Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IN ITALY AFTER THE WEDDING PARTY, WHEN THE COUPLE
HAVE LEFT FOR THEIR NEW HOME, THE BEST MAN GATHERS
HIS FRIENDS AND THEY GO OVER AND SERENADE THE WEDDING
COUPLE. IF THE BRIDE AND GROOM DO NOT GET UP AND
GIVE THEM A DRINK, THE GROUP WOULD START PLAYING
TRICKS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WAS ALWAYS TOO YOUNG TO PARTAKE IN THIS
ACTIVITY, BUT SAW IT DONE OFTEN AS A CHILD. SHE
THOUGHT IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ITALY ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage F545.1341 |
Date learned: 02-06-1972 ; CHILDHOOD
AT ITALIAN WEDDINGS, THE BRIDE WEARS A FLOOR
LENGTH VEIL. AT THE RECEPTION THE GROOM CUTS THE
VEIL TO SHOULDER LENGTH AS A SYMBOL THAT THE
BRIDE IS NO LONGER A MAIDEN. THE BRIDAL PARTY
THEN HOLDS THE VEIL OVER THE COUPLE FOR THEIR
"SWEETHEART" DANCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Removing veil |
Date learned: 10-00-1971
THE GROOM SHOULD NOT SEE HIS (FUTURE) FATHER-IN-LAW
THE DAY BEFORE THE WEDDING..
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED FROM HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage F545.0373 |
Date learned: 10-13-1967
When I was a young boy my father was always trying to get me
to drink my milk. He would always tell me that it was good for
me and that it would put hair on my chest and that without hair
on my chest I was not a real man.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Drink from animal product Milk BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
Something that I heard a few years ago in school was that
whenever a person got his hair cut other people would ask if that
person got his ears lowered rather than if he got his hair cut. I
guess this is just an unusual way of referring to a haircut.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1986
When I was younger I always used to hear people say that you
should not swallow your chewing gum because it takes seven years
to digest and that if you do swallow it too often all of the
pieces of chewed gum accumulate into a big pile and sit there in
your stomach until it is digested.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
A friendly greeting that I learned as a young child goes as
follows: "Slap me five, other side, in the hole, brother soul."
When the words "Slap me five" are said, the person you are
greeting is to slap the greeter's palm (facing up). When the
words "other side" are said the person you are greeting is to
slap the other side of the greeter's hand. When the words "in
the hole" are said the greeter is to make a hole using all five
fingers, and the person who is being greeted is to slap over the
top of the hole. And finally, when the words "brother soul" are
said the person being greeted is to grab the greeter's thumb in a
shaking motion.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1978
Knock Knock.
Who's there?
Sheila.
Sheila who?
Sheila later.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 01-00-1992
When is a dog's tail not a dog's tail?
When it's a wagon.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): wagging
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Miss Susie had an steam boat.
The steam boat had a bell.
Miss Susie went to heaven.
The steam boat went to ...
Hello operator, give me number nine
If you disconnect me
I'll kick you right behind...
The refrigerator, there was a piece of glass
Miss Susie fell upon it and broke her little ...
Ask me no more questions, I'll tell you no more lies.
Miss Susie told me this the day before
She dyed her hair in purple,
She dyed her hair in pink,
She dyed her hair in polka dots
And washed it down the ...
Sink me in the ocean
Sink me in the sea
Sink me in the toilet
But please don't pee on me.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1991
Knock Knock
Who's there?
Gopher.
Gopher who?
Gopher broke.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1990
Knock Knock
Who's there?
Ice cream soda
Ice cream soda who?
Ice cream soda whole world what a moron you are.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1990
Happy Birthday to you.
You belong in a zoo.
You look like a monkey.
You smell like one too.
Submitter comment: This is sung to the tune of Happy Birthday.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): theriomorphism
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Birth CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: 00-00-1990
"I don't trust him as far as I can throw a horse"
Submitter comment: This is the informant's father's favorite saying.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 00001970S
If a pregnant woman is carrying her baby high
closer to the rib cage then it will be a girl.
If she carries lower, in the pelvic region,
then it is a girl.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
Keyword(s): SEX DETERMINATION
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 00001970S
(sung to the tune "Colonel Bogey March" theme from
the movie "Bridge on the River Kwaii")
Comet, it makes your teeth turn green.
Comet, it tastes like gasoline.
Comet, it makes you vomit.
So drink some Comet, and vomit, today!
Submitter comment:
Matthew only recently learned this song, and thought is
was new. When he tried to teach it to his older cousin,
Joshua, who lives in the Chicago area, Josh had already heard
of it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
Keyword(s): Parody, commercial, humor
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
(sung to the tune of "Jingle Bells")
Jingle bells, Batman smells,
Robin laid an egg.
Batmobile lost a wheel,
And Joker got away. MM
Jingle bells, Batman smells,
Fifty miles away.
He blows his nose in cheerios,
And eats them right away!
Submitter comment:
This is only one of many such "gross" songs that the
elementary school boys love to sing.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
Keyword(s): Parody, Cartoon character, humor, Christmas
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001987ca
REMEDY
FOR WHOOPING COUGH, USE SUNFLOWER SEEDS STEEPED IN HOT WATER TO
MAKE A STRONG TEA. ADD TO THIS AN EQUAL QUANTITY OF COOKING
MOLASSES AND BOIL TOGETHER FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE MIXTURE SHOULD
THEN BE BOTTLED AND USED AT LEAST SIX TIMES A DAY, ONE TEASPOON
PER DOSE.
Where learned: FLORIDA ; OAKLAND PARK
| Subject headings: | 686 Sixths / Six BELIEF -- Remedy BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00001920S
(sung to the tune of "Deck the Halls")
Deck the halls with gasoline.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Light a match and watch it gleam.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Watch the school burn down to ashes.
Fa la la la la la la la la
Aren't you glad we played with matches?
Fa la la la la la la la la
Submitter comment:
This song is an obvious favorite with the grade school
children during the holidays, especially the boys.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
Keyword(s): Parody, humor, arson, Christmas
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
LEGEND: PROHIBITION
THERE IS A METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH ON THE CORNER OF GARLAND
AND JEFFERSON IN DETROIT. DURING THE YEARS OF PROHIBITION THE
PASTOR THERE WAS REVEREND STIDGER, KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC AS AN
ARDENT PROHIBITIONIST. ON TOP OF HIS CHURCH WAS A REVOLVING
CROSS THAT WAS ILLUMINATED AND COULD BE SEEN FROM THE RIVER.
IT IS ALLEGED THAT WHEN THIS CROSS WAS LIT AND REVOLVING, THIS
WAS A SIGNAL TO THE RUM-RUNNERS ON THE RIVER CONCERNING WHETHER
THE GUARDS WERE ON DUTY OR NOT, SO THAT THEY COULD MOVE THE
CONTRABAND ACROSS THE RIVER.
Submitter comment:
MY GRANDFATHER (MR. VAN ANTWERP) HAS TOLD ME OTHER STORIES OF THE
RUM-RUNNING DURING PROHIBITION. HE SAYS HE KNOWS FOR A FACT IT
WAS GOING ON, BUT AS TO WHETHER THE CROSS ON THE CHURCH HAD ANY-
THING TO DO WITH IT, HE THINKS IT WAS ONLY A RUMOR. HE DID SAY
THAT IT POSSIBLY COULD HAVE HAPPENED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert |