Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 686.1.1 returned 589 results.
WHEN YOU CUT A DECK OF CARDS AND THE ACE OF SPADES SHOWS UP, THIS
SIGNIFIES DEATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. Observation Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-29-1972
A TRADITION ON VISITING A NEW HOME IS TO BRING A LOAF OF BREAD SO
THEY WON'T GO HUNGRY, A BOTTLE OF WINE SO THEY WON'T GO THIRSTY, AND
SOME SALT FOR GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 11-00-1972
NAVY
THE NAVY HAS AN OLD CUSTOM: THE FIRST TIME A SAILOR CROSSES THE
EQUATOR HE HAS TO APPEAR AT A MOCK TRIAL WHICH IS HELD BY KING
NEPTUNE
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. DRAMA -- Secular CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: 10-00-1972
IF SOMEONE DIES HE SHOULD BE BURIED BEFORE THE FIRST RAIN OR ELSE
HIS SPIRIT WILL WALK.
Submitter comment:
AN OLD CHEROKEE INDIAN BELIEF WHICH IS ACTUALLY BELIEVED BY THE
INFORMANT. HER MOTHER PASSED THE BELIEF DOWN TO HER.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): INDIAN (CHEROKEE)
Date learned: 00001972 SUMMER
BABY PREDICTION
THIS BELIEF CONCERNS THE ABILITY TO PREDICT WHAT A MOTHER'S NEXT
CHILD WILL BE. IF THE YOUNGEST CHILD SAYS "MAMA" FIRST, THE NEXT
CHILD WILL BE A GIRL. IF THE YOUNGEST CHILD SAYS "PAPA" FIRST, THE
NEXT CHILD WILL BE A BOY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PORT HURON
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. Observation BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number Last events: the last person to the table... |
Date learned: 10-30-1972
WHEN YOU GO INTO A NEW CHURCH, ONE THAT YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN IN
BEFORE, YOU SHOULD MAKE A WISH AND SAY A HAIL MARY, AN OUR FATHER
AND A GLORY BE. YOUR WISH WILL BE GRANTED
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 09-10-1972
NEW YEARS'S CUSTOM
ON NEW YEAR'S A BUNCH OF KIDS KNOCKED ON THE DOOR SHOUTING LET THE
NEW YEAR IN. RUN AROUND THE TABLE THREE TIMES SHOUTING LET THE NEW
YEAR IN AND GET MONEY ON WAY OUT - GO TO THE NEXT HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): VISITING AND GIFT-GIVING ON NEW YEAR'S.
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's |
Date learned: 11-30-1972
THE FIRST PERSON TO ENTER A PERSON'S HOUSE ON MONDAY MORNING,
SHOULD BE A MALE OR OTHERWISE YOU'LL HAVE BAD LUCK THE REST OF THE
WEEK.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING ; SEXISM
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 12-00-1972
IF A WOMAN WASHES HER HAIR IN THE FIRST RAIN IN MAY; THE RAIN WILL
MAKE HER HAIR GROW.
Submitter comment: THIS IS WHAT HER MOTHER DID EVERY FIRST RAIN IN MAY.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- May BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 12-00-1972
MOMENT OF LIFE CUSTOM
WHEN A PERSON MOVES INTO A NEW HOUSE, SOMEONE SHOULD GIVE HIM
SALT, VINEGAR, AND BREAD. THIS IS TO AVOID EVER BEING HUNGRY
IN THE HOUSE.
Submitter comment:
MY GRANDMOTHER DID THIS FOR MY MOTHER WHEN WE MOVED INTO
OUR NEW HOUSE, ALTHOUGH THE REASONS FOR THESE PARTICULAR
ITEMS WERE NOT KNOWN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 11-00-1972
WHEN WE VISITED SOMEONE FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE FIRST OF THE
YEAR WE HAD TO TAKE THEM SOMETHING. IF THE FAMILY WAS NOT
TAKEN SOMETHING THEY WOULD BE IN NEED FOR THE REST OF THE
YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFT-GIVING AT NEW YEAR'S SEASON
Date learned: 10-20-1972
LUCK
IF A MAN IS THE FIRST PERSON TO KNOCK ON YOUR DOOR ON A MONDAY
MORNING, YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK ALL OF THAT WEEK. HOWEVER, IF A
WOMAN KNOCKS, IT WILL BE BAD LUCK. THE INFORMANT SAID THIS ACTUALLY
HAPPENED TO HER MOTHER ONCE. INFORMANT WAS NOT SURE OF ACTUAL
CIRCUMSTANCES.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. Favorites BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-25-1972
WISHING
STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT, FIRST STAR I SEE OUT TONIGHT. I WISH I
MAY, I WISH I MIGHT, GET THE WISH I WISH TONIGHT. WHEN I WAS YOUNGER
I REMEMBER RECITING THIS VERSE, WHEN THE FIRST STAR WOULD COME OUT
AT NIGHT, IN HOPES THAT MY WISH WOULD COME TRUE.
James Callow Keyword(s): APOSTROPHE
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.455 Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
LUCK/OMEN
GOOD LUCK WILL BE YOURS IF THE FIRST ROBIN YOU SEE IN THE SPRING
FLIES UP, BUT IF HE FLIES DOWN, YOU ARE DOOMED TO A STREAK OF BAD
LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Good luck P881.32 BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.32 |
Date learned: 09-26-1972
LUCK
NO NEW MOTHER SHOULD BE ALLOWED IN THE HOME FOR FORTY DAYS AFTER
GIVING BIRTH, FOR SHE IS UNBLESSED BY GOD, AND COULD BRING BAD
LUCK TO THE FAMILY OF THE HOME SHE VISITS.
Submitter comment:
IT IS NOT ONLY BAD LUCK FOR ANYONE TO LET THIS WOMAN IN THEIR
HOUSE, BUT IT IS ALSO BAD LUCK FOR THE WOMAN TO EVEN LEAVE THE HOUSE.
SHE SHOULD BE HOME GUARDING THE CHILD, WHO IS ESPECIALLY SUSEPTIBLE
AT THIS TIME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN
Date learned: 09-24-1972
STAR
IF YOU MAKE A WISH ON THE FIRST STAR SEEN AT NIGHT YOU WILL HAVE
GOOD LUCK
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Star BELIEF -- Good luck P881.111 |
Date learned: 12-04-1972
VISITOR
IT IS A SIGN OF BAD LUCK IF YOUR FIRST VISITOR ON
NEW YEAR'S DAY IS A WOMAN.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY A CO}WORKER WHO IS A BLACK
GIRL OF THE MUSLIM FAITH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING ; SEXISM
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.2 |
Date learned: 10-25-1972
FAMILY PLATE
NORWEGIAN CUSTOM IS TO PASS DOWN A PEWTER PLATE FROM FIRST
SON TO FIRST SON WITH EACH SCRATCHING HIS INITIALS AND
DATE OF BIRTH ON IT.
Submitter comment: INFORMANTS BROTHER}IN}LAW'S PLATE GOES BACK TO LATE 1600.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Date learned: 11-04-1972
BLACK CAT
GREEKS BELIEVE THAT IF THE FIRST THING YOU SEE WHEN YOU
GO OUT IN THE MORNING IS A BLACK CAT, SOMETHING BAD WILL HAPPEN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.3 |
Date learned: 11-28-1972
PRIEST
GREEKS BELIEVE THAT IF THE FIRST THING YOU SEE WHEN YOU
GO OUT IN THE MORNING IS A PRIEST SOMETHING BAD WILL HAPPEN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 11-28-1972