Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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HOPAK (UKRAINIAN)
THIS IS A FESTIVAL DANCE, INVOLVING MANY STEPS. IT
IS FAST AND INVOLVES SQUATTING AND DANCING AT CERTAIN
TIMES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Festival |
JUMP-ROPE RHYME
JOHNNY OVER THE OCEAN
JOHNNY OVER THE SEA
JOHNNY BROKE A POP BOTTLE
AND BLAMED IT ONTO ME
I TOLD MA, MA TOLD PA
JOHNNY GOT A LICKIN'
AND A "HA, HA, HA}"
HOW MANY LICKIN'S DID HE GET?
ONE, TWO, THREE, . . .
Submitter comment:
YOU JUMP ROPE TO THE RHYME AND KEEP JUMPING UNTIL YOU MISS, COUNTING
EACH JUMP TO TELL HOW MANY LICKIN'S JOHNNY GOT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: CA00001968
JUMP-ROPE RHYME
CINDERELLA, DRESSED IN YELLA
WENT UPSTAIRS TO KISS HER FELLA
BUT SHE MADE A MISTAKE
AND KISSED A SNAKE.
HOW MANY DOCTORS DID IT TAKE?
ONE, TWO, THREE,. . .
Submitter comment:
JULIE LEARNED THIS FROM YOUNG FELLOW JUMP-ROPERS. YOU JUMP-ROPE TO
THE RHYTHM OF THIS RHYME AND AT THE END KEEP JUMPING AND COUNT EACH
JUMP UNTIL YOU MISS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: CA00001968
ENGINE, ENGINE NUMBER NINE
ENGINE, ENGINE NUMBER NINE
GOING DOWN THE CHICAGO LINE
IF THE TRAIN SHOULD JUMP THE TRACK
WILL YOU GET YOUR MONEY BACK?
MY MOTHER TOLD ME TO PICK THE VERY BEST ONE. MM
PEOPLE PLANNING TO PLAY A GAME WHICH REQUIRES SOMEONE TO BE "IT"
STAND IN A CIRCLE AND HOLD ONE FIST OUT. ONE PERSON IS SELECTED TO
RECITE THE RHYME. USUALLY STARTING WITH THE PERSON ON HIS RIGHT, HE
TAPS ONE FIST WITH HIS FIST ON EACH SYLLABLE OF THE WORDS IN THIS
RHYME. THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO DETERMINE WHO IS "IT." EITHER THE
PERSON WHOSE FIST IS TAPPED ON THE LAST SYLLABLE OF THE RHYME IS "IT"
OR THAT PERSON IS ELIMINATED AND THE RHYME IS REPEATED WITH THE
LAST PERSON ELIMINATED EACH TIME UNTIL ONLY ONE IS LEFT TO BE "IT."
Submitter comment:
I LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD BUT CANNOT PINPOINT THE EXACT PLACE OR
TIME. I REMEMBER USING IT QUITE FREQUENTLY TO DETERMINE WHO WOULD
BE "IT."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: CA00001968
SUPERSTITION
HOLD YOUR BREATH WHEN YOU GO PAST CEMETERIES OR SOMEONE, MAYBE YOU,
WILL DIE SOON.
Submitter comment:
JULIE NEVER REALLY BELIEVED THIS BUT DID IT AS A CHILD. SHE LEARNED
THIS FROM OTHER CHILDREN PROBABLY IN LEVERING, MICHIGAN AND
ENCOUNTERED IT IN MIDLAND ALSO. I REMEMBER BEING TOLD TO HOLD MY
BREATH AND LOOK THE OTHER WAY WHEN DRIVING PAST A CEMETERY AS A
CHILD BUT NEVER KNEW ANY REASON WHY I WAS DOING IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: CA00001968
SUPERSTITION
WHEN YOU'RE RIDING IN A CAR HOLD YOUR FEET UP WHEN YOU GO OVER
RAILROAD TRACKS OR YOU WILL LOSE YOUR BOYFRIEND.
Submitter comment:
THIS REFERS TO GIRLS OF COURSE. JULIE LEARNED THIS FROM HER FRIENDS
IN MIDLAND, MICHIGAN. IT WAS PRACTICED NOT SERIOUSLY BUT IN FUN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: CA00001970
RIDDLE QUESTION
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
AB C D GOLDFISH
BN NO GOLDFISH
O S A R AB
C M P N
Submitter comment:
THIS CAN BE TRANSLATED TO:
AB SEE THE GOLDFISH
BN, THERE IS NO GOLDFISH
OH YES THERE IS AB
SEE THEM PEEING
James Callow comment:
VARIATION: MNO GOLDFISH
CN[ HARTWIG, WILLIAM 720390
C1[ 260 ALAMEDA
C2[ YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO 44504
DNC[ 1,688
******************** C FILE 1 ********************
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): SCATALOGICAL URINATION
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00001950S AND 00001960S
SUPERSTITION
IT IS BAD LUCK TO TURN A LOAF OF BREAD UPSIDE DOWN ON A TABLE.
Submitter comment:
JULIE LEARNED THIS FROM HER GRANDMOTHER WHO BELIEVED IT AND PRACTICED
IT. SHE DOES NOT BELIEVE IT HERSELF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Home BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: CA00001968
NARRATIVE
THIS WAS TOLD TO ME BY A LADY LIVING IN PENNSYLVANIA (1934). SHE
WAS 16 AT THE TIME AND PREGNANT WITH HER FIRST CHILD. CHILDREN
IN THOSE DAYS WERE DELIVERED AT HOME. NEXT DOOR TO HER LIVED A
MRS. FLORENTINE MCADAMS. SHE WAS THE TOWN MIDWIFE WHO ASSISTED
THE HICK DOCTOR, DOCTOR DICKINSON. USUALLY SHE WENT TO ALL
DELIVERIES, BUT HIS LADY DIDN'T WANT HER AROUND. HER MOTHER HELPED
HER INSTEAD, AND THE BABY WAS BORN PREMATURELY, WEIGHING THREE
POUNDS. HER MOTHER AND HUSBAND TOOK CARE OF THE CHILD TO KEEP HIM
ALIVE. THIS LADY SAID THAT AFTER THE BABY WAS BORN, EACH TIME SHE
LAID IN BED, THE HEAD PART PRESSED DOWN AND SHE FELT AS IF SHE'D
FALL OUT OF BED. HER MOTHER CAME IN WHEN SHE CALLED, BUT SHE SAID
SHE SAW NO ONE IN THE HOUSE. AFTER THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES,
THEY PROPPED EACH CORNER OF HER BED UP WITH PILLOWS ON A HUGE
MAHOGANY CHAIR, BUT STILL IT SAGGED. WHEN HER MOTHER SLEPT WITH
HER, SHE FELT THE SAME THING. THE NEXT NIGHT THEY PUT RAZOR BLADES
ABOVE THE BEDROOM DOOR. IT NEVER HAPPENED AFTER THAT. A FEW DAYS
LATER, MR. MCADAMS TOLD MR. SASNOWSKI THAT MRS. MCADAMS WAS VERY
ANGRY BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T ASSIST HIS WIFE IN HER BIRTH. BOTH MEN
HAD SEEN HER TURN FROZEN STIFF IN A TRANCE. SHE WAS FROZEN SOLID
AND HAD NO FOOD OR MOVEMENT FOR THREE DAYS. THIS ALWAYS WAS DONE
WHEN SHE WANTED SOMETHING TO HAPPEN. SHE WENT INTO THIS TRANCE
WHEN SHE WAS TOLD SHE COULDN'T ASSIST THE DOCTOR AND SHE CAME OUT
OF THIS ONLY AFTER THE RAZOR BLADES WERE PUT ABOVE THE DOORS. MRS.
SASNOWSKI BELIEVES THAT THE EVIL SPIRITS HAD MADE HER BED SAG AFTER
MRS. MCADAMS WENT INTO THIS TRANCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHITE SPOTS
THERE IS A SUEPRSTITION REGARDING WHITE SPOTS ON ONE'S
FINGERNAILS. EACH SPOT HAS A MEANING:
FRIEND FOE LETTER BOW JOURNEY
THUMB INDEX MIDDLE RING LITTLE
Submitter comment:
SHE READ THIS WHEN SHE WAS ABOUT 18 YRS. OLD IN AN OLD BOOK
ON SUPERSTITIONS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; PURCHASING DEPARTMENT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails |
Date learned: 07-23-1964
IT IS BAD LUCK TO HAVE A BIRD FLY IN THE HOUSE, USUALLY
AN OMEN OF DEATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; PIZZERIA
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Bad luck Animals |
Date learned: 03-21-1968
WEDDING CUSTOM
WHEN GUESTS AT A WEDDING RECEPTION CLINK SILVERWARE AGAINST THEIR
GLASSES, THE BRIDE AND GROOM MUST STOP WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND KISS.
THE GUESTS CONTINUE CLINKING THEIR GLASSES UNTIL THEY DO.
Submitter comment:
I LEARNED THIS AT A WEDDING IN CLEVELAND, OHIO IN AUGUST, 1977. MOST
OF THE GUESTS AS WELL AS THE BRIDE AND GROOM SEEMED FAMILIAR WITH THE
CUSTOM AND IT WAS PRACTICED FREQUENTLY DURING THE MEAL. MY SISTER,
RUTH DURAND, WITNESSED THE SAME CUSTOM AT SEVERAL OTHER WEDDINGS IN
THE CLEVELAND AREA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Glassware tapping |
SUPERSTITION
WHEN UNWRAPPING GIFTS AT A WEDDING SHOWER THE AMOUNT OF RIBBONS YOU
BREAK IS THE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN YOU WILL HAVE.
Submitter comment:
I LEARNED THIS IN MAPLE HEIGHTS, OHIO, A SUBURB OF CLEVELAND, AT THE
WEDDING SHOWER OF A FRIEND. SHE ALREADY KNEW THE SUPERSTITION AND
APPARENTLY BELIEVED IT SOMEWHAT. SHE CAREFULLY UNWRAPPED HER GIFTS
AND BROKE TWO RIBBONS SAYING THAT'S HOW MANY CHILDREN SHE WANTED TO
HAVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Marriage Breaking of BELIEF -- Use of Object |
BLUE-EYED PEOPLE ARE MORE LOGICAL THAN BROWN-EYED
PEOPLE. BROWN-EYED PEOPLE LIVE BY THEIR HEARTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 02-10-1968
THEY'RE CHANGING THE NAME OF OLD MARINER'S CHURCH TO
WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MANY SHOTGUN
WEDDINGS THERE.
Submitter comment:
SHE LEARNED IT FROM A NEIGHBOR ACROSS THE STREET
FROM HER, WHOSE NAME IS MRS. PAUL HIRZEL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CARPOOL ; EAST SIDE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 04-04-1967
SUPERSTITION
WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER GAVE A SET OF KNIVES AS A GIFT TO OUR FAMILY
SHE MADE MY DAD GIVE HER A NICKEL. SHE SAID IT WAS BAD LUCK TO GIVE
KNIVES AWAY. YOU HAVE TO SELL THEM.
Submitter comment:
JULIE'S GRANDMOTHER HAD A FAIRLY STRONG BELIEF IN THE TRUTH OF THIS
SUPERSTITION. JULIE'S FATHER DIDN'T REALLY THINK IT WOULD BE BAD
LUCK TO ACCEPT THE KNIVES WITHOUT GIVING ANY MONEY BUT GAVE HER A
NICKEL ANYWAY. JULIE FEELS HER GRANDMOTHER IS A LITTLE SUPERSTITIOUS
AND WHEN ASKED IF SHE WOULD ASK FOR MONEY IN EXCHANGE FOR A GIFT OF
KNIVES REPLIED "NO}" RATHER INDIGNANTLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.18 |
VERSE
I EAT MY PEAS WITH HONEY.
I'VE DONE IT ALL MY LIFE.
IT MAKES THE PEAS TASTE FUNNY,
BUT IT KEEPS THEM ON THE KNIFE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 09-00-1971
BAD LUCK (COLLECTOR'S TITLE)
IN JAPAN, IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE NUMBER "4" BRINGS BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS WHILE HE WAS IN VIET NAM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
Keyword(s): VIETNAM
| Subject headings: | 686 Fourths / Quarters BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 10-27-1969