Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P474 returned 316 results.
IT IS BAD LUCK TO BUY YOURSELF AN OPAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Bad luck Jewelry (gems, rings, etc.) |
Date learned: 03-00-1984
IT IS BAD LUCK TO WHERE AN OPAL IF YOU WEREN'T BORN IN OCTOBER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F100 BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Measure of time Month BELIEF -- Bad luck Jewelry (gems, rings, etc.) |
Date learned: 04-00-1984
SUPERSTITION
IN ORDER FOR SPIRITS NOT TO HARM YOU, THEY SAY YOU MUST GO TO
THE GRAVEYARD OR CEMETERY AND PICK UP A HANDFUL OF DIRT. AFTER
YOU HAVE THE DIRT IN YOUR POSSESSION YOU MUST THEN SPRINKLE
IT IN THE FOUR CORNERS OF YOUR HOUSE OR YARD.
Where learned: BAHAMAS ; NASSAU
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 00001950S
SUPERSTITION
IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF YOU FIND THE END OF THE RAINBOW, YOU
WILL FIND A POT OF GOLD.
Where learned: BAHAMAS ; NASSAU
James Callow Keyword(s): TREASURE WEALTH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 00001970S
EVERY MONDAY MORNING, MY NEIGHBOR IN CLEVELAND SPRINKLED
SALT ON HER PORCH THEN SWEPT IT AWAY BECAUSE THIS WOULD
KEEP A WOMAN FROM ENTERING HER HOUSE BEFORE NOON.
Submitter comment:
SWEEPING IS STRONG "MEDICINE."
MAGIC
CURSE
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 00001950S
SUPERSTITION
IF A CHILD EATS TOO MUCH SALT, HIS GROWTH WILL BE STUNTED.
Submitter comment:
MY FATHER BELIEVES IN THIS SUPERSTION AND WON'T LET HIS
FAMILY PUT ANY EXTRA SALT ON THE FOOD. HE IS ESPECIALLY
STRICT WITH THE CHILDREN ON THIS SUBJECT SINCE IT COULD
HARM THEM THE MOST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1940
IF YOU DON'T WANT A CERTAIN PERSON
TO EVER COME TO YOUR HOUSE AGAIN THROW
SALT BEHIND HIM AS HE LEAVES. THE TRICK
IS NOT TO LET HIM SEE YOU DOING IT BECAUSE
IF HE DOES THE SALT WONT WORK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT STATED THIS WAS PASSED ON TO HER
BY HER GREAT GRANDMOTHER WHO WAS FROM GEORGIA.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; SAN DIEGO
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00-00-1985
BLACK AMERICAN
IF BUTTER WILL NOT COME, DROP
A RED HOT HORSE SHOE IN THE
MILK TO KILL THE WITCHES; THEN
THE BUTTER WILL COME. INFOR-
MANT HEARD ON GRANDMOTHER'S FARM
WHEN A CHILD.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI
James Callow Keyword(s): HORSESHOE ; IRON
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Animal product Butter BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 09-15-1985
A FEW SAYINGS
OH YES, I CAN REMEMBER MANY SUPERSTITIONS. AH
YOU SHOULDN'T PART IF THERE'S A POST OR TREE;
NEVER SIT UNDER AN ARCHWAY AT A FUNERAL HOME;
IF YOU PUT SALT ON A BIRD'S TALE IT WON'T MOVE;
IF THE POCKET OF A PALLBEARER IS TORN HE WILL DIE
THE NEXT DAY.
Submitter comment:
SHE WAS ZIPPING THEM RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF HER
HEAD!!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights ; IN HER HOUSE
Date learned: 00001930S
A DEMON HAS TWO FORMS, A SPIRITUAL LIFEFORCE, AND A
MATERIAL FORM, THE ONE THAT IS VISIBLE TO HUMANS. THERE
ARE TWO WAYS THAT A DEMON CAN BE DESTROYED WHILE IT IS
NOT IN HELL.
THE FIRST WAY IS TO DESTROY ITS MATERIAL FORM. THIS
CAN BE DONE WITH ANY AVAILABLE WEAPONS. ONCE THE MATERIAL
FORM IS UNABLE TO FUNCTION, THE DEMON'S LIFEFORCE RETURNS TO
HELL. A MINOR DEMON WILL SUFFER TORMENT FOR NINE YEARS
BEFORE RETURNING TO ITS ORIGINAL STATUS. A GREATER DEMON
WILL BE CONFINED TO A CERTAIN PLACE IN HELL FOR NINE YEARS
AND FURY IN HELL IS UNMATCHED DURING THAT PERIOD.
THE SECOND WAY TO DESTROY A DEMON IS TO DESTROY IT
PERMANENTLY, BOTH MATERIAL FORM AND LIFEFORCE. THIS
CAN BE DONE BY PLUNGING A SWORD OF IRON OR SILVER INTO
THE ENERGY CENTER OF THE DEMON'S BODY. THIS DESTROYS
THE DEMON PERMANENTLY, SHATTERING ITS LIFEFORCE INTO
NONEXISTENCE. THE ENERGY CENTER OF THE BODY IS
LOCATED JUST BELOW THE STERNUM.
A CRUCIFIX WILL WARD OFF A DEMON UNTIL IT RECOVERS
FROM THE INITIAL SHOCK OF SEEING IT. HOLY WATER
CAUSES SEVERE BURNS, AND DISABLES THE DEMON TEMPORARILY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NORTH BRANCH
| Subject headings: | 686 Ninths / Nine BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications |
Date learned: 10-00-1987 ; 11-00-1987
IF YOU RECEIVE COMPANY AND YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT PERSON
PUT A SPRINKLE OF SALT IN THEIR BEVERAGE AND THEY WILL BE LEAVING
SHORTLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
Keyword(s): VISITORS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
TO CURE A SORE THROAT, FILL A GLASS HALF FULL OF WARM WATER;
ADD A FEW TABLESPOONS OF TABLE SALT TO THE WATER. CRUSH UP
ONE ASPIRIN AND ADD TO GLASS. STIR THE MIXTURE UNTIL THE
ASPIRIN AND SALT ARE DISSOLVED. GARGLE WITH THE MIXTURE,
THEN SPIT IT OUT. REPEAT AS NECESSARY
Submitter comment:
A PHARMACIST I WORKED WITH,TOLD ME THIS WAS VERY EFFECTIVE.
HE OFTEN RECOMMENDED IT TO CUSTOMERS. I HAVE TRIED IT AND
IT WORKED FOR ME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NORTHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00-00-1981
AT A POLISH WEDDING, BREAD AND SALT ARE GIVEN TO THE BRIDE AND
GROOM AS SIGNS OF STABILITY AND FERTILITY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 10-10-1987
Don't ever pass the salt directly to anyone, or an argument
will be caused between the two people.
Submitter comment:
My mother still will not pass the salt to anyone directly,
but she will set it down near them.
Where learned: Peru
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 00001970S
ONLY THOSE BORN IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER SHOULD WEAR THE OPAL,
IT WILL BRING ALL OTHERS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WHITMORE LAKE
James Callow Keyword(s): JEWELRY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F100 BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- P647 BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 11-24-1988
SPILLING SALT IS BAD LUCK. IF YOU DO, YOU SHOULD
SHAKE SOME SALT OVER YOUR RIGHT SHOULDER TO REINSTATE
YOUR GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WHITMORE LAKE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 11-24-1988
It is unlucky for someone who is not a Scorpio to
wear an opal.
Submitter comment:
Elinor's great aunt was a Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21),
and owned a lovely opal ring. Her daughter, Nettie, wanted
the ring, but her mother cautioned her against wearing it,
as it would bring bad luck. Nettie wore the ring anyway. The
first time she wore it, she was almost hit by a car. The
second time that she wore the opal, she had a mishap,
mangling the ring beyond repair, and losing the opal. After
that, Nettie believed what her mother had told her.
Nettie told this to Elinor as a warning, because they are both
Sagittarius. Elinor also was told by one of her students,
Molly, that she had a terrible string of bad luck for a
whole week, until she gave away her opal ring.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRASER
Keyword(s): Horoscope, proscription, advice, astrology, gems, jewelry
Date learned: 00001960S
Wearing opals when you are not a Scorpio is only bad
luck if you are single; if you are married they won't
harm you.
Submitter comment:
Jane, a friend of Elinor's, states that wearing an opal if
you are not supposed to interferes in the finding of
a husband. She then told Elinor that she could wear
an opal if she wanted to, since she was married.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): horoscope, astrology, spinster, advice, reassurance, gems
James Callow Keyword(s): JEWELRY
Date learned: 00001987ca
If you are going to wear jewelry with opals, it is
better luck to wear an odd number of opals than an
even number.
Submitter comment:
Elinor's friend, Jane, states that the ring (or other piece
of jewelry) will be stronger this way.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): Advice, gems
Date learned: 00001980S
An opal will shine more brightly for someone who
is supposed to wear it, but will look dull, or will crack,
if the wrong person wears it. If you have Scorpio rising
in your astrological sign, that is as good as being born
under Scorpio.
Submitter comment:
Annie, an acquaintance of Elinor's, complimented Elinor
on the beauty of her opal ring. When Elinor related her
misgivings about wearing the ring, Annie reassured her
that it was safe, since Scorpio was her rising sign. She
also warned her not to let anyone wear it, as the ring
might crack if that person was not born under the proper
sign.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): Advice, gems
Date learned: 00001980S