Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P545 returned 667 results.
It was believed if a woman is rejected by a male she could take
her menstrual period and spread it over his plate and serve food on
the plate and the person would return his love to her.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00-00-1946
If the bride's father cannot give the bride away at her
wedding, then the eldest man in the family must give the bride
away for wisdom and blessing in the marriage.
Submitter comment:
My mother's descendants believed that the bride should be
given away by an elder if the father could not be at the
wedding.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00-00-1986
Wedding Custom
At a Polish wedding at midnight, the traditional wedding dance
takes place. The bride dances with her father, then with her
husband, while all the people at the reception stand around them in
a circle and sing "The Twelve Angels." At the end of the dance the
maid of honor takes off her hairpiece and the bride takes off her
veil and places it on the head of the maid of honor. This
symbolizes going from a fair young maiden to a married woman.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Marriage CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 03-00-1992
Superstition
When wanting a man to fall in love, place sugar in a glass of
water and stir toward you (the stirrer) saying the person's name
three times.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Laurel
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Favorites Food Drink -- Flavoring BELIEF -- Marriage |
A bride should have something old.
something new.
something borrowed.
something blue.
Submitter comment: This is for luck.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Good luck |
Sweeping one's foot is cause for never being married.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Broom superstitions
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage |
An Irish bride should carry an Irish linen handkerchief in her
wedding bouquet down the aisle. When she tosses her bouquet
(inclusive of her handkerchief) the girl who catches it will have
good luck. The young lady who caught it should then place it in her
wedding bouquet, and the next girl to catch it will have good luck.
The same tradition will be carried on from bride to bride.
Where learned: NEW JERSEY ; Woman in an Irish import store ; Stone Harbor
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Bouquet BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 08-00-1990
Proverbial Saying
A dimple in your cheek,
Many hearts you will seek.
A dimple in your chin,
Many hearts you will win.
Submitter comment:
My grandmother used to tell me this because I have a dimple in
my chin, and did not like it.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Puckett, Ohio, no. 12841: "A dimple on the chin, /
Many lovers you will win." -- Irish - Dutch - German informant.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
Keyword(s): Apothegm ; Cheek ; Dimple ; LOVE ; Maxim ; PROVERB
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00001950S
Claddaugh
The claddaugh is an Irish symbol of Love, Friendship and
Loyalty. It looks like two hands holding a heart, with a crown upon
the heart. The hands are friendship, the heart is love, the crown
is loyalty. This symbol is traditionally upon an Irish wedding
ring. This ring was created by a seafarer who had docked in the
town of Claddaugh, Ireland. While in port, he met a young maiden
and fell in love. He was in deep despair at the thought of leaving
her behind, so he went into the hills and designed and forged a
ring with this symbol upon it. He gave it to the maiden as a
symbol of his love, loyalty and friendship. Today this ring is
given upon the engagement of a couple and is worn with the heart
facing away from the woman. Upon their marriage, the ring is
turned around, with the heart facing the woman, indicating her
commitment (or his commitment, as this ring is also given as a
wedding ring to the man) to her husband.
Submitter comment: Claddaugh is pronounced klad-awe.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Woman in an Irish import store ; Farmington Hills
James Callow Keyword(s): Claddagh
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00-00-1991
Marriage
This means the love that you have for your mate and the unity
and bond as being one. We sometime refer to this as "tieing-the-
knot".
Where learned: GEORGIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Marriage PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
If you dream of a death or a funeral it means that someone you
know will be getting married.
James Callow comment: See Hand, North Carolina, nos. 4389-4392.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Dreams |
Date learned: 00-00-1940
keep a horseshoe with a palm leaf made in the shape of a
cross over the bedroom door; this will assure a happy, positive,
loving marriage.
Where learned: GEORGIA ; ATLANTA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
IN THE SPRINGTIME YOU COUNT:
100 RED CONVERTIBLES (CARS, AUTOMOBILES)
A WOMAN WITH A PURPLE DRESS
A MAN WITH A GREEN TIE.
AND THEN THE FIRST BOY YOU KISS AFTERWARD, YOU'LL MARRY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Number P686.1.100 |
Date learned: 10-15-1967
HOLLOWEEN MIRROR
IF A GIRL SITS, AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT ON
HALLOWEEN, BEFORE A MIRROR EATING AN APPLE, THE
IMAGE OF HER FUTURE HUSBAND WILL SUDDENLY APPEAR
BEFORE HER. IF NO IMAGE APPEARS, IT'S TAKEN
THAT THE GIRL WILL REMAIN A SPINSTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- September 23 equinox to December 20 Also used for Advent. BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
GAME TO BE PLAYED WHILE TRAVELING
COUNT 99 NEGROES, 24 WHITE HORSES, AND 3 RED-HEADED
PEOPLE.
AFTER THIS IS DONE, THE NEXT PERSON OF OPPOSITE
SEX WHOM YOU SHAKE HANDS WITH WILL BE THE PERSON
YOU MARRY.
Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED IT FROM HER COUSINS WHEN SHE WAS A GIRL.
Where learned: ON A TRIP BY CAR
Date learned: 04-02-1967
TO SLAY A SHEEP AND THEN TO DONOTE ITS MEAT TO THE
POOR BRINGS GOOD LUCK (1) WHEN YOU BUILD OR BUY A
HOUSE, (2) WHEN A BRIDE AND GROOM ENTER THEIR FIRST
HOME, (3) WHEN YOU HAVE A SERIOUSLY SICK PERSON IN
THE HOUSE.
Submitter comment: SUCH A CUSTOM HAS ITS ORIGIN IN BIBLICAL TIMES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BAGHDAD ; IRAQ
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Good luck Animals |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT'S BAD LUCK TO HAVE A PREGNANT WOMAN IN YOUR
WEDDING PARTY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Bad luck Crucial moment of life |
Date learned: 02-18-1971
IT'S BAD LUCK FOR THE BRIDE TO GO IN ONE DOOR AT
THE CHURCH AND OUT THE OTHER.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Bad luck Crucial moment of life |
Date learned: 10-20-1968
IT IS UNLUCKY TO DROP SOMETHING ON YOUR WEDDING DAY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD. SHE
WAS BORN AND RAISED IN IRELAND.
Where learned: DETROIT ; RECTORY ; IRELAND ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; HOLY NAME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Bad luck Crucial moment of life |
Date learned: 02-19-1967
THERE IS A RIGHT WAY AND A WRONG WAY TO WEAR YOUR
WEDDING RINGS. IF YOU ARE WEARING THEM THE WRONG
WAY, YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Data entry tech comment:
THE WEDDING RING IS SUPPOSED TO BE WORN CLOSEST
TO THE HEART, THAT IS PUT ON THE RING FINGER FIRST,
AND THEN THE ENGAGEMENT RING PUT ON AFTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Metal Stone Bone Precious stone Gem BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Bad luck Crucial moment of life |
Date learned: 11-10-1970