Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P740 returned 781 results.
STAGE FRIGHT
TO ALLEVIATE STAGE FRIGHT, HELEN HAYES WOULD LOOK OUT AT THE
AUDIENCE FROM BEHIND THE CURTAIN AND CALL THE AUDIENCE ALL
SORTS OF CRUEL AND VULGAR NAMES.
Where learned: OUR LADY OF MERCY HIGH SCHOOL
Keyword(s): ACTRESS
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
CUT A BABY'S FINGERNAILS BEFORE HE IS A YEAR OLD, THE BABY WILL HAVE
POOR EYESIGHT.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; LINCOLNSHIRE
Keyword(s): HIDDEN CONNECTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-14-1971
WHEN YOU COMB YOUR HAIR AND HAIR IS LEFT IN THE COMB
YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BURN THE HAIR
BECAUSE IF YOU THROW IT AWAY THE BIRDS WILL GET IT
AND YOU WILL GO BALD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 12-01-1971
BEWARE OF THE BLACKBIRDS
WHEN COMBING YOUR HAIR, BE SURE NOT TO LET A STRAND
OR A CLUMP OF YOUR HAIR FALL TO THE GROUND
WHERE A BLACKBIRD CAN PICK IT UP, FOR IF HE DOES,
YOU WILL GO CRAZY.
Where learned: WORK
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 09-19-1969
COMBING HAIR
IF HAIR IS COMBED AFTER 9P.M. IT WILL FALL OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 02-15-1970
SUPERSTITION
ONE OF THE WORST THINGS ANYONE COULD DO
TO INCUR THE HAND OF FATE
IS TO CUT ONE'S HAIR AND THROW IT AWAY.
HAIR DISCARDED IN THIS MANNER WILL BE PICKED UP BY BIRDS
WHO WILL MAKE A NEST OF IT AND DRIVE THE FORMER OWNER INSANE.
SHORN HAIR MUST BE KEPT INDEFINITELY
OR BURNED TO AVOID THE LOSS OF ONE'S MIND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
ITALIAN PROVERB
IF YOU RUB DEW ON YOUR EYES ON ST. CECELIA'S FEAST DAY,
THEN YOU WILL NEVER HAVE EYE TROUBLE.
Where learned: WRITTEN BY INFORMANT ON SYMBOLIC LOGIC EXAM
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F112 BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 02-02-1971
EVIL EYE
IF YOU FIND SOMEONE TO BREAK THE SPELL, YOU'LL GET HEADACHES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-26-1969
CASE OF EVIL EYE CAUSING DEATH
AFTER COMING TO THIS COUNTRY, THE INFORMANT'S MOTHER
LOST A BABY GIRL NAMED CATHERINE BECAUSE SOME FRIEND OF THEIRS
(A MAN) PRAISED THE LITTLE BABY AND IT CAME UNDER A SPELL.
THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYONE IN THE U.S. WHO COULD BREAK THE SPELL
(THERE WERE PEOPLE GOOD AT THIS IN THE OLD COUNTRY).
THE BABY JUST WANED AWAY AND DIED. AND IN LATER YEARS
WHEN ANOTHER RELATIVE WAS GIVEN THE NAME OF CATHERINE SHE GOT
BAD LUCK TO GO WITH IT FROM THE OLD SPELL
AND THAT IS WHY SHE NEVER HAS ANY DATES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ATTACHED TO NAME
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 10-26-1969
BELIEF
A MOTHER LOSES A TOOTH FOR EVERY CHILD THAT SHE BEARS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHILDBEARING ; PREGNANCY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 02-04-1970
RELIGIOUS BELIEF
IF YOU SAY A "HAIL MARY" FOR EACH ONE OF YOUR TEETH,
THEN SAINT POLLONIA WILL PROTECT YOUR TEETH FROM HARM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; KALAMAZOO
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 02-18-1971
TO MAKE YOUR HAIR GROW, YOU SHOULD WASH
YOUR HAIR IN THE FIRST RAIN IN MAY.
Date learned: 12-07-1971
BELIEF
DURING THE FIRST SNOW, IF YOU GO OUT BAREFOOT,
YOU WILL NOT BE SICK ALL WINTER.
Where learned: PLACE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): SHOES
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
BUYING A NEW HOUSE
IF YOU BUY A BRAND NEW HOME, SOMETIMES BAD LUCK IN THE
FORM OF ILLNESS, WILL BEFALL A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY.
Where learned: TOLD AT INFORMANTS HOME
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 03-24-1970
CHRISTMAS BELIEF
IF A MAN DOES NOT ENTER THE HOUSE FIRST ON CHRISTMAS
MORNING, THE HOUSE WILL BE PLAGUED WITH SICKNESS AND BAD
LUCK DURING THE COMING YEAR. (THE STRONGER THE MAN THE
BETTER THE GOOD LUCK). THIS CUSTOM IS PRACTICED BY POLISH-AMERICANS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING ; SEXIST
Date learned: 10-25-1970
Belief: Children's Song
STEP ON A LINE,
BREAK YOUR FATHER'S SPINE.
STEP ON A CRACK,
BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
STEP ON A HOLE,
BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S SUGAR BOWL.
Submitter comment:
CHILDREN SING THIS SONG WHILE WALKING TO SCHOOL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 12-01-2010 / Motifs and Keywords added by TRD
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Keyword(s): Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; Domestic ; GAME ; Hole ; Line ; MOTHER ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; Sugar ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 01-21-1968
PRE-NATAL SUPERSTITION
NOTHING SHOULD EVER BE BOUGHT FOR A BABY BEFORE IT IS BORN.
THIS CAN CAUSE THE CHILD TO BE BORN EITHER DEAD OR BADLY DEFORMED.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-02-1969
MEDICAL BELIEF
SLEEPING IN THE MOONLIGHT WILL MAKE YOU GO CRAZY.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER LEARNED THIS FROM SOME IRISH FRIENDS WHEN SHE WAS A
CHILD IN DETROIT. HER FRIENDS BELIEVED THIS SO STRONGLY THAT THEY
ALWAYS CHECKED THAT NO LIGHT COULD COME IN AROUND THE SHADES BEFORE
GOING TO BED.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant is collector's mother.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM ; 17965 Kirkshire
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE ; MADNESS
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-22-1970
COMETS
COMETS WILL BRING DISEASE AND PESTILENCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Comet BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 02-02-1970
CURE FOR ARTHRITIS
ALWAYS CARRY A CHESTNUT IN YOUR POCKET.
Submitter comment:
A NEIGHBOR WHO LIVED ACROSS THE STREET FROM HIM BELIEVED THIS AND
CARRIED THE SAME CHESTNUT SINCE HIS EARLY CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR