Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P882 returned 579 results.
SUPERSTITION
CROSSED FINGERS ON EACH HAND RESULTS IN BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT REASONS THAT SINCE CROSSING TWO FINGERS ON ONE
HAND RESULTS IN GOOD LUCK, DOING THIS WITH ANOTHER HAND MUST
RESULT IN BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM
James Callow Keyword(s): OPPOSITES CONTRAIETY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 02-12-1979
SUPERSTITION
WALKING WITH ONE SHOE ON AND ONE OFF RESULTS IN BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SEES THIS BELIEF AS VALID. SHE REASONS THAT HAVING ONE
ARCH SUPPORTED AND THE OTHER UNSUPPORTED RESULTS IN BAD FEET.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; DEPARTMENT STORE
Date learned: 02-20-1979
SUPERSTITION
LETTING UP AN UMBRELLA IN THE HOUSE RESULTS IN BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT LACKS AN EXPLANATION FOR THE BELIEF, BUT HAS HEARD
THE BELIEF REPORTED BY A NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; DEPARTMENT STORE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-13-1979
SUPERSTITION
BREAK A MIRROR AND YOU'LL HAVE SEVEN YEARS OF BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
ALTHOUGH THIS BELIEF HAS BEEN PREVALENT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS,
INFORMANTS LACKED AN EXPLANATION FOR THE BELIEF BEYOND THE FACT
THAT THERE IS THE DANGER OF CUTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; DEPARTMENT STORE
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-20-1979
SUPERSTITION
WALKING UNDER A LADDER RESULTS IN BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THIS BELIEF WAS CONTRIBUTED BY A NUMBER OF INFORMANTS, HOWEVER, NONE
WERE ABLE TO GIVE REASON FOR ITS SUPPORT OR TO EXPLAIN THE
ORIGIN OF THE BELIEF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-12-1979
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE AND THEN HAVE TO GO BACK FOR SOMETHING
YOU SHOULD SIT DOWN FOR A WHILE OR SOMETHING WILL GO WRONG.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS LEARNED BY MY INFORMANT IN POLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-07-1979
SUPERSTITION
I HAVE A T-SHIRT THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME BY SOME FRIEND I
WORK WITH. BUT EVERYTIME I'VE WORN THAT SHIRT UNDER MY
HOCKEY EQUIPMENT, I'VE HAD TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY WARD
AT THE HOSPITAL. FIRST I GOT A CUT UNDER THE CHIN AND
FIVE STITCHES WERE NEEDED TO STOP THE BLEEDING. TWO
WEEKS LATER (ON 04121979) I GOT A STICK ACROSS THE NOSE.
THIS TIME NO STICHES WERE NEEDED, BUT I SPENT THREE
HOURS IN THE HOSPITAL BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GO HOME AT 2:30 AM.
I HAVE DECIDED TO RETURN THE SHIRT, AND IF HE DOESN'T WANT
IT, IT WILL BE BURNED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; REDFORD
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Conversions |
SUPERSTITION
I ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO WEAR OR HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH
THE NUMBER 13. THE ONE TIME I WAS "FORCED" TO WEAR IT, I
INJURED MY RIGHT SHOULDER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | 686 Specific number by specific number being described BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: CA00001966
FORTUNE TELLING RICE BIRDS OF INDONESIA
IN INDONESIA A VENDER COME AROUND THE HOUSE WITH THREE
LITTLE RICE BIRDS IN A CAGE. HE WOULD ASK IF HE COULD
TELL YOUR FORTUNE FOR THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS. IF ALLOWED,
HE WOULD THROW RICE INTO THE CAGE OF BIRDS. IF THE BIRDS
ATE THE RICE, YOU WOULD HAVE SEVEN YEARS OF STARVATION, BE-
CAUSE EVERYTHING HAS BEEN EXHAUSTED. IF THEY DIDN'T EAT
ALL THE RICE, YOU WOULD HAVE SEVEN YEARS OF SUCCESS AND
GOOD LUCK. THE IDEA WAS TO GET THE VENDER AFTER HE HAS
BEEN TO ALL THE OTHER HOUSES, BY THAT TIME THE BIRDS WOULD
BE TOO FULL OF RICE, YOU COULD NOT HELP BUT GET GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): AUSPEXY ; HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer 870 Favorites BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 04-00-1979 ; 00001930-1950
MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO TELL THE STORY OF A YOUNG GIRL WHO WAS
INVITED TO A BALL ON A DRAWBRIDGE IN FRANCE. WHEN THE GIRL
AWAKENED THE MORNING OF THE DANCE, HER MOTHER TOLD HER OF A DREAM
SHE HAD THE NIGHT BEFORE THAT SOMETHING TERRIBLE WAS GOING TO
HAPPEN AT THE PARTY. IN SPITE OF HER MOTHER'S PLEAS, TO STAY
HOME, THE GIRL WENT TO THE DANCE. THAT NIGHT AT THE PARTY THE
BRIDGE HAPPENED TO OPEN AND ALL THE PEOPLE FELL INTO THE WATER AND
DROWNED.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A TRUE STORY.
DREAM AS OMEN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Dreams BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
A WOMAN DOESN'T GO TO THE FUNERAL OF HER HUSBAND OR HER CHILD.
IT IS BAD LUCK TO DO SO.
Submitter comment:
MY GRANDMOTHER BELIEVES IN THIS AND DID NOT ATTEND HER HUSBAND,
SON OR DAUGHTER'S FUNERAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
GOOD LUCK TO SPILL WINE,
BAD LUCK TO SPILL OIL IN MALTA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 01-28-1979
IT IS BAD LUCK TO PUT BREAD UPSIDE DOWN ON THE TABLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 01-28-1979
SUPERSTITION
WEARING AN OPAL WILL BRING YOU BAD LUCK IF IT IS NOT YOUR BIRTH
STONE.
Submitter comment: HEARD AS A SMALL CHILD AT HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
THROW SALT OVER LEFT SHOULDER TO KEEP BAD LUCK AWAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
BAD LUCK IN MARRIAGE
IT'S BAD LUCK FOR THE GROOM TO SEE THE BRIDE'S DRESS BEFORE THE
WEDDING.IT WILL CAUSE MISFORTUNE IN THE MARRIAGE.
Where learned: PUERTO RICO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
BAD LUCK
THREE ON A MATCH ( THIRD PERSON WILL DIE SOON)
WALKING UNDER LADDERS
THROWING SPILT SALT OVER YOUR SHOULDER TO WARD OFF BAD LUCK
BREAKING A MIRROR ( SEVEN YEARS BAD LUCK )
BLACK CAT CROSSING YOUR PATH
GOING OUT THE SAME DOOR YOU ENTERED TO WARD OFF BAD LUCK
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; REDFORD
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: CA00001960
Superstition: Baseball
WHEN THE PITCHER HAS A NO-HITTER GOING IN A BASEBALL GAME IT IS BAD
LUCK TO MENTION THIS FACT UNTIL THE GAME IS OVER. IF YOU DO MENTION
IT THE PITCHER WILL LOSE HIS NO-HITTER. DURING THE 1979 DETROIT
TIGERS BASEBALL SEASON DAVE ROZEMA HAD A NO-HITTER GOING IN THE
SEVENTH INNING AND THE UN-BASEBALL-WISE CHANNEL FOUR TV ANNOUNCER
MIKE BARRY ANNOUNCED THIS AND SURE ENOUGH THE NEXT BATTER GOT A
HOMERUN. THE OTHER TV ANNOUNCERS, FORMER BASEBALL PLAYERS AL KALINE
AND GEORGE SWELL, ALMOST THREW BARRY OUT OF THEIR THIRD-DECK BOOTH.
ANYBODY THAT KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT BASEBALL KNOWS YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSE
TO MENTION A NO-HITTER AND BARRY SAID IT IN FRONT OF A QUARTER
MILLION PERSON TV AUDIENCE.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): SPEAKING TABU
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 11-23-1979
MR. SPRINGY
MY GRANDFATHER TOLD THE STORY OF A CERTAIN MR. SPRINGY WHO CAME TO
HIS FEEDER EACH MORNING TO RECEIVE HIS DAILY RATION OF SEED. YOU SEE
MR. SPRINGY WAS A ROBIN AND MY GRANDFATHER BELIEVED THAT ROBINS
WERE A SYMBOL OF GOOD LUCK. IF A ROBIN CAME TO YOUR FEEDER IN THE
MORNING AND SANG LOUDLY, IT MEANT THAT YOU WOULD HAVE GOOD LUCK AND
THAT THE DAY WOULD BE FILLED WITH JOY AND PEACE. IF, HOWEVER, THE
ROBIN DID NOT SING, THEN YOU KNEW THAT THE DAY WOULD BE BAD.
MR. SPRINGY REPRESENTED THE BEST OF EVERYTHING AS FAR AS MY
GRANDFATHER WAS CONCERNED. HE WOULD TELL THE STORY OF MR. SPRINGY,
REGAL FELLOW WHO WOULD SING A BREAKFAST SONG WHILE PERCHED HIGH ON
BARN. MY GRANDFATHER CONSIDERED THIS TO
BE THE MORNING PRAYER OF
THANKS FOR THE GOODNESS OF GOD WHICH WAS TO BE SHOWN THAT DAY. MR.
SPRINGY WAS WISE AND KNEW OF ALL SORTS
OF THINGS INCLUDING VERY COMPLEX
THEOLOGICAL NOTIONS. THE BIRD REPRESENTED
ALL THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE
WHICH INCLUDED WEALTH, HEALTH, SUCCESS
AND BEAUTY. THE DAY WOULD BE
GOOD IF MR. SPRINGY SANG LOUDLY. A POOR SONG WARNED MY GRANDFATHER T
BE CAREFUL IN BUSINESS DEALINGS
THAT DAY AND SINCE MY GRANDFATHER
WAS THE PRESIDENT OF L.A. YOUNG WIRE
WIRE CO, SUCH ADVICE WOULD BE CAREFULLY
HEEDED. A SONG WAS WORTH MY GRANDFATHER'S SMILE AND NOD OF APPROVAL
FOR PAY. IT WAS EVEN WORTH A SPECIAL
HOME FOR MR. SPRINGY WHICH WAS A
RUSTIC AND STURDY CABIN, MADE OUT OF STRONG PINE WOOD. BURNED IN TH
WOOD OF THE UNDERSIDE WERE THE WORDS: "TO A CERTAIN MR. SPRINGY, KIN
OF THE AIR". INDEED, THE ROBIN DESERVED HIS TITLE OF RECOGNITION.
MY GRANDFATHER WOULD TELL THE STORY
WITH DELIGHT. IT WAS ALMOST AS IF HE
COULD REMEMBER THE WAY MR. SPRINGY LOOKED. HE WASN'T JUST ANY
ROBIN, YOU KNOW. THE OLD SONG MR. SPRINGY SANG MUST HAVE STILL RANG
IN MY GRANDFATHER'S EARS. IT WAS A CERTAIN SIGN OF THE BEST OF TIMES
AFTER HEARING THE STORY SEVERAL TIMES, I ASKED MY GRANDFATHER
WHAT IT WAS THAT MADE MR. SPRINGY LEAVE. MY GRANDFATHER DID NOT TELL
ME. HE SAID HE DID NOT KNOW AND HE REMINDED ME THAT MR. SPRINGY
STAYED WITH HIM FOR EIGHT YEARS AND THAT WAS A LONG TIME FOR FRIENDS
TO MEAN THE SAME THING TO EACH OTHER. I NEVER PUSHED FOR A FURTHER
EXPLANATION. BEING TOO YOUNG TO REALLY UNDERSTAND, I WAS CONTENT TO
LISTEN TO MORE STORIES ABOUT THE VICTORY GARDENS AND POLO HORSES.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I BROUGHT UP THE OLD STORY OF MR. SPRINGY AT
FAMILY DINNER. MY GREAT-AUNT FINISHED
THE STORY IN TEARS: "THE BIRD SANG HIS
SONG FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, BUT THERE WAS NO FOOD
TO GIVE HIM. THE DEPRESSION
ERA LEFT HARDLY ENOUGH FOR OURSELVES
CAME BACK AFTER THAT. HE
UNDERSTOOD THAT THE STOCK MARKET HAD CRASHED FOR HE WAS A BIRD WITH
GREAT WISDOM AND POWER. YOUR GRANDFATHER BELIEVED IN HIM. I CAN STIL
REMEMBER WHEN YOUR GRANDFATHER GAVE HIM HIS LAST TASTY MORSEL OF OLD
RAISIN BREAD THAT FELL IN EXCESS FROM OUR TABLE. THE TWO SEEMED TO
KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. THEY HAD AN AGREEMENT, THOUGH. MR.
SPRINGY'S HOUSE WAS NOT TO BE TORN DOWN NO MATTER WHAT. AND SO THAT
OLD RUSTIC HOUSE REMAINED ON TOP OF
THAT OLD BARN FOR NEARLY TWENTY FIVE
YEARS UNTIL THE BARN ITSELF WAS TORN
DOWN AND REPLACED BY THE NEW
ALUMINUM GARAGE. BARNS WERE FOR BIRDS, ANIMALS
AND PEOPLE. GARAGES ARE
MERELY FOR CEMENT AND CARS. MR. SPRINGY
WAS LIKE SO MANY OTHER FAITHFUL
SINGERS OF DREAMS THAT NEVER CAME TRUE
AND FRIENDSHIPS THAT NEVER
FAILED."
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
CUSTOM
AT SUGDEN LAKE IN MICHIGAN, NOBODY TAKES THE FIRST SWIM OF
THE YEAR UNTIL ST. JOSEPH BLESSES THE WATER, OTHERWISE IT IS BELIEVE
YOU WILL HAVE GREAT FAILURE DURING THE SUMMER AND EITHER A MEMBER
OF YOUR FAMILY OR EVEN YOU YOURSELF COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED
IN THE WATER AND YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE ANY SUITABLE
MEDICAL HELP IN TIME TO SAVE YOU FROM DEATH OR PARALYSIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 19 Feast of St. Joseph BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1979