Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for SPRING returned 355 results.
EAT YOUR FOOD, REMEMBER THE POOR STARVING PEOPLE IN AFRICA.
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-03-1987
FISH LIKE COMPANY BEGIN TO SMELL AFTER THREE DAYS.
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-03-1987
I DARE YOU (REALLY DARING SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING)
I DOUBLE DARE YOU
I TRIPLE DARE YOU
(YOU ARE REALLY PUTTING THE PERSON ON THE LINE.) THIS MEANS THAT
YOU EITHER DO SOMETHING DARED TO YOU OR YOU ARE CONSIDERED A COWARD.
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-03-1987 ; 10-03-1987
NEVER KEEP A CAT WITH A NEW BORN BABY FOR IT WILL SUCK THE
BREATH OUT OF THE BABY.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-03-1987
AN ITCHY LEFT HAND MEANS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE BAD LUCK.
AN ITCHY RIGHT HAND MEANS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET MONEY.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
THE HOUSE OF CHIN LIN FU (THE DOG WHO WE HOUSESAT FOR)
WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I WERE FIRST MARRIED AND WERE LIVING ON AN ESTATE
IN THE GATEHOUSE, WE FOUND THE HOUSE THAT WE WERE LIVING IN WAS
HAUNTED. WE GOT THE HOUSE RENT FREE BECAUSE A VICIOUS DOG LOVED ME.
ONE NIGHT THE WIND WHISTLED THROUGH THE TREES AND I WAS PREGNANT
AT THE TIME AND THE DOG SAT GUARDING THE HOUSE ON THE FRONT PORCH,
WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DOG BEGAN TO HOWL AND THE FUR ON HIS COAT
STOOD STRAIGHT UP ON END, AND THE CURTAINS BEGAN TO BLOW VIGOROUSLY
AND A LOUD MOANING NOISE SCARED ME SO THAT I SCREAMED AT THE TOP OF
LUNGS AND CLIMBED THE STAIRS FOUR STEPS AT A TIME, PREGNANT OR NOT.
MY HUSBAND HEARD ME SCREAMING ALL THE WAY UP STAIRS WHERE HE WAS
TAKING A BATH AND HE ALSO HEARD THE MOANING AS IF THERE WAS A
GHOST IN THIS HOUSE. HE CLIMBED OUT OF THE BATHTUB AND RAN DOWN
THE STAIRS IN HIS BIRTHDAY SUIT AND GRABBED A KNIFE FROM THE KITCHEN
AND RAN OUT ON THE PORCH. SINCE THIS WAS AN ESTATE AND COMPLETELY
SURROUNDED BY TREES, NO ONE SAW HIM. I DID NOT LOOK FOR I WAS VERY
FRIGHTENED. HE RAN AROUND IN THE ALTOGETHER LOOKING AND WAVING
THE KNIFE AND WHATEVER WAS OUT THERE HOWLING COMPLETELY STOPPED AND
THE HOUSE BECAME COMPLETELY QUIET AGAIN. WHEN THE OWNERS OF THE
HOUSE CAME BACK FROM FLORIDA AND WERE TOLD OF THE INCIDENT THEY TOLD
THAT THIS HOUSE WAS ONCE THE GATEHOUSE AND THAT A MAN WAS FOUND
MURDERED IN THIS HOUSE AND THE DATE THAT THIS OCCURRENCE HAPPENED
WAS THE DATE THAT THE MOANING AND HOWLING OCCURRED TO US. THIS WAS
A STRANGE HAPPENING THAT WOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-13-1987
ANOTHER PARTICULAR DAY I WAS ALONE IN THE HOUSE WITH CHIN LIN FU AND
ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TWO CLOCKS BEGAN TO SHAKE VIGOROUSLY AND BEGAN
TO CHIME. THE FIRST CLOCK WHICH NEITHER ONE HAD WORKED IN AGES BEGAN
ON FEBRUARY 15, 1961 AT 3:30 PM AND RANG 15 TIMES AND THE OTHER
CLOCK CHIMED AT 4:OO PM AND RANG TEN TIMES. I THOUGHT THIS
VERY STRANGE. WHEN THE OWNERS CAME BACK FROM FLORIDA THEY WERE
GREETED WITH SOME STANGE STORIES. THEY TOLD US THAT THE CLOCKS
HAD BELONGED TO THE LADY'S FOLKS AND HAD NOT WORKED SINCE THE DAY
THEY WERE KILLED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. THE TIME THAT THE LADY
ASKED ME OF WHAT DATE AND HOW MANY TIMES THE CLOCKS CHIMED WERE
EXACTLY THE TIME THAT THE PEOPLE DIED AND THE NUMBER OF TIMES THE
CLOCKS CHIMED WERE THE DATES THAT THEY DIED, AND LIVING IN THE HOUSE
OF CHIN LIN FU (THE DOG THAT WE HOUSE SAT FOR)? WAS AN EXPERIENCE
NEVER TO BE COPIED AGAIN.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-13-1987
WHEN THE HEM OF YOUR DRESS GETS TURNED UP, BY ACCIDENT, YOU
ARE GOING TO RECEIVE A NEW DRESS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; SPRINGFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object Dress, buttons, jewelry |
ANN: ABOUT THE RED BIRD....
