Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P475 returned 568 results.
Mafia Tradition
Mafia members send white roses to the widow of an
enemy upon his death. This means that they will take
care of the widow. The grudge is broken because her
husband is dead.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 00001972CA
On the day of an outside party, hang a rosary on
a tree. This will be a token of good luck so that
it doesn't rain. My friend's mother did on the
day of her daughter's graduation party--it did not rain.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 11-16-1990
HORSERADISH WILL PUT HAIR ON YOUR CHEST.
IF A CHILD EATS A LOT OF HORSERADISH, HE WILL GROW UP
TO HAVE A HAIRY CHEST.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS LEARNED FROM MY GRANDFATHER WHO DID NOT DISTINGUISH
BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE CHILDREN WHEN TELLING OF THESE MAGICAL
POWERS OF HORSERADISH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00001976CA
Hawaiian Island Folklore
Find a lava rock. Take the rock and wrap it in a tea leaf and
set it down in front of the ocean. Make a wish. Your wish
will be granted in three days by the gods of the islands.
Submitter comment:
This is one of the folktales that Albert brought back with
him when he came back to the U.S. after his second honeymoon.
My father is good friends with this man and he told us the
story over dinner at our house. His mood was wishful and
mysterious when he was describing this folktale.
Where learned: Item was learned in the state of Hawaii
Keyword(s): lava, tea, ocean.
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1989
The phrase "knock on wood" originates from Ireland
in a time when people believed in fairies, trolls
and gnomes. It was believed that gnomes resided in
anything wooden and that they were cruel and
mischievous. When a person spoke of good times or good things
then they must knock on the wood to make sure that
the gnomes didn't hear them or to scare them away.
They believed that the gnomes would bring bad luck
on the optimist who spoke.
Submitter comment:
The informant heard this from her grandfather whose
father was from Ireland.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; Black Kettle
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970S
In Russia, newlyweds place flowers at the nearest statue
of Lenin for good luck throughout their marriage.
Where learned: NEW JERSEY ; Tuckerton
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Good luck |
If you hang wolfbang (an herb) above the
kitchen door all will be well in your house.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; wolfbane?
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Home BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 00001985ca
To cure asthma, take the child outside and place him/her in
front of a tree on your property. Take a nail and drive it
into the tree at the same level as the top of your child's
head. Make sure the nail can slide in and out of the hole
easily, so that the hole will remain a permanent part of the
tree. If it closes up repeat the process, every year until
the asthma goes away.
Submitter comment:
The informant told me that since most children outgrow asthma
as they enter adolescence this is done for only two years
maybe before it is believed that this has cured him/her.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MEASURING ; PLUGGING
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 03-00-1991
If you eat the seeds of a watermelon then you will grow a
watermelon plant in your belly and it will kill you.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
There is a tale of mistletoe that tells of priests
harvesting it, never letting it touch the ground.
It thereafter was hung over doors and arches as a
sign of welcome to priests, and as a protection
against witches.
Submitter comment:
Some priests still practice this for sake of
tradition.
Where learned: ENGLAND ; LONDON
Keyword(s): SAFETY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Autumn Fall Harvest Thanksgiving BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00-00-1990
In England myrtle is considered lucky. In Wales
myrtle is planted on each side of a home to
insure love & to keep the atmosphere peaceful.
Submitter comment: Many people still consider myrtle a sign of peace.
Where learned: ENGLAND ; LONDON
Keyword(s): nature, beauty
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1990
MY FAMILY AND I WENT APPLE PICKING EVERY FALL OF MY
CHILDHOOD. WE WOULD GO TO ROMEO, MICHIGAN'S "BIG RED APPLE
ORCHARD AND RIDE A HAY WAGON TO THE TREES. ONE YEAR WHEN I WAS
ABOUT FIVE AND MY SISTER WAS ABOUT THREE, MY SISTER ATE AN APPLE--
SEEDS, CORE, AND ALL. MY GRANDPARENTS TOLD HER AN APPLE TREE
WOULD GROW IN HER TUMMY. SHE BELIEVED THEM AND SO DID I.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Autumn Fall Harvest Thanksgiving BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00001973CA
Before you eat an apple, take the stem and twist it around
until it comes off. Every time you make a twist, say a letter of
the alphabet, and the last letter that you say when the stem
breaks will be the first letter of the name of your husband.
Submitter comment:
Christine did this with her friends when she was younger to
see what her husband's name would be.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Word Letter BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00001970S
A penny in your shoe,
And wearing something blue.
Will keep your marriage true.
Submitter comment:
The informant can recall the exact date she learned this because
it is the day of her marriage to Willis Muckle. Her mother gave her
the penny and a blue flower for her hair. The marriage lasted more
than thirty-five years.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): LOVE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Color |
While you're pregnant don't eat hot peppers or hot sauce, because
it'll make you have a mean baby.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00-00-1991
It is believed in Greece that if an unmarried woman places three
"koufetta," meaning sugar-coated almonds, taken from a priest's tray
(meaning they were blessed) during a wedding, and places them under
her pillow at night while she is sleeping, she will see in her dreams
who she is to marry. The same is true for an unmarried male.
Where learned: GREECE
Date learned: 00001950CA
There is a saying in Greece that if one eats too much of one
certain kind of food every single day, in time a plant producing that
type of food will take root and grow inside of that person.
Submitter comment:
My informant made it clear that this is only a saying and is not
believed by the people of Greece.
Where learned: GREECE
James Callow Keyword(s): threat, corrective
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001944CA
Crop prediction
Knee high by the fourth of July. If the corn stalks are at
knee height, then the crop will be abundant. If the crop is below
this point the crop will be rather sparse.
Submitter comment:
Jennifer's father is a farmer and so is her grandfather. Many
generations of farmers have worked the land she lives on. Her
family has acquired many superstitions and sayings about farming
in general.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sandusky
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- July 4 Independence Day BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00-00-1976
There was a belief that my mother told me that if a person had
done something and wanted to get away with it, all the person had
to do was to put some red peppers in their shoes by whoever was
the local voodoo person and that it would make it impossible for
anyone to trace or find that particular person.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Aberdeen
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Keep garlic in your purse so you will always have money.
Submitter comment:
This folklore always seemed to work as my sister always had
some money.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POST HOC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Date learned: 00-00-1968