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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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IN HIGH SCHOOL IN BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN, WE BELIEVED
SOMEONE "QUEER" (HOMOSEXUAL) IF HE CROSSED HIS
LEGS AT THE KNEE (LEAVING NO GAP BETWEEN HIS LEGS
IN HIS LAP), OR IF HIS LITTLE FINGER WAS HELD RIGID WHILE
HOLDING ONTO A CUP OF COFFEE, TEA, ETC.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HIGH SCHOOL ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
SPEECH -- Homosexuality

Date learned: 12-00-1971

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BELIEF

IF YOU PUT A ROPE AROUND THE CAMP WHEN YOU'RE NOT CAMPING, THE SNAKES WON'T CROSS IT.

(COURSE, IT'S NOT TRUE.)

Where learned: ALABAMA ; ON A BUS ; BETWEEN BIRMINGHAM AND MONTGOMERY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fish

Date learned: 07-26-1968

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BELIEF

IF YOU GET IN A NEST OF BEES, THEY WON'T STING YOU IF YOU HOLD YOUR BREATH.

Where learned: ALABAMA ; ON A BUS ; BETWEEN BIRMINGHAM AND MONTGOMERY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect

Date learned: 07-26-1968

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IF YOUR AZALEA BLOOMS AT CHRISTIMASTIME, THERE'LL BE A DEATH
IN YOUR FAMILY.

Where learned: ALABAMA ; ON A BUS ; BETWEEN BIRMINGHAM AND MONTGOMERY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Christmas Season See F645.2 for Advent Season.
BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 07-26-1968

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IF A BIRD TRIES TO GET IN THE HOUSE, THERE'LL BE A DEATH
IN THE FAMILY.

Where learned: ALABAMA ; ON A BUS ; BETWEEN BIRMINGHAM AND MONTGOMERY

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 07-26-1968

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Proverb

Death is nature's way of telling us to slow down.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [W200, P666] crossed out. Replacedw tih current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; DEATH ; Maxim ; NATURE ; PROVERB ; Slow ; VERSE

James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR ; IRONY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

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Belief: Animal

If you touch a frog, it will cause warts.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P870] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): AMPHIBIAN ; ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; Disfigure ; FROG ; SUPERSTITION ; Wart ; Warts

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Animal

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Superstition: Pregnancy

Birth Omen:

When you are pregnant, if you thread a needle and hold it over your left arm with your right hand, you can learn what the sex of the child is. If it swings across the arm, it is a boy. If it swings up and down the arm, it is a girl.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Reference

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): BIRTH ; CHILD ; DIVINATION ; gender ; Ordaining ; PREGNANCY ; SEX

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth

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PROVERB

THE APPLE DOESN'T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE.

Submitter comment:

FROM HIS FATHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): FOOD ; PLANT

James Callow Keyword(s): HEREDITY ; OBSERVATION

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Proverb

HE WHO SPITS IN THE AIR GETS IT BACK IN THE FACE.
ITALIAN SAYING IS HE WHO SPITS IN THE AIR GETS IT BACK IN THE
FACE. THIS MEANS IF YOU GOSSIP, IT WILL COME BACK
TO HAUNT YOU.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 11-09-1972

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ALABAMA SUPERSTITION

"IF YOU GIVE SOMEONE A GIFT OF A PURSE OR A WALLET, YOU SHOULD
PUT A COIN IN IT TO BRING THE PERSON GOOD LUCK".

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS ITEM AS A CHILD IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
FROM HIS MOTHER, CIRCA 1928. SHE FIRST LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER
IN ALABAMA CIRCA 1900.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALABAMA ; DETROIT ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 11-22-1980 ; 00-00-1928 ; 00-00-1900

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Entry filtered.

Rape is assault with a friendly weapon.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs and BN added by TRD

James Callow comment:

The original BN [W200] is crossed out. It is not replaced with another BN.

Submission card was located in a pile marked To Be Classified.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): ANTIFEMINISM ; Distasteful Jokes ; Female ; Harm ; JOKE ; Male ; Misogyny ; POWER ; Rape ; SICK JOKE

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
Filter - Mature Content

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SARCASM IS THE LANGUAGE OF THE DEVIL.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector share the same surname and place of residence.

 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM ; 700 Arlington

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 08-00-1967

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IT AIN'T GOING TO RAIN NO MORE, NO MORE,
IT AIN'T GOING TO RAIN NO MORE,
BUT HOW IN THE HECK, CAN I WASH MY NECK,
IF IT AIN'T GOING TO RAIN NO MORE.

Submitter comment:

I LEARNED THIS FROM MY MOTHER WHEN I WAS A CHILD

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): Lyrics ; MUSIC ; RHYME ; SONG ; Tune

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest

Date learned: CA12001965

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IRISH HALLOWEEN CUSTOM

THE INFORMANT TELLS OF THE HALLOWEENS WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG AND HER
MOTHER WOULD HIDE THINGS IN THE MASHED POTATOES. AT DINNERTIME,
EVERYONE WOULD FIND THEIR SURPRISE (A THIMBLE, RING, ETC.--SOMETHING
THAT WOULDN'T BE EASY TO SWALLOW) AND THE LUCKY ONE WOULD FIND A
DIME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): GIFTS IN FOOD

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals

Date learned: 11-01-1969

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A HALLOWEEN CUSTOM

DURING THE HALLOWEEN SEASON, IT IS CUSTOMARY TO MAKE FULL USE OF
PUMPKINS--MAKE THE MEAT INTO PIE, AND THE SHELL INTO A JACK-O-
LANTERN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween

Date learned: NO DATE INDICATED.

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PROVERB

LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE.

Where learned: ALABAMA ; BIRMINGHAM ; BUS TO MONTGOMERY ; MONTGOMERY

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 07-26-1968

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WE HAD A CUSTOM IN HIGH SCHOOL THAT BY PINCHING A PATTERN
INTO A DRINKING STRAW (FROM TOP TO BOTTOM) AND ALTERNATING
SAYING "HE LOVES ME, HE LOVES ME NOT," ONE COULD FIND
OUT THE TRUE STATE OF THEIR LOVE LIFE.

Where learned: ALABAMA ; HIGH SCHOOL ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Use of Object
SPEECH -- Formula

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HEARTBURN

IF A WOMAN HAS A LOT OF HEARTBURN DURING PREGNANCY, THE BABY WILL
BE BORN WITH A HEAD FULL OF HAIR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: 840
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 12-00-1969

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ONE HAND HELD HORIZONTALLY FLAT, WITH FINGERS CLOSE
TOGETHER AND OTHER HAND HELD VERTICAL AND PERPENDICULARLY
UNDER THE OTHER HAND FORMING A "T" SIGNAL FOR "TIME OUT."

Submitter comment: FROM FIRST PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS IN ABOUT 4TH GRADE.

Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
SPEECH -- Instructions Directions

Date learned: 10-04-1967

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