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 BIRMINGHAM returned 584 results.
BALL BOUNCING
A BALL BOUNCING CHANT FOR CHILDREN IS "EASIES, CLAPSIES, TWIRL
AROUND TO BACKSIES, HIGHSIES, LOWSIES, TOUCH
YOUR HEEL, TOUCH YOUR TOE. EACH BOUNCE OF THE BALL IS
KLINE MISSING}
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
RAIN
IF YOU STEP ON A WORM IT'S GOING TO RAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
Date learned: 11-09-1972
DIME
STEP ON A LINE, FIND A DIME.
AS A CHILD INFORMANT SAID "STEP ON A LINE FIND A DIME"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 11-09-1972
MY FATHER OWNS
CHILDREN SIT ON PORCH WITH ONE STANDING IN FRONT. HE SAYS
"MY FATHER OWNS A GROCERY STORE WITH VEGETABLES (OR OTHER ITEM)
THAT STARTS WITH A, B, C ETC. WHOEVER GUESSES ITEM CAN CHASE "IT"
TO FREE PLACE. THEN THEY HAVE TO COME BACK. IF HE CAN TAG
"IT" , HE GETS TO BE "IT".
Submitter comment: NEIGHBORHOOD ITALIAN YOUNGSTERS PLAY THIS EVERY NIGHT IN SUMMER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing |
Date learned: 11-09-1972
THREE FEET
TO PLAY THREE FEET, ONE PERSON IS IT WHO TELLS OTHERS TO
GO ONE, TWO, OR THREE FEET. AFTER GOING THAT FAR THE OTHERS HAVE
TO RUN TO OTHER SIDE OF STREET WITHOUT BEING TAGGED. AT ANYTIME
"IT" MAY CHALLENGE OTHERS AND IF THEY HAVE MOVED OUT MORE THAN
PERMITTED ONE, TWO OR THREE FEET, THEY ARE IT. AFTER ALL ARE
CAUGHT, THE ONE WHO WAS CAUGHT FIRST IS IT FOR THE NEXT GAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 11-09-1972
CHOOSING SIDES
BEFORE A BASEBALL GAME TWO CHILDREN TOSS A BASEBALL BAT
BETWEEN THEM AND THEN PUT FIST OVER FIST UP TO TOP TO SEE
WHO CHOOSES A TEAMMATE FIRST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING OUT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-09-1972
WARM HANDS
ITALIANS ARE GREAT WALKERS. IN COOL WEATHER THEY ROAST
CHESTNUTS AND THEN PUT THEM IN THEIR POCKET TO KEEP THEIR
HANDS WARM WHILE WALKING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-09-1972
STUBBED TOE
DON'T CUSS IT, CASH IT.
MINERS IN MONTANA SAY THAT IF YOU STUB YOUR
TOE ON A ROCK DON'T CUSS IT, CASH IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-09-1972
WORK
CHI NON FATICA, NON MANGIA.
HE WHO DOESN'T WORK, DOESN'T EAT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-09-1972
PROCESSION
AFTER MASS THE ITALIAN FUNERAL PROCESSION GOES PAST THE
DECEASED HOUSE ON THE WAY TO THE CEMETERY TO SAY GOODBY AND
PICK UP A ROSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-09-1972
BURIAL
AN ITALIAN'S MOST FAVORITE PERSONAL ITEMS ARE BURIED IN THE
COFFIN WITH HIM, SUCH AS HAT, PIPE AND STRAIGHT RAZOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-09-1972
EVIL EYE
THE INFORMANT ALMOST FAINTED ONE DAY IN CHURCH. WHEN HE
CAME OUT OF CHURCH HIS GRANDMOTHER EXCITEDLY CRIED "MAL OCCHIO"
WHICH MEANS EVIL EYE, SHE RUSHED HIM HOME AND
MADE SIGN OF CROSS
ON HIS FOREHEAD WITH VINEGAR TO CHASE OUT THE EVIL SPIRITS.
Submitter comment: THIS HAPPENED HERE IN THE UNITED STATES
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 11-09-1972
SIGN OF BULL
ITALIANS BELIEVE THE SIGN OF THE BULL IS A GOOD LUCK SIGN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Good luck P881.3 |
Date learned: 11-09-1972
SWALLOWING GUM
IF YOU SWALLOW A PIECE OF CHEWING GUM, IT WILL REMAIN IN YOUR
STOMACH FOR SEVEN YEARS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number P686.1.786 BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
STARS
STARS WERE MADE WHEN THE TREES GREW SO TALL THAT THEY POKED HOLES
IN THE SKY.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HIS MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Creation and Order of Universe BELIEF -- Star BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 07-00-1964
GHOST LIGHTS
NEAR I-75 IN FLORIDA THERE IS AN ABANDONED STRIP OF ROAD WITH
THREE LARGE HILLS. IF YOU WAIT AT THE TOP OF THE THIRD HILL, YOU
CAN SOMETIMES SEE THE GHOST LIGHTS. THIS LARGE, EERY LIGHT
STARTS AT THE BASE OF THE FIRST HILL AND CLIMBS THE THREE HILLS,
DISAPPEARING TEMPORARILY BEHIND THE HILLS. NON-BELIEVERS SAY IT
HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE LIGHT FROM I-75 AND THE FOG. HOWEVER,
A GROUP OF COLLEGE KIDS WAITED TO SEE IT ONE NIGHT. WHEN IT CAME
VERY CLOSE, THEY COULDNT START THEIR CAR. THE LIGHT SEEMED
TO CLIMB ON TOP OF THE CAR AND SHAKE IT. ONE BOY LOOKED AT IT
AND WENT INSANE, ANOTHER SAID IT WAS THE FACE OF GOD. A MAN
WATCHED THE LIGHT WITH HIS FAMILY. WHEN IT APPROACHED, HE
PULLED A GUN OUT OF HIS GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THE GUN WAS LOADED, BUT
IT WOULD NOT FIRE. THE LIGHT SHOOK THE CAR. WHEN IT WAS GONE, THE
MAN TRIED THE GUN AGAIN. HE FIRED SIX SHOTS INTO A NEARBY MAILBOX
WITH NO TROUBLE AT ALL. WHEN YOU GO THERE, YOU CAN STILL SEE THE
HOLES IN THE MAILBOX.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT WENT TO THE PLACE TO WATCH FOR THE GHOST LIGHTS. HE
SAW SOMETHING BUT ISN'T SURE EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): EERIE ; MYSTERIOUS LIGHT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Supernatural Being |
Date learned: 11-11-1970
IF YOUR EAR RINGS, SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
BELIEF ABOUT THE DEVIL
WHEN YOU COME HOME FROM CONFESSION, THE DEVIL HIDES IN THE BUSHES
AND TRIES TO GET YOU. WHEN YOU GO BY YOU CAN FEEL THE HEAT
RADIATING FROM HIM. SOMETIMES HE LEAPS FROM THE BUSHES AND CHASES
YOU.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER WAS TOLD THIS WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD IN DETROIT BY AN
IRISH FRIEND. HER FRIEND HAD FELT THE HEAT OF THE DEVIL MANY TIMES.
HER MOTHER HAD ACTUALLY BEEN CHASED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE OLD COUNTRY
WHEN THE JEALOUS DEVIL TRIED TO CAPTURE HER SOUL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
SPRING CHILLS
DON'T CAST YOUR FLOUT TILL MAY IS OOT.
Submitter comment:
THIS PROVERB WAS LEARNED BY THE INFORMANT FROM HER MOTHER, MRS.
HARRIET MALLINSON IN HER HOME IN GARY, INDIANA. (CIRCA 1925) HER
MOTHER IN TURN LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER, A MRS. SCOT, AS A CHILD
IN EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND. CK[ ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; FUNCTION
FLOUT=CLOD PLANTING
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): WEATHER PROVERB
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- May CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
PROVERB
THE BUSINESS WHICH DOES NOT ADVERTISE IS PAYING FOR THE SPACE USED
BY ITS COMPETITOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): ECONOMICS
James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION ; PRACTICALITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN