Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for NEW YORK returned 598 results.
PUT A PENNY IN YOUR LOAFER (SHOE) FOR GOOD LUCK
Where learned: NEW YORK ; NIAGARA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck Money BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.) |
Date learned: 00001950S
BLUE, BLUE, GOD LOVES YOU.
YELLOW, YELLOW, KISS A FELLOW.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; NIAGARA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults |
Date learned: 00001950S
Custom
Common Law Custom:
Informant never does family laundry on Sunday, because it is a day of rest and is frowned upon byu herself and other members of the family. Laundry hanging outside on a line is considered disgraceful.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F539] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME ; NEW YORK ; LeRoy
Keyword(s): Chores ; CUSTOM ; Domestic ; LAUNDRY ; Sunday
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour |
Custom/Belief
Irregular Festival:
It is a custom in my family to have a big family gathering, celebration, reunion, and party whenever someone in the fammily has made the Sacrament of Confirmation or 1st Communion. The recipient recieves gifts and/or money from every other member of the fmaily. It roughlyparallels the Bar Matzvah of the Jewish Religion.
Data entry tech comment:
motifs added by TRD
Where learned: NEW YORK ; Myself ; LeRoy
Keyword(s): Celebration ; CUSTOM ; Maturity ; PARTY ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; Rite-of-Passage
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Maturity |
CHRISTMAS EVE CUSTOM
A TRADITIONAL POLISH CHRISTMAS EVE CUSTOM IS THE SHARING OF A BLESSED
WAFER CALLED OPLATKI. EACH MEMBER OF THE FAMILY BREAKS OFF AND
EATS A PIECE OF THE WAFER WHICH IS DISTRIBUTED USUALLY BY THE
GRANDMOTHER OR THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY. THE WAFER IS SIMILAR TO THE
COMMUNION WAFER. CHRISTMAS GREETINGS AND BEST WISHES ARE OFFERED
AS THE WAFER IS RECEIVED. THIS PARTICULAR PRACTICE FOLLOWS A FAMILY
MEAL OF ALL POLISH FOODS.
Submitter comment:
THIS CUSTOM IS STILL BEING FOLLOWED AT MY HOUSE ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.82 |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
IF I STEPPED OVER A BROOM THAT WAS LYING ON THE FLOOR, I
WOULD HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; THE NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Broom Sweeping |
Date learned: 00-00-1945
NEVER WALK UNDER A LADDER THAT IS STANDING AGAINST
A BUILDING.
Where learned: ROCHESTER ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Daily Life |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
IN A SMALL TOWN IN NEW YORK STATE, A YOUNG ENGINEER
WAS TRYING TO PURCHASE AN OLD TWIN ENGINE AIRPLANE.
THE OWNER TOLD HIM THAT THE PLANE HAD BEEN BURNT
DOWN TO THE SKELETON OF THE PLANE YEARS BEFORE.
THE PLANE BURNT QUICK BECAUSE IT WAS A FABRIC-
COVERED PLANE. THE ENGINEER STARTED THE PLANE UP WITH
THE HELP OF THE OWNER AND THEN HE SAT ALONE IN THE
COCKPIT READING THE GAUGES. SUDDENLY, A MAN WITH AN
OLD BROWN FLIGHT JACKET AND LEATHER HELMET TAPPED
HIM ON THE SHOULDER AND SAID, "GET OUT QUICK, PLANE'S
ON FIRE!" THE ENGINEER JUMPED OUT AND RAN FROM THE
PLANE. WHEN HE TURNED AROUND NOTHING WAS LEFT BUT THE
SMOLDERING SKELETON.
WHEN THE OWNER ASKED HIM WHAT HAPPENED, WHEN HE
RETURNED, THE ENGINEER TOLD THE WHOLE STORY AND
DESCRIBED THE MAN WHO WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. THE
OWNER REPLIED, "THAT SOUNDS LIKE MY BROTHER." THE
ENGINEER THEN ASKED WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM. THE OWNER
THEN SAID, "HE DIED WHEN THE PLANE BURNT THE FIRST
TIME YEARS BEFORE!"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): REPEATED TRAGEDY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Entry filtered.
HALLOWEEN SONG
TRICK OR TREATS,
MONEY OR EATS,
IF YOU DON'T LIKE ME,
YOU CAN SMELL MY FEETS.
Submitter comment: THIS SONG IS SUNG ON HALLOWEEN
Where learned: NEW YORK ; CHEEKTOWAGA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- September 23 equinox to December 20 Also used for Advent. |
Date learned: 12-00-1973
A GIRL CONFIDED IN HER ROOMMATE THAT LATELY SHE HAD
BEEN GETTING A VIOLENT SEXUAL FEELING EVERYTIME SHE
SNEEZED. THE ROOMMATE SAYS, "WHAT ARE YOU TAKING FOR
IT?" THE FIRST GIRL SAYS, "BLACK PEPPER."
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK ; JOKE COLLECTION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Woman |
Date learned: 10-05-1971
WOMAN IN DRUG STORE ORDERS ONE DOZEN RUBBERS.
SIZE? "MIX THEM UP--I'M GOING TO A PICNIC."
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK ; JOKE COLLECTION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Woman |
Date learned: 10-05-1971
MOCK PRAYER
THIS LITTLE COUPLET WAS SAID BY THE INFORMANT AS A GRACE
BEFORE MEALS. IT WAS SAID WHILE LOOKING UP TOWARDS
HEAVEN AND RUBBING HIS HANDS TOGETHER IN ANTICIPATION
OF A GOOD MEAL:
RUB-A-DUB-DUB,
THANKS FOR THE GRUB.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; SEMINARY ; PLATTSBURGH
James Callow Keyword(s): PARODY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 00001966 FALL
IN A SMALL TOWN IN NEW YORK STATE, A YOUNG ENGINEER
WAS TRYING TO PURCHASE AN OLD TWIN ENGINE AIRPLANE.
THE OWNER TOLD HIM THAT THE PLANE HAD BEEN BURNT
DOWN TO THE SKELETON OF THE PLANE YEARS BEFORE.
THE PLANE BURNT QUICK BECAUSE IT WAS A FABRIC-
COVERED PLANE. THE ENGINEER STARTED THE PLANE UP WITH
THE HELP OF THE OWNER AND THEN HE SAT ALONE IN THE
COCKPIT READING THE GAUGES. SUDDENLY, A MAN WITH AN
OLD BROWN FLIGHT JACKET AND LEATHER HELMET TAPPED
HIM ON THE SHOULDER AND SAID, "GET OUT QUICK, PLANE'S
ON FIRE!" THE ENGINEER JUMPED OUT AND RAN FROM THE
PLANE. WHEN HE TURNED AROUND NOTHING WAS LEFT BUT THE
SMOLDERING SKELETON.
WHEN THE OWNER ASKED HIM WHAT HAPPENED, WHEN HE
RETURNED, THE ENGINEER TOLD THE WHOLE STORY AND
DESCRIBED THE MAN WHO WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. THE
OWNER REPLIED, "THAT SOUNDS LIKE MY BROTHER." THE
ENGINEER THEN ASKED WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM. THE OWNER
THEN SAID, "HE DIED WHEN THE PLANE BURNT THE FIRST
TIME YEARS BEFORE!"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): REPEATED TRAGEDY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RIDDLE
Q: THERE IS A WORD OF FIVE SYLLABLES; TAKE AWAY THE FIRST AND NO
SYLLABLE WILL REMAIN.
A: MONOSYLLABLE.
Submitter comment:
(FROM) "NEW ENGLAND FOLKLORE"; B. A. BOTKIN, ED.
(CROWN PUBLISHERS).
Where learned: NEW YORK ; MILFORD
Keyword(s): COMMUNICATIONS ; COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATED MATTER (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
FISHING SUPERSTITION
IT'S MORE EFFECTIVE TO GO FISHING BY THE DARK OF THE MOON BECAUSE
THEN THE FISH CAN'T SEE IF YOUR BAIT IS FAKE OR NOT.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM A CANADIAN FISHERMAN ABOUT 1945.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; YONKERS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion |
FIRST GRADE BABIES,
SECOND GRADE TOTS,
THIRD GRADE ANGELS,
FOURTH GRADE SNOTS,
FIFTH GRADE PEACHES,
SIXTH GRADE PLUMS,
AND ALL THE REST ARE GREAT BIG BUMS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; HAMBURG ; ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults |
Date learned: 11-26-1967
WHAT TIME IS IT?
SAME TIME IT WAS YESTERDAY ONLY A DAY LATER.
Where learned: NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001950S LATE
WHAT TIME IS IT?
LOOK AT YOUR WRIST AND REPLY, "HALF PAST A FRECKLE."
Where learned: NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001950S LATE