Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P475 returned 568 results.
TALE OF HAIRY TREE
IN INDIA THERE IS A LARGE TREE THAT IS COVERED WITH HAIR. IF
YOU GIVE THIS TREE SOME OF YOUR HAIR THEN IT ALWAYS GIVES YOU
FRUIT (A WISH OF YOUR CHOICE IN RETURN). A LOT OF PEOPLE GO TO
SEE THIS TREE, AND ALL WHO DO FIND THAT UNDER THIS TREE SITS A
BALD WOMAN WHO'S BEEN WAITING 60 OR MORE YEARS FOR THE CHILD
SHE WISHED FOR TO FALL OUT OF THE TREE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
BIRTH MARKS
IF AN EXPECTANT MOTHER CRAVES STAWBERRIES AND DOESN'T GET THEM,
THE CHILD WILL BE BORN WITH "STRAWBERRY MARKS."
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): EATING SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- P244 P244.6 BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 03-00-1970
I SLEEP LIKE A LOG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): METAPHOR, SLEEP, OBSERVATION
James Callow Keyword(s): SIMILE ; WOOD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
SAYING
LAND'S SO RICH THAT WHEN YOU PLANT CORN, YOU HAVE TO JUMP BACK SO IT
WON'T HIT YOU IN THE EYE.
Submitter comment:
I HEARD MY 5TH COUSIN SAY THIS ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO. IT WAS IN THE
SAN JOAQUIN DELTAS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. HE WAS DESCRIBING A
MUDFLAT THAT HE HAD LEASED.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; SAN JOAQUIN DELTA
Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; FERTILITY ; HYPERBOLE ; LAND
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 10-08-1968
SPIRITS LIVE IN TREES AND KNOCKING ON WOOD WILL KEEP AWAY BAD
LUCK
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Supernatural Being BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.22 SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-00-1979
STY CURE
CLOSE THE AFFLICTED EYE. RUB A GOLD WEDDING BAND ACROSS THE
LID OF THE AFFLICTED EYE.
Submitter comment:
IT IS BELIEVED THAT GOLD HAS THE POWER TO DRAW OUT INFECTIONS.
THOUGH THE INFORMANT HAS NEVER PRACTICED THIS CURE, HER RELATIVES
WHO ARE ALSO OF POLISH DECENT, HAVE ADMINISTERED THIS CURE.
I AM FAMILIAR WITH MEXICAN-AMERICANS WHO CLAIM THAT THE WEDDING
BAND STY CURE IS EXCLUSIVELY MEXICAN.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): RING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: CA00001916 ; 01-13-1980
FOLKLORE OF GOOD LUCK
IN JAPAN, BAMBOO IS HUNG IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE HOUSE TO GIVE ITS
STRENGTH TO WARD OFF SICKNESS AND TO BE ABLE TO KEEP WORKING.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): Holistic ; Japan ; LUCK ; PLANT ; SYMBOL
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: CA00001935
PASTIME
WHENEVER DANDELIONS WERE IN SEASON, THE CHILDREN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
WOULD PINCH UNDER THE TOP OF THE FLOWER, CAUSING IT TO BREAK OFF THE
STEM. THE FLOWER WOULD THEN FLY THROUGH THE AIR. AT THE SAME
TIME, THE FOLLOWING WAS CHANTED: MM
MAMA HAD A BABY
AND ITS HEAD POPPED OFF.
Submitter comment:
THE COLLECTOR FIRST HEARD OF THIS DANDELION PASTIME AS A CHILD IN
TAYLOR, MICH. IN 1970 AND CONTINUED PLAYING IT UPON MOVING TO
SOUTHGATE, MICH. AN ANALOGY IS MADE BETWEEN A MOTHER'S BABY AND
A DANDELION FLOWER. WHEN PLAYED AS DESCRIBED, NO COMPETITION IS
INVOLVED. HOWEVER, WITH TWO OR MORE CHILDREN, THE ELEMENT OF
DISTANCE IS PRESENT AND THE WINNER IS THE ONE WHO POPS THE FLOWER
THE FARTHEST. THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE BEHEADING OF A FLOWER AS
IT RELATES AS A SYMBOL OF A BABY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; USA ; SOUTHGATE
James Callow Keyword(s): BEHEADING OF FLOWER (BABY)
Date learned: 00-00-1970
FOLK CURE AND REMEDY
DRY A CERTAIN PLANT THAT HAS BLUE FLOWERS. MAKE A TEA OUT OF
IT AND DRINK IT TO CURE DIABETES.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT FIRST HEARD OF THIS FOLK REMEDY AROUND 1910 IN
POLAND. THE INFORMANT DID NOT KNOW THE NAME OF THE BLUE FLOWERED
PLANT, BUT CLAIMED THAT IT HELPED MANY FRIENDS WITH DIABETES. TEAS
ARE COMMONLY USED WITH FOLK CURES. PERHAPS IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE
PLANT TO HAVE SOME TRUE MEDICINAL POWERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: CA00001910
GEORGIA WEDDING CUSTOM
"IF A BRIDE CARRIED ORANGE BLOSSOMS IN HER BOUQUET, IT WOULD
BRING GOOD LUCK TO HER MARRIAGE".
Where learned: OHIO ; FLORIDA ; ALLIANCE ; EUSTIS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 11-13-1980 ; 00001920S
WHEN CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY WINS A FOOTBALL GAME, THE BAND
PLAYS A SONG TO A TREE. THE SONG IS THE SCHOOL FIGHT SONG, THE TREE
IS CALLED THE VICTORY TREE. WHEN THEY LOSE A FOOTBALL GAME,
THEY SING THE ALMA MATER TO THE VICTORY TREE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MOUNT PLEASANT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Emotion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 11-00-80
TO FIND OUT IF A MUSHROOM IS POISONOUS, WHAT YOU DO IS DROP A QUARTER
IN THE WATER THAT YOU BOILED THE MUSHROOMS IN, IF IT TURNS BLACK IT
IS POISONOUS, IF IT COMES OUT SHINY, THEY ARE SAFE TO EAT.
Submitter comment:
MY GRANDFATHER TOLD THIS TO MY MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS SMALL. SHE REALLY
BELIEVED IT}
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00001930S
HOLY WATER--BAPTISM
AFTER A BABY'S BAPTISM, WASH HIS BAPTISMAL CLOTHES
BY HAND. KEEP THE WATER USED FOR WASHING THE CLOTHES
AND SPRINKLE IT OVER A FLOWER BED. THE WATER WILL
MAKE THE FLOWERS GROW.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THAT THIS WAS A CUSTOM USED BY HER
SISTER. HER SISTER BELIEVED THAT THE HOLY WATER
SHOULD BE RETURNED TO GOD'S EARTH AND NOT THE SEWER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Baptism Naming rite BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
TO PRESERVE LILACS IN THE HOUSE, YOU PUT SUGAR IN THE
WATER.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER MOTHER WHO DOES THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 05-17-1965
MENSTRUATION SUPERSTITION
YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO TAKE A BATH DURING YOUR
PERIOD. YOU'LL GET TB. (TUBERCULOSIS).
ALSO FLOWERS WILL WILT IF YOU TOUCH THEM DURING
YOUR PERIOD.
Submitter comment:
SHE HAD HEARD BOTH OF THESE AS HAD HER MOTHER, BUT
NEITHER BELIEVED THEM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 05-11-1965
Entry filtered.
WEATHER PREDICTION
ONION SKINS VERY THIN, MILDER WINTER COMING IN;
ONION SKINS VERY TOUGH, WINTER'S COMING COLD AND ROUGH.
Submitter comment: INTERNAL RHYME IN EACH LINE. USES AN AABB RHYME PATTERN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND LEDGE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Measure of time Winter |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
WEATHER BELIEFS
WHEN THE SILVER UNDERSIDE OF A SILVER MAPLE LEAF SHOWS,
IT MEANS IT IS GOING TO RAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00001960S
FINDING A FOUR-LEAF CLOVER IN YOUR YARD BRINGS YOU GOOD LUCK
(MORE SO THAN FINDING IT IN SOMEONE ELSE'S YARD)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | 686 Fourths / Quarters Favorites BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Good luck Plants |
Date learned: 00001960S
AGRICULTURAL BELIEFS
THE CORN CROP WILL BE GOOD IF IT IS KNEE HIGH BY THE FOURTH
OF JULY.
Submitter comment:
WE NEVER GREW CORN IN ROYAL OAK, BUT MY PARENTS ALWAYS
SAID THIS BECAUSE THEY GREW CORN WHERE THEY GREW UP IN OHIO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- July 4 Independence Day BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: 00001960S