Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P574.5 returned 450 results.
CREOLE BELIEF
DON'T SWEEP DIRT OUTSIDE AFTER DARK BECAUSE IT'S BAD LUCK.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; BREAUX BRIDGE ; LOS ANGELES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Measure of time Working BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1930
CREOLE BELIEF
DO NOT PUT YOUR UNDER GARMENTS ON BACKWARDS OR YOUR WHOLE DAY
WILL GO BAD.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; BREAUX BRIDGE ; LOS ANGELES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 00-00-1933
ACCORDING TO GREEK ORTHODOX LEGEND, THE WEATHER ON GOOD FRIDAY
IS ALWAYS BAD, PARTICULARLY AROUND SIX IN THE EVENING. THIS APPLIES
TO THE GREEK ORTHODOX EASTER, NOT THE TRADITIONAL EASTER WHICH
FALLS ON DIFFERENT DATES.
Where learned: MISSOURI ; KANSAS CITY
| Subject headings: | 663 Good Friday BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
IF A DECEASED PERSON IS LAID OUT OVER A SUNDAY,
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER DEATH IN THE FAMILY SOON.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 00-00-1940
FOOD GATHERING CUSTOM
TRUFFLES SHOULD BE GATHERED AT MIDNIGHT WHEN THEY WILL POP UP
OUT OF THE GROUND. IF GATHERED AT ANY OTHER TIME THEY WILL
NOT BE ANY GOOD.
Submitter comment: THIS BELIEF DOES NOT HOLD TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CLINTON TOWNSHIP
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 11-00-1982
BAD LUCK
IF A PERSON SEES HIS OWN SHADOW ON A NIGHT WITH A FULL MOON,
EVIL THINGS WILL BEGIN TO HAPPEN TO HIM.
Submitter comment: HE SAID HE SAW HIS OWN SHADOW AND HE WAS ALMOST RUN DOWN BY A CAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck Body parts and functions BELIEF -- Bad luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event |
Date learned: 12-03-1982
FEAST OF ST. GEORGE-APRIL 23 BYZANTINE RITE
THE USUAL PICTURE OF ST. GEORGE HAS HIM PICTURED ON A
HORSE, WITH A SPEAR IN HIS HAND. HE IS KILLING A DRAGON
WHICH IS SYMBOLIC OF PAGANISM. THE DEW OF THE FEAST DAY
IS CONSIDERED MIRACULOUS AND IF GATHERED BEFORE SUNRISE,
IT SHOULD HEAL ANY DISEASE OF THE EYES. ANOTHER COMMON
EVENT FOR THE DAY IS A PROCESSION AROUND THE FIELD WITH
RELIGIOUS SERVICES. THE PRAYERS ARE PETITIONS FOR A GOOD
HARVEST. ALSO ON THIS DAY, YOUNG GIRLS TRY TO PREDICT THEIR
MARRIAGE DATE. THEY ASK THE CUCKOO HOW LONG BEFORE THEY WILL
MARRY. IF THE CUCKOO STOPS COOING AT THE END OF THE QUESTION
SHE WILL MARRY BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. IF IT BEGINS
COOING, THE NUMBER OF TIMES IT SINGS WILL BE THE NUMBER OF
YEARS BEFORE HER MARRIAGE.
Submitter comment:
SOME OF THESE CUSTOMS ARE BEGINNING TO DIMINISH IN THE
UNITED STATES.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
Keyword(s): ANIMALS
| Subject headings: | Observation Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- April 23 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs BELIEF -- Remedy BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00001950S
DAYS OF THE WEEK
VARIOUS BELIEFS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DAYS OF THE WEEK.
MONDAY IS CONSIDERED A WORK DAY. THEREFORE, IF NEW YEAR'S
DAY FALLS ON A MONDAY, THE ENTIRE YEAR WILL BE HARD.
TUESDAY IS CONSIDERED A HAPPY DAY. WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY
ARE FAST DAYS COMMEMORATING GOOD FRIDAY AND THE WEDNESDAYS
OF LENT. THURSDAY IS ASSOCIATED WITH GOOD LUCK AND IS THE
DAY ASSOCIATED WITH MATCHMAKING. IF YOU ARE BORN ON THIS
DAY YOU WILL BE RICH. SATURDAY IS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF
THE DEAD.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
Keyword(s): SUPERSTITION
Date learned: 00001950S
SWEEPING TRASH OUTSIDE THE DOOR AFTER DARK BRINGS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Working BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck Broom Sweeping |
Date learned: 09-19-1982
CUTTING YOUR FINGERNAILS ON SUNDAY BRINGS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MUSKEGON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
Date learned: 09-19-1982
"THE JAM ON GERRIES ROCK" MM
1. MM
COME ALL YOU YOUNG BOLD SHANTY BOYS, AND LIST WHILE I RELATE
THIS CONCERNING A YOUNG SHANTY BOY, AND HIS UNTIMELY FATE
CONCERNING A YOUNG SHANTY BOY SO MANLY, TRUE AND BRAVE
'TWAS ON THE JAM AT GERRIES ROCK, HE MET HIS WATERY GRAVE MM
2. MM
'TWAS ON ONE SUNDAY MORNING, AS YOU WILL QUICKLY HEAR
THE LOGS WERE PILED UP MOUNTAIN HIGH, WE COULD NOT KEEP THEM
CLEAR
OUR FOREMAN SAYS, "TURN OUT BRAVE BOYS, WITH HEARTS DEVOID OF
FEAR
WE'LL BREAK THE JAM AT GERRIES ROCK, AND FOR EDMORE TOWN WE'LL
STEER MM
3. MM
NOW SOME OF THEM WERE WILLING, WHILE OTHERS THEY WERE NOT
TO WORK ON JAMS ON SUNDAYS, THEY DID NOT THINK WE OUGHT
BUT FIVE OF OUR BRAVE CANADIAN BOYS, DID VOLUNTEER TO GO
TO BREAK THE JAM ON GERRIES ROCK, WITH THEIR FOREMAN JACK
MONROE MM
4. MM
THEY HAD NOT ROLLED OFF MANY LOGS, 'TILL THEY HEARD A CLEAR
VOICE SAY
"I'D HAVE YOU BOYS BE ON YOUR WATCH, FOR THIS JAM WILL SOON
GIVE WAY"
THESE WORDS WERE SCARCELY SPOKEN TILL THE MASS DID BREAK AND GO
IT CARRIED OFF THOSE FIVE BRAVE BOYS, AND THEIR FOREMAN YOUNG
MONROE MM
5. MM
WHEN THE REST OF OUR BRAVE SHANTY BOYS, THE SAD NEWS CAME TO
HEAR
IN SEARCH OF THEIR DEAD COMRADES, TO THE RIVER THEY DREW NEAR
WHILE SEARCHING FOR THE BODIES, WHICH FLOATING DOWN DID GO
ALL CRUSHED AND BLEEDING BY THE BANK, WAS THAT OF YOUNG MONROE MM
6. MM
THEY DRAGGED HIM FROM HIS WATERY GRAVE, BRUSHED BACK HIS RAVEN
HAIR
THERE WAS ONE FAIR FORM AMONG THEM, WHOSE SAD CRIES RENT THE
AIR
THERE WAS ONE FAIR FORM AMONG THEM, A GIRL FROM SAGINAW TOWN
WHOSE MOANS AND CRIES AROSE TO THE SKIES FOR HER TRUE LOVE
WHO'D GONE DOWN MM
7. MM
FAIR CLARA WAS A NOBLE GIRL, THE RIVERMAN'S TRUE FRIEND
WHO WITH HER WIDOWED MOTHER, LIVED AT THE RIVER'S BEND
THE WAGES OF HER OWN TRUE LOVE, THE BOSS TO HER DID PAY
THE SHANTY BOYS MADE UP FOR HER, A GENEROUS PURSE NEXT DAY MM
8. MM
THEY BURIED HIM MID SORROWS DEEP, 'TWAS ON THE FIRST OF MAY
COME ALL YOU YOUNG SHANTY BOYS, AND FOR YOUR COMRADE PRAY
ENGRAVED UPON A HEMLOCK TREE WHICH, BY THE GRAVE DID GROW
WAS THE NAME AND DATE OF THIS SAD FATE, OF OUR SHANTY BOY
MONROE MM
9. MM
FAIR CLARA DID NOT LONG SURVIVE, HER HEART WAS FILLED WITH
GRIEF
AND SCARCELY SIX MONTHS AFTER, DEATH CAME TO HER RELIEF
AND WHEN THE TIME HAD PASSED AWAY AND SHE WAS CALLED TO GO
HER LAST REQUEST WAS GRANTED TO BE LAID BY YOUNG MONROE MM
10. MM
COME ALL YOU YOUNG BOLD SHANTY BOYS, I'D HAVE YOU CALL AND SEE
TWO GREEN MOUNDS BY THE RIVER SIDE, WHERE GROWS THE HEMLOCK
TREE
THE SHANTY BOYS CLEARED FOR THE SPOT, BUT THE LOVERS THEY LAY
LOW
THERE'S HANDSOME CLARA VERNON, AND HER TRUE LOVE JACK MONROE MM MM
THIS WAS A TRUE HAPPENING. MY GRANDFATHER KNEW OF IT AT THE
TIME IT HAPPENED. YEARS AGO, IN THE LUMBERING DAYS, WHEN A
TRAGEDY WOUULD HIT, SOME ONE USUALLY MADE UP A SONG ABOUT IT. MM
THE JAM, WHICH IS SANG OF IN THE SONG THE JAM ON GERRIES ROCK,
WAS WHEN THE LOGS WHICH WERE BEING FLOATED DOWN THE RIVER,
WOUULD JAM UP. THE CAUSE OF THIS WOULD BE THAT ONE OR TWO
LOGS WOULD TURN SIDEWAYS, INSTEAD OF FLOATING END FIRST DOWN
THE RIVER. YOU SEE THE MEN WOULD CUT THESE LOGS IN THE WIN-
TER TIME, AND THEY WERE HAULED BY SLEIGH TO A RIVER AND PILED
ON THE BANK, AND THEN IN THE SPRING, WHEN THE ICE MELTED IN
THE RIVERS, AND THE WATER WAS HIGH, THE LOGS WERE DUMPED INTO
THE RIVER AND FLOATED DOWN STREAM TO A LUMBER MILL, WHERE THEY
WERE SAWED INTO LUMBER. I SAW THIS ALL HAPPEN WHEN I WAS A
CHILD AT MICHELSON, HERE IN ROSCOMMON COUNTY.
Submitter comment:
IT IS INTERESTING THAT THIS INFORMANT BELIEVES THAT THIS
INCIDENT HAPPENED IN MICHIGAN AND THAT HER GRANDFATHER KNEW
IT. MANY OTHER ACCOUNTS OF THIS SAME INCIDENT IN VERY SIMILAR
SONGS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN OTHER LUMBERING AREAS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HOUGHTON LAKE
James Callow Keyword(s): LUMBERJACK ; SYMPATHETIC DEATH
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad, Song, Verse CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- FO50 BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 00001930S
BELIEF
NEVER SWEEP A PERSON FEET. THEY WILL END UP IN JAIL.
BEFORE THE WEEK IS OUT.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; HAYNESVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 01-00-0198
IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF YOU WANT TO INVOKE THE DEVIL, YOU REPEAT
HIS NAME WITHOUT STOPPING FOR 24 HOURS. IF DURING THAT TIME YOU
SAY: "OH MY GOD" YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Word Letter BELIEF -- Number P686.24 |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
ON DECEMBER 31 TAKE A BATH (NAKED) IN THE SEA AT MIDNIGHT. THIS
BRINGS GOOD LUCK. ALSO, SOME OTHER DAYS THAT ARE GOOD TO TAKE
THOSE KIND OF BATH ARE THE FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH AND OF COURSE
FRIDAY THE 13. THE BEST TIMES ARE MIDNIGHT AND 3 P.M.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
Date learned: 00001970S
IF YOU WALK UNDER A LADDER YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK ALL DAY.
Where learned: ALABAMA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck Ladder (angles, pyramid, etc.) |
Date learned: 04091984CA
IF YOU BREAK A MIRROR YOU WILL HAVE SEVEN YEARS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; CENTERVILLE
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck Mirror |
Date learned: 04091984CA
WHEN DRIVING OVER A RAILROAD TRACK, PUT YOUR
RIGHT HAND THUMB ON A SCREW IN THE CAR, LIFT
YOUR FEET UP AND MAKE A WISH. WITHIN ONE WEEK
YOUR WISH WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
"PID-AB" (THAI HIDE-AND-SEEK)
"'PID-AB' IS NOT PLAYED AT NIGHT FOR FEAR OF GHOSTS GETTING THOSE
PERSONS WHO ARE HIDING. THE THAIS BELIEVE THAT IF THE GHOSTS
FIND YOU, YOU'LL NEVER BE SEEN AGAIN."
Submitter comment: SEE "PID-AB" (THAI HIDE-AND-SEEK)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Hiding Searching BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
BELIEF ABOUT CUTTING FINGERNAILS
"YOU SHOULD NOT CUT YOUR FINGER NAILS AT NIGHT OR YOU'LL CUT
THE LIFE OF A RELATIVE SHORT."
Submitter comment:
IN OLD TIMES, THE CHINESE USED A KNIFE TO CUT THEIR FINGER
NAILS AND BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE LIGHT THEY MIGHT LOSE A
FINGER IF THEY'RE NOT CAREFUL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 04-00-1984
A TURTLE NEVER DIES UNTIL THE SUN GOES DOWN. IF YOU CATCH A
TURTLE AND CUT IT UP FOR SOUP, THE PARTS KEEP SQUIRMING IN THE
SOUP UNTIL THE SUN GOES DOWN.
Submitter comment:
THIS STORY WAS TOLD TO STEVE WHEN HE WAS A CHILD BY HIS
GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |