Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for GROSSE POINTE returned 650 results.
AUTOGRAPH VERSE
LONG MAY YOU LIVE
HAPPY MAY YOU DIE
SITTING ON A LOG
EATING APPLE PIE.
Submitter comment: (1939 BIRCH TREE, MONTANA)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; CLIPPED IAMBIC ; DEATH ; HAPPINESS ; HUMOR ; LONGEVITY ; QUATRAIN ; RHYME: ABCB ; WISH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Good wishes (sincere) |
Date learned: 03-01-1972
AUTOGRAPH VERSE
WHEN THE GOLDEN SUN IS SINKING
AND YOUR MIND IS FREE
WHEN YOU OFTEN THINK OF OTHERS,
WILL YOU SOMETIMES THINK OF ME?
Submitter comment: (1939, BIRCH TREE, MONTANA)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; CONTRAST ; FRIENDSHIP ; METER: TROCHEES ; QUATRAIN ; REQUEST FOR REMEMBRANCE ; RHYME: ABCB ; SERIOUSNESS ; SUNSET
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Remember me |
Date learned: 03-01-1972
IF YOUR LEFT PALM ITCHES YOU WILL
BE RECEIVING MONEY; IF YOUR
RIGHT PALM ITCHES YOU WILL BE MAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching hands and feet |
Date learned: 00001970S
MEDICAL PROVERB
A POUND OF KNOWLEDGE IS WORTH AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION.
DR. RUDGER SPOKE OF THIS LAUGHINGLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-05-1983
WHAT'S INVISIBLE AND SMELLS LIKE CARROTS?
REPLY: BUNNY FARTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
YOURS UNTIL THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER NEEDS RUBBER PANTS
TO KEEP ITS BOTTOM DRY.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A VERSE USED IN AUTOGRAPHS BOOKS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | Z210 |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
BEST FRIENDS HAVE LOTS IN COMMON:
WE LIKE TA READ,
WE LIKE TA PLAY,
WE LIKE TA PAINT,
WE LIKE TODAY,
I THINK YOUR GREAT
IN EVERY WAY.
Submitter comment: FOUND IN AUTOGRAPH BOOK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1976
I'M THE GIRL FROM THE CITY,
I'M THE GIRL FROM THE TOWN,
I'M THE GIRL WHO RUINED
YOUR BOOK BY WRITING
UPSIDE DOWN.
Submitter comment: FOUND IN AUTOGRAPH BOOK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
(PICTURE)=AUTO
I (PICTURE OF AUTO) CRY,
I (PICTURE OF AUTO) LAUGH,
I (PICTURE OF AUTO)SIGN,
MY (PICTURE OF AUTO)GRAPH.
Submitter comment:
MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE WHEN THE SMALL AUTOMOBILE IS DRAWN
IN THE PLACES INDICATED. FOUND IN AUTOGRAPH BOOK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
AT PARTIES, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT HAVE ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGES SERVED, I NOTICED THAT WHEN A PERSON GETS
SLIGHTLY TIPSY, HE WILL PICK UP A CAT (IF THERE IS ONE
AROUND), AND START SWINGING IT BY THE TAIL. MOST OF
THE TIMES, THE PERSON SWINGING THE CAT WILL HOP UP ON
A PIECE OF FURNITURE, SUCH AS A TABLE, CHAIR, OR COUCH,
JUST TO SHOW OFF WHAT HE IS DOING.
Submitter comment:
AT A GRADUATION PARTY, MY FRIEND BEGAN SWINGING HIS
CAT BY THE TAIL, AND A FEW SECONDS LATER WAS HOLDING
ONLY THE TAIL. I TOLD THIS EVENT TO SEVERAL PEOPLE
AND FOUND OUT THE ABOVE ITEM. NEEDLESS TO SAY, MY
FRIEND'S CAT STILL DOESN'T LIKE HIM, AND PROBABLY
NEVER WILL.
ONE THING THAT I NOTICED DIFFERENT BETWEEN THIS
INCIDENT AND THE ITEM WAS THAT MOST OF THE TIME WHEN OTHER
PEOPLE WERE SWINGING THEIR CATS BY THE TAILS, THE CATS STAYED
ATTACHED TO THEIR TAILS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE ; DETROIT ; ROSEVILLE
Keyword(s): ANIMAL TORTURE ; EXPRESSING HAPPINESS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
What is the best kind of chicken to eat?
Cooked chicken!
Submitter comment: One of her preschool children told her this riddle.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
Keyword(s): FOOD
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1991
Mock Wedding
There is an annual "Mock Wedding" party among the
lifeguards at Windmill Pointe Park. The name of each guard
is written on a piece of paper, and put into a pot. There is
a list of all the participants in the wedding, such as: the
bride, groom, wedding party, photographer, parents of bride
and groom, drinking buddies, flower girl and ring bearer,
choir, jilted lovers, priest, etc.
One by one the names are drawn, and written on the list of
titles, respectively (according to male & female).
The different groups of people in the wedding can come up
with themes for their members. Example: One year the bride
and her maids & buddies, all wore black. One year they
dressed like hippies.
The day of the "wedding" the ceremony takes place. As the
choir sings its creative songs, others play their part.
After the ceremony, a "good time" is had by all at the
reception.
Submitter comment:
Our mock wedding took place in the old bathhouse at the
park. It has been converted into a hall for real parties
as well.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
Keyword(s): tradition, pretend
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 06-00-1987
One, two, Freddy's coming for you.
Three, four, better lock the door.
Five, six, grab your crucifix.
Seven, eight, better stay up late.
Submitter comment:
This is a jump-rope rhyme about Freddy Kruger, the villain of
the Nightmare on Elm Street movies.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
If you yawn and don't cover your mouth, the devil will steal
your breath away.
Submitter comment: This is a saying popular among young children.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1990
An old family graveyard had to be dug up and moved to make
room for a major highway that was being made in the Detroit,
Michigan area. It was found that one woman had been buried while
she was still living. This was known to be true because the
deceased had rolled over on to her abdomen in her casket and had
pulled all of her hair out of her scalp.
Submitter comment:
This was told to the informant by a Grosse Pointe teacher who
knew it to be true because the deceased was her grandmother.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
James Callow Keyword(s): PREMATURE BURIAL
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
It has recently become popular for males to wear an earring in
one ear. Frequently the ear that the earring is worn in is used to
tell the sexual preference of the wearer. The saying "left is
right and right is wrong" tells that an earring in the left ear
means that the wearer is heterosexual and an earring in the right
ear means that the wearer is gay or homosexual.
Submitter comment: This has become popular in the early 1990s.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
James Callow Keyword(s): LEFT RIGHT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 00-00-1991
Red and yellow,
Kill a fellow.
Red and black,
Venom lack.
Submitter comment:
This rhyme is used to tell venomous and non-venomous snakes
apart. The color refers to the consecutive color bands only. If
red and black color rings touch on the snake, it is not venomous.
If red and yellow color bands touch on the snake, it is usually a
venomous snake.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1991
MARCH 18
PLACE AN EGG ON AN ANTHILL ON MARCH 18 AND LEAVE IT THERE
FOR THREE DAYS. WHOEVER TOUCHES IT NEXT WILL FALL HEAD
OVER HEELS IN LOVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 F642.9 |
Date learned: 02-05-1970
ON A BIRTHDAY CAKE, A CANDLE IS PLACED AND LIT FOR EACH
YEAR OF THE PERSON'S LIFE. IF IN ONE BREATH THE
PERSON WHO HAS THE BIRTHDAY CAN BLOW OUT ALL OF THE
CANDLES, HIS WISH WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 04-26-1972
THERE IS ANOTHER POLISH WEDDING CUSTOM THAT INVOLVES THE
BRIDE. AFTER THE GRAND MARCH, THE BRIDE IS TO DANCE WITH
THE GROOM; THEN AS THE SONG "TWELVE ANGELS" IS SUNG BY
ALL PEOPLE SURROUNDING THEM (MAKING A CIRCLE AROUND THEM),
SHE GIVES HER VEIL TO EACH OF HER BRIDESMAIDS TO WEAR AND
DANCE WITH THIS GOES ON FOR THE WHOLE SONG, WHICH IS
DIRECTED BY THE COOK, AND ENDS WITH THE BRIDE SITTING ON
THE GROOM'S LAP WHILE "LET ME CALL YOU SWEETHEART" IS
PLAYED, AND SUNG BY ALL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Circle singing |
Date learned: 01-30-1972