Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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RABBIT
ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH, IF A PERSON SAYS
RABBIT THE VERY FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, THE
REST OF THE MONTH WILL BE GOOD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT ACTUALLY DOES THIS EACH MONTH, AND HAS
BEEN DOING THIS SINCE SHE WAS A CHILD. SHE LIVED
IN CALIFORNIA WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD.
Keyword(s): AWAKENING
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
CHRISTMAS BELIEF
IF A MAN DOES NOT ENTER THE HOUSE FIRST ON CHRISTMAS
MORNING, THE HOUSE WILL BE PLAGUED WITH SICKNESS AND BAD
LUCK DURING THE COMING YEAR. (THE STRONGER THE MAN THE
BETTER THE GOOD LUCK). THIS CUSTOM IS PRACTICED BY POLISH-AMERICANS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING ; SEXIST
Date learned: 10-25-1970
CZECH CHRISTMAS BELIEF
ON CHRISTMAS EVE, AFTER MIDNIGHT MASS, THE FIRST MEMBER OF THE
FAMILY TO RETURN HOME AND LOOK THROUGH THE KEYHOLE OF THE FRONT
DOOR OF HIS HOUSE WOULD SEE A VISION OF THE NEXT PERSON IN HIS
FAMILY TO DIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Date learned: 10-27-1969
"GRISWOLD BUILDING"
THIS BUILDING LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN DETROIT
DOESN'T HAVE A FOURTH FLOOR, BUT IT HAS A THIRTEENTH. THE OWNERS
LUCKY NUMBER WAS 13; HIS UNLUCKY NUMBER WAS 4.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Specific number by specific number being described 686 Fourths / Quarters Favorites |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY THE COLLECTOR
TELLING FORTUNES-PROTECTION AT SEA
THE SEVENTH DAUGHTER OF SEVEN DAUGHTERS, BORN WITH A VEIL, CAN TELL
FORTUNES.
THIS VEIL IS THEN GIVEN TO A SEA CAPTAIN, SO THAT HE WILL NOT PERISH
AT SEA
(IRISH)
Submitter comment:
MRS. DUNMIRE SAID THAT THIS HAPPENED TO HER MOTHER, AND THAT SHE
REALLY DID
HAVE THE POWER TO READ FORTUNES.
Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer Favorites BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Emblem |
Date learned: 01-00-1970
LYRICAL VERSE
OH, I DON'T CARE IF IT RAINS OR FREEZES,
LONG AS I HAVE MY PLASTIC JESUS,
RIDING ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR;
THUNDER ROAR AND LIGHTNING CRASH,
I WON'T FEAR; HE'S ON THE DASH,
TAKE HIM WITH YOU WHEN YOU TRAVEL FAR.
OH, I CAN DRIVE FROM COAST TO COAST,
LONG AS I HAVE MY HOLY GHOST,
RIDING ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR;
GOIN' NINETY I AIN'T WARY,
CAUSE I GOT MY VIRGIN MARY,
GUARANTEEIN' I WON'T GO TO HELL.
OH, I DON'T CARE IF IT'S DARK AND SCARY,
LONG AS I HAVE MY VIRGIN MARY,
RIDING ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; TOLD AT ; SAILING CLUB PARTY
Keyword(s): BIBLICAL ; FEMININE RHYME ; IMPERFECT RHYME: FREEZES JESUS ; RELIGION ; RHYME: AABCCB ; SLANG FOR DASHBOARD CLIPPING ; STATUES USED AS AMULETS IN AUTOMOBILES ; TRAVEL
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 10-23-1971
SEX OF UNBORN CHILD
IF YOU EAT TWIN BANANAS YOU WILL HAVE TWIN BABIES.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN THAILAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; informant's dorm
Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | 686 686.1.2 Favorites BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Date learned: 03-01-1971
UNIVERSITY BELIEF
THERE IS A TRADITION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN THAT IF
YOU STEP ON THE "M" EMBLAZED IN THE CROSSROADS OF THE SCHOOL,
YOU WILL FLUNK YOUR NEXT EXAM.
