Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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MOST PEOPLE SAY "GOD BLESS YOU" TO A PERSON WHO HAS JUST
SNEEZED BASED ON A BELIEF THAT THE DEVIL WILL ENTER
YOUR BODY UNLESS THIS PHRASE IS SAID AT THAT TIME.
ALSO, YOUR HEART IS SUPPOSED TO STOP BEATING INSTANT-TANEOUSLY AFTER A SNEEZE, AND THIS PHRASE IS ALSO
SAID TO KEEP YOUR HEART BEATING.
Submitter comment:
I DON'T ACTUALLY BELIEVE THE BASIS FOR THE USE OF
THIS PHRASE.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.8 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT SMOKING WILL STUNT YOUR
GROWTH.
Submitter comment: I THINK THAT THIS BELIEF IS NOT REALLY BASED ON FACT.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.8 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A TRADITIONAL POLISH EASTER-TIME CUSTOM IS THE BLESSING
OF THE EASTER BASKET ON HOLY SATURDAY. THE EASTER
BASKET CONTAINING SAMPLES OF THE FOOD WHICH IS TO BE
EATEN ON EASTER SUNDAY. THE FOOD IS PLACED IN THE
DECORATED BASKET AND BROUGHT TO THE CHURCH, WHERE IT
IS BLESSED. THE BLESSED FOOD IS THEN EATEN ALONG
WITH THE REMAINING FOOD DURING A BIG EASTER SUNDAY
MORNING BREAKFAST. USUALLY A LAMB MADE FROM BUTTER
IS ALSO GOTTEN AT EASTER-TIME AND BLESSED AND EATEN WITH
THE BREAKFAST.
Submitter comment: THIS CUSTOM IS STILL IN PRACTICE AT MY HOUSE.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Saturday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A POLISH CHRISTMASTIME CUSTOM INVOLVES WRITING THE
INITIALS OF THE THREE KINGS ABOVE ENTRANCE DOORS TO
YOUR HOUSE ON JANUARY 6. THIS IS DONE WITH WHITE
CHALK. THE THREE INITIALS ARE K., M., AND B., FOR
KASPER, MELCHIOR, AND BALTHAZAR. JANUARY 6 IS THE
FEAST OF THE THREE KINGS.
Submitter comment: THIS PRACTICE IS NO LONGER BEING FOLLOWED AT MY HOUSE.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
"Your mother, my, mother, live across the way,
1515 East Broadway. Every night, they have a fight,
And this is what they say:
Icka, Bocka, Soda cracker,
Does your mother chew tobacker?"
As a counting out rhyme, yes or no would be
chosen and then spelled out, such as "Y-E-S spells
yes and you are not it."
As a jumprope rhyme, "yes, no, yes, no" would be repeated
until you fell.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
CLINTON STREET RUN
IN BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, THERE IS A LENGTH OF CLINTON
STREET THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE 100 BARS ALONG ITS LENGTH.
DURING THE 1930S, IT WAS A FEAT OF MANLINESS TO GO DOWN
THE STREET AND HAVE A BEER AT EACH BAR. THIS WAS
THE CLINTON STREET RUN. ONLY TWO MEN EVER COMPLETED
THE RUN. ONE IS NOW THE MAYOR OF NEARBY ENDICOTT,
NEW YORK, AND HE PASSED OUT AND DIDN'T WAKEN FOR TWO
DAYS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; NEW YORK ; BINGHAMTON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 03-17-1972 ; 00001930S
CLINTON STREET RUN
IN BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, THERE IS A LENGTH OF CLINTON
STREET THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE 100 BARS ALONG ITS LENGTH.
DURING THE 1930S, IT WAS A FEAT OF MANLINESS TO GO DOWN
THE STREET AND HAVE A BEER AT EACH BAR. THIS WAS
THE CLINTON STREET RUN. ONLY TWO MEN EVER COMPLETED
THE RUN. ONE IS NOW THE MAYOR OF NEARBY ENDICOTT,
NEW YORK, AND HE PASSED OUT AND DIDN'T WAKEN FOR TWO
DAYS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; NEW YORK ; BINGHAMTON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 03-17-1972 ; 00001930S
AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS SKEPTICAL AS TO THIS BELIEF.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 00001950S LATE
RETORT
WHAT DID YOU DO, DISCOVER AMERICA?
Submitter comment: (SAID) TO SOMEONE WHO BRAGS, SAYS COLLECTOR.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; BINGHAMTON
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 04-18-1971
IF THE HUSBAND OF AN OLD ITALIAN WOMAN DIES, THE WOMAN
WILL WEAR BLACK CLOTHING FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT AND MYSELF HAVE SEEN MANY EXAMPLES OF THIS
SUTOM.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001960S
IN GRADE SCHOOL, IT WAS CUSTOMARY TO PUT THE INITIALS
J.M.J., FOR JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH, ON ALL ASSIGNMENTS
AND TESTS. THIS WAS FOR HELP AND GUIDANCE IN DOING
SCHOOLWORK.
Submitter comment:
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS PRACTICE WILL ACTUALLY HELP
A STUDENT.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BELIEF
A BELIEF HELD BY SOME PEOPLE IS THAT IF TWO OR MORE FRIENDS EACH MAKE
A CUT ON THEIR BODIES, PREFERABLY THEIR ARMS OR WRISTS, AND MIX
THEIR BLOOD ON THESE CUTS, THEY WILL BECOME RELATED AS BLOOD
BROTHERS.
Submitter comment:
I WAS ASKED TO PERFORM THIS ACT WITH SOME FRIENDS DURING CHILDHOOD.
I THINK THIS ACT IS BASED ON AN INDIAN WARRIOR CUSTOM WHEREBY TWO OR
MORE WARRIORS BECOME BLOOD BROTHERS IN THE INTERESTS OF MUTUAL
DEFENSE, PROTECTION, AND UNITY.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
BELIEF
SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT IT IS UNLUCKY TO GO SWIMMING BEFORE THE
FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, WHICH IS JUNE 24.
INFORMANT STILL BELIEVES IN THIS STATEMENT. IN CHILDHOOD, I
ALWAYS HAD TO OBEY THIS BELIEF, AND COULDN'T GO SWIMMING BEFORE
JUNE 24.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June 24 St. John's Day / Midsummer Day BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
BELIEF
STEPPING ON A SPIDER WILL BRING RAIN.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOES NOT BELIEVE THIS STATEMENT.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
James Callow Keyword(s): DISBELIEF ; HARMING NATURE
Date learned: 02-19-1972
SOME PEOPLE CARRY OUT THE PRACTICE OF PLACING A COIN
IN A LOAF OF HOME-MADE BREAD. THE PERSON IN THE
FAMILY WHO GETS THE COIN IN A SLICE OF BREAD WILL
HAVE GOOD LUCK. THE BREAD IS USUALLY MADE BY THE
GRANDMOTHER, IF LIVING.
Submitter comment:
EUROPEAN PRACTICE WHICH I DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH
FAITH IN.
MY SUITEMATE HAS SEEN HIS GRANDMOTHER DO IT.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Cereal BELIEF -- Good luck Money BELIEF -- Good luck Food and drink |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
CUSTOM
PLACES OF BUSINESS USUALLY SAVE THE FIRST DOLLAR THEY HAVE MADE AS
A BUSINESS. THIS IS FOR GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
I HAVE SEEN THIS PRACTICE DONE IN MANY STORES, AND BY OWNERS WHOM
I PERSONALLY KNOW.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Sign Color |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
ONE A MAN IS CHAWED BY A SHARK HE'S SHARK JOINTED FOR THE
REST OF HIS LIFE.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WILLIAMSBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Fish |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
IF I PLACED A SAFETY PIN ON A STEEL RAILROAD TRACK AND LET
A TRAIN RUN OVER IT, THE SAFETY PIN WOULD TURN INTO A
PAIR OF BRIGHT BRAND NEW SCISSORS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; SIGNET BOOK ; THE NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY ; PAGE 81
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 00-00-1945
SCHOOL CUSTOM
IN SCHOOL, IT IS A CUSTOM TO RAISE YOUR HAND TO BE
CALLED UPON FOR AN ANSWER.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS IN SCHOOL IN 1955-1956.
Where learned: PORT CHESTER ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 00001955-1956
WHEN SOMEONE TELLS A STORY TO SOMEONE ELSE IN ORDER
FOR THE OTHER PERSON TO FEEL SORRY FOR THE PERSON
WHO IS TELLING THE STORY, THE PERSON WHO IS BEING
TOLD THE STORY MAKES LIKE HE IS PLAYING A VIOLIN
AND IS SARCASTICALLY SAYING THAT "MY HEART REALLY
BLEEDS FOR THE PERSON."
Where learned: PORT CHESTER ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Mock sympathy and mock enthusiasm |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN