Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for FARM returned 198 results.
SHE TOLD ME THAT WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH A FOREST YOU SHOULD CARRY
A PIECE OF BREAD IN YOUR HAND IN ORDER TO SCARE ALL THE GHOSTS.
Where learned: FARMINGTON
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Cereal BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 09-21-1969
LEGEND
LONG AGO, IN A CAVE IN A HIGH ROCKY HILL RUNNING ABOVE THE RIVER
VISTULA, A GREAT AND TERRIBLE DRAGON LIVED WHOSE FIERY BREATH GUSHED
FORTH LIKE A FOUNTAIN OF HISSING STEAM FROM HIS WIDE NOSTRILS, AND
WHO UTTERED MONSTROUS, UNEARTHLY SOUNDS, UNLIKE THOSE OF ANY BEAST
OF THE FOREST.
MANY BRAVE KNIGHTS HAD BEEN SENT TO SLAY THE DRAGON, BUT ALL
HAD PERISHED IN THE ATTEMPT.
PRINCE CRACUS WAS BRAVE AND KIND. HE KILLED A FAT SHEEP, FILLED
IT WITH SULPHUR. THE DRAGON ATE THE BAIT, DRANK HALF A RIVER AND
EXPLODED. THE CITY OF CRACOW WAS FOUNDED WHERE THE DRAGON EXPLODED.
THE PRINCE ERECTED A FORTRESS ON THE DRAGON'S HILL, WHERE AFTERWARDS
WAWEL CASTLE WAS BUILT, THE HOME OF THE KING OF POLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE FARMS
Keyword(s): LOCAL LEGEND: POLAND ; SUPERNATURAL LEGEND
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 10-02-1968
Claddaugh
The claddaugh is an Irish symbol of Love, Friendship and
Loyalty. It looks like two hands holding a heart, with a crown upon
the heart. The hands are friendship, the heart is love, the crown
is loyalty. This symbol is traditionally upon an Irish wedding
ring. This ring was created by a seafarer who had docked in the
town of Claddaugh, Ireland. While in port, he met a young maiden
and fell in love. He was in deep despair at the thought of leaving
her behind, so he went into the hills and designed and forged a
ring with this symbol upon it. He gave it to the maiden as a
symbol of his love, loyalty and friendship. Today this ring is
given upon the engagement of a couple and is worn with the heart
facing away from the woman. Upon their marriage, the ring is
turned around, with the heart facing the woman, indicating her
commitment (or his commitment, as this ring is also given as a
wedding ring to the man) to her husband.
Submitter comment: Claddaugh is pronounced klad-awe.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Woman in an Irish import store ; Farmington Hills
James Callow Keyword(s): Claddagh
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00-00-1991
WORMS
A TALL GLASS OF WATER IS PLACED IN FRONT OF THE PERSON TO BE CURED.
THEN A PIECE OF REGULAR SEWING THREAD IS USED TO MEASURE THE PERSON
FROM HEAD TO TOE THREE TIMES.
THEN THE PERSON SUSPENDS HIS HANDS IN THE SHAPE OF A CROSS
AND IS MEASURED FROM FINGERTIP TO FINGERTIP WITH THE SAME THREAD
THREE TIMES.
THEN THE LENGTH OF THREAD IS FOLDED IN HALF,
THEN FOLDED ONCE AGAIN IN HALF AND SO ON
UNTIL THE THREAD'S FORM HAS A LENGTH OF ABOUT 6 INCHES.
THE THREAD IS THEN HELD LENGTHWISE ABOVE THE GLASS OF WATER
AND SLOWLY CUT IN LITTLE PIECES
ABOUT AN INCH LONG.
AS THE THREAD FALLS INTO WATER SOME THREAD WILL STAY AT TOP
OR REST IN THE MIDDLE OR FALL TO THE BOTTOM.
DEPENDING ON WHERE THE THREAD RESTS, THE PERSON
PERFORMING THE CURE CAN TELL WHERE THE WORMS ARE IN THE BODY.
THIS CEREMONY IS CARRIED OUT FOR 3 DAYS IN A ROW.
AND ON THE THIRD DAY THE PERSON IS CURED
AND FEELING MUCH BETTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 09-21-1969
IF THE CORNS ON YOUR FEET ACHE, IT'S A SURE SIGN OF RAIN.
Where learned: FARMINGTON ; KENTUCKY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7 |
When Mrs. Bergen poured me a cup of hot tea, she said "Look at all the money that I gave you." The "money" refers to all the air bubbles which accumulate in your cup and gather at the center, which look like silver change is one stretches his imagination.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [N446 f578.4] crossed out. Nothing Replaces them.
Submission card located in a pile marked To Be Classified.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; Shiawassee Apartments ; Farmington Place
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; COIN MONEY ; Fortune Telling ; MONEY ; SUPERSTITION ; TEA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object BELIEF -- Use of Object Food PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Entry filtered.
SUPERSTITION (PREDICTION)
NEVER CUT YOUR FINGERNAILS OR TOENAILS ON SUNDAY. IF YOU DO,
YOU'LL DIE BEFORE SUNDOWN.
Submitter comment:
THIS SUPERSTITION OR BELIEF WAS TOLD TO HER BY HER HUSBAND'S
MOTHER.
Where learned: FARMINGTON ; KENTUCKY
Date learned: 06-10-1972
AN IRISHMAN BY THE NAME OF CORBETT CAME TO AMERICA
BECAUSE HE HEARD IT WAS THE LAND OF GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.
LIKE MANY IMMIGRANTS HE WENT TO WORK IN A FACTORY.
HIS JOB WAS WORKING A MACHINE THAT MADE ROUND DISKS FOR
MACHINE PARTS. BUT CORBETT HAD HEARD AMERICA'S
"STREETS WERE PAVED WITH GOLD" AND MONEY COULD BE FOUND
EVERYWHERE. SO HE ASSUMED THAT THE DISKS HE WAS MAKING
WERE VALUABLE TREASURES. SOMEHOW THE "TREASURES" THAT
WERE NOT USED WERE NEVER PICKED UP, SO HE TOOK IT
UPON HIMSELF TO BE THE COLLECTOR.
ONE DAY AFTER WORK HE WENT TO CLANCEY'S BAR. AFTER
SEVERAL GLASSES OF BEER CORBETT DECIDED TO PAY FOR
THEM. FROM HIS POCKET HE DREW ONE OF THOSE LARGE
DISKS AND LEFT FOR THE DOOR. CORBETT WAS JUST ABOUT
TO LEAVE WHEN CLANCEY SHOUTED AND TOLD HIM TO COME
BACK AND PAY HIM. CORBETT STAGGERED BACK TO THE BAR
AND CAREFULLY LOOKED AT THE TOKEN.
"LORDY BE! YOU MEAN I LEFT YOU THAT?"
HE QUICKLY TOOK A SMALLER TOKEN OUT OF HIS POCKET
AND STAGGERED TO THE DOOR. CLANCEY WAS STRICKEN
WITH AMAZEMENT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THAT THIS INCIDENT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
ALTHOUGH HE HAS HEARD MANY VERSIONS OF THE STORY
HIMSELF. INFORMANT SAID THIS HAPPENED IN THE LATE
1920S.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 11-15-1971
A LADY WENT TO A PRIEST TO COMPLAIN ABOUT HER
HUSBAND'S TERRIBLE DRINKING. SHE PLEADED WITH THE
FATHER TO TALK TO HER HUSBAND TO END HIS "EVIL WAYS."
SO THE FATHER REQUESTED THAT THE HUSBAND COME IN TO
TALK. THE HUSBAND RELUCTANTLY AGREED TO GO.
"SON, I HAVE HEARD THAT YOU ARE PLAYING WITH THE
'DEVIL'S BREW.' BUT I AM NOT GOING TO TELL YOU TO
STOP SIPPING THE 'DEVIL'S NECTAR.' INSTEAD, I AM
GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT A MAN WHO DRANK SO MUCH THAT
WHEN HE WENT TO BLOW OUT A CANDLE HIS BREATH MADE IT
IGNITE MORE AND HE CAUGHT ON FIRE. NOW SON, I
WANT YOU TO GO HOME AND THINK ABOUT THAT."
THE MAN WENT HOME AND THOUGHT ABOUT IT. HE RETURNED
TO THE PRIEST TWO WEEKS LATER. "WELL, SON, HAVE YOU
THOUGHT ABOUT IT?" "INDEED, I HAVE FATHER! I WON'T
GIVE UP DRINKING BUT I PROMISE YOU I WILL NEVER BLOW OUT
A CANDLE."
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT REMEMBERED THIS STORY BEING TOLD AT A WAKE
IN THE EARLY 1920S. INFORMANT ADDED THAT THIS STORY
HAS BECOME A CLASSIC AMONG HIS CIRCLE OF FRIENDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 11-15-1971
A SIP OF WATER
ALWAYS TAKE A SIP OF WATER WHEN YOU COME HOME FROM CHURCH ON SUNDAY
MORNING TO BE SURE YOU WASH DOWN ALL THE PARTICLES OF THE HOST
BEFORE EATING BREAKFAST
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
James Callow Keyword(s): EUCHARIST
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church |
Date learned: CA02001980
A CURE FOR A SORE FOOT
A MAN IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN TIMBER LAND HAD A SORE TOE,
HE COULD NOT GET IT HEALED SO HE TOOK AN AX AND CUT OFF HIS TOE
SO IT WOULDN'T HURT ANY MORE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: CA02001980
IRISH KITCHEN CUSTOM
COVERING THE TEA POT WITH A SPECIAL "TEA COZY", USUALLY KNITTED OUT
OF HEAVY YARN TO RETAIN THE HEAT IN THE TEA POT.
USUALLY MADE TO FIT VERY TIGHT AND "COZY" AROUND THE POT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Keyword(s): DRINK
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Manner of preparation Kind of heatCooking equipment |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
PREDICTIONS
IF YOU DROP A FORK WHILE SETTING THE TABLE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
COMPANY FOR DINNER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 11-02-1969
THERE IS A CEMETERY ON GRAND RIVER AVE. IN FARMINGTON,
MICHIGAN WHERE YOUR CAR WILL ROLL UP A HILL. YOU GO
IN THE ENTRANCE AND DRIVE ALONG THE ROAD UNTIL YOU
DRIVE DOWN A HILL. AT THE BOTTOM, PUT YOUR CAR IN
NEUTRAL AND LOOK IN YOUR REAR-VIEW MIRROR. YOUR CAR IS
ROLLING UP THE HILL YOU JUST CAME DOWN.
Submitter comment: IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME TRY IT YOURSELF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
2 YOUNG
2 GO
4 BOYS
James Callow comment: WRITTEN AS AN ADDITION PROBLEM
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Translations, plays on words, symbol writing |
Date learned: 00-00-1963
2 YS U R
2 YS U B
I C U R
2 YS 4 ME
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Translations, plays on words, symbol writing |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
FATTY, FATTY, TWO BY FOUR,
CAN'T GET THROUGH THE KITCHEN DOOR.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOCKERY RHYMES THAT MY GRANDMOTHER CAN
REMEMBER THAT WAS THE MOST PREVALENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
HI HO, HI, HO,
IT'S OFF TO SCHOOL WE GO,
TO STUDY JUNK,
THEN TO FLUNK,
HI HO, HI HO, HI HO.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD IN SCHOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Keyword(s): PARODY ON SONG FROM "SNOW WHITE." ; TUNE OF "HI HO, HI HO, IT'S OFF TO WORK WE GO"
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
HI HO, HI HO,
I KICKED MY TEACHER'S TOE,
SHE KICKED ME BACK,
O, WHAT A CAT,
HI HO, HI HO.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD IN SCHOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Keyword(s): PARODY ON SONG FROM "SNOW WHITE." ; TUNE OF "HI HO, HI HO, IT'S OFF TO WORK WE GO"
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN