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 6416 returned 183 results.
CHEER
UMBA SASSA, UMBA SASSA,
HIT 'EM IN DA HEAD WITH A BIG KILBASA.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT USED IN POLISH HIGH SCHOOL.
Data entry tech comment: KIELBASA=POLISH SAUSAGE
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): DIALECT, SLANG THREAT FOOD ; METER: TROCHAIC ; RHYME: FEMININE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
COUNTING OUT
ACABAKA SODA CRAKA ACABAKA BOO;
ACABAKA SODA CRAKA OUT GOES YOU.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT USED AS A CHILD.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
COUNTING OUT
APPLES, PEACHES, PEARS, AND PLUMS,
TELL ME WHEN YOUR BIRTHDAY COMES.
JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH . . .
Submitter comment:
IF PERSON POINTED TO HAS BIRTHDAY IN MONTH NAMED,
WHEN POINTED TO, HE IS IT.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
COUNTING OUT
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
THESE LITTLE CHILDREN WENT TO HEAVEN.
ONE FLEW EAST AND ONE FLEW WEST,
AND ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEXT.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A COUNTING RHYME, TOLD BY THIS WOMAN'S
GRANDMOTHER IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ABOUT 1937.
James Callow comment: RDNeedsReview
Where learned: OHIO ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; LIMA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1937
BY HOOK OR BY CROOK
I'LL BE THE LAST ONE
TO SIGN THIS BOOK
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IN SCHOOL
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Announcing a signature |
Date learned: 10-31-1967
I'LL BE YOURS UNTIL RUSSIA GETS HUNGARY
AND FRIES TURKEY IN GREECE.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Humorous allusion to love |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
SOME WRITE UP AND SOME WRITE DOWN,
BUT I'LL BE DIFFERENT AND WRITE AROUND.
James Callow comment: VERSE WRITTEN IN A CIRCLE WITHIN A CIRCLE.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Reading or writing backwards, upside down |
Date learned: 10-31-1967
REMEBER WASHINGTON? REMEMBER LEE?
THE HECK WITH THEM, REMEMBER ME!
Submitter comment: LEARNED IN SCHOOL
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Remember me |
Date learned: 10-31-1967
FAMILY CUSTOM
AT OUR FAMILY PICNIC (THE CARNEY CLAN), SOMEONE ALWAYS BRINGS THE
TOILET SEAT MOUNTED ON A PIECE OF PLYWOOD, THE BUCKET, AND THE
SPONGES. ANY ANIMOSITY ANYONE HAS CAN BE PUBLICLY EXHIBITED BY
THROWING SPONGES FULL OF WATER AT THE PARTY WHO IS THE CAUSE OF THE
ANGER OR FRUSTRATION WHILE THEIR HEAD IS STICKING THROUGH THE
TOILET SEAT FROM BEHIND THE BOARD. IT'S BEEN PRETTY WILD AT TIMES.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
HEALING WATERS
ONE WINTER A GREAT PLAGUE STRUCK AND MANY INDIANS DIED. ONE YOUNG
MAN NAMED MONTA HAD LOST ALL HIS FAMILY BUT HIS NEW WIFE, WHO WAS
ILL. MONTA PRAYED TO MANITOU, THE GREAT SPIRIT, TO GIVE HIM A
PLANT WHICH WOULD CURE HIS WIFE. AFTER HIS PRAYER, HE COVERED HIS
WIFE WITH SOFT FIRS AND BEGAN HIS SEARCH OVER THE SNOW-COVERED
EARTH. FOR THREE DAYS HE SEARCHED, BUT THE PLANTS WERE ALL SLEEP-
ING UNTIL SPRING AND NO ANIMALS WERE IN SIGHT. FINALLY HE FELL
ASLEEP. ALL THE ANIMALS OF THE FOREST GATHERED AROUND, FOR HE
HAD ALWAYS BEEN GOOD TO THEM. THEY PRAYED TO THE GREAT SPIRIT TO
HELP MONTA. THE GREAT SPIRIT HEARD AND SENT MONTA A DREAM. IN
THE DREAM MONTA SAW HIS WIFE WELL AND HEARD HER SINGING. SHE SANG
OF THE HEALING WATERS OF THE GREAT MANITOU. WHEN MONTA AWOKE HE
HEARD THE WATERS SINGING AND BEGAN TO DIG UNDER HIS FEET. UP
SPRANG THE HEALING WATERS. HE WASHED IN THE WATER AND BECAME
STRONG. HE TOOK WATER TO HIS WIFE AND SHE WAS SAVED. FROM THEN
ON, THE PEOPLE OF THE VILLAGE BATHED IN THE SPRING AND WERE NEVER
