Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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THE HENPECKED HUSBAND
A HENPECKED HUSBAND CAME TO THE RABBI TO ASK FOR A
DIVORCE. "HOW CAN YOU, A PIOUS MAN, THINK OF SUCH A
THING!" THE RABBI REBUKED HIM STERNLY. "DON'T
YOU KNOW WHAT THE TALMUD SAYS: 'WHEN A MAN DIVORCES
HIS WIFE, NOT ONLY THE ANGELS BUT THE VERY STONES
WEEP!'" "LISTEN, RABBI," REPLIED THE DISSATISFIED
HUSBAND, "IF THE ANGELS AND THE STONES WANT TO WEEP,
LET THEM. I WANT TO REJOICE!"
Submitter comment: ORIGIN: RABBI FROM ADAS SHALOM SYNOGOGUE.
Where learned: RESTAURANT ; GOLDEN LION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Married couple |
Date learned: 07-22-1964
SWIRLIE
THIS IS A GAME PLAYED BY DORM STUDENTS. WHEN ONE
DORMIE GETS TOO FAR OUT OF LINE, HIS FELLOW DORMIES
GRAB HIM BY THE ARMS AND LEGS AND TURN HIM UPSIDE-
DOWN. THEY THEN LOWER HIS HEAD INTO THE TOILET
UNTIL THE CHIN IS EVEN WITH THE SEAT AND FLUSH THE
TOILET.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS FELLOW DORMIES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ; EAST LANSING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 10-16-1967
WHEN A PERSON SAYS SOMETHING TO ANOTHER PERSON AND
THE OTHER PERSON DOESN'T LIKE IT, AFTER THE PERSON
WHO SAID IT TURNS AND WALKS AWAY, THE PERSON WHO IT
WAS SAID TO STICKS HIS TONGUE OUT AT THE
PERSON WHO SAID IT. THIS INDICATES A DISLIKE
ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE PERSON WHO SAID IT.
Where learned: PORT CHESTER ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Derision Scorn |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT IS BETTER TO NAME A BABY BEFORE IT IS BORN.
Where learned: PASTEUR SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 01-29-1968
15TH BIRTHDAY--QUINCE ANOS
PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR CELEBRATE THE GIRLS' 15TH BIRTHDAY
BY GOING TO A SPECIAL MASS, IN WHICH THE GIRL GIVES THANKS
THAT GOD HAS LET HER GROW TO BE A WOMAN.
IN THE RICHER FAMILIES A LARGE PARTY IS THROWN. FIRST
THE FAMILY GOES TO MASS AND THEN THEY ALL GO TO A HALL FOR
THE FESTIVAL. THE GIRL HAS 14 ATTENDANTS (BOYS AND GIRLS)
WHO REPRESENT THE YEARS PAST.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THE CELEBRATION IS A CROSS BETWEEN A
WEDDING AND OUR COMING OUT PARTIES, FOR 16-YEAR-OLD GIRLS.
Where learned: WESTERN YMCA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Maturity |
Date learned: 11-11-1971
PENTECOST CUSTOM - BYZANTINE
EACH YEAR ON THE SATURDAY BEFORE PENTECOST SUNDAY, SMALL
BRANCHES WITH GREEN LEAVES WERE CHOPPED FROM BUSHES AND TREES.
THESE GREEN BRANCHES WERE FASTENED TO THE OUTSIDE OF HOMES
ESPECIALLY AROUND DOORWAYS. MANY YEARS AGO PEOPLE EVEN
DECORATED THE INSIDE OF CHURCHES WITH THESE GREEN BOUGHS.
THIS PRACTICE WAS DRAWN FROM THE NAME GREEN SUNDAY WHICH IS
ANOTHER NAME FOR PENTECOST.
Submitter comment:
PENTECOST IS THE ONLY TIME WHEN THE PRIEST MAY WEAR GREEN
VESTMENTS IN THE BYZANTINE RITE.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Pentecost BELIEF -- Sign Color |
Date learned: 00001950S
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON, WHEN HE VISITED
AUSTRALIA, WAS SAID TO BE ABLE TO SPIT
FARTHER THAN ANYONE IN THE COUNTRY.
Submitter comment: AN AUSTRALIAN TOLD HIM THIS
Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
WELLERISM
EVERYONE TO THEIR OWN TASTE,
SAID THE OLD LADY AS SHE KISSED THE COW.
Where learned: OHIO ; YOUNGSTOWN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Wellerism Quotation |
Date learned: 00001950S AND 00001960S
CERAMIC PRESENTS FOR GRANDMA
WHEN MY GRANDPARENTS LIVED IN TOLEDO, OUR FAMILY USED TO MAKE
ABOUT FIVE TO TEN TRIPS DOWN THERE EVERY YEAR FROM DETROIT,
AND IT WAS SORT OF AN "UNWRITTEN LAW" THAT WE WOULD STOP AT THE
OHIO CHINA COMPANY NEAR THE TOLEDO CITY LIMITS AND BUY SOME SMALL
CERAMIC FIGURE FOR MY GRANDMOTHER. SHE COLLECTED THESE FIGURES,
SUCH AS ANIMALS AND STATUES, AS A HOBBY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BLESSED MOTHER BELIEF
A WHISTLING WOMAN YOUNG OR OLD IS INSULTING THE BLESSED
MOTHER OF GOD.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
Keyword(s): Feminine ; INSULT ; Ladylike ; Whistle ; Whistling
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.432 BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
PROVERB
THE GIRL WHO CANNOT DANCE SAYS THE BAND CANNOT PLAY.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION BUILDING
Keyword(s): CRITICISM
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 03-30-1971
SUPERSTITION
THE MAIN WEAPON OF THE GURKA INDIANS, MANY OF WHOM FOUGHT FOR
THE UNITED STATES DURING WORLD WAR 2, IS A LARGE KNIFE WHICH THEY
ALWAYS CARRIED WITH THEM. THEY WOULD NOT DRAW THIS KNIFE UNLESS
IT WOULD COME IN CONTACT WITH BLOOD, AS THEY BELIEVED THAT THE
FAILURE TO DO THIS WOULD BRING THEM BAD LUCK. THEY SO BELIEVED IN
THIS SUPERSTITION THAT IF THE KNIFE WAS EVER USED AND DID NOT
DRAW THE BLOOD OF SOMEONE ELSE, THEY WOULD CUT THEMSELVES BEFORE
PUTTING IT AWAY.
Keyword(s): CONVERSION
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Occupation War BELIEF -- War BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 10-27-1969
PROVERBIAL PHRASE
DON'T SWAP HORSES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREAM.
Where learned: AMERICAN HISTORY CLASS
Keyword(s): ANIMAL
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; POLITICS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00-00-1962
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
PEOPLE MAKE SPECIAL CAKES AND PLUM PUDDINGS IN MALTA AT CHRISTMAS
TIME. THEY GIVE THESE AWAY AS GIFTS SINCE THEIR CHRISTMAS IS NOT AS
COMMERCIAL AS IN THE U.S.A.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Cake ; CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; FOOD ; GIFTS ; Malta ; Pudding ; tradition
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Pastry CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Gifts, gift giving at Christmas |
Date learned: 03-08-1970
JUMP ROPE RHYME
CINDERELLA DRESSED IN YELLOW
WENT UP STAIRS TO KISS A FELLOW,
BY MISTAKE SHE KISSED A SNAKE,
HOW MANY DOCTORS DID IT TAKE.
Submitter comment: THE ANSWER IS THEN SPELLED
Where learned: EAST DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1981
COUNTING OUT RHYME
MY MOTHER AND YOUR MOTHER WERE HANGING OUT THE CLOTHES,
MY MOTHER PUNCHED YOUR MOTHER IN THE NOSE,
WHAT COLOR WAS THE BLOOD?
Submitter comment: THE ANSWER IS THEN SPELLED
Where learned: EAST DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1981
COUNTING OUT RHYME
ENGINE, ENGINE #9,
GOING DOWN CHICAGO LINE,
IF THE TRAIN SHOULD JUMP THE TRACK,
DO YOU WANT YOUR MONEY BACK?
YES OR NO OR MAYBE SO?
Submitter comment: THE ANSWER IS THEN SPELLED
Where learned: EAST DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1981
NUN'S VEIL
MARY JO WAS TOLD BY HER FOURTH GRADE TEACHER SISTER
ANGELITA, S. S. J. THAT SHE COULDN'T TOUCH A SISTER'S
VEIL BECAUSE IT IS BLESSED.
Where learned: OAKLAND UNIVERSITY STUDENT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; ROCHESTER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- B439 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RIDDLE
Q: A TRAVELER IS WALKING DOWN A ROAD WHEN HE COMES TO A FORK. NOT
KNOWING WHICH ROUTE TO TAKE HE DECIDES TO ASK FOR DIRECTIONS.
THERE IS A MAN AT EACH PATH. ONE ALWAYS TELLS THE TRUTH WHILE THE
OTHER ALWAYS LIES. IF OUR TRAVELER CAN ASK ONLY ONE MAN ONLY ONE
QUESTION WHAT IS HIS QUESTION AND WHO WILL HE ASK?
A: IT DOES NOT MATTER WHO HE ASKS IF HE SAYS - IF I ASK THE OTHER
MAN WHICH WAY I SHOULD GO, WHAT WILL HE TELL ME?
LEARNED FROM HIS FATHER.
Where learned: DETROIT ; J L HUDSONS ; DEPARTMENT STORE
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; AN ACTION (A) ; PARTICULAR AREA (Q) ; PERSONS (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 10-02-1967
THE TAPPING OF FORKS AND KNIVES ON PLATTERS SIGNALING THE BRIDE AND
GROOM TO KISS.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM MOTHER. SHE THINKS IT IS AN ITALIAN CUSTOM.
Where learned: MY MOTHERS MOTHER TOLD HER IT WAS AN ITALIAN CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Glassware tapping |
Date learned: 10-00-1982