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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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WHENEVER YOU HAVE AN APPLE WITH A STEM, YOU TAKE THE STEM
AND BEGIN TO TWIST IT. EACH TIME YOU TWIST THE STEM
YOU SAY A LETTER OF THE ALPHABET--THE LETTER THAT THE STEM
TWISTS OFF ON WILL BE THE FIRST LETTER OF THE LAST NAME
OF THE MAN YOU WILL MARRY.

Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Word Letter
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 06-27-1972

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TWIST THE STEM OF AN APPLE, AND WITH EACH TWIST, SAY A
LETTER OF THE ALPHABET. THE LETTER THAT YOU ARE SAYING
WHEN THE STEM BREAKS IS THE INITIAL OF THE LAST NAME
OF THE MAN YOU WILL MARRY.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Word Letter
BELIEF -- Use of Object
SPEECH -- FamilyGroup

Date learned: 05-04-1969

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IF YOU CAN BITE INTO A LEMON WITHOUT GRIMACING, YOUR
SWEETHEART LOVES YOU.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Use of Object

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WILD MUSTARD--WHEN YOU WANTED TO BUY A FARM IN WILSON COUNTY,
TENNESSEE, YOU WENT AND LOOKED IN THE SPRING FOR WILD
MUSTARD, IF IT WAS BLOOMING (A BRIGHT YELLOW FLOWER) YOU
KNEW THAT ROCK WAS JUST UNDER THE PLANT, AND THAT THE LAND
WAS UNDER WATER DURING THE WET TIMES OF THE YEAR. THIS
CUSTOM WAS HELD TO BE TRUE FOR A FIFTY MILES RADIUS AROUND
WILSON COUNTY.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD TO ME BY ROBERT MARTIN, OF LEBANON (TENNESSEE)

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; LEBANON

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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BEFORE YOU GO TO BED, PEEL AN APPLE ALL IN ONE PIECE, THROW
THE PEELING OVER LEFT SHOULDER, AND IT WILL FALL IN THE
FIRST LETTER OF THE BOY YOU ARE GOING TO MARRY. LEARNED
WHILE GROWING UP IN WALES, BUT IT IS NOT REALLY BELIEVED
ANY MORE.

Submitter comment: HALLOWEEN CUSTOM.

Where learned: WALES

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTIION

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping
BELIEF -- Word Letter
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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A FORKED PEACH TREE SWITCH WILL LOCATE UNDERGROUND WATER.
IN YOUR HAND, HOLD THE FORKED PEACH TREE ABOVE THE GROUND.
WHEN IT BEGINS TO TURN DOWN, YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO STOP
IT. WHEN YOU LEAVE THE SPOT WHERE THE WATER IS LOCATED, THE
SWITCH RETURNS TO THE HORIZONTAL POSITION.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): TWIG BRANCH LIMB

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Water
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 07-00-1968

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RUBBING A BLACK CAT'S BACK AT NIGHT CAUSING SPARKS, SHOWS
THAT THERE IS ELECTRICITY IN THE AIR AND AN ELECTRICAL
STORM IS SOON COMING.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; LAFAYETTE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 02-13-1972

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COUNTRY FARMERS SOMETIMES USE DIVINING RODS TO LOCATE
UNDERGROUND WATER, SO THEY'LL KNOW WHERE TO DIG A WELL.
THEY TAKE A TWIG, PREFERABLY FROM A CHERRY TREE, HOLD IT
OUT IN FRONT OF THEM, AND START WALKING WITH IT. IT'S
SUPPOSED TO POINT DOWNWARD WHEN THE FARMER REACHES THE
WATER. THEN HE PUTS THE STICK IN HIS MOUTH AND HOLDS IT
OVER THE PLACE WHERE THE WATER IS SUPPOSED TO BE. IT
WILL POINT IN THE DIRECTION THAT THE WATER IS FLOWING.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 02-13-1972

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IF SOMEONE PUTS A BUTTERCUP UNDER YOUR CHIN, AND YOUR CHIN
TURNS YELLOW (FROM POLLEN), YOU HAVE A SWEET TOOTH.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Color
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 04-12-1972

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THERE IS A CANNON ON THE AUBURN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS IN ALABAMA
THAT WILL SUPPOSEDLY FIRE ITSELF IF A VIRGIN WALKS BY.

