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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for SEA returned 21 results.
A guide at the geology center in Chelsea told us
the legend of the discovery of maple syrup.
An Indian on the Eastern coast, I think it was Iroquois,
had stored his hatchet in the side of a maple tree.
Sometime in late winter or early spring, he removed his
hatchet to go hunting. At the base of the tree, there was
a birch bark basket, which happened to catch the maple
water that ran out of the tree when the hatchet was
removed. The Indian's wife needed the birch bark basket
to cook the moose meat in, and so she decided to also use
the water that was already in it. She proceeded to boil
the meat in the maple water all day, and in turn, discovered
that the water made maple syrup (and also tasty moose meat).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CHELSEA
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant |
Date learned: 03-00-1990
AT A RATHER SMALL BUT FORMAL DINNER PARTY IN THE HOME OF A
BRITISH TELEVISION AND RADIO HOST, I WAS SEATED TO THE LEFT
OF MICHAEL MEYER, AN IBSEN TRANSLATOR AND SCHOLAR OF LITERATURE.
MR. MEYER IS A RETIRED UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR. HIS FATHER HAD
BEEN A PROMINENT, LONDON IMPORT-EXPORT MERCHANT. DURING
THE MEAL, I WAS ENTHRALLED WITH THE LOFTY CONVERSATION AND
RECOLLECTIONS OF THE INTIMATE GROUP OF OXFORD ALUMNI.
ONE SUCH REMINISCENCE CAME FROM MR. MEYER. HE TOLD ME THAT
GEORGE ORWELL, THE BRILLIANT AUTHOR, WAS A FREQUENT VISITOR TO
HIS FATHER'S BUSINESS. ONE SATURDAY MORNING, ORWELL ENTERED
WISHING TO PURCHASE SOME FINE, IMPORTED CHERRY LUMBER. WITH IT,
HE PLANNED TO BUILD BOOKSHELVES. ORWELL ENGAGED THE SERVICE OF
YOUNG MEYER TO HELP IN THE PROJECT.
THE IMPRESSIVE WOOD WAS DELIVERED TO ORWELL'S HOUSE, AND THE
PAIR SET TO WORK. THEY LABORED CAREFULLY, NOT WISHING TO MAR
THE EXTRAORDINARY LUMBER. ONCE THE SHELVES WERE COMPLETED,
ORWELL AND MEYER MOVED THEM INTO PLACE IN ORWELL'S STUDY. THEY
STOOD BACK IN ADMIRATION AND SILENCE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
SUDDENLY, THE ECCENTRIC AUTHOR DASHED OUT THE DOOR, CALLING
BACK TO THE YOUNG BOY TO WAIT THERE FOR HIM.
HE RETURNED MANY HOURS LATER WITH A TIN OF WHITE PAINT. UNDER
ORWELL'S DIRECTION, THE TWO WORKED FEVERISHLY TO COVER THE FINE
FINISH OF THE CHERRY WOOD WITH A WHITE OVERCOAT! THE
GORGEOUS AND EXTRAVAGANT CHERRY LUMBER NOW LOOKED AS ORDINARY
AS ANY SCRAPS OF WOOD! MEYER WAS DUMBFOUNDED AND RESOLVED NEVER
TO TELL HIS FATHER OF THIS "SIN" IN WHICH HE HAD TAKEN PART.
ORWELL, HOWEVER, SEEMED EXCEEDINGLY PLEASED WITH THE WHITE
BOOKCASE, AND SHOWED THE BOY OUT WITH A HEARTY LAUGH AND A
SERIES OF HANDSHAKES AND PATS ON THE BACK.
Where learned: ENGLAND ; CHELSEA ; LONDON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
BUSY 2-LEGGED CAT
HE WAS AS BUSY AS A TWO-LEGGED CAT IN A THREE-LEGGED RACE.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT IS FROM THE SOUTH SOMEWHER.
Where learned: TOLD AT BOTH INFORMANTS AND INFOFMEES PLACE OF WORK -SEARS
Keyword(s): ANIMAL SIMILE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 03-14-1970
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
UNDER EVERY COW THERE IS A PILE OF SACRED COW MANURE.
Where learned: SEA
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR ; PARODY ; SCATOLOGICAL
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1966
JUVENILE DELINQUENTS
WHEN I WAS IN MY CATHOLIC GRADE SCHOOL, WE USED TO THINK THAT
WE WERE THE ULTIMATE IN "NAUGHTY" WHEN WE USED TO SING THIS
SONG BEHIND THE NUN'S BACKS. IT IS SUNG TO THE TUNE OF YANKEE
DOODLE DANDY.
WE ARE JUVENILE DELINQUENTS, WE ROAM THE STREETS TILL TWO A. M.
WE DRINK WITH THE SAILORS AND WE SMOKE WITH THE BUMS, WE WAIT
ON THE CORNER FOR PICKUPS TO COME. OH, WE ARE JUVENILE
DELINQUENTS, WE SLEEP IN BED BUT NOT ALONE... MOVE OVER BABY...
YOU'RE TAKING UP THE WHOLE DAMN BED AND THERE WAS GRANNY,
SWINGING ON THE OUTHOUSE DOOR... WITHOUT HER NIGHTY.. WAITING
FOR THE GARBAGE MEN, TO COME A RUNNING. OH WE ARE MAMA'S
JUVENILES. COME ON AND HUG ME. OH, WE ARE MAMA'S JUVENILES,
COME ON AND KISS ME. OH, WE ARE MAMA'S JUVENILES. DA DA DA.
Where learned: OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA GRADE SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
IRISH BLESSING
MAY THE ROAD RISE UP TO MEET YOU
MAY THE WIND BLOW AT YOUR BACK
MAY THE SUN SHINE WARMLY ON YOUR FACE
MAY THE RAIN FALL SOFTLY ON YOUR FIELDS
AND TILL WE MEET AGAIN
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
MAY GOD HOLD YOU
IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND.
AMEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CHELSEA
James Callow Keyword(s): INITIAL ITERATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech |
Hazing
Hazing is a common practice in the Seals, but the traditional
pre-marriage hazing is a practice worth mentioning. Before a member
of a Seal team is married, the other men in the team will kidnap him,
strip him, shave his body hair, tie him to a pier, throw him in the
ocean or bay, and let him "bob" for the remainder of the day.
Submitter comment:
Being the fiance of a Seal, I am not particularly fond of this
tradition.
Where learned: United States Navy Seals
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: 01-00-1990
Seal Battle Cry
Throughout training, and through the course of their careers,
Navy Seals can commonly be heard screaming the traditional battle
cry. The cry itself consists of a low pitched, guttural, "HOO YAH,"
usually followed by answering cries of a similar nature
Where learned: United States Navy Seals
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- War cries |
Frogman Shot
This is a Seal tradition involving the consumption of alcohol.
The shot consists of tequila, rum, and whiskey. The men partaking of
the Frogman shot must first put the shot in their mouths, and hold it
for as long as they can. They then return the alcohol to the shot
glass and repeat the process. After the alcohol is returned to the
glass for a second time, the men must hold their breath for as long
as possible, exhale completely, and finally drink the shot.
Submitter comment:
This disgusting tradition has caused many new Seals to feel a
bit "under the weather."
Where learned: United States Navy Seals
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Distilled Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption |
Date learned: 06-00-1991
Hungry Song
During a twenty-two week training period for the Navy Seals,
every time the men went to breakfast, lunch, or dinner, they were
forced to sing the "Hungry Song" before they were allowed to eat. The
song is to the tune of "Are You Sleeping, Brother John?," and the
words are as follows: "We are hungry, we are hungry, feed us now,
feed us now. Hungry little tadpoles, waiting for their dinner
(breakfast, lunch), feed us now, feed us now."
Where learned: United States Navy Seals
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Daily Life CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Initiation
When a Seal becomes a member of a platoon, he goes through a
rather strange initiation. He receives a pin, known as the
"Trident," and is then tied and blindfolded. The other members of the
platoon then take turns making "attacks" on the new member. He must
defend himself from these attacks, or face the punishment decided on
by the group. Usually, the group decides that the new member has not
sufficiently defended himself, and designates a punishment. A common
punishment consists of allowing the entire platoon a "free shot" on
the new man. The new man is never seriously injured, but is often
uncomfortable after the ordeal.
Where learned: United States Navy Seals
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: 09-00-1991
A CERTAIN SILVER DOLLAR BRINGS LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HAS BEEN CARRYING THE SAME SILVER DOLLAR
WITH HIM SINCE 1927. HE NEVER GOES ANYWHERE WITHOUT IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SEARS, ROEBUCK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Emblem |
Date learned: 09-18-1970 ; 00-00-1927
IF YOU HAVE A WART, RUB IT WITH A POTATO. THEN BURY THE POTATO
AND THE WART WILL SLOWLY GO AWAY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT TOLD ME TO DO THIS TO A WART THAT I HAD, AND I DID,
AND THE WART WENT AWAY IN TWELVE DAYS. THE FAMILY DOCTOR
COULDN'T EXPLAIN IT EITHER.
Where learned: FLORIDA ; LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFER PLUGGING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Medicine BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Belief
If you drop salt on the floor, shake salt over your left shoulder or there will be a catastrophe of fire or disappointment.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Various Boggs number classifications written down and crossed out:
P686
P860 = Use of Object
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CATASTROPHE ; DISAPPOINTMENT ; FIRE ; Salt ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: |
Belief
If you drop salt on the floor, shake salt over your left shoulder or there will be a catastrophe of fire or disappointment.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Various Boggs number classifications written down and crossed out:
P686
P860 = Use of Object
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CATASTROPHE ; DISAPPOINTMENT ; FIRE ; Salt ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Conversions P883.17 |
Proverb
It's an ill wind that blows no good.
Submitter comment:
Informant heard this in Detroit, MI.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V880] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Ill ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; VERSE ; Wind
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
Submitter comment:
Informant heard this in Detroit, MI
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V880] crossed out. Replaced wtih current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Maxim ; Moss ; PROVERB ; STONE ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
Still water runs deep.
Submitter comment:
Informant heard this in Kinde, MI
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V800] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Deep ; Depth ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; Superficial ; Surface ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
SHOE BELIEF
DO NOT PUT YOUR SHOES ON THE TABLE, OR YOU WILL HAVE A FIGHT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; FIGHT ; SHOES ; SUPERSTITION ; Table
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE ; CLOTHING ; HOSTILITY ; NEGATIVE
| Subject headings: | Daily Life BELIEF -- P87O |
Date learned: 03-21-1972
Entry filtered.