Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P882 returned 579 results.
IF A WOMAN IS THE FIRST PERSON TO CROSS YOUR THRESHOLD,
ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE NEW YEAR, JANUARY 1 YOU SHALL
HAVE BAD LUCK AND MISFORTUNE ALL YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
IT IS BELIEVED THAT IT IS UNLUCKY TO STACK YOUR MONEY OR
CHIPS WHEN YOU ARE PLAYING POKER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Balinese custom
In Bali, persons who are to marry must remain in the house
for seven days to prevent bad luck.
Where learned: Bali ; Indonesia
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Before wedding BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
Kim's family used to wax their cars, but every time they did,
whoever drove it after the waxing got into an auto accident.
This happened quite a few times. Kim's parents quit waxing
the cars and have not been in an accident since.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PLYMOUTH
James Callow Keyword(s): Post hoc reasoning
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Before you move into a new house you should have it
blessed. It is supposed to bring bad luck if you don't.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
Never get married on Friday the 13th of any month or your
marriage will be doomed with divorce or some other tragedy.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND
| Subject headings: | 686 Specific number by specific number being described BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Measure of time Month BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 01-00-1980
It is bad luck for the groom to see the bride on their wedding
day before she walks down the aisle for the ceremony. It
is also bad luck for him to see the gown before the wedding.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 01-00-1984
WHILE PLAYING CARDS, DO NOT CUT THE CARDS. IF YOU DO, YOU
WILL CUT YOUR LUCK.
Submitter comment: THIS ONLY WORKS IF YOU ARE PLAYING WITH PEOPLE YOU TRUST.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001970S CA
MRS. MOOR SAYS THAT WHEN YOU GIVE A PURSE TO
SOMEONE OR PUT ONE IN STORAGE YOU SHOULD LEAVE
A PENNY IN IT; OTHERWISE THE PURSE WILL NEVER
HOLD MONEY.
Where learned: KANSAS ; WHITE CITY
Keyword(s): GIFTS, PRESENTS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001975CA
If you accidentally spill salt on the table,
you should sprinkle it over your left shoulder
for good luck.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): LEFT RIGHT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- P479 BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 00001970S
A SUPERSTITION WITH COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN IS ONCE
YOU NAME A BOAT, YOU CANNOT CHANGE THE NAME OR
IT WILL BE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CASEVILLE
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 00001970S
If you accidentally put your clothes on inside out,
it is bad luck to turn them the correct way because
you were supposedly meant to put them on inside out.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; Carbon Hill
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001950S
If something falls in your house there
will be bad luck. If it breaks there
could be a death. This woman's husband had a
heart attack the day after a large container
had fallen from the top of their refrigerator.
She believed that this foretold his heart attack
and that if it had broken he would have died.
She had held this belief prior to her husband's
heart attack.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001960S
When you light incense you should wave
it out with your hand. You'll have
bad luck if you blow it out.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1989
If you accidentally put your clothes on backwards
you should wear them that way for the whole day.
If you change them you will have bad luck for
that day.
Where learned: KANSAS ; Manhattan
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001920S
On Christmas Eve day, it is good luck if the
first person to enter your house is a man and
bad luck if it is a woman.
Where learned: KANSAS ; Manhattan
James Callow Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING ; SEXISM
Date learned: 00001920S
If a religious picture or article falls off the
wall and breaks as it hits the floor it is a bad
omen. Someone that is close to you, family or a
friend, will probably die.
Submitter comment:
Mrs. Wojtan believes that this is true because it
is a sign to prepare you for someone's death.
Where learned: KANSAS ; Manhattan
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001920S
You should never give anyone a religious gift.
It is a sign of bad luck. A friend had died
and left her relative a beautiful rosary that
had come from a monastery. The relative thought
that this was a sign of bad luck so she tried to
give it to another woman. She didn't want it
either because she was afraid that something
would happen to her. She was forced to keep it
and she said she didn't think anything came from
it but she still refuses to give any religious
gifts to anyone.
Where learned: KANSAS ; Manhattan
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001920S
When a person praises or compliments you or
your children, you should make the sign of evil,
or the devil, behind your back by holding your
little finger and first finger up while making
a fist. By doing this you ward off the evil eye
or bad luck.
Submitter comment:
My grandmother doesn't particularly believe in this
but her parents and husband's parents did. It is
a strong belief in Malta.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): index finger
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001930S
Good and Bad Luck
If you find a penny with tails side up, don't pick it
up because it's bad luck. It is only lucky if it is
heads side up.
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001972CA