Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P542 returned 854 results.
MOON BABIES
IT IS KNOWN THAT MOST BABIES ARE BORN WHEN THERE IS A FULL MOON
OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MONROE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-00-1972
LEGENDS OF THE UKRAINIAN EASTER EGGS
OF THE VARIOUS TYPES OF EASTER EGGS OF THE UKRAINE, THE PYSANKA AND
THE KRASHANKA ARE THE MOST WIDELY KNOWN. KRASHANKA IS FROM THE WORD
KRASKA WHICH MEANS COLOR. THE KRASHANKA IS A HARD-BOILED EGG WHICH
IS DYED A SOLID COLOR, AND MAY BE EATEN. THE PYSANKA STEMS FROM
THE VERB PYSATY, WHICH MEANS TO WRITE, AS THE DESIGNS ARE ACTUALLY
WRITTEN ON THE EGG, WHICH IS DYED IN SEVERAL COLORS. BUT UNLIKE
THE KRASHANKA THE PYSANKY ARE RAW AND NOT EATEN. IF A WOMAN IS
CHILDLESS AND DESIRES A CHILD. SHE WOULD BE GIVEN AN EGG DECORATED
WITH A CHICKEN, THE SIGN OF A FERTILE CREATURE, AND HOPEFULLY HER
FAMILY WOULD GROW. IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE MAN'S FAULT AFTER
THAT. TO HELP THE MAN HE WAS GIVEN AN EGG WITH A PATTERN OF
ROOSTERS. TO HELP OLDER MEN, WHO WERE GOING DOWN HILL WHEN IT
CAME TO THEIR VIGOR, THEY
WERE GIVEN AN EGG DECORATED WITH OAK LEAVES.
AS CHRISTIANITY CAME TO THE UKRAINE SO DID SOME MORE LEGENDS.
THE HUTZELS FROM WESTERN UKRAINE TELL A STORY THAT THE VIRGIN
MARY FILLED HER APRON WITH EGGS, AND WHEN SHE APPEARED BEFORE
PONTIUS PILATE TO PLEAD FOR HER SON, SHE DROPPED TO HER KNEES AND
THE EGGS ROLLED OUT OVER THE SURFACE OF THE WORLD UNTIL THEY WERE
DISTRIBUTED AMONG ALL NATIONS. IN ANOTHER STORY, MARY IS SAID TO
HAVE FILLED A BASKET WITH EGGS WHICH SHE CARRIED TO THE SOLDIERS
SITTING AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS. THERE SHE LEFT IT. AFTER A
TIME, THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST FLOWED DOWN, STAINING THE EGGS WITH
THEIR CHARACTERISTIC COLOR. THE UKRAINIAN EASTER EGGS ALSO
ANSWER THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD. AS LONG AS THE PYSANKY TRADITION
REMAINS, AND EGGS CONTINUE TO BE DECORATED, THE WORLD WILL EXIST.
SHOULD THE CUSTOM CEASE, EVIL WILL ENCOMPASS AND DESTROY THE WORLD.
THIS IS BECAUSE AN ANCIENT, VICIOUS CREATURE IS HEAVILY CHAINED
AGAINST A HUGE CLIFF AND EACH YEAR SERVANTS OF THE CREATURE GO OUT
ABOUT THE WORLD AND TAKE COUNT HOW MANY PYSANKY ARE DECORATED IN
THE WORLD. WHEN THERE ARE FEW PYSANKY THE CREATURE'S CHAINS LOOSEN
AND EVIL BEGINS TO FLOW THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. SHOULD THE SERVANTS
FIND THE CUSTOM OF DECORATING EGGS BEING PRACTICED WIDELY THEN THE
CHAINS OF THE MONSTER TIGHTEN, ALLOWING LOVE TO CONQUER EVIL.
PEASANTS PLACED KRASHANKA SHELLS IN THE THATCHED ROOFS OF THEIR
HOMES AND UNDER HAY MOUNDS TO TURN AWAY HIGH WINDS. BEEKEEPERS
PUT THEM UNDER HIVES FOR A GOOD SUPPLY OF HONEY. A KRASHANKA,
BLESSED ON EASTER EVE, WAS SUSPENDED ON A STRING FROM THE NECK
OF AN ILL PERSON, OR TOUCHED TO INFECTED AREAS ON PERSONS SUFFERING
FROM BLOOD POISONING TO EFFECT A CURE.
Submitter comment: FERTILITY SYMBOLS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
SUPERSTITION
WHEN UNWRAPPING GIFTS AT A WEDDING SHOWER THE AMOUNT OF RIBBONS YOU
BREAK IS THE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN YOU WILL HAVE.
Submitter comment:
I LEARNED THIS IN MAPLE HEIGHTS, OHIO, A SUBURB OF CLEVELAND, AT THE
WEDDING SHOWER OF A FRIEND. SHE ALREADY KNEW THE SUPERSTITION AND
APPARENTLY BELIEVED IT SOMEWHAT. SHE CAREFULLY UNWRAPPED HER GIFTS
AND BROKE TWO RIBBONS SAYING THAT'S HOW MANY CHILDREN SHE WANTED TO
HAVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Marriage Breaking of BELIEF -- Use of Object |
BIRTH
MOTHERS KEEP UMBILICAL CORDS OF ALL HER BABIES AND TIES THEM ALL
TOGETHER SO THAT THEY WILL NEVER SEPARATE AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
Submitter comment: HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 12-00-1977
EXPECTANT MOTHER
IF YOU EAT DARK FOODS, BABY WILL BE DARK AND WHITE FOODS WILL MAKE
FAIR BABIES.
Submitter comment: HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 12-00-1977
DETERMINING THE SEX OF AN UNBORN CHILD
IF THE PREGNANT WOMAN CARRIES THE BABY HIGH IT IS A GIRL
AND IF THE PREGNANT WOMAN CARRIES THE BABY LOW IT IS A BOY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
WHEN THE BRIDE TO BE OPENS HER GIFTS AT THE BRIDAL SHOWER,
THE NUMBER OF RIBBONS SHE BREAKS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE NUMBER OF
CHILDREN SHE WILL HAVE.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Marriage Breaking of |
DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY
A WOMAN WHO HAS JUST HAD A CHILD SHOULD HAVE A RED RIBBON ON HER HEAD SO THAT THE FAT RED FAIRY DOESN'T STEAL HER LIVER
IN TURKEY BEFORE LEAVING THE HOSPITAL A RED RIBBON WAS PLACED IN HER
HAIR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 10-00-1977
BEFORE AND AFTER PREGNANCY
THEY PUT A BROOM BEHIND THE DOOR OR A NEEDLE UNDER THE PILLOW OF NEW
MOTHERS SO THAT THE BAD FAIRIES DON'T STEAL THE BABY. BECAUSE THEY
ARE AFRAID OF NEEDLES AND BROOMS
Submitter comment:
IN TURKEY THE BROOM BELONGS BEHIND THE DOOR ANYWAY.
CHANGELING
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-00-1977
DETERMINING THE SEX OF UNBORN
YOU TAKE A WEDDING RING AND ATTACH A STRING TO IT, AND SWING IT OVER
A PERSON'S HAND. IF IT SWINGS IN A CIRCLE THIS PERSON WILL HAVE A
A GIRL.
IF IT SWINGS BACK AND FORTH THIS PERSON WILL HAVE A BOY
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Use of object for determining number of children or sex of unborn P863.4 |
Date learned: 10-00-1977
BELIEF
A WAY OF TELLING WHEN A PREGNANT WOMAN IS GOING TO HAVE A
BABY IS TO COUNT THE NUMBER OF FULL MOONS INSTEAD OF THE NUMBER
OF MONTHS. AFTER NINE FULL MOONS, SHE'LL HAVE HER BABY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 06-00-1975
DETERMINING THE SEX OF AN UNBORN CHILD
IF YOU ARE PREGNANT AND YOUR STOMACH IS SHAPED LIKE A FOOTBALL, IT'S
A BOY. IF IT'S SHAPED LIKE A BASKETBALL, IT'S A GIRL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Birth |
BIRTH CONTROL METHOD
IF A WOMAN PUTS A BANDAID OVER HER NAVEL SHE WON'T BECOME PREGNANT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRACEPTION ; HIDDEN CONNECTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth |
DETERMINING SEX OF UNBORN CHILD
A BABY CONCIEVED IN A ODD MONTH WILL BE A BOY.
A BABY CONCIEVED IN AN EVEN MONTH WILL BE A GIRL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Measure of time Month BELIEF -- Number Even number (not specific) BELIEF -- Number Odd number (not specific) |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
DANGLE A THREADED NEEDLE OVER A PREGNANT WOMAN'S ABDOMEN TO
PREDICT THE SEX OF THE CHILD.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
James Callow Keyword(s): ANAPEL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 02-00-1972
BIRTH
IN FRANCE TO HAVE A MALE CHILD YOU HAVE TO DRINK A LOT OF WINE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Fermented BELIEF -- Birth |
THROWIN RICE AT A WEDDING IS A SIGN OF THE COUPLE TO BE FRUITFUL
AND HAVE A LOT OF CHILDREN
Submitter comment: SYMBOL
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LEXINGTON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 02-27-1979
DREAM
IF YOU DREAM OF FISH, SOMEONE IS EXPECTING A CHILD.
Where learned: GEORGIA ; MILLEDGEVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Dreams Untamed varieties BELIEF -- Dreams P841.61 |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
EXPECTANT MOTHERS
A PERSON CAN TELL WHEN A WOMAN IS PREGNANT BY LOOKING
AT A VEIN IN HER NECK. IF YOU SEE A DOUBLE HEARTBEAT
SHE IS PREGNANT.
Where learned: GEORGIA ; MILLEDGEVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00-00-1979