Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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St. Patrick's Day
Every St. Patrick's Day, my mother cooks corned beef and cabbage
for dinner. For dessert, she usually makes a cake with green
frosting.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
Keyword(s): COLOR
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 17 Feast of St. Patrick Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: 00001971ca
POLISH CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS
THE CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS BEGINS ON
CHRISTMAS EVE. THE DINNER MUST BE MEATFREE BUT
FISH IS ALLOWED. OPLATKI IS ALSO EATEN. THIS
IS BLESSED BUT NOT CONSECRATED BREAD. THE PRESENTS
ARE OPENED ON CHRISTMAS EVE, NOT CHRISTMAS MORNING.
ON CHRISTMAS ONE USUALLY HAD HAM FOR DINNER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Farmington Hills
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve |
DANCES IN 1910
IF A FIGHT STARTED OUTSIDE THE MAIN DOOR OF THE DANCE
HALL, FIRST THE MOTHERS WOULD FAINT AND I WOULD PICK
THEM UP AND SET THEM ON THE BENCH (SOME WERE PRETTY
HEAVY), AND I WOULD MISS THE FUN. IT PAYED OFF,
THOUGH, SINCE IT'S BETTER TO KEEP ON THE GOOD SIDE
OF THE MOMMA. THAT MEANT A REAL MEAL SUNDAY NIGHT.
Where learned: MIDDLE STATE ILLINOIS ; BY LETTER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 02-01-1971
GOOD FRIDAYS
MY MOTHER, ON GOOD FRIDAY, USED TO TAKE HER BROOM
AND SWISH IT AROUND THE HOUSE TO RID IT OF EVIL SPIRITS.
SHE EVEN SHOOK THE BROOM IN THE CLOSETS. SHE USED TO MUTTER
SOMETHING IN SICILIAN AS SHE DID IT, A CURSE; THE LAST WORD
OF WHICH WAS A SWEAR WORD.
Submitter comment: INFORMANTS MOTHER IMMIGRATED FROM SICILY AS A YOUNG GIRL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEWOOD MANOR ; ROSEVILLE
| Subject headings: | 663 Good Friday Favorites BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
UNDER A NUT TREE
A PIG STUFFED HERSELF WITH NUTS AND THEN SLEPT
UNDER THE NUT TREE. WHEN SHE WOKE UP SHE STARTED
TO DIG WITH HER SNOUT. A RAVEN WAS SITTING IN
THE TREE AND SAID TO THE PIG, "YOU ARE HARMING
THE TREE WITH YOUR DIGGING! THE TREE MIGHT WHITHER."
THE PIG SAID, "LET IT WHITHER, I DON'T CARE. I
ONLY CARE ABOUT NUTS."
THE TREE THEN SAID, "YOU STUPID IDIOT! IF YOU
WOULD RAISE YOUR HEAD YOU WOULD SEE THAT THE NUTS
GROW ON ME!"
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS LEARNED IN RUSSIA AND IS IN RHYME IN
THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Farmington Hills
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
Date learned: 10-27-1983
Entry filtered.
BELIEF
PUTTING A FLAX SEED INTO ONE'S EYE WILL MAKE ANY OTHER
FOREIGN OBJECT GO OUT OF THE EYE.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BRUCE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BELIEF
EATING FISH AND DRINKING MILK WITH THE MEAL WILL MAKE A
PERSON SICK.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BRUCE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE GRASS IS RIZ,
WHERE LAST YEAR'S
CARELESS DRIVER IS.
Submitter comment: WRITTEN IN PARISH BULLETIN.
James Callow comment: RDNeedsReview
Where learned: MICHIGAN
Keyword(s): ADVICE ; DEATH ; DRIVING ; METER: IAMBIC ; MONOLOGUE SLANG, DIALECT ; PUN ; RHYME: MASCULINE, ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
NOBODY LIKES ME.
EVERYBODY HATES ME,
I,M GOING TO GO EAT WORMS.
REFRAIN:
BIG, FAT, JUICY ONES.
SMALL, THIN, SLABBY ONES.
ITSY, BITSY, FUZZY, WUZZY WORMS.
FIRST YOU GET A BUCKET,
THEN YOU GET A SHOVEL,
THEN YOU GET A BUCKET FULL OF WORMS.
REFRAIN
FIRST YOU BITE THEIR HEADS OFF,
THEN YOU SUCK THEIR GUTS OUT,
OH, HOW THEY WIGGLE AND SQUIRM.
UP COMES ONE WORM,
UP COMES TWO WORMS,
UP COMES THREE LITTLE WORMS.
REFRAIN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BATTLE CREEK
Keyword(s): WORMS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
Strange Cure
As a small child, I was a frequent sufferer of nose bleeds. While
staying with my grandmother, my nose began to bleed, and she
suggested a strange cure she had learned as a child. She placed a
large spoon in the freezer, and when it was cold, she placed it on
the back of my neck.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
Keyword(s): Silverware
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 00001980CA
TAUNT
BARRY'S MADE AND I'M GLAD,
AND I KNOW HOW TO PLEASE HIM.
A BOTTLE OF BEER AND A KICK IN THE REAR,
AND THREE LITTLE GIRLS TO PLEASE HIM.
Submitter comment: HEARD FROM HER DAD.
Where learned: SAINT MICHAEL GRADE SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
There was a custom in our home that in order to have a safe
and happy New Year the dinner to begin the year with had to
include black eyed peas.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Aberdeen
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's |
A CURE FOR PIMPLES
FOR FACIAL BLACKHEADS AND PIMPLES,
SMEAR FRESH TOMATO JUICE ON FACE
BEFORE RETIRING, AND LEAVE IT ON ALL NIGHT.
THE ACID IN THE TOMATO JUICE
WILL COMBAT THE POISON.
Submitter comment: MY INFORMANT OBTAINED THIS INFORMATION FROM HER MOTHER.
Data entry tech comment: THIS SECTION OF THE ARCHIVES CONTAINS SEVERAL SIMILAR ITEMS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PONTIAC
Keyword(s): ASTRINGENT ; FOOD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00-00-1956
Stain Remover
As a high school student, I was forever getting ink on some part
of my clothing. My mother informed me that if put on a fairly new ink
stain, hair spray would remove it completely.
Submitter comment:
This form of stain removal is still used by my family and
friends.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
Keyword(s): HOUSEHOLD HINT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: 00001985ca
Emergency Phone Calls
When I was a child, I always wore Penny Loafers. My mother would
put dimes in the penny slots of my shoes, just so that I would always
have twenty cents to make a phone call in case of an emergency.
Submitter comment:
The dimes I was forced to wear helped me out of a difficult
situation more than once.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
Keyword(s): Telephone call, price of
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Monetary system Money Wealth ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet BELIEF -- Number P686.1.20 |
Date learned: 00001980CA
When you are finished brushing or combing your hair you should
immediately remove it from the brush or comb and either burn or
flush it down the toilet. This prevents any one who wants to do
harm to you by taking your hair to a Voodoo person and having that
person cast a spell on you or have you fixed with a spell so that
you will come down with some untraceable illness.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Aberdeen
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Curse |
SHAME, SHAME, DOUBLE SHAME,
EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS CHANTED WHENEVER A TEACHER SCOLDED A STUDENT
IN FRONT OF THE CLASS.
Where learned: DORMITORY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
THE MONKEY AND THE BEAR
THE MONKEY LOOKED AT HERSELF IN THE MIRROR.
SHE KICKED THE BEAR NEXT TO HER AND SAID,
"LOOK AT THAT HORROR! LOOK AT THOSE FOLDS
AND WRINKLES! I WOULD CHOKE IF I RESEMBLED THAT
IMAGE AT ALL!"
THE BEAR SAID, "RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS YOU! I
KNOW OTHER UGLY MONKEY FRIENDS LIKE YOU. I CAN
COUNT THEM ALL ON MY FINGERS..."
THE MONKEY INTERRUPTED, "DON'T TROUBLE YOURSELF
TO COUNT THEM. TAKE A LOOK AT YOURSELF IN THE
MIRROR INSTEAD!"
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS LEARNED IN RUSSIA AND IS IN RHYME IN
THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Farmington Hills
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
Date learned: 10-27-1983
Make a Wish
When driving over railroad tracks, pick up your feet and touch a
screw. While you are in that position, make a wish. If the tracks are
cleared, and you have remained with your feet up and in contact with
the screw, your wish will come true.
Submitter comment: I practiced this in high school with friends.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Prayer SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001985ca