Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for HOME returned 1952 results.
THE HOOK
A COUPLE WAS PARKED ON SPINAZA DRIVE (IN ROUGE PARK)
WHEN AN ANNOUNCEMENT CAME OVER THE NEWS THAT A
DANGEROUS MAN, WITH A HOOK FOR ONE HAND, WAS AT
LARGE IN THE DETROIT AREA. THE GIRL STARTED TO
WORRY AND ASKED HER BOYFRIEND TO TAKE HER HOME. HE
SAID IT WAS SHEER NONSENSE AND REFUSED. SHE STARTED
TO CRY AND SAID THAT IF HE DIDN'T TAKE HER HOME
RIGHT THIS MINUTE SHE WOULDN'T GO OUT WITH HIM ANY
MORE. HE GOT MAD, DROPPED IT IN LOW (THE GEAR) AND
SCREECHED OFF. HE TOOK HER HOME AND AS HE WENT TO
OPEN THE DOOR FOR HER, HE SAW A HOOK ON THE HANDLE.
Submitter comment:
CHARLIE WAS THE FIRST TO TELL THIS STORY TO ME AND HE
DOESN'T REMEMBER WHERE HE FIRST HEARD IT. HOWEVER,
IT WAS A WELL KNOWN FACT AT THIS TIME BECAUSE I
REMEMBER HEARING IT OFTEN. IT WAS TOLD AS TRUE
EVERY TIME.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1957
EMBARRASSING SITUATION
THIS CERTAIN COUPLE WAS ENGAGED WHEN THE GUY'S BROTHER
ASKED HIM IF HE WOULD BABY-SIT FOR HIM WHILE HE AND
HIS WIFE WENT OUT FOR THE EVENING. HE TOLD HIM THAT
HE WOULD BE ONLY TOO GLAD TO, IF HE COULD BRING HIS
FIANC`E ALONG. THE BROTHER SAID THAT HE DIDN'T
FIGURE THAT HE COULD DO IT ALONE, SINCE HE KNEW
NOTHING ABOUT KIDS AND WAS HOPING HIS BROTHER WOULD
BRING HIS FIANCE`. SO THEY WENT. THAT NIGHT, AFTER
THE KIDS WERE ASLEEP, THE COUPLE THOUGHT THAT SINCE
THE WEDDING WAS SO CLOSE, THEY MIGHT JUST AS WELL TRY
THE SHOE ON AND SEE IF IT FITS. SO THEY WERE HAVING
A GOOD OLD TIME WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEY DISCOVERED
THAT THE LIGHTS WERE OUT. THE GUY FIGURED THAT IT
MUST HAVE BEEN A FUSE, AND SO HE WENT DOWNSTAIRS TO
CHANGE IT. HOWEVER, THE GIRL INSISTED THAT SHE
DIDN'T WANT TO STAY UPSTAIRS ALONE AND FOR HIM TO
TAKE HER ALONG. THEY WERE IN HIGH SPIRITS AND SO HE
GAVE HER A PIGGY-BACK RIDE. THEY WERE IN THE NUDE.
WHEN THEY GOT DOWNSTAIRS, THE LIGHTS WENT ON AND
EVERYBODY YELLED "SURPRISE!" THE RELATIVES HAD
GATHERED FOR A SURPRISE PARTY.
THE GIRL WENT OUT OF HER MIND AND STILL IS IN THE
INSANE ASYLUM.
Submitter comment:
THIS STORY IS TOLD AS TRUE.
JOHN DOYLE LEARNED THIS STORY FROM HIS OLDER SISTER
EARLIER THAT DAY. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE
HAPPENED TO ONE OF HER GIRLFRIEND'S COUSINS.
JOHN FENSCAK TOLD THE VERY SAME STORY, IN EVERY
DETAIL, AS HAVING HAPPENED TO ONE OF HIS FRIEND'S
BROTHERS. JOHN INSISTS THAT THIS ACTUALLY
HAPPENED, IN NEW JERSEY. ACCORDING TO JOHN DOYLE,
IT HAPPENED IN DETROIT ABOUT ONE YEAR EARLIER.
ACCORDING TO FENSCAK IT HAPPENED IN THE SUMMER OF
1962.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
ITCHY FEET
IF THE BOTTOM OF YOUR FEET ITCH YOU WILL SOON BE WALKING ON STRANGE
GROUND OR IN A STRANGE PLACE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT JUST MENTIONED THIS ONE DAY.
Where learned: NEIGHBORS HOME ; MINNESOTA ; GULLY
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
DRUNK
THE DRUNK WAS KNOCKING ON THE POLE OF THE STREET LIGHT.
A POLICEMAN ASKED HIM WHAT HE WAS DOING. THE DRUNK
REPLIED, "KNOCKING, OFFICER, THERE MUST BE SOMEONE HOME,
THERE'S A LIGHT ON IN THE SECOND STORY."
Submitter comment: FROM A FELLOW WORKER.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 11-15-1967
DAILY LIFE FLOWER CUSTOM
IN HAWAII THE NATIVE GIRLS WEAR A FLOWER OVER THEIR
LEFT EAR IF THEY ARE SINGLE AND ARE MARRIAGEABLE.
THEY WEAR A FLOWER OVER THEIR RIGHT EAR WHEN THEY
ARE ALREADY MARRIED.
Where learned: HIS HOME
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Daily Life |
Date learned: 01-21-1968
SLAVIC CUSTOM
A TRADITIONAL SLAVIC CUSTOM IS NOT TO DRINK WATER
WITH THE MEAL.
Where learned: HIS HOME
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
POLISHING FLOORS
MY GRANDMOTHER STATES THAT, IN HER DAY, SHE WOULD
APPLY MILK TO THE KITCHEN FLOOR FOR POLISHING IT
INSTEAD OF WAX.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
THERE WAS THE BRAVE MAN OF MY GRANDFATHER'S VILLAGE
WHO CLAIMED HE WASN'T AFRAID OF ANYTHING. SO MY
GRANDFATHER, HIS FRIEND, AND THE BRAVE MAN WENT OUT ONE
NIGHT TO THE HAUNTED HOUSE OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE. MY
GRANDFATHER AND HIS FRIEND HAD PAINTED THE BLACK
FIGURE OF A MAN ON THE DOOR, WHEN THE BRAVE MAN
APPROACHED THE HOUSE, MY GRANDFATHER AND HIS FRIEND
HID AND THE BRAVE MAN WENT TO THE HOUSE ALONE.
HE SAW THE FIGURE REFLECTED BY THE MOONLIGHT AND
SCREAMED AND RAN OFF.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
THE PERSON GREETS HIS FRIEND, THEN PUTS HIS HAND ON
THE PERSON'S BACK, SAYING: GUESS WHO'S BACK!
Where learned: HOME ; DETROIT, ASSUMED ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
FRIGHTENED IN CEMETERY
PENNY HAD HEARD A STORY ABOUT A BOY WHO DISAPPEARED
YEARS AGO NEAR HER HOME IN ENGLAND. IT SEEMS A GROUP
OF BOYS HAD BEEN PLAYING NEAR A CEMETERY UNTIL LATE
AT NIGHT. THEY HAD BEEN TELLING THOST STORIES AND
HAD ALL GOTTEN PRETTY FRIGHTENED. WHEN THE GROUP
BROKE UP, ONE YOUTH HAD TO GO THROUGH THE CEMETERY
TO GET HOME. HE STARTED TO RUN AND HIS SHIRT CAUGHT
ON A TOMBSTONE. HE NEVER HAD THE COURAGE TO LOOK
BACK AND WAS FOUND THE NEXT DAY DEAD BUT STILL
CAUGHT ON THE STONE.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
IF BEING UGLY GAINED SALVATION, YOU'D BE AT THE
RIGHT HAND OF THE LORD.
Where learned: HIS HOME
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 04-01-1968
IF SAND WAS UGLY, YOU'D BE THE SAHARA DESERT.
Where learned: HIS HOME
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 04-01-1968
TRAVEL
IF I WASN'T HERE, I'D THINK I WAS SOMEPLACE ELSE.
Submitter comment: JUST TO PASS THE TIME; SAID WHEN BORED.
Where learned: SARAH FISHER HOME
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 06-00-1969
INDIFFERENCE
SIX OF ONE, HALF DOZEN OF ANOTHER.
Submitter comment: USED TO DENOTE INDIFFERENCE AS TO WHICH ALTERNATIVE TO USE.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 01-30-1970
BIRTH
AFTER CHRISTENING, THE GODPARENTS COME TO THE
MOTHER WITH THE CHILD AND SAY: "WE TOOK TO CHURCH A
JEW AND BROUGHT BACK A CHRISTIAN."
Submitter comment: TRANSLATED FROM POLISH.
Where learned: HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSLATION
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
FORMULA THAT 2 PEOPLE SAY IN A FUNERAL HOME:
PERSON NO. 1: GOD FORGIVE HIM.
PERSON NO. 2: MAY HE BE FORGIVEN.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-26-1969
PUT-DOWN
THERE ONCE WAS A MAN WHO WAS PUT DOWN SO LOW, HE HAD
TO PARACHUTE OFF A DIME.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-20-1968
CUSTOM
ON THE DAY AFTER EASTER, THE POLISH CHILDREN WOULD GO FROM HOUSE TO
HOUSE KNOCKING ON THE DOORS. THE PEOPLE INVITED THEM INSIDE
WHERE ONE OF THE CHILDREN WOULD BRUSH THE PERSON ACROSS THE ANKLES
WITH A SWITCH WHILE THE OTHERS RECITED A SPECIAL GROUP OF WORDS.
WHEN THEY WERE FINISHED, THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE WOULD GIVE THEM
A BLESSED EGG, A PIECE OF CANDY, OR IN MOST CASES, MONEY.
THIS WAS CALLED DINGUS DAY, THE NAME DERIVED FROM THE WORDS RECITED;
DINGUS, DINGUS, PODINGUS...
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
Keyword(s): EASTER GIFTS ; RITUAL SPEECH ; RITUAL WHIPPING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival C840.663 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Monday Dyngus |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
DRUNK WITH WORDS MAXIM ; RETORT
YOU ARE INTOXICATED WITH THE VIVACITY OF YOUR OWN
VERBOSITY.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-19-1968