Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P429 returned 446 results.
WRITING A LETTER TO A DEAD PERSON YOU KNOW AND PUTTING THE LETTER
UNDER YOUR PILLOW. THE PERSON'S SOUL IS SUPPOSED TO COME TO
YOU AND WALK.
Submitter comment: THIS BECAME WELL KNOWN IN MY FAMILY AROUND 1960.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 09-11-1977
PLACING PENNIES NEAR YOUR DOORS, KEEP SPIRITS FROM ENTERING YOUR
HOUSE.
Submitter comment:
THE BELIEF IS THAT SPIRITS CANNOT PASS OVER COPPER.
THIS SUPERSTITION WAS PASSED DOWN FROM MY MOTHER'S FAMILY, THE PITTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 11-02-1977
POLISH SUPERSTITION
WHEN YOU GO TO A WAKE, YOU SHOULD TOUCH THE HAND OF THE
DECEASED TO PREVENT HIM FROM HAUNTING YOU IN YOUR DREAMS.
Submitter comment:
TOUCHING SOMEONE MAY ALSO BE A WAY OF BIDDING FAREWELL.
THUS, IF YOU BID THE DECEASED FAREWELL, HE WILL KNOW HE IS
NOT TO SEE YOU AGAIN. THE INFORMANT BELIEVES AND
PRACTICES THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 841 Dreams about the dead and sick BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Dreams Dreams about the dead and sick SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-10-1977
TALE
IN DETROIT AROUND THE EARLY FIFTIES THERE WAS A TALE ABOUT
A YOUNG GIRL WHO WAS HIT AND KILLED BY A CAR ON ONE OF THE SIDE
STREETS. WHEN YOU DROVE OVER THE SPOT WHERE SHE WAS KILLED
THERE WOULD BE A RAPPING SOUND ON THE SIDE PANELS OF YOUR CAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): KNOCK-KNOCK STREET
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
HAUNTED THEATER
ALL THEATERS HAVE GHOSTS OF DEAD CHARACTERS OR ACTORS.
Submitter comment:
THERE ARE SOME THEATERS IN LONDON THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE
HAUNTED BY THE GHOSTS OF FAMOUS ACTORS OR MANAGERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
DEATH CUSTOMS
MYGRANDFATHER GOT RED HOT PEPPERS FROM THE GARDEN. HE LET THEM DRY
OUT AND HANG THEM IN THE WINDOW TO KEEP AWAY EVIL. HE DID THIS ONLY
AFTER SOMEONE EVIL DIED. HE BELIEVED THAT THEIR SPIRIT WOULD RETURN,
KNOWING THAT THEY WERE EVIL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 03-00-1979
BURIAL BELIEF
IF YOU TAKE A PICTURE OF SOMEONE'S GRAVE ON THE ANNIVERSARY
OF THEIR DEATH YOU WILL GET AN IMAGE OF THE PERSON'S FACE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
CUSTOM
WHEN SOMEONE IN OUR FAMILY DIES, WE BURN A CANDLE IN A SPECIAL, SMALL
GLASS JAR FOR A WEEK. WE'RE BURNING IT FOR THE DEAD PERSON'S SPIRIT,
TO FEED THE SPIRIT. THEN ON EACH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH WE BURN
THE SAME CANDLE FOR A WEEK. THIS IS SO THE DEAD PERSON'S SOUL
KNOWS YOU HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN HIM.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A JEWISH CUSTOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): FOOD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- P647 |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
WEAR DARK COLORED CLOTHES AFTER A DEATH TO ALLOW THE SOUL OF
THE DEAD TO REST.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT STATES THAT BRIGHT CLOTHES, BECAUSE OF THEIR
EMITTING PROPERTIES, STIMULATE THE SOUL AND PREVENT ITS REST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 02-12-1979
COAL BOAGIES
IN PENNSYLVANIAN TOWNS, COAL MINING WAS THE PROMINENT EMPLOYMENT
MENT. MANY MEN DIED IN THE COAL MINES. THE CHILDREN OF
THESE PEOPLE WERE KEPT AWAY FROM THE MINES BY THREATS
OF THE "COAL BOAGIES" (GHOSTS OF MEN WHO DIED). IT WAS
SAID THAT IF ONE FOUND YOU, YOU WOULD BE DRAGGED IN THE
MINE AND NEVER SEEN AGAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 04-00-1979
IN NEW ORLEANS CERTAIN HOUSES WERE CONSIDERED HAUNTED. THE
OCCUPANTS OF THE HOUSES SAID THE SPIRITS CAME OUT AT NIGHT. SOME
OF THE PEOPLE SWORE THEIR CHILDREN WOULD WAKE UP WITH MARKS ON
THEM THAT WERE NOT ON THEM THE DAY BEFORE. THE PEOPLE CLAIMED
THEY COULD FEEL THE PRESENCE OF SPIRITS IN THEIR HOMES. THEY
SAID TO GET RID OF THE GHOSTS, YOU HAD TO USE PROFANITY AND THE
GHOSTS WOULD LEAVE FOR AWHILE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A TRUE STORY. THE PREVIOUS OWNERS OF THE HOUSE WERE A
MAN, HIS WIFE AND HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW. BOTH MEN DIED IN THE HOUSE
AND WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THE GHOSTS IN THE HOUSE. MY GRANDMOTHER
LIVED ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS HAUNTED HOUSE. ONE DAY SHE SAW
ONE MAN COME OUT THE SIDE DOOR. AS HE WALKED TOWARD THE FRONT OF
THE HOUSE SHE NO LONGER SAW HIM BUT SAW A BLACK CAT INSTEAD. MY
GRANDMOTHER SWEARS THAT THIS REALLY HAPPENED.
SWEARING
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
THERE WAS A BELIEF IN NEW ORLEANS THAT YEARS AGO, JEAN LA FITTE,
A PIRATE, HAD CHESTS OF MONEY BURIED IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY
AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. USUALLY PEOPLE GOT KNOWLEDGE THAT THE CHEST
WAS ON THEIR PROPERTY IN A DREAM. THESE PEOPLE WOULD THEN HIRE
DIGGERS TO COME AND SEARCH FOR THE TREASURE ON THEIR PROPERTY.
THESE DIGGERS WOULD DISCUSS THEIR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GHOSTS
OF MEN WHO WERE KILLED AND THEIR BODIES BURIED WITH THE TREASURE
TO PROTECT IT. ON OCCASIONS, THEY WOULD TALK WITH THE GHOST AND
CALL THEM BY NAME. THEY SWORE THAT THE GHOSTS TALKED WITH THEM.
THE OBJECT OF THE DIGGERS WAS TO GET THE GHOST TO RELEASE THE
TREASURE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
DON'T LOOK IN THE MIRROR AFTER TWELVE O' CLOCK AT NIGHT. IF
YOU DO A GHOST WILL APPEAR IN THE MIRROR.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A SAYING OF MY GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 02-17-1979 ; 00-00-1949
GHOST IN GUAJATACA
IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE GHOST OF A WOMAN KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT
STILL ROAMS ASKING FOR RIDES AND DISAPPEARING AFTERWARDS. SHE IS
DRESSED IN WHITE. SEVERAL PEOPLE CLAIM TO HAVE SEEN HER.
Submitter comment:
SIMILAR TALES LIKE THIS ONE HAVE BEEN TOLD IN DIFFERENT TOWNS OF THE
ISLAND.
Where learned: PUERTO RICO ; GUAJATACA
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
IRISH GHOST BELIEF
WE HEARD A BANSHEE CRYING ONE NIGHT AND GRANDFATHER O'BRIEN TOLD US
THIS MEANT SOMEONE IN TOWN WAS GOING TO DIE. THE BANSHEE WENT MMOOO
MMOOO ALL NIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE OF THE PERSON THAT WAS GOING TO
DIE. A BANSHEE IS A KIND OF A LITTLE FAIRIE. PEGGY SWEARS SHE SAW
ONE IN THE GRAVEYARD ONE NIGHT. IT WAS ALL WHITE.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER LIVED IN BUNCLODY, COUNTY WEXFORD, IRELAND. SHE WAS FIVE
YEARS OLD IN 1932 WHEN SHE HEARD THE CRY OF THE BANSHEE.
PEGGY IS MY AUNT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Observation Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1932 ; 11-22-1979
FOLK TALE
IN OUR LADY QUEEN OF APOSTLES CHURCH IN HAMTRAMCK, MICHIGAN, THERE
IS A BELIEF THAT THE
CHURCH WAS ONCE INHABITED BY GHOSTS OF THE FORMER
PASTOR WHO BUILT THE HUGE CHURCH. IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE
WHO CAME TO WORSHIP THERE AND ALSO TO KEEP THE CHURCH
FREE FROM THE DESTRUCTIVE INFECTION OF SIN, THE NEW PASTOR PUT
UP GARGOYLES AROUND THE MAIN ALTAR.
THIS WAS SAID TO BE THE ONLY THING
THAT COULD DRIVE OUT THE MEMORY
OF THE PREVIOUS EVIL PASTOR AND THE BAD
FORCES THAT WERE KNOWN TO ENTER THE BUILDING
WHERE HE LIVED. IT WAS SAID
THAT THE HOUSE OF SATAN COULD ONCE AGAIN BECOME THE HOUSE OF GOD
HIMSELF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
FOLK TALE
MY GREAT AUNT BELIEVED AND TOLD THE STORY THAT IF YOU DID NOT TAKE
PICTURES OF THE DEAD CORPSE OF YOUR RELATIVES THEY WOULD COME BACK T
HAUNT YOU.
Submitter comment:
SHE TOLD THIS BECAUSE NOBODY EVER WANTED TO TAKE THE PICTRUES OF HER
THREE DEAD SISTERS DURING THEIR FUNERALS.
Where learned: HAMTRAMCK
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
AX MURDER HOLLOW, PENNSYLVANIA
THERE IS AN AREA IN PENNSYLVANIA KNOWN AS AX MURDER HOLLOW. THERE
WAS A MASS MURDER WHICH TOOK PLACE IN THE AREA AND ALL THE DEATHS
WERE THE RESULT OF AN AX. PEOPLE GO THERE NOW ON HALLOWEEN EXPECTIN
TO SEE THE MURDERER REAPPEAR.
James Callow comment: MURDERER NOT CALLED A GHOST, ONLY IMPLIED.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): VIOLENT DEATHS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 11-15-1968
HAUNTED STREET
THERE IS A STREET IN DETROIT WHERE A LITTLE GIRL WAS KILLED AS SHE
CROSSED THE STREET. IN THE ACCIDENT, HER ARM WAS TORN OFF. IT IS
SAID THAT IF YOU GO ON THIS STREET AND PARK THE CAR AFTER 9:00 P.M.
THE HAND OF THE GIRL WILL KNOCK ON THE BACK BUMPER OF YOUR CAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 03-20-1968