Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P644 returned 194 results.
To her knowledge, when a child of Greek descent is born, he or
she is given a charm (a golden eye) to protect him or her from what
is called a "matiasma." Roughly translated it means "given the eye"
or "eyed." This happens when someone admires someone out of jealousy
out loud. For example, "His voice is so incredible. I wish I had it."
Once one is eyed, if he or she is not wearing the charm or if one
doesn't say "ftousou" which is a Greek word that means "to spray
saliva," he or she is condemned to sickness. (When said, ftousou
literally sprays saliva in the person's face.)
Submitter comment:
This particular superstition is feared by my informant because,
as a child, she was "eyed" and became seriously ill. All was tried to
lower my informant's fever but nothing worked. Finally, with
hesitation, a witch doctor was summoned and the fever disappeared
within a single day. To this day she has believed in the curse and
gave me and her other son the golden eye. However, both have been
misplaced and to this date have not been found.
Where learned: GREECE
Keyword(s): AILMENT ; SICKNESS ; unexplained
James Callow Keyword(s): amulet, talisman
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00001943CA
When you are finished brushing or combing your hair you should
immediately remove it from the brush or comb and either burn or
flush it down the toilet. This prevents any one who wants to do
harm to you by taking your hair to a Voodoo person and having that
person cast a spell on you or have you fixed with a spell so that
you will come down with some untraceable illness.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Aberdeen
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Curse |
To put the hanks on someone take their socks and boil them and
let the person drink it as tea.
James Callow comment: Does "hanks" mean hex, or is it related to "hanker"?
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00-00-1946
Throw salt over your left shoulder to keep the jinks away.
Where learned: GEORGIA ; Alberton
James Callow Keyword(s): jinx
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
If you don't burn your hair, someone can get a hold to it and
put a spell or something on you.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
The Legend of the Shoe Tree
This is the Legend of the Shoe Tree: If you drive down a
certain back road (road name not known) in Northville, Michigan
you will come across a tree with hundreds of shoes thrown up into
it. Legend has it that a murderer used to kill his victims and
leave his mark by throwing each victim's shoes into the tree. It
is also believed that anyone who touches the tree or anything in
it will be cursed and then die.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
James Callow Keyword(s): Touching tabu
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1990
Voodoo
When people left your house, the owner would look up above
the ledge of the door to make sure that person didn't leave any
items that would be considered voodoo. If items were left it was
a sign that a spell was casted on you, your house and your loved
ones.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; LAFAYETTE
Keyword(s): Vadoo
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00001935ca
When a baby is born to a Polish mother, you are supposed to put
a red ribbon on a safety pin so the child is always protected by
their guardian angel; a medal of a saint, angel, or the Mother of
God may be added also-- but the red ribbon is essential. This
will protect the child from ladies with evil eyes who will look at
your child, and the child may get sick, get a rash all over its
body, or could even die; this also protects the child from evil-
eyed women who may abduct the child, also.
Submitter comment:
This is yet another custom that my mother has passed on to her
children. It has worked with all my grandmother's children and
grandchildren so far.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001920S
IF YOU STRIKE A NUN YOUR ARM WILL FREEZE IN THAT
SAME POSITION THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS BY A NUN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- P439 BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 02-13-1972
THE WHITE HAIRS FROM AN ERMINE TAIL ARE PROTECTION
FROM THE EVIL EYE AND SHOULD BE CARRIED AT ALL
TIMES.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT FOUND THIS AMUSING BUT CARRIES ERMINE
HAIRS IN HER WALLET.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
STICK PINS IN A LIKENESS OF A PERSON AND IT WILL
DRIVE THEM MAD OR EVEN KILL THEM.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): VOODOO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 10-22-1968
THERE IS AN EVIL EYE STONE TO WARD OFF EVIL CURSES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 01-19-1968
THE GREEKS HAVE A VERY STRONG BELIEF IN THE EVIL
EYE, WHICH THEY CALL TO MATI. IF A GREEK PERSON
THINKS YOU ARE PUTTING THE EYE ON THEM, THEY WILL
SAY "SKORTHA STA MATIA SU" MEANING "GARLIC
IN YOUR EYES."
Where learned: SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Expression of Fixed Form BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-24-1969
THE GREEKS PUT A LITTLE CROSS INSIDE A PERSON'S
SHIRT TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE EVIL EYE AT ALL
TIMES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-09-1969
IF A PERSON SWALLOWS A CLOVE OF GARLIC BEFORE
BREAKFAST EVERY MORNING, HE WOULD BE CURED OF THE
EVIL OMEN.
