Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for PENNSYLVANIA returned 515 results.
CRYING
IF YOU CRY BEFORE 11, YOU WILL LAUGH BY 7.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 00001920'S
WAFER
A WAFER SHOULD BE SHARED WITH EACH FRIEND THAT ATTENDS YOUR HOUSE
DURING CHRISTMAS EVE AND DAY.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.82 |
Date learned: 00001920'S
POLISH BEER DRINKING SONG
PIJE KUBA DO JAKUBA
PIJE KUBA DO JAUBA, JAKBA DO MICHALA
PIJE JA PIJE TY, PIJE KOMPANIJA CALA,
A KTO NIE WIPIJE, TEGO WE DWA KIJE,
KUPU CUPU, CUPU TUPU, NIECH PO POLSHUU ZIJE.
IT MEANS:
JOHN DRINKS TO JAKE, JAKE DRINKS TO MIKE
I DRINK, YOU DRINK, THE WHOLE COMPANY DRINKS
WHO DOESN'T DRINK SHALL GET SLAPPED
LET HIM LIVE LIKE A GOOD POLOCK.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
Keyword(s): POLISH DRINKING SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Social reunion |
SHROVE TUESDAY
FOR GOOD LUCK, "PACZKI" (A POLISH DELICACY) ARE MADE FOR SHROVE
TUESDAY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | 663 Mardi Gras CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Season CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Palm Sunday |
Date learned: 00001920S
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
SUPERSTITION
NEVER GIVE ANYONE A PURSE WITHOUT PUTTING A PENNY IN IT, OR IT WILL
BE BAD LUCK
Submitter comment: INFORMANT BELIEVES THIS AND PRACTICES IT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-01-1971
THE GAME CONSISTS OF A SMALL HOLLOW PIECE OF WOOD
ABOUT 2 INCHES. THE OTHER PIECE FITS INTO THE HOLE
OF THE FIRST. (DIAGRAM ON 5 X 8 CARD) THE FIRST ALSO
IS CLOSED AT ONE END BY A PLUG WHICH HOLDS A RUBBER
BAND HALF-IN AND HALF-OUT OF THE END. THE NARROW
PIECE HAS A SMALL NOTCH IN ONE END.
THE OBJECT IS TO CATCH THE RUBBER-BAND INSIDE THE
HOLLOW PIECE WITH THE NOTCHED END OF THE OTHER.
THE JOKE COMES BECAUSE THERE REALLY IS NO RUBBER
BAND INSIDE. WHEN A PERSON DEMONSTRATES THE GAME
HE PRETENDS TO CATCH THE NON-EXISTENT RUBBER-BAND
AND THEN FORCES THE ROUNDED END TO SLIP THROUGH HIS
FINGERS SO THAT IT SNAPS BACK AS IF IT HAD BEEN PULLED
BY THE RUBBER BAND. THE VICTIM NEVER CAN DO THE TRICK
UNLESS HE KNOWS THE SECRET.
Submitter comment:
THIS TRICK WAS GIVEN TO ME BY MY FATHER, WHO HAD IT
WHEN HE WAS A CHILD IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
"OUTEN THE LIGHT"
Submitter comment:
THIS IS SAID INSTEAD OF PUT OUT THE LIGHT.
INFORMANT USES THIS PHRASE ALL THE TIME.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; DALLAS ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 02-18-1972
THERE IS A MAN (WHOM I HAVE SEEN) WHO WALKS UP AND
DOWN A CERTAIN STREET. HE WAS INJURED IN AN AUTOMOBILE
ACCIDENT. WHEN CARS SPEED UP THE ROAD, HE WILL THROW
ROCKS AT THEM. WHEN THEY DRIVE SLOWLY, HE WAVES
FRIENDILY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; BETHEL PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
THERE IS A MAN (WHOM I HAVE SEEN) WHO WALKS UP AND
DOWN A CERTAIN STREET. HE WAS INJURED IN AN AUTOMOBILE
ACCIDENT. WHEN CARS SPEED UP THE ROAD, HE WILL THROW
ROCKS AT THEM. WHEN THEY DRIVE SLOWLY, HE WAVES
FRIENDILY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; BETHEL PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
HEX SIGNS
THE PENNSYLVANIA-DUTCH USE A HEXAGON-SHAPED AND BRIGHTLY
PAINTED SYMBOL ON THEIR HOUSES AND BARNS TO WARD OFF
EVIL.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BETHEL PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Angular forms |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
BELIEF
NEVER THANK PEOPLE FOR ANY FLOWERS THAT THEY MAY GIVE YOU
OR THE FLOWERS WILL NEVER GROW.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS WHEN A YOUNG GIRL,1915, BUT
BUT DOES NOT BELIEVE IT NOW.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; FLOWERS ; GIFT ; GROWTH ; MANNERS ; SUPERSTITION ; Thanks
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
IN GLEN LYON, PENNSYLVANIA, THE SLOVAK CATHOLIC CHURCH
STAGES A MOCK WEDDING. FORTY TO SIXTY PEOPLE ARE
CHOSEN TO TAKE PART. THEY ARE ON STAGE WEARING
COSTUMES. TICKETS ARE SOLD AND THE PROFIT GOES TO
THE CHURCH. FOOD AND DRINKS ARE SERVED LIKE AT A
REAL WEDDING CELEBRATION. THIS IS DONE ONCE EVERY
TEN YEARS.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | DRAMA -- Secular CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Ceremony |
Date learned: 02-25-1970
I HAD A PENNY WITH A SMALL HOLE IN THE TOP THAT I
CARRIED TO TESTS. I WAS CONVINCED THAT THIS WAS AN
AID BECAUSE I USUALLY DID WELL, ESPECIALLY IN APTITUDE
TYPE TESTS. THIS WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL, BUT I STILL
HAVE THAT PENNY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; BETHEL PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1956
KICK THE CAN
WHEN I WAS A BOY IN BETHEL PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, WE
PLAYED A GAME CALLED "KICK THE CAN." SIMILAR TO
HIDE AND SEEK, THE PERSON WHO IS "IT" MUST IDENTIFY
THE HIDDEN PEOPLE AND WHERE THEY ARE. HE MAY ONLY DO
THIS WHILE HE HAS THE CAN. HOWEVER, THIS CAN MUST STAY
AT "HOME."
IF THE HIDERS CAN GET TO THE CAN AND THROW IT AWAY
FROM "HOME," THE CAUGHT ARE RELEASED. THUS
SOMETIMES WHEN "IT" SPOTS SOMEONE AND RACES FOR THE
CAN, THE PRISONERS MAY ALREADY HAVE BEEN FREED OR THE
PERSON IDENTIFIED MAY BEAT "IT" TO HOME AND THROW
THE CAN TO PREVENT HIS OWN "CAPTURE."
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; BETHEL PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1954
LOCAL LEGEND - GREEN MAN
A MAN LIVES IN A NEARBY CITY (LIBRARY) WHO WAS INVOLVED IN AN
ELECTRICAL ACCIDENT. A HIGH VOLTAGE WIRE FELL ACROSS HIS FACE
CAUSING A YELLOW SCAR ACROSS HIS FACE AND THE REST OF HIS FACE TO
TURN GREEN. HE WILL GO OUT IN LOVERS' LANES., AND ROCK THE
CAR FROM SIDE TO SIDE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; BETHEL PARK
Keyword(s): LIBRARY, PENNSYLVANIA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
Proverb
A stitch in time saves nine.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V700] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Forethought ; Maxim ; Nine ; NUMBER ; PROVERB ; Save ; Stitch ; THRIFT ; TIME ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Belief: Animal
White Horse:
make a wish, and it will come true if you see a white horse.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P800] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; COLOR ; Equine ; HORSE ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION ; White ; WISH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
GOOD TURN
ONE GOOD TURN DESERVES ANOTHER
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00001920S