Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P435 returned 131 results.
MAGIC BELIEF
IF A COW DOES NOT PRODUCE LOTS OF MILK, IT IS BECAUSE THE WITCH
HAS CAST A SPELL. THEREFORE DURING ALL HOLY DAYS, POLISH
VILLAGERS WOULD BURN BLESSED HERBS IN AN INCENSE BURNER IN THE
BARN, BELIEVING THE SMOKE WOULD CHASE AWAY THE WITCH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Drink from animal product BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 02-07-1971
SPIRIT
ON AN AUGUST DAY WHEN THE SUN IS HIGHEST IN THE SKY AT 12
NOON, STAND WITH THREE FRIENDS IN A WOODEN DESERTED AREA. AT
EXACTLY 12 NOON HAVE EVERYONE STARE AT EACH OTHER. THE SUN COMING
THROUGH THE TREES SHOULD FORM A HALO OVER THE PERSON OR PERSONS
WHO HAVE ANY POWER OF WITCHCRAFT OR WIZARDRY IN THEIR BLOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBERS
ECLIPSE
A WITCH MUST WAIT THREE HOURS AFTER EATING BEFORE
USING ANY WITCHCRAFT.
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBER
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption BELIEF -- Witch Shaman |
WITCH TEST
THE PERSON SUSPECTED OF BEING A WITCH IS TIED AND THROWN
INTO THE WATER. IF SHE ESCAPES, SHE IS A WITCH AND MUST BE
BURNED. IF SHE DROWNS, SHE IS NOT A WITCH.
James Callow Keyword(s): IRONY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BELIEF-WITCHES
IF A WOMAN (SUPPOSEDLY) A WITCH HAS A DAUGHTER SHE WISHES
TO MARRY OFF, SHE WILL BURN A STOCKING AND THIS WILL BEWITCH
A BOY AND DRAW HIM TO THE DAUGHTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman |
OMEN
QUITE OFTEN ONE SIGN OF A WITCH IS RED HAIR. THIS IS BECAUSE
JUDAS HAD RED HAIR AND DEALT WITH THE DEVIL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR SYMBOL ; HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak |
Date learned: 02-12-1968
WITCH BELIEF
TO BECOME A WITCH, TAKE ONE GOLD RING, ONE CANDLE STICK HOLDER
AND ONE SCARF; BURY THESE IN THE EARTH TILL THE NEXT FULL MOON;
AT THE NEXT FULL MOON, AT MIDNIGHT, DIG UP THE RING, CANDLE-STICK
HOLDER AND SCARF AND BOIL THEM TOGETHER IN A LARGE POT THE
CANDIDATE WITCH THEN RECITES CERTAIN MAGICAL PHRASES AND
BECOMES A FULL-FLEDGED WITCH.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
WITCHES
NEVER WALK ALONE AFTER MIDNIGHT, BECAUSE THIS IS THE TIME
WITCHES AND SPIRITS COME OUT.
Where learned: IRELAND ; KILLARNEY ; EIRE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
MARIE LAVEAU
AMONG SOME OF THE MORE SUPERSTITIOUS NEGROES OF SOUTHERN LOUISIANA
AND NEW ORLEANS IN PARTICULAR, THERE IS A PERSISTENT BELIEF
IN MARIE LAVEAU, THE VOODOO QUEEN OF NEW ORLEANS. BELIEVERS
MARK WITH CHALK ON HER TOMB WALL AND ASK FOR SUPERNATURAL
ASSISTANCE. ALSO, IT'S BELIEVED THAT SOIL FROM HER GRAVE HAS
MAGICAL PROPERTIES SO IT IS USED IN DIFFERENT VOODOO RITES.
MARIE LAVEAU'S GRAVE IN NEW ORLEANS DATES BACK TO THE LATE 18TH
CENTURY AND IS A WELL KNOWN PLACE FOR VOODOO FOLLOWERS. NEW
ORLEANS ABOUNDS WITH LEGENDS AND STORIES OF HER FANTASTIC LIFE.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Explanation of a name BELIEF -- Emblem BELIEF -- Use of Object |
SUPERSTITION
IN QUEBEC, THE FRENCH WHO HAD LAND LIVED BY FARMING, AND THOSE
WHO HAD NONE LIVED BY BEGGING. THE FARMERS TREATED THE BEGGARS
WITH CARE, FOR THEY HAD POWERS--FOR GOOD, FOR ILL.