Submitter comment:
WHEN A STUDENT AT U OF M, THE INFORMANT TRIED TO DISPROVE THE
TRADITION BY STEPPING ON THE "M" AFTER STUDYING FOR A TEST AND
FEELING FAIRLY CONFIDENT. SHE FAILED HER EXAM.
Data entry tech comment:
THERE IS ANOTHER LIKE THIS IN THE ARCHIVE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; HOLDEN HALL ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EDUCATION ; SYMBOL ; WALKING PROHIBITION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- School |
Date learned: 12-01-1967
BIRTH BELIEF
AFTER A BABY IS BORN THERE IS A PIECE OF THE UMBILICAL CORD
WHICH IS STILL ATTACHED TO THE CHILD!S NAVEL. THIS PIECE WILL
EVENTUALLY FALL OFF. IF YOU THROW THIS PIECE AWAY, THE CHILD
WILL BE A RUN AROUND. IF YOU IMPLANT IT SOMEWHERE IN THE
HOME, THE CHILD WILL GROW UP AND NEVER LEAVE HOME.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S MOTHER DID THIS TO HER SON, HE IS 40 AND STILL LIVING
AT HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
THROAT CURE
AN INFANT SON, BORN IN WEDLOCK, BUT AFTER THE DEATH OF THE
FATHER, COULD CURE THROAT AILMENTS.
Submitter comment:
MRS. DUNMIRE SAID THAT HER MOTHER TOLD ABOUT PEOPLE COMING
FOR MILES TO HAVE HER BROTHER TOUCH THEIR THROATS. IN
COUNTY MAYO, IRELAND
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Curer |
Date learned: 01-00-1970
PREGNANCY BELIEF
MANY FEMALE PATIENTS EXPLAIN THEIR BAD TEETH AS BEING THE
RESULT OF CHILD BEARING. MANY MORE ASK THEIR DENTISTS IF HAVING
CHILDREN WILL CAUSE THEIR TEETH TO FALL OUT.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS A DENTIST WHO HEARD THE MATTER FROM HIS PATIENTS.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-22-1965
CEMETERY STATUE
THERE IS A CEMETERY IN WILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA WITH A SIX
FOOT STATUE OF A GIRL, DRESSED IN A FLOWING ROBE, CARRYING AN ARMFUL
OF SCHOOL BOOKS, PENCIL CASE, ETC.
THE HISTORY OF THE FIGURE IS AS FOLLOWS:
THE GIRL WAS COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL
ONE DAY WHEN SHE WAS ATTACKED, RAPED, AND KILLED BY TWO HOODLUMS,
ON THE DAY OF HER BIRTHDAY. HER PARENTS HAD A
STATUE MADE IN HER LIKENESS AT THE TIME SHE WAS KILLED, AND PLACED ON
HER GRAVE, WHICH IS ON A HILL OVERLOOKING
A LARGE PART OF THE CEMETERY.
BECAUSE SHE WAS A VIRGIN AT THE TIME OF DEATH, IT IS BELIEVED THAT
ANYONE GOING INTO THE CEMETERY AT THE DEAD OF NIGHT
AND WHO DARES TO WALK THE
LONELY WALK UP TO THE STATUE, AND TOUCH IT WILL DISCOVER WHETHER OR
NOT THEY ARE A VIRGIN. A VIRGIN WILL
RECEIVE NO HARM FROM THE STATUE,
BUT A NON-VIRGIN WILL RECEIVE A SMALL
CUT AND CONSEQUENTLY BLEED FROM TOUCHING THE GARMENT OF THE
STATUE. IN ADDITION, ON THE EVE OF HER BIRTHDAY, THE
STATUE IS BELIEVED TO COME ALIVE AND WALK THE CEMETERY LOOKING
FOR HER MURDERERS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MELVINDALE
Keyword(s): CEMETERY ; GHOST ; Legend ; SUPERSTITION ; Urban Legend ; Virgin
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 10-15-1965
LE GNOMME ROUGE
THE CITY OF DETROIT HAS A FRENCH ORIGIN. BOTH CADILLAC AND
FATHER RICHARD GREATLY AIDED THE CITY'S FOUNDING. BOTH OF
THESE MEN WERE ADVISED BY "LE GNOMME ROUGE". THIS LITTLE
MAN HELPED IN MAKING IMPORTANT DECISIONS. MANY OF THE CITIZENS
SAW HIM FROM TIME TO TIME. HE WAS LAST SEEN IN 1806 DURING THE
DETROIT FIRE AND IN 1943 DURING THE RACE RIOTS. AT THAT TIME,
SOME CITIZENS SAW HIM, OPENLY SOBBING, WALKING THE STREETS
OF DOWNTOWN.
