Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 14 returned 84 results.
THE DANCE TO THE DEVIL
WHEN MY FRIEND AND I WERE IN CALIFORNIA LAST CHRISTMAS
WE HAD THESE SILVER BEADS, CALLED THE BEADS OF DEATH.
WE PUT THEM IN THE SHAPE OF A D FOR DEVIL, AND PROCEEDED
TO DO A DANCE. WE REALLY GOT INTO IT, BECAUSE WE STARTED
TO LOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF OURSELVES AND WERE ROLLING
ALL OVER THE FLOOR AND DOING WILD DANCES AND YELLING. IT
WAS LIKE SOME FORCE HAD TAKEN US BOTH OVER AND WAS CONTROL-
LING OUR MOVEMENTS. I DID THIS ONE OTHER TIME WITH ANOTHER
FRIEND, AND SOMEWHAT OF THE SAME THING HAPPENED BUT NOT AS
VIOLENT. OH YES, AFTER WE DID THIS WE HAD BAD LUCK FOR
ABOUT ONE WEEK.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C425 BELIEF -- Bad luck |
TAUNT
A FAKE WAY TO FIND OUT IF YOUR FRIEND IS A GOOD CHILD IS
THIS ONE:
A GOOD CHILD, A GOOD CHILD,
AS I SUPPOSE YOU BE,
NEVER LAUGH OR SMILE,
WHILE I TICKLE YOUR KNEE.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; "STICKS AND STONES" ; San Francisco ; PORPOISE BOOKSHOP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.520 |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE,
I'VE GOT A BULLDOG THAT LOOKS JUST LIKE YOU.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Roses are red and other such associations |
Date learned: 00-00-1963
TRADITIONAL WORDS
EIGHTY-SIX.
Submitter comment:
THE PHRASE WHICH WAS PICKED UP WAS EIGHTY-SIX. TO EIGHTY-SIX
SOMETHING MEANT TO 1, IGNORE IT, OR 2, THROW IT AWAY. THERE IS ALSO
A TRADITIONAL TALE ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THE TERM. IT IS BELIEVED TO
HAVE COME FROM AN OLD BARTENDER'S TERM. WHEN THE BARTENDER SAW THAT
SOMEONE WAS DRUNK, HE WOULD PASS THE WORD TO EIGHTY-SIX THAT MAN.
THAT WOULD MEAN EITHER CALL THE POLICE, WHOSE ADDRESS WAS 86TH ST.
OR TO GIVE THE MAN 86 PROOF LIQUOR, RATHER THAN 100 PROOF.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA
James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE ; NUMBER ; THREAT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Trade & commerce PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
ENGAGEMENT RITUAL
THE NEWS OF AN ENGAGEMENT SUBJECTS TO AN IMMEDIATE DUNKING IN
SOME NEARBY BODY OF WATER OF THE PROSPECTIVE BRIDEGROOM.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; HARVEY MUDD COLLEGE ; CLAREMONT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage After engagement: fun with friends, etc. |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
DREAM
IF YOU DREAM THE SAME DREAM THREE TIMES, IT WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; LOS ANGELES
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Spirit / Mind / Body |
Date learned: 06-00-1968
SAYING
LAND'S SO RICH THAT WHEN YOU PLANT CORN, YOU HAVE TO JUMP BACK SO IT
WON'T HIT YOU IN THE EYE.
Submitter comment:
I HEARD MY 5TH COUSIN SAY THIS ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO. IT WAS IN THE
SAN JOAQUIN DELTAS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. HE WAS DESCRIBING A
MUDFLAT THAT HE HAD LEASED.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; SAN JOAQUIN DELTA
Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; FERTILITY ; HYPERBOLE ; LAND
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 10-08-1968
BELIEFS
TO BE HOSTILE TO YUOR ESCORT IS A SURE SIGN OF PRIDE.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; MONROVIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: CA00001966
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU SEE A DOG EATING GRASS IT IS GOING TO RAIN.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; MONROVIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
Date learned: CA00001965
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU HAVE A BACK AILMENT, GET AN OLD PAIR OF SHOES AND PUT THEM
UNDER YOUR BED UPSIDE DOWN.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; MONROVIA
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet BELIEF -- Remedy P750.8 |
Date learned: CA00001936
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU SEE A SHOOTING STAR YOU SHOULD SAY MONEY THREE TIME FOR
GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; MONROVIA
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Good luck SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: CA00001935
FUNERAL LORE
COUNT THE CARS IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION IS BAD LUCK
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; MONROVIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: CA00001935
OMENS
TO SLEEP ON A LARGE PILLOW DENOTES A SUCCESSFULL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; MONROVIA
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping BELIEF -- Measure of space: distance, height, depth |
Date learned: CA00001966
CONVERSIONS
STEPPING OVER A FISHING POLE WILL RUIN YOUR LUCK.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; MONROVIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: CA00001966
TO DRIVE AN AMBULANCE IS A SURE SIGN THAT YOU ARE GOING TO VISIT
A FRIEND WHO IS A LITTLE INDISPOSED.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; MONROVIA
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: CA00001965
BELIEFS
AN EMPTY ROCKING CHAIR THAT IS MOVING IS A SIGN OF DEATH.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; MONROVIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: CA00001964
BELIEFS
TO HEAR ONE SING SIGNIFIES GOOD NEWS.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; MONROVIA
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: CA00001966
SUPERSTITION
AN EMPTY ROCKING CHAIR THAT IS MOVING IS A SIGN OF DEATH
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; MONROVIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: CA00001964
SUPERSTITION/DEATH
WHEN A DOG HOWL AT NIGHT IS A SIGN OF DEATH.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; MONROVIA
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- P441 BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
BELIEFS
TO COUNT YOUR TEETH IS A SIGN OF YOUR TEETH ROTTEN OUT QUICKER.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; MONROVIA
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |