Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for N226.4 returned 88 results.
IF YOU DROP A SPOON ON THE FLOOR, SOME LADY IS GOING
TO VISIT YOU SOON. IF YOU DROP A FORK, THE VISITOR
WILL BE A MAN.
Submitter comment:
I WAS TOLD THIS WHEN SOMEONE DROPPED A SPOON, SHE
WAS DRYING. (WE WERE EXPECTING THE SCHOOL SUPER-
VISOR.)
Where learned: MINNESOTA
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
WHEN A SPOON FELL ON THE FLOOR, IT WAS BELIEVED THAT
A LADY WOULD VISIT. WHEN A KNIFE FELL, A MAN WAS
EXPECTED TO VISIT. IF A FORK FELL EVERYONE SAID,
"COMPANY'S COMING."
Submitter comment:
THIS MY MOTHER REMEMBERED SINCE SHE WAS FIVE YEARS
OLD (1926).
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00-00-1926
IF A TEASPOON FALLS TO THE FLOOR, A YOUNG GIRL IS COMING;
IF IT'S A SOUP SPOON, IT'LL BE AN OLD WOMAN; IF IT'S A
KNIFE, IT'LL BE A MAN.
Where learned: OVER THE TELEPHONE
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 03-07-1970
IF YOU DROP A KNIFE, YOU WILL HAVE A MAN VISITOR.
IF YOU DROP A FORK, YOU WILL HAVE A WOMAN VISITOR.
AND IF YOU DROP A SPOON, YOU WILL HAVE A CHILD VISITOR..
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PONTIAC
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU DROP A FORK AT DINNER, THEN YOU'LL HAVE FEMALE
COMPANY. IF YOU DROP A SPOON AT DINNER, THEN YOU'LL
HAVE CHILD COMPANY, IF YOU DROP A KNIFE, AT DINNER,
THEN YOU'LL HAVE MALE COMPANY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 11-02-1969
DROP A FORK; A MAN'S COMING.
DROP A KNIFE; A WOMAN'S COMING.
DROP A SPOON; DISAPPOINTMENT IS AHEAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 11-16-1968
IF YOU DROP A FORK, YOU WILL HAVE A MALE VISITOR.
IF YOU DROP A SPOON, YOUR VISITOR WILL BE FEMALE.
HOWEVER, IF YOU DROP A KNIFE, YOU WILL RECEIVE BAD NEWS.
Where learned: OHIO ; NORTH OLMSTED
Date learned: 00-00-1956
IF A SPOON DROPS, IT MEANS THAT A CHILD IS COMING.
IF A FORK DROPS, IT MEANS THAT A WOMAN IS COMING.
IF A KNIFE DROPS, IT MEANS THAT A MAN IS COMING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 03-23-1968
IF YOU DROP A KNIFE A MAN WILL VISIT YOU. IF YOU DROP
A FORK A LADY WILL VISIT. IF YOU DROP A SPOON YOU'LL
GET A KISS.
Submitter comment:
THERE'S A POLISH SUPERSTITION THAT IF YOU DROP AN
EATING UTENSIL SOMEONE IS COMING TO VISIT, BUT IT'S
NOT AS SPECIFIC AS THIS SUPERSTITION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 09-23-1967
WHEN YOU DROP A KNIFE ON THE FLOOR, A MAN IS COMING
TO VISIT YOU. WHEN YOU DROP A FORK, A WOMAN IS
COMING TO VISIT YOU. WHEN YOU DROP A SPOON, A
CHILD IS COMING TO VISIT YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF SILVERWARE IS DROPPED, VISITORS WILL ARRIVE COMING
FROM THE DIRECTION IN WHICH THE HEAD OF THE SILVER-
WARE WAS POINTING. DROPPING A KNIFE WILL BRING A MAN;
A FORK-A BOY; A LARGE SPOON-A WOMAN; A TEASPOON-A GIRL!
Where learned: OHIO ; NORTH OLMSTED
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU DROP A PIECE OF SILVERWARE WHILE SETTING THE
TABLE, YOU WILL HAVE COMPANY FOR DINNER. THE PIECE
YOU DROP DETERMINES WHO WILL COME:
KNIFE--MAN
FORK--YOUNG BOY
SPOON--WOMAN
TEASPOON--YOUNG GIRL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 04-04-1972
IF YOU DROP A PIECE OF SILVERWARE YOU CAN EXPECT THAT
YOU WILL HAVE SOME COMPANY. IF YOU DROP A KNIFE, IT
WILL BE A MAN. IF YOU DROP A SPOON IT WILL BE A
WOMAN AND IF IT IS A LITTLE SPOON, IT WILL BE A
LITTLE GIRL.
Submitter comment:
I HAVE HEARD THE INFORMANT SAY THIS ITEM MANY TIMES
WHEN THE INCIDENT ACTUALLY OCCURED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF A MAN DROPS A FORK, IT MEANS THAT A GIRLFRIEND
REMEMBERS HIM.
IF A GIRL DROPS A SPOON IT MEANS THAT A BOY IS
REMEMBERING HER AND MAY COME OVER. IT IS GOOD
LUCK.
Submitter comment: FROM HIS MOTHER.
Where learned: TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
Date learned: 08-09-1964
IF YOU DROP A PIECE OF SILVERWARE, IT MEANS THAT
COMPANY IS COMING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 03-00-1968
FALLING SILVERWARE DENOTES COMPANY COMING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU DROP A PIECE OF SILVERWARE ON THE FLOOR DURING
A MEAL, IT MEANS COMPANY WILL COME OVER.
Where learned: LIBRARY
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 11-15-1968
DROPPING A UTENSIL ON THE FLOOR MEANS COMPANY IS COMING
AND THE WAY THE UTENSIL IS POINTING SHOWS THE
DIRECTION THE COMPANY WILL BE COMING FROM.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-12-1969
IF, WHILE DOING THE DISHES, YOU DROP SILVERWARE
YOU CAN EXPECT HUNGRY GUESTS.
Submitter comment: LEARNED OR HEARD FROM MY MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU ARE EATING SOMETHING AND IT DROPS OFF YOUR
SPOON OR FORK, IT MEANS THAT YOU DIDN'T DESERVE IT
OR DIDN'T EARN IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. BELIEF -- Use of Object Food |
Date learned: 03-15-1968