Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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BLUE NOSE
BLUE-NOSE: NAME GIVEN TO SUBMARINERS WHO PASS AN INITIATION CEREMONY
UPON CROSSING THE ARCTIC CIRCLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing SPEECH -- Trade & commerce |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
GOOD LUCK
OLD SCOTTISH WOMEN WOULD APPROACH A U.S. NAVY SAILOR WHO WAS WEARING
THE "CRACKER JACK" UNIFORM, WHICH IS THE UNIFORM WITH THE BELL-BOTTOM
TROUSERS, AND RUB THE STARS ON THE BACK FLAP OF THE UNIFORM SHIRT
FOR GOOD LUCK. THIS TOOK PLACE IN 1976 IN HOLY LOCH SCOTLAND.
Submitter comment:
THE GOOD LUCK FEELING ATTACHED TO THIS PRACTICE SEEMS TO HAVE COME
FROM WORLD WAR TWO WHEN THE AMERICANS ENTERED THE WAR TO HELP THE
BRITISH ISLES IN FIGHTING GERMANY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
MARRIAGE CUSTOM
IN THE NIGERIAN TRIBE HAUSA, THE COUPLE DOES NOT BEGIN TO LIVE
TOGETHER UNTIL TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING THE WEDDING.
Submitter comment: THIS IS DONE IN NIGERIA
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour BELIEF -- Number P686.1.14 |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
I AM GOING DOWN TOWN TO SMOKE MY PIPE
THIS GAME IS PLAYED WITH A BIG GROUP OF PEOPLE. ONE PERSON IS
PICKED AS THE MOTHER AND ONE PERSON IS PICKED AS THE WITCH. THE
REST ARE CHILDREN. THE WITCH GOES TO HER HOUSE WHICH IS IN A DESIG-
NATED AREA. THE CHILDREN THEN STAND IN A LINE AND THE MOTHER BEGINS
HER CHANT, POINTING AT EACH CHILD AS SHE SAYS EACH WORD:
I'M GOING DOWNTOWN TO SMOKE MY PIPE,
AND I WONT BE HOME TILL SATURDAY NIGHT.
I'LL WHIP YOU BLACK, I'LL WHIP YOU BLUE,
ESPECIALLY YOU, MY DAUGHTER SUE.
THE PERSON THE MOTHER POINTS TO WHEN SHE SAYS SUE WILL BE SUE
FOR THIS PART OF THE GAME. THE MOTHER THEN LEAVES AND THE WITCH
COMES TO THE DOOR. SHE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR AND SUE GOES TO ANSWER IT.
THE WITCH THEN ASKS FOR SOME PIE OR CAKE OR SOMETHING, AND SUE BRINGS
SOME TO HER, PRETENDING TO BE HOLDING IT IN HER HANDS. THE WITCH
THEN HITS SUES HANDS AND SAYS:
I DON'T WANT THE PIE, I WANT YOU, AND GRABS HER
AND TAKES HER TO THE WITCH'S HOUSE. THEN THE MOTHER COMES HOME AND
STARTS COUNTING HER CHILDREN, 1,2,3,4,5,6?6? WHERES 6? WHERES SUE?
SO THE MOTHER GOES TO THE WITCH'S HOUSE AND ASKS THE WITCH IF SHE
HAS SEEN SUE. THE WITCH ANSWERS THAT I THINK I SAW HER ON (AND SHE
MAKES UP THE NAME OF A STREET SUCH AS BANANA PEEL STREET), SO THEN
THE MOTHER GOES DOWN BANANA PEEL STREET, SLIPPING ON BANANA PEELS,
AND DOESN'T FIND SUE, SO SHE GOES BACK HOME. THEN SHE STARTS WITH
I'M GOING DOWNTOWN,
ALL OVER AGAIN UNTIL ALL THE CHILDREN ARE TAKEN
BY THE WITCH. SHE KEEPS SENDING MOM DOWN DIFFERENT STREETS SUCH AS
NAIL STREET, FIRE STREET, AND HOT FUDGE STREET,
UNTIL THERE ARE NO MORE
CHILDREN TO GO HOME TO. SO SHE GOES BACK TO THE WITCH'S HOUSE AND
ASKS IF SHE COULD COME IN. THE WITCH SAYS YES BUT FIRST, YOUR FEET
ARE DIRTY, SO YOU MUST CUT THEM OFF. SO THE MOTHER CUTS OFF HER FEET.
THEN THE WITCH SAYS, YOU WILL GET BLOOD ALL OVER MY CARPET, WIPE OFF
THE BLOOD. SO THE MOTHER WIPES OFF THE BLOOD AND IS ALLOWED TO GO
IN THE HOUSE. ALL THE CHILDREN ARE LINED UP TOGETHER WITH THEIR
HANDS OUT, PALMS UP. THE MOTHER SAYS, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PIANO, MAY
I PLAY IT? THE WITCH SAYS, HERE, I WILL PLAY IT FOR YOU. AND SHE HITS
THE HANDS, AND THE CHILD WHO BELONGS TO THE HAND THAT IS HIT SAYS A
NOTE, (DO, RE, MI, ETC,) THEN THE MOTHER SAYS, I WANT TO PLAY IT AND
WHEN SHE HITS THE HANDS, THE CHILDREN REPLY, MAMA, MAMA, AND THE
MOTHER SAYS, MY CHILDREN, AND THEY ALL RUN HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dramatic |
Date learned: CA00001960
WHEN PLAYING CARDS, NEVER ALLOW A PERSON TO STAND
OVER YOU AND LOOK AT YOUR CARDS, YOU WILL NEVER
WIN.
Submitter comment: FROM FRIENDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ; Lansing
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 10-21-1967
Entry filtered.
CUSTOM
IT IS A CUSTOM IN OUR FAMILY TO GIVE THE FIR'ST SON HIS FATHERS
NAME AS A MIDDLE NAME, SUCH AS JOHN--EDWARD JOHN--KEITH EDWARD.
Submitter comment:
I AM NOT SURE WHEN THIS CUSTOM ORIGINATED, BUT I CAN TRACE IT BACK
TO 1900.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: CA00001960
MNENOMIC DEVICE
ARITHMETIC--A RAT IN THE HOUSE, MIGHT EAT THE ICE CREAM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Memory ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MNEM |
Date learned: 00001960S
LEAVE TAKING FORMULA
AFTER AWHILE, CROCODILE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech |
Date learned: 00001960S
LEAVE TAKING REPLY
SAME TO YOU, KANGAROO.
Submitter comment: REPLY TO "SEE YOU LATER, ALLIGATOR."
Where learned: MICHIGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech |
Date learned: 00001960S
LEAVE TAKING FORMULA
SEE YOU LATER, ALLIGATOR
Where learned: MICHIGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech |
Date learned: 00001960S
BELIEF
DURING DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR, LITTLE WHITE FLUFFS FLOAT IN
THE AIR. WE CALL THEM SANTA CLAUSES AND IF YOU CATCH ONE AND MAKE
A WISH, THEN LET IT GO, YOUR WISH WILL COME TRUE.
Submitter comment:
I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE LITTLE WHITE FLUFF IS, BUT SOME HAVE SAID IT
COULD BE A COTTONWOOD TREE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Prayer SPEECH -- Folk Name for Plant |
Date learned: 00001960S
BELIEF
IF SOMEONE HAS A NECKLACE ON, AND THE CHAIN MOVES, SO THAT THE
CLASP IS NEXT TO THE PENDANT, THE PERSON GETS TO MAKE A WISH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): JEWELRY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00001960S
BELIEF
IF YOU STEP ON A LINE, YOU BREAK YOUR FATHER'S SPINE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00001960S
BELIEF
IF YOU STEP ON A CRACK, YOU BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00001960S
WHEN EARLY MORN
WHEN EARLY MORNING'S RUDDY LIGHT,
BIDS MAN TO LABOR GO,
WE HASTE WITH SCYTHES, ALL SHARP AND BRIGHT,
THE MEADOW'S GRASS TO MOW.
WE MOWERS DEL DE REL DEY,
WE CUT THE LILLIES AND HA, HA, HA
HA, HA, HA, HEY DEY, DEY, YES HEY DEY, DEY.
WE CUT THE LILLIES AND HAY.
HEY, DEY, DEY, YES HEY DEY DEY
WE CUT THE LILLIES AND HAY.
THE MAIDENS COME IN GLADSOME TRAIN,
AND SKIP ALONG THEIR WAY,
THE MAIDENS DEL, DE, REL, DEY
THEY CUT THE LILLIES AND HA, HA, HA,
HA, HA, HA, HEY DEY DEY, YES HEY DEY, DEY,
THEY CUT THE LILLIES AND HAY.
HEY DEY DEY, YES HEY DEY DEY
THEY CUT THE LILLIES AND HAY.
Submitter comment:
MAY 17, 1965: I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MY MOTHER SAYING THAT
MY FATHER GO UP TO GAYLORD WHERE THEY HAVE A SMALL PLOT OF LAND WHICH
MY MOTHER LIVES IN DEARBORN, MICHIGAN, BUT DURING THE SUMMER SHE AND
THEY "FARM".
SHE SENT ME THE SONG WHICH APPEARS ON THE OTHER SIDE FROM GAYLORD.
AT THE END OF HER NOTE, SHE WROTE:
"IN 1912 I SANG THAT (THE SONG) IN MRS. BESSIE SPEARS 4TH
ROOM AT CASTNER SCHOOL, DONORA, PA."
THE SONG WAS SUNG FROM A BOOK, BUT THAT SHE STILL REMEMBERS THE TUNE.
Was possibly once a work song.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Gaylord
Keyword(s): Ballad ; Lyrics ; RHYME ; SONG ; Tune
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Joy Happiness |
Date learned: 05-11-1965
PLANTING CUSTOM
AT PLANTING TIME, YOU EXCHANGE SEEDLINGS WITH YOUR NEIGHBOR BUT
DO NOT PLANT THEM UNTIL A SIGNAL IS GIVEN BY THE RAIN PEOPLE, WHO ARE
THOSE WISE MEN WHO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF WHEN IT WILL RAIN.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN NIGERIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
WEATHER BELIEF
IF A RAINBOW APPEARS AT THE BEGINNING OF A STORM, THE RAINBOW
SIGNIFIES THAT AN IMPORTANT PERSON OR LARGE ANIMAL IS BEING BORN.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN NIGERIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
BAD LUCK
DO NOT EAT MONKEY BECAUSE OF ITS RESEMBLANCE TO MAN.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN NIGERIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Meat Wild animal BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
GOOD LUCK
A STONE IS PLACED IN YOUR FRONT YARD AND BLOOD FROM ANY ANIMAL YOU
KILL TO EAT, IS SPRINKLED ON THIS STONE. THIS HAS THE DEVIL STOPPING
AT THE STONE FOR BLOOD INSTEAD OF COMING INTO YOUR HOUSE FOR IT.
Submitter comment: THIS IS BELIEVED IN NIGERIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 10-00-1981