Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P477 returned 904 results.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE A GAP BETWEEN THEIR TEETH LIE A LOT. THIS IS
WHERE THE PHRASE "YOU'RE LYING BETWEEN YOUR TEETH" COMES
FROM.
Submitter comment:
SPACE BETWEEN TEETH
"YOU'RE LYING THROUGH YOUR TEETH."
SHE HAS A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Folk etymology PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 10-11-1984
THERE IS A HOUSE IN PALMER PARK THAT WAS
ONCE SAID TO BE HAUNTED. WHEN STUDENTS WENT
TO PALMER PARK FOR A FIELD TRIP, THEY
WOULD REPORT SEEING PEOPLE OR GHOSTS
IN THE VACANT HOUSE.
Submitter comment:
HE ONCE BELIEVED IT, BUT HE NO
LONGER BELIEVES IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HIGHLAND PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1973 ; 00-00-1985
IN THE TOWN MY FATHER GREW UP IN, EVERYONE WOULD GO TO
TOWN ON SATURDAY NIGHTS. THERE WAS A SUPERSTITION THAT IF YOU
WOULD PASS BY THE CEMETERY ON YOUR WAY TO TOWN, THE SPIRIT
OF AN OLD MAN (NEVER DID GET HIS NAME OR HOW HE DIED) WOULD
CHASE YOU ALL THE WAY TO TOWN AND ON YOUR WAY HOME HE WOULD
CHASE YOU BACK TO YOUR HOUSE. IT TURNS OUT THAT ON SATURDAYS MY FATHER AND HIS FRIENDS WOULD WEAR CORDUROY PANTS. BY WALKING
PAST THE CEMETERY AT AN ACCELERATED PACE, THEIR PANTS WOULD
BEGIN TO MAKE THE CERTAIN NOISE (SWOOSH, SWOOSH).
THIS NOISE WOULD SCARE THEM SO THEY BEGAN TO RUN TO TOWN
BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THE MAN WAS AFTER THEM. CONSEQUENTLY,
BECAUSE OF THEIR RUNNING THE NOISE WOULD BECOME LOUDER.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; TAYLOR
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 06-00-1975
IF YOUR EAR IS RINGING, SOMEONE
IS TALKING ABOUT YOU. IF YOUR
EAR IS BURNING THEN THE TALK IS
BAD.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO GREG BY ONE OF HIS
RELATIVES WHEN HE SAID THAT
HIS EAR WAS RINGING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses Ears, noise in ear BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001970S
IF TWO PEOPLE SAY THE SAME THING
AT THE SAME TIME, COMPANY WILL
COME OVER.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS SAID EVERYTIME TWO OR
MORE PEOPLE SAY THE SAME THING
AT THE SAME TIME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00001960S
WHEN SOMEONE SNEEZES AFTER
A COMMENT WAS MADE, THE COMMENT
IS SUPPOSED TO BE TRUE.
Submitter comment:
JEAN SAYS THIS EVERY TIME SOMEONE
SNEEZES AFTER SHE SAYS SOMETHING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001960S
IF SUDDENLY A CHILL GOES THROUGH YOUR
BODY IT MEANS A RABBIT IS JUMPING OVER
THE SPOT WHERE YOU WILL BE BURIED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT STATED HE DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS
TRUE OR NOT, AND DIDN'T CARE TO FIND OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Chills, shivering |
Date learned: 00-00-1985
IF YOU ARE WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND YOU
SUDDENLY REMEMBER THAT YOU FORGOT AND LEFT
SOMETHING BEHIND, DON'T TURN AROUND UNTIL
YOU SPIT IN THE STREET AND MAKE AN X WITH
YOUR FEET.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT STATED THAT YOU SHOULDN'T TURN
BACK ONCE YOU ARE HEADED SOMEWHERE.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; BATON ROUGE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1985
IF YOU SNEEZE THREE OR MORE
TIMES BEFORE BREAKFAST THAT
IS A SIGN OF DEATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Date learned: 00-00-1985
WHATEVER YOU DO YOU SHOULD NEVER HARM ANOTHER
PERSONS ANIMAL. PEOPLE HAVE STRONG BONDS WITH
THEIR ANIMALS, SOME PEOPLE WILL EVEN KILL YOU
ABOUT THEIR ANIMALS. I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE
BECAUSE MY MOTHER TOLD ME ABOUT A WOMAN AND THE
LOVE SHE HAD FOR HER HORSE. WELL, THIS WOMAN HAD
HER HORSE TEN YEARS BEFORE SHE TOOK A HUSBAND. THAT
OLE HORSE WAS REALLY MEAN. TIME CAME WHEN THAT HORSE
KICKED THAT WOMAN'S HUSBAND, SO THE HUSBAND SHOT THE
HORSE. WELL, THAT WOMAN DIDN'T TAKE THE DEATH OF HER
HORSE EASY. AFTER SHE FOUND OUT WHAT HER HUSBAND DID
SHE TOOK A PIECE OF LOG AND CRACKED HER HUSBAND'S SKULL
AND HE DIED. THERE IS A LESSON TO BE LEARNED, NEVER
HARM ANYONE'S ANIMAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CRUELTY TOWARD ANIMALS ; THERIONICIDE HOMICIDE
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1985
MARK TOLD ME ABOUT THE BELIEF THAT IF YOU DRIVE DOWN
PARKLAND STREET IN DEARBORN HEIGHTS AT A CERTAIN SPEED
