Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P883.500 returned 38 results.
IF YOU SPILL SALT, THROW A BIT OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER
AND MAKE A WISH OR YOU'LL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: I'VE SEEN THE INFORMANT PRACTICE THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ACCIDENT ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Conversions Activities |
Date learned: 03-01-1971
IF SOMEONE ASKS FOR YOUR HANDERCHIEF, MAKE SURE
YOU GET IT BACK OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
James Callow Keyword(s): BORROW
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Conversions Activities |
IF YOU BREAK A MIRROR, PUT IT IN RUNNING WATER OR
YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Running water BELIEF -- Conversions Activities |
Date learned: 01-31-1971
BREAKING A MIRROR WILL BRING YOU SEVEN YEARS OF BAD
LUCK UNLESS YOU TAKE THE BROKEN PIECES, PUT THEM
IN A BAG AND THROW THEM IN A SWIFT RUNNING STREAM
OF WATER.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S HUSBAND BROKE A MIRROR AND GATHERED UP
THE PIECES AND THREW THEM IN THE BELLE ISLE RIVER
AND SINCE THIS WAS NOT A SWIFT MOVING STREAM, HE
DIED SEVEN YEARS LATER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several Favorites BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Conversions Activities |
Date learned: 12-07-1971
THOSE IN THE THEATER, WHEN THEY WANT TO WISH AN
ACTOR OR AN ACTRESS GOOD LUCK, SAY: "BREAK A LEG."
Submitter comment:
THOSE CONNECTED WITH THE THEATER FEEL IT IS BAD
LUCK TO WISH SOMEONE GOOD LUCK BEFORE THEY GO ON
STAGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FORMULA SPEECH
| Subject headings: | DRAMA -- Secular BELIEF -- Conversions Activities SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-24-1968
GOOD LUCK: KNOCK ON WOOD. (TAP ON WOOD WITH HAND).
Submitter comment:
THIS IS SAID TO UNJINX YOURSELF AFTER YOU'VE SAID
SOMETHING THAT MIGHT JINX YOU, E.G., I'VE NEVER
HAD AN ACCIDENT YET (KNOCK ON WOOD).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Conversions Activities SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 09-22-1969
WHEN SOMEONE MENTIONS SOMETHING THAT HE HAS HAD
GOOD LUCK WITH IN HIS LIFE, HE PROMPTLY KNOCKS
ON WOOD AND/OR SAYS, "KNOCK ON WOOD" IN ORDER
TO KEEP HIS LUCK FROM CHANGING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FORMULA SPEECH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Conversions Activities SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHEN TWO PEOPLE WOULD SAY THE SAME THING AT THE SAME
TIME, THE FIRST PERSON TO SAY "OWE ME A COKE" WOULD
RECEIVE SOME SORT OF GOOD LUCK.
(SUPPOSEDLY IN THE FORM OF A FREE COKE (COCA-COLA,
A SOFT DRINK).
Submitter comment:
THE WAY I LEARNED IT, THE PERSON SAYING "OWE ME A
COKE" WOULD HAVE TO SLUG THE OTHER GUY ON THE
SHOULDER IN ORDER TO VALIDATE THE CUSTOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FORMULA SPEECH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Conversions Activities SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
THIS WAS COLLECTED APRIL 11, 1967 FROM MY SISTER. SHE
HEARD IT FROM HER CLASSMATES; SHE IS IN JUNIOR HIGH
SCHOOL.
WHEN TWO PEOPLE TALK AT THE SAME TIME, ONE MUST SAY
"NEEDLES AND PINS" IN ORDER TO PREVENT BAD LUCK.
Where learned: JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; WYANDOTTE
James Callow Keyword(s): FORMULA SPEECH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Conversions Activities SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 04-11-1967
IN THE BAND, "THE BLUE ANGELS," WHENEVER THE NAME
"URSULA" IS MENTIONED, EVERYONE IN THE BAND KNOCKS
ON WOOD. THE "BLUE ANGELS" PLAYED AT URSULA'S
WEDDING, WHERE EVERYTHING WENT WRONG. THEY KNOCK
ON WOOD TO PREVENT BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A MEMBER OF THE BAND WHERE HE AND THE
OTHER MEMEBERS KNOCK ON WOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Conversions Activities SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 11-02-1971
IT'S VERY BAD LUCK TO PLAY PIANO WHILE SOMEONE IN
THE HOUSE IS ILL, BECAUSE THIS MAY HASTEN THEIR
DEATH.
James Callow Keyword(s): MUSIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Conversions Activities |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
NEVER STEP OVER A PERSON LYING DOWN ON THE FLOOR.
IT WILL BRING HIM BAD LUCK. IF YOU HAPPEN TO
STEP OVER HIM, QUICKLY STEP BACKWARDS OVER HIM
TO REMOVE THE BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
I CAN REMEMBER MY RELATIVES SAYING THIS TO ME,
IF I WAS ABOUT TO STEP OVER ONE OF MY YOUNGER
COUSINS LYING ON THE FLOOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Conversions Activities |
Date learned: 00001950S LATE
IF YOU STEP OVER ANY PART OF A PERSON (E.G., STEP-
PING OVER THEIR LEGS TO AVOID THEIR HAVING TO
MOVE THEM) WITHOUT STEPPING BACK OVER AT THE SAME
POINT, YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: TELEPHONE
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Conversions Activities |
Date learned: 09-22-1969
IF YOU STEP OVER SOMEONE'S OUT STRETCHED LEGS, HE WILL
HAVE BAD LUCK UNLESS YOU STEP OVER THEM BACKWARDS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 09-01-11
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; GALLATIN
Keyword(s): Backwards ; BAD LUCK ; BODY ; LEGS ; Limb ; LUCK ; Step
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities BELIEF -- Conversions Activities |
Date learned: 08-20-1973
IF YOU SWEEP YOUR FOOT WITH A BROOM YOU HAVE TO SPIT ON IT
OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Measure of time Working BELIEF -- Bad luck Broom Sweeping BELIEF -- Conversions Activities |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF A BLACK CAT WALKS IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU HAVE TO WALK
BACK HOW OLD YOU ARE, IN OTHER WORDS IF YOU ARE ELEVEN
YOU MUST WALK BACK ELEVEN PACES.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): AGE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of quantity or weight BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs BELIEF -- Bad luck Animals BELIEF -- Conversions Activities |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU STEP ON A BROOM YOU HAVE TO SPIT ON THE BROOM, BAD
LUCK IF YOU DON'T.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Broom Sweeping BELIEF -- Conversions Activities |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF A BLACK CAT CROSSES YOUR PATH TURN AROUND AND SPIT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Conversions Activities |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN