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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P429 returned 446 results.
RUSSIAN PEOPLE ACCEPTED CHRISTIANITY I BELIEVE IN
760 A.D. BEFORE THAT THERE WASN'T ANY ORGANIZED
RELIGION BUT THEY BELIEVED IN SOME SPIRITS OR GHOSTS.
ONE IS DOMOVOY. "DOM" IN RUSSIAN MEANS HOUSE; DOMOVOY
IS THE HOUSE SPIRIT. HE IS A VERY SMALL OLD MAN, ABOUT
THE SIZE OF A FIVE YEAR OLD CHILD. HE HAS LONG HAIR
AND A LONG BEARD. HE ALWAYS WEARS BOOTS AND CAFTAN
(A RUSSIAN HOUSE COAT WITH A LONG TIE-ROPE AROUND
THE WAIST). HE LIVED IN THE ATTIC AND EVERY HOUSE HAD
ITS OWN DOMOVOY. HE WASN'T A BAD FELLOW BUT HE WAS
ALWAYS PLAYING TRICKS. IF SOMEONE FELL OFF THE STEPS
THEN DOMOVOY PUSHED HIM. IF SOMETHING FELL OFF THE SHELF
THEN DOMOVOY PUSHED IT. HE WAS ALWAYS RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE UNEXPLAINED ACCIDENTS.
ANOTHER SPIRIT IS LESOVOY. "LES" IN RUSSIAN MEANS
FOREST; LESOVOY IS THE SPIRIT THAT LIVES IN THE WOODS.
HE IS SMALL AND HAIRY AND WEARS HIGH BOOTS AND A JACKET.
HE LIVED IN HOLLOW TREES AND ONE VERY SELDOM SAW HIM.
BY THE TIME I WAS SIX OR SEVEN YEARS OLD I STOPPED
BELIEVING IN THESE SPIRITS. I NEVER HEARD OF THEM IN
THE BIG CITIES, ONLY IN SMALL VILLAGES AND TOWNS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Farmington Hills
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
WHEAT IS BLESSED AND SPREAD OVER THE GRAVES OF THE RECENTLY
DECEASED WITH A PRAYER FOR THE SOUL. THE BELIEF IS THAT
THE WHEAT WILL PERPETUATE THE SOUL AND THE BIRDS WILL
CARRY THE WHEAT TO HEAVEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
IF YOU WANT TO PREVENT BAD LUCK OR BAD SPIRITS, YOU SHOULD PUT A
BROOM IN FRONT OF THE ENTRANCE DOOR OF YOUR HOUSE DEFORE GOING
TO BED.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
WHEN AN ORPHAN IS MISTREATED BY HIS GUARDIAN, HE CAN INFORM HIS
DEAD PARENTS OF HIS MISTREATMENT BY WRITING A LETTER EXPLAINING
THE WHOLE SITUATIONS IN THE LETTER. THEN, HE CAN GO AND THROW
IT IN A RIVER, SEA OR OCEAN. THE DEAD PARENTS WILL RECEIVE (IT), AND
THEY WILL SEND SPIRITS TO GO AND HELP THE CHILD.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LOOK SERIOUS WHILE NARRATING THE ITEM
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
IN 1930 A BLACK MAN WAS CONVICTED OF A CRIME HE DID NOT COMMIT,
HE WAS HUNG AND COMES BACK EVERY NIGHT AND IT IS SAID THAT HIS FACE
CAN BE SEEN, THEY HAVE CHANGED THE WHOLE COURTHOUSE BUT HE STILL
COMES BACK.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; JONESBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
A BLACK BOY WAS BEATEN TO DEATH BY THE KKK FOR TALKING TO A WHITE GIRL.
HE WAS BEATEN ON THIS DARK ROAD AND LEFT TO DIE.THE NEXT DAY SOME PEOPLE
FOUND HIS BODY WHICH WAS BY A CEMETERY.NOW PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO GO THROUGH
THERE BECAUSE IT IS SAID THAT THE BLOOD STAIN WILL NOT GO AWAY AND SOMETHING
JUMPS ON THE BACK OF YOUR CAR WHEN YOU DRIVE THROUGH.
********************** D FILE 8 ********************
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- P429 |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
IN ORDER TO KEEP FAMILY SPIRITS AWAY (THE DEAD) YOU SHOULD
PUT A FRESH PIECE OF PINE ACROSS THE FRONT DOOR,AND THEY WILL
NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER.
Where learned: NORTH CAROLINA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 04091984CA
CHAINED CHARLIE
CHAINED CHARLIE WAS MURDERED IN A CEMETERY BY GRAVE ROBBERS.
HE WAS CHAINED TO A TREE, WHERE HE WAS CUT ON VARIOUS PARTS OF
HIS BODY AND LEFT THERE TO BLEED TO DEATH, SO NOW WHENEVER THERE ARE
TRESPASSERS IN THE CEMETERY, HE WILL RISE FROM THE DEAD AND CHASE
THE INTRUDERS OUT OF THE CEMETERY.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT WAS A VERY EASY TO TALK TO AND A VERY NICE PERSON.
Where learned: DETROIT ; NORWEST THEATER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
CONVERSATIONS FROM THE DEAD
GO TO THE CEMETERY AND STICK A PIN INTO SOMEONE'S GRAVE AND YOU
SHOULD HEAR THE CONVERSATIONS OF THE EVIL SPIRITS.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND HAD A GOOD MEMORY.
Where learned: DETROIT ; NORWEST THEATER
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 01-30-1984
TO CALL BACK SOMEONE YOU LOVE FROM THE DEAD
PLACE A LETTER WRITTEN TO A DECEASED MEMBER OF THE FAMILY ON TOP
OF A GLASS OF WATER AND PLACE IT UNDER YOUR BED. YOUR BELOVED ONE
WILL COME AND VISIT YOU IN PEACE. BEWARE: NEVER PERFORM THIS TASK
ON A FULL MOON NIGHT OR EVIL SPIRITS WILL HAUNT YOU.
Where learned: DETROIT ; NORWEST THEATER
James Callow Keyword(s): CONJURATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Word Letter |
Date learned: 01-30-1984
THE SIGNATURE FROM THE DEAD
HELEN'S GIRLFRIEND'S MOTHER WAS MARRIED AND HAD HER AND A SON.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND WERE SEPARATED AND HE MOVED TO PITTSBURGH.
HE DIED AND SHE APPLIED FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR HER
FAMILY. THE SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICIALS REQUESTED A SIGNATURE ON A
DOCUMENT OF THE DECEASED, TO PROVE THAT HE HAD FATHERED HER KIDS.
SHE BEING A TRUE BELIEVER IN BLACK MAGIC, DECIDED TO RETRIEVE HIS
SIGNATURE FROM THE DEAD. SO SHE AND THREE OF HER FRIENDS WENT
TO PITTSBURGH AND THEN WENT TO HIS GRAVE THAT NIGHT. THEY EACH SAT
ON A CORNER OF HIS GRAVE AND HAD A SEANCE. HE SPOKE THROUGH HIS
WIDOW AND ASK WHY DID THEY COME? THEY REQUESTED HIS SIGNATURE ON
THE DOCUMENT AND THEY PLACED THE DOCUMENT ON THE GRAVE AND THE
SIGNATURE APPEARED.
Where learned: DETROIT ; NORWEST THEATER
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 01-30-1984
CHINESE EATING CUSTOM
"THE CHINESE WILL NOT PUT CHOPSTICKS IN THEIR BOWLS OF FOOD
BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT DOING SO IS A SIGN THAT THE FOOD IS FOR
THE GHOSTS. INSTEAD THEY WILL LAY THEM ON THE SIDE WHICH IS WHY
THEY HAVE SPECIAL CERAMIC DISHES FOR HOLDING EACH PAIR OF
CHOPSTICKS AT THEIR MEALS."
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT BELIEVES THAT SUCH BELIEFS AS THIS ONE ARE FOR
TEACHING CHILDREN ETIQUETTE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
"PID-AB" (THAI HIDE-AND-SEEK)
"'PID-AB' IS NOT PLAYED AT NIGHT FOR FEAR OF GHOSTS GETTING THOSE
PERSONS WHO ARE HIDING. THE THAIS BELIEVE THAT IF THE GHOSTS
FIND YOU, YOU'LL NEVER BE SEEN AGAIN."
Submitter comment: SEE "PID-AB" (THAI HIDE-AND-SEEK)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Hiding Searching BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
"ROY-KATONG" FESTIVAL (THAILAND)
"THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS FESTIVAL IS TO APOLOGIZE TO THE WATER
SPIRIT FOR THE USE OF THE WATER AND FOR POLLUTING THE WATER.
