Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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SITTING SHIVA
WHEN AN IMMEDIATE MEMBER OF A JEWISH FAMILY DIES THE RELATIVES SIT
ON SMALL STOOLS FOR ONE WEEK.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS SITTING SHIVA AND DURING THIS TIME FRIENDS COME TO THE
HOME AND PAY THEIR CONDOLENCES.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
DURING THE SUCCOT HOLIDAY THE JEWISH PEOPLE EAT THEIR MEALS IN A HUT
OR SUCCOT.
Submitter comment: THIS HOLIDAY COMES RIGHT AFTER NEW YEAR'S.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
James Callow Keyword(s): SUCCOT ; SUKKOT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Autumn Fall Harvest Thanksgiving |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
EVERY JEWISH HOUSE HAS A MAZUZAH ON ITS DOORPOST FOR EACH MEMBER
TO KISS BEFORE THEY ENTER THE HOUSE
Submitter comment: THIS IS SHOWING RESPECT FOR GOD. THE MAZUZAH IS A FORM OF MEDAL.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
PREDICTION DIVINATION
WHEN THE APPLE BLOSSOMS ARE ON THE TREES,
THE BULLHEADS WILL BE BITING.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
AFTER GRADUATION AT WEST POINT, THE NEW LIEUTENANTS RETURN TO
THEIR ROOMS AND THROW THEIR CADET UNIFORMS OUT THE WINDOWS TO THE
CHILDREN WHO HAVE GATHERED FOR THE CEREMONY. THE GRADUATES HAVE
NO FURTHER USE FOR THE CLOTHES THEY WORE WHILE THEY WERE CADETS.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAW THIS HAPPEN AFTER THE GRADUATION OF JUNE 1961.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): GRADUATION MILITARY CADETS ; MILITARY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 |
Date learned: 03-01-1972
Language: Rhyme
DAN, DAN A DIRTY OLD MAN
WASHED HIS FACE IN THE FRYING PAN
HE COMBED HIS HAIR WITH THE LEG OF A CHAIR
DAN, DAN THE DIRTY OLD MAN.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAYS IT HAS A TUNE BUT SHE CAN'T REMEMBER IT.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD 02-22-2011
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): Dan ; Dirty ; Man ; NAME ; Old ; Pan ; RHYME ; RIDICULE ; Tucker
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery |
CONJURATION
IF A BABY HAS BEEN FRIGHTENED BY SOMEONE OR
SOMETHING AND IT CRIES OUT DURING IT'S SLEEP,
YOU TAKE TWO STRAWS FROM A BROOM AND FORM THEM INTO
A CROSS. THEN YOU TAKE AND MELT WAX FROM A BLESSED CANDLE,
NEXT YOU MAKE SURE THE BABY IS COVERED, HOLD A PAN
OR CONTAINER OVER THE BABY'S HEAD WITH THE
CROSS OVER IT AND THEN POUR THE HOT WAX OVER THE CROSS.
A FIGURE OF WHATEVER FRIGHTENED THE BABY WILL FORM
ON THE CROSS FROM THE WAX. AFTER THIS IS DONE THE BABY
WILL NO LONGER BE FRIGHTENED. THE ABOVE IS REFERRED
TO AS OKADZICH.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
AT THE BAR, AT THE BAR,
WHERE I SMASHED MY FIRST CIGAR
AND THE DIMES AND THE NICKELS ROLLED AROUND
IT WAS THERE BY CHANCE
THAT I TORE MY SUNDAY PANTS
AND NOW I HAVE TO WEAR THEM EVERYDAY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S FATHER USED TO SING THIS SONG ALL THE TIME.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): JOKE ; MUSIC ; PARODY ; SONG ; Tune ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
CHILDREN'S RHYME
MISSISSIPPI SAID TO MISSOURI,
" WHAT DID DELAWARE? "
VIRGINIA SAID, " ALASKA. "
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 04-01-1972
CHILDREN'S RHYME
KINDERGARTEN BABY,
STICK YOUR HEAD IN GRAVY.
WASH IT OUT WITH BUBBLE GUM,
AND SEND IT TO THE NAVY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 03-00-1972
GIZZARD
SOAP IS GOOD FOR THE GIZZARD.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
YOUR MOTHER, MY MOTHER LIVE ACROSS THE WAY
EVERY NIGHT THEY HAVE A FIGHT
AND THIS IS WHAT THEY SAY,
YOUR OLD MAN IS A DIRTY OLD MAN
CAUSE HE WASHES HIS FACE WITH THE FRYING PAN
HE COMBS HIS HAIR WITH THE LEG OF THE CHAIR.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
TALL TALE: JOHN MUSKOVICH (PRONOUNCED MUS-KOH'-VICH)
DID I EVER TELL YOU THE STORY OF THE GREATEST AMERICAN--JOHN
MUSKOVICH? ONE DAY JOHN WAS SITTING AT THE LOCAL BAR IN MINOOKA,
PENNSYLVANIA WHEN THE GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA, MILTON SCHAPP, WAS
ON TELEVISION. JOHN TURNED TO HIS BUDDY AND SAYS, "HEY, THERE'S
MY BUDDY MILTY; ME AND MILT HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR A LONG TIME."
HIS BUDDY RESPONDS, "ARE YOU TELLING ME YOU ARE FRIENDS WITH THE
GOVERNOR OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS STATE?" TO WHICH JOHN REPLIES,
"YEAH." HIS BUDDY SAYS, "WELL, I'LL BET YOU TEN DOLLARS THAT YOU
DON'T REALLY KNOW THE GOVERNOR." SO THAT AFTERNOON THE TWO GUYS
GOT INTO THE CAR AND WENT OFF TO HARRISBURG. SOON AFTER THEY
WALKED INTO THE CAPITAL BUILDING, NONE OTHER THAN MILTON SCHAPP
CAME WALKING DOWN THE HALL. AS SOON AS SCHAPP SAW JOHN HE SAYS,
"JOHN MUSKOVICH, HOW YA DOIN'. LONG TIME . . . ." SO JOHN WON
THE TEN DOLLARS.
THE NEXT DAY JOHN AND HIS BUDDY WRE BACK IN MINOOKA WATCHING THE
TELEVISION WHEN PRESIDENT NIXON CAME ON. JOHN IMMEDIATELY SAYS,
"HEY, THERE'S MY BUDDY TRICKY DICK." HIS BUDDY SAYS, "WAIT A
MINUTE. YESTERDAY YOU SAID YOU KNEW THE GOVERNOR, NOW YOU SAY
YOU KNOW THE PRESIDENT. I'LL BET YOU $100 THAT YOU DON'T KNOW
THE PRESIDENT." AND THE NEXT MORNING THE TWO WERE OFF TO WASHING-
TON, D.C. THEY WERE WALKING OUTSIDE OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND PAT
NIXON JUST HAPPENED TO BE OUT ON THE LAWNS AND SHE IMMEDIATELY
SPOTS JOHN AND SAYS, "JOHN MUSKOVICH! HOW ARE YOU? IT'S BEEN A
LONG TIME. DICK WILL BE SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU." AND JOHN WON THE
$100.
ABOUT A WEEK LATER BACK AT THE MINOOKA BAR, THE TWO MEN WERE TALK-
ING AND JOHN'S BUDDY SAID, "LAST WEEK YOU SAID YOU KNEW THE GOVER-
NOR AND THEN THE PRESIDENT; I BET THE NEXT THING YOU'LL SAY IS
THAT YOU KNOW THE POPE!" TO WHICH JOHN REPLIES, "HEY, ME AND PAUL
BEEN FRIENDS FOR A LONG TIME." HIS BUDDY SAYS, "OKAY, I'LL BET
YOU $1,000 YOU DON'T KNOW THE POPE." AND THE NEXT DAY THE TWO ARE
ON A PLANE HEADED FOR THE VATICAN. WHEN THEY GET THERE IT JUST
HAPPENED THAT THE POPE WAS HAVING AN AUDIENCE WITH THE PUBLIC THAT
AFTERNOON. JOHN DECIDED TO LEAVE HIS BUDDY IN THE CROWD AND
HEADED IN TO SEE THE POPE HIMSELF. JUST AFTER JOHN WALKS OUT ON
THE BALCONY WITH THE POPE, THERE'S A BIG COMMOTION IN THE CROWD AND
JOHN SEES THAT HIS BUDDY HAD PASSED OUT. JOHN COMES RUNNING DOWN
AND GETS OVER TO HIS BUDDY AND SAYS, "HEY, WHAT HAPPENED?" HIS
BUDDY REPLIES,"THERE WERE THESE TWO NUNS NEXT TO ME AND ONE SAID
TO THE OTHER, 'WHO'S THAT UP THERE WITH JOHN MUSKOVICH?'"
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
GAME
TWO OR MORE PEOPLE PLAY DREDEL. THE DREDLE IS SHAPED LIKE A TOP BUT
WITH FIVE SIDES. EACH SIDE A HEBREW LETTER ON IT, EACH LETTER MEANS A
GOOD OR BAD PRIZE. ONE PERSON SPINS AND WHATEVER HE LANDS
ON THAT'S
WHAT HE WINS. EACH PERSON ONLY SPINS ONCE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 06-00-1972
IF YOU BRUSH YOUR HAIR ONE HUNDRED TIMES EVERY DAY, YOU WILL ALWAYS
HAVE SHINY HAIR.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT FIRMLY BELIEVES THIS.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Number P686.1.100 BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-05-1972
PREDICTION DIVINATION
AN ITCHY NOSE MEANS YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A QUARREL OR FIGHT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 01-00-1970
BELIEF ABOUT FOOD
EATING THE CRUST OF THE BREAD WILL GIVE YOU CURLY HAIR.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
DEVIL BELIEF
WHISTLING IN THE HOUSE BRINGS OUT THE DEVIL.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.8 |
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
A PARTNERSHIP IS A POOR SHIP TO SAIL ON
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): PUN
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; FUNCTION ; OBSERVATION ; REVERSAL
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
EASTER CUSTOM
CHEESE PIES MUST BE EATEN AT EASTER.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting F663.1!2 |
Date learned: 04-00-1972