Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for SCHOOL returned 443 results.
SUPERSTITION
STEP ON A CRACK, YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MAMA'S BACK.
Where learned: WHARTON SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | Prediction / Divination |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU SPILL SALT, PUT SOME IN YOUR HAND AND THROW IT OVER
YOUR BACK.
Where learned: WHARTON SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SUPERSTITION
IT'S GOOD LUCK TO PUT A HORSESHOE OVER YOUR DOOR. AS YOU
COME IN, IT'S SUPPOSED TO GIVE GOOD LUCK TO YA'.
Where learned: WHARTON SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SUPERSTITION
DON'T WALK ON THE SAME SIDE OF A TREE AS ANOTHER PERSON
UNLESS YOU SAY, "BREAD AND BUTTER."
Where learned: WHARTON SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU'RE IN A CAR AND GO OVER A RAILROAD TRACK, HOLD YOUR
FEET UP OR YOU'LL LOSE YOUR BOYFRIEND.
Where learned: WHARTON SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU GO OVER A BRIDGE, YOU HAVE TO HOLD YOUR HAND UP TO
THE ROOF OF THE CAR AND HOLD YOUR NOSE, SO THE ROOF WON'T
CAVE IN ON YOU.
Where learned: WHARTON SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WE HAD A CUSTOM IN HIGH SCHOOL THAT BY PINCHING A PATTERN
INTO A DRINKING STRAW (FROM TOP TO BOTTOM) AND ALTERNATING
SAYING "HE LOVES ME, HE LOVES ME NOT," ONE COULD FIND
OUT THE TRUE STATE OF THEIR LOVE LIFE.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; HIGH SCHOOL ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Use of Object SPEECH -- Formula |
WHEN YOU GET MARRIED AND HAVE TWINS,
DON'T COME TO MY HOUSE FOR SAFETY PINS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SAINT MARTIN GRADE SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Matrimony |
Date learned: 00001958-1960
SOCK TRADITION
JOE HOFFMAN'S FATHER ALWAYS HAD A SPECIAL WAY OF PUTTING ON HIS
SOCKS. JOE FOLLOWED THE FAMILY PATTERN BY FOLDING IN THE HEEL, THEN
FOLDING THE SOCK IN HALF, STEPPING ON IT AND UNFOLDING IT.
Submitter comment:
ITEM WAS LEARNED IN ORCHARD LAKE, MICHIGAN ALTHOUGH IT WAS COLLECTED
IN DETROIT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BOTSFORD GRADE SCHOOL ; CLARENCEVILLE DISTRICT
James Callow Keyword(s): DRESSING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Routine activity SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.31 |
Date learned: 11-00-1982
CHRISTMAS FOOD TRADITION
AT CHRISTMAS TIME, EVERYONE PARTICIPATES IN AN EGG FIGHT TO FIND
THE YEAR'S CHAMPION (COLORED EGGS AND LEMON PIES ARE MADE TWO DAYS
IN ADVANCE).
Submitter comment: ITEM WAS LEARNED IN MINNESOTA BUT COLLECTED IN DETROIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BOTSFORD GRADE SCHOOL ; CLARENCEVILLE DISTRICT
Date learned: 11-00-1982
CHRISTMAS DINNER TRADITION
BEFORE EATING THE CHRISTMAS DINNER, THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD
BLESSES EACH ROOM AND ALL GUESTS WITH HOLY WATER.
Submitter comment: ITEM WAS LEARNED IN MINNESOTA BUT COLLECTED IN DETROIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BOTSFORD GRADE SCHOOL ; CLARENCEVILLE DISTRICT
Date learned: 11-00-1982
ERASER TAG
TWO PEOPLE PLAY THIS GAME. EACH PUTS A CHALK BOARD
ERASER ON HIS HEAD AND ONE TRIES TO CATCH THE OTHER
ONE WITHOUT THE ERASER FALLING OFF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SAINT JOHN VIANNEY SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
APPLE DIVINATION
BEFORE EATING AN APPLE, RECITE THE ALPHABET WHILE TWISTING THE
APPLE STEM, ONE TWIST PER LETTER. WHEN THE STEM BREAKS, THE LETTER
PRONOUNCED IS THE INITIAL OF THE FIRST NAME OF THE PERSON YOU
ARE GOING TO MARRY.
Submitter comment: I PERSONALLY FIND THIS RIDICULOUS. YET THE INFORMANT IS ENGAGED--
Where learned: MISSOURI ; BISHOP LEBLOND HIGH SCHOOL ; SAINT JOSEPH
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Use of Object |
LEONARD QUICKBEAR
WHEN I WAS COACHING THE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM AT THE ST.
FRANCIS MISSION ON THE SIOUX INDIAN RESERVATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA,
OUR STAR PLAYER WAS AN INDIAN BY THE NAME OF LEONARD QUICKBEAR.
HE WAS ONLY ABOUT 5' 7", BUT HE COULD TOUCH THE RIM OF THE BASKET.
EVERYONE ON THE TEAM WAS EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK, SO I USED TO GIVE
THEM A REAL PASSING WORKOUT. WHEN THEY GOT THE BALL MOVING AROUND
AS FAST AS I'D EVER SEEN A HIGH SCHOOL TEAM MOVE IT, I TOLD THEM
THEY LOOKED LIKE TIRED 8TH GRADERS. I KEPT YELLING AT THEM, AND
THEY FINALLY GOT THE BALL MOVING AROUND TEN TIMES AS FAST AS
BEFORE.
LEONARD'S BEST SHOT WAS FROM RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BENCH. HE'D
TURN WITH HIS BACK TO THE BASKET, STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE
BENCH, AND FLIP THE BALL BACKWARDS OVER HIS HEAD. IT WENT IN
ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THE TIME.
WELL, WE WON THE STATE HIGH SCHOOL TOURNAMENT THAT YEAR, AND THEN
WE CHALLENGED THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS TO A GAME. YOU KNOW HOW
THEY ALWAYS FOOL AROUND AND PLAY TRICKS DURING A GAME. WELL, THEY
BEAT US BY THREE OR FIVE POINTS, AND THEY NEVER GOT FAR ENOUGH
AHEAD TO TRY ANY TRICKS.
AFTER LEONARD GOT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, HE FORMED A TEAM SIMILAR TO
THE GLOBETROTTERS. THEY WERE PLAYING AT OLYMPIA ONE NIGHT. BY
THIS TIME, MY WIFE AND I HAD MOVED TO DETROIT, SO WE DECIDED TO GO
DOWN AND SEE THEM PLAY. THE SIGN OUT IN FRONT OF OLYMPIA READ,
"LEONARD QUICKBEAR & HIS SIOUX INDIANS." WELL, THAT WAS IN THE
DAYS WHEN, DURING HOCKEY SEASON, THEY'D PUT THE BASKETBALL FLOOR
RIGHT OVER THE ICE. AS THE TEAMS CAME OUT, I DIDN'T SEE LEONARD.
SO FINALLY I JUMPED RIGHT UP, RAN DOWN, JUMPED OVER THE RETAINING
WALL, AND THEN I SLIPPED ON THE ICE. FINALLY I GOT UP AND RAN
OVER TO ONE OF THE INDIANS AND ASKED HIM WHERE LEONARD WAS.
"OH," HE SAID, "WE LEFT HIM IN CHICAGO."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL ; HISTORY CLASS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
SHOOTING A HAT
I WAS HUNTING IN THE LOWER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN WITH A GROUP OF
FOUR OTHER MEN. WE LINED UP FIFTY YARDS FROM EACH OTHER AND
WALKED DUE NORTH. WE SAW A RUSTLING IN THE LEAVES. I WENT UP
TO THE SPOT AND SHOT, AND THEN A HAT CAME FLYING OUT OF THE
LEAVES. I'D HIT ONE OF MY COMPANIONS WHO HAD STRAYED OFF. SO
NOW I REFUSE TO HUNT IN THE LOWER PENINSULA, BECAUSE THERE ARE
TOO MANY HUNTERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL ; HISTORY CLASS
Keyword(s): CROWDED CONDITIONS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 09-00-1968
CENTIPEDES ARE POISONOUS
I WAS GOING THROUGH TEXAS AND I SAW A MASS OF LITTLE BROWN THINGS
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE, BUT THEY
LOOKED A LITTLE LIKE CHOCOLATE BARS WITH LEGS. I DIDN'T KNOW
THEY WERE POISONOUS THEN, SO I PICKED UP ONE AND HELD IT IN MY
HAND FOR A FEW SECONDS, BUT IT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO ME.
THEN WHEN I GOT A LITTLE FARTHER ON DOWN THE ROAD AT THE NEXT
GAS STATION, I ASKED THE ATTENDANT WHAT THE LITTLE CREATURES WERE,
BECAUSE I KNEW THEY WEREN'T CHOCOLATE BARS. THE ATTENDANT TOLD ME
THEY WERE POISONOUS, SO AFTER THAT I DIDN'T PICK UP ANY MORE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL ; HISTORY CLASS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 09-00-1968
RATTLESNAKE ON A TEXAS PLATEAU
A FEW YEARS AGO, I WAS DRIVING A GROUP OF BOYS ON A TRIP DOWN TO
MEXICO[ CITY, AND ONE DAY I HAD DRIVEN ABOUT TWO HUNDRED MILES
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL ; HISTORY CLASS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 09-00-1968
LEONARD QUICKBEAR
WHEN I WAS COACHING THE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM AT THE ST.
FRANCIS MISSION ON THE SIOUX INDIAN RESERVATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA,
OUR STAR PLAYER WAS AN INDIAN BY THE NAME OF LEONARD QUICKBEAR.
HE WAS ONLY ABOUT 5' 7", BUT HE COULD TOUCH THE RIM OF THE BASKET.
EVERYONE ON THE TEAM WAS EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK, SO I USED TO GIVE
THEM A REAL PASSING WORKOUT. WHEN THEY GOT THE BALL MOVING AROUND
AS FAST AS I'D EVER SEEN A HIGH SCHOOL TEAM MOVE IT, I TOLD THEM
THEY LOOKED LIKE TIRED 8TH GRADERS. I KEPT YELLING AT THEM, AND
THEY FINALLY GOT THE BALL MOVING AROUND TEN TIMES AS FAST AS
BEFORE.
LEONARD'S BEST SHOT WAS FROM RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BENCH. HE'D
TURN WITH HIS BACK TO THE BASKET, STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE
BENCH, AND FLIP THE BALL BACKWARDS OVER HIS HEAD. IT WENT IN
ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THE TIME.
WELL, WE WON THE STATE HIGH SCHOOL TOURNAMENT THAT YEAR, AND THEN
WE CHALLENGED THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS TO A GAME. YOU KNOW HOW
THEY ALWAYS FOOL AROUND AND PLAY TRICKS DURING A GAME. WELL, THEY
BEAT US BY THREE OR FIVE POINTS, AND THEY NEVER GOT FAR ENOUGH
AHEAD TO TRY ANY TRICKS.
AFTER LEONARD GOT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, HE FORMED A TEAM SIMILAR TO
THE GLOBETROTTERS. THEY WERE PLAYING AT OLYMPIA ONE NIGHT. BY
THIS TIME, MY WIFE AND I HAD MOVED TO DETROIT, SO WE DECIDED TO GO
DOWN AND SEE THEM PLAY. THE SIGN OUT IN FRONT OF OLYMPIA READ,
"LEONARD QUICKBEAR & HIS SIOUX INDIANS." WELL, THAT WAS IN THE
DAYS WHEN, DURING HOCKEY SEASON, THEY'D PUT THE BASKETBALL FLOOR
RIGHT OVER THE ICE. AS THE TEAMS CAME OUT, I DIDN'T SEE LEONARD.
SO FINALLY I JUMPED RIGHT UP, RAN DOWN, JUMPED OVER THE RETAINING
WALL, AND THEN I SLIPPED ON THE ICE. FINALLY I GOT UP AND RAN
OVER TO ONE OF THE INDIANS AND ASKED HIM WHERE LEONARD WAS.
"OH," HE SAID, "WE LEFT HIM IN CHICAGO."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL ; HISTORY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 01001966, 09001968
SHOOTING A HAT
I WAS HUNTING IN THE LOWER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN WITH A GROUP OF
FOUR OTHER MEN. WE LINED UP FIFTY YARDS FROM EACH OTHER AND
WALKED DUE NORTH. WE SAW A RUSTLING IN THE LEAVES. I WENT UP
TO THE SPOT AND SHOT, AND THEN A HAT CAME FLYING OUT OF THE
LEAVES. I'D HIT ONE OF MY COMPANIONS WHO HAD STRAYED OFF. SO
NOW I REFUSE TO HUNT IN THE LOWER PENINSULA, BECAUSE THERE ARE
TOO MANY HUNTERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL ; HISTORY
Keyword(s): CROWDED CONDITIONS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 09-00-1968
CENTIPEDES ARE POISONOUS
I WAS GOING THROUGH TEXAS AND I SAW A MASS OF LITTLE BROWN THINGS
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE, BUT THEY
LOOKED A LITTLE LIKE CHOCOLATE BARS WITH LEGS. I DIDN'T KNOW
THEY WERE POISONOUS THEN, SO I PICKED UP ONE AND HELD IT IN MY
HAND FOR A FEW SECONDS, BUT IT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO ME.
THEN WHEN I GOT A LITTLE FARTHER ON DOWN THE ROAD AT THE NEXT
GAS STATION, I ASKED THE ATTENDANT WHAT THE LITTLE CREATURES WERE,
BECAUSE I KNEW THEY WEREN'T CHOCOLATE BARS. THE ATTENDANT TOLD ME
THEY WERE POISONOUS, SO AFTER THAT I DIDN'T PICK UP ANY MORE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL ; HISTORY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 09-00-1968