Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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GEORGIA SUPERSTITION
"IF YOU'D DROP A SPOON ON THE FLOOR, IT MEANT THAT
A GIRLFRIEND WAS COMING TO VISIT YOU".
Where learned: OHIO ; FLORIDA ; ALLIANCE ; EUSTIS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 11-13-1980 ; 00001920S
GEORGIA SUPERSTITION
"IF YOU'D DROP A FORK ON THE FLOOR, IT MEANT THAT
A LADY WAS COMING TO SEE YOU"
Where learned: OHIO ; FLORIDA ; ALLIANCE ; EUSTIS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 11-13-1980 ; 00001920S
GEORGIA SUPERSTITION
"IF YOU DROPPED A KNIFE ON THE FLOOR, IT MEANT
THAT A MAN WAS COMING TO SEE YOU"
Where learned: OHIO ; FLORIDA ; ALLIANCE ; EUSTIS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 11-13-1980 ; 00001920S
GEORGIA WEDDING SUPERSTITION
"WHEN A BRIDE-TO-BE WAS OPENING HER GIFTS AT THE BRIDAL SHOWER,
THE NUMBER OF RIBBONS SHE BROKE MEANT THAT'S HOW MANY CHILDREN
SHE WAS GOING TO HAVE".
Where learned: OHIO ; FLORIDA ; ALLIANCE ; EUSTIS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs |
Date learned: 11-13-1980 ; 00001920S
NEW YEAR'S DREAMS
IN POLAND, IT IS A BELIEF THAT IF YOU DREAM ABOUT MARRYING A
PERSON THREE DAYS IN A ROW; ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, NEW YEAR'S DAY,
AND THE DAY AFTER, YOU WILL MARRY THAT PERSON BEFORE THE NEXT
YEAR COMES.
Submitter comment:
THERE IS ONE POINT TO BE MENTIONED IN REGARDS TO NEW YEAR'S EVE.
IT IS BELIEVED THAT SPIRITS ARE RESTLESS ON NEW YEAR'S EVE AND
THEY WANDER IN AND OUT OF HOUSES. THEREFORE, ON THAT DAY,
POLES ARE CAREFUL NOT TO WAVE SHARP OBJECTS IN THE AIR SUCH AS;
KNIVES, SCISSORS, AND PENCILS, SO AS NOT TO INJURE A SPIRIT AND
GIVE HIM CAUSE TO BE ANGRY WITH THEIR HOUSEHOLD. ALSO, THE POLES
WOULD LEAVE PLATES OF FOOD NEXT TO EMPTY CHAIRS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF
THE HOUSE. IF THEY WOULD DO THESE THINGS, THEY THOUGHT THE SPIRITS
WOULD THEN FEEL FREE TO BLESS THEIR HOUSEHOLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Date learned: 00-00-1978
MARY MCINTOSH
AT MIDNIGHT ON HALLOWEEN GO INTO A ROOM ALONE AND STAND IN FRONT OF A
MIRROR. NEXT SAY MARY MCINTOSH 10 TIMES WITH
YOUR EYES CLOSED. THEN STAMP
YOUR RIGHT FOOT 10 TIMES. NOW OPEN YOUR EYES AND IN THE MIRROR YOU
WILL SEE HOW MARY MCINTOSH DIED. SHE STABBED HERSELF IN THE HEAD.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD TO ME IN NEW ORLEANS IN THE 1960'S.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness Spirit / Mind / Body Observation Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween |
Date learned: 00001960S
IF YOU COUNT THE NUMBER OF CARS IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION YOU WILL HAVE
THAT MANY YEARS TO LIVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: CA00001975
IF THE GIRL GAINS WEIGHT ONLY IN HER BELLY, SHE WILL HAVE A BOY.
Submitter comment: THIS SAYING PREDICTS THE BIRTH OF A BOY. I,M NOT SURE WHY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 00-00-1980 ; 00-00-1950
IF THE GIRL GAINS MORE WEIGHT IN HER HIPS, LEGS, AND BUTTOCKS
SHE WILL HAVE A GIRL.
Submitter comment: I DON,T KNOW THE REASON FOR THIS SAYING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 00-00-1980 ; 00-00-1950
ACTIVITY-ASTRONOMY
CORN SHOULD BE PLANTED UNDER LEO TO INSURE LARGE
EARS. MM
CORN SHOULD BE PLANTED UNDER GEMINI TO INSURE TWO
EARS PER STALK.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM AN UNCLE, JOHN FURR.
Data entry tech comment: GEMINI=TWINS
Where learned: INDIANA ; GREENFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): LEO=LION, KING OF BEASTS. ; SYMBOLISM ; SYMBOLISM MM
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: 11-23-1967
ACTIVITY-ASTRONOMY
ANYTHING PLANTED UNDER GEMINI, WILL BE ABUNDANT. / LEARNED FROM HIS FATHER.
IN ORDER TO GET A GOOD CROP OF CUCUMBERS, PLANT THE SEED UNDER PISCES. / LEARNED FROM HIS MOTHER.
PLANT POTATOES DURING THE SIGN OF CAPRICORN FOR GOOD POTATO YIELD; BUT ONLY WHEN THE POINTS OF THE MOON POINT DOWNWARD. / LEARNED FROM HIS FATHER.
IF YOU DO NOT WANT POTATOES TO GROW TOO DEEP, PLANT THEM IN THE QUARTER OF THE MOON DURING ARIES. / LEARNED FROM HIS FATHER.
PLANT TOMATOES UNDER LIBRA AND THEY WOULD BE LARGE AND HEAVY. / LEARNED FROM HIS MOTHER.
Data entry tech comment: GEMINI=TWINS ; PISCES=FISH, WATER SIGN. ; LIBRA=SCALES--BALANCE
Where learned: INDIANA ; South Bend
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOLISM
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: 11-23-1967
IF YOU CRY ON YOUR BIRTHDAY, YOU'LL CRY EVERY
DAY FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HOME.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: 11-11-1967
IF YOU GO IN ONE DOOR AND OUT THE OTHER, YOU WILL
BRING COMPANY.
Submitter comment: MRS. DEVEREUX LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 11-22-1963
CEMETERY BIRD
WHEN MR. LEHR WAS A KID, THEY BELIEVED THAT IF A
CEMETERY BIRD LANDED ON ANYTHING WHICH BELONGED
TO SOMEONE, THEN THAT SOMEONE WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 01-24-1967
A BELIEF ABOUT TEETHING
THIS IS WHAT MY AUNT BETTY TOLD ME WHEN MY SON WAS
FIRST TEETHING:
I'M SO RELIEVED THAT PAUL'S LOWER TEETH CAME IN
FIRST, BECAUSE IF THE UPPERS START FIRST, THAT CHILD
WON'T LIVE LONG.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT TOLD ME THIS WHEN I WAS VISITING HER HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1963
WHEN PEOPLE WERE BURIED FROM HOME, A WREATH WAS PLACED
ON THE FRONT DOOR. IF YOU COUNTED THE MARKS WHERE
THE WREATH WAS HUNG FROM, YOU WOULD EITHER HAVE
BAD LUCK OR THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER DEATH.
Submitter comment: MRS. MUGGLETON LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD.
Where learned: TELEPHONE
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 11-02-1963
DEATH IN THREES
FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, MY MOTHER, HER MOTHER
AND VARIOUS RELATIVES BELIEVED THAT (IF) SOMEONE DIED,
THERE WOULD BE TWO MORE DEATHS IN THE IMMEDIATE
FAMILY WITHIN THE SAME YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually |
Date learned: 05-11-1965
IF YOUR RIGHT EAR RINGS, SOMEONE IS SAYING SOMETHING
NICE ABOUT YOU; IF YOUR LEFT EAR RINGS, SOMEONE IS
SAYING SOMETHING BAD ABOUT YOU.
Submitter comment: MRS. D. LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Prediction / Divination Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 11-22-1963
SUPERSTITION
CLOUDY TEA IS A SIGN OF BITTER TEA.
Submitter comment: HER ENGLISH FATHER TOLD HER THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
POLISH BELIEF
IF YOU LAY A PAIR OF GLOVES ON A TABLE IN THE HOUSE,
IT MEANS THAT THERE WILL BE AN ARGUMENT OR A
DISTURBANCE IN THAT HOUSE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS BELIEF FOR THE FIRST TIME
WHEN SHE WAS A VERY YOUNG GIRL. IT WAS ONE OF THE
BELIEFS WHICH HER STEP-MOTHER STRICTLY ADHERED TO
WITHIN THEIR HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 01-08-1964