Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for BIRMINGHAM returned 584 results.
FIRST GRADE BABIES,
SECOND GRADE TOTS,
THIRD GRADE ANGELS,
FOURTH GRADE SNOTS,
FIFTH GRADE PEACHES,
SIXTH GRADE PLUMS,
ALL THE REST ARE BIG, FAT BUMS.
Submitter comment:
SHE USED TO SAY THIS WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD IN SCHOOL.
SHE LEARNED IT FROM SOME OF THE OLDER CHILDREN SHE KNEW
WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
ONE LESS TEST
WHEN I SET MYSELF DOWN TO STUDY,
I PRAY THE LORD I DON'T GO NUTTY;
AND IF I DIE BEFORE I WAKE,
THAT'S ONE LESS TEST I'LL HAVE TO TAKE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): "NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP" ; PARODY: PRAYER TO GUARDIAN ANGEL ; RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
SIGNATURE
YOURS, FOREVER AND EVER AND EVEN THEN
Submitter comment: CANNOT REMEMBER SOURCE
Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): FRIENDSHIP ; PLEDGE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Tender sentiment |
Date learned: 10-06-1967
SIGNATURE
MM[ YOURS, FOREVER AND EVER AND EVEN THEN
Submitter comment: CANNOT REMEMBER SOURCE
Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): FRIENDSHIP ; PLEDGE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Tender sentiment |
Date learned: 10-06-1967
ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO, THREE POTATO, FOUR.
FIVE POTATO, SIX POTATO, SEVEN POTATO, OR.
Submitter comment:
EVERYBODY PUTS OUT BOTH HANDS. ONE PERSON SAYS THIS
RHYME, HITTING EACH PERSON'S HAND AS HE GOES ALONG.
THE HAND HIT ON THE WORD "OR" IS ELIMINATED. PLAY
IS CONTINUED UNTIL ALL BUT ONE HAND IS ELIMINATED.
THAT PERSON IS IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT GOES UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS BUT CAN NEVER LEAVE THE ROOM?
A: STAIR RAIL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) PARTICULAR AREA ; ANTITHETICAL ; HARDWARE (A)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
HOME STAIN REMOVER
USE CORN STARCH ON A FRESH STAIN TO REMOVE THE STAIN
Submitter comment:
I've seen corn starch remove a red wine stain from a white carpet.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): Corn Starch ; Domesticity ; Household ; Stain ; Stain Remover ; Tip ; TRICK
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Fermented BELIEF -- Home |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
FOLK DEORDANT (DEODORANT)
USE BAKING SODA AS A
DEORDANT ( DEODERANT ) FOR UNDERARMS
AND FEET. USE BAKING SODA ON VOMIT TO ELIMINATE THE
UNPLEASANT ODOR.
Where learned: BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Home |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
Q: WHY ARE A COWARD AND A LEAKY FAUCET THE SAME?
A: THEY BOTH RUN.
Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER VARIANT IN U OF D FOLKLORE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; HARDWARE (Q) ; METAPHORICAL NONOPPOSITIONAL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PROVERB
ELEPHANTS, PINK, ARE THE BEASTS OF BOURBON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; COLOR ; PUN
James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE ; COLOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-10-1965
ROMANIAN CUSTOM
IF YOU MEET WITH FUNERAL CORTEGE, IF YOU MUST CROSS
TO THE OTHER SIDE, YOU HAVE TO HURRY TO PASS BEFORE
IT, NEVER GO THROUGH THE PROCESSION.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 09-17-1969
DRINKING GAME--CARDINAL PUFF
THE GAME IS CALLED CARDINAL PUFF AND IT IS A DRINKING GAME.
IT IS TO BE PLAYED BY THREE OR MORE
PEOPLE ONE OF WHOM KNOWS THE WAY TO PLAY THE GAME. FIRST A GLASS OF BEER IS PLACED IN FRONT OF EACH PERSON.
THEN IN SEQUENCE
EACH PERSON MUST TRY AND DO THE FOLLOWING WITHOUT A SINGLE ERROR
IF AT ANY TIME AN ERROR IS MADE HE MUST DOWN THE REST OF
HIS BEER IN ONE BIG GULP. THEN FILL IT AGAIN AND TRY AGAIN WHEN IT
IS HIS TURN AGAIN.
THE PERSON MUST FIRST PICK UP HIS GLASS WITH HIS THUMB AND
ONE FINGER AND SAY "HERE IS TO CARDINAL PUFF FOR THE FIRST TIME
THIS EVENING." TAKE ONE GULP OF HIS BEER AND SET IT DOWN
ONCE. THEN WITH ONE FINGER ON HIS RIGHT HAND HE MUST
TAP THE TABLE TOP ONCE.
THEN WITH ONE FINGER ON HIS LEFT HAND HE MUST TAP THE TABLE TOP ONCE.
THEN WITH ONE FINGER ON HIS RIGHT HAND HE MUST TAP THE BOTTOM OF
THE TABLE ONCE. THEN HE MUST DO THE SAME THING WITH ONE FINGER ON
HIS LEFT HAND.
THEN WITH
HIS RIGHT HAND HE MUST TAP HIS RIGHT KNEE ONCE WITH HIS ONE FINGER
THE SAME THING WITH HIS LEFT FINGER AND LEFT KNEE.
THEN HE MUST TAP HIS
RIGHT FOOT ONCE ON THE FLOOR. THE SAME WITH HIS LEFT FOOT. THEN HE
MUST HUNCH HIS SHOULDERS ONCE. THEN WITH TWO FINGERS AND HIS THUMB
HE MUST PICK UP HIS GLASS AND SAY "HERE IS TO
CARDINAL PUFF PUFF FOR THE
SECOND TIME THIS EVENING." THEN HE MUST TAKE TWO GULPS OF HIS BEER
AND SET THE GLASS DOWN WITH TWO TAPS. THEN WITH TWO FINGERS
ON HIS RIGHT HAND HE MUST TAP THE TABLE TOP TWICE. THE SAME
WITH TWO FINGERS ON HIS LEFT HAND. THEN WITH TWO FINGERS ON
HIS RIGHT HE MUST TAP THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TABLE TWICE. THE SAME
WITH HIS LEFT HAND. THEN WITH TWO FINGERS ON HIS RIGHT HAND HE MUST
TAP HIS RIGHT KNEE TWICE. THE SAME WITH HIS LEFT
FINGERS AND LEFT KNEE.
HE MUST THEN TAP HIS RIGHT FOOT TWICE AND THEN HIS LEFT FOOT TWICE.
THEN HE MUST HUNCH HIS SHOULDERS TWICE. THEN WITH THREE FINGERS
AND HIS THUMB HE MUST PICK UP THE GLASS AND SAY "HERE IS TO CARDINAL
PUFF PUFF PUFF FOR THE THIRD AND FINAL TIME THIS EVENING."
THEN TAKE THREE GULPS OF THE BEER AND FINISH IT.
THEN HE MUST SET THE GLASS DOWN WITH THREE TAPS.
THEN WITH THREE FINGERS ON HIS RIGHT HAND HE MUST TAP THE
TABLE TOP THREE TIMES. THE SAME WITH THREE LEFT FINGERS.
THEN WITH THREE RIGHT FINGERS HE MUST TAP THE UNDERSIDE OF THE
TABLE THREE TIMES. THE SAME WITH THREE LEFT FINGERS.
THEN WITH THREE RIGHT FINGERS HE MUST TAP HIS RIGHT KNEE THREE
TIMES. THE SAME WITH THREE LEFT FINGERS AND HIS LEFT KNEE.
THEN HE MUST TAP HIS RIGHT FOOT THREE TIMES ON THE FLOOR.
THE SAME THING WITH HIS LEFT FOOT. THEN HE MUST HUNCH HIS
SHOULDERS THREE TIMES
NOW HE MUST TURN HIS RIGHT HAND UPSIDEDOWN AND GRAB THE EMPTY GLASS
AND TURN IT UPSIDE DOWN, LET GO AND SAY "ONCE A CARDINAL,"
THEN TURN THE GLASS RIGHT SIDE UP AND SAY "ALWAYS A CARDINAL."
Submitter comment:
SINCE IT IS A VERY EASY GAME IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE PARTICIPANTS
TO HAVE A FEW BEERS BEFORE THE GAME STARTS TO TRY AND
MAKE THEM MESS UP. THE MORE TIMES YOU MESS UP THE MORE YOU
WANT TO TRY AND BECOME A CARDINAL. SINCE EACH TIME YOU MESS
UP YOU HAVE TO FINISH THE BEER IT IS POSSIBLE TO GET VERY DRUNK.
WHICH MAKES IT VERY HARD TO COMPLETE THE GAME AND BECOME A CARDINAL
Where learned: BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): CHAIN
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Memory |
Date learned: 12-00-1978
THE GAME MUMBLEY PEG
PARTS: A BUCK KNIFE OR ANY KNIFE WITH AT
LEAST A THREE-INCH BLADE.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: TWO ONLY
OBJECT OF GAME: TO MAKE OPPONENT PLAYER EITHER LOSE HIS BALANCE
OR BE UNABLE TO REACH THE KNIFE.
RULES: TWO PEOPLE STAND ABOUT FOUR FEET AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER
AND FACE EACH OTHER.
ONE PLAYER GOES FIRST. HE TRIES TO THROW THE KNIFE ABOUT A FOOT TO
THE LEFT OR RIGHT OF THE SECOND PLAYER,S RIGHT OR LEFT FOOT.
THE SECOND PLAYER PLACES HIS FOOT NEXT TO THE KNIFE.
THIS CAUSES HIS FEET AND LEGS TO SHIFT OPEN.
THE SECOND PLAYER THEN THROWS THE KNIFE NEAR THE FIRST PLAYER,S FOOT.
HE MUST ALSO MOVE HIS FOOT NEXT TO THE KNIFE.
THIS GOES ON UNTIL ONE PLAYER FALLS FROM OVER EXTENDING HIS LEG REACH
OR IS UNABLE TO GRASP THE KNIFE FOR ANOTHER TURN.
Submitter comment:
THIS GAME WAS USUALLY PLAYED OUTSIDE ON THE GRASS.
THE PLAYERS USUALLY WORE COWBOY BOOTS TO PROTECT THIER FEET
FROM A BAD THROW.
PLAYERS CAN ALSO KEEP A POINT RECORD OF MATCHES.
BETTING ON THIS GAME IS ALSO COMMON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C562 C562.1 |
AN EPICURE, DINING AT CREWE,
FOUND QUITE A LARGE MOUSE IN HIS STEW.
SAID THE WAITER, "DON'T SHOUT,
OR WAVE IT ABOUT,
OR THE REST WILL BE WANTING ONE TOO."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): METER: IAMBIC ; PLACE NAMES, EATING ; RHYME: AABBA ; RHYME: MASCULINE ; SURPRISE ENDING LIMERICK HUMOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
KNOCK KNOCK JOKE
KNOCK KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
SAM AND JANET
SAM AND JANET WHO?
SOME ENCHANTED ( SAM AND JANET ) EVENING
Submitter comment: THE ANSWER IS SUNG TO THE TUNE OF THIS SONG
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
SEWING
MRS. RANKIN WAS TOLD BY HER MOTHER THAT IT IS A SIN TO SEW ON SUNDAY.
SHE, IN TURN, HAS PASSED IT DOWN TO HER CHILDREN AND HER CHILDREN
HAVE PASSED IT DOWN TO THEIRS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): SABBATARIANISM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Working |
Date learned: 07-00-1964
SILLY PROVERB
CHASTE MAKES WASTE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): SEMANTICS
James Callow Keyword(s): HASTE MAKES WASTE--PARODY ; OBSERVATION ; PUN PARODY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-03-1971
PROVERB
CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. |
Date learned: 10-10-1965
PROVERB
BECOME OLD EARLY IF YOU WISH TO STAY OLD LONG.
Submitter comment: FROM A FELLOW WORKER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): CONTRAST
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; PARADOX ; TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-15-1967
PROVERBIAL COMPARISON
AS IRISH AS PADDY'S PIG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; ANIMAL ; DEFINITION
James Callow Keyword(s): NAME: PADDY ; NATIONALISM ; PERSONAL PROVERB
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Blason Populaire PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 00-00-1960