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 WAYNE returned 29 results.
FUDGE
THIS GAME WAS PLAYED WITH ANY TYPE OF BALL AND SOME
TYPE OF ROOF. A LINE WOULD BE DRAWN ON THE GROUND
PERHAPS FIFTEEN (FEET?) FROM THE ROOF. EVERYBODY
HAD TO STAND BEHIND THIS LINE. THEN ONE PERSON WOULD
START THE GAME BY TOSSING THE BALL ON THE ROOF AND
CALLING OUT A NUMBER. EACH PLAYER WAS DESIGNATED
A NUMBER INSTEAD OF HIS NAME TO CONFUSE HIM. WHEN
SOMEONE ELSE CALLED YOUR NUMBER, YOU HAD TO RUN UP
AND CATCH THE BALL ROLLING OFF OR BOUNCING OFF THE
ROOF BEFORE IT STRUCK THE GROUND. AS SOON AS YOU
DID, THEN YOU THREW IT UP ONTO THE ROOF AND CALLED
SOMEONE'S NUMBER. IF YOUR NUMBER WAS CALLED AND
YOU MISSED THE BALL, THEN YOU RECEIVED A LETTER,
STARTING WITH F. WHEN YOU HAD MISSED FIVE TIMES,
OR HAD SPELLED OUT THE WORD FUDGE, THEN YOU WERE
OUT OF THE GAME. THE LAST ONE LEFT WAS THE WINNER.
EXACTLY THE SAME GAME WAS SOMETIMES CALLED RAIN ON
THE ROOF, IN WHICH YOU WERE ALLOWED A CERTAIN NUMBER
OF MISSES, SUCH AS THREE.
Submitter comment:
I LEARNED TO PLAY THIS FROM THE OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD
CHILDREN IN FORT WAYNE.
Where learned: INDIANA ; FORT WAYNE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1949
MUMBLETY-PEG
THIS GAME REQUIRES TWO OR MORE PEOPLE AND A JACKKNIFE. A SMALL TWIG IS CUT FROM A TREE AND WHITTLED INTO A PEG ABOUT THREE INCHES LONG. IT IS THEN INSERTED A SHORT WAYS INTO THE GROUND. THE PLAYERS KNEEL IN A CIRCLE AROUND THE PEG. ONE PLAYER THROWS THE JACKKNIFE IN ANY MANNER HE WISHES (MAKING IT FLIP TWICE, FLIPPING IT FROM HIS ELBOW, NOSE, OR FROM EACH OF HIS FINGERS SUCCESSIVELY). IF THE KNIFE STICKS SO THAT TWO FINGERS CAN BE INSERTED BETWEEN THE GROUND AND THE HANDLE, IT IS CONSIDERED A LEGAL THROW. THEN EACH OF THE OTHER PLAYERS HAS TO EXACTLY DUPLICATE THE MANNER IN WHICH THE ORIGINAL PLAYER FLIPPED THE KNIFE. AS SOON AS YOU DUPLICATE THE STUNT WITH A LEGAL THROW, YOU ARE CONSIDERED EXEMPT FROM THE PENALTY THAT WILL FOLLOW. YOU KEEP TOSSING UNTIL THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON LEFT. HE THEN GETS A "FIREMAN'S CHANCE" OR LAST ATTEMPT. IF HE SUCCEEDS THEN THE KNIFE CONTINUES AROUND UNTIL ONE PERSON AGAIN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES A STUNT WHICH EVERYONE HAS TO MATCH. SHOULD THE PERSON FAIL ON HIS "FIREMAN'S CHANCE" HE MUST PAY THE PENALTY. THE KNIFE IS PASSED AROUND THE RING OF PARTICIPANTS WITH THE BLADE OPEN. EACH PERSON HOLDS THE KNIFE BY THE FLAT OF THE BLADE AND STRIKES THE PEG ONCE, DRIVING IT INTO THE GROUND. THEN THE KNIFE IS PASSED AROUND AGAIN. THIS TIME WITH THE BLADE CLOSED. EACH PERSON GRIPS THE KNIFE IN HIS FIST AND BRINGS THE BU; OF IT DOWN ON THE PEG, DRIVING IT FURTHER
INTO THE GROUND. EACH PERSON ONLY GETS ONE TRY
THOUGH. IF YOU MISS THE NARROW PEG, YOU DON'T GET TO
TRY AGAIN. THIS IS CALLED "SPIKING." NOW THE PEG
IS EITHER VERY CLOSE TO THE GROUND OR EVEN BURIED IN
IT. THE PERSON WHO LOST MUST GET DOWN ON HIS HANDS
AND KNEES AND EXTRACT THE PEG FROM THE GROUND WITH
HIS TEETH, OFTEN A VERY MESSY PROCESS.
Submitter comment:
I LEARNED THIS FROM THE NEIGHBORING CHILDREN IN
FORT WAYNE.
Where learned: INDIANA ; FORT WAYNE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00001949 CA.
SPLITS
THIS WAS A RELATIVELY SIMPLE GAME FOR TWO PLAYERS. THE
TWO PLAYERS WOULD STAND, FEET TOGETHER AND FACING
EACH OTHER, ABOUT THREE FEET APART. ONE PLAYER WOULD
THROW THE JACKKNIFE. HE WOULD HAVE TO THROW IT IN
FRONT OF HIM AND OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE PLAYER WHO
FACED HIM. IF IT STUCK BLADE FIRST INTO THE GROUND
SO THAT TWO FINGERS WIDTH SEPARATED IT FROM CONTACT
WITH THE GROUND AT THE HANDLE, THEN IT WAS A LEGAL
THROW. THE OTHER PLAYER WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE ONE
FOOT STATIONARY AND STRETCH THE OTHER ONE FAR ENOUGH
TO REACH THE KNIFE. HE WOULD THEN HAVE TO REACH OVER
AND PICK UP THE KNIFE IN ORDER TO HAVE HIS TURN. A
BAD TOSS MERELY MEANT THAT IT WAS THE OTHER PERSON'S
TURN. THE THROWING CONTINUED UNTIL ONE OF THE PLAYERS
COULDN'T STRETCH THE REQUIRED DISTANCE OR FELL OVER IN
ATTEMPTING TO PICK UP THE KNIFE, WHICH MADE HIM THE
LOSER.
Submitter comment: OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD BOYS TAUGHT ME THIS GAME.
Where learned: INDIANA ; FORT WAYNE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00001949 CA.
HIDE AND GO SEEK
THIS GAME WAS PLAYED WITH THREE OR MORE PEOPLE IN AN
AREA SUCH AS THE WOODS, WHICH OFFERED NUMEROUS PLACES
FOR HIDING. ONE PERSON WAS SELECTED TO BE "IT" OR THE
ONE WHO HAD TO FIND THE OTHERS. CERTAIN BOUNDARIES
WERE SET UP OUTSIDE OF WHICH WE COULD NOT GO. THEN
THE PERSON WHO WAS "IT" HAD TO COVER HIS EYES, STAND
FACING A TREE AND COUNT SLOWLY TO A HUNDRED. WHILE
THIS PERSON WAS COUNTING, EVERYONE ELSE RAN OFF AND
SECURED THEMSELVES A GOOD HIDING PLACE. AFTER THE "IT"
HAD FINISHED COUNTING, HE SCOURED THE AREA, TRYING TO
FIND WHERE EVERYBODY WAS HIDING. HE EITHER HAD TO
TOUCH YOU OR WITH HIS HAND ON THE TREE USED FOR
COUNTING, YELL OUT YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU WERE HIDING.
IF THIS WAS DONE, THAT GAME WAS OVER, EVERYONE CAME
OUT OF HIDING AND A NEW GAME WAS STARTED WITH THE
PERSON WHO WAS DISCOVERED BEING "IT."
Submitter comment:
WE USED TO PLAY THIS GAME IN THE COUNTRY WHERE WE
LIVED FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
Where learned: INDIANA ; FORT WAYNE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
TAPEWORM CURE
DON'T EAT FOR A WEEK, THEN TAKE A SAUCER OF WARM MILK
NEAR THE PATIENT'S MOUTH.
