Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P533 returned 1136 results.
FIRST COMPANY
INFORMANT AND HER NEIGHBORS BELIEVE THAT ANY GUESTS ON THE
FIRST DAY OF A NEW YEAR WHO ENTER BY ONE DOOR AND
LEAVE BY ANOTHER WILL FORETELL BY THIS ACTION THAT MANY
GUESTS (MORE THAN USUAL) WILL VISIT THE HOUSE IN THE
ENSUING YEAR. THE MAJORITY OF THESE VISITORS WOULD BE MERELY
ACQUAINTANCES PEOPLE NOT TOO CLOSE TO THE FAMILY. SO THE
HOUSE IS CURSED TO BEING SOMETHING LIKE A TRAIN STATION.
CROWDS OF IMPERSONAL PEOPLE WILL COME AND GO, FEW
BRINGING WITH THEM THE WARMTH OF REAL FRIENDSHIP.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share same surname and place of residence.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRASER
SCOTTISH-IRISH CUSTOM
THEY CALL THIS FIRST-FOOTING. IT IS A SCOTTISH CUSTOM ALSO FOUND
IN SCOTTISH INFLUENCE AREAS OF IRELAND.
YOUR HOME AND YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK IF YOUR FIRST VISTOR IN THE
NEW YEAR IS A DARK HAIRED MAN, ESPECIALLY IF HE BRINGS YOU A PIECE
OF COAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
Keyword(s): COAL ; GIFTGIVING
Date learned: 02-04-1968
NEW YEAR'S EVE
IF A STRANGER ENTERS YOUR HOUSE THROUGH THE
BACK DOOR ON NEW YEAR'S EVE YOU'LL HAVE BAD LUCK ALL YEAR.
Submitter comment:
NOT BELIEVED
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; FIRST FOOTING ; LOCATION ; POSITION
Date learned: 00-00-1968
NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM
IF YOU ARE THE FIRST PERSON TO ENTER
A FRIEND'S HOME, YOU MUST GIVE THEM A GIFT.
Submitter comment:
LEARNED FROM GRANDMOTHER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GIFTGIVING
Date learned: 12-06-1967
CUSTOM-FIRST FOOTING
THE FIRST PERSON TO STEP FOOT IN YOUR HOUSE AFTER THE NEW YEAR
CANNOT DO SO EMPTY-HANDED. IF THEY DO IT MEANS THAT YOU AND YOUR
FAMILY WILL HAVE A LEAN YEAR. IF THEY BRING A GIFT, THEN YOU AND
YOUR FAMILY WILL HAVE A FAT YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC ; SYMBOLIC ACTION
Date learned: 09-26-1965
SUPERSTITION
WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER GAVE A SET OF KNIVES AS A GIFT TO OUR FAMILY
SHE MADE MY DAD GIVE HER A NICKEL. SHE SAID IT WAS BAD LUCK TO GIVE
KNIVES AWAY. YOU HAVE TO SELL THEM.
Submitter comment:
JULIE'S GRANDMOTHER HAD A FAIRLY STRONG BELIEF IN THE TRUTH OF THIS
SUPERSTITION. JULIE'S FATHER DIDN'T REALLY THINK IT WOULD BE BAD
LUCK TO ACCEPT THE KNIVES WITHOUT GIVING ANY MONEY BUT GAVE HER A
NICKEL ANYWAY. JULIE FEELS HER GRANDMOTHER IS A LITTLE SUPERSTITIOUS
AND WHEN ASKED IF SHE WOULD ASK FOR MONEY IN EXCHANGE FOR A GIFT OF
KNIVES REPLIED "NO}" RATHER INDIGNANTLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.18 |
SUPERSTITION
WHEN GIVING KNIVES TO SOMEONE, ALWAYS PUT A PENNY IN WITH THEM OR
YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
I WAS STRUCK BY THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THIS AND A SIMILAR SUPERSTITION
WHICH I COLLECTED FROM JULIE SCHMOKE (753306-1). JULIE'S GRANDMOTHER
THOUGHT IT WAS BAD LUCK UNLESS THE PERSON RECEIVING THE KNIVES GAVE
HER MONEY WHEREAS HERE THE MONEY IS GIVEN BY THE GIVER OF THE GIFT.
MY MOTHER DOES NOT BELIEVE OR PRACTICE THIS.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.18 |
SUPERSTITION
WHEN YOU'RE RIDING IN A CAR HOLD YOUR FEET UP WHEN YOU GO OVER
RAILROAD TRACKS OR YOU WILL LOSE YOUR BOYFRIEND.
Submitter comment:
THIS REFERS TO GIRLS OF COURSE. JULIE LEARNED THIS FROM HER FRIENDS
IN MIDLAND, MICHIGAN. IT WAS PRACTICED NOT SERIOUSLY BUT IN FUN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: CA00001970
BAD LUCK
WHEN WANTING TO LOOK AT ANOTHER PERSON'S RING, LET THEM PULL IT OFF,
BECAUSE IF YOU DO IT YOURSELF, YOU AND THAT PERSON WILL BECOME
ENEMIES.
Where learned: PHILIPPINES ; MAKATI
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001960S
IF YOU GIVE A FORTUNE PLANT AWAY, THE PERSON WHO RECEIVES IT
WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A FILIPINO BELIEF.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 11-21-1977
WEDDINGS
IN CHURCH ON THE DAY OF THE WEDDING WHOEVER STEPS ON THE OTHER'S
FOOT WILL BE THE DOMINANT ONE IN THE MARRIAGE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Marriage Ceremony |
Date learned: 10-00-1977
SEPARATION BETWEEN FRIENDS
IF YOU GIVE SOMEONE A HANDKERCHIEF IT WILL CAUSE A LONG SEPARATION
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT DOESN'T BELIEVE THIS
BUT SHE HAS A CLOSE FRIEND THAT DOES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-00-1977
TRAVELING
WHEN SOMEONE IS GOING SOMEWHERE FAR, AS THEY ARE LEAVING CHASE AFTER
THE CAR AND THROW WATER AT THEM THEN THEY WILL RETURN WITH NO PROBLEM
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 10-00-1977
OMENS
IF YOU LEAVE SCISSORS OPEN INSTEAD OF CLOSED THERE MIGHT BE A FIGHT
IN THE HOUSE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-00-1977
BLACK MAGIC
PUTTING SALT ON THE FLOOR AND SWEEPING IT OUT THE DOOR BEHIND THE
PERSON, KEEPS THE PERSON FROM COMING BACK TO YOUR HOUSE.
Submitter comment:
THIS TYPE OF BLACK MAGIC IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE DONE TO EVIL PEOPLE
OR PEOPLE YOU DISLIKE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
SUPERSTITION OF WOMEN
BAD LUCK ALL DAY, ON MONDAY A WOMAN COMES TO YOUR HOUSE FIRST.
(THAT IS IN THE MORNING.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 11-07-1977
SUPERSTITION
DON'T ACCEPT A PURSE AS A GIFT UNLESS IT HAS THREE
PENNIES IN IT, OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THIS INFORMATION WAS HEARD FROM MY MOTHER, STELLA KRZYZANOWSKI
AND FROM A FRIEND, BARBARA KLEIN. STELLA KRZYZANOWSKI AND
BARBARA KLEIN LIVE IN DETROIT AND ARE OF POLISH DESCENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 10-20-1977
SUPERSTITION
DON'T ACCEPT STRAIGHT PINS AS A GIFT. IT'S BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT DOES NOT BELIEVE THIS SUPERSTITION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK ; SAINT FLORIAN HIGH SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 00-00-1973
POLISH SUPERSTITION
IF YOU ACCEPT OLD KNIVES FROM SOMEONE, YOU WILL HAVE MISFORTUNE.
Submitter comment:
STELLA KRZYZANOWSKI LEARNED THIS SUPERSTITION FROM HER MOTHER,
JULIA WASIELEWSKI. THIS SUPERSTITION IS TAKEN AS FACT. IT
CAME ABOUT PROBABLY BECAUSE IT WOULD BE HIGHLY UNLIKELY
ANYONE WOULD MAKE A GIFT OF OLD KNIVES. IF THEY WOULD, THE
GIFT WOULD CAUSE SUSPICION ON THE PART OF THE WOULD-BE
RECIPIENT. THE KNIVES CAUSING MISFORTUNE MAY REPRESENT THE
ABILITY OF A KNIFE TO HARM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 10-02-1977
POLISH SUPERSTITION
ACCEPTING A MIRROR AS A GIFT BRINGS YOU BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
STELLA KRZYZANOWSKI LEARNED THIS SUPERSTITION FROM HER MOTHER, JULIA
WASIELEWSKI. THIS SUPERSTITION COMES FROM THE FACT THAT SOME
PREVIOUS INFORMANT KNEW SOMEONE WHO DIED AFTER ACCEPTING A
MIRROR AS A GIFT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 10-07-1977