Submitter comment:
BILL GORMAN HEARD THIS, I WOULD THINK, FROM TRADITIONAL SOURCES.
Data entry tech comment:
SPELLING CORRECTED BY KEYPUNCHER.
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): Detroit ; FRENCH ; Le Gnomme Rouge ; Legend ; Lore ; The Nain Rouge
James Callow Keyword(s): COMPARE THE GRAY CHAMPION OF NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 07-08-1964
STRASBOURG, THE KNOCK, KNOCK STREET
IN DETROIT, IF YOU DRIVE DOWN STRASBOURG STREET, YOUR CAR WILL
KNOCK. THIS IS BECAUSE MANY YEARS AGO, A LITTLE GIRL WAS PLAYING
IN THE STREET WHEN HIT BY A CAR, WHICH DRAGGED HER BODY DOWN THE
STREET WITH HER HEAD KNOCKING AGAINST THE CAR DOOR UNTIL SHE WAS
DEAD.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: NOT RECORDED
Keyword(s): Auto ; DEATH ; Haunting ; Knock ; Legend ; Lore
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
GROWTH BELIEF
IN THE UKRAINE IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF A SMALL CHILD IS LYING
DOWN AND A PERSON JUMPS OVER THEM, THE CHILD WON'T GROW.
BUT IF THE PERSON JUMPS BACK OVER AGAIN, THEN WALKS AROUND HIM, HE
WILL
GROW NORMALLY.
Submitter comment:
BELIEF STILL HIGHLY RESPECTED, HEARD FROM GRANDPARENTS.
BY INFORMANT IN UKRAINE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P644] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BEHAVIOR ; BELIEF ; CHILD ; GROWTH ; HEIGHT ; Jump ; Lore ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; RITUAL
| Subject headings: | Custom Favorites BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-01-1967
CURE FOR ARTHRITIS
ALWAYS CARRY A CHESTNUT IN YOUR POCKET.
Submitter comment:
A NEIGHBOR WHO LIVED ACROSS THE STREET FROM HIM BELIEVED THIS AND
CARRIED THE SAME CHESTNUT SINCE HIS EARLY CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
CHILD BED WETTING
IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF YOU PLAY WITH MATCHES YOU WILL WET THE BED.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): CAUSE ; FUNCTION ; MATCHES
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-19-1968
COUGH
TO CURE A COUGH, DIP THE END OF A SOFT CLOTH IN BRANDY AND RUB THE
SOLES OF THE PATIENT WITH IT.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM YOUTH.
Where learned: INDIANA ; GREENFIELD
Keyword(s): HIDDEN CONNECTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 11-23-1967
EARACHE
WHEN ONE IS SUFFERING FROM AN EARACHE, TO EASE THE ACHE PLACE
A PLASTIC BAG FILLED WITH HOT SALT NEXT TO YOUR EAR.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOES THIS WHENEVER SHE SUFFERS FROM AN EARACHE.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HEAT REMEDY
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 02-20-1971
EARACHE
TO CURE SOMEONE OF AN EARACHE, FILL YOUR MOUTH WITH MILK AND LET IT
WARM IN YOUR MOUTH TO BODY TEMPERATURE AND SPIT THE WARM MILK
INTO THE PERSON'S EAR. DON'T LET ANY OF THE MILK DRAIN OUT UNTIL
THE EARACHE IS BETTER.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAYS THAT THIS CURE ACTUALLY WORKS AND SAID THAT HER
GRANDMOTHER HAD THIS DONE TO HER IN YUGOSLAVIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): HEAT REMEDY
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- P763 |
Date learned: 10-00-1971