Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 686.1.3 returned 428 results.
To Remove A Mole
In the south people would use a strand of horse hair and
heavy oil to remove a hanging mole. Put a lot of heavy grease on
the mole and very tightly tie the horse hair on the mole. Keep
the hair tied on the mole for three days and the mole will fall
off.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 02-10-1992
My sister and I went to a youth rally when we were in high
school. At the rally we were taught that to grow psychologically
a person needs eight hugs a day plus many other facts that I now
cannot recall. When we came home our parents asked us at the
dinner table what we had learned; we told them about the eight hugs
needed to grow. My dad told us that he could do better than that,
so he has given us twelve hugs plus three for good luck. My
parents live up north and we often communicate by phone or by
letter; on the phone we count to twelve, then to three to give our
hugs to each other. In written communication, we write 12+3 to
give our hugs. This is a tradition that our whole family now
practices to give each other hugs and emotional support.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HOUGHTON LAKE
Keyword(s): Family folklore
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple 686 Eighths / Eight Favorites BELIEF -- Good luck SPEECH -- Gesture SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
IRISH CUSTOM
IN KERRY, WHEN YOU MEET A FUNERAL, YOU BLESS YOURSELF
THREE TIMES, THEN YOU TURN ROUND AND WALK THREE STEPS
WITH THE HEARSE. IN DOING THIS, YOU WALK DEATH OFF
YOUR PATH AND YOU ADD LIFE TO YOUR YEARS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; IRELAND
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-00-1970
AFTER RETURNING FROM A WAKE, TOUCH STOVE THREE TIMES
TO AVOID DREAMING OF THE DECEASED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 09-23-1969
POLISH WEDDING
AFTER THE GROOM HAS REMOVED THE GARTER FROM THE BRIDE'S
LEG, THE BRIDE STANDS UP AND TURNS HER BACK TO ALL OF
THE ELIGIBLE GIRLS WHO ARE ATTENDING THE RECEPTION.
AT THE COUNT OF THREE, SHE THROWS IT OVER THE BACK OF
HER HEAD AND THE GIRL WHO CATCHES IT, TRADITIONALLY,
IS THE NEXT TO BE MARRIED.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS PARENTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Bouquet toss |
POLISH WEDDING
AT POLISH WEDDINGS, JUST AFTER THE WEDDING CAKE IS CUT,
THE BRIDE IS SEATED ON A CHAIR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
DANCE FLOOR. THE GROOM THEN COMES UP TO HER,
REACHES UP HER DRESS AND TAKES HER GARTER BELT OFF.
THEN ALL OF THE ELIGIBLE BACHELORS LINE UP IN A
MOB IN BACK OF THE GROOM. THE GROOM COUNTS THREE
AND THROWS IT BACKWARDS OVER HIS HEAD. THE MAN WHO
CATCHES IT IS TRADITIONALLY THE NEXT TO BE MARRIED.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS PARENTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Garter toss |
Date learned: 00001964 SPRING
SLOVAK MARRIAGE CUSTOM
IN SLOVAKIAN VILLAGES, THE PEOPLE ARE FARMERS. SO, WHEN
A YOUNG MAN MARRIES, HE BRINGS HOME HIS BRIDE TO HELP.
WHERE THERE ARE NO YOUNG MEN IN THE FAMILY, THE BRIDE
BRINGS HOME THE HUSBAND.
IN THE CASE WHERE THE YOUNG MAN BRINGS HOME HIS BRIDE,
THE WHOLE WEDDING PARTY GOES TO HER HOME AND LOADS HER
BELONGINGS--CHEST, FEATHERBED, PILLOWS, LINENS AND
WHATEVER HER PARENTS CAN AFFORD TO GIVE HER. THEY ALSO
HAVE A GYPSY STRING ORCHESTRA PLAYING ALL THE WAY.
THE WEDDING CELEBRATION LASTS THREE DAYS. THERE IS NO
HONEYMOON.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00001967 FALL
THE AGE-OLD SAYING, "THRICE A BRIDESMAID, NEVER A
BRIDE," IS RELATED TO THE SUPERSTITIOUS IDEA OF
"NEVER TWO, WITHOUT THREE."
Submitter comment: FROM RELATIVES
Where learned: WORK
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 11-28-1967
GERMAN CUSTOM
A TRADITIONAL NEW YEAR'S EVE SUPPPER IN THIS GERMAN FAMILY
IS HERRINGS AND ROE. ANYONE WHO HAPPENS TO DROP IN ON
THAT EVENING HAS TO PARTAKE OF THESE DISHES OR THEY WILL
HAVE BAD LUCK FOR THE NEXT YEAR. THE PLATTER IS PASSED
AROUND AND WHILE THE OLDER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY TAKE
GENEROUS PORTIONS, THE YOUNGER ONES MERELY TAKE ENOUGH
TO PARTAKE IN THE TRADITION, WHICH IS SAID TO GUARANTEE
GOOD LUCK AND PARTICULARLY PROSPERITY FOR THE COMING YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
Date learned: 00-00-1967
CUSTOM AT ONE YEAR-BIRTHDAY
ON A BABY'S FIRST BIRTHDAY, HE IS PLACED BEFORE A TABLE
ON WHICH THREE OBJECTS HAVE BEEN SET: A ROSARY, MONEY
(USUALLY SILVER), AND A WHISKEY GLASS. IF THE BABY
REACHES FOR THE ROSARY FIRST, HE WILL BE SAINTLY, AND
POSSIBLY BECOME A PRIEST OR NUN. IF THE BABY REACHES
FOR THE MONEY FIRST, HE WILL BECOME A BUSINESSMAN, OR IN
SOME OTHER WAY, BE RICH. IF HE REACHES FOR THE WHISKEY
GLASS, HE WILL BE A DRUNK
Submitter comment:
I KNEW OF THIS YEARS AGO. MY MOTHER DID THIS TO MY
YOUNGER SISTER BACK IN 1940. THROUGH THE YEARS, I HAD
HEARD OTHER REFERENCES TO THE CUSTOM. MOST RECENTLY, I
WAS AT A MEETING OF A GROUP OF FRIENDS AND DURING THE
EVENING THE TALK GOT AROUND TO CUSTOMS OF POLISH PEOPLE.
ONE GIRL, LOTTIE PYTEL OF DETROIT (MICHIGAN) (CHOPIN
STREET) REVEALED THAT IN HER FAMILY THE CUSTOM IS
CARRIED ON, IN MUCH THE SAME MANNER AS I HAVE DESCRIBED
IT ABOVE.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 05-00-1965 ; 00-00-1940
NUMBERS
WHEN MY GRANDFATHER WANTED THE HIGHEST CARD IN A
CUT, HE WOULD KNOCK ON THE DECK OF CARDS THREE
TIMES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement C560.60 SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-23-1970
THE NUMBER 3 IS GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Good luck Numbers |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF WALKING IN A TRIO, ALL SHOULD WALK ON THE SAME
SIDE OF A TREE OR OTHER OBSTRUCTION, OR IT IS
BAD LUCK.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
Date learned: 00001920S
WHENEVER A BASEBALL PLAYER GOES ON OR OFF THE FIELD, HE
MAKES SURE HE TOUCHES EITHER THE 1ST OR 3RD BASE
FOUL LINE. IF HIS CLUB'S DUGOUT IS ON THE RIGHT
SIDE OF THE FIELD, HE TOUCHES THE 1ST BASE FOUL LINE,
IF THE DUGOUT IS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FIELD,
HE TOUCHES THE 3RD BASE FOUL LINE. IT IS VERY BAD
LUCK FOR HIM TO RUN OVER THAT CHALK LINE WITHOUT
TOUCHING IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 11-07-1969
BAD LUCK COMES IN THREES.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; NIAGARA
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: 00001950S
I WON'T LIGHT THREE CIGARETTES WITH THE SAME MATCH,
BECAUSE IT'S UNLUCKY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: 02-09-1972
THREE ON A MATCH IS BAD LUCK.
ORIGIN: IN WORLD WAR II, GUYS IN THE FRONT LINES,
WHEN LIGHTING A CIGARETTE, COULD BE SEEN BY THE
ENEMY LINES. THE FIRST GUY USED THE MATCH, THEN
THE SECOND AND BY THE THIRD GUY, THE ENEMY HAD
HAD ENOUGH TIME TO ZERO IN ON THEIR POSITION AND
"BLAM" THEY GOT THEIR HEADS BLOWN OFF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: 01-00-1972
TO LIGHT THREE CIGARETTES WITH ONE MATCH IS A SIGN
OF BAD LUCK FOR THE ONE HOLDING THE MATCH.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER SAID THIS BELIEF ORIGINATED IN WORLD WAR I
WHEN SOLDIERS LIT CIGARETTES IN THE TRENCHES. IT
SHOWED THE ENEMY THEIR POSITION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: 02-25-1972
IT IS BAD LUCK TO LIGHT CIGARETTES OF THREE PEOPLE
ON ONE MATCH.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT STATED THAT THIS EVOLVED OUT OF WORLD WAR II
WHEN GERMANS WOULD WATCH A LIGHTED MATCH GO FROM THE
FIRST, TO THE SECOND, AND TO THE THIRD AND THEN
SHOOT THAT PERSON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: 02-02-1972
IT IS BAD LUCK TO HAVE YOUR CIGARETTE BE THE THIRD
ONE LIGHTED WITH A SINGLE MATCH.
Submitter comment:
HE DOESN'T REMEMBER WHERE HE HEARD IT, PROBABLY
FROM A BOYFRIEND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: 10-20-1967