Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for NEW YORK returned 598 results.
IT IS BAD LUCK TO OPEN A TELEGRAM.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
Date learned: 03-28-1970
I HAD OBSERVED THIS TRADITION FOR MANY YEARS, BUT IT
WAS TOLD TO ME BY MY INFORMANT ON A PARTICULAR OCCASION
AND WAS CONFIRMED BY MANY OTHER PEOPLE AS BEING A
REAL TRADITION.
A REAL IRISH WAKE IS ALWAYS FOLLOWED BY A BIG PARTY.
IT IS TO REPRESENT THE JOY FELT BY ALL THAT THE DEAD
PERSON HAS FINALLY LEFT THIS WORLD OF TROUBLE TO
RECEIVE HIS HEAVENLY REWARD. THERE IS ALWAYS PLENTY OF
FOOD AND DRINK TO GO ALONG WITH THE REMINISCING.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PROVERB
WAMMER FLUCHT IHERM FISCHE, FANGT MER NIX.
Submitter comment:
IF YOU SWEAR WHILE FISHING, YOU WILL NOT CATCH ANY FISH.
TRADITION OF PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): ADVICE ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-00-1965
FLIRTATION WALK
AT WEST POINT IF YOU TAKE YOUR GIRL FRIEND DOWN FLIRTATION WALK
AND KISS HER UNDER THE KISSING ROCK YOU WILL MARRY.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WEST POINT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 BELIEF -- P535 SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
Entry filtered.
Entry filtered.
FORMULA SPEECH
IF A PERSON OF ITALIAN DESCENT IS ARGUING WITH A STUBBORN
PERSON IN ENGLISH, HE MAY SAY "CAPO D-CHUCCO" PRONOUNCED
(COP/DA/CHUCK), WHICH MEANS "YOU HAVE A HEAD LIKE A MULE."
Submitter comment: I HAVE HEARD THE INFORMANT USE THIS MANY TIMES.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; FRANKLINVILLE ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-0000
FORMULA SPEECH
IF TWO PEOPLE TALKING TO EACH OTHER SAY THE SAME THING AT THE SAME
TIME, THEN THE FIRST TO SAY "OWE ME A COKE, TOUCH BLACK, NO CHANGE
BACK" IS ENTITLED TO A COKE BOUGHT BY THE OTHER PERSON.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK ; TOLD IN
Keyword(s): TALKING
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 09-00-1968
I've never heard this version from anyone else:
Ring around the rosey,
Pocket full of posey,
Johnny's in the sugar bowl,
We all fall down.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; Kenmore ; Kindergarten
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Song Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dance |
MENSTRUATION SUPERSTITION
NEVER HAVE A TOOTH FILLED DURING MENSTRUATION OR IT WILL FALL OUT.
Submitter comment: SOURCE NOT REMEMBERED.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; JAMAICA
James Callow Keyword(s): DENTISTRY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 12-24-1963
JEWISH SUPERSTITION: MENSTRUATION
NEVER TOUCH PICKLES DURING MENSTRUATION OR THEY WILL GO BAD.
Submitter comment:
LEARNED FROM A JEWISH GIRL FRIEND WHOSE GRANDMOTHER WARNED HER
ABOUT THIS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; JAMAICA
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Manner of preparation Preservation |
Date learned: 12-24-1963
JAMAICAN SUPERSTITION
NEVER TRY TO CUT A DRESS OUT ON A FRIDAY OR IT WON'T TURN OUT.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM A LADY-FRIEND FROM JAMAICA.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; JAMAICA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Home BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
SUPERSTITION
ALAYS CUT YOUR HAIR WHEN THE MOON IS GROWING, NEVER SHRINKING,
AND IT WILL GROW FASTER.
Submitter comment: SOURCE NOT REMEMBERED.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; JAMAICA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
BAR MITZVAH
MY IRISH (VERY MUCH SO) SISTER ATTENDED THE BAR
MITZVAH OF A NEIGHBOR'S SON. THERE WAS A STROLLING
VIOLINIST AT THE VERY GALA, VERY JEWISH FETE, WHO WENT
FROM TABLE TO TABLE PLAYING REQUESTS. WHEN HE CAME
TO THE TABLE WITH MY VERY IRISH LOOKING SISTER AND
HER VERY IRISH LOOKING HUSBAND, THE VIOLINIST DIDN'T
EVEN ASK FOR A REQUEST, BUT UPON TAKING ONE LOOK AT
THE COUPLE, STARTED TO PLAY, "WHEN IRISH EYES ARE
SMILING."
