Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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RIDDLE IN VERSE
Q: I'M WIDE AT THE MOUTH/ I HAVE A BED/ I RISE AND I FALL/ I HAVE
A HEAD.
A: RIVER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; FURNITURE (Q) ; NATURAL ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
Language: Games
Q: I STAND ALONE UPON A ROCK/ THE ANGRY WAVES I DAILY MOCK/
THE SHIPS THAT PASS ME IN (THE) NIGHT/ ARE SAFELY GUIDED BY MY LIGHT
A: A LIGHTHOUSE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated and Motifs / 02-28-2011 / TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BUILDING ; GAME ; Guide ; Language ; LIGHT ; Lighthouse ; Night ; RHYME ; RIDDLE ; Rock ; Ship ; TRANSPORTATION ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
RIDDLE
WHAT QUESTION CAN NEVER BE ANSWERED BY "YES"?
ARE YOU ASLEEP.
Where learned: DETROIT, ASSUMED ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
RIDDLE IN VERSE
Q: I AM BLACK AND WHITE/ AND I'M VERY AMUSING/ I'M VERY INSTRUCTIVE/
BUT NEVER CONFUSING.
A: NEWSPAPER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATED ; STATE OF BEING (Q) COLOR
James Callow Keyword(s): CATCH ; INITIAL ITERATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
TRUE RIDDLE
Q: FOUR LEGS UP, FOUR LEGS DOWN/ SOFT IN THE MIDDLE, HARD ALL AROUND.
A: A BED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANTITHETICAL OPPOSITONAL ; FURNITURE (A) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
RIDDLE IN VERSE
Q: MY TRUNK ALAS. IT HAS NO LOCK./ IT HASN'T ANY KEY./
BUT YET WHEREVER I MAY GO/ I TAKE MY TRUNK WITH ME.
A: AN ELEPHANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMALS (A) ; HARDWARE (Q) ; LUGGAGE (Q)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
Entry filtered.
JULAFTON FOODS
SOME OF THE TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS EVE FOODS AMONG THE MINNESOTA
SWEDES INCLUDED LUTFISK (BRINE FISH), SWEDISH POTATO SAUSAGE,
POTATIS KORV, SYLTA, FRUIT BREAD, JULKAKA (MEAT), COOKIES, AND
ROSETTES (FRIED BATTER).
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT REMEMBERS HER MOTHER AND RELATIVES PREPARING THE
JULAFTON FEAST WEEKS IN ADVANCE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MINNESOTA ; ROUTE 1 ; STURGEON LAKE
Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; FOOD ; holiday ; Swedish ; tradition
| Subject headings: | 122 Christmas |
Date learned: 03-28-1970
PROVERB
A BIRD CAN FLY HIGH BUT IT MUST COME DOWN TO ROOST.
Where learned: PASTEUR SCHOOL (SIC)
Keyword(s): BIRD
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; LIMITATIONS? ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 01-29-1968
PLACE
AMONG THE STUDENTS AT WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY, A NICK-
NAME FOR THE CITY IN WHICH THE TOWN IS SITUATED (KALAMAZOO)
IS KAZOO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Place |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
PROVERBIAL PHRASE
BREAK THE ICE.
James Callow comment:
ACTUALLY NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS--CLIMATE--ALTHOUGH
I REALIZE YOU WANT LITERAL IDENTIFICATIONS--F.M. PAULSEN
Where learned: WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Keyword(s): CLIMATE
James Callow Keyword(s): CONVERSATION STARTER? ; IDENTIFYING?
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 03-20-1968
The Judson Mart family owns a farm on route 43, approximately
two miles outside of Amsterdam, Ohio. There is a small bridge on
a straight stretch over route 43 in close proximity to the Mart
farmhouse. Occasionally a frantic late night driver would come
pounding on the farm house door, asking to use the telephone to
call someone to pick them up. Most drivers were reluctant to
discuss what they had seen but the few details began to form a
pattern. The drivers had seen a misty form of what appeared to be
a young blonde-haired girl, in a white nightgown, standing in the
center of the bridge. Many drivers had crashed into the bridge in
an attempt to avoid hitting the young girl who quickly
disappeared. At times the crashes were fatal to the driver or
passengers in the cars. Judson Mart relayed that his grandfather
had told him that in the 1800s a young girl had drowned under the
original wooden bridge at the site. It was never determined if she
had been murdered or had drowned while playing there. These
sightings of the blonde young girl have occurred occasionally
from the 1800s until the present time.
Submitter comment:
In 1992, the Judson Mart family still occupies the farmhouse
and occasional late night crash victims still tell of the
sightings.
Where learned: OHIO ; Amsterdam
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1958
THE FIRST THUNDER MEANT THE SNAKES WERE AWAKE. SO
YOU WATCHED FOR SNAKES AFTER THE FIRST THUNDER IN
THE SPRING.
Submitter comment:
BOTH HELD THIS IN POPULAR TRADITION IN THEIR HOMES
IN GLOUCESTER AND HOLLISTER, OHIO
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OHIO ; DETROIT ; GLOUCESTER ; HOLLISTER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 05-11-1965
WEATHER BELIEF
LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE.
Where learned: EAST DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 686.1.2 BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7 |
Date learned: 10-03-1968
PRACTICAL JOKE
ONE PRANK IS TO SIMPLY STAND QUIETLY IN A PERSON'S CLOSET,
GIVING HIM A FRIGHT WHEN HE OPENS THE CLOSET DOOR.
Submitter comment:
THIS ITEM WAS COLLECTED BY THE INFORMANT IN THE
FRESHMEN DORMS OF AMHERST COLLEGE IN AMHERST,
MASSACHUSETTS; IT WAS COLLECTED BY ME IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: Massachusetts ; AMHERST
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: 00001979-80 ; 03-00-1980
ARABIAN PROVERB
IT IS BETTER FOR A WOMAN TO MARRY A MAN WHO
LOVES HER THAN A MAN SHE LOVES.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WEST SENECA
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-00-1969
TAKING SIDES
WHEN A WOMAN IS PREGNANT IF SHE SLEEPS ON HER RIGHT SIDE, THE
CHILD WILL BE A BOY, IF ON HER LEFT IT WILL BE A GIRL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
James Callow Keyword(s): SEX DETERMINATION
| Subject headings: | 840 BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 11-05-1969
SHOOTING STAR
WHEN YOU SEE A SHOOTING STAR (FALLING STAR) MAKE A WISH
AND IT WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: WINSTON SALEM ; NORTH CAROLINA ; informant's home ; 2108 E. 25th St.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Comet BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 09-08-1971
STAR BELIEF
WHEN YOU SEE A FALLING STAR MAKE A WISH AND IT WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: WINSTON SALEM ; NORTH CAROLINA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Comet BELIEF -- Prayer |
NEVER WASH AND HANG CLOTHES ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, OR YOU'LL
WASH SOMEONE OUT OF THE FAMILY.
Where learned: ITALY ; WINSTON SALEM ; NORTH CAROLINA ; ROME
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's |
Date learned: 10-00-1970 ; 09-08-1971