Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 7745 returned 24 results.
If you sneeze on Monday, you sneeze for danger;
Sneeze on Tuesday, kiss a stranger;
Sneeze on a Wednesday, sneeze for a letter;
Sneeze on a Thursday, something better;
Sneeze on a Friday, sneeze for sorrow;
Sneeze on a Saturday, see your sweetheart tomorrow.
Sneeze on Sunday and the devil will have domination
over you all week.
Submitter comment:
Used to tell to children just for fun. (She's a teacher
and mother of eleven.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970S
CUSTOM
WHENEVER SOMEONE GIVES A SHARP OBJECT AS A GIFT IN HER FAMILY,
THE PERSON WHO RECEIVES THE SHARP OBJECT AS A GIFT GIVES THE GIVER
A PENNY TO SYMBOLIZE THAT THEIR FRIENDSHIP WILL NOT BREAK UP AS A
RESULT OF THE GIFT. THE SUPERSTITION, THAT GIVING A SHARP OBJECT
AS A GIFT WILL RESULT IN THE LOSS OF FRIENDSHIP, IS COUNTERACTED
BY THE PENNY.
Where learned: TOLD AT INFORMANTS HOME ; SAINT CLAIR
Keyword(s): GIFT FRIENDSHIP PENNY
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 02-27-1971
If your soap breaks in two, it's a true sign of parting.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR
Keyword(s): breaking up, end
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00-00-1991
KRIS KRINGLES
"AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ADVENT SEASON, MY FAMILY PRACTICES THE
CUSTOM OF 'KRIS KRINGLES.' EACH PERSON WILL PUT THEIR NAME ON A
PIECE OF PAPER AND PUT IT IN A CONTAINER. THEN EACH PERSON WILL
DRAW OUT A NAME AND KEEP IT A SECRET. DURING THE PERIOD OF ABOUT
FOUR WEEKS, WE WILL DO SPECIAL THINGS FOR THE PERSON WHOSE NAME
WE DREW. ON CHRISTMAS EVE WE WILL TRY TO GUESS WHO HAD OUR NAME."
Submitter comment:
WE PRACTICED THIS FOR MANY YEARS. MY MOTHER SAID THAT A RELATIVE
TOLD HER ABOUT IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR
| Subject headings: | 645 September 23 Equinox to December 20 Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below. |
Date learned: 01-00-1984
BAD LUCK
STEPPING ON A BROOM BRINGS BAD LUCK. HOWEVER, SPITTING ON IT RIGHT
AFTER YOU'VE STEPPED ON IT WILL WARD OFF THE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SAINT CLAIR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.1 SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001960S
PHONETIC RHYME
A KNIFE AND A FORK,
A BOTTLE AND A CORK,
THAT'S HOW YOU SAY NEW YORK.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS PICKED UP BY MY DAD WHILE LIVING IN NEW YORK CITY. IT
TEACHES PEOPLE HOW TO SAY NEW YORK LIKE THE NEW YORKERS. IT IS ALSO
USED BY OTHERS TO RIDICULE THE NEW YORKERS' ACCENT
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SAINT CLAIR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech C870.200 |
Date learned: 00001960S
KNOCK-KNOCK JOKE
FIRST PERSON: I HAVE A NEW KNOCK-KNOCK JOKE, DO YOU WANT TO HEAR IT?
SECOND PERSON: YES.
FIRST PERSON: YOU START.
THE SECOND PERSON WILL ALMOST ALWAYS START AND WHEN YOU SAY WHO'S
THERE THEY WILL BECOME CONFUSED AND THEN REALIZE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SAINT CLAIR
James Callow Keyword(s): CATCH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
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Irish Blessing
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
May the rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR
Keyword(s): caring, love
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1991
Sixty years ago in Ireland, children, at their
first glimpse of a full moon, were taught, in
order to escape bad luck or some dire calamity, to
use the following invocation:
"I see the moon, and the moon sees me.
God bless the moon, and God bless Me."
Submitter comment: My grandmother taught me this when I was little.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR
Date learned: 00001970'S
On the stroke of twelve (on New Year's Eve) every door
in the house has to be opened to allow the spirit of
the old year to leave.
Submitter comment:
Her best friend's family did it when she was a little
girl, and she never forgot it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR
Keyword(s): GHOST
Date learned: 00001930S
PRANK DONE IN THE COUNTRY (RICHMOND, MICHIGAN)
"MY FATHER ONCE TOLD US ABOUT HOW WHEN HE AND HIS BROTHERS ONCE
TOOK A PAPER SACK AND FILLED IT WITH COW MANURE. THEY TOOK THE
SACK FILLED WITH MANURE AND PLACED IT ON A PERSON'S FRONT PORCH.
THEN THEY LIT THE BAG WITH A MATCH AND RANG THE DOORBELL BEFORE
RUNNING AWAY. WHEN THE GUY CAME TO THE DOOR HE SAW THE SMALL
FIRE AND TRIED TO STAMP IT OUT, THUS GETTING MANURE ALL OVER
HIS SHOES."
Submitter comment:
WE WERE WARNED THAT IF WE TRIED SOMETHING LIKE THIS WE'D
REGRET IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 04-00-1984
GHOST IN THE GRAVEYARD (HIDE-AND-SEEK VARIATION)
"ANOTHER GAME SIMILAR TO HIDE-AND-SEEK IS 'GHOST IN THE GRAVEYARD.'
LIKE HIDE-AND-SEEK EVERYONE EXCEPT THE PERSON WHO IS IT WILL HIDE
AND THE ONE WHO IS 'IT' WILL SEARCH FOR THEM. IF HE/SHE CATCHES
SOMEONE, THAT PERSON IS THE 'GHOST'S' HELPER AND HELPS HIM/HER
TRY TO CATCH THE REST. AFTER EVERYONE HAS BEEN CAUGHT OR EVERY-
ONE HAS REACHED 'GOOL' (FREE SPOT), THE FIRST ONE WHO WAS
CAUGHT IS 'IT.'"
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS DOWN IN OHIO A FEW YEARS AGO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Hiding Searching |
Date learned: 04-00-1984
RED FOX BLOODY MURDER!
"A GAME SIMILAR TO HIDE-AND-SEEK IS 'RED FOX BLOODY MURDER!' IN
THIS GAME, THE PERSON WHO IS 'IT' HIDES INSTEAD OF THE PLAYERS
WHO COUNT WHILE HE IS HIDING AND GO SEEK HIM OUT. WHENEVER
ONE OF THE PLAYERS SEES THAT PERSON, THE PLAYER WILL SHOUT,
'RED FOX BLOODY MURDER!' AND WILL RUN FOR 'GOOL.' THE GAME
CONTINUES UNTIL SOMEONE IS CAUGHT OR ALL HAVE REACHED 'GOOL'
SAFELY."
Submitter comment:
'GOOL' REFERS TO THE SPOT THAT IS 'FREE.'
BEFORE RUNNING TO 'GOOL', EACH PLAYER MUST SHOUT "RED FOX
BLOODY MURDER!" AND THE PERSON HIDING HAS TO BE SEEN BY EACH
PLAYER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR
James Callow Keyword(s): GOAL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Hiding Searching |
Date learned: 04-00-1984
COUNTING OUT RHYME
"IN GAMES LIKE HIDE-AND-SEEK, THE PERSON WHO WAS 'IT' WAS DETER-
MINED BY A NUMBER OF WAYS. ONE SUCH WAY IS BY EACH PLAYER OF THE
GAME PLACING HIS FOOT IN A CIRCLE. ONE OF THE PERSONS WOULD THEN
ASK (AT THE SAME TIME TAPPING A FOOT OF EACH PLAYER ONCE FOR EACH
SYLLABLE IN THE SAYING): 'BUB-BLE-GUM, BUB-BLE-GUM, IN A DISH,
HOW MAN-Y PIE-CES DO YOU WISH?' THE PERSON WHOSE FOOT WAS TAPPED
LAST WOULD THEN SAY A NUMBER (1-10) AND THE TAPPING OF FEET
WOULD CONTINUE UNTIL THE NUMBER HAD BEEN COUNTED. AT THE END OF
THE COUNT, THE TAPPER WOULD CONTINUE BY SAYING (E.G. 1-5):
'1-2-3-4-5 AND YOU WILL NOT BE IT.' THEN THE PERSON TO BE TAPPED
ON 'IT' WOULD BE OUT OF THE COUNTING. THE ROUTINE CONTINUED
UNTIL THERE WAS ONLY ONE PERSON LEFT AND HE WOULD BE 'IT.'"
Submitter comment:
THE COUNT COULD BE SHORTENED BY DELETING "NOT" FROM THE FIRST
PART OF THE SAYING ("...WILL NOT BE IT.")
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 04-00-1984
ANIMAL CALLS (CATTLE)
"TO CALL THE CATTLE IN FROM THE WOODS, MOST OF THE FARMERS IN MY
AREA (ST. CLAIR, MI.) WILL CALL 'COME BAHS, COME BAHS!' SEVERAL
TIMES VERY QUICKLY AND LOUDLY. THIS WILL CAUSE THE CATTLE TO
COME RUNNING UP TO THE BARN. IF THE FARMER DOESN'T FEEL LIKE
CALLING, AS MY GRANDFATHER DID MANY TIMES, HE'LL TURN THE MOTOR
ON IN THE SILO WHICH ACTS AS A DINNER BELL FOR THE CATTLE."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 SPEECH -- Onomatopoeia SPEECH -- To Be Heard |
Date learned: 04-00-1984
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THREE ON A MATCH
IT IS BAD LUCK FOR THREE PEOPLE TO LIGHT THEIR CIGARETTES OFF OF THE
SAME MATCH.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SAINT CLAIR
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.5 |
Date learned: 00001960S
LUCKY CROSSING
IF YOU LIFT YOUR FEET OFF THE FLOOR OF YOUR CAR WHILE CROSSING A
BRIDGE OVER WATER YOU WILL ALWAYS REACH THE OTHER SIDE SAFELY.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS A MORE COMMON BELIEF IN THE EARLY 1900S WHEN PEOPLE WERE A
LITTLE MORE WARY ABOUT DRIVING CARS OVER BRIDGES.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SAINT CLAIR
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; MAGIC
Date learned: 00001960S