Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for NORTH returned 304 results.
LEAVES MAY WITHER;
FLOWERS MAY DIE;
FRIENDS MAY FORGET YOU,
BUT NEVER WILL I.
Where learned: NORTH DAKOTA ; NEKOMA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Friendship |
Date learned: 00-00-1929
THE FIFTEEN STEPS
A COUPLE MOVED INTO A TWO-STORY BRICK HOUSE NEAR THE
EDGE OF TOWN. THEY SLEPT IN A ROOM DOWNSTAIRS, WHILE
THEIR YOUNG DAUGHTER SLEPT UPSTAIRS.
ONE NIGHT, THEIR DAUGHTER HEARD A MOANING AT THE FOOT OF THE
STAIRS. "KATHY, I'M AT THE FIRST STEP, AND I'M GOING TO KILL
YOU."
THE NEXT MORNING, SHE TOLD HER PARENTS, WHO DIDN'T BELIEVE HER.
THEY THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS JUST SEEING TOO MUCH TV AND HAVING
NIGHTMARES.
THAT NIGHT, THE VOICE CAME AGAIN, ANNOUNCING THAT IT WAS ON
THE SECOND STEP, AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO KILL HER.
AND SO IT WENT ON, FOR FIFTEEN NIGHTS, UNTIL THE VOICE
ISSUED A NEW WARNING.
"KATHY, I'M PAST YOUR DOORWAY, AND NOW I'M BY YOUR BEDSIDE,
AND NOW I'M GOING TO KILL YOU."
THE TERRIFIED GIRL TOLD HER PARENTS THE NEXT MORNING, BUT
THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE HER. THAT NIGHT, THEY GAVE HER PLENTY OF WARM
MILK TO HELP HER SLEEP.
THE FAMILY WAS NEVER HEARD FROM AGAIN. THE SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY. TO THIS DAY, THE
DISAPPEARANCE OF THE FAMILY REMAINS A MYSTERY.
Submitter comment:
DANIEL AND ME WERE WALKING DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD, WHEN WE
PASSED A DESERTED HOUSE. HE TOLD ME THE ABOVE STORY, AND ANOTHER PERSON WE MET ALONG THE WAY BACK TO OUR GRANDMOTHER'S
PLACE CONFIRMED THE STORY. I JUST ASKED ABOUT IT OUT OF
CURIOSITY WHEN HE ASKED ME FOR THE TIME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NORTH BRANCH
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
A CIRCLE AROUND THE MOON MEANS IMPENDING BAD WEATHER.
Where learned: VIRGINIA ; NORTH GARDEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon |
Date learned: 03-25-1969
RED IN THE MORNING, A SAILOR'S WARNING;
RED IN THE EVENING, A SAILOR'S DELIGHT.
Where learned: VIRGINIA ; NORTH GARDEN
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Sign Color BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon |
Date learned: 03-25-1969
IF YOU SEE A HAZY CIRCLE AROUND THE MOON, COUNT THE NUMBER
OF STARS WITHIN THE CIRCLE TO INDICATE THE NUMBER OF DAYS
UNTIL A FALLING WEATHER WILL OCCUR.
Where learned: VIRGINIA ; NORTH GARDEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Star BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms BELIEF -- Number BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon |
Date learned: 03-26-1969
THE WEARING OF A CRUCIFIX WILL WARD OFF EVIL IF IT
IS MADE OF SILVER.
Where learned: FLORIDA ; NORTH DADE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications |
Date learned: 11-18-1971
Animal Fair
Song: Animal Fair -- I went to the animal fair, and the bird
and the beast were there. And the old raccoon by the light of
the moon was combing his auburn hair. And the monkey he got
drunk, and he sat on the elephant's trunk. And the elephant
sneezed and fell on his knees and what became of the monk,
monk, monk.
Where learned: NORTH CAROLINA ; Ashville
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Song |
Date learned: 00-00-1912
My cousin said to everybody that he could stand on his hands
so we all watched as he took his hands, bent down and
stepped on them and that was a hand stand.
Submitter comment: My cousin did this as a practical joke.
Where learned: NORTH CAROLINA ; Ft Bragg
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00-00-1984
ON THE NIGHT OF THE WEDDING, PUT A PIECE OF WEDDING
CAKE UNDER YOUR PILLOW AND YOU WILL DREAM OF THE MAN
YOU'LL MARRY.
Where learned: OHIO, ASSUMED ; WEDDING ; NORTH OLMSTED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Dream about future husband |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
FOOD NAMES
S.O.S. SHIT ON A SHINGLE NAME GIVEN TO CREAMED MEAT OVER TOAST.
Where learned: NORTH CAROLINA ; CAMP LEJEUNE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 10-00-1977
BAD LUCK
THREE ON A MATCH
SOLDIERS IN VIETNAM BELIEVED THAT THE TIME IT TOOK TO LIGHT THREE
CIGARETTES WITH ONE MATCH WAS LONG ENOUGH FOR THE ENEMY TO SPOT
THEIR POSITION. VETERANS STILL PRACTICE THIS BELIEF TODAY.
Where learned: NORTH CAROLINA ; CAMP LEJEUNE
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-00-1977
UP NORTH, NEAR LAPEER, IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF A BESPECTACLED
PERSON COMES INTO A WARM HOUSE WALKING BACKWARDS AFTER BEING
OUT IN THE COLD FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, HIS GLASSES WILL
NOT FOG UP. NO REASON FOR THIS BELIEF IS GIVEN.
Submitter comment:
I HAVE TRIED THIS SEVERAL TIMES, BUT IT HASN'T WORKED.
WHEN MY COUSIN WENT BACK UP NORTH, HE ASKED AROUND ABOUT
THIS, AND FOUND NO REASON WHY THIS SHOULD WORK. HE DID
FIND OUT THAT MOST PEOPLE UP THERE BELIEVED IT. I, BEING
NEARSIGHTED, HAVE FOUND THAT THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE TO
FOGGED GLASSES IS CONTACT LENSES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NORTH BRANCH
Keyword(s): GLASSES ; PREVENTIVE MEASURE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 11-00-1985
PUBERTY SUPERSTITION
LIVING IN A FARM COMMUNITY, W E BOYS ALWAYS WENT
SWIMMING IN THE NUDE. THE OLDER BOYS, NATURALLY, FILLED
OUR HEADS WITH SOME STRANGE IDEAS ABOUT SEX. WE WERE
TOLD (WE BEING THE BOYS APPROACHING THE AGE OF
PUBERTY) THAT RUBBING CIGARETTE ASHES IN THE PUBIC
AREA WOULD ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF BODY HAIR. SINCE
WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT SUCH SECONDARY SEX CHARACTERISTICS
THIS LET TO AN INCREASE IN SMOKING, AT LEAST WHEN WE WERE
WITH THE OLDER BOYS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NORTH BRANCH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Maturity BELIEF -- Maturity BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 00-00-1942
I SCREAM
YOU SCREAM
WE ALL SCREAM
FOR ICE CREAM.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; NORTH QUAD 105
Keyword(s): FINAL ITERATION ; FOOD ; RHYME: AAAA
James Callow Keyword(s): AMPHIBRACH (LINES 3 AND 4) ; TROCHAIC MONOMETER (LINES 1 AND 2)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 11-06-1971
Superstition
Black Cat:
If a black cat crosses your path to the left you'll have bad luck. If he crosses to the right you'll have good luck.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [B440, P880] crossed out / Replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME ; WINSTON SALEM ; NORTH CAROLINA
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; Black ; CAT ; Feline ; LEFT ; LUCK ; OMEN ; RIGHT ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
IT WAS CUSTOMARY AND ACCEPTABLE IN NORTH CAROLINA
FOR A WHITE MAN TO POSSESS NEGRO QUADRUN WIVES (1/4
WIVES) BEFORE HE MARRIED A WHITE WOMAN. UPON MARRIAGE
TO A WHITE WOMAN, HE USUALLY GAVE UP THESE WIVES, SET THEM
UP IN A SMALL HOUSE, FREED THEM, AND GAVE THEM ENOUGH
TO LIVE ON FOR SOME TIME. SOME MEN, HOWEVER, KEPT A
FEW AFTER MARRIAGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; NORTH CAROLINA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
ON EASTER, IF THE FIRST WORD YOU SAY IS RABBIT, THE REST
OF THE YEAR WILL BE GOOD.
Where learned: OHIO ; NORTH OLMSTED
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. |
Date learned: 03-30-1971
SNIENEE
SNIENEE IS THE LEBANESE NAME FOR THE FIRST TOOTH THAT THE BABY GETS.
IT MEANS SWEET ONE WHICH REFERS TO THE FIRST TASTE OF ANYTHING
IS ALWAYS THE BEST.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; NORTH QUAD
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Maturity PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 03-24-1970
THEY LOOK WITH THEIR HANDS IN BACUP.
Submitter comment:
THIS EXPRESSION IS USED TO MOCK SOMEONE WHO IS EITHER POINTING OR
GESTURING WHILE LOOKING FOR A LOST POSSESSION. BACUP IS A SMALL
MINING TOWN IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND THAT IS INFAMOUS FOR INBREEDING,
AND IT IS THOUGHT THAT SOME OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE EYES IN THE PALMS
OF THEIR HANDS. COMPARING SOMEONE TO A BACUPIAN IS A MILD INSULT,
USUALLY USED AS A JOKE.
Where learned: NORTH OF ENGLAND ; MANCHESTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: 00-00-1985 ; 00-00-1986
IN A PROVINCIAL HOUSE FOR AN ORDER OF NUNS I KNOW, IT IS A CUSTOM
THAT ALL THE NUNS AND THEIR FRIENDS GATHER IN THE CHAPEL FOR MIDNIGHT
MASS ON CHRISTMAS EVE. AT COMMUNION TIME, THE ELDEST NUN IN THE
COMMUNITY HAS THE HONOR OF CARRYING UP THE CHALICE FOR THE MASS. THE
SECOND ELDEST NUN THEN CARRIES UP THE HOSTS, THE NEXT THE CRUCIFIX, THE
NEXT THE CRUETTS AND SO FORTH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; told in informant's room
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F122 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Church |
Date learned: 03-27-1971