WITH YOUR WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN, YOU WILL HEAR THE SCREAMS
AND POUNDING OF SOMEONE WHO WAS ONCE RUN OVER ON THAT STREET.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
Keyword(s): MYSTERIOUS SOUNDS, NOISES
James Callow Keyword(s): KNOCK-KNOCK STREET
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
I HEARD THE STORY FROM SOMEWHERE, I DON'T RECALL WHERE, ABOUT
THE GIRL WHO WAS RUN OVER BY A TRUCK ON THE STREET CALLED
STRASBURG IN DETROIT. NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES THAT STREET
HAS BEEN RESURFACED YOU CAN STILL HEAR THE GIRL POUNDING
UNDERNEATH YOUR CAR AS YOU DRIVE DOWN THAT STREET BECAUSE
WHEN SHE WAS RUN OVER SHE WAS TRAPPED BENEATH THE TRUCK AND
WITNESSES SAW HER POUNDING AND SCREAMING UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK
AS THE TRUCK DRAGGED HER DOWN THE STREET.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GHOSTLY SOUNDS FROM SCENE OF ACCIDENT
James Callow Keyword(s): KNOCK-KNOCK STREET
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
MY MOTHER TOLD ME THAT IF YOU SING AT THE DINNER TABLE,
YOU WILL CRY BEFORE YOU GO TO BED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): COMPENSATION ; CONTRAST
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping |
Date learned: 00-00-1954
MY MOTHER TOLD ME THAT IF YOUR NOSE ITCHES
THEN THAT MEANS THAT YOU WILL KISS A FOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching nose |
Date learned: 00-00-1954
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, ABOUT TEN, MY FRIENDS AND I WOULD RIDE
OUR BIKES TO THE DRAINAGE TUNNELS NEAR THE HIGHWAY.
AT THE ENTRANCE OF ONE OF THE TUNNELS THERE WAS A
MESSAGE WRITTEN IN RED PAINT THAT SAID, "FORBIDDEN
ZONE - DO NOT ENTER." ON THE SIDE OF THE TUNNEL WAS A
HANDPRINT - THREE TIMES LARGER THEN AN AVERAGE HAND -
THAT LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BEEN PRESSED ON THE CEMENT WHEN IT WAS WET.
WE RODE OUR BIKES BACK HOME AND GOT OUR BOW AND ARROWS,
BB GUNS, BASEBALL BATS, CAMERAS, AND OUR FLASHLIGHTS.
WE WANTED TO INSPECT THE INSIDE OF THE TUNNEL.
WHEN WE GOT BACK TO THE TUNNEL, EVERYONE WAS TOO SCARED
TO GO IN. WE ALL FINALLY WENT IN TOGETHER WHERE WE
SAW MORE WRITINGS, SUCH AS, DANGER -- GO BACK -- /LEAVE AT
ONCE. WE ALL GOT SCARED AND RAN. WE DECIDED TO CALL THIS
PHENOMENA THE SEWER MONSTER. MANY OF THE YOUNGER KIDS
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD NOW WON'T GO NEAR THE DITCH BECAUSE
THEY ARE AFRAID OF THE U.F.O. THAT THEY HEARD ABOUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1985 ; 00-00-1973 ; 00-00-1985
GOD BLESS YOU
IT IS CUSTOMARY TO TELL SOMEONE "GOD BLESS YOU" AFTER THEY HAVE
SNEEZED BECAUSE IT IS BELIEVED THAT WHEN ONE SNEEZES THEY ARE
EXPELLING DEMONS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001975CA
THE BAKER'S DOZEN
THE BAKER'S DOZEN IS THE QUANTITY OF THIRTEEN. THIS CAME ABOUT
BECAUSE THE BAKER WAS ALWAYS ACCUSSED OF SHORT CHANGING THEIR
CUSTOMERS. WHAT WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING WAS THE LITTLE BOY THAT
WAS PICKING UP THE BAKED GOODS FOR HIS MOTHER WAS EATING ONE
OF THE TREATS ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE BAKERY. SO TO AVOID
THIS PROBLEM THE BAKER CREATED THE BAKER'S DOZEN SO THAT
HIS CUSTOMERS WOULD NOT THINK THAT HE IS SHORT CHANGING THEM
AND ALSO SO THAT THE MESSENGER WOULD HAVE A TREAT FOR THE
TRIP HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of quantity or weight |
Date learned: 00001973CA
IF A LULL OCCURS IN A CONVERSATION AT TEN OF OR TEN AFTER THE
HOUR, GOD IS GIVING A WARNING THAT THE DEVIL IS LISTENING.
Submitter comment:
I FIRST HEARD OF THIS WHEN THE INFORMANT SAID "TEN OF, TEN
AFTER" WHEN A LULL OCCURED IN A PHONE CONVERSATION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness Favorites BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-00-1985
"SLEEPY HOLLOW"
A MADMAN ESCAPED FROM A MENTAL INSTITUTION. HE WAS RUNNING
AND REACHED AN OLD BRIDGE ON SLEEPY HOLLOW ROAD. THE MADMAN
THEN KILLED ANOTHER MAN AND HUNG HIM FROM THE BRIDGE. IF
ANYONE GOES TO THE BRIDGE ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT, HE WILL SEE
THE MAN HANGING FROM THE BRIDGE, AND IF HE STAYS VERY LONG,
THE MADMAN WILL APPEAR AND TRY TO KILL HIM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 11-00-1985
IF A WHITE SPOT APPEARS ON SOMEONE'S FINGERNAIL, IT MEANS THAT HE HAS
LIED.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |