Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for ALABAMA returned 452 results.
UNDERTAKER
THIS MAN OWNED A FUNERAL HOME AND HIS BUSINESS WAS
ALWAYS SLOW. HE GOT MOST OF HIS CUSTOMERS BY WATCHING
FOR ANY MISHAP THAT LOOKED LIKE DEATH WAS NEXT. ONCE
A MAN COLLAPSED ON THE STREET BECAUSE HE WAS TOO DRUNK.
THE UNDERTAKER TOOK HIM FOR DEAD AND PUT HIM IN THE
PARLOR WITH INTENTIONS OF EMBALMING HIM THE NEXT MORNING.
THE NEXT MORNING, HE WENT IN TO PREPARE THE SUPPOSED
CORPSE, HOWEVER, THE DRUNK HAD SLEPT OFF HIS CONDITION
AND AWAKENED SHOCKED TO FIND HIMSELF IN A FUNERAL PARLOR.
HE JUMPED UP AND RAN OUT THE DOOR AS THE UNDERTAKER
WAS COMING IN. THE UNDERTAKER YELLED AT HIM AS HE RAN
PAST--HEY! COME BACK HERE, YOU'RE DEAD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAYS THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN HIS HOME
TOWN, TUSKALOOSA, ALABAMA (1928).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALABAMA ; DETROIT ; TUSCALOOSA
Keyword(s): DRUNKARD, MISTAKE ; J1849. INAPPROPRIATE ACTION FROM MISUNDERSTANDING -- MISC.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 09-19-1971 ; 00-00-1928
UNDERTAKER
THIS MAN OWNED A FUNERAL HOME AND HIS BUSINESS WAS
ALWAYS SLOW. HE GOT MOST OF HIS CUSTOMERS BY WATCHING
FOR ANY MISHAP THAT LOOKED LIKE DEATH WAS NEXT. ONCE
A MAN COLLAPSED ON THE STREET BECAUSE HE WAS TOO DRUNK.
THE UNDERTAKER TOOK HIM FOR DEAD AND PUT HIM IN THE
PARLOR WITH INTENTIONS OF EMBALMING HIM THE NEXT MORNING.
THE NEXT MORNING, HE WENT IN TO PREPARE THE SUPPOSED
CORPSE, HOWEVER, THE DRUNK HAD SLEPT OFF HIS CONDITION
AND AWAKENED SHOCKED TO FIND HIMSELF IN A FUNERAL PARLOR.
HE JUMPED UP AND RAN OUT THE DOOR AS THE UNDERTAKER
WAS COMING IN. THE UNDERTAKER YELLED AT HIM AS HE RAN
PAST--HEY! COME BACK HERE, YOU'RE DEAD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAYS THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN HIS HOME
TOWN, TUSKALOOSA, ALABAMA (1928).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALABAMA ; DETROIT ; TUSCALOOSA
Keyword(s): DRUNKARD, MISTAKE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 00-00-1928
IF A VIRGIN PASSES THE CHIMES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA,
THE BRICKS WILL FALL OUT.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; TUSCALOOSA
James Callow Keyword(s): PESSIMISM SEXISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School |
Date learned: 00-00-1973
IN 1930 A BLACK MAN WAS CONVICTED OF A CRIME HE DID NOT COMMIT,
HE WAS HUNG AND COMES BACK EVERY NIGHT AND IT IS SAID THAT HIS FACE
CAN BE SEEN, THEY HAVE CHANGED THE WHOLE COURTHOUSE BUT HE STILL
COMES BACK.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; JONESBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
FATTY, FATTY, TWO BY FOUR,
CAN'T GET THROUGH THE BATHROOM DOOR,
SO SHE DID IT ON THE FLOOR.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; BALDWIN COUNTY ; FOLEY
| Subject headings: | -- |
MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB.
SHE TIED IT TO THE HEATER.
AND EVERY TIME IT TURNED AROUND
IT BURNED ITS LITTLE SEATER.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; BALDWIN COUNTY ; FOLEY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 00001940-1950
IF THE HEM ON YOUR DRESS IS TURNED UP (ON THE OUTSIDE),
THEN YOU ARE GOING TO GET A NEW DRESS.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; BALDWIN COUNTY ; FOLEY
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001940-00001958
IF SOMEONE SERVES YOU A PIECE OF PIE AND IT IS
NOT POINTING DIRECTLY AT YOU, MAKE A WISH AND IT
WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; BALDWIN COUNTY ; FOLEY
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- N225 BELIEF -- Prayer |
HER GRANDFATHER TOLD HER THAT TURTLES USED TO COME ONTO THE
BEACH AT GULF SHORES, ALABAMA, BIG ENOUGH THAT MEN COULD
RIDE ON THEM.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; BALDWIN COUNTY ; FOLEY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 04-00-1980
IF YOU DON'T EAT BLACK EYED PEAS ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, THEN YOU
WILL HAVE BAD LUCK THAT YEAR.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; BALDWIN COUNTY ; FOLEY
Date learned: 00001940-00001960
IF A FUNERAL GOES BY, HOLD YOUR BUTTON OR
YOU'LL BE THE NEXT TO DIE.
Submitter comment:
"YOUR BUTTON" REFERS TO ANY BUTTON THAT MAY BE ON ONE'S CLOTHING.
AS THE INFORMANT SAID, "IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT BUTTON, BUT YOU'D
BETTER JUST HOPE YOU'VE GOT A BUTTON."
Where learned: ALABAMA ; BALDWIN COUNTY ; FOLEY
| Subject headings: | Observation Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
IF A BIRD GETS INTO YOUR HOUSE, THEN THERE WILL BE A DEATH
IN THE FAMILY.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; BALDWIN COUNTY ; FOLEY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Entry filtered.
Superstition: Animals
If you kill a black snake and throw him in a tree, it will rain until you take him down.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P435, P447] crossed out. Replaced wtih current classification.
Where learned: ALABAMA
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; DEATH ; Kill ; Rain ; Serpent ; Snake ; SUPERSTITION ; Tree ; WEATHER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
AFTER YOU'VE LOCKED THE DOOR TO LEAVE THE HOUSE, DON'T GO
BACK IN THE HOUSE IF YOU'VE FORGOTTEN ANYTHING UNLESS YOU
MAKE A CROSS AND SPIT IN IT.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; ATHENS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications SPEECH -- Gesture |
PLANT WATERMELONS BEFORE THE SUN COMES UP ON THE FIRST DAY
OF MAY.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; ATHENS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- May 1 May Day CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: 06-16-1973
ALWAYS PLANT YOUR GARDEN ON GOOD FRIDAY.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; ATHENS
| Subject headings: | 663 Good Friday BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: 06-16-1973
IF YOU HAVE A DUCK, HEN, OR TURKEY SETTING, PUT ROCKS AROUND
ITS NEST TO KEEP THUNDER FROM JARRING THE EGGS, BECAUSE
THUNDER WILL KEEP THE EGGS FROM HATCHING.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; ATHENS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Control Prevention Provocation Protection P892.25 |
WHEN WILLOW FLIES ARE SWARMING, THE FISH ARE BITING.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; ATHENS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Fish |
Date learned: 06-20-1973
IF THE BAROMETER IS RISING, THE FISH ARE BITING. IF THE
BAROMETER IS FALLING, THE FISH WON'T BITE.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; ATHENS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fish BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon |
Date learned: 06-20-1973