Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for STERLING returned 190 results.
LEGEND OF ACOMA WOMEN
THERE IS A MOUNTAIN BY ACOMA VILLAGE, AN INDIAN VILLAGE. WOMEN
WALKED UP THIS MOUNTAIN EACH DAY TO GATHER BERRIES AND TWIGS, WHILE
THE MEN HUNTED. ONE DAY THERE WAS A RAIN STORM AND THE RAIN
WASHED AWAY THE TRAILS LEADING BACK DOWN TO THE VILLAGE, TRAPPING
THE INDIAN WOMEN ON THE MOUNTAIN. TO THIS DAY, IT IS BELIEVED
THAT IF YOU GO BY THE MOUNTAIN, YOU CAN HEAR THE WOMEN WAILING.
YOU CAN ALSO PURCHASE BRACELETS MADE OUT OF THE TEARS THAT THE
WOMEN SHED.
Submitter comment: MY INFORMANT LEARNED OF THIS STORY WHILE ON VACATION OUT WEST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation BELIEF -- Human Being BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
BELIEF
SAYING "KNOCK ON WOOD", KNOCKING ON WOOD, OR DOING BOTH AT THE
SAME TIME IS A TYPICAL ACTION OF MANY PEOPLE. THIS OCCURS AFTER
A PERSON MAKES A STATEMENT IN FEAR OF THE OPPOSITE MEANING OF HIS
STATEMENT OCCURRING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Expression of Fixed Form SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
NUMBER GAME
CHOOSE A NUMBER BETWEEN ONE AND TEN.
DOUBLE IT.
ADD 6 TO IT.
DIVIDE BY 2.
SUBTRACT THE ORIGINAL NUMBER.
THE ANSWER WILL BE 3.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Mental Activity |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
IRISH SUPERSTITION
IF A BIRD GETS INTO YOUR HOME AND CIRCLES AROUND YOUR HEAD THREE
TIMES, YOU ARE GOING TO DIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1920
EXPRESSION
TICKLED PINK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions SPEECH -- Gesture PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
MNEMONIC DEVICE
ARITHMETIC: "A RAT IN THE HOUSE MAY EAT THE ICE CREAM."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
James Callow Keyword(s): SPELLING
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1945
EVEN PIANO
AFTER PLAYING A PIANO, MANY PIANISTS STRIKE THE
MIDDLE "C" NOTE AS THE VERY LAST NOTE, BELIEVING
THAT BECAUSE OF ITS MIDDLE POSITION IT LEAVES THE
PIANO IN A COPACETIC MOOD OR WAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
James Callow Keyword(s): GOOD MOOD ; IN TUNE?
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
LUCKY STRIKES
WHEN I WAS YOUNG, A GROUP OF MY FRIENDS AND I WOULD
BE WALKING DOWN THE STREET, WHEN PERCHANCE ONE OF THE
MORE FORTUNATE WOULD FIND AN OLD LUCKY STRIKE
PACKAGE. (CIGARETTES) HE WOULD THEN SAY "LUCKY
STRIKES! NO STRIKES BACK!" AND WHILE FIRMLY CLUTCHING
THE PACK WOULD PUNCH EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE GROUP ON
THE ARM.
Data entry tech comment: DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR, THE PACKAGING OF THESE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
EFFECT OF CUSTOM
INFORMANT'S FATHER IS OF ITALIAN (SICILIAN) DESCENT
AND WAS SERVED SPAGHETTI IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER FOR
SIXTEEN YEARS. NOW EVEN THE SIGHT OF SPAGHETTI
MAKES HIM NAUSEOUS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Daily Life CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. Food Drink -- MenuService |
Date learned: VARIOUS
BELIEF
IF THERE'S A CRICKET IN YOUR HOUSE, IT MEANS GOOD LUCK.
IF YOU KILL A CRICKET, YOU'LL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Conversions P883.33 |
Date learned: 02-07-1972
BUZZING EARS
MY MOTHER TOLD ME IF MY EARS WERE BUZZING, THEN SOMEONE
WAS SPEAKING KINDLY OF ME; BUT IF THEY WERE HUMMING, THEN
THEY WERE SPEAKING BADLY OF ME.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD TO ME WHEN I COMPLAINED OF BUZZING EARS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | 842 Ringing ears / buzzing / hot, burning BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
AT DAWN I CRAWL ON FOUR,
AT DAY I WALK ON TWO,
AT DUSK I STEP WITH THREE;
WHAT CAN I BE?
ANSWER: A MAN. DAWN SYMBOLIZES CHILDHOOD;
DAY REPRESENTS ADULTHOOD; DUSK REPRESENTS OLD AGE.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD TO MY MOTHER IN GREECE; IT RHYMES IN GREEK ALSO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
WED IN BLACK, WISH YOURSELF BACK.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER WAS TOLD THIS AS A CHILD WHEN SHE ATTENDED
A WEDDING WHERE THE BRIDE WORE BLACK.
WISH YOURSELF BACK MEANS TO GO BACK TO MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle C890.30 BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Color |
MY MOTHER'S MOTHER TOLD HER THAT TO BE MARRIED IN
A GOWN THAT HAD SEED PEARLS UPON IT TOLD OF HAVING
GIRL CHILDREN. SURE ENOUGH, MY PARENTS HAVE TWO
CHILDREN, BOTH ARE GIRLS!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
James Callow Keyword(s): SEX DETERMINATION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Marriage |
MY MOTHER SAYS THAT THE COLOR YOU MOST FREQUENTLY
WEAR IS THE COLOR THAT SHOWS THE REAL YOU.
I WEAR EARTHY COLORS MOST FREQUENTLY, AND I AM
AN EARTHY TYPE PERSON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
James Callow Keyword(s): PERSONALITY REVEALED BY COLOR CHOICE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 08-00-1983
TO EXTEND YOUR FIVE FINGERS OUTWARD IN A STAR
SHAPED POSITION IS TO SAY, "GO TO HELL!"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Gesture |
I OFTEN PLAYED THIS GAME WHEN I WAS BORED DURING CERTAIN CLASSES.
YOU NEED: 1 PENCIL, 1 SHEET OF PAPER, AND AN IMAGINATION.
YOU MAKE A SQUARE, APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES BIG. PUT ANY NUMBER
UNDER 10, BUT GREATER THAN ZERO IN IT. THIS IS THE COUNTING
NUMBER THAT YOU WILL USE. RIGHT ABOVE THIS BOX, YOU LIST 3 BOYS'
NAMES; TO THE RIGHT OF THE BOX YOU LIST 3 TYPES OF CARS; TO THE
LEFT OF THE BOX YOU LIST 3 NUMBERS; AND BELOW THE BOX YOU LIST
3 TYPES OF HOMES (E.G- APPARTMENT, HOUSE, ETC.) THE NUMBER IN THE
NOW IS USED; YOU BEGIN WITH THE VERY FIRST BOY'S NAME, YOU CROSS
OUT THE ITEM THAT THE NUMBER LANDS ON. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE NUMBER
IS THREE, THEN THE THIRD BOY'S NAME IS CROSSED OUT. YOU DO THIS
UNTIL BY PROCESS OF ELIMINATION, ONE OF EACH GROUP IS LEFT.
THIS TELLS YOU THE NAME OF THE PERSON YOU MARRY, THE CAR YOU
WILL DRIVE, THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN YOU WILL HAVE, AND THE
TYPE OF PLACE WHERE YOU WILL LIVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
COMING HOME LATE AT NIGHT, I TURNED INTO MY SUBDIVISION
WHEN ON THE LEFT I SAW A FAINT WHITE GLOW. IT WAS A VISION.
IT LOOKED LIKE A YOUNG GIRL, RUNNING, RUNNING WITH NO
SHOES ON, HER DRESS (WAS) FLOWING. I SCREAMED AND
PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR--THEN THOUGHT TO MYSELF
"HOW STRANGE?" I THINK IT WAS AN ANGEL GOING TO A PROM.
BUT SHE DIDN'T HAVE A COMPANION OR SHOES.
Submitter comment:
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO BELIEVE THIS STORY OR NOT.
JAMES TOLD ME THIS STORY THE NIGHT IT OCCURRED AND THIS
VERSION SEEMS TO BE A BIT EXAGERRATED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): DANCE
James Callow Keyword(s): MYSTERIOUS LIGHT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Angel |
Date learned: 05-00-1985
IT WAS TRADITION AT MY HOUSE THAT WHEN THE SKY WAS
PINK IN THE MORNING OR EVENING THAT MRS. SANTA CLAUS
WAS BAKING COOKIES. I THOUGHT SO BECAUSE HER OVEN
WOULD LIGHT UP THE SKY.
Submitter comment:
MY INFORMANT GOT VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE UPCOMING
HOLIDAY SEASON WHEN THIS SUBJECT CAME OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Air Weather Fire |
Date learned: 00001940S
IF A PICTURE FALLS OFF THE WALL YOU'RE
GONNA DIE.
OR IF A ROCKING CHAIR ROCKS BY ITSELF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
James Callow Keyword(s): EMPTY
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 00001930S