Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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CAR BELIEF
IF A GIRL IS RIDING IN A CAR AND IT CROSSES OVER RAILROAD
TRACKS, SHE MUST LIFT UP HER FEET OR SHE WILL NOT GET MARRIED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANTS ATTITUDE WAS QUITE SKEPTICAL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; FEET ; OMEN ; Relationship ; SUPERSTITION ; Tracks
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; DISBELIEF ; POSITION
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
(FARTING)
IF A GIRL IS ON A DATE AND IS TRAVELING IN A CAR, AND HAS TO FART,
SHE ASKS HER DATE TO STOP THE CAR. SHE GETS OUT OF THE CAR. WHEN
SHE COMES BACK SHE SAYS SHE THOUGHT THE CAR HAD A FLAT TIRE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID SHE HAD FRIENDS IN HIGH SCHOOL WHO DID THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 10-03-1971
FRENCH CANADIAN:
WHEN A HUSBAND DIES AND THE WIDOW CUTS HER HAIR,
IT IS THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO ATTAIN A NEW
HUSBAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAZEL PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
NOT GIVEN
THERE'S THIS FELLA ALWAYS TELLING FALSE STORIES WHEN HE CAME INTO
TOWN. THIS FELLA LIVED THERE IN THE COMMUNITY AREA. THE FELLA
WAS TALKING ABOUT HUNTING OUT WEST. HE SAID THAT HE WAS SHOOTIN'
AT A MOUNTAIN GOAT. THEY WERE UP REAL HIGH. HE SAID HE SHOT THE
GOAT AND IT FELL DOWN INTO A KINGBERRY. WHEN IT DID FALL, IT FELL
RIGHT ON A BEAR. IT CHASED THE BEAR OUT OF THE KINGBERRY AND HE
SHOT AT IT TOO.
Submitter comment: A KINGBERY IS A HEAVILY DENSE THICKET WHERE A BEAR MIGHT SLEEP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale |
Date learned: 02-07-1972
NOT GIVEN
IN CANADA THERE'S A LAKE OVER THERE, YOU WOULD HAVE TO WALK A LONG
WAY TO GET THERE 'CAUSE THERE ARE NO ROADS. A LOT OF PEOPLE WENT
THERE 'CAUSE THE FISH WERE SO BIG. THIS FELLA SAID THE MOSQUITOS
WERE BIG, TOO; THEY WERE LIKE HORSEFLIES. THEN THIS FELLA WAS
TALKIN' ABOUT THE FISH THEY CAUGHT. HE SAID, "I DON'T LIKE TO
FISH IN THAT LAKE." SOMEONE ASKED, "WHY NOT?" THE FELLA SAID,
"YOU CAN'T KEEP THE BAIT. THE FISH COME AND STEAL YOUR BAIT.
YOU HAVE TO GO BEHIND A TREE OR SOMETHING TO BAIT YOUR HOOK."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 02-07-1972
NOT GIVEN
THERE'S THIS GUY NAMED STADTON THAT DID A LOT OF HUNTING. HE WAS
HUNTING SQUIRRELS ONE EARLY MORNING ALONG BY A CORN FIELD. THERE
WAS A RAIL FENCE AT THE END OF THE FIELD WHERE THE SQUIRRELS
LIVED. THEY WOULD COME INTO THE CORN FIELD AND EAT THE CORN.
IT WAS BARELY DAYLIGHT AND THIS BEAR CAME ALONG. THAT BEAR WAS
PULLING OFF THOSE EARS OF CORN LIKE A MAN WOULD. HE GOT AN ARMFUL
OF THEM AND THEN WOULD GO DOWN TO A LOWER PLACE AND HEAVE THEM
INTO A BIG CYPRESS STUMP. STADTON SAID HE HAD TO GO DOWN THERE
AND SEE WHY THE BEAR WAS THROWING THEM IN THERE. STADTON WENT
AND HE SAID THE BEAR, HE HAD A HOG IN THAT THERE STUMP AND WAS
FATTENING HIM UP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 02-07-1972
NOT GIVEN
THIS GUY HAD A BIRD DOG; HE WAS ALWAYS BRAGGING ABOUT HOW GOOD
THIS DOG WAS. ONE DAY HE WENT OUT SHOOTIN' QUAIL. HE SHOT ONE
AND IT FELL INTO THE RIVER. THE DOG JUMPED INTO THE RIVER TO
GET THE BIRD. HE STARTED SWIMMING AFTER IT AND KEPT SWIMMING
AFTER. THE BIRD KEPT FLOATIN' DOWN, THE DOG KEPT SWIMMING AFTER
IT. SO FINALLY THE DOG GOT OUT OF SIGHT. HE SAW IT GO UNDER AND
FIGURED IT HAD DROWNED. HE LEFT FOR HOME. THE NEXT DAY HE WENT
BACK HUNTING IN THE SAME AREA. THE DOG CAME SWIMMING OUT WITH A
FISH, A BIG OLD CATFISH. THE GUY TOOK THE CATFISH AND THE DOG
AND WENT HOME. BUT HE COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. HE CLEANED THE
CATFISH AND FOUND THE BIRD IN IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Mammal |
HICCUPS CURE
TAKE A PAPER BAG AND BREATHE INTO IT SEVERAL TIMES.
Submitter comment: I ONCE HEARD THIS FROM A FRIEND.
