Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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EXPECTANT MOTHER
IF YOU EAT DARK FOODS, BABY WILL BE DARK AND WHITE FOODS WILL MAKE
FAIR BABIES.
Submitter comment: HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 12-00-1977
HOLY WEEK CUSTOM
SINGING OF ALL THE BIBLE STORIES OF JESUS CHRIST'S LIFE IN THE
FILIPINO LANGUAGE BY OLD PEOPLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Holy Week |
Date learned: 12-00-1977
HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN
THERE IS A HOUSE IN NEW ORLEANS
THEY CALL THE RISING SUN
AND ITS BEEN THE RUIN OF
MANY A POOR BOY (GIRL) AND
GOD, I KNOW I,M ONE.
MY MOTHER WAS A TAILOR
SOLD MY BRAND NEW JEANS
MY FATHER WAS A GAMBLING
MAN WAY DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS.
(CHORUS)
NOW THE ONLY THING WITH
GAMBLING IS YOU GET AWFULLY DRY.
AND THE ONLY TIME HE IS SATISFIED
IS WHEN HE,S ROARING DRUNK
(CHORUS)
OL MOTHER, TELL YOUR CHILDREN (DAUGHTERS)
NOT TO DO WHAT I HAVE DONE.
SPEND YOUR LIFE IN SIN
AND MISERY, IN THE HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN.
(CHORUS)
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
Keyword(s): Band ; Classic Rock ; Lyrics ; MUSIC ; PROSTITUTION ; The Animals
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Sorrow Unhappiness |
Date learned: 10-18-1967
NEVER CROSS SOMEONE'S LEGS OR BODIES WHILE THEY LIE BECAUSE THEY
WILL STOP GROWING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
CURLERS IN MY HAIR AT NIGHT,
HEAVENS--WHAT AN AWFUL SIGHT.
I TOSS, I TURN, WHEN WILL I LEARN--
THAT BEAUTY ISN'T WORTH THE FIGHT!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): INTERNAL RHYME ; SELF-CRITICISM
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
TALE
IN SANTA CLARA AN OLD JESUIT HAD CLIMBED UP INTO THE BELL TOWER OF
THE JESUIT RESIDENCE. HE FELL DOWN AND BROKE HIS HIP OR SOMETHING
AND DIED. NOW IT'S BELIEVED THAT HE COMES BACK AND WALKS THE HALLS
AT NIGHT. YOU CAN HEAR THE BELL RINGING AT ODD TIMES.
Submitter comment:
DON HEARD THIS FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE AROUND THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTA
CLARA. HE RECALLED HEARING OTHER TALES CONNECTED WITH BELL TOWERS AT
OTHER JESUIT UNIVERSITIES BUT COULDN'T REMEMBER SPECIFIC DETAILS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1973
RELIGIOUS SUPERSTITION
THE MEXICANS BELIEVE IF THEY DON'T RECEIVE ASHES ON ASH WEDNESDAY
THEY WON'T BE ALIVE ON THE NEXT ASH WEDNESDAY.
Submitter comment:
DON LEARNED THIS IN FRESNO, CALIFORNIA AT HIS HOME PARISH. THE
PEOPLE APPARENTLY HAD A STRONG BELIEF IN THIS RELIGIOUS SUPERSTITION.
DESPITE THE SMALL SIZE OF THE PARISH, ASHES WERE DISTRIBUTED FOR
HOURS EACH YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | 663 Ash Wednesday BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
IN POLAND, ON A CHILD'S FIRST BIRTHDAY, YOU PUT
FIVE OBJECTS IN FRONT OF HIM OR HER. THESE OBJECTS
ARE: A BOOK, A ROSARY, A WINE GLASS, A PAIR OF
SCISSORS, AND CIGARETTES. IF A CHILD CHOOSES
THE BOOK, HE WILL BE INTELLIGENT. IF HE CHOOSES
THE ROSARY, HE WILL BE A PRIEST OR NUN. IF HE
CHOOSES THE WINE GLASS, HE WILL BE AN ALCOHOLIC.
IF THE CIGARETTES, HE'LL BE A TRAMP. IF A CHILD
CHOOSES THE SCISSORS, SHE'LL BE A GOOD HOUSEWIFE.
ON MY FIRST BIRTHDAY (THERESA) I CHOSE THE
SCISSORS AND I CAN SEW AND COOK QUITE WELL..
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; SAINT HYACINTH SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of object for determining future of young |
Date learned: 02-01-1972
WILL IT BE A BOY OR GIRL?
IF A MOTHER KNITS GIRLISH THINGS DURING HER PREGNANCY,
SHE WILL GET A GIRL. IF SHE LOOKS AT BOYISH THINGS
AND MAKES THEM, SHE WILL HAVE A BOY.
Submitter comment:
DR. THORDEN SAID THIS ONE DAY WHEN A BOY ASKED HER
IF YOU CAN TELL BEFOREHAND IF YOUR CHILD WILL BE A
BOY OR A GIRL. WE WERE STUDYING REPRODUCTION AT THIS
TIME. SHE SAID THIS AS A PASSING THING, NOT AS THE
REAL ANSWER TO HIS QUESTION.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: 11-14-1969
BUILDING CUSTOM
WHENEVER YOU BUILD A HOUSE NAIL AN EVERGREEN TREE TO THE RAFTERS
WHEN YOU ARE PUTTING THE ROOF ON. THIS GIVES LONG LIFE AND HAPPINESS
TO ALL WHO LIVE THERE.
Submitter comment:
JOFRAN LEARNED THIS GERMAN CUSTOM FROM HER FATHER. THEY HAVE
PRACTICED IT IN THE PAST AND IT IS ONE OF HER FAVORITES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
Date learned: CA00001968
NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM
YOU SHOULD NEVER EAT CHICKEN ON NEW YEAR'S BECAUSE THE CHICKEN
SCRATCHES DIRT BACKWARDS WHEN IT WALKS. ON NEW YEAR'S YOU SHOULD
BE LOOKING FORWARD NOT BACKWARD.
Submitter comment:
JOFRAN LEARNED THIS FROM HER FATHER.
HOMEOPATHIC
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Bird |
Date learned: CA00001968
PLANTING CUSTOM
NEVER PLANT WINTER WHEAT UNTIL AFTER THE 'NO FLY' DATE. THIS IS A
DAY IN THE FALL, USUALLY LATE OCTOBER OR THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER
WHEN THE FLIES WON'T EAT THE CROP.
Submitter comment:
WHEN THE SCHNEIDERS WERE UNAWARE OF THIS CUSTOM THEIR CROP OF WINTER
WHEAT WAS KILLED THREE YEARS IN A ROW. THEN JOFRAN'S FATHER HEARD
OF THE CUSTOM FROM AN OLD MAN. THEY FOLLOW IT AND HAVE HAD LARGE
YIELDS EVER SINCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: CA00001972
SALT OVER YOUR SHOULDER ( COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; GOOD LUCK; SALT ( CLASSIFIER'S TITLE )
FOR GOOD LUCK YOU THROW SALT OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.17 |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED
PLANTING CUSTOM
NEVER PLANT TILL AFTER THE THREE ICE SAINTS' FEAST DAYS. THEN YOU
WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT FROST RUINING YOUR CROPS.
Submitter comment:
JOFRAN, WHO GREW UP ON A FARM, PROBABLY LEARNED THIS OLD GERMAN
CUSTOM FROM HER FATHER. SHE IS FAIRLY SURE THAT TWO OF THE ICE
SAINTS ARE SAINT ANICETUS (APRIL 17) AND SAINT FIDELIS (APRIL 24).
SAINT CANISIUS (APRIL 27) MIGHT BE THE OTHER ONE BUT SHE'S NOT SURE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- April 17 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- April 24 BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: CA00001972
THE CLOCK OF LIFE IS WOUND BUT ONCE,
AND NO MAN HAS THE POWER
TO TELL JUST WHERE THE HANDS WILL STOP,
AT LATE OR EARLY HOUR.
TO LOSE ONE'S WEALTH, IS SAD INDEED,
TO LOSE ONE'S HEALTH IS MORE;
TO LOSE ONE'S SOUL IS SUCH A LOSS,
AS NO MAN CAN RESTORE.
THE PRESENT ONLY IS OUR OWN,
LIVE, LOVE, TOIL WITH A WILL--
PLACE NO FAITH IN "TOMORROW" FOR
THE CLOCK MAY THEN BE STILL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ADVICE, PREPARATION FOR DEATH ; FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE ; METER: IAMBIC ; RHYME: MASCULINE, ABCA ; SYMBOL METONYMY RELIGION TIME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM
ONE TODAY IS WORTH TWO TOMORROWS
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
Keyword(s): ADVICE ; BELIEF ; Maxim ; NUMBERS ; NUMBERS
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE ; CARPE DIEM ; Positive
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Seconds / Twice / Two PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-21-1968
IF YOU PUT A PAIR OF SHOES ON THE TABLE, THERE
WILL BE A FIGHT.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.19 |
Date learned: 10-27-1970
SHOES ON THE TABLE ARE BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
SYLVIA LEARNED THIS FROM HER SISTER, WHO IN TURN HAD
LEARNED IT AT THE NURSES' LOUNGE AT BEAUMONT HOSPITAL,
ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.19 |
Date learned: 09-23-1967
IF THERE IS A STRING ON YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO RECEIVE
A LETTER OR A PACKAGE.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 03-24-1970
PLANTING CUSTOM
SQUASH CAN BE PLANTED TO HAVE DURING THE SUMMER AS LONG AS THE
BLACKBERRIES ARE STILL IN BLOSSOM.
Submitter comment:
JOFRAN CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE SHE LEARNED THIS BUT FOLLOWS IT AND SAYS
IT WORKS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: CA00001972