THE TAPEWORM SHOULD CRAWLOUT,
BUT CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED THAT ALL THE TAPEWORM
CAME OUT. THAT NONE BE LEFT TO REGENERATE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WAYNE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
PLANT CUCUMBERS ON THE LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR; THIS WILL
MAKE THEM GROW LONG.
Submitter comment: HIS FATHER ALWAYS FOLLOWED THIS PRACTICE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June 21 solstice to September 22 |
Date learned: 03-10-1968
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS CUSTOMS, POLISH
THE TRADITIONAL POLISH CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS BEGINS BY OBSERVING
THE ADVENT SEASON, AWAITING THE FESTIVE CHRISTMAS. THIS IS
CULMINATED AT THE VIGILIA MEAL, SERVED ON CHRISTMAS EVE. THIS IS
THE TRANSITION BETWEEN ADVENT AND THE DAY ON WHICH POLES COMMEMERATE
CHRIST'S BIRTH. THE WORD VIGILIA MEANS WATCHING AND THIS IS IN
EFFECT WHAT THE PARTICIPANTS DO. THE MENU INCLUDES HERRING, WHICH IS
THE MAIN COURSE. THIS IS EATEN WITH MILK SYMBOLIZING A BITTER-SWEET
TIME OF REPENTANCE AND AWAITED JOY. UPON THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEAL
THE CHRISTMAS WAFER (OPLATEK) IS BROKEN FIRST BY THE HEAD OF THE
HOUSEHOLD AND DISTRIBUTED TO MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY, THE OLDEST
RECEIVING HIS PORTION FIRST. EACH FAMILY MEMBER IN TURN BREAKS THE
WAFER WITH ANOTHER WISHING PEACE AND GOOD WILL TO ONE ANOTHER. THE
WAFER SYMBOLIZES THE BLESSINGS OF CHRIST THAT ARE HOPED TO BE
BESTOWED DURING THE COMING YEAR. FOLLOWING THE MEAL A SZOPKA MAY BE
PRESENTED. THIS IS A PUPPET SHOW RE-ENACTING "THE NATIVITY" AND IS
SHOWN IN A SPECIALLY BUILT, RICHLY ORNATE, WOODEN STAGE. IN THIS
WAY THE CHILDREN OF THE POLISH FAMILY COME TO UNDERSTAND THE TRUE
MEANING OF CHRISTMAS.
NO MORE ACTIVITY TAKES PLACE IN THE HOME. ITS MEMBERS ASSUME A
SOMBER CONDITION OF MIND AND DEPART FOR THE MIDNIGHT MASS. THIS MASS
IS THE TRADITIONAL PASTERKA IN WHICH THE SOLEMN TONE OF THE SEASON IS
HIGHLIGHTED BY THE SINGING OF KOLENDY OR POLISH NATIONAL CHRISTMAS
CAROLS. FOLLOWING MASS THE FAMILY RETURNS HOME AND EXCHANGE GIFTS.
NEW YEAR'S EVE IS NOT CELEBRATED AS A FESTIVE EVENT, BUT THE FEAST OF
THE THREE KINGS SYMBOLIZES THE END OF THE POLISH CHRISTMAS SEASON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY LOUNGE
Date learned: 11-26-1970
DOWN IN THE MEDDY (MEADOW)
IN AN ITTY BITTY POOL
SWAM THREE LITTLE FISHIES
AND A MAMA FISHY TOO
SWIM SAID THE MAMA FISH
SWIM AS FAST AS YOU CAN
AND THEY SWAM AND THEY SWAM
RIGHT OVER THE DAM
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Lyrics ; MUSIC ; SONG ; Tune
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
Date learned: 12-01-1967
Graffito
Nixon should pull out
Just as his father should have.
Submitter comment:
Informant said that he read this on a bathroom wall at Wayne State University.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; RESTROOM WALL ; WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture |