Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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GOOD LUCK SIGN
IF YOU FIND A PENNY AND KEEP IT, YOU WILL SOON BE GETTING
A LARGE SUM OF MONEY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
SUPERSTITION
STEP ON A STONE, BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 00-00-1956
OMEN
IT IS A LEBANESE BELIEF THAT IF YOU BRING A PERSON IN THE HOSPITAL
FLOWERS, YOU THINK HE IS DYING, SO NEVER BRING A PERSON IN THE
HOSPITAL FLOWERS OR ELSE YOU WILL SCARE THAT PERSON.
Where learned: WORK ; TOLD AT ; DETROIT BOARD OF
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 03-17-1970
READING AT THE TABLE
IF YOU READ AT THE DINNER
TABLE YOU WILL EAT YOUR
BRAINS AWAY.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 03-27-1968
A PICTURE OF AN UPSIDE - DOWN PLANE IS A SIGN OF DOOM
FOR THE PILOT. THIS WAS RECOGNIZED AS A SUPERSTITION,
BUT WHEN MEMBERS OF ANGEL FLIGHT WERE PUTTING UP
PICTURES OF PLANES ON A BULLETIN BOARD, ALL THE
AFROTC CADETS MADE CERTAIN THEY WERE RIGHT - SIDE UP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; PIZZERIA
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 03-21-1968
CRYING
IF YOU CRY BEFORE 11, YOU WILL LAUGH BY 7.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 00001920'S
PREDICTION
VISITORS TO HAWAII CAST THEIR LEIS
UPON THE WATER AS THEY LEAVE BY
SHIP. IF THE LEIS FLOAT BACK TO SHORE,
THE VISITOR WILL RETURN.
Submitter comment: KATHY PROBABLY HEARD THIS IN SCHOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PLYMOUTH
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 10-00-1965
SAYING
A GREEN CHRISTMAS MAKES A FULL GRAVEYARD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HIS MOTHER WHO SAID THE SAYING WAS USED
IN DUNDEE, SCOTLAND, WHERE SHE LIVED UNTIL SHE WAS AROUND THIRTY YEA
OLD. INFORMANT,S MOTHER CAME TO AMERICA IN 1912, THREE YEARS AFTER
THE INFORMANT WAS BORN.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below. BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
BELIEF
IF YOU PUT A STAMP ON AN ENVELOPE UPSIDE DOWN IT IS A SIGN YOU LOVE
THE PERSON YOU ARE SENDING IT TO.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Observation SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 09-00-1969
SUPERSTITION
IF A GIRL SINGS AT THE TABLE SHE WILL HAVE A CRAZY HUSBAND.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Song BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
IRISH GHOST BELIEF
WE HEARD A BANSHEE CRYING ONE NIGHT AND GRANDFATHER O'BRIEN TOLD US
THIS MEANT SOMEONE IN TOWN WAS GOING TO DIE. THE BANSHEE WENT MMOOO
MMOOO ALL NIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE OF THE PERSON THAT WAS GOING TO
DIE. A BANSHEE IS A KIND OF A LITTLE FAIRIE. PEGGY SWEARS SHE SAW
ONE IN THE GRAVEYARD ONE NIGHT. IT WAS ALL WHITE.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER LIVED IN BUNCLODY, COUNTY WEXFORD, IRELAND. SHE WAS FIVE
YEARS OLD IN 1932 WHEN SHE HEARD THE CRY OF THE BANSHEE.
PEGGY IS MY AUNT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Observation Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1932 ; 11-22-1979
SUPERSTITION
IN CANADA, IT IS BELIEVED TO BE A SIGN OF GOOD LUCK IF A PERSON
PASSES YOU DRIVING AN AUTOMOBILE WITH A STATUE OF ST. JOSEPH
ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS COULD MEAN THAT YOU WOULD INHERIT OR WIN
A LOT OF MONEY AND THAT SUCCESS WOULD SURELY BE YOURS.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED ITEM WHILE IN CANADA ON TOUR OF MARIAN SHRINES.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
ON HOLMES STREET IN HAMTRAMCK, MICHIGAN, IT IS BELIEVED BY A FAMILY
OF BAKERS THAT IF YOU FOUND A DEAD OVEN BIRD WHILE YOU WERE UNDER
THE AGE OF THIRTY, YOU WOULD DEFINITELY BECOME A BAKER IN LIFE.
Submitter comment:
IT IS STRANGE FOR I FOUND AN OVEN BIRD AND I HAVE NO INTENTION OF
BECOMING A BAKER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
BIRTH
PREDICTING THE DUE DATE FOR THE EXPECTED CHILD, AN INDIAN WOULD
COUNT NINE FULL MOONS TILL DUE DATE.
IN STEAD OF THE NORMAL WAY OF PREDICTING THE DUE DATE FOR THE
EXPECTED CHILD, AN INDIAN WOULD COUNT NINE FULL MOONS TILL DUE DATE.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): MEDICINE MAN
| Subject headings: | 686 Ninths / Nine Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Number P686.3.9 |
Date learned: 11-18-1969
FIRST BIRTHDAY
ON A BABY'S FIRST BIRTHDAY, PLACE A ROSARY, WHISKEY GLASS AND SOME
MONEY BEFORE HIM. WHICHEVER HE PICKS WILL BE WHAT HE BECOMES;
A PRIEST, A DRUNK, OR A WEALTHY PERSON.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS THIS WAS A PRACTICED CUSTOM AMONG HER FAMILY
Where learned: TOLD IN ; MCKENDRICK ; ANCIENT DRAMA CLASS
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOLS
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 02-12-1971
SAINT SANGENNARO
THE ROCK, ON WHICH ST. SANGENNARO WAS BEHEADED, IS KEPT IN A GLASS
CASE IN THE CHURCH NAMED AFTER HIM IN NAPLES, ITALY. EVERY SPRING AN
AUTUMN THE BLOOD ON THE ROCK LIQUIFIES. IF IT FAILS TO LIQUIFY IT
PORTENDS A DISASTER. IT FAILED TO LIQUIFY BEFORE WORLD WAR 1 ,
WORLD WAR 2, AND THE KOREAN WAR. IT ALSO DIDN'T LIQUIFY IN 1963, THE
YEAR THAT THE INFORMANT SAW IT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): BLOOD ; HISTORICAL ; OMEN ; Portent ; RELIGION ; Rock ; Saint Sangennaro ; SIGN ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | Observation Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 11-23-1968 ; 00-00-1963
NEW YEAR'S WISH
IF YOU WASH UP EVERYTHING IN THE ENTIRE HOUSE ON NEW YEARS EVE AND
GO INTO THE NEW YEAR'S CLEAN YOU WILL GET SOME MONEY
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 10-00-1979
COFFEE LUCK
BUBBLES IN COFFEE MEANS MONEY
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Non-alcoholic fruit beverage Coffee |
Date learned: 10-00-1979
COLD SHIVERS MEAN SOMEONE IS WALKING OVER THE SPOT THAT YOU WILL
BE BURIED IN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-00-1979
THE PERSON IN FRONT OF WHOM THE CORK FROM A BOTTLE
OF CHAMPAGNE FALLS WILL BE THE NEXT TO MARRY.
Where learned: MEXICO
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage |