Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 686.1.10 returned 33 results.
IF A LULL OCCURS IN A CONVERSATION AT TEN OF OR TEN AFTER THE
HOUR, GOD IS GIVING A WARNING THAT THE DEVIL IS LISTENING.
Submitter comment:
I FIRST HEARD OF THIS WHEN THE INFORMANT SAID "TEN OF, TEN
AFTER" WHEN A LULL OCCURED IN A PHONE CONVERSATION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness Favorites BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-00-1985
IN 1975, AN L1011 AIRPLANE CRASHED INTO THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES.
ONE CREW MEMBER WAS KILLED INSTANTLY. WHEN THE SALVAGEABLE
PARTS FROM THE AIRPLANE WERE PUT ONTO OTHER PLANES, THE MAN'S
GHOST BEGAN TO APPEAR. HIS FELLOW CREW MEMBERS HELD A
SEANCE TO GET RID OF THE GHOST. DURING THE SEANCE, THE GHOST
APPEARED AND TOLD THEM THAT ANOTHER L1011 WOULD NOT CRASH
FOR ANOTHER TEN YEARS.
Submitter comment:
IN 1985, AN L1011 CRASHED IN DALLAS. IT WAS THE FIRST L1011
TO CRASH SINCE THE INCIDENT IN 1975.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 11-00-1985
When I was younger, my friends and I always had
pajama parties for our birthdays. There were a
lot of things we did to stay up late but one of
them was always considered the most scary. We
turned all the lights off and lit one candle just
before midnight. One of us would turn around with
our eyes closed ten times while standing in front
of a mirror and saying bloody Mary. As it was
turning midnight you were to look over your shoulder
and Bloody Mary's reflection was supposed to be
in the mirror. I never saw anything, but it was
still looked upon as a solemn practice. My
friends sometimes said they saw something, but
I think it was just for the effect of scaring us.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration 686 First / Once / One / Newness |
Date learned: 00001980S
TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT FARMING YOU MUST SAY THE SAME PRAYER EACH
YEAR, ONCE FOR EVERY 10 ACRES OF LAND YOU PLAN TO PLANT. EACH
FARMER MUST HAVE HIS OWN SAYING OR PRAYER.
Where learned: MISSOURI
Date learned: 00001940S
Emergency Phone Calls
When I was a child, I always wore Penny Loafers. My mother would
put dimes in the penny slots of my shoes, just so that I would always
have twenty cents to make a phone call in case of an emergency.
Submitter comment:
The dimes I was forced to wear helped me out of a difficult
situation more than once.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
Keyword(s): Telephone call, price of
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Monetary system Money Wealth ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet BELIEF -- Number P686.1.20 |
Date learned: 00001980CA
Religious Superstitions
When driving or walking by a graveyard or church you should
never point your finger or stick out your tongue. If you do you
should bite it ten times (finger or tongue). If you don't you will
have seven years of bad luck.
Submitter comment:
I learned this as a child and it never failed; every time we
drove by either of these two sites I had to be either pointing or
licking my lips.
Where learned: DETROIT
Date learned: 00001970S
Mary Wells
During the 1950's or 60's, Mary Wells was supposedly a witch
that burned down half a small southern town called Yazoo City.
Chains were placed around her grave to keep her spirit from
returning from the dead. Children during the 1970's and 80's had
a superstition that her spirit could be called from the dead. The
procedure for doing this was to go into the restroom, turn off the
lights, look into the mirror and say Mary Wells' name ten times and
her face would appear in the mirror.
Submitter comment:
I'm not sure whether this is true or not because I've been
always too afraid to try it; even up to this date.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Louise
Keyword(s): SPIRITS
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration 686 First / Once / One / Newness Favorites BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: 01-01-1978
NEVER GO BACK INTO YOUR HOUSE FOR SOMETHING YOU HAVE
FORGOTTEN WITHOUT SITTING DOWN AND COUNTING TO TEN.
THIS WILL CHANGE YOUR LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness BELIEF -- Conversions Leaving Entering Returning home Travel |
Date learned: 02-17-1970
IF YOU'RE GOING SOMEPLACE AND YOU SUDDENLY REALIZE
THAT YOU'VE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING, BEFORE RETURNING
HOME, COUNT TO TEN OR BAD LUCK FOLLOWS.
Submitter comment: SOURCE NOT REMEMBERED.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; JAMAICA
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness BELIEF -- Conversions Leaving Entering Returning home Travel |
Date learned: 01-01-1964
IF YOU FORGET SOMETHING, DON'T GO BACK FOR IT; IT'S
A SIGN OF DISAPPOINTMENT. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SIT
DOWN AND COUNT TO TEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 01-00-1970
NOW I KNOW THIS TO BE THE TRUTH--IF YOU'RE PREGNANT AND WALK UNDER
THE NECK OF A HORSE, YOU'LL SURE CARRY IT TEN MONTHS. NOW
THAT'S A FACT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; SHELBYVILLE
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 06-17-1972
TO CURE HICCUPS, HOLD YOUR BREATH AND TAKE TEN SMALL SIPS
OF WATER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; SPRINGFIELD
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 10-20-1977
SAY MARY BETH TEN TIMES IN THE MIRROR AND IF SHE COMES AND
SMILES AT YOU SHE WILL BE YOUR FRIEND, BUT IF SHE DOESN'T
SMILE SHE WILL CHOKE YOU. NO ONE KNEW WHO MARY BETH WAS,
BUT THEY BELIEVED SHE COULD COME.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration 686 First / Once / One / Newness BELIEF -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN