Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P477 returned 904 results.
MONSTER BELIEF
IF YOU GO OUT OF YOUR HOUSE WHEN YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN BED
AT NIGHT, THE BESTIA WILL CARRY YOU OFF NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN.
THE BESTIA IS AS BIG AS A HOUSE.
Submitter comment:
BESTIA MEANS BEAST IN ITALIAN. THIS SUPERSTITION WAS ACTUALLY
BELIEVED BY THE INFORMANT'S GRANDFATHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CLINTON TOWNSHIP
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Supernatural Being BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-00-1982
HAIR CUTTING BELIEF
HAVING YOUR HAIR CUT ON GOOD FRIDAY WILL BRING GOOD LUCK
FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. MY GRANDMOTHER TOLD THIS TO MY
MOTHER IN DUQUESNE, PENNSYLVANIA AROUND 1945. MY MOTHER
THINKS THAT MY GRANDMOTHER BELIEVED IT TO BE TRUE BUT
DOESN'T RECALL ANYONE ACTUALLY HAVING THEIR HAIR CUT ON
GOOD FRIDAY IN ORDER TO BRING GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THE GRANDMOTHER, ELIZABETH DORULLA MARTIN IS OF SLOVAKIAN
DESCENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Date learned: 09-00-1982
SUPERSTITION
IF YOUR EARS ARE RINGING, SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT YOU.
Where learned: SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | 842 Ringing ears / buzzing / hot, burning BELIEF -- Body part Senses Ears, noise in ear BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001970S
IF PEOPLE PRAISE YOU TOO MUCH THEY ARE REALLY JEALOUS OF YOU.
THEY ARE ACTUALLY WISHING YOU HARM SO THEY ARE GIVING YOU THE EVIL
EYE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 11-00-1982
IF TWO OR MORE PEOPLE COMB YOUR HAIR AT ONE TIME, THE YOUNGEST
WILL DIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 00001950S
CUTTING YOUR FINGERNAILS ON SUNDAY BRINGS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MUSKEGON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
Date learned: 09-19-1982
"IN CARROLTON, ALABAMA, THERE IS THIS FACE OF A MAN IN THE
COURTHOUSE WINDOW. HE WAS EXECUTED FOR A CRIME HE DID NOT
COMMIT AND HAS HAUNTED THE COURTHOUSE SINCE THEN. THE WINDOW HAS
SUPPOSEDLY BEEN REPLACED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THE FACE WILL NOT
NOT GO AWAY."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MUSKEGON
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 09-19-1982
"LOOKING INTO AN EMPTY GRAVE IS TABOO FOR A PREGNANT WOMAN: HER
UNBORN CHILD WILL BE GREEDY BECAUSE HE/SHE CAN'T BE FILLED."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MUSKEGON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 09-19-1982
WHEN A FEMALE IS IN HER CYCLE, SHE SHOULDN'T TOUCH
ANY PLANT OR CROPS BECAUSE IF SHE DOES THEN THEY WILL
DIE. THE REASON FOR THIS IS BECAUSE GOD CURSED WOMEN WITH
THIS CURSE BECAUSE EVE NED AND SO THE CURSE IS SIN
SINFUL AND CAN KILL LIVING PLANTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MENSTRUATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Creation and Order of Human Life BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
YOU SHOULD NEVER MENTION A DEAD PERSON'S NAME IN VAIN
BECAUSE THEY WILL COME AND PUNISH YOU FOR IT BY HAUNTING
YOUR HOUSE OR BY PLAYING MEAN TRICKS ON YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NAME TABU
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 04-00-1983
YOU SHOULD NEVER GO SWIMMING WHEN IT'S RAINING OUTSIDE.
YOU SHOULD GO AFTER IT RAINS SO THAT YOU CAN CLEANSE
YOURSELF WITH RAIN WATER WHICH IS ANGEL TEARS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Angel BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 03-00-1983
IF YOU SLEEP ON YOUR RIGHT SIDE THEN YOU'LL BE A
GRUMPY PERSON, BUT IF YOU SLEEP ON YOUR LEFT SIDE
YOU'LL BE NICE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PERSONALITY ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 02-00-1983
IN THE GRADUATE LIBRARY (AT U. OF M.), MOST OF THE STUDY
CARRELS HAVE WINDOWS NEXT TO THEM, BUT THERE IS THIS ONE
THAT HAS A DOOR WHERE THE WINDOW USUALLY IS, AND IT'S MISSING
ITS DOORKNOB. THE DOOR HAS BEEN SHUT LIKE THAT FOR ABOUT
THIRTY YEARS AND A BIG CONTROVERSIAL QUESTION HAS ARISEN:
"WHAT IS BEHIND THAT DOOR?" THE ANSWER THAT SATISFIES MOST
PEOPLE FOR GOOD IS "THE BONES OF THOSE WHO LOOKED." THE CAMPUS
MAY NEVER KNOW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
James Callow Keyword(s): FATAL CURIOSITY ; HUMOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-00-1983
BELIEF
NEVER SWEEP A PERSON FEET. THEY WILL END UP IN JAIL.
BEFORE THE WEEK IS OUT.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; HAYNESVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 01-00-0198
LEGEND OF THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
THE CHURCH OF THE CHALDEANS WAS THE FIRST TO BE ESTABLISHED.
THE MAGI WHO VISITED JESUS, GIVING HIM GIFTS RETURNED
TO THE ORIENT FROM WHICH THEY CAME. THIS WAS IN MESOPOTAMIA.
CHALDEA WAS LOCATED THERE. THE MAGI BEGAN TO SPREAD THE
NEWS OF THE CHRIST AND JESUS TO ALL PEOPLES IN THE AREA
WHERE THEN THE EASTERN RITE CHURCH WAS BORN. JESUS WAS
PREACHED TO ALL PEOPLES THAT HE WILL SAVE THE WORLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: 10-17-1983
LEGEND OF THE FIRST LANGUAGE EVER SPOKEN
IN SAINT JOHN'S GOSPEL HE BEGINS WITH THE WORD WHICH WAS
IN THE BEGINNING. GOD MUST HAVE USED WORDS TO COMMUNICATE,
SO GOD, IN ORDER TO CREATE A LANGUAGE, USED ARAMAIC. HISTORY
RECORDS THAT ARAMAIC IS AN ANCIENT LANGUAGE USED DURING
THE FIRST CIVILIZATION IN HISTORY IN MESOPOTAMIA IN THE
AREA OF THE TIGRIS-EUPHRATES RIVERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Date learned: 10-17-1983
SNEEZING LORE
SAY BRAHMA OR GOD BLESS YOU AFTER ONE SNEEZES TO GIVE GOD'S GRACE
FOR GOOD HEALTH.
SAY SHAHADIH AFTER ONE SAYS OR THINKS UP SOMETHING ABOUT SOME
PERSON, PLACE, OR THING WHEN ONE SNEEZES. THEN IT IS TRUE ABOUT
IT. E.G. I SAY WE WILL BE RICH ONE DAY, THEN A PERSON SNEEZES.
THEN IT WILL BE TRUE. IT IS LIKE A CERTIFICATE OF GRADUATION.
BRAHMA MEANS GOD BLESS YOU, AND SHAHADIH MEANS IT IS CERTIFICATION
TO THE TRUTH. BOTH ARE CHALDEAN WORDS OR DIALECT.
I ONCE READ IN A DOCTOR'S COLUMN THAT IF ONE SNEEZES, ONE WILL
LOSE 15 SECONDS OF ONE'S LIFE. IT IS ACCREDITTED TO BIOLOGICAL
REASONS.
Submitter comment: I PICKED THIS LORE UP MOSTLY FROM HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRANKLIN VILLAGE
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001960S
IF THE HEM ON YOUR DRESS IS TURNED UP (ON THE OUTSIDE),
THEN YOU ARE GOING TO GET A NEW DRESS.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; BALDWIN COUNTY ; FOLEY
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001940-00001958
FAMILY KEPT DIME TAPED TO THE BOTTOM OF AN INFANT OF PRAGUE
RELIGIOUS STATUE TO GUARANTEE THAT THE HOUSEHOLD WOULD
NEVER BE WITHOUT FOOD.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Monetary system Money Wealth BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1953
THERE IS A HOUSE ON CATAWBA ISLAND DATED 1859 THAT WAS
INHABITED BY BETSY MOJOHN, AN ALCOHOLIC INDIAN MARRIED
TO A WHITE MAN. SHE GOT HER NAME FROM THE MANNER IN
WHICH SHE ASKED HER HUSBAND JOHN FOR MORE LIQUOR.
Where learned: OHIO ; CATAWBA ISLAND
James Callow Keyword(s): MORE, JOHN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-00-1983