Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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BELIEF
IF YOU SING WHILE YOU EAT, YOU WILL HAVE A CRAZY (MAN OR
WOMAN) FOR A (HUSBAND OR WIFE).
Submitter comment:
SINGING AND EATING IS AN UNUSUAL COMBINATION,
THEREFORE, SOMETHING UNUSUAL SHOULD HAPPEN TO THE
ONE PERFORMING THE ACTS TOGETHER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
BELIEF
A GIRL WHO SINGS AT THE TABLE WILL MARRY A CRAZY MAN.
Submitter comment: MY MOTHER ALWAYS TOLD ME THIS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
BEFORE YOU EAT AN APPLE, TWIST THE STEM, AND SAY A LETTER OF THE
ALPHABET, BEGINNING WITH A, FOR EACH TURN. WHEN THE STEM BREAKS THE
LETTER SAID WILL BE THE FIRST LETTER IN
YOUR FUTURE MATE'S LAST NAME.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS FROM MY CLASSMATES IN GRADE SCHOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Word Letter |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
BELIEF
IF YOU SLEEP WITH A PIECE OF WEDDING CAKE UNDER YOUR PILLOW,
YOU WILL DREAM OF THE PERSON YOU ARE GOING TO MARRY.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Dreams Dreams about weddings, funerals, and other crucial moments of life BELIEF -- Use of Object |
SUPERSTITION
STEPPING OVER THE BROOM HANDLE MEANS YOU'LL SOON BE MARRIED.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT STATES THAT ONCE, AS A CHILD, SHE STEPPED OVER A BROOM
THAT WAS LYING ON THE FLOOR, AND REMEMBERS HER MOTHER STATING
THE BELIEF THAT SHE WOULD SOON BE MARRIED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; DEPARTMENT STORE
| Subject headings: | Observation Favorites BELIEF -- Marriage |
BEFORE A GIRL EATS AN APPLE SHE WOULD TWIST THE STEM, AND
FOR EACH TWIST OF THE STEM SHE WOULD SAY A LETTER OF THE ALPHABET
BEGINNING WITH "A" AND CONTINUING UNTIL THE STEM BROKE OFF.
WHATEVER LETTER OF THE ALPHABET THE STEM BROKE OFF ON WAS THE
FIRST INITIAL OF A BOY WHO LIKED YOU
Submitter comment: I HAVE SEEN FULL GROWN WOMEN DOING THIS JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00001960S
SUPERSTITION
RICH MAN, POOR MAN, BEGGAR MAN, THIEF, DOCTOR, LAWYER, INDIAN CHIEF
Submitter comment:
THIS VERSE IS REPEATED WHILE COUNTING THE BUTTONS ON YOUR CLOTHING
TO PREDICT THE KIND OF PERSON YOU WILL MARRY
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
EACH TURN OF AN APPLE STEM IS COUNTED AS A LETTER, UNTIL IT BREAKS
OFF. THE LETTER AT WHICH IT BREAKS IS THE INITIAL OF YOUR FUTURE
SPOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
IN NEW ORLEANS, THERE WAS AN UNWRITTEN RULE THAT IF YOU WENT OUT
ON A DATE AT NIGHT, YOU HAD TO BE BACK BY TWELVE O' CLOCK MIDNIGHT.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER'S COUSIN WENT OUT ONCE ON A DATE AND CAME BACK FROM HER
DATE AFTER 12:00 A.M.. HER FATHER WOULD NOT LET HER IN THE HOUSE.
HE TOLD HER DATE TO TAKE HER BACK WHERE HE HAD HER. LUCKILY, THE
BOY MARRIED THE GIRL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Common law BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
LOVE
ON THE EVE OF ST. JOHN, THE GIRLS GATHER FOR A DANCE AND DREAM LATER
OF THE MEN THEY ARE GOING TO MARRY. THEY MAY EVEN LOOK IN A MIRROR
ON THAT DAY TO SEE IF SOME YOUNG MAN IS STANDING BEHIND THEM.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- FOG2 BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Dreams |
PROVERB
SING AT THE DINNER TABLE AND YOU WILL MARRY A CRAZY MAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
Keyword(s): FUNCTION.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Measure of time |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST'S NIGHT.
ON THE EVE OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST'S DAY EVERYBODY GOES TO THE
BEACHES TO SPEND THE NIGHT THERE. THERE ARE CERTAIN RITUALS DONE ON
THAT NIGHT THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BRING GOOD LUCK THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
FOR EXAMPLE: AT MIDNIGHT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO THROW YOURSELF THREE
TIMES BACKWARDS IN THE SEA FOR GOOD HEALTH. A YOUNG GIRL SHOULD PUT
TWO NEEDLES IN A GLASS OF WATER,SYMBOLIZING HERSELF AND HER BOYFRIEND
IF THE NEXT DAY THE NEEDLES ARE TOGETHER SHE WILL MARRY THAT MAN.
ALSO SHE SHOULD PUT THREE BEANS UNDER HER PILLOW THAT NIGHT. ONE
SHOULD HAVE THE SKIN ON WHICH MEANS SHE WILL MARRY A RICH MAN. THE
SECOND ONE SHOULD BE HALF PEELED SIMBOLIZING MIDDLE CLASS WEALTH AND
THE THIRD ONE SHOULD BE COMPLETELY PEELED MEANING POVERTY. IN THE
MORNING SHE SHOULD PUT HER HAND UNDER THE PILLOW WITHOUT LOOKING,
AND TAKE ONE BEAN. THIS WILL DETERMINE HER ECONOMICAL STATUS IN HER
MARRIAGE. PUT A GLASS OF WATER UNDER YOUR BED TO KEEP THE EVIL SPIRIT
AWAY THE REST OF THE YEAR.
Where learned: PUERTO RICO
Date learned: 00-00-1979
VERSE OF THE PLENA
"CUANDO LAS MUJERES QUIEREN A LOS HOMBRES, PRENDEN CUATRO VELAS Y SE
LAS PONEN POR LOS RINCONES." WHICH MEANS WHEN THE WOMEN WANT A MAN
THEY LIGHT FOUR CANDLES AND PUT THEM IN THE CORNERS.
Submitter comment:
THE PLENA IS A TYPICAL FOLKLORIC DANCE OF PUERTO RICO. THE LIGHTING
OF FOUR CANDLES IN FOR CORNERS SIMBOLIZES A RITUAL OF TAKING OVER THE
ROOM.
Where learned: PUERTO RICO
| Subject headings: | 686 Fourths / Quarters BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
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
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
SUPERSTITION
IT IS BELIEVED IN QUEBEC, CANADA, AT THE SHRINE OF STE. ANNE
DE BEAUPRE THAT IF ONE TOUCHES THE BONE ON DISPLAY AS A PILGRIM, ONE
WOULD RECEIVE AN ETERNAL REWARD IN HEAVEN. IF ONE WAS SINGLE AND
WANTED TO RECEIVE STE. ANNE'S BLESSING, ONE COULD TOUCH THE RELIC
AND FIND A SPOUSE. IF
ONE WAS MARRIED, ONE WOULD HAVE A LONG AND HAPPY MARRIAGE AND
THE HUSBAND WOULD BE VERY PROSPEROUS. IF ONE WAS PIOUS,
ONE WOULD RECEIVE THE GIFT OF A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD OR
RELIGIOUS LIFE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED ITEM WHILE IN CANADA ON TOUR OF MARIAN SHRINES.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
GETTING MARRIED
"CHANGE YOUR NAME AND NOT THE LETTER,
CHANGE FOR WORSE AND NOT FOR BETTER."
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR ; WRITTEN IN A LETTER
Keyword(s): MARRIAGE
James Callow Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS
| Subject headings: | 860 Belief BELIEF -- Marriage SPEECH -- FamilyGroup |
Date learned: 01-30-1970
INVITE HIM TO THE WEDDING AND HE DRINKS TO YOUR WEDDING NEXT YEAR.
TRANSLATION OF GREEK TEXT ON THE 5 X 8 CARD
Submitter comment:
THIS MEANS THAT THE PERSON WILL DRINK SO MUCH TO EXCESS
THAT HE WOULD
HAVE ENOUGH LIQUOR IN HIM TO BE DRUNK IF YOUR WEDDING WAS ONE YEAR
FROM THE DATE IT ACTUALLY WAS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Keyword(s): DRUNKENNESS
| Subject headings: | Favorites Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage BELIEF -- Marriage PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
THE CLADDOUGH RING
AN IRISH ENGAGEMENT RING IS CALLED A CLADDOUGH RING, A HEART HELD
IN TWO HANDS UNDER A CROWN. WHEN WORN ON THE LEFT HAND IT
SYMBOLIZES THAT THERE IS SOMEONE SPECIAL IN YOUR LIFE. WHEN WORN
ON THE RIGHT HAND WITH THE HEART FACING YOU, IT MEANS THAT THERE
IS SOMEONE THAT YOU ARE ESPECIALLY FOND OF, AND WORN ON THE
RIGHT HAND WITH THE HEART FACING OUT IT MEANS THAT YOUR HEART
IS STILL OPEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; SYMBOLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: CA02001980
ASURING GOOD WEATHER FOR A WEDDING
ON THE DAY OF A WEDDING IN YOUR FAMILY, TO INSURE THAT IT WILL NOT
RAIN, THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO HANG A ROSARY IN THE TREE IN THE
BACKYARD. THE REASON FOR THIS IS THAT THE LORD WOULD NEVER RAIN
ON THE ROSARY AND HAPPY THE BRIDE THE SUN SHINES ON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through |
Date learned: CA02001980