Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in /var/www/libs/inc/cfa/cfa-item.inc.php on line 328
The James T. Callow Computerized Folkore Archive | University of Detroit Mercy Libraries Back to Top
Top Nav content Site Footer
University Home
James T. Callow Computerized Folklore Archive
search for

Offensive content Filter is ON

Your search for BIRMINGHAM returned 584 results.

prev | items
| next

BURIAL

AN ITALIAN'S MOST FAVORITE PERSONAL ITEMS ARE BURIED IN THE
COFFIN WITH HIM, SUCH AS HAT, PIPE AND STRAIGHT RAZOR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 11-09-1972

View just this record

EVIL EYE

THE INFORMANT ALMOST FAINTED ONE DAY IN CHURCH. WHEN HE
CAME OUT OF CHURCH HIS GRANDMOTHER EXCITEDLY CRIED "MAL OCCHIO"
WHICH MEANS EVIL EYE, SHE RUSHED HIM HOME AND
MADE SIGN OF CROSS
ON HIS FOREHEAD WITH VINEGAR TO CHASE OUT THE EVIL SPIRITS.

Submitter comment: THIS HAPPENED HERE IN THE UNITED STATES

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse
BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 11-09-1972

View just this record

SIGN OF BULL

ITALIANS BELIEVE THE SIGN OF THE BULL IS A GOOD LUCK SIGN

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure
BELIEF -- Good luck
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.3

Date learned: 11-09-1972

View just this record

SWALLOWING GUM

IF YOU SWALLOW A PIECE OF CHEWING GUM, IT WILL REMAIN IN YOUR
STOMACH FOR SEVEN YEARS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Number P686.1.786
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

View just this record

STARS

STARS WERE MADE WHEN THE TREES GREW SO TALL THAT THEY POKED HOLES
IN THE SKY.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HIS MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Creation and Order of Universe
BELIEF -- Star
BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 07-00-1964

View just this record

GHOST LIGHTS

NEAR I-75 IN FLORIDA THERE IS AN ABANDONED STRIP OF ROAD WITH
THREE LARGE HILLS. IF YOU WAIT AT THE TOP OF THE THIRD HILL, YOU
CAN SOMETIMES SEE THE GHOST LIGHTS. THIS LARGE, EERY LIGHT
STARTS AT THE BASE OF THE FIRST HILL AND CLIMBS THE THREE HILLS,
DISAPPEARING TEMPORARILY BEHIND THE HILLS. NON-BELIEVERS SAY IT
HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE LIGHT FROM I-75 AND THE FOG. HOWEVER,
A GROUP OF COLLEGE KIDS WAITED TO SEE IT ONE NIGHT. WHEN IT CAME
VERY CLOSE, THEY COULDNT START THEIR CAR. THE LIGHT SEEMED
TO CLIMB ON TOP OF THE CAR AND SHAKE IT. ONE BOY LOOKED AT IT
AND WENT INSANE, ANOTHER SAID IT WAS THE FACE OF GOD. A MAN
WATCHED THE LIGHT WITH HIS FAMILY. WHEN IT APPROACHED, HE
PULLED A GUN OUT OF HIS GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THE GUN WAS LOADED, BUT
IT WOULD NOT FIRE. THE LIGHT SHOOK THE CAR. WHEN IT WAS GONE, THE
MAN TRIED THE GUN AGAIN. HE FIRED SIX SHOTS INTO A NEARBY MAILBOX
WITH NO TROUBLE AT ALL. WHEN YOU GO THERE, YOU CAN STILL SEE THE
HOLES IN THE MAILBOX.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT WENT TO THE PLACE TO WATCH FOR THE GHOST LIGHTS. HE
SAW SOMETHING BUT ISN'T SURE EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

James Callow Keyword(s): EERIE ; MYSTERIOUS LIGHT

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Supernatural Being

Date learned: 11-11-1970

View just this record

IF YOUR EAR RINGS, SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT YOU.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: Spirit / Mind / Body
BELIEF -- Body part Senses

View just this record

BELIEF ABOUT THE DEVIL

WHEN YOU COME HOME FROM CONFESSION, THE DEVIL HIDES IN THE BUSHES
AND TRIES TO GET YOU. WHEN YOU GO BY YOU CAN FEEL THE HEAT
RADIATING FROM HIM. SOMETIMES HE LEAPS FROM THE BUSHES AND CHASES
YOU.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER WAS TOLD THIS WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD IN DETROIT BY AN
IRISH FRIEND. HER FRIEND HAD FELT THE HEAT OF THE DEVIL MANY TIMES.
HER MOTHER HAD ACTUALLY BEEN CHASED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE OLD COUNTRY
WHEN THE JEALOUS DEVIL TRIED TO CAPTURE HER SOUL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon

View just this record

SPRING CHILLS

DON'T CAST YOUR FLOUT TILL MAY IS OOT.

Submitter comment: THIS PROVERB WAS LEARNED BY THE INFORMANT FROM HER MOTHER, MRS.
HARRIET MALLINSON IN HER HOME IN GARY, INDIANA. (CIRCA 1925) HER
MOTHER IN TURN LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER, A MRS. SCOT, AS A CHILD
IN EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND. CK[ ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; FUNCTION
FLOUT=CLOD PLANTING

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): WEATHER PROVERB

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; FUNCTION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- May
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June
BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

View just this record

PROVERB

THE BUSINESS WHICH DOES NOT ADVERTISE IS PAYING FOR THE SPACE USED
BY ITS COMPETITOR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): ECONOMICS

James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION ; PRACTICALITY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

View just this record

CROSSEYED

IF YOU LET A BABY LOOK IN A MIRROR BEFORE HE IS A YEAR OLD,
HE WILL BE CROSSEYED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE (IMPLIED)

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-00-1968

View just this record

EFFECTS OF DRINKING

WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL GETS DRUNK HE LOSES ALL THE GOOD GRACES
HE HAS STORED UP IN HEAVEN AND WHEN HE REPENTS, HE GETS THEM
ALL BACK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Creation and Order of Human Life
BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed
BELIEF -- Body part Senses

Date learned: 11-00-1968

View just this record

STRING BELIEF

TIE A STRING AROUND YOUR FINGER TO REMEMBER SOMETHING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 03-17-1971

View just this record

BELIEF

A WAD OF COTTON ON THE FRONT DOOR WILL KEEP FLIES AWAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Home

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

View just this record

SLEEP BELIEF

IF YOU CAN NOT GO TO SLEEP AT NIGHT THE SAND
MAN WILL COME AND PUT SAND IN YOUR EYES TO MAKE YOU SLEEP.
IN THE MORNING YOU MAY FIND A GRITTY DEPOSIT IN THE CORNER OF
YOUR EYE. THIS IS SOME OF THE SAND HE USED TO PUT YOU TO SLEEP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

James Callow Keyword(s): ETIOLOGY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye
BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping

View just this record

BED BELIEF

LEAVE YOUR BEDS UNCOVERED IN THE MORNING FOR A WHILE
TO LEAVE THE IMPURE ELEMENTS THAT LEFT YOUR BODY DURING THE
NIGHT OUT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; FUNCTION ; SANITATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Home

Date learned: 04-00-1968

View just this record

HOME BELIEF

USE A PEELED POTATO TO REMOVE ANY STUBBORN INK STAINS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption
BELIEF -- Home

Date learned: 11-00-1968

View just this record

HOME BELIEF

USE CORN STARCH ON A FRESH STAIN TO REMOVE THE STAIN
I HAVE SEEN CORN STARCH REMOVE A RED WINE STAIN FROM A
WHITE CARPET.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food
Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Fermented
BELIEF -- Home

Date learned: 11-00-1968

View just this record

MYTH

SANTA CLAUS- A FAT JOLLY OLD MAN WITH A WHITE BEARD WHO LIVES AT
THE NORTH POLE AND DISTRIBUTES GIFTS ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve
BELIEF -- Supernatural Being

Date learned: 11-00-1968

View just this record

A PERSON ENTERS A BAR OPTIMISTICALLY AND LEAVES MISTY OPTICALLY

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): PUN ; SEMANTICS

James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

View just this record

prev | items
| next

Back to Top