Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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PASS THE BALL
THE OBJECT OF THIS GAME IS TO AVOID BEING THE ONE WHO
IS HOLDING THE BALL WHEN THE RHYME IS FINISHED.
THE CHILDREN STAND IN A RING TOSSING THE BALL AS
SOON AS IT IS CAUGHT. AT THE SAME TIME THEY CHANT:
THE MAGIC BALL GOES ROUND AND ROUND,
PASS IT QUICKLY YOU ARE BOUND.
AND IF YOU'RE THE ONE
TO HAVE IT LAST,
THE GAME IS OVER
AND YOU ARE OUT!
THE GAME CONTINUES UNTIL ALL BUT ONE CHILD IS OUT.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM GRADE SCHOOL FRIENDS IN PITTSBURGH.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
CADDY
THIS GAME WAS PLAYED ON AN EMPTY LOT OR ON A DESERTED
STREET. AT LEAST TWO MUST PLAY, BUT THERE IS NO LIMIT
ON THE NUMBER. A 2-1/2 TO 3 INCH PIECE IS SAWED OFF OF
A BROOMSTICK. ONE END IS WHITTLED TO FORM A SHARP
POINT. THE 2-1/2 TO 3 INCH PENCIL SHAPED PIECE IS
CALLED THE "CADDY." THE BROOM IS CUT OFF THE REMAINING
PIECE OF WOOD. THIS PIECE IS ALSO USED IN THE GAME.
THE CADDY IS PLACED AGAINST A MOUND OF DIRT OR A STONE
IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER:
DIAGRAM ON 5 X 8 CARD SHOWS POINTED STICK LEANING ON
A MOUND OF DIRT OR STONE.
THE POINTED END OF THE CADDY IS STRUCK A DOWNWARD BLOW
WITH THE LONG PART OF THE BROOMSTICK. THE CADDY WILL FLY
UP IN THE AIR. WHILE IN THE AIR, THE CADDY IS STRUCK
AGAIN WITH THE BROOMSTICK. THE OBJECT IS TO KNOCK THE
CADDY AS FAR AS POSSIBLE FROM THE STONE OR DIRT MOUNT IT
WAS RESTING ON. AFTER THE CADDY STOPS, THE DISTANCE IS
COUNTED OFF IN STEPS AND RECORDED. AFTER A GIVEN
NUMBER OF TURNS, THE COMBINED SCORES ARE TOTALED AND
THE HIGHEST NUMBER WINS. IF A PLAYER COULD HIT THE
AIRBORN CADDY TWICE, HIS "STEP" SCORE WAS DOUBLED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT PLAYED THIS GAME IN THE 1920S AND 30S WITH HIS
BROTHERS AND FRIENDS. GIRLS COULD ALSO PLAY IF THEY
COULD HIT THE CADDY. INFORMANT'S SISTER-IN-LAW CLAIMS
THAT THIS WAS DIFFICULT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
HAM SHOULD BE EATEN ON NEW YEAR'S DAY INSTEAD OF CHICKEN
BECAUSE A CHICKEN SCRATCHES BACKWARDS FOR HIS FOOD, AND WILL
THUS BRING BAD LUCK, WHILE A PIG PUSHES HIS SNOUT FORWARD
IN SEARCH OF FOOD AND WILL THEN BRING GOOD LUCK FOR THE
COMING YEAR. THE IDEA OF THE PIG PUSHING FORWARD MEANS
THAT THE HAM-EATER WILL PROGRESS. THE CHICKEN-EATER WILL
NOT PROGRESS BUT WILL GO BACKWARDS (IN MONETARY GAINS,
JOB PROMOTION, ETC.)
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS WHEN A CHILD (1920S) AND STILL
PRACTICES IT NOW.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-02-1971 ; 00001920S
ST. NICHOLAS' HELPER
ON DECEMBER 6, ST. NICHOLAS DAY, IN BELGIUM, ST.
NICHOLAS VISITS EACH SCHOOL DRESSED AS A BISHOP.
HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A HELPER WHO WAS DRESSED IN BLACK
CARRYING AN EMPTY SACK AND A BIG STICK. THE CHILDREN
WERE TERRIFIED OF THE HELPER, FOR IF THEY WERE NOT
GOOD, THE HELPER WOULD PUT THEM INTO THE SACK AND ALL
THEY WILL GET IS COAL AS A PRESENT ON ST. NICHOLAS DAY.
SO GREAT WAS THIS FEAR, THAT A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE DURING
THE PAST YEAR IN LIEGE STATED THAT TWO BOYS RAN AWAY FROM
SCHOOL SO THAT THE HELPER WOULDN'T GET THEM.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; BELGIUM ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): Celebrate ; CUSTOM ; Helper ; holiday ; Nicholas ; Saint ; St. Nick
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 11-01-1970
IN BELGIUM ON ST. NICHOLAS DAY, DECEMBER 6, THE CHILDREN
ALL PLACE THEIR SHOES ON THE WINDOW SILL IN THE HOPES
THAT ST. NICHOLAS WILL LEAVE THEM A TREAT AS HE PASSES
BY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; BELGIUM ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): Belgium ; Celebration ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Nicholas ; Saint ; St. Nick ; tradition
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 11-01-1970
ON JANUARY 6, THE FEAST OF THE THREE KINGS, IN BELGIUM,
ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE (TEENAGERS OR OLDER) ASSEMBLE IN
A HALL FOR A HUGE SUPPER. THE BOYS AND GIRLS ARE
SEGREGATED FOR THE DINNER. FOR DESSERT, A POUNDCAKE
WAS MADE FOR EACH GROUP, BOTH CONTAINING A DRIED BEAN
INSIDE. THE CAKES WERE SLICED AND PASSED AMONG THE
GROUPS, AND THE ONE WHOSE PIECE CONTAINED THE BEAN
WAS MADE KING AND QUEEN OF THE AFFAIR FOR THE BOYS
AND GIRLS RESPECTIVELY. THERE WAS USUALLY SOME
PLANNING DONE BY THE ONES PASSING THE CAKE, TO "RIG"
THE OUTCOME. SOMETIMES, THE ONE WHO HAD THE BEAN TRIED
TO SWALLOW IT TO KEEP FROM BECOMING THE CHOSEN ONES.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany |
Date learned: 11-01-1970
AT THE WEDDING RECEPTION, THE GUESTS WILL HIT THEIR
WATER GLASSES WITH EATING UTENSILS UNTIL THE BRIDE
AND GROOM KISS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT FIRST HEARD OF THIS AT A POLISH-GREEK
WEDDING IN PITTSBURGH IN THE LATE 1950S. SHE HAS
SINCE SEEN IT PRACTICED AT A WEDDING IN JULY, 1971.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Glassware tapping |
Date learned: 10-02-1971 ; 00001950S
IN BELGIUM, AND OTHER COUNTRIES OF EUROPE, EACH PERSON
IS GIVEN AN ID CARD ACCORDING TO WHICH CITY YOU ARE
RESIDING. THIS CARD CORRESPONDS TO AN AMERICAN DRIVER'S
LICENSE, CONTAINING ALL VITAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE
CARRIER OF IT. WHEN ONE MOVES TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION
HE MUST RELINQUISH HIS OLD CARD AND IMMEDIATELY
ACQUIRE A NEW ONE FROM HIS NEW LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 11-01-1970
GELGIAN CUSTOM
IN BELGIUM, PEOPLE ALL CELEBRATE THE NAMES DAY MUCH MORE
THAN THEY DO THEIR BIRTHDAY. THIS MAKES CARD SENDING
RELATIVELY EASY, SINCE ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SEND A
CARD TO ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS THAT HAVE THE SAME FIRST
NAME ON THAT SAINT'S FEAST DAY.
Submitter comment: RECORDED ON TAPE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: 11-01-1970
Nancy eats black-eyed peas on New Year's Day because they
are a sign of a prosperous new year. They are prepared by
boiling them in water for ten minutes.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Date learned: 01-00-1974
MY GREAT AUNT BEULAH MAE WANTED HER TWELVE CHILDREN TO
HAVE BEAUTIFUL SKIN, SO WHEN THEY WERE BABIES SHE WIPED
THEIR FACES WITH THEIR WET DIAPERS.
Submitter comment: WHEN I FIRST HEARD THIS, I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT!
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-20-1984 ; 00001950S
SOUTHERNERS BELIEVED THAT A PERSON WITH A COLD SHOULD BE
RUBBED DOWN WITH VICK'S VAPOR RUB ON THE FOREHEAD, CHEST, AND
BACK. THE PERSON SHOULD THEN BE PLACED UNDER HEAVY COVERS SO
THEY COULD SWEAT OUT THE COLD.
Submitter comment: MY MOTHER ALWAYS RUBS ME DOWN WITH VICK'S WHENEVER I HAVE A COLD.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
James Callow Keyword(s): VICK'S VAPO RUB
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 10-14-1984 ; 00001960S
SOUTHERN BLACKS WHO LIVED IN PITTSBURGH BELIEVED IN GIVING
THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN CASTOR OIL MIXED WITH SUGAR TO GET RID
OF A COLD.
Submitter comment: SUGAR COVERS UP THE BAD TASTE OF CASTOR OIL.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): REMEDY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Daily Life BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 10-14-1984 ; 00001960S
PEOPLE WHO HAVE A GAP BETWEEN THEIR TEETH LIE A LOT. THIS IS
WHERE THE PHRASE "YOU'RE LYING BETWEEN YOUR TEETH" COMES
FROM.
Submitter comment:
SPACE BETWEEN TEETH
"YOU'RE LYING THROUGH YOUR TEETH."
SHE HAS A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Folk etymology PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 10-11-1984
IF A BLACK CAT CROSSES YOUR PATH, TAKE FOUR STEPS
BACKWARD AND TURN AROUND; THIS GETS RID OF THE BAD LUCK THE
CAT PASSED ON TO YOU.
Submitter comment: TRANSFER
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
James Callow Keyword(s): REVERSE DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 686 Fourths / Quarters BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Conversions Animals |
YOU SHOULD ONLY CUT YOUR HAIR WHEN THERE'S A FULL MOON
BECAUSE THEN YOUR HAIR WILL GROW BACK THICKER AND LONGER.
Submitter comment:
WHEN MY INFORMANT WAS YOUNGER, HER MOTHER ONLY CUT HER HAIR
WHEN THERE WAS A FULL MOON BECAUSE SHE WANTED HER TO HAVE
LONG, THICK HAIR. TODAY, MY INFORMANT HAS LONG HAIR.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Moon |
AFTER YOU COMB YOUR HAIR, YOU DON'T THROW THE HAIR THAT'S
REMAINING IN THE COMB AWAY. YOU BURN THE HAIR, THEN FLUSH IT
DOWN THE TOILET. IF YOU DON'T DO THIS, BIRDS WILL FIND YOUR
HAIR AND USE IT TO MAKE THEIR NESTS AND YOU'LL HAVE
HEADACHES FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
Submitter comment:
CONTAGIOUS MAGIC
EXPLICIT INTERDICTION
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
IF YOU SEE A NEW MOON THROUGH A PANE OF GLASS,
HARD LUCK WILL FOLLOW FAST.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT REMEMBERS HEARING THIS AS A CHILD FROM HIS MOTHER
(1915-1925). HE BELIEVES THAT THE SAYING STEMS FROM HIS
MOTHER AND FATHER'S SCOTTISH HERITAGE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
IF YOU DROP A KNIFE, A MAN IS COMING.
IF YOU DROP A FORK, A WOMAN IS COMING.
IF YOU DROP A SPOON, A CHILD IS COMING.
IF YOU DROP A DISHRAG, SOME SLOP IS COMING.
Submitter comment:
HEARD WHEN YOUNG IN THE EARLY 1900S. INFORMANT'S DAUGHTER
ALSO REMEMBERS HEARING THIS WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG IN THE LATE 30S.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.860 |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
BIRTHS AND BAPTISM
WHEN A BABY WAS BORN IN THE HOME, THE MOTHER COULD
NOT LEAVE THE HOUSE, WITH OR WITHOUT THE CHILD, UNTIL
IT WAS TIME FOR THE CHILD TO BE BAPTIZED. THEN THE
MOTHER AND THE CHILD WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE CHURCH
TOGETHER, IN THE DAYTIME, TO BE BAPTIZED.
Submitter comment:
THE ABOVE WAS BELIEVED AND PRACTICED BY THE INFORMANT'S
PARENTS. (1910-1920).
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Baptism Naming rite |
Date learned: 10-02-1971