Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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ON THE STAIRS
IF YOU PASS SOMEONE ON THE STAIRS, IN THE HOUSE, IT IS AN OMEN
OF BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
GRANDMA HAS KNOWN THIS ONE AS LONG AS SHE CAN REMEMBER AND THINKS
SHE GOT IT FROM HER MOTHER WHO CAME FROM IRELAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; IRELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.2 |
Date learned: 09-00-1963
MARBLES ON THE UPSTAIRS FLOOR
THE INFORMANT'S AUNT WAS BORN AND RAISED IN IRELAND. SHE HAD
MOVED TO THE U.S. BUT HAD GONE BACK TO IRELAND AFTER THE DEATH
OF ONE OF HER CHILDREN. WHEN RETURNING TO IRELAND, THEY MOVED
INTO A HOUSE IN WHICH THEY DID NOT USE THE SECOND FLOOR. RETURN-
ING ONE EVENING FROM GOOD FRIDAY DEVOTIONS IN CHURCH, THE AUNT
NOTICED A LIGHT MOVING FROM ONE END OF THE HOUSE TO THE OTHER
ON THE SECOND FLOOR. THEY THOUGHT NOTHING OF THE LIGHT AT FIRST,
UNTIL THEY REALIZED THAT THE LIGHT COULD NOT MOVE FROM ONE END
OF THE HOUSE TO THE OTHER WITHOUT GOING THROUGH A COUPLE OF
WALLS. WHEN THEY RETURNED HOME THEY QUESTIONED THE CHILDREN
ABOUT HAVING BEEN UPSTAIRS. THE CHILDREN CLAIMED THAT THEY HAD
NOT BEEN UP THERE. THE FATHER AND TWO BROTHERS WENT UPSTAIRS
TO LOOK AROUND BUT COULD FIND NOTHING. THE DOG WOULD NOT GO
UPSTAIRS. THAT NIGHT THERE WAS A TYPE OF NOISE ON THE FLOOR
UPSTAIRS. THE NOISES CONTINUED EVERY NIGHT, GETTING LOUDER AND
LOUDER AND TURNING INTO SOFT CRIES AND MOANING. THE AUNT HAD THE
HOUSE BLESSED TWICE WITHIN TWO WEEKS TO RID IT OF THE NOISE.
AFTER SOME TIME AS THE NOISE GOT LOUDER, THE PRIEST WAS AGAIN
CALLED TO BLESS THE HOUSE. THE FAMILY WENT TO TOWN AND LOOKED
UP THE HISTORY OF THE PREVIOUS OWNERS OF THE HOUSE. THEY FOUND
THAT THE HOUSE HAD ONCE BEEN OWNED BY A VERY WEALTHY MAN. THIS
MAN'S MAID WENT INSANE AND ONE DAY CHOKED THE TWO LITTLE CHILDREN
TO DEATH BY STUFFING MARBLES DOWN THEIR THROATS. UPON RETURNING
TO THE HOUSE WITH THE PRIEST TO AGAIN BLESS IT, THEY FOUND MARBLES
ON THE UPSTAIRS FLOOR. THESE MARBLES HAD BEEN MAKING THE NOISE
IN THE NIGHT. THE BODIES OF THE TWO CHILDREN HAD BEEN PLACED IN
THEIR TOY CHESTS. THESE CHESTS HAD LONG BEFORE BEEN REMOVED.
Where learned: DETROIT ; IRELAND ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Date learned: 03-31-1967
THE GIANT'S CAUSEWAY
THERE WAS AN IRISHMAN NAMED FINN MC COUL--HE WAS A GIANT OF A
MAN--WHO USED TO SHOUT ACROSS THE IRISH SEA TO A SCOTSMAN, DARING
HIM TO FIGHT. ONE DAY HE TOLD THE SCOTSMAN TO COME ACROSS AND
HE'D REALLY GIVE HIM A GOOD FIGHT. THE SCOTSMAN SAID HE WOULD,
BUT HE COULDN'T SWIM. SO FINN MADE A STONE CAUSEWAY ACROSS THE
IRISH SEA AND THE SCOTSMAN CAME OVER. FINN BEAT HIM, OF COURSE.
Submitter comment:
THIS CAUSEWAY REALLY EXISTS. THERE IS A PATH OF HUGE STONES
JUTTING OUT INTO THE IRISH SEA, BUT NOT COMPLETELY CROSSING IT
AND IT IS CALLED "GIANT'S CAUSEWAY."
MRS. MC CLOSKEY HEARD THIS STORY IN BELFAST, IRELAND ABOUT 1915.
Where learned: IRELAND ; BELFAST
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Abnormal in size PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
GIRL STOLEN BY THE FAIRIES
ONE NIGHT THIS MAN WAS WALKING ALONG IN THE FOREST AND HE SAW
THREE MEN COMING CARRYING A COFFIN. (THERE ARE USUALLY FOUR MEN
WHO CARRY A COFFIN ON THEIR SHOULDERS IN IRELAND.) SO HE WENT
UP AND PUT HIS SHOULDER TO THE PLACE WHERE THE FOURTH MAN SHOULD
HAVE BEEN. WELL, THEY STOPPED AND HE SAT DOWN TO REST AND FELL
ASLEEP. WHEN HE WOKE UP THE THREE MEN WERE GONE BUT THE COFFIN
WAS THERE, AND HE OPENED IT AND THERE WAS A BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN
IT. SHE WAS STILL ALIVE SO HE TOOK HER HOME WITH HIM, BUT SHE
COULDN'T TALK. WELL, SOME TIME LATER HE WAS WALKING THROUGH THE
SAME WOODS AND HE HEARD THESE VOICES TALKING. "IT WAS RIGHT HERE.
HE TOOK HER AWAY FROM US," THEY SAID. "IT'S TOO BAD HE DOESN'T
KNOW THAT SHE HAS A PIN IN HER EAR AND IF HE TAKES IT OUT SHE'LL
BE ABLE TO HEAR AND TO TALK." SO HE RAN HOME, AND SURE ENOUGH,
THERE WAS A PIN IN HER EAR AND WHEN HE TOOK IT OUT SHE BEGAN TO
TALK.
Submitter comment: MRS. MC CLOSKEY HEARD THIS IN BELFAST, IRELAND, ABOUT 1915.
Where learned: IRELAND ; BELFAST
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Woman BELIEF -- Body part Senses Ears, noise in ear BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001915 CA
WITCHES
NEVER WALK ALONE AFTER MIDNIGHT, BECAUSE THIS IS THE TIME
WITCHES AND SPIRITS COME OUT.
Where learned: IRELAND ; KILLARNEY ; EIRE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
RELIGIOUS GESTURE
BEFORE RIDING IN A CAR SPRINKLE THE CAR WITH HOLY WATER.
Where learned: IRELAND ; DUBLIN
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration |
DRINK CUSTOM
IRISH TEA IS HOT AND BLACK, AND ACCORDING TO PERSCRIPTION,
"STRONG ENOUGH FOR A MOUSE TO TROT ON."
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT RECALLED THIS ON A VISIT TO THE FAMOUS IRISH SEMINARY IN
MAYNOOTH, IRELAND.
Where learned: IRELAND
Keyword(s): HYPERBOLE
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Brew of leaf, bark, root SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
REMEDY
TO CURE WARTS, CUT AN IRISH POTATO IN HALF, RUB IT ON THE WART,
THROW IT OVER YOUR SHOULDER AND DON'T LOOK BACK.
Submitter comment:
WHEN JUDY VISITED IRELAND SHE FOUND THE IRISH TO BE SOMEWHAT
SUPERSTITIOUS. THEY ALSO HAD REMEDIES FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.
Where learned: IRELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; TRANSFER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
NURSERY RHYME
ST. DUNSTAN AS THE STORY GOES, ONCE PULLED THE DEVIL BY HIS NOSE
WITH RED HOT TONGS THAT MADE HIM ROAR, THAT COULD BE HEARD TEN
MILES OR MORE.
Where learned: IRELAND
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.432 BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
IRISH LEPRECHAUN BELIEF
THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO MY GRANDPA WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG MAN IN
IRELAND BEFORE HE CAME TO AMERICA. HE WAS RETURNING FROM THE FIELD
TO HIS BOAT. THERE WAS A LEPRECHAUN ON HIS BOAT TRYING TO MAKE OFF
WITH IT. HE PULLED ON THE ROPE TO THE BOAT BUT THE LEPRECHAUN PULLE
ON THE OTHER END. MY GRANDPA FELL INTO THE WATER. HE HAD TO WALK
ALL THE WAY AROUND THE BAY BACK TO TOWN.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A STORY TOLD TO ME BY MY GRANDFATHER IN PHILADELPHIA WHEN I
WAS A KID. THE POPULAR FAMILY EXPLANATION IS THIS STORY WAS MADE UP
TO COVER THE LOSS OF A BOAT WHEN MY GRANDFATHER WAS DRUNK, BUT I
BELIEVE IT IS THE TRUTH.
