Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for NEW YORK returned 598 results.
My grandmother always made us eat herring at midnight on
New Year's Eve to bring us luck for the year.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Good luck |
My grandmother always made us eat herring at midnight on
New Year's Eve to bring us luck for the year.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Date learned: 00001972 and after
MY THREE GREAT AUNTS, WHO HAVE NEVER MARRIED, ARE OF
GERMAN ORIGIN, AND WHO LIVE TOGETHER IN A BIG HOUSE IN
BUFFALO, NEW YORK, WILL FAST, ABSTAIN FROM T. V.
STAY AT HOME AND PRAY FOR ONE MONTH AFTER A DEATH IN
THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-00-1968
AS A CLEVER WEDDING GIFT, A SET OF WHITE TOWELS
CAN BE MADE INTO A SIMULATED WEDDING CAKE. THREE
TOWELS OF DIFFERENT SIZES ARE WRAPPED IN SPIRALS
AND PLACED ON TOP OF EACH OTHER WITH THE LARGEST
ON THE BOTTOM. THE RESULT CLOSELY RESEMBLES A
WEDDING CAKE AND AN APPROPRIATE DECORATION MAY
BE ADDED ON THE TOP.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Gifts |
Date learned: 06-00-1966
GERMAN CUSTOM
JUST AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, A
GERMAN AMERICAN MAY EAT A PIECE OF MARINATED HERRING.
THIS IS SUPPOSED TO ENSURE GOOD LUCK FOR THE COMING
YEAR.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Date learned: 03-07-1971
RED ROVER
PLAYED BY TWO TEAMS OF ANY NUMBER. THE TEAMS LINE UP
ABOUT 30-50 FEET APART AND FORM TWO CHAINS BY
HOLDING HANDS. THEN ONE TEAM WILL CALL FOR A MEMBER
OF THE OTHER TEAM TO CROSS OVER AND TRY TO BREAK THE
CHAIN. IF HE BREAKS IT, HE TAKES ONE OF THAT TEAM
BACK TO HIS TEAM. IF HE FAILS, HE JOINS THAT TEAM.
"RED ROVER, RED ROVER, SEND (NAME) ON OVER."
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU PLACE A PURSE ON A BED, YOU'LL SOON HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
THERE IS A CHURCH IN LEWISTON, NEW YORK WHICH HAS BEEN EMPTY
FOR YEARS, AND ON CERTAIN NIGHTS WHEN IT IS APPROACHED
WITH A LIT LANTERN; IT IS BLOWN OUT.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK ; LEWISTON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.13 |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
HERE'S A WAY TO GET RID OF WARTS. SPIT ON A KERNEL OF CORN AND
THEN RUB THE CORN ON THE WART. BURY THE KERNEL AND THE
WART WILL GO AWAY.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
James Callow Keyword(s): PLUGGING ; TRANSFER
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: 03-12-1968
IF YOU SWEEP ON A YOUNG GIRL'S FEET, SHE WON'T GET
MARRIED.
Submitter comment: FROM MY MOTHER--COLLECTOR.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
BECAUSE A CIRCLE IS ENDLESS, A WEDDING RING IS THE
SYMBOL OF UNDYING LOVE.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Wedding ring |
Date learned: 10-00-1969
IN OLDEN DAYS, A BRIDE STOOD BENEATH A CANOPY TO SHOW
SHE WAS UNDER THE PROTECTION OF HER GROOM. NOWADAYS SHE
WEARS A WEDDING VEIL TO SYMBOLIZE HER SUBMISSION TO HIM.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Bride |
Date learned: 10-00-1969
FROM EARLIEST TIMES, NEWLYWEDS HAVE BEEN SHOWERED WITH
RICE OF ABUNDANCE, WHILE THE BRIDE'S FATHER THREW HER
SHOE AFTER THE GROOM, AS A TOKEN OF HIS SURRENDER OF
HIS DAUGHTER.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Rice |
Date learned: 10-00-1969
NUMBER OF FOGS IN AUGUST (EQUALS) THE NUMBER OF SNOWS IN
WINTER.
Submitter comment: TOLD TO ME BY DR. MORREL, BIOLOGY TEACHER AT PEABODY
Where learned: BUFFALO ; TENNESSEE ; LEBANON ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through A time segment or a direction BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WEATHER PREDICTION--THICKNESS OF OUTSIDE SKIN OF ONION.
Submitter comment: THIS BELIEF IS STILL HELD. PEOPLE WILL SEND IN THEIR
Where learned: BUFFALO ; TENNESSEE ; LEBANON ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Plants |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE STORY OF THE BOY WHO CAMPS OUT. AN ANT GETS IN HIS
EAR. AS THE YEARS GO BY, HE GETS WORSE HEADACHES.
FINALLY HE IS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND HIS HEAD IS SPLIT
OPEN. OUT COMES THOUSANDS OF ANTS, THEY HAD A COLONY
THERE.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses PROSE NARRATIVE -- Insect BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
LACKAWANNA
DID YOU EVER HEAR OF LACKAWANNA, NEW YORK? WELL, I USED TO LIVE
THERE A COUPLE (OF) YEARS AGO. THE STORY AROUND THERE CONCERNING
HOW THE CITY GOT ITS NAME GOES LIKE THIS: THERE WAS THIS INDIAN
TRIBE IN NEW YORK (THE ONEIDAS, I THINK) WHO INHABITED THE
BUFFALO AREA. ONE OF THE INDIANS GOT UP ON THIS BIG OLD HILL
AND SURVEYED THE AREA. ALL THE INDIAN COULD SEE WAS WATER, SO
HE SAID, "LACKAWANNA," WHICH WAS THAT TRIBE'S WAY OF SAYING, "AS
I STAND HIGH ON THIS HILL, AND I LOOK AROUND, ALL I CAN SEE IS
WATER." AND SO THAT IS HOW LACKAWANNA, NEW YORK, GOT ITS NAME.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT, A RESIDENT OF THE BUFFALO AREA, SAID THAT THIS IS
WHAT THE PEOPLE TOLD HIM WHEN HE MOVED THERE.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): TALL TALE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 05-12-1965
LAKE ERIE
REMEMBER YESTERDAY HOW I TOLD YOU HOW LACKAWANNA GOT ITS NAME
FROM AN INDIAN STANDING ON A HILL. WELL, THE NEXT DAY, THAT
INDIAN BROUGHT THE CHIEF UP TO THE SAME HILL. WHEN THE CHIEF
GOT UP THERE HE SAID, "YOU WERE RIGHT, ALL YOU CAN SEE FROM UP
HERE IS WATER. BOY, IS THIS EVER EERIE!" SO THAT'S HOW THAT
PARTICULAR BODY OF WATER GOT ITS NAME--LAKE ERIE.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SAID HE ALSO HEARD THIS IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): TALL TALE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 05-14-1965
SHAGGY DOG STORY
MAN WITH BOXER IN BAR, BRAGGING ABOUT HIS FIGHTING DOG.
OTHER MAN WITH SHAGGY DOG COMES IN. SHAGGY DOG BITES
BOXER'S HEAD OFF. SECOND MAN SAYS A FRIEND OF HIS FROM
AFRICA SENT HIM THE DOG AND BEFORE HE TRIMMED THAT LONG
HAIR OFF ITS NECK IT LOOKED LIKE HELL.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): LION
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 10-05-1971
BEDTIME STORY
THIS INFORMANT USED TO USE THIS STORY FOR HIS CHILDREN,
WHEN THEY WOULD ASK FOR A BEDTIME STORY.
"THIS IS THE SHORTEST BEDTIME STORY EVER TOLD: 'GOOD
NIGHT!'"
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: 11-00-1967