Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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PHONETIC RHYME
A KNIFE AND A FORK,
A BOTTLE AND A CORK,
THAT'S HOW YOU SAY NEW YORK.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS PICKED UP BY MY DAD WHILE LIVING IN NEW YORK CITY. IT
TEACHES PEOPLE HOW TO SAY NEW YORK LIKE THE NEW YORKERS. IT IS ALSO
USED BY OTHERS TO RIDICULE THE NEW YORKERS' ACCENT
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SAINT CLAIR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech C870.200 |
Date learned: 00001960S
BAD LUCK
STEPPING ON A BROOM BRINGS BAD LUCK. HOWEVER, SPITTING ON IT RIGHT
AFTER YOU'VE STEPPED ON IT WILL WARD OFF THE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SAINT CLAIR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.1 SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001960S
THREE ON A MATCH
IT IS BAD LUCK FOR THREE PEOPLE TO LIGHT THEIR CIGARETTES OFF OF THE
SAME MATCH.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SAINT CLAIR
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.5 |
Date learned: 00001960S
LUCKY CROSSING
IF YOU LIFT YOUR FEET OFF THE FLOOR OF YOUR CAR WHILE CROSSING A
BRIDGE OVER WATER YOU WILL ALWAYS REACH THE OTHER SIDE SAFELY.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS A MORE COMMON BELIEF IN THE EARLY 1900S WHEN PEOPLE WERE A
LITTLE MORE WARY ABOUT DRIVING CARS OVER BRIDGES.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SAINT CLAIR
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; MAGIC
Date learned: 00001960S
THE GIRL WHO LOST HER VIRGINITY AND HER LIFE.
THIS GUY FINALLY TALKED HIS GIRL INTO SPENDING THE NIGHT WITH HIM
AT A MOTEL AFTER THEIR SENIOR PROM. SHE WAS A VIRGIN BEFORE THAT
NIGHT. DRIVING HER HOME AFTER THEY HAD HAD INTERCOURSE THEY WERE
INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND SHE WAS KILLED. SHE WENT TO HELL
FOR ETERNITY AND AT NIGHT HER GHOST COMES BACK TO HAUNT THE MOTEL
ROOM AND ITS OCCUPANTS. HER BOYFRIEND WAS ALSO HAUNTED BY HER AND
KILLED HIMSELF BY DRIVING OFF A CLIFF WITH HIS CAR.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SAINT CLAIR
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; SUICIDE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00001960S
TRICK OR TREAT RHYME
TRICK OR TREAT.
SMELL MY FEET.
I LIVE ON MILL STREET.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS USED BY TRICK OR TREATERS ON HALLOWEEN IN ORDER TO COLLECT
CANDY AND OTHER GIFTS. THE NAME OF THE STREET IN THE THIRD LINE IS
NOT ALWAYS MILL BUT RATHER THE STREET THE PERSON LIVES ON. THIS IS
SUPPOSED TO BE A CLUE TO THEIR IDENTITY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SAINT CLAIR
Date learned: 00001960S
TRICK OR TREAT RHYME
A BALL IN A HOLE IN A WALL AND THAT'S ALL.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS USED BY TRICK OR TREATERS ON HALLOWEEN IN ORDER TO COLLECT
CANDY AND OTHER GIFTS. NONSENSE RHYME.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SAINT CLAIR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival C840.1031 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween |
Date learned: 00001960S
JUMP-ROPE RHYME
SHALL I TELL YOU A STORY
ABOUT JACK AND HIS GLORY?
SHALL I BEGIN IT?
THAT'S ALL THAT'S IN IT.
SHALL I TELL YOU ANOTHER
ABOUT JACK AND HIS BROTHER?
SHALL I BEGIN IT?
THAT'S ALL THAT'S IN IT.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS RECITED IN TWO PARTS AS SHOWN BY THE BREAK I PUT IN BETWEEN.
THE FIRST JUMPER ENTERS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST PART AND EXITS
AT THE END OF IT. THE SECOND JUMPER DOES THE SAME THING FOR THE
SECOND PART.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SAINT CLAIR
James Callow Keyword(s): JACK-A-NORY ; NUTSHELL NARRATIVE IN VERSE
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.560 BB C82 |
Date learned: 00001960S
WEATHER PREDICTION RAIN
WHEN THE COWS ARE LYING DOWN IN THE FIELD IT WILL RAIN.
Submitter comment:
HIS BELIEF WAS HANDED DOWN FROM HIS FATHER AND HE FIRMLY BELIEVES
IT TO BE TRUE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Date learned: 00-00-1958
RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
THE JEWISH PEOPLE FAST ON THE HOLIDAY YOM KIPPUR.
Submitter comment:
YOM KIPPUR OR THE DAY OF ATONEMENT IS THE HOLIEST DAY OF THE YEAR.
GOD DECIDES ON THIS DAY WHO SHALL LIVE AND WHO SHALL DIE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
James Callow Keyword(s): FASTING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Autumn Fall Harvest Thanksgiving BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
TELEPHONE ANSWER
JOE'S BAKERY. WHICH CRUMB DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO?
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
THE JEWISH PEOPLE LEAVE A GLASS OF WATER OUTSIDE WHEN GOING TO A
FUNERAL. THEY WASH THEIR HANDS WITH IT WHEN THEY RETURN FROM THE
CEMETARY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
James Callow Keyword(s): CEMETERY ; PURIFICATION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
LEGEND
THERE IS A MAN BURIED IN THE NICHOLSON BRIDGE IN NICHOLSON, /A.
Submitter comment:
THE MAN WAS BURIED DURING AN ACCIDENT WHILE THE BRIDGE WAS BEING
BUILT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
ALL JEWISH PEOPLE MUST EAT SOME HONEY ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE NEW
YEAR.
Submitter comment: THIS PRACTICE INSURES A SWEET YEAR.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
James Callow Keyword(s): ROSH HASHANAH
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Autumn Fall Harvest Thanksgiving BELIEF -- Measure of time Year |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
CUSTOM CANDLE
EVERY YEAR AT CAMP AKIBA IN THE POCONO MOUNTAINS OF PENNSYLVANIA EACH
BUNK WRITES ALL THEIR NAMES ON A PLAQUE. A CANDLE IS PUT ON THE
PLAQUE AND FLOATED DOWN THE LAKE. IF IT REACHES THE OTHER SIDE
GIRLS IN THAT BUNK WILL RETURN.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS DONE ON THE LAST NIGHT OF CAMP
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
GAME RED LIGHT GREEN LIGHT
ONE PERS.ON IS IT. HE HAS HIS BACK TURNED TO THE REST OF THE PLAYERS
HE SAYS GREEN LIGHT. AND EVERYONE RUNS. HE THEN ABRUPTLY SAY RED LIGH
SAYS RED LIGHT.
EVERYONE MUST STOP, ANYONE WHO MOVES GOES BACK TO THE BEGINNING. TO
WIN THE PLAYER MUST GET ALL THE WAY UP TO IT FIRST.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
THE HEAD OF A JEWISH HOUSEHOLD HIDES A PIECE OF MATZOH
THE FIRST TWO DAYS OF PASSOVER.
Submitter comment: WHOEVER FINDS THE MATZOH RECEIVES A GIFT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Hiding Searching CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
THE JEWISH PEOPLE LIGHT CANDLES ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
Submitter comment: THIS WELCOMES THE SABBATH
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
THE JEWISH PEOPLE LIGHT A YAHRZEIT CANDLE ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF A
PERSON'S DEATH.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
THE JEWISH PEOPLE UNVEIL A TOMBSTONE ON THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY
OF A PERSON'S DEATH.
Submitter comment: THE TOMBSTONE HAS BEEN VEILED BEFORE THIS.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: 00-00-1950