Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P475 returned 568 results.
Love Apple
When the tomato was first introduced in Europe it was called a
"Love Apple."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Date learned: 02-02-1992
I was told that when you can smell watermelon and there's none
around it usually means a snake is near.
Submitter comment: My mother had this scary look on her face.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Louise
Keyword(s): Fragrances
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
When I would eat oranges as a child, I would be afraid to
swallow the seeds because I had always been told that if I did an
orange tree would grow inside me and kill me.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Louise
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
The Legend of the Shoe Tree
This is the Legend of the Shoe Tree: If you drive down a
certain back road (road name not known) in Northville, Michigan
you will come across a tree with hundreds of shoes thrown up into
it. Legend has it that a murderer used to kill his victims and
leave his mark by throwing each victim's shoes into the tree. It
is also believed that anyone who touches the tree or anything in
it will be cursed and then die.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
James Callow Keyword(s): Touching tabu
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1990
I learned this saying in Hillsdale, Michigan where I spent
most of my summers as a young boy, "If the corn is knee-high by
the 4th of July it will be a good crop". This was believed to be
true by all the local farmers.
James Callow comment:
See Puckett, Ohio, no. 32659: "If the corn is knee-high
by the Fourth of July, it will be a good crop...."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HILLSDALE
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- July 4 Independence Day BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Measure of space: distance, height, depth |
Date learned: 07-00-1980
When I was young I was told by my parents that if I ate
anything with seeds such as a watermelon and swallowed one of the
seeds a plant of the same thing I ate would begin to grow in my
stomach.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
Sprinkle red pepper around the outside of the house to keep
evil away.
James Callow comment:
Cf. Puckett, Ohio, no. 25964: "Mix the pod of red peppers
with salt and sprinkle in front of your door to keep away
witches."
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Plant |
Home remedy
Place peachtree leaves in a cloth bag and place the bag up
against the body where fever is located to draw the fever out.
James Callow comment:
Cf. Puckett, Ohio, no. 9518: "To cure fever, bind peach
leaves tightly to the forehead."
Where learned: Camben ; Arkansas
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00-00-1945
If you have asthma, measure your height to a tree and mark
it. As the tree grows you will grow out of the asthma.
James Callow comment:
Puckett, Ohio, no. 2325: "If a child has asthma, take him
into the woods and find a young tree. Measure the child up to
the tree and mark his height by putting a nail into the tree. As
the tree grows the child will outgrow his asthma."
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): MEASURING
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Measure of space: distance, height, depth BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
Butter
Someone picks a yellow dandelion flower and places it under
someone's chin. If their chin showed yellow, they liked butter; if
it did not, they did not like butter. After this was established,
the head of the dandelion was popped off into the person's face.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE ; Neighborhood children
James Callow Keyword(s): DIVINATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 00001950S
keep a horseshoe with a palm leaf made in the shape of a
cross over the bedroom door; this will assure a happy, positive,
loving marriage.
Where learned: GEORGIA ; ATLANTA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
EATING CELERY MAKES YOU SEXY.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00001967 FALL
IF YOU DREAM OF CHURCH OR FLOWERS, IT IS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Dreams BELIEF -- Bad luck Plants |
Date learned: 11-29-1970
AN ENGLISH IVY PLANT IN THE HOUSE WILL BRING BAD
LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT STRONGLY BELIEVES THIS. SHE CLAIMS
THAT WHENEVER SHE HAD SUCH A PLANT IN THE HOUSE,
THE RESULT WAS NOTHING BUT BAD LUCK UNTIL SHE
DISPOSED OF THE PLANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Bad luck Plants |
Date learned: 02-27-1971
IF YOU HAVE AN IVY PLANT IN THE HOUSE, YOU WILL
HAVE BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: LEARNED AT HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Bad luck Plants |
Date learned: 02-14-1967
IF A LEAF FALLS ON YOUR HEAD, IT'S BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT GAVE NO REASON WHY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Bad luck Plants |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
A CERTAIN HOUSE PLANT COMMONLY CALLED A SNAKE
PLANT IS CONSIDERED BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Bad luck Plants |
Date learned: 09-00-1969
A PERSON SHOULD NEVER CUT A THORN BUSH. IT
WOULD BRING BAD LUCK BECAUSE THEY ARE A
FAVORITE OF THE EVILS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Bad luck Plants |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF LEAVES ON THE TREES ARE TURNED SO THAT YOU CAN SEE
THEIR BACKS, IT MEANS THAT THERE WILL SOON BE A STORM.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAYS THIS WAS TOLD TO HIM BY ONE OF HIS
GRANDPARENTS IN IOWA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; IOWA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 03-09-1972