Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P740 returned 781 results.
SITTING WITH A CAP ON ONE'S KNEE CAUSES GOUT. (THIS IS A SIGN OF
LAZINESS.)
Where learned: TANZANIA ; EAST AFRICA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
TO GO ABOUT BAREHEADED ON A MOONLIT NIGHT DRIES UP THE BRAIN AND THE
PERSON WILL EVENTUALLY GO MAD.
Where learned: TANZANIA ; EAST AFRICA
Date learned: 03-00-1982
IF YOU WALK OVER A CHILD LYING ON THE FLOOR, YOU MUST WALK BACK OR
THE CHILD WILL NOT GROW ANYMORE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HIS MOTHER, WHO WAS BORN IN LEBANON AND
HEARD IT THERE. NEITHER THE INFORMANT NOR HIS MOTHER TAKE THIS
SUPERSTITION SERIOUSLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRASER
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
A PREGNANT WOMAN SHOULD NOT LOOK AT ANYONE WHO IS MASQUERADING
OR HER CHILD WILL TURN OUT TO LOOK LIKE THAT PERSON.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SAID THAT "MASQUERADING" IS WHEN THE PEOPLE OF THE TOWN
GET DRESSED UP TO PARTICIPATE IN A PARADE, OR IF THEY DRESS IN
COSTUMES AT A PARTY OR ON A HOLIDAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
CREOLE BELIEF
DO NOT PUT A BABY'S SHOE HIGHER THAN THE BABY'S HEAD OR IT WILL NOT
GROW ANY TALLER.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; BREAUX BRIDGE ; LOS ANGELES
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1935
COW-PUNCHING
COWS ARE SUPPOSED TO SLEEP STANDING UP AND IF YOU SNEAK UP ON
ONE AND HIT IT, IT WILL FALL OVER BECAUSE THEIR LEGS ARE TOO
CLOSE TOGETHER.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 09-00-1980
WHEN A PERSON IS LAYING ON THE FLOOR,
NO ONE SHOULD CROSS OVER HIM. THIS GESTURE MEANS THEY
WILL NEVER GROW AGAIN. TO UNDO THE CURSE ONE MUST
WALK BACK OVER THE PERSON ON THE FLOOR, THEN WALK
AROUND HIM.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
DISEASE CURES
A DIRTY SOCK WORN "ROUND THE NECK" ON GOING TO BED WILL CURE A
SORE THROAT.
A BUCKEYE CARRIED IN THE POCKET WILL CURE RHEUMATISM.
ASSAFETIDA WORN AROUND THE NECK IN THE WINTER WILL
KEEP DISEASE AWAY.
BLOOD STOPPING WAS USED BY PEOPLE WHO CLAIMED THEY COULD
STOP THE FLOW OF BLOOD. IT ORIGINATED IN THE LUMBERJACK CAMPS,
WHEN SERIOUS INJURIES WERE RECEIVED BY THE LUMBERJACKS AND PERHAPS
SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THEY COULD GET TO A DOCTOR.
Where learned: OHIO ; CONTINENTAL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curer BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Remedy BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00001909-00001919 CHILDHOOD, 00001922-00001929, TEEN AGE YEARS
WARTS ARE CAUSED BY HANDLING TOADS.
Where learned: OHIO ; CONTINENTAL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001909-00001919 CHILDHOOD, 00001922-00001929, TEEN AGE YEARS
BLISTERS ON THE TONGUE CAN BE CAUSED BY TELLING LIES.
Where learned: OHIO ; CONTINENTAL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001909-00001919 CHILDHOOD, 00001922-00001929, TEEN AGE YEARS
MEDICAL BELIEF
WEARING A CLOVE OF GARLIC ON A STRING AROUND YOUR NECK WILL
PREVENT CONTRACTION OF THE FLU.
Submitter comment: ITS EFFECTIVENESS IS DOUBTFUL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CLINTON TOWNSHIP
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 09-00-1982
INFANT/ANIMAL CUSTOM-BELIEF
DONT LEAVE A BABY ALONE WITH A CAT OR IT WILL SUCK THE LIFE
OUT OF THE BABY.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS A FIRMLY HELD BELIEF AMONG THE INFORMANT'S ITALIAN
FEMALE RELATIVES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CLINTON TOWNSHIP
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-00-1982
DO NOT SIT ON THE GROUND DURING A MONTH WITH THE LETTER R IN IT.
R STANDS FOR RHEUMATISM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Measure of time Month BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001970S
SUPERSTITION
NEVER HAVE A CAT AROUND A BABY. IT WILL TAKE THE BABY'S BREATH
AWAY. IT WILL LAY ON THE BABY'S FACE AND SMOTHER IT BECAUSE OF
JEALOUSY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PET
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001970S
IF YOU LOOK AT A BABY UPSIDE DOWN IT WILL END UP CROSSED EYED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001950S
IF A PERSON DESIRES LONG AND FULL HAIR, HE SHOULD CLIP
HIS HAIR ON THE MONTH'S FIRST NEW MOON.
Submitter comment: THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THE INFORMANT CLIPS HER HAIR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 03-00-1983
WEDDING LORE
IF ONE CATCHES THE GARTER AFTER IT IS THROWN BY THE GROOM
BEHIND HIS BACK, THAT PERSON WILL SOON GET MARRIED.
IF ONE CATCHES THE BOUQUET FROM THE BRIDE AFTER SHE THROWS
IT BEHIND HER BACK, THAT WOMAN WILL GET MARRIED SOON.
THROW RICE AND MONEY AFTER A WEDDING ON THE COUPLE, AND
THIS WILL BRING GOOD LUCK AND ABUNDANT RICHES AND
HEALTH.
Submitter comment: THESE ARE TRADITIONAL CHALDEAN CUSTOMS IN CHALDEAN WEDDINGS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRANKLIN VILLAGE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Rice BELIEF -- Marriage Bouquet toss BELIEF -- Marriage Garter toss BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 11-00-1982
A PREGNANT WOMAN SHOULD NEVER VIEW A CORPSE OR HER BABY
WILL BE BORN DEFORMED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
MY GRANDMOTHER EXPLAINED THAT IN ITALY, WHERE SHE WAS BORN,
IT WAS A PRACTICE TO PIERCE THE EARS OF LITTLE BABIES, BOTH
BOYS AND GIRLS. THE BELIEF BEHIND THIS CUSTOM WAS THAT IT
WOULD HELP TO MAINTAIN GOOD HEARING FOR THE CHILD THROUGHOUT
HIS OR HER LIFE.
Submitter comment:
I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT THIS WAS SUCH A HIGHLY
RESPECTED CUSTOM FOR BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS, BECAUSE NOW WE
SOMETIMES THINK IT STRANGE FOR A MAN TO HAVE A PIERCED EAR.
Where learned: EAST DETROIT
Date learned: 10-00-1983
SOME PEOPLE ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE EVIL EYES; IF SUCH A PERSON GIVES
YOU A COMPLIMENT, YOU'D BETTER KNOCK ON WOOD OR HAVE SOMEONE PINCH
YOU SO BAD LUCK WILL NOT COME UPON YOU.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Conversions SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1966