Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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WHEN A WOMAN IS PREGNANT AND A SNAKE SCARES HER; THAT MEANS HER BABY
WILL SUPPOSEDLY LOOK LIKE A SNAKE
Submitter comment: THIS IS WHAT OLD MID-WIVES TOLD IN THE SOUTH
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 12-00-1972
IF A PERSON'S EAR ITCHES THAT MEANS SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT HIM.
Submitter comment: THIS IS WHAT SHE SAID WHILE SCRATCHING HER EAR
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body |
Date learned: 12-00-1972
WHAT A PERSON IS DOING WHEN THE NEW YEAR FIRST STARTS,
IS WHAT THEY WILL BE DOING THE REST OF THE YEAR.
Submitter comment:
EXAMPLE: IF YOU'RE WASHING CLOTHES WHEN IT STARTS YOU'LL BE
WASHING CLOTHES THE REST OF THE YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 686.1 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Number BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 12-00-1972
MOST PEOPLE SAY WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO, AND NOT DO, FOR A NEW
YEAR'S RESOLUTION. THIS HAPPENS THE FIRST PART OF THE YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 686.1 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
Date learned: 12-00-1972
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, ALL THE RELATIVES VISIT. THE KIDS SHOOT OFF
FIRECRACKERS AND EACH CHILD GETS A PRETZEL ON A STICK FOR GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT DID THIS AS A CHILD IN GERMANY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Good luck Food and drink |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, THE FIRST TO STEP ACROSS THE PORCH MUST BE A
MALE OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK ALL YEAR LONG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Bad luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, DO ONLY THOSE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO HAPPEN THE
REST OF THE YEAR. DO NOT PAY BILLS OR YOU WILL BE PAYING BILLS
ALL YEAR. DO NOT DO ANY HARD WORK OR YOU WILL END UP WORKING HARD
ALL YEAR LONG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Measure of time Year |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
MAY YOUR DAY BE BRIGHT
MAY YOUR LIFE BE IN CLOVER
MAY EVERYTHING TURN OUT RIGHT
AND MAY YOUR TOILET NEVER RUN OVER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST ; HUMOR
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
IT IS NOT THIS CANDLE ALONE I STICK
BUT MY LOVE'S HEART I MEAN TO PRICK
IF (INSERT ANY NAME) BE ASLEEP OR AWAKE
I'LL HAVE (INSERT ANY NAME) COME TO ME AND SPEAK.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS DONE TO BRING YOUR LOVER TO YOU. YOU SAY THIS
WHILE STICKING PINS INTO A CANDLE.
INFORMANT SAW THIS IN A MAGAZINE AND WROTE IT
DOWN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
KEEP YOUR SKIRTTAIL DOWN AND YOUR UNDERWEAR UP.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT TOLD ME THAT HER MOTHER USED TO GIVE HER THIS ADVICE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- B545 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
NEVER GIVE YOUR LOVE A WATCH
IT WILL TICK YOUR LOVE AWAY.
NEVER BUY YOUR LOVE SHOES
YOUR LOVE WILL WALK OUT OF YOUR LIFE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT TOLD ME THAT SHE FOLLOWS THIS ADVICE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 02-00-1982
IT IS BAD LUCK TO GO SWIMMING BEFORE THE FEAST OF SAINT JOHN THE
BAPTIST, (JUNE 24)
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June 23 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June 24 St. John's Day / Midsummer Day BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.2 |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
BURN PALMS DURING A STORM TO BRING ABOUT BETTER WEATHER
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 10-00-1972
JOHNNY AND JESUS
THERE WAS A SMALL LAD WHO USED TO DASH INTO CHURCH EVERY TIME HE
PASSED, KNEEL DOWN AND SAY "HELLO JESUS THIS IS JOHNNY" AND THEN
RUN ABOUT HIS PLAY. ONE DAY JOHNNY WAS HIT BY A CAR AS HE PLAYED
AND A BYSTANDER JUST BEFORE JOHNNY DIED, THOUGHT HE HEARD A LOW
VOICE SAY "HELLO JOHNNY THIS IS JESUS".
Submitter comment: ONE OF A HUGE BODY OF "SISTER SAID" AND A GOOD EXEMPLUM.
Where learned: DETROIT, ASSUMED ; SAINT MATTHEWS SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Prayer |
METHOD OF CURING
WASH YOUR FACE IN THE MORNING DEW
AND YOU WILL GET RID OF FRECKLES.
Data entry tech comment: THIS SECTION OF THE ARCHIVES CONTAINS SEVERAL SIMILAR ITEMS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SAINT MATTHEWS CHURCH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
FORMULA SPEECH
THE WEATHER IN WASHINGTON DC IS NOTORIOUS FOR QUICK CHANGES.
TOURISTS ARE TOLD UPON ASKING ABOUT IT, "IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT
WAIT A MINUTE."
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-00-1972
CURE
REMEDY FOR ACHES AND PAINS RESULTING FROM PHYSICAL LABOR:
1 TABLESPOON TURPENTINE AND SUGAR; DRINK
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
WHEN YOU ACCIDENTALLY SPILL SALT, INFORMANT TAKES
A FEW GRAINS OF SALT AND THROWS IT OVER EACH
SHOULDER FOR GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; GRADE SCHOOL ; REDFORD ; SAINT MARYS
James Callow Keyword(s): ACCIDENT ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Good luck Activities |
Date learned: 02-12-1970
MARRIAGE CUSTOMS
SOMETHING WHITE, USUALLY A LACY HANDKERCHIEF, IS PASSED ON
TO THE FEMALE MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILY WHEN THEY GET MARRIED.
EACH FEMALE HAD WORN IT ON HER WEDDING DAY, AND SAVED IT FOR
THE NEXT TIME ANOTHER MEMBER WAS TO BE MARRIED.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 0001950S
RUGBY PARTY FESTIVITIES
AFTER HEAVY "BETTING" BT VETERANS FROM BOTH TEAMS, FOUR ROOKIES ARE
TRICKED INTO THIS FARCE. THE ROOKIES ARE CONVINCED THAT THIS IS
VERY IMPORTANT FOR TEAM PRIDE. THEY ARE TOLD THAT THE BIGGEST ONE
OF THEM IS TO PICK UP THE OTHER THREE. THE OTHER THREE ARE TIED
TOGETHER. EACH TEAM TRIES TO LIFT THE PLAYERS FASTER THAN THE
OTHER TEAM. WHEN THE CROWD IS AT A FEVER PITCH, THE COUNT OF
1, 2, 3 LIFT IS SHOUTED. AT THE WORD "LIFT" EVERYBODY AT THE PARTY
THROWS THEIR BEER ON THE UNSUSPECTING ROOKIES.
Submitter comment: THIS USUALLY BRINGS THE HOUSE DOWN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: 03-00-1982