKFAST.
IT MUST INCLUDE HORSERADISH TO REPRESENT THE BURNING LIQUID GIVEN
CHRIST WHILE HE HUNG ON THE CROSS. THE REMAINING FOOD SHOULD BE
SHARED WITH THE DAY'S VISITORS SO THAT IT IS FINISHED ON SUNDAY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
Keyword(s): CHARITY, HOSPITALITY ; FAMILY UNITY ; FOOD CUSTOM ; SWIECZONKA ; SYMBOL
GOOD TURN
ONE GOOD TURN DESERVES ANOTHER
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
James Callow Keyword(s): KINDNESS ; RETRIBUTION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00001920S
HAUNTED COTTAGE
THERE IS A HAUNTED COTTAGE ALONG LAKE ERIE JUST EAST OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.
AN OLD GIANT OF A MAN SUPPOSEDLY LIVED THERE SOME TIME AGO. THIS MAN KILLED A
TRESPASSER AT HIS COTTAGE (THERE ARE RED STAINS ON THE FLOOR AND WALLS OF THE
MAIN ROOM). HE DUMPED THE BODY IN ERIE AT 32 AND GREENGARDEN AVENUE, AND THAT
STREET SIGN STANDS IN FRONT OF THE COTTAGE. THE OLD MAN'S SPIRIT PROTECTS THE
PLACE FROM TRESPASSERS.
Submitter comment:
ALTHOUGH THE SURROUNDING AREA IS VERY BEAUTIFUL, PEOPLE REFUSE TO BUILD THERE,
AND THE PROPERTY OWNER REFUSES TO SELL THE LAND.
COWELL, VIRGINIA THIS LADY OWNS THE PROPERTY OF THE HAUNTED COTTAGE AND BELIEVES IN THE STORY.
DUGAN FAMILY THIS FAMILY OWNS A COTTAGE AT THE SITE OF THE HAUNTED COTTAGE AND
BELIEVE ITS STORY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate PROSE NARRATIVE -- Abnormal in size |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
WHEN YOU GET OLD AND OUT OF SHAPE,
I'LL BUY YOU A GIRDLE FOR TWO-NINETY EIGHT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults |
Date learned: 00001950S
THE CAT
A CAT HAS NINE LIVES.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; NUMBERS ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | 686 Ninths / Nine BELIEF -- Mammal PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
COMMERCIAL RIDDLE
Q: WHAT HAS A HEAD BUT NO HAIR?
A: KOEHLER BEER.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
Keyword(s): EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q) ; PRIVATIONAL
James Callow Keyword(s): SLANG: HEAD FOR FOAM
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00-00-1963
ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE,
WHEN IT RAINS I THINK OF YOU.
DRIP, DROP, DRIP, DROP.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Roses are red and other such associations |
Date learned: 00001950S
I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT IN VAIN.
I THOUGHT AT LAST I'D SIGN MY NAME.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Announcing a signature |
THE HEN-PECKED DEVIL
SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS AGO THE MAYOR OF HAMBURG, GERMANY,
CONTRACTED TO HAVE A BRIDGE BUILT OVER THE ELBE. THE CONTRACTOR
PROMISED TO HAVE THE JOB COMPLETED BY A CERTAIN DATE, BUT,
BECAUSE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, HE WAS HOPELESSLY BEHIND SCHEDULE.
SINCE THE BUILDER KNEW THAT THE MAYOR WOULD NOT FULFILL HIS END
OF THE CONTRACT UNLESS THE BRIDGE WAS COMPLETED IN TIME FOR THE
SPRING FESTIVALS, HE MADE A PACT WITH THE DEVIL FOR ITS COMPLE-
TION. THE DEVIL WOULD COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION IN RETURN FOR THE
SOUL OF THE FIRST PERSON TO CROSS THE BRIDGE.
WHEN THE BRIDGE WAS COMPLETED AND TO BE DEDICATED, THE MAYOR AND
BUILDER ARGUED WITH ONE ANOTHER ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE THE FIRST TO
WALK ACROSS THE SPAN. THE MAYOR, SUSPECTING SOMETHING WAS AMISS
BECAUSE OF THE JOB'S RAPID COMPLETION, INSISTED THAT THE BUILDER
PROCEED FIRST. IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS, THE BUILDER HAD TUCKED
A HEN UNDER HIS COAT. WHEN HE APPROACHED THE MIDWAY MARK OF THE
BRIDGE WHERE THE DEVIL WAS LURKING BEHIND A COLUMN, HE THREW THE
HEN OUT TO HIM. THE DEVIL SEIZED THE BIRD, BUT WHEN HE SAW THAT
HIS CATCH WAS ONLY A HEN, HE THREW IT DOWN IN DISGUST. THE
DEVIL'S ANGER WAS SUCH THAT THE HEN WENT CLEAN THROUGH THE BRIDGE,
AND TO THIS DAY THERE IS A HOLD IN THE BRIDGE WHICH WILL NOT BE
FILLED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD TALE FROM A GERMAN PHILOSOPHY PROFESSOR AT
GANNON COLLEGE, ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE ; GANNON COLLEGE
Date learned: 10-23-1965
KNOCK ON WOOD SO NOTHING WILL HAPPEN AFTER YOU SAID IT
MIGHT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
Keyword(s): BEHAVIOR ; BELIEF ; GESTURE ; Knock ; Knock On Wood ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION ; WOOD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- P670 P670.88 |
Date learned: 00001950S
TO SHOW DISGUST WITH SOMETHING OR SOMEONE, ONE HITS
HIS RIGHT SHOULDER WITH HIS LEFT HAND AND EXTENDS
HIS RIGHT ARM STRAIGHT OUT.
James Callow comment: POLISH?
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Derision Scorn |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
FIG-THUMB IN HAND BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND FINGERS.
I WILL GIVE YOU NOTHING OR HAVE RECEIVED NOTHING
IN THE WAY OF PRESENTS.
Submitter comment: CALLED FEEGASMACHUM.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero SPEECH -- Nothing |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
HAUNTED COTTAGE
THERE IS A HAUNTED COTTAGE ALONG LAKE ERIE JUST EAST OF ERIE,
PENNSYLVANIA. AN OLD GIANT OF A MAN SUPPOSEDLY LIVED THERE
SOME TIME AGO. THIS MAN KILLED A TRESPASSER AT HIS COTTAGE
(THERE ARE RED STAINS ON THE FLOOR AND WALLS OF THE MAIN ROOM).
HE DUMPED THE BODY IN ERIE AT 32 AND GREENGARDEN AVENUE, AND
THAT STREET SIGN STANDS IN FRONT OF THE COTTAGE. THE OLD MAN'S
SPIRIT PROTECTS THE PLACE FROM TRESPASSERS.
Submitter comment:
ALTHOUGH THE SURROUNDING AREA IS VERY BEAUTIFUL, PEOPLE REFUSE TO
BUILD THERE, AND THE PROPERTY OWNER REFUSES TO SELL THE LAND.
THIS LADY OWNS THE PROPERTY OF THE HAUNTED COTTAGE AND BELIEVES IN
THE STORY. THIS FAMILY OWNS A COTTAGE AT THE SITE OF THE HAUNTED COTTAGE AND
BELIEVE ITS STORY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate PROSE NARRATIVE -- Abnormal in size |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
HAUNTED COTTAGE
THERE IS A HAUNTED COTTAGE ALONG LAKE ERIE JUST EAST OF ERIE,
PENNSYLVANIA. AN OLD GIANT OF A MAN SUPPOSEDLY LIVED THERE
SOME TIME AGO. THIS MAN KILLED A TRESPASSER AT HIS COTTAGE
(THERE ARE RED STAINS ON THE FLOOR AND WALLS OF THE MAIN ROOM).
HE DUMPED THE BODY IN ERIE AT 32 AND GREENGARDEN AVENUE, AND
THAT STREET SIGN STANDS IN FRONT OF THE COTTAGE. THE OLD MAN'S
SPIRIT PROTECTS THE PLACE FROM TRESPASSERS.
Submitter comment:
ALTHOUGH THE SURROUNDING AREA IS VERY BEAUTIFUL, PEOPLE REFUSE TO
BUILD THERE, AND THE PROPERTY OWNER REFUSES TO SELL THE LAND.
THIS LADY OWNS THE PROPERTY OF THE HAUNTED COTTAGE AND BELIEVES IN
THE STORY. THIS FAMILY OWNS A COTTAGE AT THE SITE OF THE HAUNTED COTTAGE AND
BELIEVE ITS STORY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate PROSE NARRATIVE -- Abnormal in size |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
WHICH EVER GIRL CATCHES THE WEDDING BOUQUET IS THE NEXT
TO GET MARRIED.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Bouquet toss |
Date learned: 00001920S
WHEN A YOUNG CHILD SHOULD LOSE A TOOTH, IT IS PLACED
UNDER HIS PILLOW AND THE GOOD TOOTH FAIRY WILL REPLACE
THE TOOTH WITH A SHINY, NEW COIN.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue |
Date learned: 00001920S
IF YOU HAVE WARTS, TIE A STRING AROUND THEM. SLIP THE STRING
OFF AND BURY IT. AS THE STRING ROTS, THE WARTS WILL GO GO AWAY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 00001920S
PLACE A RED RIBBON IN A CHILD'S HAIR SO HE WILL NOT
BE OVERLY PRAISED BY PEOPLE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 00001920S
IF YOU STUMBLE WHILE YOU ARE WALKING, YOU SHOULD
GO BACK AND REWALK THE SAME SPOT WITHOUT
STUMBLING OR IT IS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Conversions Leaving Entering Returning home Travel |
Date learned: 00001920S
WHEN TWO ARE WALKING AND THEY MUST GO ON OPPOSITE
SIDES OF AN OBSTRUCTION, THEY MUST SAY "BREAD
AND BUTTER," OR IT IS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Conversions Leaving Entering Returning home Travel SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001920S