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 P882 returned 579 results.
HAIR BELIEF
IN MEXICO ITS A CUSTOM FOR CHILDREN NOT TO GET THEIR HAIRCUT FOR THE
FIRST YEAR OF THEIR LIFE OR THEY'LL GO BLIND.
Submitter comment:
A BELIEF OF SABINAS MEXICO AND THE INFORMANT PRACTICED IT ON HER CHIL
DREN (THE COLLECTOR INCLUDED). THE INFORMANT DOES'NT BELLIEVE THE
CHILDREN WILL GO BLIND BUT PRACTICES IT BECAUSE IT'S TRADITION.
CHILDREN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 11-00-1981
BAD LUCK BIRTH
CHILDREN BORN DURING AN ECLIPSE WILL BE DEFORMED
Submitter comment:
A BELIEF OF SABINAS, HIDALGO MEXICO; BUT THE INFORMANT, WHO WAS RAI
SED THERE, EXPRESSED LITTLE FAITH IN IT.
RAISED
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Sun BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 11-00-1981
FOOD BELIEF
MILK IS NOT TO BE DRANK WITH A MEAL HAVING AVOCADO: YOU'LL HAVE BAD
LUCK.
Submitter comment: COLLECTOR WAS TOLD THIS IN SABINAS MEXICO IN MID 1970'S.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit Food Drink -- Drink from animal product Milk BELIEF -- Bad luck |
SUPERSTITOUS BELIEF
IT IS CONSIDERED BAD LUCK TO PASS SOMEONE ON THE STAIRS. YOU HAVE
TO WAIT UNTIL THE OTHER PERSON IS UP OR DOWN THE STAIRS BEFORE YOU
CAN USE THEM.
Submitter comment:
LAURA LEARNED THIS FROM HER GRANDMOTHER, AGNUS SYLVAIN, WHO IS 83
YEARS OLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
CREOLE BELIEF
BROKEN MIRROR IS SEVEN YEARS OF BAD LUCK
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; BREAUX BRIDGE ; LOS ANGELES
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1930
CREOLE BELIEF
DO NOT WALK OVER A BROOM, BECAUSE IT IS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; BREAUX BRIDGE ; LOS ANGELES
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1930
CREOLE BELIEF
DON'T SWEEP DIRT OUTSIDE AFTER DARK BECAUSE IT'S BAD LUCK.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; BREAUX BRIDGE ; LOS ANGELES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Measure of time Working BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1930
CREOLE BELIEF
DO NOT PUT A MAN'S HAT ON THE BED OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; BREAUX BRIDGE ; LOS ANGELES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1931
IF A SOLDIER ENTERS YOUR HOME, YOU MUST BE HOSPITABLE
AND GRANT EVERY WISH THEY DESIRE IN ORDER TO RETAIN GOOD LUCK
IN THE HOME. THIS BROUGHT GOOD LUCK IF DONE CORRECTLY.
IF NOT FOLLOWED THROUGH, MISFORTUNE MAY OCCUR TO MALE MEMBERS
OF THE FAMILY.
Submitter comment:
THIS BELIEF WAS HELD BY INFORMANT'S GRANDMOTHER
DURING 1940-1941 WHEN ENGLAND WAS IN WWII ALONE WITHOUT
THE AID OF THE UNITED STATES.
Where learned: COLLECTED BY MAIL ; COOKHAM RISE ; BERKSHIRE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- B439 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 BELIEF -- Legend BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
WHEN AN UNFAMILIAR GUEST ENTERS YOUR HOME, YOU
MUST HAVE FRESH FLOWERS IN THE HOUSE. THIS CUSTOM
ENSURED A HAPPY VISIT FOR BOTH PARTIES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: CANADA ; COLLECTED BY MAIL ; MONTREAL
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; FLOWERS ; Guest ; HOSPITALITY ; SUPERSTITION ; tradition
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
BAD LUCK
BREAKING A MIRROR IS SEVEN YEARS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: OHIO ; CONTINENTAL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001909-00001919 CHILDHOOD, 00001922-00001929, TEEN AGE YEARS
BAD LUCK
SPILLING SALT IS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: OHIO ; CONTINENTAL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001909-00001919 CHILDHOOD, 00001922-00001929, TEEN AGE YEARS
SERBIAN CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
THE SERBIAN COMMUNITY OF DUQUESNE, PENNSYLVANIA OBSERVED
THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS BY SPREADING
STRAW ON THE FLOOR, THE KITCHEN TABLE, AND THROUGHOUT THE
KITCHEN TO REPRESENT JESUS' MANGER. A BURNING CANDLE WAS
PLACED ON THE TABLE AND IT WAS CONSIDERED BAD LUCK FOR THE
ENTIRE YEAR IF THE CANDLE WENT OUT. MY MOTHER WITNESSED
THE PRACTICE IN DUQUESNE, PENNSYLVANIA AROUND 1947.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT'S MOTHER'S NAME IS MARY MORSILLO GINGERICH,
BORN OCTOBER 3, 1937, FARRELL, PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Date learned: 09-00-1982
IF YOU BREAK A GLASS, YOU WILL HAVE SEVEN YEARS OF BAD LUCK IF YOU
DON'T BURY THE BROKEN GLASS.