ILL AGAIN.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Supernatural Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Running water Small current. Brook, spring.... PROSE NARRATIVE -- Magic BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
MONOLOGUE
THERE ONCE LIVED A YOUNG INDIAN GIRL CALLED NO ONE'S MAIDEN, FOR
SHE HAD NO PARENTS AND LIVED WITH THE WITCHDOCTOR AND HIS MEAN
WIFE. NO ONE'S MAIDEN WORKED TOO HARD TO PLAY OR DANCE AND NO
MAN WISHED HER FOR SHE HAD NO DOWRY. ONE NIGHT THE WITCH DOCTOR
TOLD HER TO GO FOR A WALK, SO SHE SAT BY THE LAKE AND GAZED AT
THE MOON. SHE SANG A SONG ABOUT HOW LONELY SHE WAS AND TOLD THE
MOON SHE WAS SORRY FOR HIM BECAUSE HE WAS LONELY TOO. THE INDIANS
CALLED THE MOON NANNY. SHE TOLD NANNY SHE WOULD LIKE TO VISIT
HIM AND CHEER HIM UP. THE MOON BEGAN TO SHINE AND A SILVER PATH
CAME DOWN FOR NO ONE'S MAIDEN TO VISIT ON. THE MOON CALLED HER
NANNY MAYEY, WHICH MEANS MOON PATH. FOR TWO NIGHTS SHE VISITED
THE MOON BUT ON THE SECOND NIGHT WAS SEEN BY HER PEOPLE. SHE
RETURNED TO THEM AS NANNY MAYEY AND WAS ADORED BY ALL. EVEN NOW,
HOWEVER, NANNY THROWS DOWN THE SILVER PATH TO REMIND PEOPLE OF
NANNY MAYEY.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Date learned: 00-00-1970
CRACKS
STEP OVER A CRACK AND YOU'LL BREAK THE DEVIL'S DISHES.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
WEREWOLF BELIEF
IF YOU LOOK BACK AT THE MOON OVER YOUR RIGHT SHOULDER
YOU WILL IMMEDIATELY
ENCOUNTER A WEREWOLF.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P870] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: CHICAGO
Keyword(s): Lycan ; MOON ; OMEN ; SUPERNATURAL ; SUPERSTITION ; Werewolf
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Observation of galactic or celestial bodies |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
SANTA CLAUS
ONE OF THE MOST WIDESPREAD LEGENDS I CAN THINK OF IS THAT
OF SANTA CLAUS. NOT ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT IN MANY
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, IT IS BELIEVED THAT THERE IS SOME
KIND OF JOLLY OLD MAN WHO BRINGS TOYS AND PRESENTS TO ALL GOOD
LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS AT CHRISTAMS TIME.
Where learned: CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 BELIEF -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
HOLY WEEK CUSTOM
IF YOU STAND PERFECTLY STILL DURING THE READING OF THE GOSPEL
ON PALM SUNDAY, YOU GET PLENARY INDULGENCE
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | 663 Palm Sunday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Tuesday |
TURKEY-DAY
THERE IS A CUSTOM IN AMERICA IN WHICH THE PRIMARY FOOD ON
THANKSGIVING IS TURKEY. IT IS BELIEVED THAT WHEN THE PILGRIMS
CELEBRATED THE FIRST THANKSGIVING, THE INDIANS GAVE THEM TURKEY
TO EAT, AND IT HAS CARRIED OVER.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Autumn Fall Harvest Thanksgiving |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
GOOD CORN
"KNEE HIGH BY THE FOURTH OF JULY" MEANS THE CORN CROP IS DOING
WELL.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 00-00-1962
ITCHING EYES
IF YOUR LEFT EYE ITCHES, YOU'LL CRY. IF YOUR RIGHT EYE ITCHES,
YOU'LL LAUGH.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS A FRIEND OF MINE WHO REMEMBERS THIS FROM HER CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
BLACK BIRD
IF A BLACK BIRD FLIES INTO THE HOUSE, IT MEANS THAT SOMEONE IS
GOING TO DIE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS MY GRANDMOTHER, AND THIS IS APPARENTLY A CHILDHOOD
BELIEF.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
Ethnic:Polish Superstition
IF A YOUNG GIRL SINGS AT THE TABLE, SHE WILL MARRY A CRAZY HUSBAND.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND OF MINE WHO REMEMBERS THIS FROM HER CHILDHOOD.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; HUSBAND ; MANNERS ; Omen, Singing ; POLISH ; SUPERSTITION ; TABLE MANNERS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 02-00-1971