Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
CHRISTMAS DECORATION LIGHTS SHOULD BE LEFT ON ALL NIGHT ON
CHRISTMAS EVE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS WHEN YOUNG (1920-1930), SAW IT PRACTICED, AND
PRACTICES IT HERSELF.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Lights and candles |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
CHILD WORMS
TO PREVENT A BABY FROM GETTING WORMS, CHOP UP A PIECE OF GARLIC AND
RUB THE JUICE ON THE BABY'S BELLY BUTTON AND UNDER ITS NOSE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HER MOTHER WHEN INFORMANT WAS A YOUNG GIRL.
(1915-1920) MOTHER ACTUALLY DID THIS WITH HER CHILDREN.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): PREVENTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
PREVENTION OF THE FLU
TO PREVENT CATCHING THE FLU,
WEAR A PIECE OF GARLIC TIED TO A STRING
AROUND THE NECK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S MOTHER HAD HER CHILDREN PRACTICE THIS
IN THE EARLY 1920'S.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
SPELLING RHYME
CHICKEN IN A CAR,
CAR WON'T GO,
THAT'S THE WAY YOU SPELL CHICAGO}
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID THIS WHEN YOUNG IN THE 1920,S
Where learned: HOME ; PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): RHYME: AA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
SAYING
A GREEN CHRISTMAS MAKES A FULL GRAVEYARD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HIS MOTHER WHO SAID THE SAYING WAS USED
IN DUNDEE, SCOTLAND, WHERE SHE LIVED UNTIL SHE WAS AROUND THIRTY YEA
OLD. INFORMANT,S MOTHER CAME TO AMERICA IN 1912, THREE YEARS AFTER
THE INFORMANT WAS BORN.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below. BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
PLASTER FOR A CHEST COLD
MAKE A HOT MIXTURE OF FLAXSEED AND LARD AND SPREAD IT ON THE CHEST.
THEN COVER THE BODY WITH A LINEN TOWEL OR WRAP.
ADDITIONAL BLANKETS SHOULD BE USED TO FURTHER INDUCE SWEATING.
THIS PLASTER WAS USED ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN
BECAUSE IT DID NOT BURN THEIR SKIN.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S MOTHER USED THIS WITH HER CHILDREN. (1900-1930).
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): CHILDHOOD REMEDY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
MANGER SCENE
IN ITALY, LIFESIZE STATUES OF THE MANGER SCENES WOULD BE ERECTED
WELL BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS-THREE KINGS SEASON. EVERYDAY, THESE
FIGURES WOULD BE MOVED SLIGHTLY CLOSER TO THE CRIB TO SIGNIFY THE
CLOSENESS OF THE HOLIDAY AND THE TRAVEL TO THE MANGER BY THE WISE
MEN.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS RECOUNTED FROM MRS. BENESTELLI A NEIGHBOR RECORDED ON TAPE
NOVEMBER FIRST 1970
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): EPIPHANY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Manger scenes |
Date learned: 11-01-1970
GOOD LUCK
IN YUGOSLAVIA, IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF A MAN ENTERS A HOUSE
FIRST ON A HOLIDAY, IF YOU GET HIM SOME MONEY IT WILL BRING
GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. |
Date learned: 11-01-1970
CHRISTMAS
IN ITALY, THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND CONTINUOUSLY FOR THE NEXT
DAY, A FIRE WOULD BE KEPT GOING IN THE FIREPLACE IN ORDER TO HELP
DRY THE DIAPERS OF THE CHRIST-CHILD.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Lights and candles |
Date learned: 11-01-1970
WHEN I WAS THIRTEEN OR FOURTEEN YEARS OLD I WAS VISITING MY
UNCLE'S FAMILY AT CATLETTSBURG, KENTUCKY. UNCLE JIM LIVED
ABOUT A HALF A MILE FROM WHERE THE BIG SANDY EMPTIES INTO THE
OHIO RIVER. EVERY AFTERNOON WE WOULD GO TO THE RIVER TO SWIM.
TO GET TO THE RIVER WE HAD TO GO DOWN THIS STEEP EMBANKMENT
AND ACROSS A CORNFIELD. AS I WENT DOWN THE BANK I STEPPED ON
A PIECE OF GLASS AND MADE A DEEP GASH ABOUT AN INCH LONG ON MY
HEEL. MY COUSINS HELPED ME BACK UP THE BANK AND TO THE FRONT
PORCH SWING. MY AUNT SALLY BROUGHT SOME CLEAN RAGS AND A BASIN
OF WATER AND WAS TRYING TO WASH OFF MY HEEL BUT THE BLOOD JUST
KEPT POURING. MY COUSIN CATHERINE SAID, "I'LL GO GET UNCLE
ISHAM TO STOP IT."
UNCLE ISHAM DANIEL WAS IN HIS EIGHTIES. HE WAS NOT MY UNCLE, BUT
WAS DISTANTLY RELATED TO MY AUNT'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY. HE LIVED
ABOUT 400 YARDS FROM MY UNCLE JIM'S. HE WAS SITTING ON THE
PORCH OF HIS HOUSE. CATHERINE RAN OVER THERE, AND WE COULD
SEE HER TELLING UNCLE ISHAM. THE BLOOD SUDDENLY STOPPED.
CATHERINE TOLD ME UNCLE ISHAM SAID A CERTIN VERSE FROM THE
BIBLE. SINCE HE WAS GETTING OLD AND KNEW HE WOULDN'T BE AROUND
MUCH LONGER, HE WAS WILLING TO TELL THE SECRET OF STOPPING BLOOD
BUT IT HAD TO BE TO SOMEONE WHO WAS NOT A BLOOD RELATIVE.
CATHERINE DIDN'T QUALIFY AND SHE TRIED TO GET ME TO GO. FOR
SOME REASON I DON'T REMEMBER, I NEVER DID GO. IT WAS FAIRLY
COMMON FOR NEIGHBORS TO CALL ON UNCLE ISHAM TO STOP BLOOD.
I NEVER HEARD OF HIM FAILING.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; CATLETTSBURG
James Callow Keyword(s): CLOTTING ; HEMORRHAGE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curer BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 07-23-1968
IT IS ONE THING TO BE SMART AND KNOW IT AND ANOTHER TO BE SMART AND
LET EVERYBODY ELSE KNOW IT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): BRAGGING EGOTISM
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
IF SOMEONE DIES HE SHOULD BE BURIED BEFORE THE FIRST RAIN OR ELSE
HIS SPIRIT WILL WALK.
Submitter comment:
AN OLD CHEROKEE INDIAN BELIEF WHICH IS ACTUALLY BELIEVED BY THE
INFORMANT. HER MOTHER PASSED THE BELIEF DOWN TO HER.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): INDIAN (CHEROKEE)
Date learned: 00001972 SUMMER
TANGLETALK
MARDON ME PADAM IS THIS PIE OCCUPEWED? YES, MAY I SOW YOU TO A SHEAT
IN THE CHACK OF THE BURCH?, MY THIS IS A CHEAUTIFUL BURCH. YES MANY
THINKLE PEEP SO. (PARDON ME MADAM. IS THIS PEW OCCUPIED? YES.
MAY I SHOW YOU TO A SEAT IN THE BACK OF THE CHURCH? MY! THIS IS A
BEAUTIFUL CHURCH. YES, MANY PEOPLE THINK SO.)
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): MONOLOGUE
| Subject headings: | Favorites SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001972 SUMMER
SAYING
A GREEN CHRISTMAS MAKES A FULL GRAVEYARD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HIS MOTHER WHO SAID THE SAYING WAS USED IN
DUNDEE, SCOTLAND WHERE SHE LIVED UNTIL SHE WAS AROUND 30 YEARS OLD.
INFORMANT'S MOTHER CAME TO AMERICA IN 1912, THREE YEARS AFTER
INFORMANT WAS BORN.
Where learned: HOME ; PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): DEATH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Predictions |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
POISON IVY
RUB SALT ON POISON IVY RASH.
IT WILL BURN, BUT WILL CAUSE THE RASH TO SUBSIDE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT REMEMBERS THIS PRACTICED BY HER MOTHER
IN THE EARLY 1900'S.
Where learned: HOME ; PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
ARTHRITIS CURE
CARRY A BUCKEYE IN YOUR PURSE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT ACTUALLY DOES THIS.
Where learned: HOME ; PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
CHRISTMAS SUPERSTITION
ON CHRISTMAS DAY, IF A MAN WALKS INTO YOUR HOUSE FIRST, YOU WILL
HAVE GOOD LUCK, BUT IF A WOMAN WALKS IN FIRST, YOU WILL HAVE BAD
LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HER PARENTS (1920'S) WHO BELIEVED IT. SHE
MAY MENTION IT NOW, BUT DOES NOT BELIEVE IT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; TOLD AT INFORMANTS HOME ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Predictions |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
YEARS AGO ONE TEACHER TOLD EVERYONE THAT IF THEY DIDN'T BRING
SOMETHING TO WRITE WITH TO HER CLASS, SHE'S CUT THEIR GRADE
DOWN A POINT EACH TIME THEY CAME IN WITHOUT ANYTHING. EVEN
AFTER A NEW TEACHER TOOK HER PLACE, EVERY DAY, EVERYONE TOOK
A BRAILLER WHICH IS BIG AND CUMBERSOME TO ENGLISH CLASS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; TSB ; TALKING WITH HIM THERE
Keyword(s): BRAILE WRITER BRAILE WRITING
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Method of choosing it in games
Engin,engine number line
Going down Chicago line
If the train should I jump the treck
Do you wantyour money back? ( the person pointed at back answers and questions with "yes" or" no".)
If "yes", the rhyme continues:Y-E-S- spells yes and out goes you.
If :"no" , the rhyme continues: N-0 spells no and out goes you.
(In either case, the one pointed to on you is it.)
Submitter comment:
(Rhyme is chanted by one child who poits at the children groped around him. I will indicate teh words which correspond to his points by partial underlining.)
Where learned: Learned this in her graade school days in Pittsburg
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.560
300.0 |