Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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PUT CLEAN SHEETS ON THE BEDS ON NEW YEAR'S DAY FOR A
CLEAN YEAR THROUGH.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
A DARK-HAIRED MAN MUST BE THE FIRST TO ENTER YOUR HOUSE
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY TO BRING GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
ON GOOD FRIDAY BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 12 NOON AND 3 P.M.
YOU SHOULD KEEP SILENT AND DO NOT USE THE RADIO, T.V.,
RECORD PLAYER, ETC.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | 663 Good Friday |
Date learned: 00001950S LATE
SWIENCONKA
ON HOLY SATURDAY YOU TAKE THE FOOD TO CHURCH TO BE
BLESSED. YOU CAN'T EAT THIS FOOD UNTIL EASTER
SUNDAY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Saturday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: 03-05-1972
SLOVAK
ON HOLY SATURDAY YOU TAKE HARD BOILED EGGS TO THE
CHURCH TO BE BLESSED. ON SUNDAY MORNING YOU SHARE
THE EGGS AND WISH EACH OTHER A HAPPY EASTER.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Saturday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
DUCK ON THE ROCKS
A GAME PLAYED IN MY CHILDHOOD. EVERYONE STARTS OUT WITH
HIS OWN CAN. ONE OF THE PLAYERS USUALLY TAKES IT UPON
HIMSELF TO BE IT. THE ONE THAT IS IT PLACES HIS CAN
ON A FAIRLY LARGE ROCK. A LINE IS DRAWN ABOUT THIRTY
FEET FROM THE ROCK. THE PLAYERS LINE UP AND TRY TO
KNOCK THE CAN OFF THE ROCK WITH THEIR CANS. IF ONE
PERSON KNOCKS THE CAN OFF THE ROCK, HE PICKS UP HIS
CAN AND RUNS FOR THE LINE. THE ONE WHO IS IT HAS
TO PUT HIS CAN BACK ON THE ROCK AND TOUCH THE OTHER
PLAYER BEFORE HE REACHES THE LINE. THE OTHER PLAYER
IS NOW IT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE FIRST PERSON TO SEE THE STREET LIGHTS COME ON AT
NIGHT WOULD COUNT OUT LOUD FROM ONE TO TEN AND YELL
"FIRST TO SEE THE STREETLIGHTS COME ON." THIS WAS
THE EXTENT OF THE GAME AND YOU WOULD CONTINUE ON
WITH WHAT YOU WERE DOING.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 00001950S LATE
LUCK STRIKE GAME
UPON SEEING AN EMPTY LUCKY STRIKE CIGARETTE PACK,
YOU TRY TO STEP ON IT WITH YOUR FOOT WITHOUT ANYBODY
ELSE SEEING YOU. THEN YOU ARE ALLOWED TO PUNCH THE
FIRST PERSON WHO COMES NEAR ENOUGH, SAYING, "LUCKY
STRIKE!" YOU MUST SAY "WIPED IT OFF!" OR THAT PERSON
CAN PUNCH YOU BACK USING THE SAME PACK. YOU USUALLY
PUNCHED THE PERSON IN THE ARM.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 00001950S
CADDY
HAVE A STICK TAPERED ON BOTH ENDS. YOU HIT IT ON
A SIDE AND WHEN IT FLIES UP INTO THE AIR, YOU TRY TO
HIT IT IN MID-AIR.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT PLAYED THIS GAME IN HIS CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 04-06-1972
MY MOTHER AND YOUR MOTHER WERE HANGING OUT CLOTHES
MY MOTHER GAVE YOUR MOTHER A PUNCH IN THE NOSE
WHAT COLOR DID IT TURN--
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A JUMP ROPE RHYME AND AFTER THE PLAYER SAYS, "WHAT COLOR
DID IT TURN, HE OR SHE THEN NAMES AS MANY COLORS AS SHE CAN
UNTIL SHE MISSES OR RUNS OUT OF COLORS, THEN IT IS SOMEONE-ELSE'S
TURN.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; ENDURANCE ; Jump
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 04-06-1972
IF IT'S A GREEN CHRISTMAS, THE GRAVEYARDS WILL BE FULL.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Beliefs BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
IF YOU FALL UP A CHURCH'S STEPS, YOU WON'T BE
MARRIED WITHIN THAT YEAR.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
AFTER YOU ARE MARRIED, THE FIRST PERSON TO SIT ON THE
BED IS THE BOSS.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage First night, honeymoon, and day after wedding |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
PEARLS BRINGS TEARS.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Metal Stone Bone Precious stone Gem BELIEF -- Use of Object BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
WHEN THE NICHOLSON BRIDGE, NICHOLSON, PENNSYLVANIA
WAS BEING CONSTRUCTED, A BLACK LARORER WAS SUPPOSEDLY
TO HAVE FALLEN INTO THE WET CONCRETE AND SUNK INTO IT
BEFORE HE COULD BE RETRIEVED. HE WAS LEFT THERE AND
HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED. THE STORY GOES THAT HE
WAS BURIED ALIVE IN THE 7TH PILLAR OF THE RAILROAD
BRIDGE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001950S LATE
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
(TALE WITH A PUN ON THE WORD COFFIN)
DID I EVER TELL YOU ABOUT THE TIME I WAS A PALLBEARER FOR
MY GIRLFRIEND'S GRANDFATHER? IT WAS IN SCRANTON LAST
WINTER. WE HAD HAD A BAD STORM THE DAY BEFORE AND ICE
WAS EVERYWHERE. OUR INSTRUCTIONS WERE THAT DUE TO THE
ICE, IF ANYONE OF US FELT WE WERE SLIPPING, WE SHOULD
LET GO OF THE COFFIN AND THE OTHER GUYS WOULD TAKE UP
THE LOAD. WELL, THIS CHURCH WAS LOCATED UP ON A HILL AND
HAD A REAL LONG SIDEWALK WITH A COUPLE OF SETS OF STEPS.
ANYWAY, WE WERE COMING OUT AND SURE ENOUGH, I DIDN'T
TAKE MORE THAN ABOUT THREE STEPS WHEN I STARTED SLIDING, SO
AS INSTRUCTED, I LET GO. WELL, I GUESS THE REST OF THE
GUYS WERE SLIPPING, TOO, BECAUSE THEY ALL LET GO AND AWAY
WENT THE COFFIN SAILING DOWN THE SIDEWALK. YOU COULDN'T
BELIEVE THE CONFUSION! ABOUT THREE WOMEN FAINTED, THEN
THE GRANDMOTHER FAINTED AND THE COFFIN WAS STILL SAILING
THEN A COUPLE MORE WOMEN FAINTED. THE COFFIN WENT ALL
THE WAY DOWN THE SIDEWALK THEN OUT INTO THE ROAD AND
THE CARS WERE SWERVING EVERYWHERE BUT THE COFFIN KEPT
ON GOING. WHEN IT HIT THE OTHER CURB THE TOP OF THE
COFFIN POPPED OPEN AND IT WAS HEADED RIGHT FOR THE DOOR
OF THE DRUGSTORE. THE COFFIN SAILED RIGHT INTO THE
STORE, RIGHT UP TO THE COUNTER, AND AS IT HIT THE COUNTER,
THE GRANDFATHER SAT UP AND SAID, "YOU GOT ANYTHING TO
STOP THIS COFFIN?"
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): COUGHING
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
Entry filtered.
WHEN THE NICHOLSON BRIDGE, NICHOLSON, PENNSYLVANIA
WAS BEING CONSTRUCTED, A BLACK LARORER WAS SUPPOSEDLY
TO HAVE FALLEN INTO THE WET CONCRETE AND SUNK INTO IT
BEFORE HE COULD BE RETRIEVED. HE WAS LEFT THERE AND
HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED. THE STORY GOES THAT HE
WAS BURIED ALIVE IN THE 7TH PILLAR OF THE RAILROAD
BRIDGE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001950S LATE
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