MY GRANDFATHER DIED IN 1975 ONE DAY SHORT OF HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY. MY
GRANDPA TOLD ME THIS STORY WHEN I WAS ABOUT TEN YEARS OLD. HIS
SPEECH WASN'T VERY GOOD BUT I REMEMBER THE STORY CLEARLY. WHEN HE
TOLD ME HIS STORY IT SEEMED IMPORTANT TO HIM THAT I BELIEVED IT. NO
ONE ELSE DID AND THEY TOLD ME SO AFTER THE STORY WAS FINISHED. HE
JUST LAUGHED.
Where learned: IRELAND ; COUNTY DONEGAL
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
WHEN PASSING A CATHOLIC CHURCH, YOU MUST MAKE THE
SIGN OF THE CROSS, FOR RESPECT AND GOOD FAITH.
Where learned: IRELAND ; KILLARNEY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church |
ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY, OUR FAMILY SAYS THE WORD, "LUCK,"
AFTER EVERY SENTENCE. IF WE FORGET TO SAY IT, AND SOMEONE
CATCHES US, WE MUST WHISTLE AND TURN AROUND IN A CIRCLE
FOR ONE MINUTE. "MY MOTHER'S FRIEND, FROM THE STATES,
STARTED THIS IN HER FAMILY. SHE VISITED US WHEN I WAS
VERY YOUNG AND STARTED THIS TRADITION IN OUR FAMILY."
Submitter comment:
I MET CONNOR AT A HOTEL I STAYED AT IN IRELAND. THERE
WAS A HUGE PARTY GOING ON AT THE HOTEL BAR WHERE I MET
HIM. I THOUGHT HIS TRADITION WAS FUNNY BECAUSE IT
SEEMS LIKE A TRADITION THAT WOULD BE STARTED IN IRELAND,
NOT THE UNITED STATES. I"LL NEVER FORGET WHEN HE
REFERRED OT THE UNITED STATES AS, "THE STATES."
Where learned: IRELAND ; LIMERICK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 17 Feast of St. Patrick |
According to an old Irish tradition, if you surround a room
with green where a baby is about to be born, you will
have a child that will be happy, healthy and prosperous.
Submitter comment: Learned this from a tour operator in Ireland.
Where learned: IRELAND
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 07-00-1988
Many Irish people climb the mountain Crogh Patrick for penance
on St Patrick's Day. Some of the older generation still climb the
mountain in their bare feet as was traditional. Climbing Crogh
Patrick is done to celebrate St. Patrick's bringing of
Christianity to Ireland.
Where learned: IRELAND
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 17 Feast of St. Patrick CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern BELIEF -- Religious hero |
"Drowning of the shamrock" is traditional on St. Patrick's Day
in Ireland. It means going to the local pub and getting drunk.
Where learned: IRELAND
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 17 Feast of St. Patrick |
A popular saying in Ireland is that St. Patrick drove all the
snakes out of Ireland but he forgot Lanster House. Lanster House
is the Irish Parliament.
Where learned: IRELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): SATIRE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
The Irish do not traditionally eat corned beef and cabbage,
but eat a mixture of bacon and cabbage instead.
Where learned: IRELAND
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Meat Bred animal |
Colcannon is traditionally eaten on St. Patrick's Day in
Ireland. It is a mixture of cabbage, scallions, green onions, and
kale.
Where learned: IRELAND
IT IS PART OF THE IRISH BURIAL CUSTOMS THAT THEY HAVE BIG
PARTIES AND CELEBRATIONS AT THEIR WAKES.
Where learned: SCHOOL ; IRELAND
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 03-05-1968
ANCIENT BURIAL CUSTOM IN IRELAND: BODIES WERE PUT STANDING
UPRIGHT FOR A QUICK EXIT AT THE LAST DAY. IF THEY WERE
WARRIORS THEY HELD THEIR SPEARS IN THEIR HANDS AND
(WERE) BURIED FACING THE ENEMY TERRITORY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; IRELAND ; BISHOP BORGESS HIGH SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-00-1970