Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IF YOU COUNT STARS OR POINT AT THEM WITH YOUR FINGERS, YOU ARE
SUBJECT TO HAVE WARTS IN YOUR HANDS. TO GET RID OF THOSE WARTS
YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR A LEMON TREE, CUT A LEMON IN HALF, LEAVING
ONE OF THE HALVES HANGING FROM THE TREE, THEN WITH THE OTHER HALF
YOU RUB THE WARTS, AND YOU THROW IT AWAY WITHOUT LOOKING.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- PS60 |
Date learned: 00-00-1966
YOU SHOULD NOT CROSS OVER A CHILD WHO IS CRAWLING ON THE FLOOR
BECAUSE HE MIGHT HAVE SOME PHYSICAL ABNORMALITIES WHEREVER YOU
CROSSED OVER HIM. IN ORDER FOR THIS NOT TO HAPPEN, YOU SHOULD
RECROSS OVER HIM IN THE OPPOSITE WAY.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
IF SOMETHING IS STOLEN, AND THERE ARE MANY SUSPECTS, YOU CAN KNOW
THE REAL PERSON THAT STOLE THE ITEM BY DOING THIS SIMPLE TEST.
OPEN THE BIBLE TO JOB CHAPTER SEVENTEEN, PLACE A KEY IN THAT
SECTION, AND USE A ROPE TO TIE THE KEY AND THE BIBLE TOGETHER.
LET EACH OF THE SUSPECT SWEAR SAYING THUS, "IF I TAKE THE LOST ITEM
LET ME BE MENTALLY SICK IMMEDIATELY". IF THE PERSON WHO STOLE THE
ITEM SAYS THIS, HE WILL BECOME MENTALLY SICK WITH IMMEDIATE
EFFECT.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LOOKED SERIOUS WHILE NARRATING THE ITEM.
Where learned: NIGERIA ; LAGOS
James Callow Keyword(s): DETECTION OF THIEF ; THEFT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 02-00-1967
WHEN TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE FRIENDS ARE WALKING SIDE BY SIDE ON THE
ROAD IT IS FORBIDDEN FOR ANOTHER PERSON TO PASS BETWEEN THEM.
IF ANOTHER FELLOW PASSES BETWEEN THEM, THE COMMONSENSE OF THE TWO
FRIENDS WILL MOVE IN TO THE HEAD OF THE PERSON THAT PASSES
WHILE THE TWO FRIENDS WILL BECOME IDIOTS.
Where learned: NIGERIA ; KADUNA
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; TRANSFER
Date learned: 00-00-1972
A PREGNANT WOMAN SHOULD NOT EAT PLENTY OF SNAILS, IF SHE
DOES SO, WHEN SHE GIVES BIRTH TO THE CHILD HE/SHE WILL ALWAYS
BE DROOLING.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT LEARNT OF THE ABOVE ITEM IN NIGERIA. HE SAID THE
ITEM WITH ASSURANCE.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
IF A WOMAN USED TO GIVE BIRTH TO ABIKU (A CHILD THAT DIES)
SHE CAN BE FREED OF THIS ORDEAL BY CONSULTING AN HERBALIST.
IF SHE HAS ANOTHER CHILD, SHE WILL TAKE HER TO AN HERBALIST WHO
WILL PERFORM A KIND OF RITUAL FOR THE BABY WHICH WILL INVOLVE
MAKING SOME MARKS ON THE FACE OF THE CHILD WITH BLADE, THEN HE WILL
PUT SOME BLACK MAGIC POWDER ON THE FRESH MARKS HE HAS JUST CUT.
THE MARKS ON THE CHILD'S FACE WILL DRY UP AFTER TWO DAYS, THUS THE
CHILD WILL NOT BE AN "ABIKU". THERE IS USUALLY ONE ONE-INCH
MARK ON EACH CHEEK BONE AT ITS HIGHEST POINT.
Where learned: NIGERIA ; KADUNA
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
A PERSON CAN MAKE AN IMAGE OF YOU IN A VOODOO DOLL, STICK PINS IN
IT AND YOU WILL FEEL THE PAIN.
Where learned: JAMAICA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 01111984CA
A PERSON CAN TAKE SOME OF YOUR HAIR,BORE A HOLE IN A TREE,
PUT YOUR HAIR IN IT AND DRIVE YOU CRAZY, THE ONLY WAY YOU
CAN STOP IT IS CUT ALL OF YOUR HAIR OFF AND CLEAN YOUR HEAD.
