Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P574.2 returned 207 results.
IT IS GOOD LUCK TO PUT SALT IN YOUR SHOES.
Submitter comment:
THIS GOOD LUCK SUPERSTITION MEAN THAT IF YOU PLACE SALT
IN YOUR SHOES AND WALK IN THEM YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK ALL
THAT DAY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; MARTIN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.) |
Date learned: 00001947CA
IF A BAYBERRY CANDLE IS BURNED ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, THE
HOUSEHOLD WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK FOR THE YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Good luck |
FIRST FOOTIN' WAS THE NAME GIVEN TO THE TRADITIONAL NEW
YEAR'S DAY PRACTICE TO ONLY ALLOW A DARK-HAIRED PERSON
TO BE THE FIRST TO STEP FOOT THROUGH YOUR DOOR ON NEW
YEAR'S DAY. IF A LIGHT-HAIRED PERSON WOULD COME TO THE
DOOR FIRST, THEY WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER FOR FEAR
THEY WOULD BRING BAD LUCK FOR THE NEW YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1935
NEVER REPLACE YOUR OLD CALENDAR WITH THE ONE FOR THE
NEW YEAR UNTIL THE SECOND DAY OF JANUARY OR YOU WILL
BRING BAD LUCK FOR THE NEW YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- 39815 BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1935
A Chaldean recipe for good luck at the beginning of the new
year is called Homuth Hillue. This is a sauce made of dried
prunes and apricots with raisins, slices of almond and meat.
It is very sweet and colorful. The sauce is poured over rice
and chicken and when eaten luck will follow throughout the
new year.
Submitter comment:
This dish is only made once a year to signify the beginning
the new year and to bring luck to all who eat from it.
Keyword(s): Dish, Meal.
Date learned: 00-00-1984
On the stroke of twelve (on New Year's Eve) every door
in the house has to be opened to allow the spirit of
the old year to leave.
Submitter comment:
Her best friend's family did it when she was a little
girl, and she never forgot it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR
Keyword(s): GHOST
Date learned: 00001930S
TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT FARMING YOU MUST SAY THE SAME PRAYER EACH
YEAR, ONCE FOR EVERY 10 ACRES OF LAND YOU PLAN TO PLANT. EACH
FARMER MUST HAVE HIS OWN SAYING OR PRAYER.
Where learned: MISSOURI
Date learned: 00001940S
FARMER'S PRAYER
IN ORDER FOR ME AND MY FAMILY TO LIVE, LIFE MUST START IN THE
GROUND. PLEASE BLESS ALL MY LAND ALL YEAR.
Submitter comment:
THIS SIDE OF MY FAMILY IS MADE UP OF MOSTLY FARMERS. THEY
DEPEND GREATLY ON THE WEATHER AND THEIR PREDICTIONS OF IT.
Where learned: MISSOURI
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming BELIEF -- Measure of time Year |
Date learned: 00001940S
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, MY MOTHER INSISTED THAT ALL OF OUR
CLOTHING BE NEW. USUALLY WE SAVED A CHRISTMAS GIFT OUTFIT FOR THE
OCCASION. SHE WOULD ALSO FIX A STEAK DINNER AND WE'D USE OUR
BETTER DISHES AND SILVERWARE. THIS WAS SO WE WOULDN'T BE POORLY
DRESSED OR HUNGRY FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
Submitter comment:
MY FATHER ALSO REMEMBERS HIS MOTHER TELLING HIM THAT WHATEVER
HE DID ON NEW YEAR'S DAY WOULD INFLUENCE THE REST OF HIS YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
Date learned: 00001970S
On New Year's Day, I make a big pot of split pea soup and that
brings good luck for the coming year.
Where learned: HUNGARY
Date learned: 00001950S
When the New Year arrives put a spider in your purse, and you
will have money all year long.
Submitter comment:
The informant can't remember when she learned this superstition,
but she has been doing it for about 20 years.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): bugs
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Measure of time Year |
Date learned: 00001950S
On January first, Greeks celebrate what is known as St. Basil's
Day. It is the equivalent of Christmas here. It begins at twelve
o'clock midnight on December 31. "Vasilopita" - St Basil's Bread - is
served. Baked in the sweet bread is a single gold coin. The person to
receive the slice of sweet bread with the coin is said to have good
luck for the duration of the year. Presents are distributed. Then
snacks and drinks are served to all because in Greece there is no
certain age that must be attained before one is allowed to drink
alcohol.
Submitter comment: St. Basil is the equivalent of Santa Claus.
Where learned: GREECE
Keyword(s): holiday
James Callow Keyword(s): drinking age
Date learned: 00001945CA
Each year on the 6th of January, which is known as Epiphany,
after morning liturgy, the minister and the entire congregation of
some Greek churches go to a dock on the seafront, the minister
carrying a cross of silver or gold that stands about six inches high
by four inches wide. After the minister blesses the cross, he throws
it into the sea. Then boys ages 16 to 32 (32 symbolizing the age of
Jesus at his death) leap off the dock and into the sea searching
frantically for the cross. The one who finds it is said to be blessed
for the duration of the year.
Submitter comment:
According to my informant, the minister and the select group of
boys may go on a boat just off shore instead of on the dock with the
congregation cheering them on from the shore. I was also told that
the cross, to the best of my informant's knowledge, has
always been found.
Where learned: GREECE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Number P686.1.16 BELIEF -- Number P686.1.32 BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00001943CA
Funeral Superstition
One should never count the number of cars in the line of a
funeral procession. For every car which one counts, he/she will
lose a year of his/her life.
Submitter comment:
My grandmother, who is Italian, told me of this superstition
when I was five years old. The reason that she told me of this
particular belief is that I had just learned to count and I began
to count all of the objects that I looked at. For example,
railroad cars were a favorite of mine to count. Therefore, she
believed that if she told me of this belief, I would have a long
and prosperous life.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; KALAMAZOO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
Another custom in the celebration of the New Year in our home
was that it was mandatory that the first person in our home in
order to ensure a safe and happy year had to be a male.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Aberdeen
Date learned: 01-01-1935
Cake candles resisting "blow out" are years until wish comes
true.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs |
Date learned: 00-00-1991
Never do laundry on New Year's Day or you will wash someone out
of the family. My mother did it once, two loads of colored clothes
and one load of white clothes. Two of the darker family members died
and the lightest also passed.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Measure of time Working BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 00-00-1982
If you want to make sure that you have money throughout the
whole year, you must bring in the new year with money in your
possession.
Submitter comment:
I always try to believe that this folklore has some
validity.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Date learned: 00-00-1985
New Year's Eve
In the Steubenville and Toronto, Ohio areas, it is traditional
on New Year's Eve to eat a dinner of keilbassi, sauerkrault and
mashed potatoes.
Submitter comment:
I remember hearing that this is a German tradition that is
followed to ensure good luck throughout the coming year.
Keyword(s): SAUERKRAUT
James Callow Keyword(s): Kielbasa
It is traditional in many areas of Ohio to go outside at
midnight on New Year's Eve and bang together pots and pans. This
will bring good luck throughout the coming year.
Where learned: OHIO ; Amsterdam
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1956