Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for FARMINGTON returned 182 results.
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 |
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
GHOST SUPERSTITION
SHE TOLD ME THAT WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH A FOREST YOU SHOULD HOLD
A PIECE OF BREAD IN YOUR HAND IN ORDER TO SCARE AWAY ALL THE GHOSTS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Keyword(s): BREAD ; Forest ; GHOST ; Protect ; Scare ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward Off
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 09-21-1969
BELIEF
THE PEOPLE OF LIBYA BELIEVE THE WHITE SPIRIT APPEARS AT NIGHT IN
SOME FORM OF LIGHT, SO WHENEVER THEY SEE ANY LIGHT AT NIGHT
THEY SHUDDER IN FEAR OF THE WHITE SPIRIT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Keyword(s): COLOR ; GHOST ; Haunt ; Libya ; Libyan ; MYSTERIOUS LIGHT ; SPIRIT ; White
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 11-29-1969
WWI STORIES
MRS JOHN MCINTYRE'S SON COULD NOT GET IN TO THE ARMY IN WORLD WAR I
SHE SAID THAT HE WAS MENTALLY AND MORALLY UNFIT FOR MILITARY DUTY
WHAT SHE MEANT WAS MEDICALLY AND MORALLY
Submitter comment: THIS WAS FIRST HEARD IN BAD AX MICHIGAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: CA02001980
Proverb
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V300] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Broth ; Chef ; COOK ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; RECIPE ; Spoil ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
IF YOU'RE TELLING A LIE, CROSS YOUR FINGERS BEFORE YOU
SAY IT AND IT WON'T BE A LIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Date learned: 11-29-1969
A LIBYAN BELIEF
FOR THE ARAB PEOPLES, THE SIGN OF THE GREATEST INSULT
IS TO BE SHOWN THE SOLES OF ANOTHER'S SHOES. FOR AN
EXAMPLE, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO BE
CAREFUL NOT TO CROSS THEIR LEGS EITH THEIR SHOW
SOLES SHOWING. THIS IS BECAUSE, FOR THE ARABS, THE
SOLE OF A SHOE IS THE LOWEST THING BECAUSE IT
TOUCHES THE GROUND, WHICH IS REGARDED AS THE LOWEST
DIRTIEST AND MOST DISGUSTING THING.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Derision Scorn |
Date learned: 11-29-1969