Where learned: LOUISIANA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
IF YOU ARE LYING ON THE FLOOR AND
SOMEONE STEPS ACROSS YOUR BODY IF YOU DO NOT GRAB THAT
PERSON AND MAKE THEM STEP BACK ACROSS YOU BACKWARDS THAT PORTION
OF YOUR BODY WILL BE CUT AWAY FROM THE REST OF YOUR BODY.
Where learned: ALABAMA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 01111984CA
IT IS SAID THAT IF A WOMAN IS PREGNANT
AND DOES NOT WANT TO HAVE MORNING SICKNESS, WHAT SHE DOES IS WAIT
UNTIL HER HUSBAND GOES TO SLEEP AND CRAWL ACROSS HIM WITHOUT
HIM KNOWING AND HE WILL BEAR ALL THE SICKNESS.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFER
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
TO KEEP YOUR CHILD FROM HAVING TERRIBLE NIGHTMARES,YOU SHOULD
PUT A BIBLE UNDER HIS OR HER PILLOW.
Where learned: VIRGINIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic Book BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Dreams |
Date learned: 04091984CA
BAD LUCK!
YOU ARE NEVER TO STEP OVER A SMALL CHILD WHILE THEY ARE SITTING ON
THE FLOOR, IT WILL STUNT THEIR GROWTH.
Where learned: HOME ; DETROIT ; PARENTS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
IF YOU TAKE A TONIC MADE FROM BLACK STRAP MOLASSES AND SULPHUR
EVERY SPRING YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD COMPLEXION. MY MOTHER GAVE ONE
TO ME EVERY SPRING AND I NEVER HAD A PIMPLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Spring BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 01-15-1984
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN IS FRIGHTENED AND SHE TOUCHES A PART OF HER
BODY SHE WOULD GIVE THE CHILD A BIRTHMARK IN THAT SPOT. THE SHAPE
OF THE MARK WOULD RELATE TO WHATEVER CAUSED THE FEAR. MY
MOTHER-IN-LAW BELIEVED THAT THAT WAS WHY MY OLDEST DAUGHTER HAS A
WHEEL SHAPED BIRTHMARK ON THE BACK OF HER LEG. A WHEEL FELL OFF
OF OUR CAR WHEN I WAS PREGNANT AND SHE THINKS I MUST HAVE GRABED
MY LEG AND GIVEN CATHY THE BIRTHMARK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Sun BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 01-15-1984
A POLISH WOMAN WHO LIVED NEAR US IN DETROIT BELIEVED THAT IF A
PREGNANT WOMAN LIFTED HER ARMS ABOVE HER HEAD SHE WOULD WRAP THE
UMBILICAL CORD AROUND HER BABY'S NECK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 01-15-1984
IF YOU STARTLE A BABY YOU WILL STUNT ITS GROWTH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
"YOU SHOULD NOT LEAVE ANY GRAINS OF RICE ON THE DISHES AFTER A
MEAL OR YOUR HUSBAND'S OR WIFE'S FACE WILL HAVE ACNE."
Submitter comment: BELIEF PROBABLY TO PREVENT THE WASTE OF FOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
Date learned: 04-00-1984
CHINESE EATING CUSTOM (GOOSE)
"IN CHINA, ANYONE YOUNGER THAN 15 YEARS IS NOT ALLOWED TO EAT
GOOSE BECAUSE THE CHINESE BELIEVE THAT THEIR FINGERS WILL CURL
AND BLISTER."
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT BELIEVED SUCH BELIEFS WERE MADE UP BY ELDERS SO THAT
THEY WOULD BE THE ONLY ONES TO ENJOY GOOSE WHICH IS EXPENSIVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
Date learned: 04-00-1984
BELIEF
IF YOU SWALLOW WATERMELON SEEDS, YOU WILL GROW A WATERMELON
IN YOUR STOMACH.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT USED TO TELL HER CHILDREN THIS SO THAT THEY
WOULD NOT SWALLOW WATERMELLON SEEDS.
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
MEXICAN BELIEF
IF YOU HAVE FIGURINES OF BABIES OR BABY DOLLS IN
YOUR HOUSE, SOMEONE CAN COME IN AND PUT A SPELL ON
THE BABY DOLL AND IT (THE BABY DOLL) WILL MAKE THE MOTHER
OF THE HOUSEHOLD BECOME STERILE.
Submitter comment:
MY GRANDMOTHER'S HUSBAND BELIEVES THIS AND WILL NOT
LET MY GRANDMOTHER HAVE ANY FIGURINES OF BABIES IN
THE HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |