Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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THE THINGS WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT JUST AREN'T SO, GET US
INTO TROUBLE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THAT HER MOTHER USED TO SAY THIS TO HER
WHEN SHE WAS A SMALL CHILD AND SHE BUILT HER HOPES UP
TOO HIGH.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-20-1971
TOM SWIFTIE
"NO, YOU CANNOT BUY MY BROWN TROUT", TOM SAID SELFISHLY
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SCHAUMBURG
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Wellerism Quotation |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
JUMP ROPE RHYME
DONALD DUCK IS A ONE LEGGED DUCK. DONALD DUCK IS A TWO LEGGED
DUCK. DONALD DUCK IS A THREE LEGGED DUCK.
DONALD DUCK IS A FOUR LEGGED DUCK.
DONALD DUCK IS A PIGEON TOED DUCK.
DONALD DUCK IS A BOW LEGGED DUCK, DONALD DUCK IS A ONE LEGGED,
TWO LEGGED, THREE LEGGED, FOUR LEGGED, PIGEON TOED BOW
LEGGED DUCK.
Where learned: GEORGIA ; SAVANNAH
James Callow Keyword(s): CUMULATIVE COUNTING CHAIN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 06-03-1970
JUMP ROPE RHYME
CINDERELLA DRESSED IN MUSTARD, WENT DOWNTOWN TO GET SOME CUSTARD.
ON THE WAY HER GIRDLE BUSTED. HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE DISGUSTED? 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, (WHATEVER NUMBER ) (THE ROPE TURNS FASTER.)
Where learned: GEORGIA ; SAVANNAH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 11-30-1972
LEGEND
IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA THERE IS A LAKE CALLED "MC LAC," IN THE
MIDDLE OF WHICH IS A GLASS HILL THAT SHINES BRILLIANTLY IN THE
SUN. LEGEND HAS IT THAT THE INDIANS BUILT THIS HILL TO HONOR
THE SUN GOD. FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS THEY CARRIED THESE CRYSTAL
ROCKS OUT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE LAKE BY MEANS OF CANOES. A ROCK
WAS OFFERRED BY THE ENTIRE TRIBE WHENEVER A FAVOR WAS GRANTED
BY THE SUN GOD. THEY CONTINUED THIS RITUAL UNTIL THE HILL WAS
FAR ENOUGH OUT OF THE WATER TO REFLECT THE SUN'S GOODNESS BY
GIVING BACK ITS LIGHT.
Submitter comment:
SISTER KATERI'S FATHER TOLD THIS STORY TO HER WHEN SISTER WAS A
YOUNGSTER:
Where learned: MINNESOTA ; MINNEAPOLIS ; SOUTH SAINT PAUL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Sun PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mineral |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WEATHER BELIEF
IF A RAINBOW APPEARS AT THE BEGINNING OF A STORM, THE RAINBOW
SIGNIFIES THAT AN IMPORTANT PERSON OR LARGE ANIMAL IS BEING BORN.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN NIGERIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
PLANTING CUSTOM
IT IS A TRADITIONAL CUSTOM IN EUROPE FOR THE UPPER CLASS TO HAVE
THEIR SERVANTS PLANT THE VEGETABLE AND FLOWER GARDENS IN THE EVENING
AFTER THE SUN HAS GONE DOWN. THE HOLES ARE DUG AND WATER IS THEN
POURED INTO THEM. THE SERVANT THEN WORKS THIS TO FORM A MUDDY PASTE
IN WHICH THE YOUNG PLANTS ARE PLACED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER AND SAYS THE PURPOSE OF THIS
IS TO PREVENT THE YOUNG PLANTS FROM BEING SCORCHED IN THE HOT SUN.
INFORMANT CARRIES ON THIS CUSTOM EVERY SPRING WHEN PLANTING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F476 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour BELIEF -- Sun BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 09-25-1972
AT A POLISH WEDDING THEY USED TO SHAVE THE GROOM AND
THE BRIDE WAS GIVEN A BABY CAP (CZYPCK) AND THEN
SHE WOULD GIVE IT TO HER MOTHER AND GET A BLESSING.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Reception |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THIS DUTCH CUSTOM IS CALLED A "BELLING." IT'S
A CHIVAREE BEFORE A WEDDING INCLUDING THE CLANGING
OF BELLS, SHOOTING GUNS, BANGING PANS, ETC.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage F545.055 |
Date learned: 10-09-1965
OYSTERS WERE NEVER EATEN IN THE MONTHS THAT HAD NO
"R" IN THEM.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Consumption ; CUSTOM ; FOOD ; Letter ; Oysters ; RITUAL ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Custom CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Month Food Drink -- Meat Fish and other animal life related to water |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
GRAFFITI
ANGELS WHO GUARD YOU WHILE YOU DRIVE
USUALLY RETIRE AT 65.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; BASEMENT CARVEL 2
Keyword(s): AGES RHYME: AA
James Callow Keyword(s): GUARDIAN ANGELS ; HUMOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.422 BELIEF -- Angel |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB
AND THE DOCTOR FAINTED.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Counting-out rhyme used by African American children
Bubble gum, bubble gum in the dish
how many bubble gums do you wish? Answer, any number.
One, two, three, four and you are out of this game.
Submitter comment:
This game is done with each participating players putting
one foot in a circle with all toes touching together. The
caller says the above rhyme touching each person's shoe.
Each round of the rhyme eliminates a person until eventually
there is only one person left and that person is "it."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1961
SAYING
A GREEN CHRISTMAS MAKES A FULL GRAVEYARD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HIS MOTHER WHO SAID THE SAYING WAS USED IN
DUNDEE, SCOTLAND WHERE SHE LIVED UNTIL SHE WAS AROUND 30 YEARS OLD.
INFORMANT'S MOTHER CAME TO AMERICA IN 1912, THREE YEARS AFTER
INFORMANT WAS BORN.
Where learned: HOME ; PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): DEATH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Predictions |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
GERMAN CUSTOM
THE GERMANS BURY THEIR DEAD WITH HEADS TO EAST SO WHEN
THEY ARRANGE THEIR FURNITURE (BEDS) THEY ARE THE
OPPOSITE WAY.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 09-07-1965
CANADIAN SUPERSTITION
PEOPLE IN ALASKA AND CANADA WANT TO BE BURIED WITH
THEIR HEAD TO THE NORTH. THEY ARE AFRAID OF THE
MAGNETIC REVERSAL IF THEY WERE OTHERWISE BURIED.
Where learned: OHIO ; ALASKA ; TOLEDO ; CANADA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 09-07-1965
GERMAN CUSTOM
IT IS A GERMAN CUSTOM THAT IF A PERSON DIES, ONLY ONE
PERSON STAYED UP ALL NIGHT WITH THE CORPSE. THE
CLOCK WAS STOPPED AT DEATH TIME AND ALL MIRRORS
WERE COVERED.
Data entry tech comment: JEWISH?
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
IRISH SUPERSTITION
THE IRISH BELIEVED THAT SOMEONE MUST STAY AWAKE ALL
NIGHT WITH THE DEAD PERSON AT A WAKE. THEY STAYED
UP ALL NIGHT AND CELEBRATED BY DRINKING.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 09-17-1965
FEVER
TIE ONIONS ON THE WRIST TO TAKE DOWN THE FEVER.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM YOUTH.
Where learned: INDIANA ; VEEDERSBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 11-23-1967
LEGEND
IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA THERE IS A LAKE CALLED "MC LAC," IN THE
MIDDLE OF WHICH IS A GLASS HILL THAT SHINES BRILLIANTLY IN THE
SUN. LEGEND HAS IT THAT THE INDIANS BUILT THIS HILL TO HONOR
THE SUN GOD. FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS THEY CARRIED THESE CRYSTAL
ROCKS OUT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE LAKE BY MEANS OF CANOES. A ROCK
WAS OFFERRED BY THE ENTIRE TRIBE WHENEVER A FAVOR WAS GRANTED
BY THE SUN GOD. THEY CONTINUED THIS RITUAL UNTIL THE HILL WAS
FAR ENOUGH OUT OF THE WATER TO REFLECT THE SUN'S GOODNESS BY
GIVING BACK ITS LIGHT.
Submitter comment:
SISTER KATERI'S FATHER TOLD THIS STORY TO HER WHEN SISTER WAS A
YOUNGSTER:
Where learned: MINNESOTA ; MINNEAPOLIS ; SOUTH SAINT PAUL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Sun PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mineral |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN