Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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BIRTH BELIEF-CUSTOM
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN EXPOSES HER STOMACH TO THE FULL MOON THE
CHILD WILL BE FEMALE. THIS BELIEF IS USUALLY HELD BY "BACKWOODS"
PEOPLES, PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CLINTON TOWNSHIP
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-00-1982
DIVINATION OF SEX BELIEF
THE INFORMANT'S GRANDFATHER BELIEVED THAT WHEN SOME WOMAN
HE KNEW WAS PREGNANT HE COULD LOOK AT THE MOON AND GET A
FEELING WHETHER THE CHILD WOULD BE A BOY OR A GIRL.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT'S GRANDFATHER TENDED TO DISREGARD ANY INCORRECT
PREDICTIONS REGARDING THIS PRACTICE OF HIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CLINTON TOWNSHIP
James Callow Keyword(s): SEX
| Subject headings: | Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer Spirit / Mind / Body Observation BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 11-00-1982
DREAM BELIEF
A CO-WORKER TOLD ME, AROUND 1956, THAT IF YOU DREAM OF
FISH, SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY, OR SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU IS
GOING TO HAVE A BABY. MY FRIEND, TOMMIE PEGEUSE, SWORE
THAT IT WAS TRUE AND REFUSED TO BELIEVE ANY ARGUMENTS
TO THE CONTRARY. SHE CLAIMED THAT SHE DREAMED OF FISH
SO SELDOM THAT WHEN SHE DID IT JUST NATURALLY STUCK
IN HER MIND, AND THEN SURE ENOUGH, SHE WOULD SOON HEAR
ABOUT A FRIEND'S OR RELATIVE'S PREGNANCY.
Submitter comment:
IN 1956, THE INFORMANT WAS EMPLOYED BY THE ATLANTIC AND
PACIFIC TEA COMPANY (A&P).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 09-00-1982
LEBANESE BELIEF
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN HAS A STRONG CRAVING FOR SOME TYPE OF FRUIT
(I.E., STRAWBERRIES) HER CHILD WILL HAVE A BIRTHMARK IN THE SHAPE
OF THAT FRUIT.
Submitter comment:
MY MOM COLLECTED THIS ITEM IN LEBANON AND TOLD IT TO ME IN
SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN
Where learned: LEBANON ; FADJUNA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body) BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00001950S
LEBANESE BELIEF
IF A WOMAN'S FIRST-BORN CHILD LOOKS LIKE HER HUSBAND, IT MEANS
THE WIFE LOVES HER HUSBAND MORE THAN HERSELF.
Submitter comment:
MY MOM OBTAINED THIS BELIEF IN FADJUNA, LEBANON AND TOLD IT TO ME
IN SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN
Where learned: LEBANON ; FADJUNA
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. Observation BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00001950S
LEBANESE BELIEF
WHEN A LEBANESE COUPLE IN LEBANON GET MARRIED, THE BRIDE IS GIVEN
A HUNK OF RAISED DOUGH SO THAT SHE MAY STICK IT ON THE DOORWAY,
AS SHE IS CARRIED OVER THE THRESHOLD.
IF THE DOUGH STICKS THE LEBANESE PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THE COUPLE
WILL HAVE MANY CHILDREN.
Submitter comment: SOME LEBANESE-AMERICANS STILL PRACTICE THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Observation Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00001960S
THE NUMBER OF RIBBONS A GIRL BREAKS AT HER WEDDING SHOWER IS THE
NUMBER OF CHILDREN SHE AND HER HUSBAND WILL HAVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Marriage Breaking of BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs |
Date learned: 00001970S
SEX OF UNBORN CHILD BELIEF
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN IS ONLY BIG IN THE FRONT, THE BABY WILL BE A
GIRL. IF THE WOMAN IS BIG ALL THE WAY AROUND, THE BABY WILL BE A
BOY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 09-28-1982
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
"LOOKING INTO AN EMPTY GRAVE IS TABOO FOR A PREGNANT WOMAN: HER
UNBORN CHILD WILL BE GREEDY BECAUSE HE/SHE CAN'T BE FILLED."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MUSKEGON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 09-19-1982
IF A PERSON DREAMS OF FISH OR PUPPIES, A YOUNG GIRL THE
DREAMER KNOWS IS PREGNANT.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SAYS FISH AND PUPPIES, SINCE THEY HAVE SO
MANY OFFSPRINGS, ARE THE SYMBOLS OF PREGNANCY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Dreams Dreams about animals |
Date learned: 03-00-1983
IF A LADY DREAMS OF A CRYING BABY, SHE WILL SOON GIVE
BIRTH TO A BABY BOY.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS BY HER MOTHER, BUT SAYS SHE
DID NOT HAVE ANY SUCH DREAM WHEN SHE WAS PREGNANT WITH
HER SONS,
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Dreams Dreams about babies |
Date learned: 04-00-1983
FOLLOWING A DEATH IN A FAMILY, THERE WILL BE A BIRTH.
AND THE NEWBORN WILL HAVE SOME OF THE CHARACTERISTICS AS
THE DECEASED HAD.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT'S NEPHEW WAS BORN AFTER THE DEATH OF HER
BROTHER AND FATHER. PEOPLE WHO KNEW THE ELDER MEN ALWAYS
SAY HOW MUCH THE NEPHEW IS LIKE THEM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 04-00-1983
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY KIDS YOU WILL HAVE
YOU CAN FIND OUT BY COUNTING THE WHITE LINES IN
YOUR FINGER-NAILS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs |
Date learned: 04-00-1983
AFRO-AMERICAN BELIEFS
TO TALK WITH THE DEAD WAIT UNTIL MIDNIGHT, WRITE THE NAME
OF THE PERSON YOU WISH TO CONVERSE WITH, COVER A GLASS
OF WATER WITH THE NAME WRITTEN ON A SHEET OF PAPER, AND
STAND BEFORE A MIRROR WITH LIGHTED CANDLE. THE FIGURE OF
THE PERSON WILL APPEAR IN THE MIRROR. MM
IF A PERSON SWEEPS ACROSS YOUR FEET WITH THE BROOM YOU
MUST SPIT UPON IT OR YOU WILL GO TO JAIL. MM
PICKING A MARRIAGE PARTNER:
A WOMAN WHOSE SECOND TOE IS LONGER THAN THE FIRST IS A
POOR CHOICE FOR A WIFE IN THAT SHE WILL MAKE HER
HUSBAND MISERABLE BY DOMINATION OR HER ATTEMPTS AT DOING
SO. MM
ANOTHER IS THAT A PREGNANT WOMAN SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED
TO PREPARE FOOD BECAUSE SHE IS UNCLEAN. MM
IF A MAN'S WIFE
CLIMBS ACROSS HIM TO GET OUT OF BED HE WILL BEAR THE
LABOR PAINS.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC ; TRANSFER
Date learned: 07-00-1967
SUPERSTITIONS AND CONTAGIOUS MAGIC
A PACKET CONTAINING NAIL PARINGS, A LOCK OF HAIR AND
THREE DROPS OF BODY FLUID, USUALLY BLOOD, PLACED UNDER THE
BOTTOM STEP OF A LOVE OBJECT WILL ENSURE THAT THE LOVED (ONE)
WILL LOVE NO OTHER. MM
A MIXTURE OF ROOSTER BLOOD, CORN WHISKEY, AND A SMALL
AMOUNT OF DRIED BULL DUNG WILL ENSURE POTENNENCE AND MALE
OFFSPRING. CC POTENCY MM
A WOMAN WHO HANDLES ANY ANIMALS DURING HER PREGNANCY
"MARK" HER BABY WITH EITHER ANIMALISTIC FEATURES OR
BEHAVIOR. CC MARKS? MM
IF YOU ALLOW AN ALBINO PERSON TO TOUCH YOU YOU WILL BE
BLINDED OR ONE LEG WILL BECOME SHORTER THAN THE OTHER
BY THE NEXT FULL MOON FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; COLUMBUS
Date learned: 00-00-1918
OBJECTS USED FOR PREDICTION
AT WEDDING SHOWERS, THE RIBBONS OFF THE BRIDE'S PRESENTS
ARE HANDLED CAREFULLY! FOR EACH RIBBON SHE BREAKS AS SHE
OPENS THE PRESENTS, SHE'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE A CHILD, SO IF SHE
BREAKS FOUR RIBBONS, SHE WILL HAVE FOUR CHILDREN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 10-00-1983
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 MOTHER HAD AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT PREGNANCY WITH MY
SISTER. SHE PROMISED ST. JUDE THAT SHE WOULD NAME THE
BABY AFTER HIM (THE PATRON SAINT OF HOPELESS CASES) IF
THE BABY WAS BORN HEALTHY. MY SISTER'S NAME IS JUDITH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00-00-1947
WHEN ENTERING THE HOUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH A NEW
BABY, USUALLY ON RETURNING FROM THE HOSPITAL, THE MOTHER
ALWAYS TOUCHES THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR HANDLE TO SHUT OUT
THE EVIL EYE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 00-00-1964