Where learned: GEORGIA ; ATHENS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 07-22-1968

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CHICKEN WISHBONE--IF END UP WITH THE BIGGEST PIECE OF WISHBONE,
THEN WISH WILL COME TRUE.
THEN WISH WILL COME TRUE

Data entry tech comment: INITIALS "DBG" ARE LISTED UNDER INFORMANT'S NAME.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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ON A BIRTHDAY CAKE, PUTTING YOUR RING ON OR AROUND THE CANDLE,
THEN MAKE A WISH--IF THE CANDLES ARE BLOWN OUT, THEN THE
WISH WILL COME TRUE.

Data entry tech comment: INITIALS "DBG" APPEAR UNDERNEATH INFORMANT'S NAME.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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WHEN YOU GET MARRIED, PUT A PENNY IN HE POT EVERYTIME YOU
MAKE LOVE THE FIRST YEAR. AFTER THAT YEAR, TAKE A PENNY
OUT OF THE POT EVERYTIME YOU MAKE LOVE. YOU NEVER GET
ALL THE PENNIES OUT.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): PIGGY BANK SAVINGS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 08-10-1968

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IF YOU HOLD A BUTTERCUP UNDER YOUR CHIN AND THERE IS A
REFLECTION OF YELLOW LIGHT ON YOUR CHIN, THEN YOU LIKE BUTTER.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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TAKE A FORKED PEACH TREE LIMB. HOLD IN BY THE FORKS AND
WALK ALONG THE GROUND. WHEN THE STICK GIVES A LUNGE
TOWARD THE GROUND, THAT MEANS THAT WATER LIES UNDERGROUND.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 06-18-1972

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COUNT THE TIMES A CRICKET CROAKS IN A MINUTE AND THAT WILL
TELL THE TEMPERATURE.
I HEARD THIS FROM A GIRL FROM TRENTON, TENNESSEE, WHO SAID
SHE HAD DONE THIS AND "IT WORKS."

Where learned: TRENTON ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Number
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IF YOU HAVE A WISHBONE, BREAK IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE AND THE
PERSON WITH THE SHORTER END GETS A WISH, WHILE THE ONE WITH
THE OTHER END GETS MARRIED FIRST.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): CHICKEN FO ; EATING DINING DINNER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 06-20-1970

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WHEN SPEAKING OF GOOD LUCK OR FORTUNE, KNOCK ON WOOD TO
KEEP THE GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Use of Object
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 06-26-1970

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WELL WITCHING

WHEN I WANTED MY WELL DUG, I KNEW JUST EXACTLY WHERE TO PUT
IT. I HAD WITCHED FOR IT WITH A FORKED PEACH TREE LIMB.
ALL YOU DO IS HOLD IT STEADY RIGHT OUT IN FRONT OF YOU AND
WALK ABOUT. WHEN IT BENDS, THAT IS WHERE WATER IS, AND
SURE ENOUGH IT WAS THERE. I'VE GOT A GOOD WELL FULL OF
GOOD CLEAR WATER AND I FOUND IT BY WITCHING FOR IT.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CANEY SPRINGS

Keyword(s): WATER WITCHING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Still water Man made container.
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 02-23-1969

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IT IS A SUPERSTITION THAT GOATS WOULD WAKE UP PEOPLE WITH
THEIR NOISE. TO QUIET THE GOATS, TAKE ONE OF YOUR SHOES
AND MOVE IT FROM ONE SIDE OF THE BED TO THE OTHER. IT
WILL QUIET THE GOATS.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Animal
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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