Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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WHEN A MEMBER OF THE JEWISH FAITH IS BURIED, A MEMBER OF THEIR
FAMILY MUST SHOVEL THE FIRST SHOVEL OF DIRT ONTO THE CASKET.
IF THEY ARE MARRIED IT MUST BE THE SPOUSE. IF THEY ARE NOT MARRIED
IT MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY.
Submitter comment: LEARNED IN BROOKLYN NEW YORK
Where learned: NEW YORK ; BROOKLYN
GRAFFITI
JESUS SAVES...S & H GREEN STAMPS.
Submitter comment:
I READ THIS AT THE MEN'S JOHN OF AN ICE CREAM PARLOUR IN GREENWICH VILLAGE.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; GREENWICH VILLAGE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture |
Date learned: 08-00-1969
SPIRIT OF THE HOUSE
ITALIANS BELIEVE THAT EVERY HOUSEHOLD HAS A GOOD SPIRIT,
OR GHOST. THE INFORMANT SAYS THAT SHE WAS LYING AWAKE
IN BED LATE ONE NIGHT ABOUT 35 YEARS AGO. SHE HEARD A
CREAKING NOISE OUTSIDE THE DOOR OF THE BEDROOM AND SAW
THE FIGURE OF THE WOMAN WITH DARK HAIR AND A WHITE
NIGHTGOWN GLIDE BY INTO THE LIVING ROOM. SHE THOUGHT
ONE OF HER FOUR DAUGHTERS HAD COME DOWNSTAIRS, BUT SHE
HAD HEARD NO ONE ON THE STAIRWAY. MRS. TROIANI GOT OUT
OF BED AND WENT INTO THE LIVING ROOM. THERE WAS NO ONE
THERE. SHE THEN WENT UPSTAIRS AND FOUND ALL FOUR
DAUGHTERS FAST ASLEEP. THE DAUGHTERS INSIST STILL THAT
THEY DID NOT GO DOWNSTAIRS THAT NIGHT. MRS. TROIANI
BELIEVES THAT SHE SAW THE "SPIRIT OF THE HOUSE."
Where learned: NEW YORK ; AUBURN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 12-00-1971
DRINKING
IF SOMEONE OFFERS YOU A DRINK OUT OF HIS GLASS AND YOU
REFUSE IT, IT MEANS "I DON'T CARE FOR YOU."
Submitter comment: PRACTICE LEARNED IN HOME OF MUNICH, GERMANY
Where learned: NEW YORK ; BRONXVILLE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 08-00-1964
SPIRIT OF THE HOUSE
IT IS AN ITALIAN BELIEF THAT EVERY HOUSEHOLD HAS A GOOD
SPIRIT THAT REMAINS WITH IT AND SOMETIMES CAN BE SEEN.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; AUBURN
James Callow Keyword(s): COBOLD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 12-00-1971
SPIRIT OF THE HOUSE
ITALIANS BELIEVE THAT EVERY HOUSEHOLD HAS A GOOD SPIRIT,
OR GHOST. THE INFORMANT SAYS THAT SHE WAS LYING AWAKE
IN BED LATE ONE NIGHT ABOUT 35 YEARS AGO. SHE HEARD A
CREAKING NOISE OUTSIDE THE DOOR OF THE BEDROOM AND SAW
THE FIGURE OF THE WOMAN WITH DARK HAIR AND A WHITE
NIGHTGOWN GLIDE BY INTO THE LIVING ROOM. SHE THOUGHT
ONE OF HER FOUR DAUGHTERS HAD COME DOWNSTAIRS, BUT SHE
HAD HEARD NO ONE ON THE STAIRWAY. MRS. TROIANI GOT OUT
OF BED AND WENT INTO THE LIVING ROOM. THERE WAS NO ONE
THERE. SHE THEN WENT UPSTAIRS AND FOUND ALL FOUR
DAUGHTERS FAST ASLEEP. THE DAUGHTERS INSIST STILL THAT
THEY DID NOT GO DOWNSTAIRS THAT NIGHT. MRS. TROIANI
BELIEVES THAT SHE SAW THE "SPIRIT OF THE HOUSE."
Where learned: NEW YORK ; AUBURN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 12-00-1971
BEAVER
A COMMON CHILDHOOD GAME PLAYED DURING CAR TRIPS IS
COUNTING "BEAVERS," OR STATION WAGONS, WITH THE WINNER
BEING THE ONE HAVING COUNTED THE MOST BEAVERS DURING
THE TRIP. THE FIRST PERSON TO SEE A STATION WAGON SAYS
"BEAVER," AND CLAIMS IT AS HIS. IN THIS WAY TOTALS
ARE ADDED.
Submitter comment: THIS GAME WAS FREQUENTLY PLAYED BY MYSELF DURING CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C531 |
"IF GOD, IN ANCIENT TIMES, HAD SPOKEN TO MEN IN VISIONS OF THE
NIGHT, WHAT EASIER WAY COULD THERE BE FOR HIM TO CONVEY HIS
MEANING TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES? SCIENCE, WHICH HAS SHATTERED
MANY AN IDOL AND DESTROYED MANY A DELUSION, HAS MADE BUT SLIGHT
INROADS UPON THE SHADOWY REALM OF DREAMS. FOR MIS' MOLLY, TO
WHOM SCIENCE WOULD HAVE MEANT NOTHING AND PSYCHOLOGY WOULD
HAVE BEEN A MEANINGLESS TERM, THE LAND OF DREAMS WAS CAREFULLY
MAPPED AND BOUNDED. EACH DREAM HAD SOME SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE,
OR WAS AT LEAST SUSCEPTIBLE OF CLASSIFICATION UNDER SOME
SIGNIFICANT HEAD. DREAMS, AS A GENERAL RULE, WENT BY
CONTRARIES; BUT A DREAM THREE TIMES REPEATED WAS A CERTAIN
PORTENT OF THE THING DEFINED."
Where learned: NEW YORK ; COLLIER BOOKS ; PAGE 84
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Dreams |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES.
A CHANT OF THE TITLE IS SAID WHILE THE PLAYERS, IN TURN, MAKE
DIFFERENT GESTURES. ALL THE PLAYERS MUST DO THE GESTURES IN TURN
AND IN THE RIGHT MANNER, AND THE WINNER IS THE LAST PERSON WHO
COMPLETES THE SERIES WITHOUT A MISTAKE.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; FAIRPORT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime C500.522 Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Memory |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
TAUNTING SONG
I'M GOING TO SEND MY BOY TO BONA,
ACROSS THE DIRTY RAILROAD TRACKS.
I'M GOING TO SEND MY BOY TO BONA,
AND HOPE TO HELL HE DON'T COME BACK, HE DON'T COME BACK. MM
I'M GOING TO SEND MY BOY TO BONA,
WHERE THEY WILL EDUCATE HIM WELL, LIKE HELL.
I'M GOING TO SEND MY BOY TO BONA,
OH YES I AM, LIKE HELL.
HERE'S TO DEAR OLD BONA-A! WUMPHF!
THIS SONG IS SUNG MANY TIMES AT EACH CANISIUS COLLEGE-
ST. BONAVENTURE UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL GAME BY THE CANISIUS
FANS. THERE EXISTS A FIERCE RIVALRY BETWEEN THE TWO.
Submitter comment:
"BONA" IS PRONOUNCED LIKE THE FIRST TWO SYLLABLES OF
BONAVENTURE.
Data entry tech comment:
Keypunched by R.J.Miller 11/82
Updated by TRD 01/12
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): EDUCATION ; HUMOR ; IRONY ; Lyrics ; RHYME ; SONG
James Callow Keyword(s): EDUCATION ; IRONY ; SATIRE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 11-00-1966
FOOD BELIEF
IF YOU EAT SPINACH, YOU'LL HAVE LONG HAIR AND ROSY CHEEKS.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant is collector's mother.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE ; FUNCTION ; Positive
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
FOOD BELIEF
IF YOU EAT SPINACH, YOU WILL HAVE LONG HAIR AND ROSY CHEEKS.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE ; FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM
THE ONLY CERTAIN THINGS ARE DEATH AND TAXES
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN WE WOULD PUT OUT A MANGER SCENE AT THE
BEGINNING OF ADVENT. EACH TIME A CHILD DID A GOOD DEAD WE WOULD
PUT A TOOTHPICK UNDER THE CHRIST CHILD, TO GIVE HIM A COMFORTABLE
BED.
Submitter comment: THIS ITEM WAS ORIGINALLY COLLECTED IN NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK
Where learned: NEW YORK ; NORTH TONAWANDA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Christmas Decorations CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- FF64 FF64.2 |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
BAD LUCK COMES IN THREES.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; NIAGARA
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: 00001950S
FOR GOOD LUCK THE GROOM MUST CARRY THE BRIDE OVER THE
THRESHOLD.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; NIAGARA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Carrying bride over threshold |
Date learned: 00001950S
FIRST STAR
YOU SHOULD WISH ON THE FIRST STAR.
Submitter comment:
Learned in the 1950s.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; NIAGARA
| Subject headings: | 686 686.1 BELIEF -- Star BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00001950S
IF YOUR PALM ITCHES, IT MEANS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET
SOME MONEY.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; NIAGARA
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching hands and feet |
Date learned: 00001950S
A BURNING IN YOUR EAR MEANS SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT YOU.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; NIAGARA
| Subject headings: | 842 Ringing ears / buzzing / hot, burning Observation |
Date learned: 00001950S
IF YOU DROP A FORK YOU WILL HAVE COMPANY.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; NIAGARA
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00001950S