Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P474 returned 316 results.
A MAN MUST BUY A BROOM FOR HIS HOUSE, AND CARRY IT
INSIDE UPSIDE DOWN ALONG WITH A BOX OF SALT. IT IS
GOOD LUCK TO DO SO.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SMALL MINING TOWN IN
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Home BELIEF -- Good luck |
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
WHEN WASHING BRIGHT COLORS, IF SALT IS ADDED INTO THE WASH
WATER, THE COLORS WON'T RUN OR BLEED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOUSEHOLD HINT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Working BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 00001984CA
Hawaiian Island Folklore
Find a lava rock. Take the rock and wrap it in a tea leaf and
set it down in front of the ocean. Make a wish. Your wish
will be granted in three days by the gods of the islands.
Submitter comment:
This is one of the folktales that Albert brought back with
him when he came back to the U.S. after his second honeymoon.
My father is good friends with this man and he told us the
story over dinner at our house. His mood was wishful and
mysterious when he was describing this folktale.
Where learned: Item was learned in the state of Hawaii
Keyword(s): lava, tea, ocean.
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1989
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
Throw salt over your left shoulder to keep the jinks away.
Where learned: GEORGIA ; Alberton
James Callow Keyword(s): jinx
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
Throw salt over your left shoulder when entering a new
dwelling.
Submitter comment:
The older folks in the family always told us: When we buy a
new house or are invited to spend the night at a friend's house,
before we go in we should throw some salt over our shoulder to
scare away any evil spirits that may be in the house.
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
Date learned: 00-00-1976
If you put a piece of copper in between your teeth, you will
never have to worry about evil spirits invading your body.
Submitter comment:
Grandma always told all of us kids to put a penny in between
our teeth and we would never have to be scared of any evil
spirits or of things that go bump in the night.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Date learned: 00-00-1940
Keep a silver butter knife under your bed so that you can
keep away evil spirits causing nightmares in your dreams.
Submitter comment:
As I screamed out my mother came running into the bedroom.
She woke me up and I told her I had a nightmare. She said, "I am
going to get a butter knife to put under your bed so that you
will not have nightmares." The idea of the silver knife is
supposed to keep evil spirits away.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Dreams |
Date learned: 00-00-1978
Eureka
The story goes that in the 3rd Century B.C. King Hiero of
Syracuse gave a jeweller some gold to make a crown. The jeweller
did but the King suspected that he mixed the gold with base metal
and did not use all the gold. The king gave the crown to the local
scientist, Archimedes, whose job it was to determine if the
jeweller had cheated the king by mixing the gold with metal. In
order to solve this problem Archimedes had to find the density of
the crown. How could he measure density? One day when getting
into the bathtub he noticed the water level rose. He has an
inspiration and the answer. He jumped from the bath tub and ran
down the street naked shouting "Eureka" which means "I have found
it."
Archimedes realized that if the crown was pure gold it would
displace the same volume of water as an equal weight of gold. He
performed the experiment and found that the jeweller had in fact
cheated.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 02-02-1992
If your foot is swept over by a broom, you should spit on the
broom, and throw salt over your left shoulder, in order not to go
to jail.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Conversions SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
If you put water under your bed with a dime in it, you will
have clearer dreams.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Dreams |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
Sprinkle salt around your house, to keep evil spirits out.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
If you don't care for a person, and they come to your house
and you never want them to return to your home again. You should
sprinkle salt down and sweep it out the front door.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): Visitor
Date learned: 00-00-1990
Enemies
A woman who practices "who-do" told her this when she visited
relatives in Chester County, Tennessee. To get rid of someone
that is no longer welcomed in your home, one should pour salt on
the doorway when the person leaves and sweep the salt out on the
ground.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
James Callow Keyword(s): Hoodoo
Date learned: 02-10-1992
DON'T SPILL SALT ON THE FLOOR. IT WILL CAUSE FIGHTING AMONG
YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Throwing salt over your shoulder was considered to be a cure
for bad luck.
Where learned: GEORGIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 01001900 CA
While I was stationed in West Germany, we lived within the
local community. One of our German neighbors presented us with a
house warming gift on a beautiful round wooden platter. The gift
consisted of a ceramic cup full of salt, a pfennig, and a loaf of
bread. The salt symbolized the spice of life, the pfennig
symbolized financial stability, and the loaf of bread symbolized
the absence of hunger.
Where learned: WEST GERMANY ; Neu Ulm
Date learned: 10-00-1985
WHEN SOMEONE GETS A NEW HOME, BRING SALT AND COAL FOR
LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 02-28-1970