Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IF YOU POUT, YOUR LIP WILL REMAIN THAT WAY.
Submitter comment: MRS. D. LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER, AS A CHILD.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 11-22-1963
SUPERSTITION
THE MAIN WEAPON OF THE GURKA INDIANS, MANY OF WHOM FOUGHT FOR
THE UNITED STATES DURING WORLD WAR 2, IS A LARGE KNIFE WHICH THEY
ALWAYS CARRIED WITH THEM. THEY WOULD NOT DRAW THIS KNIFE UNLESS
IT WOULD COME IN CONTACT WITH BLOOD, AS THEY BELIEVED THAT THE
FAILURE TO DO THIS WOULD BRING THEM BAD LUCK. THEY SO BELIEVED IN
THIS SUPERSTITION THAT IF THE KNIFE WAS EVER USED AND DID NOT
DRAW THE BLOOD OF SOMEONE ELSE, THEY WOULD CUT THEMSELVES BEFORE
PUTTING IT AWAY.
Keyword(s): CONVERSION
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Occupation War BELIEF -- War BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 10-27-1969
WEATHER BELIEF
A BLACK BELIEF IS THAT BLACKS HAVE A GREATER SUSCEPTIBILITY TO
PNEUMONIA WHEN IT RAINS AND ARE BEST PROTECTED FROM THIS BY
WEARING A HAT.
Submitter comment: BLACK CUSTOM
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AFRO-AMERICAN
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Head BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00001940S
BAD LUCK FOOD OMEN
DONT EAT A LEMON WHOLE: YOU'LL LOSE YOUR BLOOD.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A BELIEF FROM MY MOTHER'S HOME IN SABINAS MEXICO. IT'S HISTO
RY IS UNKNOWN. BUT INFORMANT SAYS OLDER PEOPLE BELLIEVE IT.
HISTORY
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-00-1981
HAIR OMEN
MEN SHOULD NOT WEAR HATS OR THEY'LL GO BALD.
Submitter comment:
FROM MEXICO, MANY PEOPLE STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS CUSTOM. THE INFORMANT,
MY MOTHER, COMMENTED THAT HER MOTHER FREQUENTLY SAID THIS TO HER HUS
BAND.
HUSBAND
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-00-1981
ST JOHNS DAY
ON JUNE 24 OF EVERY YEAR PEOPLE OF THE VILLAGE GO TO THE RIVER TO
BATHE AND GET THEIR HAIR CUT: IT:S GOOD LUCK BECAUSE IT WILL GROW
(JUNE 24 IS SAINT JOHN THE BAPTISTI DAY).
Submitter comment:
THIS CUSTOM IS PRACTICED IN MEXICO. HISTORICALLY IT TIES IN
RELIGIOUS WITH PAGAN CUSTOMS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BATHE, WATER
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June 24 St. John's Day / Midsummer Day BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-00-1981
HAIR BELIEF
IN MEXICO ITS A CUSTOM FOR CHILDREN NOT TO GET THEIR HAIRCUT FOR THE
FIRST YEAR OF THEIR LIFE OR THEY'LL GO BLIND.
Submitter comment:
A BELIEF OF SABINAS MEXICO AND THE INFORMANT PRACTICED IT ON HER CHIL
DREN (THE COLLECTOR INCLUDED). THE INFORMANT DOES'NT BELLIEVE THE
CHILDREN WILL GO BLIND BUT PRACTICES IT BECAUSE IT'S TRADITION.
CHILDREN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 11-00-1981
BAD LUCK BIRTH
CHILDREN BORN DURING AN ECLIPSE WILL BE DEFORMED
Submitter comment:
A BELIEF OF SABINAS, HIDALGO MEXICO; BUT THE INFORMANT, WHO WAS RAI
SED THERE, EXPRESSED LITTLE FAITH IN IT.
RAISED
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Sun BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 11-00-1981
PROVERB
PUT BREAD BETWEEN YOUR TEETH AND YOUR HUNGER SHALL RETURN.
Submitter comment:
THE MEANING BEHIND THIS SAYING IS LITERAL. IF A PERSON, FOR EXAMPLE,
COMES HOME FROM WORK AND SAYS HE/SHE IS NOT HUNGRY, IT WILL TAKE
JUST ONE BITE OF THE DINNER THAT HAS BEEN PREPARED TO CHANGE THEIR
MIND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 02-25-1982
IF YOU CROSS THE BATS IN THE DUGOUT, IT MEANS SOMEONE WILL
GET HURT.
Submitter comment:
CROSSING THE BATS MEANS CRISS-CROSSING EITHER THE HANDLES
OR THE BARRELS OF THE BATS (NOT PASSING IN FRONT OF THEM).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Date learned: 00001970S
WHILE CHANTING "STEP ON A CRACK, BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK",
SCHOOL CHILDREN WILL ATTEMPT TO FORCE OTHERS TO STEP ON THE
CRACKS OF A SIDEWALK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.520 BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001960S
WHEN THE OPPOSITE SEX COMES NEAR YOU, CROSS THE FIRST TWO FINGERS
OF YOUR RIGHT HAND AND PLACE THEM ON THE BACK OF YOUR LEFT HAND.
THIS PROTECTS YOU FROM "COOTIES".
Submitter comment:
THIS IS FOR GRADE SCHOOL CHILDREN, WHO ARE CONVINCED THAT THE
OPPOSITE SEX CARRIES SOME SORT OF INFECTIOUS GERM (COOTIES).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Date learned: 00001960S
HEALTH PROVERB
AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY.
Submitter comment:
SUPPOSEDLY, ALL THE NUTRIENTS OF AN APPLE WILL KEEP YOU
HEALTHY. THIS IS NOT TRUE FOR ME BECAUSE I'M HYPOGLYCEMIC,
AND I CAN'T EAT FOODS HIGH IN CARBOHYDRATES--SUCH AS APPLES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): METONYMY: DOCTOR FOR DISEASE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00001960S
IF A MAN DRINKS WATER AT NIGHT AND LEAVES THE VESSEL UNCOVERED, HIS
SOUL WILL PLUNGE INTO IT DURING THE NIGHT, AND IF SOMEONE
ACCIDENTALLY PUTS ON THE LID, HE WILL DIE AT ONCE.
Submitter comment:
THIS EAST AFRICAN BELIEF RELATES TO HEALTH HABITS AND THE NEED TO
KEEP DRINKING WATER PURE.
Where learned: TANZANIA ; EAST AFRICA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
IT IS FORBIDDEN TO DRINK WATER FROM A LADLE WITHOUT VIGOROUSLY
SHAKING IT FIRST.
Submitter comment:
THIS EAST AFRICAN BELIEF CONVEYS A USEFUL HABIT, FOR IT IS IMPORTANT
TO ENSURE THAT THE LADLE IS CLEAN AND FREE FROM INSECTS.
Where learned: TANZANIA ; EAST AFRICA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
IF YOU TREAD ON FOOD DELIBERATELY YOU WILL GET ELEPHANTIASIS.
Submitter comment:
THIS EAST AFRICAN BELIEF HAS RELIGIOUS OVERTONES RELATING TO THE
ABHORRENCE OF WASTE.
Where learned: TANZANIA ; EAST AFRICA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
IF A MAN GOES TO BED WITHOUT WASHING HIS FEET, THE SOLES OF HIS FEET
WILL BE LICKED BY THE DEVIL.
Submitter comment: THIS EAST AFRICAN BELIEF IS MEANT TO ENCOURAGE PERSONAL CLEANLINESS.
Where learned: TANZANIA ; EAST AFRICA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
IF ONE GOES TO BED WITHOUT WASHING ONE'S FEET, THEY WILL LIE IN THE
FIRES OF HELL.
Submitter comment: THIS EAST AFRICAN BELIEF IS MEANT TO ENCOURAGE PERSONAL CLEANLINESS.
Where learned: TANZANIA ; EAST AFRICA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
WEARING WET CLOTHES BRINGS POVERTY. (THIS BELIEF TEACHES PEOPLE TO
AVOID CATCHING COLD.)
Where learned: TANZANIA ; EAST AFRICA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
MANY COBWEBS IN A HOUSE WILL CAUSE FORGETFULNESS. (THIS TEACHES
CLEANLINESS AND TIDINESS.)
Where learned: TANZANIA ; EAST AFRICA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-00-1982