Submitter comment:
THIS CURE IS STILL IN EFFECT IN ITALY FOR THE
MORE PRIMITIVE PEOPLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 11-20-1967
A PERSON WOULD GREASE THE SUPPORTS OF THE HOUSE
WITH PORK FAT; THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO CURE THE
EVIL OMEN.
Submitter comment: PEOPLE IN ITALY STILL DO THIS TODAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Foundation Floor BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 11-20-1967
CERTAIN PEOPLE JINX THEIR OWN BELONGINGS BECAUSE
THEY LIKE THEM VERY MUCH, IN WHICH CASE, AN
OBJECT OF THEIRS WILL BREAK OR BECOME USELESS.
TO BREAK THE JINX, A PERSON MUST GET AN ARTICLE
OF CLOTHING FROM THE JINX, BURN IT, AND PUT THE
HOT ASHES AROUND THE JINXED ARTICLE. THEN THE
JINX IS BROKEN.
Submitter comment: FROM MOTHER.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 11-11-1967
MALOCCHIO CURE (EVIL EYE)
A CUP OF WATER IS SET ON A TABLE IN FRONT OF THE
AFFLICTED PERSON AND 13 GRAINS OF WHEAT ARE
PREPARED. EACH GRAIN OF WHEAT IS INDIVIDUALLY
DROPPED INTO THE WATER. IF THE GRAINS OF WHEAT
FLOAT AT THE TOP STANDING ON END, THIS MEANS THAT
YOU HAVE THE MALOCCHIO; BUT IF THEY JUST LAY FLAT,
THIS MEANS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE IT. AS EACH GRAIN OF
WHEAT IS INDIVIDUALLY DROPPED INTO THE WATER, A
PRAYER IS CHANTED AUDIBLY BUT NOT SO THAT (IT) IS
ABLE TO BE UNDERSTOOD.
Submitter comment:
NOTE: THE CURE AND ITS PRAYERS ARE INHERITED ON
CHRISTMAS EVE AT MIDNIGHT. IT IS AT THIS TIME
AND THIS TIME ONLY THAT THEY CAN BE DISCLOSED.
THE PERSON WHO RECEIVES THE CURE TAKES AN OATH OF
SECRECY CONCERNING THE PRAYER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 09-29-1969
MALOCCHIO CURE (EVIL EYE)
A CUP OF WATER IS PLACED IN FRONT OF THE AFFLICTED
PERSON. A SPOON IS LAID NEAR THE CUP WITH ITS
HANDLE ON THE EDGE OF THE CUP AND THERE IS OIL IN
THE SPOON. THEN YOU TAKE TABLE KNIFE AND A SIGN OF
THE CROSS IS MADE ON THE FOREHEAD AND THEN THE KNIFE
IS DROPPED ON THE FLOOR HANDLE DOWN. THIS IS DONE
THREE TIMES. DURING THE WHOLE CEREMONY THE PRAYERS
ARE CHANTED AUDIBLY BUT NOT UNDERSTANDABLY. THEN
THE KNIFE IS SET DOWN. THE THUMB IS DIPPED IN THE
OIL AND THE PERSON'S FOREHEAD IS ANOINTED BY
MAKING THE SIGN OF THE CROSS ON IT THREE TIMES.
THEN THE THUMB IS ONCE AGAIN DIPPED IN THE OIL AND
THEN HELD OVER THE DISH. ACCORDING TO WHETHER THE OIL
SINKS OR FLOATS AND HOW IT DISPERSES, ONE CAN TELL
WHETHER THE MALOCCHIO WAS PLACED ON THE PERSON BY A
MAN OR WOMAN; HOW BAD IT IS; AND WHETHER IT CAN BE
CURED.
Submitter comment:
IF THE MALOCCHIO ON A PERSON IS ESPECIALLY BAD,
THEN THE CURE IS REPEATED FOR THREE NIGHTS IN A ROW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 10-03-1969
IN IRELAND, IF SOME PERSON (PERHAPS A GYPSY)
COMES TO THE HOME OF AN IRISH FAMILY TO SELL HIS
WARES, THE MOTHER IN THE FAMILY WOULD IMMEDIATELY
PLACE A PAIR OF TONGS FROM THE FIREPLACE OVER THE
CRADLE OF HER INFANT CHILD TO PREVENT A CURSE OR
BAD OMEN ON THE CHILD. TO INSURE GOOD LUCK AND TO
INSURE PROTECTION FROM ANY EVIL OMENS, THE MOTHER
WOULD ALSO NEVER SEND THE SALESMAN AWAY WITHOUT
BUYING SOMETHING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 11-03-1969