Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P881 returned 459 results.
My grandmother always made us eat herring at midnight on
New Year's Eve to bring us luck for the year.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Good luck |
My grandmother always made us eat herring at midnight on
New Year's Eve to bring us luck for the year.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Date learned: 00001972 and after
A friend of the family's made us eat black-eyed peas on
New Year's Day to bring good luck for the year.
Where learned: FLORIDA ; Casselberry
Date learned: 01-01-1984
When you see the first few robins in
the spring you lick your thumb on your right hand,
put it on the palm of your left hand for a second,
and then stamp your palm where your thumb was with
your left fist. This is supposed to bring you
good luck for the rest of the year.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Allegan
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Good luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970S
On Christmas Eve day, it is good luck if the
first person to enter your house is a man and
bad luck if it is a woman.
Where learned: KANSAS ; Manhattan
James Callow Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING ; SEXISM
Date learned: 00001920S
At Easter my great grandmother would make
large cookies in the form of boys and girls
with a hard-boiled egg on the stomach. These
were called "figololi" and were supposed to
bring you good luck if you ate them. My
great grandmother was born in Malta and moved
to Detroit.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00001920S
Good Luck (Italian)
Throw salt over left shoulder for good luck. The
paternal grandfather does this on the day of a wedding
or birth.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00001972CA
Good and Bad Luck
If you find a penny with tails side up, don't pick it
up because it's bad luck. It is only lucky if it is
heads side up.
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001972CA
On the day of an outside party, hang a rosary on
a tree. This will be a token of good luck so that
it doesn't rain. My friend's mother did on the
day of her daughter's graduation party--it did not rain.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 11-16-1990
IF A BIRD FLIES INSIDE YOUR HOUSE, THAT MEANS YOU WILL HAVE
GOOD LUCK. THE BIRD REPRESENTS SOMEBODY'S SOUL, SO IT IS
AS IF SOMEBODY'S SOUL CAME TO BESTOW GOOD TIDINGS UPON
YOUR HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WEST BLOOMFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 09-12-1990
STATUES AND FIGURINES OF ELEPHANTS WITH THEIR TRUNKS UP
IN THE AIR ARE A GOOD LUCK CHARM. ELEPHANTS WITH THEIR TRUNKS
DOWN ARE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001976CA
IF A BAYBERRY CANDLE IS BURNED ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, THE
HOUSEHOLD WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK FOR THE YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Good luck |
IF YOU WALK INTO A SPIDER'S WEB IT WILL BRING YOU GOOD
LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1935
Island Folklore
On the Island Key of Islamorada, Florida buying a handcarved
wooden tiki mask and having it blessed by one of the island's
priests with holy water is said to bring luck for seven years,
then unfortunately trouble for seven years. Most people do not
bless their tiki masks.
Submitter comment:
As Mr. Woodenson was telling me this story he was in a serious
state of mind as if he was telling me to be very careful and
he left it at that.
Where learned: Key Islamorada
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Good luck |
Shaping a crystal from Vantana Canyon into the shape of a
triangle and wearing it around the neck will bring good
health and luck.
Submitter comment:
When I was in Arizona, this neck piece was one of the
hottest items to wear and people felt good wearing it.
Where learned: Arizona ; Tucson
Keyword(s): Jewelry, fad.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1949
Good Luck
Standing on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean just before
sunrise can put you in a great state of mind and can bring
you a world of good luck. If you then take a quarter out
of your pocket
and throw it out into the ocean as far as you can it will
bring you 25 days of good luck. This all must be done before
the sun rises.
Where learned: FLORIDA ; FORT LAUDERDALE
Keyword(s): Buying luck
James Callow Keyword(s): East ; POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: 00-00-1991
Find a penny and pick it up and all day long you'll have
bad luck. Throw a penny on the ground and all day long you'll
have good luck.
Submitter comment:
An Italian friend of mine told me this belief during my Senior
year of high school. I laughed.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Chance, toss
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1987
A Chaldean recipe for good luck at the beginning of the new
year is called Homuth Hillue. This is a sauce made of dried
prunes and apricots with raisins, slices of almond and meat.
It is very sweet and colorful. The sauce is poured over rice
and chicken and when eaten luck will follow throughout the
new year.
Submitter comment:
This dish is only made once a year to signify the beginning
the new year and to bring luck to all who eat from it.
Keyword(s): Dish, Meal.
Date learned: 00-00-1984
Washing your clothes after the sun sets will bring good luck
the next day. Washing your clothes during the day will bring
bad luck on the following day, but only if those same clothes
are worn.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Dusk, Night
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Measure of time Working BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1984
Asking for money from a stranger and getting it can prove
to be rewarding for the man or woman who has given the
money out. For the reason being that "Good Luck" will
follow him or her for the rest of the day.
Submitter comment:
My father seemed very optimistic when he was telling me
this story.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Farmington Hills
Keyword(s): money, green
James Callow Keyword(s): donor
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1983