Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 686.1.1 returned 589 results.
Throw salt over your left shoulder when entering a new
dwelling.
Submitter comment:
The older folks in the family always told us: When we buy a
new house or are invited to spend the night at a friend's house,
before we go in we should throw some salt over our shoulder to
scare away any evil spirits that may be in the house.
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
Date learned: 00-00-1976
Whenever you move into a new house you should always put a
loaf of bread and an envelope with some money on the window sill
before you move in. This is an offering to God for his blessing
on the home so you will never be hungry or without money.
Submitter comment:
This was one of the folklores that were always followed
because all of my brothers, sister, mother, and father did it and
they always had what they needed. I cannot recall a day when I
was hungry or could not get some money if I needed it when I was
growing up.
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00-00-1953
Always say a prayer in a new car before you drive it. Also
hang a cross from the rear view mirror. This will assure you of
the longest and the most careful, safe ride.
Submitter comment:
My father told this to me when he bought my first car and I
have done it to every car that I have owned since.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
If you want money to spend on pleasurable wants and needs
never put your new purse on the floor because you will never have
any money to spend.
Submitter comment:
I went to see my great grandmother in the south one summer
when I was nine year old. A few days before I was going to leave
for home she took me shopping. While at the shopping center my
grandmother purchased me a new purse. When we returned home I
placed the shopping bags on the floor. She quickly picked up the
shopping bags and sat them on the sofa and said, "Sweetheart,
never place a new purse on the floor; you will never have any
money."
Where learned: ALABAMA ; Linden
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
When the first child is born in the family hold it up to the
moon the first night of its birth for blessing from God.
Submitter comment:
My cousin was born on New Year's Day and my grandfather held
him up to the midnight moon and said a prayer.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; Linden
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Prayer |
Baby's First Teeth
It's been said that if you let a baby look into the mirror
before he/she grows his/her first teeth then he/she will never grow
any teeth at all.
Submitter comment:
My mother had this big grin on her face when she told me this
but it took me a few years to realize she was lying.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Louise
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
When a child walks around the house, with one shoe on and one
shoe off, it's sending their mother to an early grave.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
Date learned: 00-00-1970
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Seconds / Twice / Two BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Good luck PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
If a horse has one white hoof, buy it. If the horse has two
white hooves, take a chance. If the horse has three white hooves,
think hard before you buy. If the horse has four white hooves,
don't buy it.
Submitter comment:
This saying is popular in horse circles. There is some truth
to the saying that white hooves frequently seem to be weaker than
darker hooves.
James Callow comment:
See Wayland Hand, North Carolina, no. 7633, for parallels from
Ontario, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Illinois, and in particular
Pennsylvania, where "a horse with one or more white feet is
considered more or less impaired in value." Hand seems to think
that such horses are called "white-stockinged"; but our
informant/collector notes that a stocking applies to the leg, not
to the hoof or foot. Also see the OED, s.v. "stocking."
"A horse with one white foot is always weak in it; and if he
goes lame, it will be that foot." -- Hyatt, Illinois (1965), no.
2530.
See Hyatt, Illinois (1
Date learned: 00-00-1956
New Year's Day
A man should always be the first person through the door on
New Year's Day because he will bring you good luck in the coming
year.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1931
It has been said that on New Year's Day the first person to
step into one`s home should be a man bringing a gift. If it is a
man it is said to bring good luck in the coming year.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 01-00-1986
Polish custom
When a child has his/her first haircut, it has been the custom
to keep a lock of hair. People from our family who came over from
Poland kept the locks of hair so the children would have nice hair,
as the legend goes.
Submitter comment:
This custom was practiced by both of my great-grandmothers, and
was passed down to my mother and her siblings.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001920S
New Shoes (A Poem)
When I am walking down the street,
I do like to watch my feet.
Perhaps you do not know the news,
Mom has bought me fine new shoes.
When the left one squeaks I do not speak,
I listen to its bappy beat.
Submitter comment:
I learned this when I was a kid from Mrs. Green, my school
teacher. I've always told it to my children and they still say
it whenever they buy new shoes.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): happy beat?
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Never put new or used shoes on the kitchen table; to do so
will bring about bad luck in the household.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet BELIEF -- Home BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 03-02-1992
LUCK
EVERY TIME MY MOTHER OR MY SISTERS OR I GET A NEW
PURSE, MY FATHER PUTS MONEY IN IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 12-00-1967
ANYTHING YOU GET NEW YOU SHOULD WEAR TO CHURCH FIRST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE FIRST PERSON TO GROW A TOMATO AFTER WINTER IS
CONSIDERED THE BEST "CITY FARMER" AMONG HIS FRIENDS
THAT YEAR.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HAS KNOWN THIS CUSTOM SINCE 1947.
HE SAYS IT GIVES PRESTIGE AMONG PEERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F476 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Year |
POLISH CUSTOM
THE "SIGN OF THE CROSS" WAS MADE OVER FRESHLY BAKED
BREAD AS A PREVENTIVE AGAINST THE DEVIL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
HAWAIIAN FESTIVAL
THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT OF A CHILD IS HIS FIRST
BIRTHDAY. IT IS CELEBRATED BY HAVING A "LUAU," WHICH
IS THE NAME FOR THE FEAST OF ROAST PIG THAT THEY HAVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: 04-08-1971
WHEN SOMEONE GETS A NEW HOME, BRING SALT AND COAL FOR
LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 02-28-1970