Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P444 returned 345 results.
IF A BIRD GETS INTO YOUR HOUSE, THEN THERE WILL BE A DEATH
IN THE FAMILY.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; BALDWIN COUNTY ; FOLEY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
WHEAT IS BLESSED AND SPREAD OVER THE GRAVES OF THE RECENTLY
DECEASED WITH A PRAYER FOR THE SOUL. THE BELIEF IS THAT
THE WHEAT WILL PERPETUATE THE SOUL AND THE BIRDS WILL
CARRY THE WHEAT TO HEAVEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
THE HOWLING OF A DOG OR AN OWL NEAR YOUR HOUSE MEANS THAT A
RELATIVE OF YOURS IS GOING TO DIE.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
IF A ROOSTER SINGS IN FRONT OF YOUR DOOR THAT MEANS YOU ARE GOING
TO HAVE VISITORS COMING TO THE HOUSE.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
IF A ROOSTER FLIES IN YOUR WINDOW, AND CROWS AFTER HE
PERCHES ON THE FOOT OF YOUR BED, YOU WILL BE DEAD BY SUNRISE.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; SELMA
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 01111984CA
CHINESE EATING CUSTOM (GOOSE)
"IN CHINA, ANYONE YOUNGER THAN 15 YEARS IS NOT ALLOWED TO EAT
GOOSE BECAUSE THE CHINESE BELIEVE THAT THEIR FINGERS WILL CURL
AND BLISTER."
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT BELIEVED SUCH BELIEFS WERE MADE UP BY ELDERS SO THAT
THEY WOULD BE THE ONLY ONES TO ENJOY GOOSE WHICH IS EXPENSIVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
Date learned: 04-00-1984
BELIEF
IF A BIRD FLIES INTO THE HOUSE, SOMEONE IN THE FAMILY IS GOING
TO DIE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S MOTHER REALLY BELIEVES THIS. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE.
Where learned: NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001965CA
WHILE WORKING AT AN ORPHANAGE IN PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI,
WE HEARD ABOUT VARIOUS VOODOO PRACTICES FROM THE SISTER IN
CHARGE OF THE ORPHANAGE, SISTER VERONICA. ONE PRACTICE
SHE INFORMED US ABOUT WAS BITING THE HEAD OFF OF A LIVE
CHICKEN AND THEN DRINKING THE BLOOD. BLOOD HAS A POWERFUL
INFLUENCE IN VOODOO PRACTICE.
Submitter comment:
I HEARD THIS STORY AMONG VARIOUS VOODOO STORIES WHILE
WORKING IN HAITI. VOODOO PRACTICES ARE VERY COMMON IN
HAITI.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Bird |
Date learned: 01-00-1980
AFTER YOU COMB YOUR HAIR, YOU DON'T THROW THE HAIR THAT'S
REMAINING IN THE COMB AWAY. YOU BURN THE HAIR, THEN FLUSH IT
DOWN THE TOILET. IF YOU DON'T DO THIS, BIRDS WILL FIND YOUR
HAIR AND USE IT TO MAKE THEIR NESTS AND YOU'LL HAVE
HEADACHES FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
Submitter comment:
CONTAGIOUS MAGIC
EXPLICIT INTERDICTION
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
A FRIEND TOLD ME HE KNEW A LADY, HIS MOTHER'S FRIEND,
WHO HUNG SEVERAL EARS OF CORN ON HER PORCH JUST
ABOVE HER DOOR. HE SAID THIS WAS DONE TO KEEP OUT
EVIL SPIRITS. THIS WAS SOME SIGN THAT SHE BELIEVED
IN VOODOO.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Bad luck |
IF A WILD BIRD GETS INTO YOUR
HOUSE, OR IF A DOG KEEPS ON
HOWLING, YOU CAN EXPECT SOMEONE
CLOSE TO YOU TO DIE SOON.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT STATED HE FOUND THIS
TO BE TRUE. HE STATED A WILD
BIRD FLEW INTO HIS HOUSE AND HIS
FATHER DIED SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; BATON ROUGE
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1985
POEM ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BRAVERY
SOILDERS,
YOU FLED.
EVEN THE EAGLE DIES.
Submitter comment:
THIS POEM SHOWS THAT FLEEING IN BATTLE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE
WHATSOEVER. THE EAGLE IS THE SYMBOL OF GRANDFATHER GOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival C840.549 BELIEF -- Bird |
Date learned: 11-03-1985
MY INFORMANT TOLD ME OF A BIRD CALLED A "TURUL" WHICH
WAS AN ARTIFICIAL CONCOCTION OF THE PEOPLE OF HUNGARY
AS THEIR NATIONAL BIRD. THE TURUL RESEMBLED AN EAGLE AND
WAS VERY LARGE. THE BIRD WAS THOUGHT TO REPRESENT ALL
THE GOOD QUALITIES OF HUNGARY AND THERE IS EVEN A STATUE OF
A TURUL IN BUDAPEST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird |
Date learned: 11-08-1985
BLACK AMERICAN
WHEN A REDBIRD SAYS "WET, WET", A HEAVY
RAIN IS EXPECTED.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI
Keyword(s): WEATHER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
YOU KNOW DEATH ALWAYS COMES IN THREES. AND A BIRD IN THE HOUSE SHOWS YA AND ANUMBRELLA TOO.
MRS. MILLER TALKS IN ALMOST A SLANG LANGUAGE BUT
SOMETIMES SHE DOES IT PURPOSELY FOR EFFECT.
SHOWS YA REFERS TO THE FACT THAT IF ONE OF THE
ABOVE SUPERSTITIONS OCCUR, DEATH WILL HAPPEN
SHORTLY TO SOMEONE CLOSE.
Submitter comment:
I LEARNED THESE OVER THE PHONE. WL[ DETROIT, MICHIGAN
SHE KNEW THESE FROM HER DETROIT CHILDHOOD.
DT[ 00001930S
SD[ 10251985
MM[ YOU KNOW DEATH ALWAYS COMES IN THREES. AND A BIRD IN THE HOUSE SHOWS YA AND ANUMBRELLA TOO.
MRS. MILLER TALKS IN ALMOST A SLANG LANGUAGE BUT
SOMETIMES SHE DOES IT PURPOSELY FOR EFFECT.
SHOWS YA REFERS TO THE FACT THAT IF ONE OF THE
ABOVE SUPERSTITIONS OCCUR, DEATH WILL HAPPEN
SHORTLY TO SOMEONE CLOSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): UMBRELLA
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001930S
A FEW SAYINGS
OH YES, I CAN REMEMBER MANY SUPERSTITIONS. AH
YOU SHOULDN'T PART IF THERE'S A POST OR TREE;
NEVER SIT UNDER AN ARCHWAY AT A FUNERAL HOME;
IF YOU PUT SALT ON A BIRD'S TALE IT WON'T MOVE;
IF THE POCKET OF A PALLBEARER IS TORN HE WILL DIE
THE NEXT DAY.
Submitter comment:
SHE WAS ZIPPING THEM RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF HER
HEAD!!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights ; IN HER HOUSE
Date learned: 00001930S
IF BIRDS STAY OUT IN A RAINSTORM, IT WILL RAIN FOR SOME TIME; BUT IF
THEY GO TO THEIR NESTS, IT IS ONLY A SHOWER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Ortonville
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
Date learned: 10-00-1987 ; 00001930S CA.
IF A BIRD TRIES TO COME IN THROUGH A CLOSED WINDOW, IT MEANS THAT
THERE WILL BE A DEATH SOON.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS TAUGHT TO HER BY HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Ortonville
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001930S CA. ; 11001987 CA.
IF YOU DROP YOUR HAIR ON THE GROUND, A BIRD WILL COME AND PECK YOU
TO DEATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 11-00-1987