Where learned: CANADA
| Subject headings: | 840 BELIEF -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BORROWING
IF YOU BORROW ANYTHING AT ALL FROM A WITCH THAT BELONGS
TO HIM PERSONALLY YOU CAN HOLD A SPELL OVER HIM BY KISSING
THE OBJECT AND SAYING "THANK YOU" THREE TIMES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MELVINDALE
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBER
| Subject headings: | 686 686.1 BELIEF -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: 09-00-1971
BELIEF ABOUT DEVILS
THE SUBJECT OF WITCHES IS CLOSELY RELATED TO BLACK CATS, THE
MOON, DEVILS, ASTROLOGY. IT IS JOKED TODAY THAT IF
A BLACK CAT CROSSES
YOUR PATH BAD LUCK WILL COME. IN EARLY YEARS IT WAS BELIEVED
DEVILS DISGUISED THEMSELVES AS BLACK CATS, DOGS OR GOATS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MOUNT PLEASANT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; COLOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.3 |
Date learned: 10-28-1971
BUILDING A FIRE
WITCHES BUILD A FIRE IN THE OPEN AND DRAW A MAGIC
CIRCLE ABOUT IT WITH A SWORD. MEN AND WOMEN ALTERNATELY JOIN
HANDS AND QUICKEN THEIR PACE, FROM A WALK
TO A RUN, CHANTING ANCIENT RITES.
Submitter comment:
Taken from 1967 "Life" magazine.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MOUNT PLEASANT
| Subject headings: | 646 BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 10-28-1971
SPELL
IF SOMEONE CASTS A SPELL ON YOU THAT YOU WISH TO BREAK
URINATE IN A GUN BARREL AND CORK IT SAYING,
"I'VE GOT YOU."
THE PERSON WHO CAST THE SPELL WILL COME TO YOU BECAUSE HE
CANNOT URINATE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): LOCKING THE KIDNEYS
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTAGION
| Subject headings: | 646 BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 09-00-1971
MAGIC
IN CHINA, A WOMAN CALLED 'OOPOH' IS CONSIDERED A "MAGICAL WOMAN."
SHE CAN PREDICT THE FUTURE, WORK SPELLS, PERFORM MAGIC.
IF A MAN DIES AWAY FROM HOME, HIS SPIRIT CAN BE BROUGHT HOME BY THE
WIZARD (OOPOH), AND HIS FAMILY CAN SEE THAT IT IS INTERRED.
THE BODY IS NOT TRANSFERRED--JUST THE SPIRIT. AND ONLY
THE SPIRIT OF A GOOD MAN CAN BE BROUGHT HOME FOR BURIAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
| Subject headings: | 646 800 820 840 BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-04-1968
ONE CAN TELL YOU IF YOU HAVE TRULY KILLED A WITCH IF A CROW CROWS.
IF YOU DID NOT HEAR IT, IT IS A SIGN THAT THE WITCH HAS TAKEN
OVER THE SOUL OF A NEWLY BORN BABY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Bird SPEECH -- Extra Corporal Means of Communication |
Date learned: 03-20-1970
SPIRIT MEDIUMS
THIS IS A BELIEF IN INDIA. MEDIUMS, PEOPLE WHO CAN CONTACT DEAD
SOULS, CAN CAUSE TROUBLE BY PULLING THEM INTO ACTIVITY.
IF A MEDIUM CALLS A SPIRIT, HE CAN CAPTURE THE SOUL OF A MAN
JUST DIED. THE SPIRIT OF THE NEWLY DEAD CAN BE FORCED OUT
BY THE MEDIUM. IT IS DANGEROUS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
| Subject headings: | 820 BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 02-04-1968
BELIEF IN WITCHES
SHARON MCCORMICK'S GRANDMOTHER AND GREAT GRANDMOTHER,
WHO WERE PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH, WERE WITCHES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 09-24-1969
BELIEF (LEGEND)
TO KILL A WITCH- CLOSE THE BOOK, RING THE BELL, AND BLOW
OUT THE CANDLE.
Where learned: DETROIT ; collector's home
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 10-23-1968
WITCH OF TRAVERSE
ABOUT 9 YEARS AGO, A CLASSMATE OF MINE NAMED JOHN PUTRASS TOLD
ME ABOUT A WITCH THAT LIVED ON HIS STREET. SHE LIVED IN AN
OLD HOUSE ON TRAVERSE NEAR ST. CYRIL AND VAN DYKE. THE HOUSE
WAS UNPAINTED AND SEVERAL DEAD TREES GREW AROUND IT. WHEN I WENT
TO SEE IT, SHE WAS STANDING ON THE PORCH WITH LONG STRINGY
WHITE HAIR AND A LONG GREEN DRESS. AS WE DROVE BY HER HOUSE
ON OUR BIKES, SHE STARED AT US COLDLY. THE LEGEND ON THE STREET WAS
THAT SHE BURIED HER HUSBAND, WHO HAD BEEN MISSING FOR YEARS, IN THE CELLAR.
I WENT TO SEE THE HOUSE ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, AND IT WAS
CONDEMNED BY THE CITY. AT PRESENT IT NO LONGER STANDS, BUT WHEN
I WENT TO ST. THOMAS SCHOOL, IT STRUCK FEAR INTO ANYONE THAT SAW IT.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN