Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for SAINT CLAIR returned 397 results.
BAD LUCK
STEPPING ON A BROOM BRINGS BAD LUCK. HOWEVER, SPITTING ON IT RIGHT
AFTER YOU'VE STEPPED ON IT WILL WARD OFF THE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SAINT CLAIR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.1 SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001960S
PHONETIC RHYME
A KNIFE AND A FORK,
A BOTTLE AND A CORK,
THAT'S HOW YOU SAY NEW YORK.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS PICKED UP BY MY DAD WHILE LIVING IN NEW YORK CITY. IT
TEACHES PEOPLE HOW TO SAY NEW YORK LIKE THE NEW YORKERS. IT IS ALSO
USED BY OTHERS TO RIDICULE THE NEW YORKERS' ACCENT
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SAINT CLAIR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech C870.200 |
Date learned: 00001960S
JUMP-ROPE RHYME
JOHNNY OVER THE OCEAN.
JOHNNY OVER THE SEA.
JOHNNY BROKE THE SUGARBOWL
AND BLAMED IT ON ME.
I TOLD MA, MA TOLD PA,
JOHNNY GOT A LICKEN,
HA, HA, HA!
HOW MANY LICKENS DID HE RECEIVE??
1, 2, 3, 4,.....
Submitter comment:
Informant learned this in the 1950s.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; ENDURANCE JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00001950'S
KNOCK-KNOCK JOKE
FIRST PERSON: I HAVE A NEW KNOCK-KNOCK JOKE, DO YOU WANT TO HEAR IT?
SECOND PERSON: YES.
FIRST PERSON: YOU START.
THE SECOND PERSON WILL ALMOST ALWAYS START AND WHEN YOU SAY WHO'S
THERE THEY WILL BECOME CONFUSED AND THEN REALIZE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SAINT CLAIR
James Callow Keyword(s): CATCH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
Entry filtered.
Entry filtered.
THEY CLAP AND HE DANCES.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; ; TOLD AT ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 03-06-1970
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU BURY A PERSON WITHOUT SHOES, THEY WILL COME BACK AND
HAUNT YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- Extra Corporal Means of Communication |
Date learned: 02-27-1971
PROVERB
A BIRD IN YOUR HAND IS BETTER THAN TEN ON A TREE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A PROVERB FROM PALESTINE, NOT THE USE OF TEN ON A TREE
COMPARED WITH THE AMERICAN PROVERB SAYING TWO ON A TREE. (SIC)
Data entry tech comment:
TWO IN THE BUSH
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Keyword(s): BIRD
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; NUMBERS ; OBSERVATION ; PRIORITY
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 First / Once / One / Newness PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 03-06-1970
PROVERB
THE DOG'S TAIL STAYS CROOKED NO MATTER WHAT
Submitter comment: THIS IS A PROVERB FROM PALESTINE WHERE THE INFORMANT WAS RAISED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Keyword(s): ANIMAL
James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
MOCKERY RHYME
------------ IS A FRIEND OF MINE,
SHE RESEMBLES FRANKENSTEIN.
WHEN SHE DOES THE IRISH JIG,
SHE RESEMBLES PORKY PIG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIRE SHORES, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): MOVIE CHARACTHR ; RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
Irish Blessing
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
May the rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR
Keyword(s): caring, love
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1991
Sixty years ago in Ireland, children, at their
first glimpse of a full moon, were taught, in
order to escape bad luck or some dire calamity, to
use the following invocation:
"I see the moon, and the moon sees me.
God bless the moon, and God bless Me."
Submitter comment: My grandmother taught me this when I was little.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR
Date learned: 00001970'S
PROVERBIAL SAYING
LAY DOWN WITH THE DOGS AND GET UP WITH THE FLEAS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Keyword(s): ANIMAL COMPARISON ; COMPANIONS ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 01-20-1971
PROVERBIAL SAYING
A WHISTLING WOMAN AND A BLEATING SHEEP ARE THE TWO BEST THINGS A
FARMER CAN KEEP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 01-20-1971
PROVERB
WHERE THERE'S SMOKE, THERE'S FIRE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 01-20-1971
IN BELGIUM CHRISTMAS GIFTS ARE EXCHANGED ON DECEMBER 6.
THE CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS IS STILL ON DECEMBER 25,
BUT NO GIFTS ARE EXCHANGED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THIS CUSTOM STILL PREVAILS TODAY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BELGIUM ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Keyword(s): Belgium ; Celebration ; CHRISTMAS ; Gifts, Exchange ; holiday ; Nick ; Saint ; ST. NICHOLAS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 02-20-1972
NOT GIVEN
ASK FOR A PENNY WHEN GIVING SOMETHING POINTED TO A FRIEND SO THAT
YOU WON'T BREAK YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 02-17-1970
On the stroke of twelve (on New Year's Eve) every door
in the house has to be opened to allow the spirit of
the old year to leave.
Submitter comment:
Her best friend's family did it when she was a little
girl, and she never forgot it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR
Keyword(s): GHOST
Date learned: 00001930S
PROVERB
WHISTLING GIRLS AND CROWING COCKS COME TO A BAD END.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 02-27-1971