Where learned: HIGHLAND PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 09-15-1967
WHEN YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE WITH SOMEONE WHO WILL GIVE
YOU THE EVIL EYE, HOLD OUT YOUR FOREFINGER AND BABY
FINGER, HOLD THIS UNTIL THE PERSON LEAVES.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAW HIS BROTHER DO THIS WHEN IN CALABRIA,
ITALY, AND BELIEVED IT WARDED OFF THE EVIL EYE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ITALY ; OAK PARK ; CALABRIA
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; EVIL ; EVIL EYE ; Eye ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Prevent ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.12 |
Date learned: 01-24-1972
DO NOT HAND A PERSON A KNIFE. PUT IT ON THE TABLE
AND LET HIM PICK IT UP. IF YOU DO NOT, A FIGHT
MAY ARISE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID HER MOTHER BELIEBED IN THIS SUPER-
STITION, AND ALWAYS PASSED A KNIFE BY FIRST PUTTING
IT ON THE TABLE. THEN THE OTHER PERSON COULD
PICK IT UP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 02-14-1972
SHIRLEY HAD SOME CHEWING GUM,
WHICH WAS AGAINST THE RULE,
TEACHER TOOK IT AWAY FROM HER,
AND CHEWED IT AFTER SCHOOL.
HAVE A NICE SUMMER, EILEEN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults |
CHRISTMAS MARITIME TRADITION
IT IS AN OLD MARITIME TRADITION ON CHRISTMAS DAY ABOARD SHIP, TO
LASH A YULE TREE TO THE MAST. THIS CUSTOM IS STILL FOLLOWED BY
MANY SHIPMASTERS IN MODERN TIMES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; DEARBORN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Christmas tree |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED
IT IS BETTER TO REMAIN SILENT AND BE THOUGHT OF AS A
FOOL THAN TO SPEAK OUT AND REMOVE ALL DOUBT.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-04-1968
WHY DOGS CHASE RABBITS
ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A VERY RICH FARMER WHO HAD A DOG
WHICH WAS HIS BEST FRIEND AND COMPANION. ONE DAY DURING A
VERY COLD WINTER, THE FARMER TOOK HIS DOG INTO TOWN AND HAD
HIM FITTED WITH BOOTS.
THE DOG HAD A RABBIT WHO WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF HIS. THE RABBIT
SAID THAT HE WAS COLD, AND THE DOG SAID: "I'M NOT COLD. LOOK
AT THE FINE BOOTS MY MASTER BOUGHT FOR ME!"
THE RABBIT SAID: "DO YOU MIND IF I TRY THEM ON?" AND THE DOG
SAID: "NO."
THE RABBIT WALKED A LITTLE WAY TO SEE HOW THEY FELT, THEN HE
RETURNED AND SAID THAT THEY WERE VERY NICE, BUT THAT HE DID NOT
HAVE A GOOD FEEL FOR THEM, AND ASKED IF HE COULD WALK SOME MORE.
OF COURSE THE DOG ALLOWED HIM TO DO SO.
THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES, AND THE THIRD TIME THE RABBIT DID NOT
RETURN.
AND SO THAT IS WHY DOGS CHASE RABBITS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
Date learned: 07-00-1964
CROSSING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS
I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS ABOUT THIRTEEN,
WHENEVER DRIVING IN A CAR OVER RAILROAD TRACKS
YOU HAD TO LIFT YOUR FEET OFF THE FLOOR OF THE CAR,
PUT YOUR ARM UP INTO THE AIR, AND
MAKE A WISH. IF YOU DID NOT DO THIS
ONE DAY YOUR BOYFRIEND WOULD LEAVE YOU.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT RECALLS THAT FOR MANY YEARS
THIS TASK WAS PERFORMED WHEN CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS,
AND STILL FINDS HERSELF PICKING UP HER FOOT WHEN DRIVING OVER TRACKS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 02-01-1972
BELIEF
SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT IF YOU COUNT THE NUMBER OF CARS IN A
FUNERAL PROCESSION THAT IS THE NUMBER OF YEARS YOU HAVE LEFT TO
LIVE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT BELIEVES ABSOLUTELY IN THE ABOVE AND WOULD
ONLY COUNT THE NUMBER OF CARS IN PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S
FUNERAL PROCESSION.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 03-01-1970
BLESSING OF THE FLEET
IT IS CUSTOMARY IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD WHERE MEN MAKE THEIR
LIVING THROUGH SHIPS TO HAVE A BLESSING OF THE FLEET, FOR THE PAST
EIGHT YEARS, THIS CEREMONY HAS BEEN HELD IN DETROIT. IT IS HELD AT
THE DOSSIN GREAT LAKES MUSEUM, BELLE ISLE EVERY SPRING IN MARCH.
THE CEREMONY CONSISTS MAINLY OF AN INVOCATION TO GOD TO ASK FOR THE
SAFETY OF THE VESSELS AND THE MEN THAT SAIL THEM FOR THE COMING YEAR.
Data entry tech comment: PROGRAM IS ATTACHED TO ORIGINAL 5 BY 7 CARD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting |
Date learned: NOT ENTERED
CHRISTMAS
ON CHRISTMAS DAY, THE POLISH KEEP A LIGHTED CANDLE IN THE WINDOW
HOPING THAT THE CHRIST CHILD WILL JOIN THEM IN THE FORM OF AN
UNEXPECTED VISITOR FOR DINNER. AN EXTRA PLACE IS ALWAYS SET AT THE
CHRISTMAS DINNER TABLE FOR THE VISITOR.
Submitter comment: BACK IN POLAND
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Menus CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Lights and candles |
Date learned: 03-24-1971
SUPERSTITION
SHEAVES OF GRAIN TIED WITH RIBBON ARE LEFT IN CORNERS OF THE ROOM AT
CHRISTMAS TIME FOR A GOOD HARVEST IN THE NEXT SEASON, IN POLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Predictions CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Straw |
PROVERB
LET US NOT LOOK BACK IN ANGER, NOR FORWARD IN FEAR,
BUT AROUND IN AWARENESS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 08-04-1968