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 P545 returned 667 results.

prev | items
| next

GEORGIA WEDDING SUPERSTITION

"WHEN A BRIDE-TO-BE WAS OPENING HER GIFTS AT THE BRIDAL SHOWER,
THE NUMBER OF RIBBONS SHE BROKE MEANT THAT'S HOW MANY CHILDREN
SHE WAS GOING TO HAVE".

Where learned: OHIO ; FLORIDA ; ALLIANCE ; EUSTIS

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs

Date learned: 11-13-1980 ; 00001920S

View just this record

GEORGIA WEDDING CUSTOM

"IF A BRIDE CARRIED ORANGE BLOSSOMS IN HER BOUQUET, IT WOULD
BRING GOOD LUCK TO HER MARRIAGE".

Where learned: OHIO ; FLORIDA ; ALLIANCE ; EUSTIS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 11-13-1980 ; 00001920S

View just this record

DREAMS

IF A PERSON DREAMS OF A MARRIAGE THEN HE IS DREAMING OF HIS DEATH.
MY FREIND'S GRANDFATHER EXPERIENCED THIS AND HE DIED TWO WEEKS LATER.

Submitter comment: I WAS RATHER SURPRISED WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT MY NEIGHBOR EXPERIENCED
THIS. I WAS FASCINATED BY IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Dreams

Date learned: 00-00-1980

View just this record

NEW YEAR'S DREAMS

IN POLAND, IT IS A BELIEF THAT IF YOU DREAM ABOUT MARRYING A
PERSON THREE DAYS IN A ROW; ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, NEW YEAR'S DAY,
AND THE DAY AFTER, YOU WILL MARRY THAT PERSON BEFORE THE NEXT
YEAR COMES.

Submitter comment: THERE IS ONE POINT TO BE MENTIONED IN REGARDS TO NEW YEAR'S EVE.
IT IS BELIEVED THAT SPIRITS ARE RESTLESS ON NEW YEAR'S EVE AND
THEY WANDER IN AND OUT OF HOUSES. THEREFORE, ON THAT DAY,
POLES ARE CAREFUL NOT TO WAVE SHARP OBJECTS IN THE AIR SUCH AS;
KNIVES, SCISSORS, AND PENCILS, SO AS NOT TO INJURE A SPIRIT AND
GIVE HIM CAUSE TO BE ANGRY WITH THEIR HOUSEHOLD. ALSO, THE POLES
WOULD LEAVE PLATES OF FOOD NEXT TO EMPTY CHAIRS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF
THE HOUSE. IF THEY WOULD DO THESE THINGS, THEY THOUGHT THE SPIRITS
WOULD THEN FEEL FREE TO BLESS THEIR HOUSEHOLD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Subject headings: 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
Observation
Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- 39815
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Dreams

Date learned: 00-00-1978

View just this record

IF YOU MARRY IN GREEN DRESS, IT MEANS BAD LUCK IN YOUR MARRIAGE.

Submitter comment: IN THIS SAYING GREEN CONNOTES BAD LUCK,

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Color
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 00-00-1980 ; 00-00-1950

View just this record

MY FRIEND JOE BELIEVES THAT IF HE CAN COUNT 9 STARS ON 9 SUCCESSIVE
NIGHTS, ON THE 9TH NIGHT THE GIRL HE DREAMS OF WILL BECOME HIS WIFE.

Submitter comment: JOE LEARNED THIS BELIEF FROM HIS SISTER WHEN HE WAS A CHILD. ONE
WOULD THINK THIS BELIEF ORIGINATED IN A CLOUDY CLIMATE, BECAUSE IT
WOULD BE EASY TO DO IN A NICE WEATHER AREA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE

Subject headings: 686 Ninths / Nine
Favorites
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Dreams

Date learned: 00-00-1964 ; 00-00-1976

View just this record

AT WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY (AND AT ALMOST EVERY COLLEGE IN THE
U.S.) THERE IS A LARGE CYLINDER TOWER WHICH CARRIES A LEGEND. NO
VIRGIN WILL EVER LEAVE THIS SCHOOL AFTER 4 YEARS, HENCE THE TOWER
WILL FALL.

Submitter comment: THIS STORY IS REPEATED AT ALMOST EVERY COLLEGE I GO TO. I WOULD
IMAGINE IT GOES BACK MANY DECADES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; KALAMAZOO

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- School
BELIEF -- Marriage

Date learned: 00-00-1976

View just this record

IF YOU SING AT THE TABLE YOU'LL MARRY A CRAZY MAN.

