Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for PENNSYLVANIA returned 515 results.
(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.
SHE DOESN'T HAVE ANY FLIES ON HER, AND IF SHE DOES,
THEY'RE DEAD ONES.
Submitter comment:
{WHEN SAID?}
{IF A PERSON WHO IS ALWAYS ON THE GO, SAYS COLLECTOR.}
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
STEW IN YOUR OWN JUICE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A SAYING HER MOTHER'S MOTHER USED AND IT
MEANS IF YOU GET YOURSELF INTO TROUBLE, GET YOURSELF
OUT OF IT OR PUT UP WITH IT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 03-17-1972
BLESSING YOURSELF OR MAKING SOME FORM OF THE CROSS
WHEN YOU PASS A CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Date learned: 00001950S LATE
BEFORE ENTERING THE WATER WHEN SWIMMING, YOU SHOULD
BLESS YOURSELF WITH A SIGN OF THE CROSS WITH THE
WATER, TO ENSURE A SAFE SWIM.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Bless ; BLESSING ; Cross ; CUSTOM ; EXERCISE ; GAME ; LUCK ; SAFETY ; Sport ; SUPERSTITION ; Swim ; SWIMMING ; WATER
Date learned: 00001950S LATE
CHRISTMAS SUPERSTITION
ON CHRISTMAS DAY, IF A MAN WALKS INTO YOUR HOUSE FIRST, YOU WILL
HAVE GOOD LUCK, BUT IF A WOMAN WALKS IN FIRST, YOU WILL HAVE BAD
LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HER PARENTS (1920'S) WHO BELIEVED IT. SHE
MAY MENTION IT NOW, BUT DOES NOT BELIEVE IT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; TOLD AT INFORMANTS HOME ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Predictions |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
A BIRD CHIRPING OUTSIDE A WINDOW DURING THE NIGHT MEANS THAT
SOMEONE WILL DIE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
Submitter comment:
Mary Bieniek. 82 years old. Housewife - Polish. Smock, Penn.
My grandmother told this to me this summer and said that it has happened each time anyone from our family has died.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SMOCK
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 08-17-1973
SCHOOL BELIEF
IT IS BELIEVED THAT GETTING TOTALLY DRUNK THE NIGHT BEFORE A
PSYCHOLOGY TEST WILL BRING A PASSING GRADE ON THE TEST.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT AND HIS ROOMMATE FOLLOWED THIS FOR THREE
TESTS AND RECEIVED THREE PASSING GRADES OF B OR BETTER,
HOWEVER THE INFORMANT LATER DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL DUE TO POOR GRADES.
Data entry tech comment:
Told at the University of Scranton 1969-1970.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON ; SCRANTON
James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School |
Date learned: 00001969-00001970
Bingo
There was a man who had a dog
And Bingo was his name-o.
B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; JOHNSTOWN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Froggy Song
Here's a lively song of a froggy by the pond:
Crick-crick-crickety-crick berrong--
Submitter comment:
Informant learned in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, while working on a playground.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PLAYGROUND ; JOHNSTOWN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Little Bumble Bee
I caught a little baby bumble bee -- won't my mommy be surprised at me -- I caught a little baby bumble bee -- Buzzy Wuzzy -- Buzzy Wuzzy -- OUCH! he stung me. I'm squashing up a baby bumble bee -- won't my mommy be surprised at me -- I'm squashing up a baby bumble bee -- YUCK! He got blood on me!
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; JOHNSTOWN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Magic Mirror
Romper, Bomper, Stomper, Boo
Tell me, tell me, tell me true
Did my friends have fun at play
Magic mirror tell me today.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; JOHNSTOWN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Sleep Johnny
Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite, little Johnny wants to sleep tonight.
Submitter comment:
Informant learned this in the 1920s.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Cradle song Lullaby |
I went downtown to see Mrs. Brown
I went downtown to seed Mrs. Brown
She gave me a nickel to buy a pickle
Theckle was sour; she gave me a flower
Ther flower was red; she gave me some thread;
The thread was thin; she gave me a pin;
The pin was sharp; She gave me a harp;
And the harp played salt, mustard, and pepper.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; JOHNSTOWN ; While working on a playground
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |