Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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AUTOGRAPH ENTRY
BUTTER IS FAT
AND SO IS CHEESE.
HOW ABOUT A HUG OR A SQUEEZE?
Submitter comment: FOLLOWING IS FROM INFORMANT'S JUNIOR HIGH AUTOGRAPH BOOK, 1929-1933
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; GLENSHAW
Keyword(s): FOOD ; PROPOSITION ; RHYME: ABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Humorous allusion to love |
Date learned: 00-00-1929
CHILD WORMS
TO PREVENT A BABY FROM GETTING WORMS, CHOP UP A PIECE OF GARLIC AND
RUB THE JUICE ON THE BABY'S BELLY BUTTON AND UNDER ITS NOSE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HER MOTHER WHEN INFORMANT WAS A YOUNG GIRL.
(1915-1920) MOTHER ACTUALLY DID THIS WITH HER CHILDREN.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): PREVENTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
PREVENTION OF THE FLU
TO PREVENT CATCHING THE FLU,
WEAR A PIECE OF GARLIC TIED TO A STRING
AROUND THE NECK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S MOTHER HAD HER CHILDREN PRACTICE THIS
IN THE EARLY 1920'S.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
VERSE
MOTHER, MOTHER, WHAT IS THAT
HANGING DOWN OLD GRANDMA'S BACK?
SHUT YOUR MOUTH YOU DIRTY THING,
THAT'S YOUR GRANDMA'S CORSET STRING.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS SAID WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD DURING THE 1920,S
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): DIALOGUE ; IMPROPRIETY ; QUESTION AND ANSWER ; RHYME: ABCC
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
SPELLING RHYME
CHICKEN IN A CAR,
CAR WON'T GO,
THAT'S THE WAY YOU SPELL CHICAGO}
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID THIS WHEN YOUNG IN THE 1920,S
Where learned: HOME ; PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): RHYME: AA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
SAYING
A GREEN CHRISTMAS MAKES A FULL GRAVEYARD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HIS MOTHER WHO SAID THE SAYING WAS USED
IN DUNDEE, SCOTLAND, WHERE SHE LIVED UNTIL SHE WAS AROUND THIRTY YEA
OLD. INFORMANT,S MOTHER CAME TO AMERICA IN 1912, THREE YEARS AFTER
THE INFORMANT WAS BORN.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below. BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
06151958
MY MOTHER YOUR MOTHER LIV%S ACROSS THE STREET,
1819 BROADWAY STREET,
EVERY NIGHT THEY HAVE A FIGHT AND MY MOTHER PUNCHED YOUR MOTHER
RIGHT IN THE NOSE,
HOW MANY PUNCHES DID SHE RECEIVE?
1, 2, 3,...
Submitter comment:
MY COUSIN TOLD ME THIS JUMP ROPE RHYME WHEN I WAS VISITING HER.
THE GIRLS WOULD USE THIS RHYME WHILE JUMPING ROPE IN 1958.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; HAZELTON
Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; ENDURANCE ; Jump
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
PLASTER FOR A CHEST COLD
MAKE A HOT MIXTURE OF FLAXSEED AND LARD AND SPREAD IT ON THE CHEST.
THEN COVER THE BODY WITH A LINEN TOWEL OR WRAP.
ADDITIONAL BLANKETS SHOULD BE USED TO FURTHER INDUCE SWEATING.
THIS PLASTER WAS USED ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN
BECAUSE IT DID NOT BURN THEIR SKIN.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S MOTHER USED THIS WITH HER CHILDREN. (1900-1930).
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): CHILDHOOD REMEDY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
MANGER SCENE
IN ITALY, LIFESIZE STATUES OF THE MANGER SCENES WOULD BE ERECTED
WELL BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS-THREE KINGS SEASON. EVERYDAY, THESE
FIGURES WOULD BE MOVED SLIGHTLY CLOSER TO THE CRIB TO SIGNIFY THE
CLOSENESS OF THE HOLIDAY AND THE TRAVEL TO THE MANGER BY THE WISE
MEN.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS RECOUNTED FROM MRS. BENESTELLI A NEIGHBOR RECORDED ON TAPE
NOVEMBER FIRST 1970
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): EPIPHANY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Manger scenes |
Date learned: 11-01-1970
GOOD LUCK
IN YUGOSLAVIA, IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF A MAN ENTERS A HOUSE
FIRST ON A HOLIDAY, IF YOU GET HIM SOME MONEY IT WILL BRING
GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. |
Date learned: 11-01-1970
CHRISTMAS
IN ITALY, THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND CONTINUOUSLY FOR THE NEXT
DAY, A FIRE WOULD BE KEPT GOING IN THE FIREPLACE IN ORDER TO HELP
DRY THE DIAPERS OF THE CHRIST-CHILD.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Lights and candles |
Date learned: 11-01-1970
NEW YEAR'S
IN EUROPE DURING THE NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY, CARDS WERE SENT BY
PEOPLE TO THEIR RELATIVES AND FRIENDS IN MUCH THE SAME WAY AS
WE DO HERE FOR CHRISTMAS. ONCE A PERSON REACHED HIS LATE TEENS,
HE WOULD HAVE NAME CARDS PRINTED (COMPARABLE TO OUR BUSINESS
CARDS) AND WOULD SEND THEM TO RELATIVES. OFTEN, UNSIGNED OR
"MYSTERIOUS" CARDS WOULD BE SENT BETWEEN LOVERS, SECRET ADMIRERS,
ETC., AND THE RECEIVER WOULD HAVE TO GUESS WHO HAD SENT THE CARD.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname and place of residence.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH ; informant's residence
Keyword(s): ANONYMOUS ; CARDS ; GIFTGIVING
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
Date learned: 11-01-1970
NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM
THE IRISH AT NEW YEAR'S ALWAYS HAVE PORK FOR DINNER AND
LEAVE MONEY ON THE OUTSIDE OF A WINDOW AND TAKE IT ON
NEW YEAR'S DAY. SIGNIFICANCE IS THEY NEVER WILL BE BROKE
FOR THE YEAR.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): GIFTGIVING
Date learned: 04-01-1972
CHRISTMAS EVE CUSTOM
ON CHRISTMAS EVE AT SUPPER WE TAKE BLESSED WAFERS (IN
LITHUANIAN THEY ARE CALLED "PLACALUE") AND DISTRIBUTE THEM
TO EVERYONE PRESENT. EACH PERSON BREAKS A PIECE OFF HIS OWN
AND THEN ALL OF THEM ARE PASSED AROUND, WITH EACH PERSON TAKING
A PIECE. WHILE THIS IS GOING ON, WE WISH EACH OTHER A MERRY
CHRISTMAS.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.82 |
Date learned: EARLY 00001950'S
"WEGILIJA"
EVERY YEAR THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AT SUPPER, A WAFER IS
BROKEN AND DISTRIBUTED. THE WAFER IS CALLED "OPLATEK." THE
DINNER STARTS AFTER THE FIRST STAR SHINES. YOU HAVE TO HAVE
AN ODD NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT THE TABLE WITH AN EMPTY SEAT.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT STILL HOLDS TO THIS CUSTOM AND GETS THE OPLATEK
FROM POLAND EVERY YEAR FOR THIS CUSTOM.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.82 |
Date learned: 03-05-1972
WHEN CALLED A NAME BY SOMEONE, A WELL KNOW REPLY IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD WAS: "STICKS AND STONES MAY BREAK MY BONES,
BUT NAMS WILL NEVER HURT ME."
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID THIS IN HER CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; TOLD IN ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-01-1972
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS CARD YOU RECEIVE WITH A PICTURE OF THE
THREE KINGS, YOU TACK UP ABOVE YOUR FRONT DOORWAY INSIDE THE HOUSE,
TO ENSURE THE BLESSINGS OF THE THREE KINGS ON YOUR HOUSE FOR THE
COMING YEAR. YOU LEAVE IT UP UNTIL THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WHEN THE
CUSTOM IS REPEATED.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; TOLD IN ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Greetings, wishes, prayers, cards BELIEF -- Number |
IT IS ONE THING TO BE SMART AND KNOW IT AND ANOTHER TO BE SMART AND
LET EVERYBODY ELSE KNOW IT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): BRAGGING EGOTISM
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
IF SOMEONE DIES HE SHOULD BE BURIED BEFORE THE FIRST RAIN OR ELSE
HIS SPIRIT WILL WALK.
Submitter comment:
AN OLD CHEROKEE INDIAN BELIEF WHICH IS ACTUALLY BELIEVED BY THE
INFORMANT. HER MOTHER PASSED THE BELIEF DOWN TO HER.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): INDIAN (CHEROKEE)
Date learned: 00001972 SUMMER
TANGLETALK
MARDON ME PADAM IS THIS PIE OCCUPEWED? YES, MAY I SOW YOU TO A SHEAT
IN THE CHACK OF THE BURCH?, MY THIS IS A CHEAUTIFUL BURCH. YES MANY
THINKLE PEEP SO. (PARDON ME MADAM. IS THIS PEW OCCUPIED? YES.
MAY I SHOW YOU TO A SEAT IN THE BACK OF THE CHURCH? MY! THIS IS A
BEAUTIFUL CHURCH. YES, MANY PEOPLE THINK SO.)
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): MONOLOGUE
| Subject headings: | Favorites SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001972 SUMMER