Submitter comment: SYD'S GRANDMA TOLD HER THIS ONE WHILE AT THE DINNER TABLE. I THINK
IT ORIGINATES FROM THE VICTORIAN ERA WHEN SILENCE AT MOST OCCASIONS
WAS EXPECTED FROM CHILDREN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.
BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Marriage

Date learned: 00-00-1950

View just this record

POLISH WEDDING CUSTOM

DURING THE RECEPTION, ALL THE GUESTS FORM A CIRCLE
AROUND THE BRIDE AND GROOM. THE BRIDE IS SITTING ON
THE GROOM'S LAP. THE MAID OF HONOR TAKES OFF THE
BRIDE'S VEIL AND PUTS AN APRON ON HER.

Submitter comment: SHE KNOWS OF THIS CUSTOM SINCE SHE WENT TO A POLISH
WEDDING.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Marriage

Date learned: 03-31-1967

View just this record

UNWED GIRL THROWS BALL OF YARN AT MIDNIGHT THROUGH
WINDOW AND PULLS IT IN, WHOEVER IS AT THE END, IS HER
FUTURE HUSBAND.

Submitter comment: FROM NEIGHBORS.

Where learned: HOME

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 10-24-1967

View just this record

EATING LORE

WHEN A FAMILY IS EATING, THE GIRL WHO TAKES THE LAST
PIECE OF CAKE OR BREAD ON THE TABLE WILL GROW UP
TO BE AN OLD MAID.

Submitter comment: MRS. MALONY LEARNED THIS WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD IN
IRELAND.

Where learned: RECTORY ; HOLY NAME

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Number Last events: the last person to the table...

Date learned: 02-19-1967

View just this record

IF YOU PUT WEDDING CAKE UNDER YOUR PILLOW YOU WILL DREAM
OF THE PERSON YOU ARE GOING TO MARRY.

Submitter comment: POPULAR BELIEF EVEN TODAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Spirit / Mind / Body
BELIEF -- Marriage

Date learned: 05-11-1965

View just this record

IF A WOMAN OPENS AN UMBRELLA IN THE HOUSE, SHE WILL
NEVER MARRY.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER MOTHER.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; JAMAICA

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Marriage

Date learned: 01-01-1964

View just this record

IF YOU SING AT THE DINNER TABLE, YOU'LL GET
A CRAZY WIFE.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Marriage

Date learned: 10-17-1967

View just this record

WHEN WASHING CLOTHES, IF YOU GET WATER ON THE FRONT
OF THE CLOTHES THAT YOU ARE WEARING, YOU WILL MARRY
A DRUNK.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD TO MR. PICKETT AROUND TWENTY YEARS AGO
BY HIS GRANDMOTHER. THEY WERE LIVING IN ST. LOUIS,
MISSOURI AT THE TIME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Marriage

View just this record

IF A WOMAN IS SWEEPING A ROOM AND TOUCHES YOU WITH HER BROOM,
YOU WILL NEVER GET A WOMAN.

Submitter comment: THIS IS BELIEVED IN NIGERIA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Measure of time Working

Date learned: 10-00-1981

View just this record

GAME

A CHILDHOOD GAME MY BROTHER PLAYED INVOLVED TWISTING THE STEM
OF AN APPLE WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY RECITING THE ALPHABET.
THE LETTER HE WAS ON WHEN THE STEM BROKE OFF WOULD BE THE FIRST
INITIAL OF THE PERSON HE WOULD EVENTUALLY MARRY.

Submitter comment: PLACED HERE BECAUSE CHILDHOOD ALPHABET COUNTING GAME

Where learned: DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 00001960S

View just this record

WEDDING DRESS OMEN

A GIRL SHOULD NEVER WEAR A WEDDING DRESS BEFORE HER TIME OR SHE WILL
REMAIN A WIDOW.

Submitter comment:

A BELIEF FROM SABINAS, MEXICO. PROBABLY COMMON IN MANY COUNTRIES. IN
FORMANT EXPRESSED LITTLE BELIEF IN IT HERSELF.
BY WIDOW THE INFORMANT MEANS SPINSTER MAIDEN.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BELIEF ; DEATH ; DRESS ; LUCK ; OMEN ; SUPERSTITION ; WEDDING

Subject headings: Observation
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 11-00-1981

View just this record

MARRIAGE BELIEF

WHEN A SINGLE GIRL HAS HER FEET SWEPT SHE'LL MARRY A WIDOWER.

Submitter comment: BELIEF COMES FROM MEXICAN TRADITION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
Favorites
BELIEF -- Marriage

Date learned: 12-00-1981

View just this record

A GOOD LOVE POTION IS MADE FROM THE WEB OF WILD DUCK'S FEET. THE
FOOT IS DRIED AND POWDERED. IF YOU PUT THIS IN A CUP OF COFFEE
OR A GLASS OF MILK, THE PERSON WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER. BUT IF THE
JUICE IS USED, THE LOVE WILL GO SOUR.

Where learned: OHIO ; DEFIANCE

James Callow Keyword(s): APHRODISIAC

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Meat Bird Poultry
BELIEF -- Marriage

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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.