BELIEVING THAT THE WATER COMES FROM HEAVEN, THE THAIS FLOAT SMALL
LOTUS-SHAPED RAFTS WITH CANDLES ON THEM IN THE RIVERS OF THAILAND
SO THAT EVENTUALLY THE RAFT WILL GO TO AN ANGEL IN HEAVEN. ALSO,
WHEN THEY FLOAT THE RAFTS, THE THAIS WILL MAKE A WISH AND
SOMETIMES A MAN AND WOMAN WILL GO TOGETHER."
Submitter comment:
THE FESTIVAL USUALLY TAKES PLACE IN BETWEEN OCTOBER AND
NOVEMBER.
"ROY-KATONG" MEANS "FLOAT-SMALL-BOAT" IN THAI LANGUAGE.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F100 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F110 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- September 23 equinox to December 20 Also used for Advent. BELIEF -- Angel BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Water BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
SUPERSTITION--CALLING ON SPIRITS
IT IS SAID THAT SOME PEOPLE CALL THEIR LOVED ONES FROM THE DEAD
AND ASK THEM FOR FAVOURS. FOR EXAMPLE, MY GRANDMOTHER WILL CALL
MY GRANDFATHER OR WRITE HIM A LETTER AND ASK HIM TO BRING HER A
NUMBER TO PLAY AT THE RACES. YOU CAN ALSO ASK THEM TO DO BAD
THINGS LIKE VISIT SOMEONE AND FRIGHTEN THEM.
Where learned: BAHAMAS ; NASSAU
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00001920S
SUPERSTITION--FUNERAL PROCESSION
IN THE OLD DAYS, THEY SAY WHENEVER A FUNERAL PROCESSION PASSED
YOUR HOUSE, YOU SHOULD RUN AND CLOSE ALL THE WINDOWS AND DOORS
SO THE PERSON'S SPIRIT WON'T STAY IN YOUR HOUSE AND SCARE YOU.
Where learned: BAHAMAS ; NASSAU
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
SUPERSTITION
IN ORDER FOR SPIRITS NOT TO HARM YOU, THEY SAY YOU MUST GO TO
THE GRAVEYARD OR CEMETERY AND PICK UP A HANDFUL OF DIRT. AFTER
YOU HAVE THE DIRT IN YOUR POSSESSION YOU MUST THEN SPRINKLE
IT IN THE FOUR CORNERS OF YOUR HOUSE OR YARD.
Where learned: BAHAMAS ; NASSAU
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 00001950S
SUPERSTITION
DOGS HOWLING AT NIGHTS OR VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING MEANS THAT
EVIL SPIRITS ARE PASSING YOUR HOUSE.
Where learned: BAHAMAS ; NASSAU
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 00001970S
DEVIL'S NIGHT
"MY MOTHER TOLD ME THAT BACK IN THE 1800'S
THAT DEVIL'S NIGHT WAS NOT CALLED DEVIL'S
NIGHT. IT WAS CALLED TURNING OF THE SOULS
NIGHT BECAUSE ON DEVIL'S NIGHT THE DEAD
PEOPLE IN THEIR GRAVES WOULD TURN OVER IN
THEIR GRAVES."
Submitter comment:
SHE WAS NERVOUS WHEN SHE RECORDED THE STORY.
SHE WAS ALSO AFRAID TO LET OTHERS HEAR HER
VOICE ON THE TAPE RECORDER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F103 BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001800S ; 10-00-1985
THIS IS ANOTHER STORY I HEARD WHEN I WAS ABOUT TEN YEARS OLD.
IT'S FROM DETROIT. I WAS TOLD AFTER MIDNIGHT, IT YOU GET A GLASS
OF WATER AND A PIECE OF PAPER, TAKE IT TO THE BASEMENT OF YOUR
HOME, PUT THE GLASS OF WATER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOR AND PUT THE
PAPER ON TOP OF THE GLASS. TURN OUT THE LIGHTS IN THE BASEMENT
AND IN THE ENTIRE HOUSE, AND IF YOU WOULD CALL THE NAME OF THE LAST
PERSON IN FAMILY THAT DIED HE OR SHE WOULD APPEAR.
THE CORRECT WAY TO DO THIS IS TO HAVE A SMALL CANDLE BURNING NEXT
TO THE GLASS OF WATER AND PAPER. CALL THE DEAD PERSON'S NAME
WHILE LOOKING AT THE GLASS OF WATER. AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
CALLING OUT THE DEAD PERSON'S NAME, THE PAPER WILL BEGIN TO
SPIN AROUND THE THE SPIRIT OF THE DEAD PERSON WOULD APPEAR.
James Callow Keyword(s): CONJURATION
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00-00-1972