Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for ST returned 2014 results.
A RIDDLE TALE
WHAT IS YOUR SISTER DOING? (ANSWER): SHE IS
MOURNING LAST YEAR'S LAUGHTER.
Submitter comment:
THE SISTER IS NURSING THE BABY OF LAST YEAR'S LOVE
AFFAIR.
INFORMANT WAS SIMPLY COMMENTING AFTER HEARING OF
SOMEONE WHO WAS GOING TO HAVE A BABY.
SAID WHEN YOU MEET SOMEONE EXPECTING A BABY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
FRECKLES ARE ANGEL KISSES.
Submitter comment: 1 SHE HAS FRECKLES, AND HER MOTHER USED TO TELL HER THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
Date learned: CA00001969
PUTTING WINTERGREEN LEAVES ON YOUR SKIN WILL TAKE AWAY THE PAIN OF
A SUNBURN.
Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED THIS WHILE IN FLORIDA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Remedy BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
TO GET RID OF THE HICCUPS, COUNT TO TEN, HOLD YOUR BREATH AND THINK
OF TEN BALD MEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Number P686.3.10 BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
WHEN TWO PEOPLE SAY THE SAME WORD AT THE SAME TIME, ONE OF THEM WILL
SAY "JINX, PINCH POKE, OWE ME A COKE. THE OTHER PERSON WILL HAVE TO
BUY THE FIRST A COKE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
WHEN COWS ARE LYING DOWN, IT MEANS RAIN.
Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED THIS FROM HER GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
Date learned: CA00001969
WHEN A CLASP ON A NECKLACE SHOWS IN FRONT OF YOUR NECK, MAKE A WISH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
ON LITTLE CHRISTMAS (JANUARY 7) WE HAVE A NICE DINNER WITH THE WHOLE
FAMILY AND RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS THE DAY THE THREE KINGS WENT TO THE
MANGER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 7 |
Date learned: CA00001963
PUTTING AN ONION SLICE ON A BEE STING WILL TAKE THE PAIN AWAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
CHILDREN,S RHYME
I LIKE COFFEE, I LIKE TEA, I LIKE THE GIRLS, AND THEY LIKE ME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: CA00001980
SUPERSTITION
WHEN YOU SEE A DARK HORSEBACK RIDER FLOAT BY, IT MEANS THAT THERE
WILL BE A DEATH IN THE FAMILY.
Submitter comment:
THIS HAPPENED TO INFORMANT'S GREAT_GRANDMOTHER. SHE WAS SITTING ON
THE PORCH AND BOTH HER DATE WHO WAS WITH HER AND HER SAW THIS DARK
RIDER. THE NEXT MORNING, THEY GOT WORD THAT HER FATHER, WHO WAS ON
A TRIP, WAS KILLED BY A TRAIN HITTING HIS CAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 12-00-1970
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU WERE BORN AT NIGHT, YOU CAN SEE FAIRIES AND GOBLINS.
Submitter comment: THIS IS AN IRISH BELIEF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | Observation |
IN AUSTRIA, PEOPLE WEAR SCARY MASKS AT FASCHING OR CARNIVAL
TIME. THEY DANCE IN THE STREETS, LAUGH AND SING, RING BELLS
AND MAKE AS MUCH NOISE AS THEY CAN. PEOPLE SAY THAT ALL THE NOISE
WILL SCARY ( SCARE ) WINTER SO THAT SPRING CAN COME.
FASCHING IS LENT.
Data entry tech comment:
FASCHING IS BEFORE LENT, I.E., ON THE TUESDAY BEFORE ASH
WEDNESDAY.
IN PRE-CHRISTIAN TIMES, SPRING RITES WERE HELD MAINLY TO SYMBOLIZE A
FIGHT BETWEEN WINTER AND SPRING. THE PEOPLE FOUGHT AGAINST OR
SCARED WINTER BY WEARING MASKS AND COSTUMES AND MAKING LOUD NOISES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Pre Lent |
BRICK STORY
A BRICKLAYER WAS DESIGNING A BUILDING AND HE DETERMINES THAT IT
WILL REQUIRE EXACTLY 1000 BRICKS TO BUILD. SO HE GOES TO THE BRICK
COMPANY AND ASKS THE SALESMAN FOR EXACTLY 1000 BRICKS. THE SALESMAN
SAYS HE DOESN'T KNOW IF HE HAS THAT MANY BRICKS AND SAYS HE'LL GO
AND CHECK. HE WENT OFF TO COUNT THEM AND COMES BACK AND SAYS, I'VE
ONLY GOT 999. THE BRICKLAYER SAYS, WELL I NEED A THOUSAND FOR THIS
BUILDING, I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. THE SALESMAN DIDN'T
WANT TO LOSE A BIG SALE SO HE SAYS, JUST A MINUTE, MAYBE I COUNTED
WRONG. LET ME TRY IT AGAIN. SO HE WENT BACK AND COUNTED THEM AGAIN
AND THIS TIME HE CAME OUT AND SAID, I DID MISCOUNT, THERE ARE EXACTLY
ONE THOUSAND HERE . THE BRICKLAYER SAYS, WELL NOW, IF YOU MISCOUNTED
ONCE HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE YOU THIS TIME? WHY DON'T YOU
GO COUNT THEM AGAIN. THE SALESMAN DID THAT AND CAME BACK AND SAID,
YOU WERE RIGHT. I DID MISCOUNT LAST TIME. THERE ARE REALLY 1001.
WELL I DON'T NEED 1001, I ONLY NEED A THOUSAND. ALRIGHT, I'LL SELL
YOU A THOUSAND THEN. SO THE BRICKLAYER BUYS HIS THOUSAND BRICKS,
LOADS THEM ON HIS TRUCK AND DRIVES OFF TO BUILD HIS BUILDING. WHEN
HE FINISHED IT, HE PUT THE LAST BRICK IN PLACE AND LOOKED DOWN AND
THERE WAS ONE MORE BRICK. SO HE CHECKED THE BUILDING TO MAKE SURE
HE HADN'T FORGOTTEN ANY AND THEN TOOK THE LAST BRICK AND THREW IT
WAY UP IN THE AIR AND WALKED AWAY.
THIS ONE IS TOLD FIRST AND THEN THE OTHER WITH ONE OR TWO IN BETWEEN
THE BRICK IS THEN FOUND IN THE DOG'S MOUTH. THAT STORY (17):
THE NEWLY WED COUPLE
A MAN AND A WOMAN HAD BEEN MARRIED FOR A WHILE, AND THEY
WERE JUST ABOUT TO THE POINT WHERE THE HONEYMOON WAS OVER. IN THE
COURSE OF THEIR MARRIAGE THE HUSBAND HAD PICKED UP ONE HABIT THAT
REALLY ANNOYED THE WIFE AND THE WIFE HAD ONE THING THAT THE HUSBAND
COULD NOT STAND. THE HUSBAND'S WAS THAT HE WOULD SMOKE THESE BIG
BLACK CIGARS AND THE WIFE'S WAS AN UGLY POODLE THAT SHE HAD MANICURED
AND CUT AND SO FORTH . ONE TIME THEY WENT ON A VACATION TOGETHER AND
SINCE IT WAS COLD OUT THEY HAD TO KEEP THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP. THE
HUSBAND WAS SMOKING AWAY AND THE WIFE SAID, IF YOU DON'T PUT OUT THAT
CIGAR I'M GOING TO TAKE IT AND THROW IT OUT THE WINDOW. THE HUSBAND
SAID, IF YOU DO THAT I'LL TAKE THAT DOG OUT OF THE BACK SEAT AND
THROW HIM OUT THE WINDOW. WELL, THEY DROVE ON IN SILENCE FOR ABOUT
30 MILES UNTIL THE WIFE COULDN'T TAKE IT ANY LONGER, AND SHE REACHED
OVER, GRABBED THE CIGAR, AND THREW IT OUT THE WINDOW. THE HUSBAND
THEN REACHED BACK AND GRABBED THE DOG OUT OF THE BACK SEAT AND THREW
IT OUT THE WINDOW. THEY DROVE ON AND COMPLETED THEIR VACATION IN
SILENCE. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER THEY WERE SITTING AT HOME , STILL
NOT TALKING TO EACH OTHER, WHEN THEY HEARD A SCRATCHING AT THE DOOR.
THEY WENT TO THE DOOR AND OPENED IT AND SURE ENOUGH THERE WAS THE
POODLE AND HE HAD SOMETHING IN HIS MOUTH , WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WAS?
RIGHT, IT WAS THE BRICK.
Submitter comment: THIS STORY IS USED IN CONNECTION WITH SEQUENCE NUMBER 701604-17.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; WESTCHESTER
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: 00001960S
DUCH PROVERB
TO MARRY ONCE IS A DUTY, TWICE A FOLLY, THRICE IS MADNESS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WEST SENECA
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-00-1969
CHINESE PROVERB
THERE ARE MANY PATHS TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN,
BUT THE VIEW IS ALWAYS THE SAME.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WEST SENECA
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-00-1969
FRENCH PROVERB
SKEPTICS ARE NEVER DECEIVED.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WEST SENECA
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-00-1969
ARABIAN PROVERB
A SECRET IS YOUR SLAVE IF YOU KEEP IT,
YOUR MASTER IF YOU LOSE IT.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WEST SENECA
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-00-1969
PERUVIAN PROVERB
A MAN IS WHAT HE IS, NOT WHAT HE USED TO BE.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WEST SENECA
James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION ; PAST VS. PRESENT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-00-1969
CHRISTMAS
IN THE PHILIPPINES, INSTEAD OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE WHICH WE USE AS
THE MOST COMMON SYMBOL OF CHRISTMAS, THE INHABITANTS USE THE
CHRISTMAS STAR. EACH HOME HAS A LARGE STAR, MADE OF SOME
NATURAL MATERIAL SUCH AS BAMBOO, WHICH SERVES AS THE CENTRAL
DECORATION IN THE HOME AS OUR TREES DO.
Where learned: DETROIT ; WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY ; NEWMAN CENTER CHAPEL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Christmas tree |