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James Callow Folklore Archive

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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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TRADITION

HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS NEAR THE END OF JULY, AND LASTS UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER.
IN JULY THE VIRGIN ISLANDERS PRAY FOR NO HURRICANES, AND IN NOVEMBER THEY WILL THANK GOD FOR
NO HURRICANES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Subject headings: --

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NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM

THE FIRST PERSON WHO COMES OVER THE THRESHOLD OF
YOUR HOUSE SHOULD BE A MAN TO BRING GOOD LUCK
TO THE HOUSE-HOLD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING ; SEXISM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.42

Date learned: 09-26-1971

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TRADITION

IN ST. CROIX THE ANIMAL CARNIVAL IS CELEBRATED FROM DECEMBER 23RD UNTIL JANUARY 6TH.
THE VILLAGE WILL HAVE DANCING, PARADES, AND CALYPSO MUSIC. THE PARADE OF CHILDREN IS ON
THE 1ST OF JANUARY AND THE PARADE FOR ADULTS IS ON THE 6TH, WHICH IS THE END OF THE
ANIMAL CARNIVAL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Subject headings: --

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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TRADITION

IN ST. THOMAS, VIRGIN ISLANDS, AN ANIMAL CARNIVAL IS CELEBRATED
THIS TAKES PLACE AT THE END OF APRIL AND INCLUDES MANY PARADES,
NATIVE DANCING AND FOOD. THE 3RD DAY OF THE FESTIVAL IS CONSIDERED
THE DAY OF THE CHILD AND A PARADE FOR CHILDREN TAKES PLACE. AT THE
END OF THE CELEBRATION, ABOUT 15 DAYS LATER, A PARADE FOR ADULTS
IS HELD FOR THE DAY OF THE ADULT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Subject headings: --

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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THIS IS A GAME IN WHICH A CHILD ENCIRCLES HIS THUMB
AND FOREFINGER. IF HE MAKES ANOTHER CHILD LOOK AT
THE CIRCLE WHILE HE PLACES IT ON HIS KNEE OR ARM,
HE QUICKLY SAYS:
MADE YOU LOOK,
DIRTY CROOK,
STOLE YOUR MOTHER'S POCKETBOOK!
AFTER SAYING THIS, HE WAS ENTITLED TO HIT THE OTHER
CHILD IN THE ARM. IN ORDER TO PROTECT HIMSELF, HE
MUST THEN SAY, "NO TAGS BACK." IF HE FAILS TO
DO THIS THE OTHER CHILD MAY HIT HIM BACK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse in Other Group of Folklore C800.500

Date learned: 09-22-1969

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A rhyme sung by African-American children

Lou Lou had an engine
The engine had a bell
Lou Lou went to heaven
The engine went to hello
Operator
Give me number nine
If you don't connect me
I beat your big
Behind
The refrigerator
There was a piece of glass
Lou Lou slipped upon it and
Cut her little
Ask
Me no more questions
I'll tell you no more lies
Lou Lou told me all of this
Just before she died.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: 00-00-1960

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TRADITION

MAY 31ST IS CONSIDERED TRANSFER DAY IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
BECAUSE THIS IS THE DAY THEY WERE FREED FROM THE DANISH AND ENTERED
THE UNITED STATES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Subject headings: --

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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TRADITION

FOR THE VIRGIN ISLANDERS, THE THIRD OF JULY IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT
THAN THE 4TH, BECAUSE IN 1848 THE SLAVES WERE FREED AND THIS IS
THEIR DAY OF IMMANCIPATION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Subject headings: --

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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SNAKES

THERE'S SOME KIND OF SNAKE THAT CAN PUT ITS TAIL IN
ITS MOUTH AND ROLL LIKE A HOOP.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HAD NEVER SEEN ONE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale

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A rhyme used to pick the next player of a game.

She never went to college
She never went to school
But when she came back
She was an educated fool.

Submitter comment: This game is used to pick the next person to be "it."
All players gather in a circle. One person is inside
the circle. This person covers their eyes with one hand and
points out a finger with the other hand as they spin around
in a circle. As the words to the above rhyme are sung a new
player is picked on the word "fool". Whoever the finger is
pointed at on the word "fool" takes the place of the person in
the center and becomes "it".

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: 00-00-1960

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A game played by African-American children

Look who's here Punchi-nella Punchi-nella
Look who's here Punchi-nella at the zoo
What can you do Punchi-nella, Punchi-nella
What can you do Punchi-nella at the zoo?
We can do it too Punchi-nella, Punchi-nella
We can do it too Punchi-nella at the zoo.

Submitter comment: This game is played in a circle and there are hand
claps that accompany the words to the song. One
player (Punchi-nella) is in the center of the circle.
When Punchi-nella is asked "what can you do?", the
player responds by doing his/her own unique dance
in the center of the circle. When the other players
respond, "we can do it too" they imitate the dance
that Punchi-nella performed in the center of the
circle.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: 00001960-61

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GOOD LUCK IN RESTAURANTS

ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, A NEW ONE DOLLAR BILL IS PLACED
ON THE WALL OF THE RESTAURANT. IT REMAINS ON THE
WALL UNTIL THE NEXT YEAR, WHEN A NEW ONE DOLLAR
BILL IS PUT UP.

Submitter comment: BY DOING THIS, THE RESTAURANT WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK
ALL YEAR, AS WELL AS GOOD BUSINESS. GOOD FOOD AND
GOOD SERVICE WILL PREVAIL ALL YEAR ROUND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business
BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Good luck

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NEW YEARS EVE CUSTOM

EVERY NEW YEARS EVE A NEW DRINK WOULD BE CONCOCTED
AND WOULD THEN BE TOASTED AT MIDNIGHT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve

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BELIEF

TO MAKE A TREE STUMP FALL APART, POUND A PENNY INTO IT

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT THIS WAS COLLECTED FROM IS AN IRISH-AMERICAN.
JOHN HANS LIVED IN EAST DETROIT AT THE TIME THE
INFORMATION WAS COLLECTED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant

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TRADITION

THE CHINESE BELIEVE THE SOUL OF THE DEAD WILL RETURN 100 DAYS AFTER
DEATH.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT BELIEVES HER GRANDFATHER RETURNED EXACTLY 100 DAYS
AFTER HIS DEATH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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FESTIVAL CUSTOM

THE CHINESE MOTHER IN LAW WILL PLACE A WHITE HANDKERCHEIR ON THE
BED OF THE NEWLYWEDS TO BE ASSURED HER DAUGHTER IN LAW IS A VIRGIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

James Callow Keyword(s): HANDKERCHIEF

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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TRADITION

FOR PROSPERITY AFTER DEATH, A DECEASED ONES' FAMILY WILL BRING
MONEY, CARS, LIQUOR AND OTHER MATERIALISTIC ITEMS TO THE TOMB AND
BURN IN HOPES OF SENDING THE DEAD HIS MOST LOVED POSSESSIONS UP TO
HEAVEN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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African-American children's jumping rope game

Dum Dee Dum Dee Doe Doe
catch me if you can
I can run faster than
(say the name of the person to chase you) can!
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 (jump out of the rope)

Submitter comment: This game is played jumping rope. Two people are
turning the rope, one on each end. The person to be
chased says the above rhyme, then jumps out. The person
to tag runs in afterwards. Each one can only jump one
time in the rope. This is a fast chase game.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: 00001960-61

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TRADITION

THE HINDU INDIANS MAKE A PACT WITH THEIR GOD AT THE BEGINNING
OF THE NEW YEAR FOR GOOD HEALTH, A NEW JOB OR EVEN MONEY. IF HIS
PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED HE WILL PERFORM AN ACT OF PENANCE. THIS
ENTAILS WALKING THROUGH THE STREETS WITH SPIKES DRIVEN THROUGH
THE CHEST BY MONKS, WHILE BEING IN A TRANCE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Subject headings: --

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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A ball game played by African-American Children

Hello, hello, hello sir
how are you today sir?
fine sir
yes sir

Submitter comment: This game is played by one or more players. The player(s)
bounces a ball to each word of the rhyme. When the word "sir"
is said the player must cross his/her leg over the ball.
Rhythm is very important in that the ball and the rhyme and
the leg crossing must all be together in timing. A missed
cross, or lost of control of the ball constitutes elimination
and turning the ball over to the next player.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

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