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The James T. Callow Computerized Folkore Archive | University of Detroit Mercy Libraries Back to Top
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Your search for DISBELIEF returned 18 results.

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GHOST IN THE ROAD

THERE IS A ROAD, NOT FAR FROM WHERE I USED TO LIVE, THAT MY FRIENDS
AND I ALWAYS USED TO GO TO. IT WAS WHERE THE GHOST IN THE ROAD WAS.
THE ROAD WAS STRAIGHT AND A LITTLE HILLY AND WAS DIMLY LIT WITH A
COUPLE OF STREET LIGHTS. WHEN COMING DOWN THE ROAD, AT A CERTAIN
SPOT, YOU COULD SEE THE GHOST, CLAD IN A LONG WHITE ROBE. SOME
PEOPLE SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A LADY IN A WHITE GOWN. OTHERS THOUGHT
IT LOOKED LIKE JESUS CHRIST. WHEN DRIVING CLOSER TO THE GHOST, IT
SEEMED TO BE WALKING TOWARDS YOU. THEN IT WOULD DISAPPEAR.

Submitter comment: WHAT IT REALLY WAS, WAS AN OIL SLICK ON THE ROAD. THE LIGHT FROM THE
STREET LIGHT SHONE ON IT IN SUCH A WAY AS TO CREATE THE IMAGE OF A
PERSON. SINCE THEN, THOUGH, THE ROAD HAS BEEN RESURFACED AND THE
GHOST NO LONGER CAN BE SEEN.

Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; PLACENTIA

James Callow Keyword(s): DISBELIEF

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 00-00-1970

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WART CURE

IF YOU HAVE A WART, STEAL SOMEONE'S DISHRAG AND TAKE IT AND BURY IT.
THE WART WILL DISAPPEAR WITHIN THREE WEEKS.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT OFFERED THIS ONE, ALTHOUGH IT APPEARED SHE DID NOT
BELIEVE IT, SAYING SHE HAD HEARD IT FROM A FRIEND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVERVIEW

James Callow Keyword(s): DISBELIEF

Subject headings: 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body)
BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 01-00-1974

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SIGN

SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT EVERY TIME A SHOOTING STAR FLASHES
ACROSS THE SKY, A CHILD HAS BEEN BORN TO REPLACE SOMEONE WHO HAS
DIED.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT DOES NOT BELIEVE THE STATEMENT.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DISBELIEF

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Comet
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 02-23-1972

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HOME PROTECTION BELIEF IN STORM

IT IS A COMMON PRACTICE IN NEWFOUNDLAND IN CATHOLIC HOMES
TO LIGHT CANDLES AND TURN OFF ELECTRICITY TO PROTECT THE HOME
AGAINST STORMS.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT'S MOTHER STILL DOES THIS, BUT THE INFORMANT
DOES NOT THINK THAT THERE IS ANYTHING TO THE PRACTICE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DISBELIEF

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7

Date learned: 11-00-1971

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RAINBOW BELIEF

IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE OLD FOLKISMS THAT AFTER A RAIN, WHEN THE
RAINBOW COMES OUT, IF YOU GO TO THE END OF IT, YOU WILL FIND
A POT OF GOLD OR
A SACK OF MONEY.

Submitter comment:

I ONCE BELIEVED THIS BUT NOW THAT I HAVE GROWN OLDER I FOUND THAT
IT IS AN OLD FOLKISM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF ; DISBELIEF

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7

Date learned: 02-10-1972

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CAR BELIEF

IF A GIRL IS RIDING IN A CAR AND IT CROSSES OVER RAILROAD
TRACKS, SHE MUST LIFT UP HER FEET OR SHE WILL NOT GET MARRIED.

Submitter comment: INFORMANTS ATTITUDE WAS QUITE SKEPTICAL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK

James Callow Keyword(s): DISBELIEF ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Dating Courtship
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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DIET

FIVE POUNDS CAN BE LOST IN THREE DAYS BY EATING HARD
BOILED EGGS AND DRINKING WATER.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT FOUND THIS ABSURD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK

James Callow Keyword(s): DISBELIEF

Subject headings: 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
Food Drink -- Food

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THE NIGHT MY DADDY DIED, AN OWL HOOTED CLOSE TO OUR HOUSE. IT
SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS SITTING ON THE ROOF. THE NEIGHBORS SAID
DADDY WOULD NOT LIVE THROUGH THE NIGHT. HE DIDN'T, BUT THE OWL'S
HOOTING DID NOT MAKE HIM DIE. HE WAS ALREADY ALMOST DEAD.

Keyword(s): DISBELIEF

Subject headings: Observation
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird
BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

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Content filter on this entry.

THIS GESTURE IS MUCH MORE POPULAR UP NORTH THAN DOWN
SOUTH. IT ALSO HAS TWO DIFFERENT MEANINGS. THE MOST
WIDELY KNOWN USE IN THE MIDWEST IS TO TELL SOMEONE
THAT YOU THINK WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS A LOT OF
BULLSHIT. THE SECOND MEANING COMES FROM THE EAST
COAST WHERE IT MEANS "FUCK YOU" TO THE INTENDED PERSON.
THE GESTURE IS GIVEN BY CLOSING THE FIST AND EXTENDING
THE INDEX AND LITTLE FINGERS {UPWARDS}. I HAVE SEEN
THIS GESTURE BEING USED FOR AT LEAST 15 YEARS ALL OVER
THE UPPER UNITED STATES.

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; ASSUMED

Keyword(s): DISBELIEF

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Derision Scorn
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: KNOWN FOR MANY YEARS

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THE LITTLE AND INDEX FINGERS RAISED FROM A CLENCHED
FIST WITH KNUCKLES TOWARD BEARER, TELLS RECEIVER
HE IS "FULL OF IT."

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): DISBELIEF

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Derision Scorn

Date learned: 12-00-1971

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SOMETIMES THERE IS A PERSON IN A GROUP OF PEOPLE
THAT IS TELLING EXTRA-BULL STORIES. A GESTURE USED
TO SHOW THIS IS: MAKING A SHOVELING MOTION--THAT
THE BULL IS GETTING PRETTY DEEP.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

James Callow Keyword(s): BULL=UNTRUTH, LIE ; DISBELIEF

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Derision Scorn

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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Retort

...Says the pretty little bird on Nellie's hat.

(Variant of "Who are you kidding?")

Submitter comment:

Informant heard this often from Nellie Gaffney, a friend of informant's Irish grandmother, Rose Brady.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE ; Westrick, Evelyn

Keyword(s): BIRD ; COMEBACK ; DISBELIEF ; Hat ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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RAINBOW

IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE "OLD FOLKISMS" THAT AFTER A RAIN, WHEN THE
RAINBOW COMES OUT, IF YOU GO TO THE END OF THIS RAINBOW YOU WILL FIND
A POT OF GOLD, OR A SACK OF MONEY.


 

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT SAID SHE ONCE BELIEVED THIS BUT NOW THAT SHE HAS GROWN OLDER, SHE FOUND THAT
THIS WAS JUST AN OLD FOLKISM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF ; DISBELIEF

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7

Date learned: 02-10-1972

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CAR BELIEF

IF A GIRL IS RIDING IN A CAR AND IT CROSSES OVER RAILROAD
TRACKS, SHE MUST LIFT UP HER FEET OR SHE WILL NOT GET MARRIED.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANTS ATTITUDE WAS QUITE SKEPTICAL.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK ; Lehmbeck, Karen

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; FEET ; OMEN ; Relationship ; SUPERSTITION ; Tracks

James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; DISBELIEF ; POSITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Dating Courtship
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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DIET

FIVE POUNDS CAN BE LOST IN THREE DAYS BY EATING HARD
BOILED EGGS AND DRINKING WATER.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT FOUND THIS ABSURD.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; 2018 MARKISE ; LINCOLN PARK ; Smith, Theresa

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; DIET ; HEALTH ; WEIGHT ; Weightloss

James Callow Keyword(s): DISBELIEF

Subject headings: 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
Food Drink -- Food
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 10-11-1971

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SIGN

SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT EVERY TIME A SHOOTING STAR FLASHES
ACROSS THE SKY, A CHILD HAS BEEN BORN TO REPLACE SOMEONE WHO HAS
DIED.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT DOES NOT BELIEVE THE ACTUAL STATEMENT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DISBELIEF

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Comet
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 02-23-1972

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HOME PROTECTION BELIEF IN STORM

IT IS COMMON PRACTICE IN NEWFOUNDLAND (CATHOLIC HOMES)
TO LIGHT CANDLES AND TURN OFF ALL ELECTRICITY TO PROTECT THE HOME
AGAINST STORMS.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT'S MOTHER STILL DOES THIS, BUT THE INFORMANT
DOESN'T THINK THERE IS ANYTHING TO THE PRACTICE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DISBELIEF

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7

Date learned: 11-00-1971

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showing 18 items

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