Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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HEART TROUBLE
THERE IS A CUSTOM IN THE OLD COUNTRY: YOU GET AN ORANGE AND PUT PINS
IN IT, REAL CLOSE TOGETHER. WHILE YOU DO THIS SAY,
"AS I PUT THESE PINS IN THIS ORANGE MAY SOME PERSON'S HEART SHRIVEL
UP AS THIS ORANGE WILL DO". WHEN THE ORANGE ROTS THE PERSON WILL DIE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD STORIES OF THIS HAPPENING IN ITALY (CALABRIA),
BUT NEVER SAW IT DONE PERSONALLY. INFORMANT UNSURE IF THIS IS
POSSIBLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 01-21-1972
HICCUPS
MY FATHER TOLD ME THE CAUSE OF HICCUPS ACCORDING TO HEARSAY. GREASY
FOOD CAUSES AIR TO BE TAKEN IN THROUGH THE NAVEL
WHICH CAUSES THE RUSH OF AIR UPWARD
WHICH CAUSES THE GASP OR HICCUP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-30-1968
LIGHTNING
IF YOU LIGHT CHARCOAL BEFORE A STORM
YOU WILL NEVER GET HIT BY LIGHTING.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): PREVENTION ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001950'S
LONGEVITY
ROCKERFELLER WENT TO A NATUREOPIDIST TO FIND OUT HOW TO LIVE LONGER -
TOLD HIM TO DRINK "MOTHER'S MILK". SO HE WENT TO ALL THE HOSPITALS
AND PAID $10.00 A QUART.
Where learned: DETROIT ; LAMAR BARBER COLLEGE ; WOODWARD AVE
Keyword(s): ROCKEFELLER
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-16-1965
PIMPLES
IF YOU GO TO THE BATHROOM WITH FOOD IN YOUR MOUTH
YOU WILL GET PIMPLES ON YOUR TONGUE.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY HIS PARENTS
WHEN HE WAS NINE YEARS OLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; COLLECTORS HOME ; HARPER WOODS
Keyword(s): CAUSE ; FUNCTION ; URINATION, DEFECATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
PLANT CUREALLS
FOR CONTINUED WELL BEING ALWAYS EAT PLENTY OF LEAFY SALADS
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PREVENTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-13-1971
SWEATS, SWEATING
IF YOU SWEAT AT NIGHT, PAT VINEGAR ON THE SURFACE OF YOUR BODY
WITH THE PALM OF YOUR HAND
AND YOU WILL PREVENT NIGHT SWEATS.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PREVENTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-10-1971
WORMS
IF YOU EAT TOO MUCH SUGAR YOU WILL GET WORMS.
Keyword(s): CAUSE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
CHILD WORMS
TO PREVENT A BABY FROM GETTING WORMS, CHOP UP A PIECE OF GARLIC AND
RUB THE JUICE ON THE BABY'S BELLY BUTTON AND UNDER ITS NOSE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HER MOTHER WHEN INFORMANT WAS A YOUNG GIRL.
(1915-1920) MOTHER ACTUALLY DID THIS WITH HER CHILDREN.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): PREVENTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
WORMS
TO WARD OFF GETTING THE WORMS, YOU MAKE A NECKLACE OF GARLIC CLOVES
WHICH IS TO BE WORN FOR THREE DAYS.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER
WHO MADE MY MOTHER WEAR IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-25-1967
BELIEF
"GOD BLESS YOU," WHEN YOU SNEEZE- THE ENGLISH THOUGHT THAT WHEN
YOU SNEEZED, THE SOUL LEFT THE BODY, AND BY SAYING,"GOD BLESS YOU",
YOU MAY STOP THE DEVIL FROM GAINING POSSESSION OF THE SOUL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-05-1968
New Year's Custom
POLISH--DURING THE EARLY HOURS OF NEW YEAR THE GIRLS AND BOYS GO TO
DIFFERENT HOMES WAKING PEOPLE BY THROWING OATS AND WHEAT AND
SAYING:
NA SZCZESCIE--FOR GOOD LUCK
NA ZDROWIE--FOR GOOD HEALTH
NA NOWY ROK--FOR NEW YEAR
Submitter comment:
LEARNED IN POLAND.
Where learned: STORE
Date learned: 11-10-1967
SUPERSTITION
DON'T EAT A LOT OF RAISINS AND THEN DRINK WATER. IF YOU DO THE
RAISINS WILL SWELL UP INSIDE YOU.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER. SHE DOESN'T REALLY BELIEVE
IT AND ISN'T SURE WHETHER HER MOTHER DID. SHE SUSPECTS THAT HER
MOTHER TOLD IT TO HER SO THAT SHE WOULDN'T EAT ALL OF THE RAISINS.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HEARD IT.
FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: CA00001929
NEVER CROSS SOMEONE'S LEGS OR BODIES WHILE THEY LIE BECAUSE THEY
WILL STOP GROWING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
BAD LUCK
DO NOT PUT SALT ON THE SCALP OR IT WILL GO BALD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 12-00-1977
MEANS OF CAUSING OR PREVENTING ILLNESS.
TO PREVENT SWELLING APPLY A KNIFE BLADE TO THE SPOT IN QUESTION.
Submitter comment:
THIS PRACTICE MAY EXIST BECAUSE A KNIFE WAS THE COLDEST,
HANDIEST IMPLEMENT IN THE HOUSE BEFORE REFRIGERATORS CAME ALONG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-27-1977
IF YOU WALK OVER A CHILD THAT IS ON THE FLOOR, THE CHILD WILL NOT
GROW ANY MORE UNLESS YOU WALK BACK OVER THE CHILD THE OTHER WAY
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
DO NOT PUT SHOES ON A TABLE OR YOU WILL HAVE SORE FEET.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-05-1977
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, CLIMB THE HIGHEST STEP OF THE STAIR CASE THAT YOU
CAN JUMP FROM AND JUMP DOWN TO THE FLOOR SO THAT YOU WILL GROW TALL.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A FILIPINO BELIEF.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-21-1977
NATIVE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES CHEW BETTLENUT, A MIXTURE OF SODA
ASH, A NUT FROM PALMS AND THEN WHICH IS WRAPPED IN LEAVES,
TO KEEP THEIR GUMS RED SO THEIR TEETH LOOK WHITE.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A FILIPINO PRACTICE.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-21-1977
