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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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TIME AND TIDE WAITS FOR NO MAN.

Submitter comment: DON'T PUT OFF SOMETHING BECAUSE YOU CAN NEVER
RECAPTURE TIME.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 11-06-1971

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THE THINGS WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT JUST AREN'T SO, GET US
INTO TROUBLE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID THAT HER MOTHER USED TO SAY THIS TO HER
WHEN SHE WAS A SMALL CHILD AND SHE BUILT HER HOPES UP
TOO HIGH.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 10-20-1971

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PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM MAXIM

THERE IS NONE SO BLIND AS THOSE WHO CANNOT SEE.

Submitter comment: PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT A SITUATION OR SOMETHING TO
BE DONE AND PASS IT BY.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 11-06-1971

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PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM MAXIM

THERE'S A FOOL BORN EVERY MINUTE.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): STUPIDITY

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 11-07-1971

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FOOD TABOO

IF A PERSON WERE PREGNANT THEN SHE CANNOT EAT MUSTARD GREENS
OR DRINK BUTTERMILK.

Submitter comment:

WHEN I ASKED INFORMANT WHY THIS WAS THE CASE, SHE THOUGHT
MUSTARD GREENS AND BUTTERMILK CAUSE GAS.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.

Date learned: 01-00-1971

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CHRISTMAS BELIEF

EVERY CHRISTMAS MORNING A PAN OF WATER IS PLACED UNDER THE SINK. A
CHRISTMAS TREE BRANCH, A PENNY, A NICKEL, A DIME, A QUARTER AND A
FIFTY CENT PIECE IS PLACED IN THE WATER. THIS WATER IS THEN USED TO
WASH IN. WHEN YOU WASH IN THE WATER YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND
MONEY FOR HEALTH.

Submitter comment: DOROTHY BANAS RELATED THE CUSTOM BUT WHEN QUESTIONED ON THE REASON
FOR THE CUSTOM SHE WAS UNABLE TO REPLY. EMIL MAZUR IMMEDIATELY
INSERTED HIS BELIEF.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Predictions

Date learned: 10-24-1970

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PROVERB: CAT

HAPPY AS A CAT IN A CREAMERY.

Submitter comment: USED TO DENOTE EXTREME HAPPINESS OF A PERSON OR ANIMAL IN A GIVEN
CIRCUMSTANCE.
INFORMANT USED THIS WHEN HE SAW HIS SECRETARY WAS VERY HAPPY. HE
LEARNED WHEN HE WAS A CHILD.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: 11-01-1971

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BELIEF

MAKE A VISIT IN A CHURCH YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN IN BEFORE AND
WHILE YOU ARE THERE, MAKE A WISH. IT WILL COME TRUE.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Church

Date learned: 02-01-1970

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A WOMAN SHOULD ALWAYS DRINK BEER DURING PREGNANCY.
IT MAKES THE BABY GOOD LOOKING.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT REVEALED THAT HE HEARD THIS FROM HIS FATHER WHO OWNED A BA

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): PREDICTION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth
Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Fermented
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 11-26-1971

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HAPPY IS THE BRIDE THE SUN SHINES ON

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): MARRIAGE ; WEATHER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 01-22-1970

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NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR. ; NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.

THERE WAS A BELIEF THAT A MOTHER WOULD DIE IF THE EVIL SPIRIT
CAME UPON HER BEFORE SHE WAS ABLE TO BE CHURCHED. MY GRANDFATHER
RECALLED THAT AFTER MY UNCLE JOSEPH WAS BORN THE EVIL SPIRIT
TRIED TO HARM MY GRANDMOTHER. ONE NIGHT, MY GRANDFATHER WAS
AWAKENED BY THE SOUND OF TAPPING AND SOMEONE CALLING FOR MY
GRANDMOTHER. MY GRANDMOTHER DID NOT HEAR IT SO MY GRANDFATHER
WENT TO THE DOOR BUT NO ONE WAS THERE. THE TAPPING AND
CALLING FOR MY GRANDMOTHER OCCURED THREE TIMES. THE THIRD TIME
WHEN HE WENT TO THE DOOR HE CALLED OUT: WHOEVER YOU ARE
SHOW YOUR FACE IF IF YOU ARE GOOD AND BEGONE IF YOU ARE EVIL.
AGAIN, THERE WAS NO ONE AND IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

Where learned: HOME ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): CHURCHING OF WOMAN ; DEMON SUMMONS WOMAN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Number

Date learned: 01-15-1970

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POLISH CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL

DECEMBER 24 (CHRISTMAS EVE) IS CELEBRATED WITH A SPECIAL MEAL AND
A MEANINGFUL READING FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT WORKS PERTAINING TO THE
SEASON OF CHRISTMAS.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve

Date learned: 03-21-1971

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COIN CUSTOM

IF YOU PUT A PENNY IN EACH OF YOUR DRESSER DRAWERS
AND KEEP THEM THERE YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE MONEY
WHILE YOU LIVE IN THAT HOUSE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS HIS MOTHER TOLD HIM THIS AND SWEARS IT IS TRUE.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Medium of exchange
BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color

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FUDGE, FUDGE, CALL THE JUDGE./ MAMA'S GONNA HAVE A BABY./ IT AIN'T NO
BOY./ IT AIN'T NO GIRL./ IT'S JUST A PLAIN OLD BABY.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; PLAIN-JUMP

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: 10-11-1971

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DOWN IN THE VALLEY

DOWN IN THE VALLEY WHERE THE GREEN GRASS GROWS,/
THERE SAT DEBBIE AS
PRETTY AS A ROSE./ SHE SANG, SHE SANG SO SWEET,/ ALONG CAME PAUL AND
KISSED HER ON THE CHEEK.

Where learned: MARYGROVE COLLEGE ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: 04-07-1970

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THAT IS A CASE OF THE KETTLE CALLING THE POT BLACK.

Submitter comment: IDENTIFYING THE TRUTH AS YOU SEE IT.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 11-06-1971

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SPELLING RHYME

A KNIFE AND A FORK,
A BOTTLE AND A CORK,
THAT'S THE WAY YOU SPELL NEW YORK}

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID THIS WHEN YOUNG IN THE 1920,S

Where learned: HOME ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): RHYME: AAA

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music

Date learned: 10-02-1971

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CUSTOM

FOR CHRISTMAS EVE, THE FAMILY HAS AN ODD NUMBER OF DISHES
FOR CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER. THIS DINNER IS CALLED WIGILIA.

Where learned: HOME ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Food container
BELIEF -- Number Odd number (not specific)

Date learned: 02-22-1970

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NUMBER

THE SEVENTH SON OF THE SEVENTH SON HAS SPECIAL POWERS.

Where learned: HOME ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several
Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY THE COLLECTOR

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TELLING FORTUNES-PROTECTION AT SEA

THE SEVENTH DAUGHTER OF SEVEN DAUGHTERS, BORN WITH A VEIL, CAN TELL
FORTUNES.
THIS VEIL IS THEN GIVEN TO A SEA CAPTAIN, SO THAT HE WILL NOT PERISH
AT SEA
(IRISH)

Submitter comment: MRS. DUNMIRE SAID THAT THIS HAPPENED TO HER MOTHER, AND THAT SHE
REALLY DID
HAVE THE POWER TO READ FORTUNES.

Where learned: HOME ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): AMULET

Subject headings: 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several
Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer
Favorites
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Emblem

Date learned: 01-00-1970

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