Submitter comment: WATCH FOR THE ACCIDENT ELEMENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 686.1 BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 09-19-1982
UKRAINIAN BELIEF
WHEN A BIRD HITS THE WINDOW, SOMETHING BAD IS
GOING TO HAPPEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 03-00-1983
WEST GERMAN DATING AND COURTSHIP CUSTOM.
IN PIRMENSENS, WHEN A GIRL DATES A BOY SHE NEVER
BRINGS HIM TO HER HOUSE NOR DOES SHE INTRODUCE HIM
TO ANY OF HER FAMILY MEMBERS. THE BOY AND GIRL MUST
MEET AT A RENDEVOUS AND GO OUT FROM THERE. IF THE
BOY MEETS ANY OF THE GIRL'S FAMILY BEFORE THEY ARE
ENGAGED, IT IS BELIEVED TO BRING BAD LUCK AND THE TWO
WILL NEVER MARRY.
Submitter comment:
LISE REALLY BELIEVES THIS. SHE IS MY MOTHER AND
DOES NOT ALLOW DATES TO COME TO OUR HOUSE UNLESS I
AM ENGAGED TO THE GUY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001970S
NO ONE SHOULD OUT DRESS OR LOOK MORE RADIANT THAN THE
BRIDE AT A WEDDING. THE BRIDE SHOULD BE THE ONLY PERSON
WHO SHOULD LOOK REALLY GOOD. IF SOMEONE OUT DOES THE
BRIDE THEN THEY WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 03-00-1983
NEVER SIT WITH YOUR BACK TOWARDS A DOOR, THIS WILL
DEFINITELY BRING YOU BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 03-00-1983
ON EPIPHANY IN THE MORNING, WE'D GO TO MASS AND BRING
FRANKINCENSE AND MYRHH AND A BIT OF GOLD TO BE BLESSED.
WHEN WE GOT HOME, THE FRANKINCENSE WOULD BE PUT ON HOT COALS
AND WE'D WALK WITH IT THEN ALL OVER THE HOUSE, INTO EVERY
ROOM WITH IT, I GUESS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DRIVE OUT EVIL SPIRITS
OR CLEAN THE AIR FOR GOOD ONES OR SOMETHING, I DON'T REALLY
KNOW... ANYWAY, AFTER WE FINISHED GOING THROUGH THE HOUSE,
OVER EACH DOORWAY IN THE HOUSE, WE'D WRITE IN CHALK
A " K " THEN A CROSS, THEN A " M ", THEN ANOTHER CROSS, AND
A " B " . THE THREE LETTERS WERE THE INITIALS OF THE NAMES OF
THE THREE WISE MEN WHO CAME TO SEE THE BABY JESUS. YOU HAD TO
LEAVE THE CHALK UP ALL YEAR LONG; IF YOU WASHED THE WALLS,
YOU WASH AROUND THE CHALK. IT WAS BAD LUCK IF YOU WIPED IT OFF
BEFORE THE NEXT YEAR'S EPIPHANY.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS AN OLD POLISH-CATHOLIC CUSTOM. MRS. MASTERS GREW UP
IN ST. HEDWIG'S PARISH, WHERE MANY OLD WORLD TRADITIONS LIVED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 11-00-1983
PREDICTION DIVINATION BELIEF
IF YOUR LEFT HAND ITCH YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; HAYNESVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 01-00-0198
