Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for ST returned 2014 results.
Never sweep a visitors' foot with a broom. If this happens
have the person whose feet has been swept spit on the bottom of
the broom. If the person does not spit on the broom it will be
bad luck for that person.
Submitter comment:
It so happens that I was sweeping and accidently hit her
foot, she asked that I turn the broom upside down so that she
could spit on the bottom of it.
Where learned: WINSTON SALEM ; NORTH CAROLINA
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Conversions SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
THE ORIGIN OF MANKIND
THREE MEN WENT BEFORE THE GREAT WENDAY TO TELL HIM OF THEIR NEEDS.
THE FIRST ONE SAID, "I WOULD LIKE A HORSE." THE SECOND SAID "I WOULD
LIKE SOME DOGS TO GO HUNTING IN THE BUSH.", THE THIRD MAN SAID "I
WOULD LIKE A WOMAN TO REFRESH MYSELF."
THE GREAT WENDAY FULFILLED THEIR DESIRES; TO THE FIRST HE GAVE A
HORSE, TO THE SECOND SOME DOGS, TO THE LAST A WOMAN.
THE THREE MEN DEPARTED, BUT ON THEIR WAY HOME A GREAT RAIN CAME,
FORCING THEM TO SLEEP FOR THREE DAYS IN THE BRUSH. NEITHER THE
HORSE NOR THE DOGS WERE OF MUCH USE THEN. THE WOMAN HOWEVER
PREPARED THE MEALS FOR ALL THREE. THE MEN SAID, "LET'S GO BACK TO
WENDAY" AND THEY DID.
THEY ALL WANTED WOMEN NOW. WENDAY WAS KIND ENOUGH TO CHANGE THE
HORSE AND DOGS INTO WOMEN. THE MEN RETURNED HOME. HOWEVER THE
WOMAN WHO CAME FROM THE HORSE WAS GLUTTONOUS, THE ONE WHO CAME
FROM THE DOG WAS MEAN. BUT THE FIRST WOMAN, THE ORIGINAL ONE, WAS
GOOD, SHE IS THE MOTHER OF MANKIND.
Data entry tech comment: COLLECTOR'S SPELLING CORRECTED BY KEYPUNCHER.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; WARMINSTER
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Human Life |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
TOM SWIFTY
THE ELECTRONIC MEMORY BANK IS MALFUNCTIONING, SAID TOM
THOUGHTLESSLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; STERLING HEIGHTS, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): IRONY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Wellerism Quotation |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
100TH NIGHT SHOW
TRADITIONAL COMEDY PLAY STAGED BY SENIOR CLASS ON THE 100TH NIGHT
BEFORE GRADUATION. SHOW TREATS FINER POINTS OF COMMANDING
OFFICERS AND WEST POINT TRADITION.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WEST POINT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
CAR KNOCKING LEGEND
IF YOU DRIVE DOWN HOOVER ROAD ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT, SOMEWHERE
NEAR STATE FAIR, YOU WILL HEAR TWO KNOCKS ON YOUR CAR. A GIRL
WAS KILLED BY A CAR THERE, AND SHE HAUNTS THE INTERSECTION.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LAUGHED AND DIDN'T APPEAR TO BELIEVE IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Vehicle propelled by mechanical or other force on land BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-22-1970
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
NEVER SPREAD STUPID RUMORS, LET OTHERS DO THIS.
Data entry tech comment:
ON ORIGINAL 5 X 8 CARD THE LOCATION AT WHICH ITEM WAS COLLECTED
IS LISTED AS RUSSIA BUT DEARBORN HEIGHTS MICHIGAN SHOULD
PROBABLY BE ASSUMED
Where learned: WESTERN RUSSIA
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; GOSSIP
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1905
THE AREA KNOWN AS STANDING STONE STATE PARK GOT
ITS NAME, SO THE LEGEND GOES, FROM A STONE WHICH
COMBINED WITH ANOTHER ONE MARKING A HUNTING GROUND
BOUNDARY LINE BETWEEN TWO TRIBES OF INDIANS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; STANDING STONE STATE PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 03-21-1969 ; 03-21-1969
POVERTY AND DISGRACE
POVERTY ALWAYS WISHES IT WERE DEAD WHILE DISGRACE ALWAYS
URGES IT TO LIVE ON.
Where learned: WEST AFRICA
Keyword(s): PERSONIFICATION
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RUSSIAN PROVERB
A PROMISE IS WORTH MORE THAN MONEY.
Where learned: WESTERN RUSSIA
Keyword(s): METONYMY
James Callow Keyword(s): ECONOMY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
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
SHROVE TUESDAY CUSTOM
ON SHROVE TUESDAY (THE DAY BEFORE ASH WEDNESDAY) IN OUR FAMILY
IT IS PANCAKE TUESDAY. MY MOTHER PUTS MONEY OR BUTTONS IN OUR
PANCAKES. BUTTONS SIGNIFY BAD BEHAVIOR, WHILE MONEY SIGNIFIES
GOOD BEHAVIOR.
Where learned: RECEIVED THROUGH QUESTIONNAIRE
Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | 663 Mardi Gras CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Season CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Palm Sunday |
Date learned: 03-26-1971
COUNTING OUT RHYME
ONE POTATO TWO POTATO THREE POTATO FOUR.
FIVE POTATO SIX POTATO SEVEN POTATO OR.
Submitter comment:
IN THIS RHYME EVERYONE PARTICIPATING PUTS IN THEIR TWO FISTS. THE
PERSON WHO IS COUNTING OUT COUNTS YOU OUT IF YOU ARE THE PERSON HE
STOPS ON WHEN HE SAYS OR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; INKSTER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00001960S
UKRAINIAN FOLK DANCE
THE TRADITIONAL FOLK DANCE FOR UKRAINIANS VARIES WITH
THE AREA FROM WHICH YOUR ANCESTORS CAME. MOST FOLK DANCES
ARE DONE IN CIRCULAR PATTERNS AND LINES. THE MUSIC IS 2/4
TIME AND GIVES INSIGHT TO THE LIFE STYLE. SOME DANCES ARE
PERFORMED BY GIRLS ONLY WHILE OTHERS ARE FOR BOYS. ONE OF
THE MOST POPULAR DANCES, THE HOPAK, IS PERFORMED BY HIGH
JUMPS AND LOW BENDS AND SOMETIMES WITH SWORDS. MOST THEMES
ARE ROMANTIC OR MILITARISTIC AND PERFORMED IN FULL COLOR
COSTUMES.
Submitter comment:
MANY PARISHES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
CONTINUE TO MAKE UKRAINIAN DANCE CLASSES AVAILABLE TO THEIR
PARISHONERS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Form Grouping Movement CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Dancing |
Date learned: 00001950S
COURTSHIP CUSTOM
WHEN A GUY GIVES A FRATERNITY PIN THIS MEANS THAT THEY ARE
ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED WITHIN ABOUT ONE YEAR.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; PORT CHESTER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Symbols of engagement |
Date learned: 12-00-1970
Ethnic: Italian
IT IS AN OLD ITALIAN CUSTOM THAT DURING LENT NOTHING MADE FROM EGGS
ARE ( IS ) EATEN UNTIL HOLY SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
Submitter comment:
THIS CUSTOM WAS PASSED TO THE INFORMANT FROM HER MOTHER AND
ORIGINALLY CAME FROM SOUTHERN ITALY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated / 02-24-2011 / TRD
Where learned: NEW YORK ; PORT CHESTER
Keyword(s): ABSTINENCE ; CUSTOM ; Eggs ; ETHNIC ; FOOD ; holiday ; Italian ; Lent ; RELIGIOUS ; SELF-SACRIFICE
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Saturday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Christian Chronology |
Date learned: 11-28-1970
LENTEN CUSTOM
IN THE CATHOLIC RELIGION THERE WAS A CUSTOM THAT ADULTS (PERSONS OVER
21) MUST FAST FROM EATING IN BETWEEN MEALS AND WERE NOT ALLOWED TO
HAVE THE EQUIVALENT OF 2 FULL MEALS DURING THE DAY FOR THE PERIOD
FROM ASH WEDNESDAY TO EASTER SUNDAY.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; PORT CHESTER
Keyword(s): SELF-SACRIFICE--FASTING
| Subject headings: | 663 Lent 663 Ash Wednesday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
SCHOOL CUSTOM
IN SCHOOL, IT IS A CUSTOM TO RAISE YOUR HAND TO BE
CALLED UPON FOR AN ANSWER.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS IN SCHOOL IN 1955-1956.
Where learned: PORT CHESTER ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 00001955-1956
EASTER CROSS
AN ITALIAN EASTER CUSTOM IS TO MAKE A CROSS OUT OF THE PALM LEAVES
RECEIVED IN CHURCH ON PALM SUNDAY. THIS CROSS IS MOUNTED ON THE WALL
AND IS TO REMAIN THERE THROUGHOUT THE EASTER SEASON. THIS BRINGS
GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment: MY MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER HAVE ALWAYS DONE THIS.
Where learned: NEW YORK, ASSUMED ; FRANKLINVILLE
Keyword(s): LUCK
| Subject headings: | 663 Palm Sunday BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
COUNTING OUT RHYME
BUBBLE GUM BUBBLE GUM IN A DISH . HOW MANY PIECES DO YOU WISH? FOUR.
F O U R . SO YOU ARE NOT IT.
Submitter comment:
WHEN THE PERSON WHO IS DOING THE RHYME POINTS TO YOU FOR A NUMBER
YOU CAN GIVE HIM ANY NUMBER YOU WISH HIM TO USE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; INKSTER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00001960S
ROCKABYE BABY ON THE TREE TOP,
WHEN THE WIND BLOWS THE CRADLE WILL ROCK.
WHEN THE BOW BREAKS, THE CRADLE WILL FALL,
AND DOWN WILL COME BABY, CRADLE AND ALL.
Submitter comment: SUNG TO ME BY MY MOTHER IN 1950-1951.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; PORT CHESTER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.366 |