Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for GROSSE POINTE returned 650 results.
Proverbial Saying
To keep your wife at home: keep her barefoot or keep her pregnant.
Submitter comment:
This saying was especially popular during World War II.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Informant and collector share the same surname and residence.
James Callow comment:
Duplicate
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; informant's home
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; MARRIAGE ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; VERSE ; Wife
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
TO CURE SORE EYES, PLACE A PIECE OF ROTTEN APPLE
OVER EACH EYE OVERNIGHT.
Submitter comment: (MRS. DEVEREUX LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD FROM HER RELATIVES.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 11-02-1963
BELIEF: DROPPING SILVERWARE
IF YOU DROP A FORK, YOU SHOULD EXPECT A FEMALE VISITOR, IF YOU DROP
A KNIFE, YOU SHOULD EXPECT A MALE VISITOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 10-30-1971
BAD LUCK BELIEF
IF YOU DROP A PIECE OF BUTTERED BREAD AND THE BUTTERED SIDE HITS
THE FLOOR, IT IS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 01-30-1971
SHOE LACE
IF YOU BREAK YOUR SHOE LACE, YOU WILL RECEIVE SOME MONEY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 04-26-1972
MARRIAGE CUSTOM
IT IS TRADITION THAT DURING LEAP YEAR IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE WOMAN
TO PROPOSE MARRIAGE RATHER THAN THE MAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage During leap year |
Date learned: 01-30-1971
CUSTOM
A LEMON CUT OPEN IN AN ICEBOX IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE
ICEBOX SMELLING FRESH.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
Keyword(s): Cleaning ; Domestic ; Household ; Housekeeping ; Icebox ; Lemon ; Scent
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit BELIEF -- Home |
Date learned: 04-00-1971
NEW YEAR'S DAY
ON NEW YEAR'S EAT GOURMET FOOD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S FAMILY ALWAYS EATS FRENCH FOODS ON NEW YEAR'S BECAUSE
THEY FEEL THAT IF THEY EAT WELL ON NEW YEAR'S THEN THEY WILL EAT
WELL ALL THROUGH THE YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; informant's home
Keyword(s): BLASON POPULAIRE ; FOOD PREDICTION ; FRENCH FOOD
Date learned: 03-05-1971
PLANT CURE FOR RHEUMATISM
IN ORDER TO CURE RHEUMATISM, SOME PEOPLE
WILL CARRY A HALF OF A POTATO AROUND IN THEIR POCKET.
WHEN THE POTATO TURNS BLACK, IT'S A SIGN
THAT IT HAS DRAWN OUT ALL THE POISON.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT WAS TOLD OF THIS CURE BY A FRIEND
IN HAMTRAMCK WHO ABSOLUTELY SWEARS BY IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
Keyword(s): IMITATIVE MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 02-18-1970
CHEWING TAR
IT IS BELIEVED BY SOME THAT CHEWING TAR
WILL MAKE YOUR TEETH WHITE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT AND HIS FRIENDS BELIEVED THIS WHEN CHILDREN
IN BALTIMORE IN THE 30'S.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue |
Date learned: 02-18-1970
CHIVARI
ON CHRISTMAS EVE, A GROUP OF CHILDREN WOULD WALK FROM ONE FARM TO THE
OTHER AND COLLECT FOOD. THIS FOOD WAS LATER GIVEN TO THE POOR.
Submitter comment:
MR. OULETTE AND HIS CHILDHOOD FRIENDS FOLLOWED THIS TRADITIONAL
PRACTICE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; COLLECTORS HOME
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Gifts, gift giving at Christmas |
TELEPHONE SAYING
WHEN YOU ANSWER THE PHONE SAY: "CITY MORGUE - YOU SLAY 'EM
WE LAY 'EM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 02-20-1972
TONGUE HOLDER
HOLD TONGUE AND SAY THE FOLLOWING:
"MY FATHER OWNS A SHIPYARD."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 02-10-1972
PUNCHKIE DAY (PACZKI)
THE DAY BEFORE LENT, THAT TUESDAY IS CONSIDERED PUNCHKIE DAY.
A PUNCKKIE IS A JELLY FILLED DOUGHNUT. THIS TUESDAY IS
CALLED SO BECAUSE IT IS THE LAST DAY BEFORE FASTING BEGINS. SO WHEN
PUNCHKIES ARE MADE ON THIS TUESDAY THEY ARE NORMALLY ALL EATEN
TOO. OF CURSE, PUNCHKIES CAN BE MADE ANY OTHER TIME OF THE YEAR,
BUT THIS IS THE DAY WHEN THEIR POPULARITY IS THE GREATEST
Data entry tech comment:
(THE COLLECTOR HAS CHOSEN TO SPELL "PUNCHKIE" AS IT IS PRONOUNCED
(IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. BECAUSE IT IS A WORD OF POLISH
(ORIGIN, THE ENGLISH ALPHABET DOES NOT ACCOMODATE ITS PROPER
(SPELLING. IN ENGLISH, THE CLOSEST WE CAN COME TO THE CORRECT
(SPELLING IS "PACZKI.")
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE ; TOLD IN
Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Season CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Palm Sunday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Pre Lent |
Date learned: 02-01-1972
TONGUE TWISTER
"ROLLER BUGGY BABY BUMPERS."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 02-02-1972
AUTOGRAPH VERSE
SOME LOVE ONE
SOME LOVE TWENTY
I LOVE YOU
AND THAT'S A PLENTY.
Submitter comment: 1939, BIRCH TREE, MONTANA
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE ; TOLD IN
Keyword(s): DECLARATION OF LOVE ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Humorous allusion to love |
Date learned: 03-01-1972
BLONDIE AND DAGWOOD WENT TO TOWN/ BLONDIE BOUGHT AN EVENING GOWN/
DAGWOOD BOUGHT A PAIR OF SHOES/ COOKIE BOUGHT AN EVENING NEWS/ AND
IN THE NEWS IT SAID: CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO TEN
AND IF YOU MISS
YOU TAKE THE END.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; TOLD IN
Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; ENDURANCE ; Jump
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 01-28-1972
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT'S BLACK ON TOP, BLUE ON THE BOTTOM, AND ALL OVER THE BEACH?
A: MOBY OIL SLICK
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-15-1972
RIDDLE
Q: WHY DO SO FEW PEOPLE COMMIT SUICIDE ON QUEMOY?
A: BECAUSE YOU CAN'T KILL YOURSELF JUMPING OUT OF A CAVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): QUEMOY: ISLAND OFF THE CHINA COAST
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-15-1972
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT IS A BIGAMIST?
A: AN ITALIAN FOG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): SATIRE OF ITALIAN PRONUNCIATION OF ENGLISH
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- W4OO |
Date learned: 10-15-1972