Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for PENNSYLVANIA returned 515 results.
GRAVE POINTER
IF YOU POINT YOUR FINGER AT A GRAVE THAT'S A SIGN OF BAD
LUCK OR YOUR FINGER WILL ROT OFF.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS LEARNED IN MY EARLY ADOLESCENT STAGE IN MY HOME TOWN.
THIS WAS SOMETHING LEARNED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WITH MY PLAY MATES.
THIS SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEF IS CONNECTED WITH GESTURE OF A FINGER
AND AN OBJECT. IT HAS AN AIR OF SYMPATHETIC MAGIC.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PHILADELPHIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: CA06171966
RABBIT'S FOOT---RETORT
WHEN SOMEONE COMES UP TO YOU AND SAY "HERE IS A RABBIT
FOOT, TAKE IT FOR GOOD LUCK," YOU TELL THEM "HOW IT COULD
BE FOR GOOD LUCK, WHEN THE RABBIT HAS LOST HIS FOOT."
Submitter comment:
SHE REMEMBERED THIS ITEM FROM TIMES WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG. BUT
IT WAS TOLD TO HER FROM HER MOTHER AND NEIGHBORS USUALLY BY WORD
OF MOUTH. HER MOTHER AS WELL AS HER MOTHER'S MOTHER BELIEVED
THAT OLD SAYINGS ARE WORTH REMEMBERING. THE INFORMANT REGARDS
THIS FOLK ITEM AS A PIECE OF GOLD FOR A GUIDE LINE OF LIFE'S
EXPERIENCE.
SHE LEARNED THIS ITEM IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; VIRGINIA ; PHILADELPHIA ; RICHMOND
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.16 BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.16 SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1935
RING AROUND THE ROSEY,
A POCKET FULL OF POSEY,
ASHES, ASHES, WE ALL FALL DOWN.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; MCKEESPORT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 10-03-1968
ON FEBRUARY 1ST, MRS. CHRISTMAN MAKES THE SIGN OF THE CROSS WITH
CORNSTARCH ON EVERY DOORWAY IN HER HOME. THIS, SHE SAID,
SYMBOLIZES THAT GOD WILL GUARD THE HOME FROM EVIL FOR THE YEAR.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT BELIEVED IN THIS RITUAL.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; DALLAS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- February 1 BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
IF A BIRD BUILDS A NEST OUT OF YOUR HAIR, YOU WILL GET
HEADACHES AS LONG AS HE LIVES IN THAT NEST.
Submitter comment:
Loretta Jones: 20 years old. Student. Negro. Donora, Penn.
I was told this piece of information by Loretta at a picnic when I had my hair cut. She heard it from her mother.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; DONORA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 08-00-1973
PROVERB
SCHLECHT GFARE IS BESSER AS GUT GELOFE. (GERMAN)
A BAD RIDE IS BETTER THAN WALKING. (TRANSLATION)
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; CULINARY ARTS PRESS ; PAGE 60
James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
FUDGE, FUDGE CALL THE JUDGE/ MOMMA HAD A BABY./ IT'S A BOY, IT'S A
GIRL/ PAPPA'S GOIN' CRAZY./ WRAP IT UP IN TISSUE PAPER/ SEND IT DOWN
THE ELEVATOR.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; MCKEESPORT
Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; PLAIN-JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 10-03-1968
STAR
STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT,
YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED TONIGHT.
Submitter comment:
INSTRUCTOR: WHO IS?
COLLECTOR: THE PERSON YOU ARE WITH.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; MCKEESPORT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 10-03-1968
ON THE WITCHES' SABBATH EVERY ONE HUNDRED YEARS, THE
DEAD WILL WALK THE EARTH FOR ONE NIGHT. SHE SAID THAT
IT DEPENDED ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE STARS AND THE
FULL MOON FOR THE DAY TO BE DETERMINED, PREFERABLY ON
A SUNDAY. SHE REMEMBERED LEARNING ABOUT IT FROM HER
PARENTS WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD---THEY CAME FROM A VERY
SUPERSTITIOUS PART OF ITALY.
Submitter comment:
Micheline Caputo - deceased Grandmother. Housewife, Italian.
I heard these things from my grandmother throughout most of my young adult life. She was a fantastic storyteller, and was a storehouse of all kinds of information.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ITALY ; VANDERBILT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Festival BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Star BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time Year |
Date learned: 11-00-1973
"HITCH HIKER"
THE INFORMANT SAYS THAT SOME YEARS AGO HE PASSED A YOUNG
GIRL HITCH HIKING IN THE RAIN. HE PICKED HER UP, BUT SHE
DIDN'T SAY A WORD. SHE WROTE DOWN HER ADDRESS AND HE TOOK
HER HOME, BUT SHE WOULDN'T GET OUT OF THE CAR. HE WENT TO
THE DOOR AND SAID THAT HE HAD THEIR DAUGHTER IN THE CAR,
THEY WERE NOT SURPRISED. THEY INVITED HIM IN FOR COFFEE
AND SAID THAT SHE HAD BEEN DEAD FOR THREE YEARS AND SHE
WAS STILL TRYING TO GET HOME. HE WENT BACK TO THE CAR
AND FOUND IT EMPTY. IT TOOK PLACE ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF
HER DEATH.
Submitter comment:
John P Clark: 63 years old. Journalist: English. Donora, Penn.
Mr. Clark is a fantastic storyteller and related this story to me this summer when he caught me off guard. He kept me for at least two hours telling me his stories.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; DONORA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
THE INFORMANT WAS DRIVING NEAR A RAILROAD TRESTLE WHEN SHE
SAW SOME LIGHTS, SO SHE DROVE ONTO A FIELD WHERE THE GHOST
GOT INTO THE BACK SEAT OF HER CAR ALONG WITH HER SISTER.
THE GHOST WAS A GIRL WITH NO HEAD. STORY HAS IT THAT SHE
WAS HIT BY THE TRAIN AND IS STILL LOOKING FOR HER HEAD.
SHE HAS A BAD HABIT OF GETTING INTO CARS THAT ARE PASSING
BY. AS FAR AS I KNOW, THIS IS STILL GOING ON.
Submitter comment:
Svrcek, Lia: 20 years old. Student: English. Donora, Penn. Lia had this happen to her as she was driving home one night, She told me this before I left to go to Canada.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; DONORA
James Callow Keyword(s): MYSTERIOUS LIGHTS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 08-00-1973
CRAZY PROFESSOR
ONE OF THE OLDER ENGINEERING PROFESSORS WAS WELL KNOWN FOR PULLING
SURPRISE TESTS ON HIS CLASSES. ONE DAY A STUDENT DECIDED TO ASK THE
PROFESSOR IF HE WAS GOING TO GIVE A TEST THE NEXT DAY. THE PROFESSOR
RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT THEY WOULD NOT HAVE A TEST TOMORROW UNLESS
HE CAME INTO THE CLASSROOM THROUGH THE HOT AIR DUCT NEAR THE CEILING
ON THE FRONT WALL. EVERYONE CONGRATULATED THE STUDENT ON HIS IDEA AND
WENT HOME FEELING CONFIDENT THAT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE A TEST. THE NEXT
DAY THE STUDENTS WERE ALL IN THEIR SEATS AS THE BELL FOR CLASS RANG.
THE SCREEN COVERING THE AIR DUCT POPPED OPEN, OUT CAME THE PROFESSOR
TO THE AMAZEMENT OF ALL AND HE PROCEEDED TO PASS OUT THEIR TESTS.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; POTTSVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man |
Date learned: 07-00-1972
Entry filtered.
IF SOMEONE THAT WISHES YOU HARM PASSES BY, SPIT ON THE GROUND
AS THEY PASS AND NO HARM WILL COME OF YOU.
Submitter comment:
Virginia Costa. 52 Years old. Housewife - Italian. Dunlevy, Penn.
She said this to me this summer when someone she didn't like walked by.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; DUNLEVY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Conversions SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 07-00-1973
GOOD FRIDAY BELIEF
IF YOU CUT YOUR HAIR ON GOOD FRIDAY, IT WILL COME IN THICK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS AS A CHILD DURING THE LATE TEENS AND EARLY
1920'S. INFORMANT'S MOTHER PRACTICED THIS THEN, AND DID CUT
INFORMANT'S HAIR ON GOOD FRIDAY. THE INFORMANT CLAIMS TO STILL DO
SO IF SHE REMEMBERS, BUT DOES NOT CLAIM TO DO IT EVERY GOOD FRIDAY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | 663 Good Friday Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
SWIMMING
YOU SHOULD NOT GO SWIMMING BEFORE
TRINITY SUNDAY. THERE IS LIKLY TO BE AN
ACCIDENT ,DROWNING,ETC, BEFORE THEN.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Expression of Fixed Form |
Date learned: 10-15-1968
Ethnic: Belgium
European Meals:
In Belgium, 4 meals are considered the standard number. First, there is breakfast. Around noon, the big meal of the day occurs. Everyone closes their businesses or comes home from school between 12-1. Around 3-4 there is a snack of bread and butter and jam or the like. And finally, around 7 everyone partakes of a hot meal.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [N222, N222.4, N222.2, N222.6, N222.8] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): Belgium ; Consumption ; Dinner ; ETHNIC ; FOOD ; Lunch ; Meals ; SNACK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
THE BLEEDING HOST
ONE DAY A CURIOUS LITTLE GIRL DECIDED TO SEE WHAT WOULD
HAPPEN TO THE HOST. INSTEAD OF SWALLOWING IT AT HOLY
COMMUNION, SHE WENT BACK TO HER PEW AND SLIPPED IT IN HER
HANDKERCHIEF. WHEN SHE ARRIVED HOME SHE PUT THE HOST
IN THE BIBLE. A FEW DAYS LATER WHEN SHE OPENED THE
BIBLE THERE WAS BLOOD ALL OVER THE PAGE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious |
Date learned: 01-12-1968
PLANTING BELIEF
PLANT ROOT CROPS IN THE DARK OF THE MOON, AND LEAF CROPS IN THE
LIGHT OF THE MOON. INFORMANT HEARD THIS BELIEF FROM A FARMER IN
SOUTHWESTERN PENNA. WHO HE HAS KNOWN FOR THIRTY YEARS.
HIS FRIEND BELIEVES HE FIRST HEARD IT CIRCA 1945.
THE FARMER TOLD THE INFORMANT THAT THIS BELIEF WAS BELIEVED
BY BOTH HIS FATHER AND GRANDFATHER, WHO WERE BOTH FARMERS IN
SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: HOME ; PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: 00-00-1945
GOOD FRIDAY BELIEF
IT IS A SIN TO USE A NEEDLE ON GOOD FRIDAY, OR TO USE ANY KIND OF
ANIMAL FATS ON GOOD FRIDAY.
Submitter comment:
SHE LEARNED THESE BELIEFS FROM HER MOTHER AS A CHILD, BUT DOES NOT
BELIEVE IN THEM OR PRACTICE THEM NOW. (1920'S)
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; IRON ; SEWING ; WORK TABOO
| Subject headings: | 663 Good Friday |
Date learned: 10-02-1971