Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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SHOOTING STARS
WHEN YOU SEE A SHOOTING STAR
YOU SHOULD MAKE A WISH. IT IS
BELIEVED THAT IF YOU WISH HARD ENOUGH THE
WISH WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ;
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 10-22-1968
SISTER EILEEN TOLD ME WHAT SHE KNEW TO BE
THE ORIGIN OF THE SAYING "GOD BLESS YOU" AFTER A SNEEZE.
SNEEZING SUPPOSEDLY SYMBOLIZES THE RIDDING
OF THE DEVIL FROM THE BODY AND SAYING GOD BLESS YOU
SYMBOLIZES THAT THE SPACE VACATED BY THE
DEVIL IS NOW ABLE TO BE TAKEN OVER BY GOD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID SHE KNEW THIS HER WHOLE LIFE BUT COULD NOT
VERIFY IT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; TOLD IN ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Prayer SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-17-1972
CROSSING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS
I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS ABOUT THIRTEEN,
WHENEVER DRIVING IN A CAR OVER RAILROAD TRACKS
YOU HAD TO LIFT YOUR FEET OFF THE FLOOR OF THE CAR,
PUT YOUR ARM UP INTO THE AIR, AND
MAKE A WISH. IF YOU DID NOT DO THIS
ONE DAY YOUR BOYFRIEND WOULD LEAVE YOU.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT RECALLS THAT FOR MANY YEARS
THIS TASK WAS PERFORMED WHEN CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS,
AND STILL FINDS HERSELF PICKING UP HER FOOT WHEN DRIVING OVER TRACKS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 02-01-1972
WISHING
WHENEVER YOU SEE A MAIL TRUCK
YOU SHOULD CROSS YOUR FINGERS AND MAKE A WISH.
YOU MUST KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED
UNTIL YOU SEE A DOG.
THEN YOUR WISH WILL COME TRUE.
Submitter comment: I CAN REMEMBER DOING THIS WHEN I WAS IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.1962-64
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
COMMUNION WISH
A GRADE SCHOOL NUN SAID THAT IF YOU
HAD A WISH THAT GOD WANTED TO COME TRUE
YOU SHOULD SAY WHILE THE HOST WAS STILL ON YOUR TONGUE
" MY FONDEST WISH IS ------ ."
Submitter comment:
IN 1959, FOR SEVEN DAYS IN A ROW, TOM'S FONDEST
WISH WAS FOR THE PIRATES TO BEAT THE
YANKEES IN THE WORLD SERIES AND THEY DID.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU SAY THREE HAIL MARYS EVERY DAY
THEN YOU WILL NEVER BE MOLESTED BY A MAN,
NOR WILL YOU EVER COMMIT AN IMMORAL ACT BEFORE YOU MARRY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTED AT HER HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 11-09-1969
THERE IS A CERTAIN PRAYER THAT IF IT IS SAID
FAITHFULLY EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE,
WILL ALLOW YOU TO KNOW THE VERY HOUR
OF YOUR DEATH. THREE DAYS BEFORE YOU DIE
YOU WILL HEAR THREE KNOCKS ON YOUR DOOR AND THIS SAINT
WILL TELL YOU TO PREPARE FOR YOUR DEATH
AT A CERTAIN HOUR.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER CLAIMS THAT SHE KNOWS OF AT LEAST THREE OLDER
WOMEN WHO FORETOLD THE VERY HOUR OF THEIR
DEATH THIS WAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTED AT HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 10-26-1969
WHENEVER A PERSON SEES A FLOCK OF BIRDS
THEY SAY, "MONEY, MONEY, ON MY BIRTHDAY."
THIS WILL ASSURE THEM OF AMPLE GIFTS ON THEIR BIRTHDAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 09-15-1969
WISHING
WHEN YOU HAVE AN APPLE WITH A STEM IN IT,
T0IST THE STEM AND &-R EACH C-MPLETE TURN C-UNT
UNTIL THE STEM C-MES -UT. THE LAST NUMBER Y-U
SAY IS THE AMOUNT OF WISHES YOU CAN MAKE.
VARIATIONS OF THIS IS THAT THE LAST NUMBER
THAT Y-U SAY IS H-0 MANY CHILDREN Y-U ARE G-ING
TO HAVE OR HOW MANY WIVES OR HUSBANDS YOU WILL HAVE.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 10-05-1971
BELIEF
IT IS SAID THAT IF YOU CATCH A SANTA CLAUS
REFERING TO THE POLLEN CARRIER OF FUZZ OF A CERTAIN WEED
YOU CAN MAKE A WISH AND IT WOULD COME TRUE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
IF YOU FEEL THAT SOMEONE IS GIVING YOU
THE EVIL EYE YOU WILL GET THE " GOURNA"
(A RED DEVIL'S HAND 0ITH THE INDEX FINGER AND BABY FINGER OUT)
FOR PROTECTION. SOMEONE WILL GIVE IT AS A GIFT.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 09-15-1971
AN ORTHODOX MOSLEM WILL DEDICATE EVERY
ACTION OF THE DAY TO ALLAH.
HE WILL DO THIS BY SAYING A SMALL PRAYER,
SUCH AS " BISMILLAH I SLAN UI TERI NAURE F " ( ALLAH
WHO IS MOST MERCIFULL AND KIND).
Where learned: CAPITAL POULTRY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 11-11-1971
MOSLEM PEOPLE PREFER TO KILL THE
POULTRY FOR THEIR MEALS THEMSELVES AND PRAY OVER
IT AS THEY KILL IT.
THIS IS CALLED " HALAL ".
Where learned: TOLD AT CAPITAL POULTRY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 11-11-1971
IF YOU WANT TO HAVE GOOD LUCK IN YOUR BUSINESS
HAVE A PRIEST BLESS THE BUILDING WHEN IT IS
FIRST BUILT OR BEFORE YOU MOVE IN.
REPEAT IT FOR EACH YEAR FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HAS HER HOME AS WELL
AS FAMILY BUSINESSES BLESSED AT LEAST ONCE A
YEAR AND USUALLY ON A MAJOR HOLIDAY SUCH
AS CHRISTMAS . OTHER ORTHODOX, INFORMANT RELATED,
ALSO DO THE SAME.
Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD AT INFORMANTS HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 11-08-1971
HOLY COMMUNION WISH
IN THE SECOND GRADE TOM WAS TOLD IN CATECHISM
THAT IF HE WOULD CLOSE HIS EYES AND SAY
" MY FONDEST WISH IS ---
" MY FONDEST WISH IS ------ " AT THE MOMENT
HE RECIEVED COMMUNION, IF HE
HE RECEIVED COMMUNION, IF HIS WISH WAS NOT
SINFUL, IT WOULD BE GRANTED.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WISH
WHEN A GIRL'S SKIRT HEM IS ACCIDENTALLY
TURNED UP FROM A GUST OF WIND ETC.
IF SHE SPITS OVER HER LITTLE FINGER
SHE MAY MAKE ONE WISH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 10-30-1971
INDIAN PRAYER
GREAT SPIRIT GRANT THAT I MAY NOT
CRITIZE MY NEIGHBOR UNTIL I HAVE WALKED
A MILE IN HIS MOCCASINS.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): CRITICIZE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SAME WORD SIMULTANEOUSLY
IF TWO PEOPLE SAY THE SAME WORD SIMULTANEOUSLY,
THEY CAN CLASP THEIR " BABY " FINGERS AND
MAKE A WISH.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND OF MINE WHO REMEMBERS THIS
FROM HER CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
NEGRO PRAYER
LORD HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU
AIN'T GWINE TO LET NUTHEN' COME MY
WAY THAT YOU AND ME CAN'T HANDLE TOGETHER.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
INDULGENCES
CATHOLICS SAY CERTAIN PRAYERS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
TIMES TO GET TIME OFF THEIR TIME IN PURGATORY.
Where learned: NORTH QUAD ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 03-03-1971