Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IF YOUR RIGHT HAND ITCHES, YOU WILL GET SOME MONEY.
IF YOUR LEFT HAND ITCHES, YOU WILL SPEND YOUR MONEY.
Submitter comment: MRS. D. LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 11-22-1963
KISS A FOOL
TODAY, WHILE CHATTING OVER A CUP OF COFFEE IN THE
ROOST OF MERCY COLLEGE'S STUDENT CENTER (DETROIT, MICHIGAN),
IT NOTICED RUTH'S NOSE TWITCH A LITTLE. SHE GAVE IT A
SMALL SCRATCH AND MUMBLED SOMETHING UNDER HER BREATH.
I THOUGHT PERHAPS SHE HAD CAST A SPELL ON ME BY THIS
LITTLE RITUAL. (RECENTLY I SAW A TELEVISION SHOW
"BEWITCHED" IN WHICH THE WITCH'S NOSE TWITCHING
INDICATED THAT SHE WAS CASTING A SPELL). I ASKED RUTH
WHAT SHE HAD SAID. OF COURSE, I RECEIVED THE TYPICAL
FEMALE ANSWER, "OH, NOTHING." AFTER PUMPING A FEW
MINUTES, SHE FINALLY PLEASED MY CURIOSITY. SHE HAD
SAID "ITCHY NOSE MEANS YOU'LL KISS A FOOL."
MY ONLY THOUGHT WAS THAT I WOULDN'T KISS HER
GOODNIGHT. I KNOW BETTER--NOW.
Where learned: HIGHLAND PARK ; ILLINOIS
| Subject headings: | Observation |
IF YOUR NOSE ITCHES, YOU ARE GOING TO KISS A FOOL.
Submitter comment: MRS. D. LEARNED THIS AS A YOUNG GIRL.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 11-22-1963
IF YOU HEAR A DOG HOWLING AT NIGHT, IT MEANS A DEATH
WILL SOON OCCUR IN YOUR FAMILY.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER WAS THE INFORMANT FOR THIS SUPERSTITION.
SHE BELIEVES IT MAY BE SCOTTISH, BUT DOES NOT RECALL
WHERE SHE FIRST HEARD IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 01-00-1964
HOOTING OWLS
WHEN A HOOTING OWL STAYS IN ONE PLACE FOR THREE DAYS,
AND HOOTS AROUND THE HOMES, THERE WILL BE A DEATH
IN ONE OF THE HOMES SOON.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER SAYS THAT THIS IDEA WAS BELIEVED IN VERY
STRONGLY IN HER HOMETOWN OF DONORA, PENNSYLVANIA.
AND I TEND TO THINK THAT IF OWLS WERE PRESENT IN
HER NEIGHBORHOOD TODAY, SHE'D BELIEVE THE SAME
THING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 05-11-1965
OPEN AN UMBRELLA IN THE HOUSE, AND THERE WILL BE A
DEATH. MM
IF THERE IS ONE DEATH IN THE FAMILY, TWO MORE WILL
FOLLOW WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD.
Submitter comment: MRS. COLEMAN LEARNED THIS IN CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
IF A DOG HOWLS BENEATH A WINDOW, THERE SOON WILL BE
A DEATH IN THE FAMILY LIVING IN THAT HOUSE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT REMEMBERS HEARING THIS FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
CLOTHING LORE
IF YOU FIND A PIECE OF WHITE THREAD ON YOUR CLOTHING
IT IS A SIGN THAT YOU WILL GET A LEETER FROM A
LIGHT HAIRED PERSON. IF YOU FIND A PIECE OF DARK
THREAD ON YOUR CLOTHING, IT IS A SIGN THAT YOU WILL
GET A LETTER FROM A DARK HAIRED PERSON.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM THE RURAL COMMUNITY NEAR
KINNECOTT, ONTARIO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RECTORY ; BIRMINGHAM ; HOLY NAME
| Subject headings: | Prediction / Divination Observation |
Date learned: 02-19-1967
IF YOU PULL A LOOSE THREAD, YOU'LL GET A LETTER.
Submitter comment: FROM A FRIEND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Prediction / Divination Observation |
Date learned: 11-20-1967
IF YOU DROP SILVERWARE ON THE FLOOR IN YOUR HOME, IT
MEANS THAT YOU WILL SOON HAVE GUESTS VISITING YOUR
HOUSE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS BELIEF MANY YEARS AGO, WHEN
SHE WAS A VERY YOUNG GIRL, AND SHE COULD NOT
REMEMBER EXACTLY WHERE SHE HAD HEARD IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 01-08-1964
IF A SPIDER DROPS DOWN ON YOUR TABLE WHILE DINNER
IS BEING SERVED, IT MEANS THAT YOU WILL HAVE COMPANY
FOR THE NEXT MEAL.
Submitter comment: MRS. D. LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
IF YOUR NOSE ITCHES, IT IS A SIGN THAT SOMEONE IS
COMING.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER YOUTH.
Where learned: INDIANA ; South Bend
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 11-23-1967
IF YOU DROP A FORK, A WOMAN WILL VISIT.
IF YOU DROP A KNIFE, A MAN WILL VISIT.
IF YOU DROP A SPOON, A CHILD WILL VISIT.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD FROM MY 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: NOT GIVEN
TO TAKE A SECOND HELPING BEFORE YOU ARE THROUGH
WITH THE FIRST, MEANS THAT SOMEONE IS COMING WHO
IS HUNGRY.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: INDIANA ; Hudson Lake
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two Observation |
Date learned: 11-25-1967
IF A WOMAN OPENS AN UMBRELLA IN THE HOUSE, SHE WILL
NEVER MARRY.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; JAMAICA
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 01-01-1964
IF YOU SING AT THE DINNER TABLE, YOU'LL GET
A CRAZY WIFE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 10-17-1967
WHEN WASHING CLOTHES, IF YOU GET WATER ON THE FRONT
OF THE CLOTHES THAT YOU ARE WEARING, YOU WILL MARRY
A DRUNK.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO MR. PICKETT AROUND TWENTY YEARS AGO
BY HIS GRANDMOTHER. THEY WERE LIVING IN ST. LOUIS,
MISSOURI AT THE TIME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage |
PREDICTION OF BABY'S FUTURE
MY SISTER TOLD ME THAT IF A BABY WAS BORN WITH A
TOOTH, HE WOULD BE A SCHOLAR.
Submitter comment: TOLD TO INFORMANT BY HIS SISTER, MRS. LA MOUNTAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00001940-1950
IF YOUR PALM ITCHES, OR YOUR FINGERS ITCH, IT MEANS YOU
ARE GOING TO COME INTO SOME MONEY.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT IS AN AMERICAN GIRL WHO LEARNED THIS
BELIEF FROM HER IRISH GRANDMOTHER ABOUT TWENTY YEARS
AGO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
PASSING ON STAIRWAY
I WAS ONCE WALKING UP THE STAIRWAY, WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER
WAS WALKING DOWN. SUDDENLY, SHE SCREAMED AT ME,
WHILE ALMOST IN A STATE OF TERROR, THAT I COULDN'T
IMAGINE WHAT WAS TROUBLING THE ELDERLY WOMAN, TO GET
BACK DOWN THE STAIRWAY. SHE COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT I
HAD ACTUALLY INTENDED TO CROSS ON THE STAIRWAY, AND
SHE QUICKLY PROCEEDED TO THE BOTTOM, TO VENT HER WRATH
ON ME.
THE STAIRWAY WAS MORE THAN ADEQUATE TO LET US PASS.
I COULDN'T IMAGINE WHAT WAS WRONG. SHE TOLD ME THAT
ANYONE CROSSING ON THE STAIRS WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE
NOTHING BUT BAD LUCK. I TRIED TO MAKE HER SEE HOW
RIDICULOUS THIS WAS, BUT SHE FIRMLY BELIEVED THAT
ANYONE ENTERING A STAIRWAY AFTER ANOTHER PERSON, AND
CROSSING ON THE STAIRWAY WAS IN FOR MUCH BAD LUCK.
THE NEXT BIT OF BAD LUCK THAT BEFELL THE PERSON, SHE
NATURALLY ATTRIBUTED TO PASSING ON THE STAIRS.
Where learned: VERMONT ; SAINT ALBANS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |