Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for BLOOMFIELD returned 123 results.
WEDDING SONG
MRS. ST. AMOUR'S MATERNAL FAMILY HAS ALWAYS SUNG "I LOVE YOU TRULY"
BEFORE THE EXCHANGE OF VOWS AT A FAMILY WEDDING.
Submitter comment: THIS SONG HAS BEEN SUNG FOR FIVE OR SIX FAMILY GENERATIONS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Crucial moment of life Life cycle Crucial Moment in Life CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage F545.990 |
Date learned: 12-03-1982
WEDDING CUSTOM
MRS. ST. AMOUR'S MATERNAL FAMILY ALWAYS HAD THE LOHERGRIN WEDDING
MARCH PLAYED AT FAMILY WEDDINGS.
Submitter comment: THE LOHERGRIN HAS BEEN PLAYED FOR FIVE OR SIX GENERATIONS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Crucial moment of life Life cycle Crucial Moment in Life CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church F538.21 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Ceremony |
Date learned: 12-03-1982
WATER GAME
PARTS: SEVERAL SPOONS, EGGS, PEANUTS OR CHESTNUTS, AND A WHISTLE.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: SIX OR MORE, BUT NOT MORE THAN TWELVE.
OBJECT OF GAME: FOR ONE TEAM TO GET MORE POINTS THAN ITS OPPONENT
TEAM IN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.
RULES: THE PLAYERS ARE DIVIDED INTO TWO TEAMS.
ONE PLAYER BESIDES THE TEAM PLAYERS IS CHOSEN AS A REFEREE. A SWIM
COACH CAN ALSO BE THE REFEREE.
THE REFEREE REMAINS OUT OF THE WATER.
THE TWO TEAMS GATHER AT ONE END OF A SWIMMING POOL.
A SPOON IS GIVEN TO EACH PLAYER.
EACH PLAYER ALSO RECEIVES SOME OBJECT.
THIS OBJECT IS USUALLY AN EGG OR A CHESTNUT.
PEANUTS HAVE BEEN USED BEFORE ALSO.
THE REFEREE TELLS THE PLAYERS WHAT STYLE SWIMMING STROKE IS TO
BE USED.
ALL OF THE PLAYERS MUST ADHERE TO THIS STYLE STROKE
WHEN PLAYING THE GAME.
THE PLAYERS LINE UP IN A READY POSITION WITH THE SPOONS IN THEIR
MOUTHS. BALANCED ON EACH SPOON IS THE OBJECT.
THE PLAYERS MUST SWIM TO THE OTHER END OF THE POOL AND BACK WITHOUT
DROPPING THE OBJECT OFF THE SPOON.
THE SIGNAL FOR THEM TO GO IS GIVEN BY THE REFEREE.
HE BLOWS A WHISTLE.
WHEN THE PLAYERS GET BACK TO THE OTHER SIDE, POINTS ARE GIVEN
TO THE TEAMS ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS WHO SUCCESSFULLY SWAM
THE LENGTH WITH THE OBJECT BALANCED ON THE SPOON IN THEIR MOUTHS.
EACH DOUBLE LENGTH SWAM IS ONE MATCH.
BOTH TEAMS PLAY A CERTAIN NUMBER OF MATCHES, THEN THE GAME IS OVER.
Submitter comment:
MRS. ST. AMOUR TOOK SWIMMING LESSONS AT THE DETROIT ATHLETIC CLUB
DURING HER 7, 8, AND 9 GRADE YEARS IN GRADE SCHOOL.
AT THAT TIME SPECIAL PERMISSION HAD TO BE OBTAINED FROM THE SCHOOL
PRINCIPLE.
HER SWIM COACH WAS THE, NOW NATIONALY KNOWN, MATT MANN.
BESIDES LESSONS AND SPORTS, THE STUDENTS HAD FREE TIME TO SWIM,
THIS WAS KNOWN AS OPEN SWIM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Water Ice Snow |
Date learned: 12-03-1982
THE GAME CHARADES
PARTS: NONE
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: AT LEAST FOUR PLAYERS, BUT NOT MORE THAN TWELVE.
OBJECT OF GAME: TWO TEAMS MUST PLAY AGAINST EACH OTHER, THE TEAM
STUMPED THE MOST OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME LOSES.
RULES: ONE MEMBER OF A TEAM RECEIVES A CARD WITH A WORD WRITTEN ON IT
BY THE OTHER TEAM. THIS PLAYER MUST NOT ALLOW HIS OWN TEAM TO SEE
THE WORD. IT IS HIS POSITION TO MAKE SIGNS WITH HIS BODY TO HELP
SPELL OUT THE WORD TO HIS TEAM. HE MAY NOT TALK AT ALL.
HIS TEAM MUST GUESS THE WORD WRITTEN ON THE CARD.
THIS TASK MUST BE COMPLETED IN AN AGREED-UPON AMOUNT OF TIME.
USUALLY THREE MINUTES IS SUFFICIENT ENOUGH.
IF THE TEAM CORRECTLY GUESSES THE WORD AND THE TIME HAS NOT
RUN OUT, ANOTHER WORD IS GIVEN TO THEM.
THE IDEA IS TO GUESS AS MANY WORDS AS POSSIBLE IN THE GIVEN TIME.
WHEN THE TIME HAS RUN OUT IT IS THE OTHER TEAM'S TURN.
POINTS ARE KEPT OF EACH MATCH. WHEN EVERYONE HAS DECIDED TO STOP
PLAYING, AN AWARD IS GIVEN TO THE TEAM WITH THE MOST POINTS.
Submitter comment:
THIS GAME CAN BE PLAYED BY TWO PEOPLE AS WELL AS BY TWO TEAMS.
IN SOME GAMES THE SUBJECT MATTER IS REVIEWED BEFORE THE GAME
IS BEGUN.
FOR EXAMPLE THE TEAMS MIGHT PICK BOOK TITLES AS THE SUBJECT MATTER
AND USE ONLY BOOK TITLES WRITTEN BY A CERTAIN AUTHOR.
TEAMS THAT PLAY OFTEN HAVE CREATED A CODED PATTERN OF
BODY SIGNS. THAT IS THAT THEY KNOW CERTAIN MOVEMENTS OR
POSITIONS MEAN CERTAIN LETTERS OF THE ALPHABET.
THIS IS FAIR AS LONG AS NO WORDS ARE SPOKEN.
EVEN SOUNDS ARE FORBIDDEN IN MANY GAMES.
OFTEN THE HOSTESS GIVES A SMALL PRIZE TO THE MEMBERS OF
THE WINNING TEAM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dramatic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C562 C562.2 |
BAD LUCK
IT IS BAD LUCK FOR A BASEBALL MANAGER TO STEP ON A WHITE LINE OF
A BASEBALL DIAMOND.
IF A MANAGER DOES STEP ON A WHITE LINE, HIS TEAM IS SURE
TO LOSE THE GAME.
Submitter comment:
MY INFORMANT TELLS ME THAT SPARKY ANDERSON THE MANAGER OF THE
DETROIT TIGERS WILL NOT STEP ON A WHITE LINE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Bad luck Games Pastimes Sports |
Date learned: 12-03-1982
IF YOU WEAR TENNIS SHOES YOU'LL RUIN YOUR EYESIGHT.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S MOTHER TOLD HER CHILDREN THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WEST BLOOMFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): HIDDEN CONNECTION
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Wearing used clothes from a thrift shop may bring you either
good luck or bad luck, depending on how the original owners
conducted themselves when wearing those clothes.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WEST BLOOMFIELD
Keyword(s): Articles, Fashion
James Callow Keyword(s): BEHAVIOR
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 00-00-1985
Putting tabasco sauce on bread and feeding it to ducks can
put a curse on you. And soon something degrading will
happen to you.
Submitter comment:
I learned of this story back in grade school when the
teacher scolded some of my friends for going to the pond
and feeding the ducks with bread soaked in tabasco sauce.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WEST BLOOMFIELD
Keyword(s): tabasco, hot, spicy.
James Callow Keyword(s): CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ; FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
Betting on a cock fight with an excess of more than one hundred
dollars and the cock that you bet on loses, you will have
bad luck for one week.
Submitter comment:
I learned of this belief back in seventh grade when we had a
guest speaker come in and talk to the class about games
involving animals.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WEST BLOOMFIELD
Keyword(s): Ring, Money.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
YOU SHOULD PUT OLD COFFEE GROUNDS IN THE SOIL AROUND PLANTS
(INDOORS OR OUTDOORS). THIS IS GOOD FOR PLANTS. MRS. SNIDER
THINKS IT MAY BE GOOD BECAUSE OF THE ACID IN THE GROUNDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WEST BLOOMFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- P535 |
Date learned: 09-12-1990
Superstition
IF YOU CUT DOWN A TREE, A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY WILL DIE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; DEATH ; FAMILY ; Legend ; Lore ; SUPERSTITION ; Tree
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 10-06-1969
A LESSON IN KINDNESS TO STRANGERS
JESUS AND PETRUS WERE WALKING AROUND LITTLE VILLAGES IN
GERMANY. THEY DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY TO KNOW WHO THEY
WERE BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO SEE WHAT THE PEOPLE WERE
REALLY LIKE, IF THEY WERE KIND TO STRANGERS.
WHEN THEY GOT TO SIPPLINGEN, A LITTLE VILLAGE, THEM
PEOPLE WAS SO NICE AND KIND AND GAVE THEM FOOD AND A
PLACE TO SLEEP. SO THEN JESUS AND PETRUS TOLD THEM WHO
THEY WAS. THEN JESUS SAYS, "SEE THEM FIELDS? NOW PRETTY
SOON YOU GONNA HAVE GRAPES."
THEN THE PEOPLE WAS SO HAPPY AND THEY MADE UP WINE FROM
ALL THESE GRAPES.
THEN THE WORD ABOUT THE GRAPES WENT BACK TO UVERLINGEN,
A VILLAGE WHERE JESUS AND PETRUS WAS BEFORE SIPPLINGEN.
THEN THESE PEOPLE WAS RUNNING TO JESUS AND PETRUS AND
SAYING, "PLEASE COME BACK TO OUR VILLAGE. WE DIDN'T
KNOW YOU WAS JESUS AND PETRUS."
SO THEY ALL WENT BACK TO THAT VILLAGE AND THE PEOPLE SAY,
"JESUS, WHY YOU WON'T GIVE US SOME GRAPES, TOO?" JESUS
SAID, "THAT'S ALL RIGHT." AND HE DONE THIS. PETRUS
DIDN'T LIKE THIS AND SAY TO JESUS, "THEY WAS NOT KIND TO
US BEFORE. WHY YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM GRAPES?" BUT
JESUS SAY, "KEEP QUIET, PETRUS. I KNOW MY WORK."
BUT AFTER JESUS AND PETRUS GO AWAY AND THE PEOPLE
MAKE THE WINE AND TASTE IT, THEY FIND OUT IT WAS SOUR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GERMANY, ASSUMED ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant |
Date learned: UNCERTAIN
A LESSON IN KINDNESS TO STRANGERS
JESUS AND PETRUS WERE WALKING AROUND LITTLE VILLAGES IN
GERMANY. THEY DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY TO KNOW WHO THEY
WERE BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO SEE WHAT THE PEOPLE WERE
REALLY LIKE, IF THEY WERE KIND TO STRANGERS.
WHEN THEY GOT TO SIPPLINGEN, A LITTLE VILLAGE, THEM
PEOPLE WAS SO NICE AND KIND AND GAVE THEM FOOD AND A
PLACE TO SLEEP. SO THEN JESUS AND PETRUS TOLD THEM WHO
THEY WAS. THEN JESUS SAYS, "SEE THEM FIELDS? NOW PRETTY
SOON YOU GONNA HAVE GRAPES."
THEN THE PEOPLE WAS SO HAPPY AND THEY MADE UP WINE FROM
ALL THESE GRAPES.
THEN THE WORD ABOUT THE GRAPES WENT BACK TO UVERLINGEN,
A VILLAGE WHERE JESUS AND PETRUS WAS BEFORE SIPPLINGEN.
THEN THESE PEOPLE WAS RUNNING TO JESUS AND PETRUS AND
SAYING, "PLEASE COME BACK TO OUR VILLAGE. WE DIDN'T
KNOW YOU WAS JESUS AND PETRUS."
SO THEY ALL WENT BACK TO THAT VILLAGE AND THE PEOPLE SAY,
"JESUS, WHY YOU WON'T GIVE US SOME GRAPES, TOO?" JESUS
SAID, "THAT'S ALL RIGHT." AND HE DONE THIS. PETRUS
DIDN'T LIKE THIS AND SAY TO JESUS, "THEY WAS NOT KIND TO
US BEFORE. WHY YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM GRAPES?" BUT
JESUS SAY, "KEEP QUIET, PETRUS. I KNOW MY WORK."
BUT AFTER JESUS AND PETRUS GO AWAY AND THE PEOPLE
MAKE THE WINE AND TASTE IT, THEY FIND OUT IT WAS SOUR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GERMANY, ASSUMED ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant |
Date learned: UNCERTAIN
TO DETERMINE HOW MANY CHILDREN A WOMAN WILL HAVE
PLACE A NEEDLE ON A LONG THREAD, SUSPEND IT OVER
THE OPEN PALM. TOUCH THE NEEDLE TO THE PALM, THEN
HOLD IT ABOVE THE PALM. WHEN THE NEEDLE MAKES A
CIRCLE, IT MEANS A BOY AND WHEN IT GOES BACK AND
FORTH IT MEANS A GIRL. THE NUMBER OF TIMES THESE
MOVEMENTS ARE MADE DETERMINES THE NUMBER OF
CHILDREN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of object for determining number of children or sex of unborn P863.3 |
Date learned: 10-20-1969
AFTER RECEIVING A PIECE OF BRIDE'S CAKE AT A
WEDDING, PUT IT UNDER YOUR PILLOW AND THE PERSON
YOU DREAM ABOUT WILL BE THE ONE YOU WILL MARRY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | 862 Use of object for determining future spouse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A CHARM TO BE SAID BY WHITE MAGICIANS WHEN PLUCKING
HEALING HERBS FROM THE GROUND:
OH SWEET HERB, ON CALVARY, MM'TWAS FIRST WHERE YOU WERE FOUND,
IN THE NAME OF HIM WHO DIED THERE,
I PLUCK YOU FROM THE GROUND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.646 |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
WEAR GARLIC AROUND YOUR NECK TO KEEP EVIL SPIRITS
AWAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 09-12-1969
MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD NEVER ALLOW YELLOW CATS INTO THE
HOUSE. THEY WERE TO REMAIN IN THE BARN. TIGER CATS,
BLACK CATS, WHITE CATS, THESE ALL HAD THE HOPE OF BEING
HOUSEHOLD PETS. STRICT APARTHEID WITH YELLOW CATS--TO
THE BARN! IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE BELIEF THAT THEY
WOULD BRING MISFORTUNE ON THE HOUSEHOLD. ON THE OTHER
HAND, MY FAMILY ONCE LIVED NEXT DOOR TO A FAMILY ORIGINALLY
FROM THE VERY RURAL PARTS OF KENTUCKY. MRS. PATTON COLLECTED
EVERY YELLOW CAT SHE COULD FIND AND CLAIMED THEY PURRED
LOUDER THAN OTHER CATS AND BROUGHT MORE CHEER TO A HOUSE.
WE OFTEN HEARD HER CRY, "YELLER CAT, HERE YELLER CAT"
FROM HER FRONT PORCH, AND WE WERE GLAD THAT MY GRANDMOTHER
AND MRS. PATTON NEVER LIVED NEAR EACH OTHER.
Submitter comment: TOLD TO ME BY MY NEIGHBOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.31 |
Date learned: 00001940-1950
IF SOMEONE SWEEPS OVER YOUR FEET WITH A BROOM,
YOU WON'T GET MARRIED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship |
Date learned: 09-15-1969
WART CURE--GO TO A HOUSE WHERE THE WOMAN IS FRYING BACON. WHEN
SHE ISN'T LOOKING, STEAL A PIECE OF BACON AND WHEN YOU GO
OUTSIDE, THROW IT AWAY.
Submitter comment: TOLD TO ME BY MY NEIGHBOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 00001940-1950