Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P740 returned 781 results.
SUPERSTITION
WALKING WITH ONE SHOE ON AND ONE OFF RESULTS IN BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SEES THIS BELIEF AS VALID. SHE REASONS THAT HAVING ONE
ARCH SUPPORTED AND THE OTHER UNSUPPORTED RESULTS IN BAD FEET.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; DEPARTMENT STORE
Date learned: 02-20-1979
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU HIT YOUR MOTHER OR FATHER YOUR HAND WILL DRY UP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HUNTINGTON WOODS
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 02-11-1979
SUPERSTITION
WHEN RUNNING ON AND OFF THE FIELD, LIKE MANY OTHER BALL
PLAYERS, I WILL NOT STEP ON THE CHALKED LINES. THIS
STEMS FROM THE SAYING "STEP ON A CRACK AND YOU BREAK
YOUR MOTHER'S BACK".
Submitter comment: I SEE THIS AS BRINGING ME GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Good luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970'S
DON'T MARRY A BROTHER OR SISTER OF A DEAD MATE. IF YOU DO THE
CHILDREN WILL BE BORN DEFORMED IN SOME WAY.
Submitter comment:
MY GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS TOLD THIS TO HER CHILDREN AND WAS QUICK TO
POINT OUT EXAMPLES AMONG FRIENDS AND RELATIVES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Common law CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 02-17-1979 ; 00-00-1949
"FATTURA"
WISHING ILLNESS BY PLACING A LETTER STATING THIS IN A FEATHER
PILLOW. SICKNESS CAUSED A PERSON TO BE TOTALLY IMMOBLIZED AND
WOULD HAVE TO REMAIN IN BED. IF A PERSON WAS KNOWN TO HAVE CURSED
SOMEONE WITH SICKNESS, THEN SALT WAS THROWN AFTER THAT PERSON BY
THE PERSON WHO WAS CURSED (WITHOUT THEM SEEING IT DONE) WHEN
THE PERSON RECOVERED FROM THE ILLNESS.
Submitter comment: "FATTURA" MEANS CHARM OR SPELL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Word Letter BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Remedy BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 02-26-1979
PROVERB
PUT OIL AND LEMON JUICE ON YOUR HAIR AND IT WILL NEVER BE BRITTLE.
Submitter comment: HEARD THIS INFORMATION IN A BEAUTY SALOON. BEAUTICIAN SAID IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
PREDICTION
IF YOU BATHE IN THE FIRST RAIN OF MAY YOU WILL REMAIN YOUNG.
Where learned: PUERTO RICO
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- May BELIEF -- P456 BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST'S NIGHT.
ON THE EVE OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST'S DAY EVERYBODY GOES TO THE
BEACHES TO SPEND THE NIGHT THERE. THERE ARE CERTAIN RITUALS DONE ON
THAT NIGHT THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BRING GOOD LUCK THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
FOR EXAMPLE: AT MIDNIGHT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO THROW YOURSELF THREE
TIMES BACKWARDS IN THE SEA FOR GOOD HEALTH. A YOUNG GIRL SHOULD PUT
TWO NEEDLES IN A GLASS OF WATER,SYMBOLIZING HERSELF AND HER BOYFRIEND
IF THE NEXT DAY THE NEEDLES ARE TOGETHER SHE WILL MARRY THAT MAN.
ALSO SHE SHOULD PUT THREE BEANS UNDER HER PILLOW THAT NIGHT. ONE
SHOULD HAVE THE SKIN ON WHICH MEANS SHE WILL MARRY A RICH MAN. THE
SECOND ONE SHOULD BE HALF PEELED SIMBOLIZING MIDDLE CLASS WEALTH AND
THE THIRD ONE SHOULD BE COMPLETELY PEELED MEANING POVERTY. IN THE
MORNING SHE SHOULD PUT HER HAND UNDER THE PILLOW WITHOUT LOOKING,
AND TAKE ONE BEAN. THIS WILL DETERMINE HER ECONOMICAL STATUS IN HER
MARRIAGE. PUT A GLASS OF WATER UNDER YOUR BED TO KEEP THE EVIL SPIRIT
AWAY THE REST OF THE YEAR.
Where learned: PUERTO RICO
Date learned: 00-00-1979
HEAD COLD PREVENTATIVE
IF YOU RINSE YOUR HAIR WITH COLD WATER AFTER A SHAMPOO,
YOU WILL NOT CATCH A COLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
SUPERSTITION
IT WAS TOLD BY MY GREAT AUNT THAT IF ONE DID NOT PUT OUT MILK AND
COOKIES FOR ST. ANNE ON HER BIRTHDAY, ONE WOULD SUFFER BAD LUCK AND
FATAL ILLNESS FOR FIVE YEARS.
Where learned: HAMTRAMCK
Date learned: 00-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
IT WAS TOLD BY MY GREAT AUNT THAT IF ONE DID NOT PUT
OU ON THE KITCHEN TABLE MILK AND
COOKIES FOR ST. JOACHIM, ONE WOULD SUFFER BAD LUCK AND FATAL ILLNESS
FOR TEN YEARS.
Where learned: DETROIT
Date learned: 00-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
IT WAS BELIEVED BY MY GREAT AUNT
THAT IF ONE DID NOT RECITE THE LITANY OF THE
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY ON ALL HER FEASTDAYS, ONE WOULD NEVER SEE HEAVEN
AND ONE WOULD HAVE DISEASES OF THE FEET FOR THE REST OF ONE,S LIFE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED ITEM WHILE IN CANADA ON TOUR OF MARIAN SHRINES.
Where learned: DETROIT
Date learned: 00-00-1979
PREGNANT WOMAN
PREGNANT WOMEN DOWN SOUTH EAT LAUNDRY STARCH FOR BIG BABIES.
Submitter comment:
EFFECTS: IN ACTUALITY THE BABIES ARE BIG BUT THE STARCH DRAWS OUT
THE IRON FROM THE BABIES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PREDICTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 02-00-1970
SUPERSTITION
WHEN JEWISH WOMEN ARE PREGNANT THEY DO NOT BUY A LAYETTE FOR FEAR IF
THEY DO, THEY WILL LOSE THE CHILD OR ELSE THE CHILD WILL BE BORN DEA
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): RELIGION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-09-1971
EXPECTANT MOTHERS
PREGNANT WOMEN ARE NOT TO WALK OVER A HOSE (GARDEN HOSE, ETC.)
AS THIS WILL STRANGLE THE UNBORN CHILD
Submitter comment: INFORMANT ASSURED ME THIS WAS ACTUALLY TRUE.
Keyword(s): THREAT SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMESOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 02-26-1971
CHILDREN'S VERSE
STEP ON A LINE,
BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S SPINE.
Submitter comment: FROM THE CHILDREN IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
James Callow Keyword(s): SIDEWALK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001964 (SUMMER)
ISN'T IT ODD THAT PEOPLE WILL GET SICK DRINKING TO THE HEALTH
OF OTHERS?
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): DRINKING, TOASTS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
IF YOU SPLITA POLE YOU WILL GET HIT BY A CAR
Submitter comment: AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-00-1979
ALWAYS STIR BATTER IN THE SAME DIRECTION TO MAKE YOUR LIFE LONGER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites Food Drink -- Manner of preparation Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-00-1979
WEARING BOOTS OR RUBBERS IN THE HOUSE WILL MAKE YOUR EYES GO BAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; HIDDEN CONNECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: CA02001980