RE:SEARCH logo
University of Detroit Mercy Libraries / Instructional Design Studio
UDM HOME BLACKBOARD MY UDMERCY
RESEARCH HOME / FIND / SPECIAL COLLECTIONS / THE JAMES T. CALLOW FOLKLORE ARCHIVE /
James Callow Folklore Archive

Collection Home

About Dr. James T. Callow

Dr. James T. Callow publications

Collectors

Browse by

Subject heading

Keyword

Location

Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.

The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

search for

Content filter is on

Your search for P644 returned 194 results.

prev | items
| next

ALWAYS IRON BEFORE GOING TO BED SO YOUR HANDS WILL NOT HAVE
TO TOUCH WATER IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THIS
TASK. IF YOUR HANDS TOUCH WATER AFTER IRONING, SOME
UNFORTUNATE OCCURRENCE WILL BEFALL YOU.

Submitter comment: THIS BELIEF WAS PRACTICED BY A MEXICAN GIRL WHO LIVED

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; COLUMBIA

James Callow Keyword(s): METAL

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Water
BELIEF -- Curse
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 00-00-1968

View just this record

STEP ON A CRACK AND BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK

Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS CURSE AS A SMALL CHILD IN INDIANA

Where learned: INDIANA

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

View just this record

CURSE

CROSS YOUR (MY) HEART AND HOPE TO DIE,
STICK A NEEDLE IN YOUR EYE.

Submitter comment: THIS CURSE IS UTTERED BY A PERSON TO ANOTHER TO EXACT A

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; COLUMBIA

James Callow Keyword(s): OATH

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech
BELIEF -- Curse

View just this record

WHEN A GREEK COMPLIMENTS A KID, YOU HAVE TO BLOW
ON HIM TO GET THE EVIL EYE (SPIRIT) AWAY, BECAUSE
THE EVIL EYE IS JEALOUS.

Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: 07-25-1968

View just this record

BIRTH SUPERSTITION

MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO SAY THAT WHENEVER A BABY WAS BORN AND
IT HAD A BIRTHMARK OR SOMETHING ON ITS SKIN, THAT IT WAS
DUE TO SOME SIN OF THE MOTHER AND GOD WAS PUNISHING HER
BY MARKING UP HER CHILD.

Where learned: NASHVILLE, ASSUMED ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body)
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: 07-23-1968

View just this record

ENEMY HEX

IF YOU HAD AN ENEMY, SOMEBODY YOU REALLY DIDN'T LIKE, THEN
YOU TOOK A NAIL AND NAILED IT IN THE GROUND SAYING HIS NAME
OVER AND OVER. SOMETHING BAD WOULD SURELY HAPPEN.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY

James Callow Keyword(s): METAL

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: 07-24-1968

View just this record

MENSTRUAL TABU

IF A WOMAN COMBS YOUR HAIR WHILE SHE IS MENSTRUATING,
ALL YOUR HAIR WILL FALL OUT.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Curse
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 04-08-1969

View just this record

IF I USED THE NAME OF GOD IN VAIN, THEN GOD WOULD STRIKE
ME DEAD.

Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK ; SIGNET BOOK ; THE NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY ; PAGE 82

James Callow Keyword(s): CURSING ; SWEARING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: 00-00-1945

View just this record

ONE TIME A GIRL BIT ME REAL HARD ON MY ARM AND SOMEBODY
TOLD ME THAT IF I TOOK THE WORST LOOKIN', BLACKEST,
SMELLIEST CHICKEN MANURE AND RUBBED IT ON THE BITE,
HER TEETH WOULD ALL FALL OUT.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: 07-24-1968

View just this record

IF A PERSON WISHES TO HARM AN ENEMY, HE MAY GO TO A ROOT
DOCTOR OR A WITCH WHO WILL WORK A SPELL OVER A NAIL.
THE NAIL IS THEN DRIVEN INTO A TREE. THE TREE IS GIVEN
THE ENEMY'S NAME. THE AMOUNT OF PAIN CAUSED THE ENEMY
IS DETERMINED BY THE DEPTH THE NAIL IS DRIVEN INTO THE
TREE. DRIVING THE NAIL IN A LITTLE DEEPER EACH DAY CAUSES SLOW
TORTURE. THE LOCATION OF PAIN IN THE ENEMY CORRESPONDS TO THE
LOCATION OF THE NAIL IN THE TREE. TO CAUSE PAIN IN THE FOOT,
DRIVE THE NAIL IN THE ROOT, AND SO FORTH. AN ENEMY MAY BE
KILLED BY DRIVING THE NAIL DEEP INTO THE HEART OF THE TREE.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): METAL IRON

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: 08-03-1968

View just this record

MAKING A HEX

IF YOU HAD SOMEONE'S PICTURE AND YOU WANTED THEM TO HAVE BAD
LUCK, BURIED IT FACE DOWN. (BURY)

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 07-23-1968

View just this record

VOODOO DOES NOT WORK UNLESS THE VICTIM KNOWS HE IS
BEING PLACED UNDER A CURSE.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

View just this record

IF YOU MAKE A VOODOO DOLL OUT OF TISSUE PAPER AND RUBBER
BANDS, DESIGNATE IT AS YOUR ENEMY AND PIERCE IT WITH
NEEDLES, THE REAL PERSON WILL BE HURT.

Submitter comment: SHE DOESN'T BELIEVE IT.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

View just this record

IF A PREGNANT WOMAN IS FRIGHTENED BY A SNAKE, THEN
SHE (?) IS MARKED BY THE SNAKE.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: 08-09-1968

View just this record

IF A PREGNANT WOMAN IS SHOCKED BY SEEING SOME ANIMAL OR
SOME DISFIGURED PERSON, HER CHILD WILL BE MARKED BY THIS.
THE MARK MAY BE ON HIS FOREHEAD OR ANY PART OF HIS BODY.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; FAYETTEVILLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse

View just this record

TO HEAR A SCREECHOWL IN THE NIGHT IS A SURE SIGN OF DEATH.

Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; HOLLY SPRINGS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: 07-27-1968

View just this record

TO OBTAIN A CURE FOR A SPELL WHICH ONE HAS HAD CAST ON HIM
A PERSON GOES TO A ROOT DOCTOR. THE ROOT DOCTOR WORKS A
COUNTER-SPELL AND GIVES A WHITE POWDER WHICH MUST BE TAKEN
DAILY UNTIL IT IS ALL USED UP.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse
BELIEF -- Color
BELIEF -- Curer
BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 08-03-1968

View just this record

IF A DEAD PERSON'S SPIRIT VISITS YOU, AND YOU WANT TO GET RID OF IT,
JUST CURSE IT OUT OR SPEAK VERY HASH TO IT. (HARSH HARSHLY)

Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; GEORGETOWN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Curse
SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

View just this record

BELIEF

IF YOU CUT YOUR HAIR AND BURY A PIECE OF IT AND SAY A PERSON'S
NAME, THAT PERSON WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: 05-03-1972

View just this record

IF AN UNMARRIED GIRL TAKES THE LAST SERVING OF FOOD, SHE
IS DOOMED TO BE AN OLD MAID.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): FOOD ; Maid ; MANNERS ; Old Maid ; Serving ; SUPERSTITION ; Unmarried

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: 03-00-1972

View just this record

prev | items
| next

University of Detroit Mercy
4001 W. McNichols Detroit , MI , 48221-3038
This site is endorsed by the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) and supports the views, values, and mission of UDM. The University of Detroit Mercy web site provides links to other web sites, both public and private, for informational purposes. The inclusion of these links on UDM's site does not imply endorsement by the University. Please contact the Associate Dean for Technical Services and Library Systems for any questions regarding this web site.