Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for TAYLOR returned 74 results.
Room Location
The master bedroom should be located in the northeastern corner of the house to maintain harmony and fortune in the family.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: VIRGINIA ; Roanoke
Keyword(s): Bedroom ; Feng Shui ; fortune ; Harmony ; House ; LOCATION ; Master
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Plan, design, color, building material, and technic |
CUSTOM
ON THE DAY AFTER EASTER, THE FIRST GIRL A BOY SAW, HE WOULD SPRINKLE
HER WITH WATER. HOWEVER BOYS ARE BOYS WHEREVER YOU GO AND THEY
USUALLY USED A WHOLE BUCKET OF WATER ON EVERY GIRL THEY MET. THEIR
GIRL FRIENDS THEY SPRINKLED WITH PERFUME OR COLOGNE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated and Motifs Added / 02-28-2011 / TRD
Informant and collector share same surname.
Where learned: TAYLOR ; Michigan Consolidated Gas Company ; informant's home
Keyword(s): Boy ; Cologne ; COURTSHIP ; CUSTOM ; DYNGUS DAY ; Female ; Flirt ; Flirtation ; Girl ; holiday ; Male ; Perfume ; RITUAL ; Scent ; WATER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Monday Dyngus |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
Proverb
A person who acquires riches easily was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Maxim ; METAPHOR ; PROVERB ; Rich ; Silver ; Spoiled ; Spoon ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
CUSTOM
DURING THE FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE SINGLE GIRLS MELT METAL AND DROP
IT IN WATER. WHEN IT HARDENS, IF THE METAL COMES OUT SHINY, THE
GIRL WILL MARRY A HANDSOME MAN AND BE HAPPY, BUT IF IT COMES OUT
BLACK AND DULL, SHE WILL MARRY AN UGLY MAN AND BE UNHAPPY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June 24 St. John's Day / Midsummer Day BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 11-11-1967
CUSTOM
ON THE FEAST OF ST. JOHN, THE GIRLS MADE WREATHS FROM GREENS, PUT
A CANDLE IN THE MIDDLE, AND SET THEM AFLOAT. AS THEY FLOATED AWAY,
THE BOYS MADE A WISH WITH THE IDEA THAT THESE WREATHS WOULD MEET
OTHERS.
THIS CEREMONY IS COUPLED TO THE BELIEF THAT THE FERN HAS A
FLOWER WHICH BLOOMS ONLY ONCE A YEAR, ON THE NIGHT OF ST. JOHN'S.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June 24 St. John's Day / Midsummer Day BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
PROVERB
ONE WHO TRIES TO HIDE HIS SICKNESS DIES FROM IT
Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; TAYLOR
Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; MEDICINE
James Callow Keyword(s): MEDICAL TREATMENT ; SECRETIVE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-11-1967
SAYING
IF YOU CAN'T USE YOUR HEAD, YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR FEET.
Submitter comment:
THE MEANING OF THIS SAYING IS THAT IF YOU DO NOT THINK AND PLAN
AHEAD FIRST, YOU WILL END UP RE-TRACING YOUR STEPS, MAKING MORE WORK
FOR YOURSELF THAN WHAT YOU INITIALLY SET OUT TO ACCOMPLISH.
IT NEVER FAILS THAT THIS SAYING ALWAYS COMES TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1967 ; 00-00-1935
BELIEF
IF YOU DREAM OR HAVE A NIGHTMARE ABOUT THE DEVIL, BLESS YOURSELF
WHEN YOU AWAKE TO CALM YOUR FEARS AND HELP KEEP THE DEVIL AWAY.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD TO MY MOTHER BY HER MOTHER ABOUT 50 YEARS AGO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Dreams Dreams about the supernatural SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 11-00-1977 ; 00-00-1930
BELIEF
A SAD BEGINNING IS A HAPPY ENDING.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER ALWAYS TOLD THIS TO ME WHEN THINGS STARTED OFF ON THE
WRONG FOOT.
CONTRAST
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1966
POLISH CUSTOM
ON CHRISTMAS EVE MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD MAKE 12 DIFFERENT FAST DISHES
(FISH, ETC.), REPRESENTING THE 12 APOSTLES. THE FAMILY COULD NOT
EAT UNTIL THE FIRST STAR SHONE.
Submitter comment:
THIS CUSTOM WAS PRACTICED TO SYMBOLIZE THE HOLINESS OF CHRISTMAS.
THE DISHES SERVED WERE ONES THAT WERE NOT PREPARED DURING THE YEAR.
AN APPRECIATION OF LIFE'S LITTLE PLEASURES WAS LEARNED, SINCE AT THE
TIME THIS WAS PRACTICED, THE FAMILY, AS WELL AS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY,
WERE POOR. THIS TRADITION HAS NOT BEEN CARRIED OUT FAITHFULLY AS
WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER WAS ALIVE. SINCE THAT TIME THE FAMILY HAS
GROWN MUCH LARGER AND HAVE MOVED TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE U.S.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Seconds / Twice / Two CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Menus |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
GERMAN SAYING
GLUECK UND GLAS, WIE LEICHT BRICHT DASS.
Submitter comment:
TRANSLATION: LUCK LIKE GLASS BREAKS EASY. THE INFORMANT'S AUNT
TOLD HIM THIS WHEN HE WAS 12 YEARS OLD. THIS SAYING IS MAINLY USED
IN CONVERSATION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 11-00-1977 ; 00-00-1968
GERMAN SAYING
DER SPERLING IN DER HAND IST BESSER ALS DIE TAUBE AM DACH.
Submitter comment:
TRANSLATION: THE SPARROW IN THE HAND IS BETTER THAN THE DOVE ON
THE ROOFTOP. TOLD TO MY INFORMANT BY HIS AUNT WHEN HE WAS TEN.
THIS WAS TOLD TO HIM WHEN HE WAS ALWAYS WISHING FOR SOMETHING MORE
THAN WHAT HE ALREADY HAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-00-1977 ; 00-00-1960
GERMAN SAYING
MORGEN STUNDE HAT GOLD IM MUNDE.
Submitter comment:
TRANSLATION: MORNING HOUR HAS GOLD IN ITS MOUTH.
TOLD TO INFORMANT BY HIS GRANDMOTHER. HE HEARD THIS ESPECIALLY AS
A CHILD WHEN HE DIDN'T WANT TO GET UP IN THE MORNING. THE SAYING
MEANS TO GET UP AND NOT WASTE THE MORNING BECAUSE IT IS THE BEST
PART OF THE DAY. HE STILL HEARS THIS TODAY. IT IS EQUILVALENT
TO THE AMERICAN SAYING "RISE AND SHINE."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 11-00-1977 ; 00-00-1963
GERMAN SAYING
GUTES RAT IST TEUER.
Submitter comment: TRANSLATION: GOOD ADVICE IS EXPENSIVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-00-1977 ; 00-00-1965
GERMAN SAYING
WAS DU HEUTE KANNST BESORGEN, DAS VERSHIEBE NICHT AUF MORGEN.
Submitter comment:
TRANSLATION: DON'T PUT OFF TILL TOMORROW WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY.
THIS SAYING IS ONE THAT PARENTS WOULD USUALLY SAY TO THEIR CHILDREN
WHEN THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO SOMETHING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
GERMAN SAYING
WER BOESES VON MIR SPRICHT, BETRETE MEINER WOHNUNG NICHT, DEM JEDER
HAT IM SEINEN LEBEN, AUF SICH SELBER ACHT ZU GEBEN.
Submitter comment:
TRANSLATION: WHOEVER SPEAKS BADLY OF ME WILL NOT ENTER MY HOME
BECAUSE EVERYONE IN HIS LIFE HAS HIS OWN SELF TO TAKE CARE OF.
THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS WHEN HE WAS YOUNG. THIS IS NOT SAID IN
CONVERSATION BUT WOULD BE READ OR WRITTEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 11-00-1977 ; 00-00-1965
COLLOQUIALISM
THE WORD (WHIP) IS A LOCAL COLLOQUIALISM USED YEARS AGO BY THE
MARBLEHEAD FISHERMAN. IF THEY WERE IN A DIFFERENT SEAPORT ALONG
THE COAST AND THEY WALKED INTO A LOCAL BAR, THEY WOULD JUST HOLLER
OUT THE WORD WHIP AND IF THERE WAS ANYBODY THERE FROM MARBLEHEAD
THEY WOULD WAVE AND SAY HELLO. THIS WAS USED AS A MEANS OF
IDENTIFICATION FOR MARBLEHEADERS IF THEY WERE OUT OF TOWN AND THEY
WANTED TO KNOW IF ANYBODY FROM MARBLEHEAD WAS AROUND, THEY JUST
HOLLERED OUT THE WORD "WHIP" AND OF COURSE IF YOU WEREN'T FROM
MARBLEHEAD YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANT AND IF YOU WERE YOU WOULD
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PERSON AS ANOTHER MARBLEHEADER, WHETHER YOU KNEW
THEM PERSONALLY OR NOT.
Submitter comment:
THIS COLLOQUIALISM WAS USED BEFORE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY (1800'S)
BEFORE THE FISHING INDUSTRY ALMOST FELL FLAT. PEOPLE STILL USE IT
TODAY, BUT NOT FREQUENTLY. WHEN MRS. PHILBROOK AND HER HUSBAND WERE
IN BERMUDA ON THEIR SAILING SLOOP, SOME PEOPLE WENT SAILING BY AND
SAW THAT THE TRANSOM OF THEIR BOAT WAS MARKED "MARBLEHEAD" AS THE
HAILPORT AND HOLLARED OUT "WHIP". MR. AND MRS. PHILBROOK KNEW
IMMEDIATELY THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE FROM MARBLEHEAD ALSO AND
ACKNOWLEDGED THEM. WHEN THEY CAME INTO DOCK, THE PHILBROOKS'
FOUND THAT THESE PEOPLE HAD LIVED IN MARBLEHEAD BUT WERE PRESENTLY
LIVING IN BERMUDA. SINCE THEN THEY HAVE BECOME GOOD FRIENDS.
THE ITEM ITSELF AS WELL AS SOME OF THE COMMENTS WERE TAKEN DIRECTLY
AS THE INFORMANT GAVE THEM TO ME WHEN VISITING AT MY HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
| Subject headings: | Favorites SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-00-1977 ; 00-00-1973
SYMBOL
THE CAPTAINS OF ANY SHIPPING VESSEL ALWAYS HAD AN EAGLE OVER THEIR
DOORWAY SO THAT IF A SAILOR CAME INTO A STRANGE TOWN AND WAS LOOKING
FOR A BERTH ON A SHIP, HE WOULD KNOW WHICH HOUSE TO GO TO BY
SPOTTING AN EAGLE OVER THE DOOR. IF HE SPOTTED ONE, HE KNEW THAT
THE MAN WHO LIVED THERE WAS A CAPTAIN OF A SHIPPING VESSEL. THE
SAILOR COULD THEN GO AND REQUEST A BERTH ON HIS SHIP.
Submitter comment:
THE EAGLE OVER THE DOORWAY HAD ITS SIGNIFICANCE DURING THE FISHING
DAYS IN MARLEHEAD AND MOST OF THE LITTLE FISHING TOWNS ALONG THE
EAST COAST, AS A MEANS OF IDENTIFYING CAPTAINS OF VESSELS. THIS
TRADITION WAS CARRIED OVER FROM ENGLAND. TODAY, MOST ANYBODY CAN
PUT AN EAGLE OVER THEIR DOOR IF THEY WANT TO, BUT IT DOES NOT HOLD
THE SIGNIFICANCE AS A MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION AS IT ONCE DID. THIS
ITEM AS WELL AS THE COMMENTS WERE TAKEN DIRECTLY AS THE INFORMANT
GAVE THEM TO ME WHILE VISITING AT MY HOME.
THIS IS AN INTERESTING SYMBOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
| Subject headings: | Favorites SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 11-00-1977 ; 00-00-1973
COLLOQUIALISM
"HEELTAPPERS" IS THE NAME OF A SHIPPING VESSEL MANNED BY MARBLEHEAD
FISHERMAN WHO WERE CALLED "HEELTAPPERS" BECAUSE IN THE WINTER TIME
WHEN THE WEATHER WAS TOO BAD FOR FISHING, MARBLEHEADERS MADE SHOES.
SHOE MANUFACTURING WAS THE OTHER PRIMARY INDUSTRY IN MARBLEHEAD.
IF THE FISHERMAN WERE NOT AT SEA, THEN THEY WERE HOME MAKING SHOES
AND WERE CALLED "HEELTAPPERS" FROM POUNDING THE LITTLE NAILS INTO
THE HEELS OF THE SHOES. AS A RESULT, THE FISHING BOATS THEY WENT
OUT ON WERE CALLED "HEELTAPPERS".
Submitter comment:
"HEELTAPPERS" IS A PARTICULAR KIND OF FISHING VESSEL BUT THE
INFORMANT COULD NOT REMEMBER IN WHAT WAY IT WAS DIFFERENT FROM
THE OTHER TYPES. THIS COLLOQUIAL TERM WAS LIMITED ONLY TO THE
MARBLEHEAD AREA. THIS ITEM, AS WELL AS THE COMMENTS, WERE TAKEN
DIRECTLY AS THE INFORMANT GAVE THEM TO ME WHILE VISITING AT MY HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- FamilyGroup PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: 11-00-1977