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Maturity |
Date learned: 00-00-1966
SEEING IS BELIEVING AND FEELING IS THE NAKED TRUTH.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
GREEK LEGEND
FROM ANCIENT TIMES ONWARD, IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN THAT PIGS COULD BE
TRAINED TO BECOME HOUSEHOLD PETS. IT IS SAID ALSO THAT IF PIGS
WERE KEPT LEAN AND STRONG, THEY WOULD BE CAPABLE OF SWIMMING FAIRLY
LONG DISTANCES. HISTORY RECORDS THAT THE PIRATES WHO LIVED ALONG
THE SOUTHERN SHORE OF CILICIA IN ASIA MINOR AND IN PHOENICIA WOULD
RUTHLESSLY PLUNDER THE MANY SMALL ISLANDS IN THE AEGEAN SEA. ODDLY
ENOUGH, THESE PIRATES, ALTHOUGH CONSTANTLY AT SEA, RARELY LEARNED
TO SWIM. FROM THIS GREW A LEGEND IN GREECE ABOUT THREE BOYS WHO
LIVED ON AN ISLAND IN THE AEGEAN SEA.
THEY WERE SWINEHERDS WHO EARNED THEIR DAILY BREAD AND CHEESE BY
TENDING THE PIGS OF A WEALTHY PRINCE OF THE MAINLAND. THE YOUNG
BOYS LEARNED THEIR PIGS WERE VERY CLEVER AND COULD BE TAUGHT
TRICKS. DIFFERENT PIGS LEARNED DIFFERENT TRICKS, BUT ALL THE PIGS
LEARNED ONE PARTICULAR TRICK, TO ANSWER A CALL ON THE BOYS' PIPES.
IN RETURN, THEY RECEIVED A SPECIAL FOOD TREAT.
LIFE ON THE ISLAND WAS PEACEFUL AND HAPPY, UNTIL ONE DAY A WILD
STORM BLEW A STRANGE SHIP CLOSE TO SHORE. IT WAS A PIRATE SHIP.
THE BOYS TRIED TO HIDE THE PIGS, BUT THE PIRATES FOUND THEM ANYWAY.
THE BOYS WRE SAD UNTIL ONE OF THEM REALIZED MAYBE THE PIGS COULD BE
SAVED. THE BOYS TOOK OUT THEIR PIPES AND BLEW THE SAME THREE NOTES
THEY ALWAYS DID FOR THE SPECIAL TREAT. THE PIGS HEARD AND KNEW
JUST WHAT TO DO. THEY RAN TO THE SIDE OF THE SHIP CLOSEST THE
SHORE. THE SUDDEN SHIFT IN WEIGHT MADE THE SHIP TIP TO ONE SIDE,
FIRST, JUST A LITTLE, THEN MORE AND MORE. WATER STARTED TO RUSH
IN OVER THE SIDES. THE SHIP BGAN TO SINK. THE CREW COULDN'T SWIM:
THEY FLOUNDERED IN THE WATER FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN ALL THAT WAS
LEFT WAS A BIG RING OF BUBBLES IN THE BLUE SEA. THE PIGS SWAM
SWIFTLY TO SHORE AND THE BOYS REWARDED THEM WITH A VERY SPECIAL
TREAT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT READ THIS IN "PIGS AND PIRATES" BY DAVID WHITE, NEW
YORK, 1969.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
YOURS TILL COWS GIVE BEER.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS SIGNED IN THE COLLECTOR'S EIGHTH GRADE
SIGNATURE BOOK.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | Z210 |
Date learned: 00-00-1958
RIDDLE
WHY ARE MOST OFFICES CONSIDERED OVENS?
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKE THEIR BREAD.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
James Callow Keyword(s): SLANG: BREAD = MONEY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 05-00-1990
Entry filtered.
THE WAY IN WHICH A PERSON CAN TELL IF ANOTHER
PERSON IS A VAMPIRE IS BY HAVING THE SUSPECTED
PERSON LOOK INTO A MIRROR AND IF THERE IS NO IMAGE
THEN HE OR SHE IS A VAMPIRE. MM
IF A VAMPIRE IS EVER TO BE KILLED, A STAKE MUST BE
DRIVEN INTO ITS HEART.
Where learned: PORT CHESTER ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN