Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P542 returned 854 results.
DESERTED CHILD
THERE WAS A PREGNANT WOMAN. WHEN THE BABY WAS BORN HER HUSBAND
DIED. SHE BLAMED THE BABY AND LOCKED HIM UP IN THE ATTIC. THE
CHILD WAS ALWAYS BY THE WINDOW AND USED TO WATCH THE FIRE-ENGINES
PASS BY. THE WOMAN NEVER OPENED THE DOOR TO THE ATTIC AND EVEN
FED HIM THROUGH THE DOOR. ONE DAY THE WOMAN HAD COMPANY AND
FORGOT TO LOCK THE DOOR. THE BOY WAS TWELVE YEARS OLD AT THIS
TIME AND HE ESCAPED FROM THE ATTIC AND HOPPED DOWN THE STREET
LIKE A KANGAROO AND SCREAMED WRRRRRRR... JUST LIKE A FIRE-ENGINE.
THIS IS TRUE.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM A GIRLFRIEND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Keyword(s): STRANGE CHILDREN
James Callow Keyword(s): INTERNMENT CONFINEMENT ; ISOLATION ; SOLITUDE
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 08-00-1964
IT IS BAD LUCK IF SOME ONE GIVES YOU BABY ARTICLES AS SOON AS YOU
KNOW YOU ARE PREGNANT.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR ; TOLD AT HER HOME
Keyword(s): IMPLIED WARNING ; MISFORTUNE
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFT-GIVING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-15-1970
IF A CHILD CRIES CONSTANTLY, ITS MOTHER WAS HUNGRY DURING PREGNANCY
FOR SOMETHING SHE NEVER GOT.
Keyword(s): FOOD EATING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 03-03-1968
BAMBOO DIPPERS
PREGNANT JAPANESE WOMEN BELIEVE IN OFFERING A BAMBOO DIPPER TO
SHRINES. THE BOTTOMS ARE BROKEN THROUGH,
SYMBOLIZING AN EASY DELIVERY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
BELIEF
IF DURING PREGNANCY A WOMAN HAS HEARTBURN CONSTANTLY, THEN THE BABY
WILL BE BORN WITH A LOT OF HAIR. IF THE WOMAN EXPERIENCES NO
HEARTBURN THEN THE BABY WILL BE BORN BALD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT INFORMANTS HOME
Keyword(s): PREDICTION SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
A WOMAN SHOULD ALWAYS DRINK BEER DURING PREGNANCY.
IT MAKES THE BABY GOOD LOOKING.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT REVEALED THAT HE HEARD THIS FROM HIS FATHER WHO OWNED A BA
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): PREDICTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Fermented BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 11-26-1971
SUPERSTITION
IF THE MOTHER IS STRUCK WITH SOMETHING, THE BABY HAS A BIRTHMARK
IN THE SHAPE OF THAT OBJECT.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: CA00001933
BRIDAL SHOWER SUPERSTITION
FOR EVERY RIBBON THAT YOU CUT WITH SCISSORS ON A SHOWER GIFT, YOU
WILL HAVE A BABY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Farmington Hills
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs |
Date learned: CA0001978
PREDICTING HOW MANY CHILDREN A FUTURE BRIDE WILL HAVE.
AT A BRIDAL SHOWER, THE NUMBER OF RIBBONS ON THE PRESENTS, BROKEN
PREDICTS THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN SHE WILL HAVE
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
Keyword(s): Babies ; BELIEF ; Bride ; CHILDREN ; CUSTOM ; FAMILY ; GAME ; GIFT ; MARRIAGE ; Newlyweds ; Offspring ; PREDICTION ; Ribbon
Date learned: 04-00-1980
CHIVALUNA.
IF A WOMAN IS PREGNANT AND IS WALKING AT NIGHT WHEN THERE IS
A FULL MOON AND SHE SCRATCHES HERSELF THEN THE BABY WILL HAVE A BIRT
MARK WHERE SHE SCRATCHED. THIS IS CALLED "CHIVALUNA".
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
Date learned: 04-00-1980
EXPLANATION OF CHILD DEFORMITIES
IF A CHILD IS BORN DEFORMED IT IS BELIEVED THAT HIS FATHER IS AN
ALCOHOLIC.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 04-00-1980
BELIEF IN A MEANS OF CAUSING ILLNESS
IF A WOMAN BREAST FEEDS HER BABY AFTER HAVING BEEN ANGRY WITH
SOMEONE, THE BABY WILL GET SICK TO HIS STOMACH.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER SISTER, GRACIA ESQUIVEL WHO IS A
HOUSEWIFE OF 23.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
PREDICTION DIVINATION BELIEF
IN COUNTRY VILLAGES THE PEOPLE CAN FORETELL WHAT IS HAPPENING IN A
CERTAIN HOUSEHOLD BY LISTENING TO THE CALLS OF A NIGHT HAWK ON THE
FAMILY'S PROPERTY. WHEN THE BIRD SINGS "POVIT, POVIT" IT MEANS A
CHILD WILL BE BORN. WHEN IT CRIES "PO-JSC, PO-JSC" IT MEANS
SOMEONE WILL SOON DIE.
Submitter comment:
IN THE POLISH LANGUAGE, THE WORD "POWIC" MEANS TO BRING FORTH,
"POJSC" MEANS TO LEAVE OR GO. INFORMANT CLAIMS THAT MANY PEOPLE
BELIEVE IN THIS STILL. HE LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD FROM HIS MOTHER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- Onomatopoeia |
Date learned: 02-07-1980 ; 00-00-1934
WHEN A WOMAN IS PREGNANT, SHE SHOULD NOT LOOK AT A BURNING FIRE OR
THE BABY WILL BE BORN SCARED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: CA00001950
AT A WEDDING SHOWER, THE NUMBER OF RIBBONS THE BRIDE-TO-BE BREAKS
WHILE OPENING HER GIFTS SHOWS THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN SHE WILL HAVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs |
IN EUROPE, NO PREGNANT WOMEN WERE ALLOWED IN A BREWERY BECAUSE THEY
WERE BELIEVED TO SPOIL THE BEER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Fermented BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 02-17-1980
WHEN A WOMAN IS PREGNANT SHE SHOULD NOT DRINK CREAM OR MILK IN HER
COFFEE BECAUSE, IF SHE DOES, HER BABY WILL HAVE BROWN BIRTH MARKS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
IR YOU ARE UGLY WHEN YOU ARE BORN, YOU WILL BE BEAUTIFUL WHEN YOU
DIE AND IF YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL WHEN YOU ARE BORN, YOU WILL BE UGLY
WHEN YOU DIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 03-28-1980
DETERMINING SEX OF UNBORN CHILD
IF A WOMAN IS PREGNANT WHEN THERE IS A FULL MOON, THEN SHE WILL
BEAR A SON--ANY OTHER SHAPE OF THE MOON WILL RESULT IN A GIRL.
Submitter comment:
IN SICILIAN FAMILIES THE MALE IS THE DOMINANT FIGURE JUST AS THE
FULL MOON APPEARS TO BE MORE POWERFUL THAN ANY OTHER SHAPE OF
THE MOON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: CA00001950
GERMAN-AMERICAN MARRIAGE CUSTOM
BEFORE GERMAN MEN GET MARRIED, THEY MUST EAT TWO RAW EGGS THE
NIGHT BEFORE THE WEDDING TO PRODUCE A LARGE FAMILY.
Submitter comment: THE EGG IS A FERTILITY SYMBOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Food Drink -- Animal product Egg BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: CA00001930