LOUISE: IF YOU SEE A RED BIRD, YOU'LL SEE SOMEONE YOU'RE NOT
EXPECTING.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; SPRINGFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Sign Color |
Date learned: 07-27-1968
DO YOU EAT WITH THAT MOUTH?
Submitter comment:
THIS EXPRESSION IS USED AS A SUBTLE REBUKE TO SOMEONE
WHO IS USING LANGUAGE NOT NORMALLY USED IN POLITE
COMPANY.
Where learned: Massachusetts ; SPRINGFIELD
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
STORY
IN THE 1820'S AT SPRING ARBOR, MICHIGAN, AN INDIAN CHIEF WAS
CAPTURED DURING THE WAR. AFTER THE WAR, THE ENGLISH ALLOWED
HIM TO RETURN TO HIS TRIBE. HE WAS SIX FEET TALL AND USED
CRUTCHES TO GET AROUND. IT IS SAID THAT HE WOULD CHALLENGE
ANY MAN TO RACE WITH HIM AND THAT HE ALWAYS WON. EVEN THOUGH
ONE-LEGGED, HE HAD DEVELOPED AN ENORMOUS SPRINT WITH THE AID
OF HIS CRUTCHES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SPRING ARBOR
Keyword(s): INDIAN ; Legend ; Native American
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Occupation War BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails |
Date learned: 03-19-1970
Saying
Pull the latch string in or let it hang out
Submitter comment:
A saying or sign coming from the pioneers indicating whether a person or a thought is welcome within.
Ran across this while reading a book called The Well Springs of Truth published in 1883 by the Nashville publishing Company. Written by W.W. Breese MD.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
?
Otiginal BN [V400, S500] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: BOOK ; The Well Springs of Truth ; Nashville Publishing Company
Keyword(s): Language ; Latch ; Saying ; SIGN ; SLANG ; String ; Welcome
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
THE WHITE WOMAN
AT MIDNIGHT ON CERTAIN NIGHTS, A GHOSTLY APPARITION
OF A WOMAN IN WHITE WILL APPEAR AT THE BRIDGE ON
TANGLEWOOD DRIVE ON BELLE ISLE.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO ME ONE DARK NIGHT BY SOMEONE WHO
CLAIMS TO HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN THE WOMAN IN WHITE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BELLE ISLE ; TOLD ON ; SPRING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00001972 SPRING
PROVERB
LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE; SOMEBODY
GIVE ME A BRICK!
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS HOW SOME PEOPLE WHEN COMPARED WITH OTHERS ARE
SAINTS, OR AT LEAST WITH LESS SIN.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; UNION SPRINGS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
TWO PARTS OF CRUDE OIL AND ONE PART OF TURPENTINE REMOVES
THE WHITE SPOTS FROM FURNITURE, AND MAKES AS GOOD A
POLISH AS ONE CAN DESIRE TO HAVE.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; HOLLY SPRINGS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Daily Life |
Date learned: 08-10-1968
WHEN A SCREECH OWL IS HEARD IN THE NIGHT, BIND THE SHEETS
IN KNOTS AND NO DEATH WILL OCCUR.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; HOLLY SPRINGS
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Sign Color |
Date learned: 07-27-1968
I'VE BEEN DROPPING THINGS ALL DAY. SOMEONE HUNGRY MUST
BE COMING.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; HOLLY SPRINGS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 07-27-1968
SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT FARM ANIMALS
IT'S BAD LUCK TO GIVE A CHICKEN AWAY. SOMETHING HAS TO BE GIVEN
OR PAID FOR IT.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; DOUBLE SPRINGS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 04-08-1972
PLANTING DATES FOR CROPS
POTATOES --- MARCH 17TH TO MARCH 30TH
BEANS --- GOOD FRIDAY
CUCUMBERS --- GOOD FRIDAY AND MAY 1ST
WATERMELONS --- MAY 1ST AND MAY 10TH
LETTUCE AND PEAS --- VALENTINE'S DAY
TURNIPS --- JULY 25TH
FLAX --- GOOD FRIDAY
BY PLANTING THESE CROPS ON THESE DAYS, THE HARVEST IS SUPPOSED
TO BE GOOD.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; DOUBLE SPRINGS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 04-08-1972
IF YOU TAKE A PIECE OF WEDDING CAKE HOME AND PLACE IT UNDER
YOUR PILLOW, NAME EACH CORNER OF THE ROOM ONE PARTICULAR
BEAU AND GO TO SLEEP, WHICHEVER CORNER YOU WAKE UP FACING
WILL BE THE ONE YOU WILL MARRY.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; HOLLY SPRINGS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Use of object for determining future spouse |
Date learned: 08-11-1968