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 P438 returned 634 results.
BIRTH BELIEFS
BABIES ARE BORN BY THE UNBUTTONING OF THE NAVEL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 02-00-1977
BIRTH BELIEFS
BABIES ARE BORN BY THE OPENING OF THE MOTHER'S BREASTS, DEPENDING ON
WHICH BREAST IS OPEN IS WHAT DECIDES IF IT IS A BOY OR GIRL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 02-00-1977
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
BELIEF
YOU'LL GET A PIMPLE ON YOUR TONGUE IF YOU LIE. MY MOTHER USED TO TELL
ME THIS, AND I BELIEVED HER.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A UKRANIAN BELIEF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
GOOD LUCK CHARM
I WEAR A SMALL, GOLDEN HAND ON A CHAIN AROUND MY NECK, WITH A PIECE
OF TURQUOISE ON IT. IT WILL KEEP ME FROM EVIL. THIS HAND WAS GIVEN
TO ME BY MY GRANDMOTHER WHEN I WAS BORN--I HAVE IT ALWAYS WITH ME.
IT HAS MUCH POWER BECAUSE IT WAS MADE IN PALESTINE, ABOUT 1916.
Submitter comment:
THE HAND IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT THE HAND OF FATIMA, DAUGHTER OF THE
PROPHET MOHAMMED. IF THERE IS A TINY STONE SET INTO THE HAND, IT
REPRESENTS AN EYE--IT WILL THROW THE CURSE BACK DOUBLY ON ITS
ORIGINATOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
STEPPING ON THE HEEL OF SOMEONES FOOT--BAD LUCK. THIS CAN
BE CONVERTED BY KNOCKING THREE TIMES ON THEIR BACK.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT OFFERS NO EXPLAMATION FOR THE BELIEF BEYOND THE FACT
THAT STEPPING ON OTHER'S HEEL CAN CAUSE THE PERSON TO TRIP AND
FALL. THE INFORMANT SEES THE CONVERSION ACT AS PURE
NONSENSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; LOUNGE
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Conversions |
SUPERSTITION
TO STUMP YOUR FOOT IS TO PRODUCE BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT REMEMBERS FIRST HEARING THIS BELIEF FROM A
FRIEND WHO SAID THAT MAN'S FEET IS HIS FOUNDATION, AND TO
STUMP YOUR LEFT TOE IS TO STUMP OR SHAKE YOUR VERY
FOUNDATION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; LUNCHROOM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Bad luck |
SUPERSTITION
IF YOUR LEFT FOOT ITCHES YOU'LL SOON WALK ON GRAVEYARD DUST. IF YOUR
RIGHT FOOT ITCHES YOU'LL SOON WALK IN A STRANGE LAND.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT STATES THAT THIS BELIEF WAS WIDESPREAD IN
YAZOO CITY, MISSISSIPPI WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD, ABOUT 40 YEARS
AGO.
Where learned: DETROIT ; DEPARTMENT STORE
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1939
SUPERSTITION
CUTTING NAILS ON SUNDAY RESULTS IN BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT VIEWS CUTTING THE NAILS AS A WAY TO WARD OFF SPIRITS,
PRIMARILY EVIL SPIRITS. CUTTING THE NAILS ON SUNDAY, THE DAY
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, IS TO WARD OFF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; LUNCHROOM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-14-1979
SUPERSTITION
CROSSED FINGERS ON EACH HAND RESULTS IN BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT REASONS THAT SINCE CROSSING TWO FINGERS ON ONE
HAND RESULTS IN GOOD LUCK, DOING THIS WITH ANOTHER HAND MUST
RESULT IN BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM
James Callow Keyword(s): OPPOSITES CONTRAIETY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 02-12-1979
SUPERSTITION
CUT HAIR DURING A FULL MOON AND HAIR WONT GROW.
Submitter comment:
THIS BELIEF WAS EXPLAINED THROUGH THE WAXING AND WANING OF THE
MOON. GROWTH IS THOUGHT TO OCCUR ONLY DURING THE WANING PERIOD
WHEN THE MOON IS PALE, AND NOT DURING THE WAXING PERIOD WHEN THE
MOON IS FULL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; DEPARTMENT STORE
James Callow Keyword(s): NOT HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Moon |
Date learned: 02-20-1979
SUPERSTITION
PIMPLES ON THE FACE MEANS YOU HAVE COMMITTED AN IMMORAL ACT.
Submitter comment:
PIMPLES WERE VIEWED AS THE ESCAPE OF IMPURITIES FROM THE BODY
IMPURITIES APPEAR IN THE BODY DURING ACTS WHICH ARE NOT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE ESTABLISHED PRECEPTS OF GOOD BEHAVIOR,
SPECIFICALLY IMMORAL SEX ACTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 02-12-1979
BUTTER TEST
TO FIND OUT IF YOU LIKE BUTTER YOU RUB A DANDILION UNDER
YOUR CHIN, IF YOUR SKIN TURNS YELLOW THEN YOU LIKE BUTTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HUNTINGTON WOODS
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Animal product Butter BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00001960S
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU EAT ALL THE CRUST ON YOUR BREAD, YOU WILL HAVE CURLY HAIR
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Cereal BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 00001960S
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU HIT YOUR MOTHER OR FATHER YOUR HAND WILL DRY UP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HUNTINGTON WOODS
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 02-11-1979
MULTIPLYING TECHNIQUE
THERE IS A WAY OF MULTIPLYING BY NINES ON YOUR HANDS.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HOLD UP YOUR TEN FINGERS AND PICK THE NUMBER
THAT YOU WANT TO MULTIPLY NINE BY AND THEN YOU PUSH DOWN THAT FINGER.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU WANT TO MULTIPLY NINE BY THREE YOU WOULD PUT
DOWN YOUR THIRD FINGER.
ON ONE SIDE OF THIS THIRD FINGER YOU WOULD HAVE TWO FINGERS HELD
UP, ON THE OTHER SIDE YOU WOULD HAVE SEVEN FINGERS HELD UP,
THEREFORE YOUR ANSWER WOULD BE TWENTY-SEVEN.
Data entry tech comment:
Uodated by TRD on 10.11.13
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HUNTINGTON WOODS
Keyword(s): Arithmetic, Mathematics, Multiplication, Trick, Memory, Aid, Learning, Tool, Fingers,
James Callow Keyword(s): MULTIPLICATION ON FINGERS
| Subject headings: | 686 686.1.9 Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Number P686.3.9 SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 02-22-1979
IF YOU CUT YOUR HAIR DURING A FULL MOON, IT WILL GROW LONGER.
Submitter comment: MY GRANDMOTHER BELIEVED THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Star |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
IF YOU CUT YOUR HAIR ON GOOD FRIDAY, IT WILL GROW.
Submitter comment: MY GRANDMOTHER BELIEVED THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | 663 Good Friday BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
AFTER A SNEEZE, IF YOU CAN CATCH A HAIR ON YOUR CHEST AND TIE IT
IN A KNOT BEFORE IT GOES BACK IN, YOU WILL HAVE A HAIRY CHEST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 04-10-1979
IF YOUR NOSE ITCHES, YOU'RE GOING TO KISS A FOOL.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT DORMS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 00-00-1979