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 CHICAGO returned 200 results.
WHAT'S GOT FOUR WHEELS, IS RED, HAS A HANDLE AND GRASS ALL OVER?
A WAGON, I LIED ABOUT THE GRASS...
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
ST. PAT
THE MOST POPULAR AND WIDE-SPREAD STORY ABOUT SAINT PATRICK IS
THAT THANKS TO HIM, IRELAND HAS ABSOLUTELY NO SNAKES. IT IS BELIEVED
THAT ST. PAT REMOVED THE SNAKES IN THE "PIED PIPER" FASHION.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): IRELAND ; Irish ; Legend ; Lore ; Saint Patrick ; SNAKES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
SANTA CLAUS
ONE OF THE MOST WIDESPREAD LEGENDS I CAN THINK OF IS THAT
OF SANTA CLAUS. NOT ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT IN MANY
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD IT IS BELIEVED THAT THERE IS SOME
JOLLY, KIND OLD MAN WHO BRINGS TOYS AND PRESENTS TO ALL GOOD
LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS AT CHRISTMAS TIME.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): GIFTS ; holiday ; Legend ; Present ; Saint Nick ; SANTA CLAUS ; Toys
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
CUSTOMS (NEW YEAR)
IF AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT A MARRIED
COUPLE IS HOLDING CASH IN ONE HAND
AND A PICKLED HERRING IN THE OTHER HAND AND EACH TASTES OF THE
HERRING THEY WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK THROUGHOUT THE COMING YEAR.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED FROM THE FAMILY.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): MONEY
Date learned: 09-30-1967
JA SAM MAJKO CURA FINA (MOTHER, I AM A FINE GIRL)
JA SAM MAJKO CURA FINA (MOTHER, I AM A FINE GIRL
UDAT CHU SE ZA MARINA. AND A SAILOR I WILL MARRY
CHIRI-BIRI BELA MARE MOJA. CHIRI-BIRI BELA MARE MOJA.
CHIRI-BIRI BELA MARE MOJA. CHIRI-BIRI BELA MARE MOJA.
CHIRI-BIRI BELA MARE MOJA. CHIRI-BIRI BELA MARE MOJA.
ODOH U MARINE. I AM OFF TO THE SEA.)
Submitter comment:
THE LANGUAGE IS SERBO-CROATIAN, A BRANCH OF SOUTH SLAVIC
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): CROATIA
James Callow Keyword(s): ITERATION ; TAMBURITZA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Love |
Date learned: 00001977CA
OJ TI VILO VELEBITA (VELEBIT: CROATIAN MAJESTY)
OJ TI VILO, VILO VELEBITA VELEBIT, CROATIAN MAJESTY
TI NASHEG RODA DIKA SYMBOL OF PRIDE FOR OUR RACE
TVOJA SLAVA JESTA NAMA SVETA YOUR GLORY, TO US, IS ALMOST HOLY.
TI VILO VELEBITA VELEBIT, CROATIAN MAJESTY
TI NASHEG RODA DIKA SYMBOL OF PRIDE FOR OUR RACE,
ZHIVILA PREMILA. ZHIVILA PREMILA. MAY YOU LIVE AND PREVAIL AS A
ZHIVILA, OJ PREMILA, TI VILO SVI HRVATA! SYMBOL OF CROATIANS
UNITED.
Submitter comment:
THE LANGUAGE IS SERBO-CROATIAN, A BRANCH OF SOUTH SLAVIC
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): CROATIA
James Callow Keyword(s): INITIAL ITERATION ; PATRIOTISM ; TAMBURITZA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Admiration Praise Adulation |
Date learned: 00001979CA
CHUJESH MALA (LISTEN, LITTLE ONE)
CHUJESH, CHUJESH, CHUJESH MALA (LISTEN, LITTLE ONE
DOSTA SI VARALA YOU'VE BEEN FOOLING AROUND
CHUJESH, CHUJESH, CHUJESH MALA LONG ENOUGH.)
DOSTA SI VARALA, DOSTA SI VARALA.
Submitter comment:
THE LANGUAGE IS SERBO-CROATIAN, A BRANCH OF SOUTH SLAVIC
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): CROATIA
James Callow Keyword(s): ITERATION ; TAMBURITZA ; WARNING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Emotion |
Date learned: 00001979CA
OJ, MARICHKA PEGLAJ (HEY, MARICHKA, IRON)
OJ, MARICHKA, PEGLAJ, PEGLAJ, PEGLAJ, PEGLAJ (HEY, MARICHKA, IRON,
(REPEAT TWICE) IRON, IRON, IRON.(REPEAT TWICE)
OJ, MARICHKA, PEGLAJ HEY, MARICHKA, IRON
CJELI DAN I NOCH. ALL DAY AND NIGHT.)
Submitter comment:
THE LANGUAGE IS SERBO-CROATIAN, A BRANCH OF SOUTH SLAVIC
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): CROATIA
James Callow Keyword(s): ITERATION ; TAMBURITZA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
Date learned: 00001978CA
Christmas Wafer
Before eating dinner on Christmas Eve the family break a Christmas wafer and wishes everyone good luck.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Silver Dollar
On New Year's Day you wash your hands, get them lathered and then wash them with a silver dollar. This brings wealth in the New Year.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
Nuts & Candy
Informant's father, on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, throws nuts and candy at everyone and wishes them good luck and good health.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
Pennies
Between Christmas and New Year's, informant puts pennies on all the window sills and this brings wealth in the next year.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
Three Kings
Informant writes the name of the Three Kings above the door after Christmas time for good luck (The Feast of the Three Kings).
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
Old and New Spirits
On New Year's, just at 12 o'clock, open the front and back doors or windows to let the old spirits out and the new ones in.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
Nobody Loves Me
Nobody loves me, everybody hates me.
Think I'll eat some worms.
Big ones, little ones, ishy, gishy, goo ones,
Ones that squiggle and squirm.
First one's greasy -- goes down easy
Second one sticks to your tongue.
Third one's custard, fourth one's mustard
Fifth one tries to run.
First you cut the heads off
Then you suck the juice out
Then you throw the skins away.
No one knows how (name) can live on worms three times a day.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; PLAYGROUND
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Ten Little Children
There were ten little children lying in bed
And the last one said: Roll over.
So they all rolled over and one fell off
And there were nine little children lying in bed
And the last one said: Roll over.
So they all rolled over and one fell off
And there were eight little children lying in bed
And the last one said: Roll over.
So they all rolled over and one fell off
And there were seven little children lying in bed
And the last one said: Roll over.
So they all rolled over and one fell off
And there were six little children lying in bed
And the last one said: Roll over.
So they all rolled over and one fell off
And there were five little children lying in bed
And the last one said: Roll over.
So they all rolled over and one fell off
And there were four little children lying in bed
And the last one said: Roll over.
So they all rolled over and one fell off
And there were three little children lying in bed
And the last one said: Roll over.
So they all rolled over and one fell off
And there were two little children lying in bed
And the last one said: Roll over.
So they all rolled over and one fell off
And there was one little child lying in bed
And he said: Good night!
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
It's Raining
It's raining, it's pouring,
The old man is snoring.
He went to bed, bumped his head,
And couldn't get up in the morning.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
If a bird flies in your window or sits on a window ledge it's a sign of bad news.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Graffiti
Send Batman to Vietnam
Submitter comment:
Informant found this written on a window in Oldtown, Chicago.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: CHICAGO ; Oldtown ; window
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture |
Graffiti
Please help me, I am trapped behind this cement wall
(written backwards as if written from the inside)
Submitter comment:
Informant found this written in a subway tunnel.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; subway tunnel
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture |