Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for ROYAL OAK returned 336 results.
WEATHER BELIEFS
IF YOU KILL A DADDY LONG LEGS (SPIDER), IT WILL RAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00001950S
FIND A PENNY, PICK IT UP.
ALL DAY LONG YOU'LL HAVE GOOD LUCK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; LUCK ; Penny ; RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.881 BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Good luck Money |
Date learned: 00001960S
FINDING A FOUR-LEAF CLOVER IN YOUR YARD BRINGS YOU GOOD LUCK
(MORE SO THAN FINDING IT IN SOMEONE ELSE'S YARD)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | 686 Fourths / Quarters Favorites BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Good luck Plants |
Date learned: 00001960S
AGRICULTURAL BELIEFS
THE CORN CROP WILL BE GOOD IF IT IS KNEE HIGH BY THE FOURTH
OF JULY.
Submitter comment:
WE NEVER GREW CORN IN ROYAL OAK, BUT MY PARENTS ALWAYS
SAID THIS BECAUSE THEY GREW CORN WHERE THEY GREW UP IN OHIO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- July 4 Independence Day BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: 00001960S
BODY PART BELIEFS
IF A PART OF YOUR BODY GOES TO "SLEEP", LICKING YOUR FINGER
AND DRAWING AN "X" ON THE PART WILL MAKE IT GO AWAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Remedy BELIEF -- Method of Curing SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970S
WHEN THE OPPOSITE SEX COMES NEAR YOU, CROSS THE FIRST TWO FINGERS
OF YOUR RIGHT HAND AND PLACE THEM ON THE BACK OF YOUR LEFT HAND.
THIS PROTECTS YOU FROM "COOTIES".
Submitter comment:
THIS IS FOR GRADE SCHOOL CHILDREN, WHO ARE CONVINCED THAT THE
OPPOSITE SEX CARRIES SOME SORT OF INFECTIOUS GERM (COOTIES).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Date learned: 00001960S
GRACE BEFORE EATING A MEAL
GOD IS GREAT,
GOD IS GOOD.
LET US THANK HIM
FOR THIS FOOD.
Submitter comment:
OUR FAMILY ALWAYS SAID THIS GRACE BEFORE MEALS. I DON'T
THINK WE USED ANY OTHERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): INITIAL ITERATION ; SLANT RHYME: GOOD, FOOD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00001960S
HEALTH PROVERB
AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY.
Submitter comment:
SUPPOSEDLY, ALL THE NUTRIENTS OF AN APPLE WILL KEEP YOU
HEALTHY. THIS IS NOT TRUE FOR ME BECAUSE I'M HYPOGLYCEMIC,
AND I CAN'T EAT FOODS HIGH IN CARBOHYDRATES--SUCH AS APPLES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): METONYMY: DOCTOR FOR DISEASE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00001960S
WEATHER BELIEF
IF A CAT SNEEZES, IT MEANS IT WILL RAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00001970S
WEATHER BELIEF
IF THERE IS A RING AROUND THE MOON, IT WILL RAIN WITHIN THE
SAME NUMBER OF DAYS AS THERE ARE STARS WITHIN THE RING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Star BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00001970S
WEATHER BELIEF
IF A FLY LANDS ON YOUR NOSE
SWAT IT TIL IT GOES.
IF IT THEN LANDS AGAIN
IT WILL BRING BACK HEAVY RAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Nose BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00001970S
WEATHER BELIEF
WHEN GRASS IS DRY AT MORNING LIGHT
LOOK FOR RAIN BEFORE THE NIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00001970S
CREMATION RITES
MRS. OTT, AN EMPLOYEE OF ROSELAND PARK CEMETERY, CONTACTED ME
ON THE ABOVE DATE REGARDING BURIAL OF MY FATHERS REMAINS.
MY FATHER DIED ON DECEMBER 22, 1981, AND HIS REMAINS HAD
BEEN CREMATED BY ROSELAND PARK CEMETERY. MRS OTT INFORMED ME
THAT CREMATED REMAINS ARE SOMETIMES ONE INCH BY ONE AND ONE HALF
INCH IN SIZE, AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE PLACED IN A VAULT IN HER
MAUSOLEUM OR BE BURIED AT THE CEMETERY. I TOLD HER THE FAMILY'S
INTENTION IN THE MATTER, WHICH WAS TO PLACE HIS REMAINS AT
ANOTHER LOCATION, OUTSIDE, ABOVE GROUND. SHE SAID THAT BONES
SHINE IN THE SUN, AND FLOAT ON THE WATER. SHE ALSO SAID A RATHER
MACABRE THING, THAT WE WOULDN'T WANT OUR FATHER TO BE PLAYED
WITH BY SOME KID ON A BEACH, WHERE THE REMAINS WOULD WAS UP
EVENTUALLY, OR HAVE HIM RAKED UP EITHER. THE CONVERSATION WAS
DEFINITELY DETERIORATING, SO I CEASED TALKING TO HER.
Submitter comment:
I WAS HIGHLY ANGRY THAT SHE WOULD TRY TO SELL ME A CEMETARY PLOT
BY TRYING TO SCARE ME WITH HER MACABRE STORIES OF WHAT HAPPENS
TO PEOPLE WHOSE REMAINS ARE NOT DISPOSED OF ACCORDING TO HER
STANDARDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
DUNKING DAYS
CHILDREN IN PENNSYLVANIA CELEBRATE DUNKING
DAYS ON TWO CONSECUTIVE SUNDAYS IN MAY OR JUNE
AROUND WHITSUNDAY. ON THE FIRST SUNDAY, THE
BOYS ATTEMPT TO WET THE GIRLS WITH WATER. ON
THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY, THE GIRLS ATTEMPT TO WET
THE BOYS. I DON'T KNOW WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT
THIS CUSTOM, BUT MY MOTHER TOLD ME THAT SHE CELEBRATED
DUNKING DAYS IN DUQUESNE, PENNSYLVANIA AROUND 1945.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT ADVISES THAT HER MOTHER'S NAME IS
MARY MORSILLO GINGERICH, BORN OCTOBER 3, 1937,
FARRELL, PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- May CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting After all |
Date learned: 09-00-1982
FASCHNACHT DAY
ON THE DAY BEFORE ASH WEDNESDAY, THE CHILDREN
OF LEWISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA WOULD BRING DOUGHNUTS
TO THEIR SCHOOLROOM EARLY, BEFORE THEIR TEACHER
ARRIVED. WHEN THEIR TEACHER SHOWED UP, THEY
WOULD LOCK HIM, OR HER, OUT OF THE ROOM, EAT THE
DOUGHNUTS, AND REMAIN LOCKED IN THE CLASSROOM
UNTIL THE TEACHER FINALLY LEFT. WHEN THEY WERE
SURE THAT THE TEACHER HAD GONE, THE CHILDREN WENT
HOME FOR THE DAY.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT CANNOT RECALL THE DATE THAT HER
FATHER TOLD HER THE STORY. HER FATHER'S NAME
IS MARTIN GINGERICH, BORN MAY 24, 1933, LEWISTOWN,
PENNSYLVANIA. HER FATHER REMEMBERS THIS CUSTOM
FROM LEWISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA AROUND 1942. THOUGH
HE BELIEVES THAT IT BEGAN AS A PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH
CUSTOM, ALL CHILDREN PARTICIPATED.
THE INFORMANT CELEBRATED FASCHNACHT IN ANN ARBOR,
MICHIGAN IN 1982 BY BAKING SEVERAL BATCHES OF DOUGHNUTS
AND EATING THEM ON THE SAME DAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): LOCK-OUT ; THE LOCK OUT
Date learned: 09-00-1982
FOLK CURE
TO CURE ARTHRITIS OR RHEUMATISM, CARRY A WRINKLED,
WHOLE POTATO ON YOUR PERSON AS LONG AS THE PAIN
PERSISTS. MY MOTHER RECALLS HEARING THIS IN
DUQUESNE, PENNSYLVANIA AROUND 1959.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT'S MOTHER'S NAME IS MARY MORSILLO
GINGERICH, BORN OCTOBER 3, 1937, FARRELL,
PENNSYLVANIA. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE
INFORMANT'S MOTHER BELIEVED THAT THE CURE WOULD
WORK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 09-00-1982
FOLK CURE FOR WARTS
FOR WARTS, CUT A POTATO IN HALF, RUB ONE HALF ON THE WART
AND PLANT IT IN THE GROUND. DISCARD THE OTHER HALF. AS
THE POTATO PLANT GROWS, THE WART WILL DISAPPEAR. MY FATHER
TOLD ME THAT HE TRIED IT AS A CHILD AND THAT IT WORKED.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SAYS THAT HER FATHER TOLD HER ABOUT THIS CURE
IN KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN AROUND 1970. THE FATHER CLAIMS
TO HAVE TRIED THE CURE IN LEWISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA AROUND
1942 AND THE WART DISAPPEARED. THE FATHER'S NAME IS
MARTIN ELLSWORTH GINGERICH, BORN MAY 24, 1933, LEWISTOWN,
PENNSYLVANIA. THE INFORMANT SAYS THAT HER FATHER IS
OF GERMAN, SCOTTISH, AND IRISH DESCENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 09-00-1982
CURE FOR WARTS
TO RID YOURSELF OF A WART, RUB A PENNY ON IT AND TAKE THE
PENNY TO THE NEAREST CROSSROAD. THROW THE PENNY OVER YOUR
LEFT SHOULDER AND LEAVE WITHOUT LOOKING BACK. THE NEXT
PERSON FINDING THE PENNY WILL ALSO GET THE WART. THIS
WAS TOLD TO ME AROUND 1970 BY MY GRANDMOTHER, MARY GIBBLE,
IN KALAMAZOO. SHE ALSO TOLD ME THAT SHE TRIED THE CURE
YEARS AGO AND IT WORKED.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT LATER TOLD ME THAT MRS. GIBBLE WAS BORN IN
SWITZERLAND AND EMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES AROUND 1920.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; TRANSFER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 09-00-1982
DREAM BELIEF
IF YOU DREAM OF TEETH, SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU WILL EITHER DIE,
BECOME ILL, OR BECOME INJURED VERY SOON. MY MOTHER TOLD
ME THAT SHE HEARD THIS FROM HER MOTHER IN DUQUESNE,
PENNSYLVANIA AROUND 1945. SHE SAYS THAT HER MOTHER
BELIEVED IT TO BE TRUE BECAUSE SHE HAD ONCE DREAMED OF TEETH
JUST BEFORE A FRIEND'S HUSBAND DIED.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT'S MOTHER'S NAME IS MARY MORSILLO GINGERICH,
BORN OCTOBER 3, 1937, FARRELL, PENNSYLVANIA. THE
GRANDMOTHER'S NAME IS ELIZABETH DORULLA MARTIN AND IS OF
SLOVAKIAN DESCENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Dreams Foretelling a death |
Date learned: 09-00-1982
HAIR CUTTING BELIEF
HAVING YOUR HAIR CUT ON GOOD FRIDAY WILL BRING GOOD LUCK
FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. MY GRANDMOTHER TOLD THIS TO MY
MOTHER IN DUQUESNE, PENNSYLVANIA AROUND 1945. MY MOTHER
THINKS THAT MY GRANDMOTHER BELIEVED IT TO BE TRUE BUT
DOESN'T RECALL ANYONE ACTUALLY HAVING THEIR HAIR CUT ON
GOOD FRIDAY IN ORDER TO BRING GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THE GRANDMOTHER, ELIZABETH DORULLA MARTIN IS OF SLOVAKIAN
DESCENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Date learned: 09-00-1982