Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for CHICAGO returned 200 results.
PROVERBS
BOOKS BEFORE BOYS BECAUSE BOYS BRING BABIES.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A POPULAR SAYING TODAY AMONG A LOT OF GIRLS, DUE
TO THE RASH OF TEEN PREGNANCIES TODAY.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
James Callow Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; ELLIPSIS ; WARNING
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 05-00-1990
When we were little we would play this
game called "chin people." In it
we would draw faces on our chins, but
these faces were upside down. Then we would
lay on a couch with our feet over the back
and our heads on the floor. It was hilarious to
see our mouths talking and pretending to smoke
cigarettes. The whole family would laugh.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00001970S
It is considered unlucky to let a candle burn
to the end.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001970S
If you leave a hat rack empty then you
will never have visitors again. You may
lose all your friends.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
James Callow Keyword(s): hat rack
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 00001982CA
Superstition
It is bad luck to breathe while passing a cemetery, so to avoid
the bad luck, hold your breath.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001987ca
Bath Game
When it was time to take a bath, the three brothers were "rounded
up" by the father, and placed in the tub. The boys pretended they
were Indians, and had "feathers" created in their hair with shampoo.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Water Ice Snow |
Date learned: 00001973CA
Parade
In the Luzwick family, after each child was potty trained, the
members of the family had a parade to celebrate the child's
accomplishment. They used toy instruments, and traveled the house
cheering for the successful child.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Date learned: 00001971ca
Car Dancing
When in the car, and a good song comes on the radio, a car dance
is called. It consists of a series of motions, dictated by the
driver.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): DANCE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dance CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00001986ca
IF YOU CROSS OVER A BRIDGE, WITH WATER UNDER IT,
IT WILL BRING YOU GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Water BELIEF -- Good luck |
Good Luck
If cats are always hanging around your house, that is a sign
of good luck.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
ITALIAN BURIAL CUSTOM
A LAST GESTURE MADE BY THE CHILDREN OF THE PARENT, JUST
BEFORE THE COFFIN IS LOWERED INTO THE GRAVE: EACH CHILD
PLACES A SINGLE RED ROSE ON THE COFFIN OVER THE
DECEASED'S TORSO. THIS USUALLY BRINGS EMOTIONS TO A
CLIMAX--ON THE ITALIAN SIDE OF OUR FAMILY, FUNERALS
ARE VERY EMOTIONAL IN THE FIRST PLACE (USE THAT AS A
BASIS FOR WHAT WAS FIRST SAID).
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1952
THIS WAS TOLD TO ME BY A MAN WHO WAS ON A SUBMARINE
DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. IF A SUB USED ALL ITS
TORPEDOES BEFORE COMING BACK FROM A CRUISE, AS THE
SUB CAME BACK TO ITS BASE, THE CREW WOULD ATTACH A
BROOM TO THE PERISCOPE. HE SAID THAT IT WAS SOMETHING
THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN AND A HUGE AMOUNT OF
PRIDE WAS HAD BY ANY CREW WHO COULD RETURN TO BASE IN
SUCH A MANNER.
Submitter comment:
HE WAS A RATHER UNUSUAL SUBMARINER BECAUSE HE WAS
SIX FOOT TWO INCHES TALL. I DON'T REMEMBER HIS NAME.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
THE BRIDE IS SUPPOSED TO SAVE THE TOP LAYER OF
THE WEDDING CAKE TILL THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY IN
ORDER TO INSURE HAPPINESS.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Wedding cake |
Date learned: 10-20-1968
PEDIDDLE
IF THERE IS A "ONE-EYED" CAR AT NIGHT, THE GUY CAN KISS
THE GIRL IF HE SAYS "PEDIDDLE" FIRST. IF SHE SAYS
IT FIRST, SHE SLAPS HIS FACE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT MENTIONED THAT THIS WAS PLAYED IN
CLEVELAND WHEN HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. ALSO, HE SAID
THAT FRIENDS IN CHICAGO ALSO HAD HEARD OF IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OHIO ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; CLEVELAND
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-27-1970
CHICKEN
EACH PLAYER MUST HAVE HIS OWN BICYCLE. A NARROW
PATH OR SIDEWALK IS USED AS THE FIELD. A MARK IS
PLACED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. THERE ARE ONLY
TWO PLAYERS AT ANY ONE TIME. THE PLAYERS EACH AT
OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE FIELD START RACING TOWARDS THE
MARK IN THE MIDDLE AND THE FIRST ONE TO GET THERE
OF (OR?) THE LAST ONE TO TURN OF (OFF?) IS THE
WINNER. THE LENGTH OF THE FIELD CANNOT BE TOO
LONG OR THE GAME WOULD JUST TURN INTO A RACE.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
THE REASON WHY IT'S BAD LUCK TO WALK UNDER A LADDER
IS BECAUSE THE TWO SIDES OF THE LADDER AND THE
FLOOR REPRESENT THE TRIANGLE OF THE HOLY TRINITY
AND TO PASS THROUGH IT IS AN INVASION OF HEAVEN
AND BREAKS THE TRINITY.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Angular forms BELIEF -- Bad luck Ladder (angles, pyramid, etc.) |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
IF ONE PUTS SHOES ON A TABLE, IT IS BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND OF MINE WHO REMEMBERS THIS
FROM HER CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) BELIEF -- Bad luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.) |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN ; CHILDHOOD
IT'S BAD LUCK FOR THE BRIDE TO GO IN ONE DOOR AT
THE CHURCH AND OUT THE OTHER.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Bad luck Crucial moment of life |
Date learned: 10-20-1968
"LUCKY AT CARDS, UNLUCKY AT LOVE."
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
James Callow Keyword(s): FORMULA SPEECH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Conversions Games Pastimes Sports SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 08-00-1967
HICCUPS
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE I LEARNED THAT EVERY TIME A
PERSON HICCUPS, HIS HEART SKIPS A BEAT. A LOGICAL
EXPLANATION FOR THIS BELIEF COULD VERY WELL BE THAT
WHEN A DOCTOR IS USING A STETHOSCOPE, WHEN THE PERSON
HICCUPS, THE DOCTOR WOULD NOT HEAR THE HEARTBEAT.
HENCE, IT SKIPS! THIS, HOWEVER, IS NOT TRUE, AS
PROVED BY ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHS.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): HICCUPS=SPASM OF THE DIAPHRAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.8 |
Date learned: 00-00-1966