Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P425 returned 237 results.
THE BELIEF IN HOUSE DEMONS IN THE OLD DAYS OF LITHUANIA WAS
VERY STRONG, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE FARMERS. IF A FARMER WAS
SUCCESSFUL IN HIS FARMING AND BUSINESS, THEN PEOPLE STARTED TALKING
THAT HE HAD A HOUSE DEMON FOR A FRIEND. IT WAS BELIEVED THAT
THE DEMON FLEW VERY FAST, JUST LIKE LIGHTNING. AND NO ONE KNOWS
EXACTLY HOW HE LOOKED. IF A FARMER BEFRIENDS A DEMON, THE DEMON
WILL STEAL CORN AND GRAIN FROM OTHER FARMERS AND BRING IT TO HIS
FRIEND. THEIR FAVORITE KIND OF FOOD IS SCRAMBLED EGGS. THE
FARMER WHO WISHES TO BEFRIEND A HOUSE DEMON SHOULD LEAVE A PLATE
OF SCRAMBLED EGGS EVERY NIGHT OUTSIDE BY HIS OWN DOOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 01-19-1972
BELIEF
IF YOU SPILL SALT, BE SURE TO PICK SOME OF IT UP BETWEEN THUMB
AND FIRST FINGER AND THROW IT ACROSS THE RIGHT SHOULDER. IT GOES
IN THE DEVIL'S EYES. HE WILL NOT TEMPT YOU TO DO ANYTHING WRONG.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
SUN DURING RAIN LEGEND
WHEN IT RAINS AND THE SUN IS STILL SHINING, THEY SAY THAT THE
DEVIL IS FIGHTING WITH HIS WIFE, JESABELL, FOR POTCAKE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Sun BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7 |
Date learned: 01-26-1972
IF THE SUN SHINES WHILE IT IS RAINING, THAT MEANS THAT THE
DEVIL IS WHIPPING HIS WIFE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IN CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Sun BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7 |
Date learned: 01-26-1971
SOME JAPANESE WRESTLERS BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE EVIL SPIRITS IN
THE WRESTLING RING. TO WARD OFF THESE SPIRITS, THEY SPRINKLE SALT
IN THEIR CORNER OF THE RING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 11-13-1969
DANCING DEVIL
THERE IS A BELIEF AMONG SOME PEOPLE THAT IF YOU SING AT THE DINNER
TABLE, THE DEVIL IS DANCING OVER YOUR HEAD.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER SAYS THIS BELIEF REFLECTED THE GENERAL BELIEF IN HER
CONSERVATIVE LUTHERAN FAMILY THAT GRACE AND DINNER SHOULD BE QUIET
AND DIGNIFIED. THE DEVIL WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BEHIND SINGING AT
THE TABLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.8 |
Date learned: 04-04-1970
THE ZMAY IN RURAL BULGARIA ARE LEGENDARY CREATURES WHO ARE ONE
HALF SERPENT AND HALF MAN. THEY WARN THE PARENTS BEFORE HAND, OF
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN A VILLAGE, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO ABDUCT
THEIR DAUGHTER. THE PARENTS ARE NEARLY POWERLESS IN STOPPING THE
POWERFUL AND MAGICAL ZMAY. WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR THE ZMAY TO
TAKE HIS BRIDE, HE APPEARS WITH ALL HIS RELATIVES. SOMETIMES THE
GIRLS PARENTS PROTECT THE GIRL WITH MAGICAL HERBS.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SAID PEASANTS USE THE ZMAY EXPLANATION TO EXPLAIN
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF LOVELY MAIDENS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 03-21-1970
BELIEF ABOUT THE DEVIL
WHEN YOU COME HOME FROM CONFESSION, THE DEVIL HIDES IN THE BUSHES
AND TRIES TO GET YOU. WHEN YOU GO BY YOU CAN FEEL THE HEAT
RADIATING FROM HIM. SOMETIMES HE LEAPS FROM THE BUSHES AND CHASES
YOU.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER WAS TOLD THIS WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD IN DETROIT BY AN
IRISH FRIEND. HER FRIEND HAD FELT THE HEAT OF THE DEVIL MANY TIMES.
HER MOTHER HAD ACTUALLY BEEN CHASED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE OLD COUNTRY
WHEN THE JEALOUS DEVIL TRIED TO CAPTURE HER SOUL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
LEGEND
SKANEATELAS LAKE, ONE OF THE FIVE FINGER LAKES, IS TEN MILES FROM
SKANEATELAS VILLAGE. ON THE LAKE WERE BUILT TWO IDENTICAL HOUSES,
ONE FOR A MAN AND ONE FOR A WOMAN. ONE STORMY NIGHT FIRE DEMONS
(FIRE BREATHING FISH) ROSE FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE LAKE AND
DESTROYED THE WOMAN'S HOUSE. SHE WAS KILLED BY THE DEMONS AS AN
ACT OF REVENGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Wind Whirlwind Hurricane Cyclone Tornado |
LUCK
STEP ON A CRACK AND BREAK THE DEVIL'S BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
CRACKS
STEP OVER A CRACK AND YOU'LL BREAK THE DEVIL'S DISHES.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
SUPERSTITION
DONT ROCK AN EMPTY ROCKING CHAIR, BECAUSE THE DEVIL WILL COME
AND SIT IN IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 03-20-1968
PICTURES AND THE DEVIL
IF A PICTURE IN A ROOM IS CROOKED, THE DEVIL DID IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
LEGEND BELIEF
WHILE LIVING IN GUAM, MY MOTHER WONDERED WHY THE GUAMANIAN PEOPLE
LIVED IN HOUSES ON STILTS, AND SO SHE ASKED A GUAMANIAN FRIEND
OF OUR FAMILY, AND HE TOLD HER THAT HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO, THE
PEOPLE WERE VERY PAGAN (BEFORE THE SPANISH BROUGHT CHRISTIANITY TO
GUAM). BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED IN MANY GODS AND EVIL SPIRITS AND THE
SUCH THEY BUILT THEIR HOUSES ON STILTS TO KEEP THE EVIL SPIRITS
FROM ENTERING THEIR HOMES. OF COURSE, THE PRACTICE ALSO KEEPS THE
INSECTS OUT OF THE HOUSES AND THE DAMPNESS AND , SO IT IS A
VERY PRACTICAL PRACTICE, ALSO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PRACTICALITY
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 03-30-1968
PROVERB
ANYONE WHO HAS IVY GROWING IN THEIR HOMES, HARBORS THE EVIL SPIRIT.
Submitter comment: THIS IS AN OLD IRISH SAYING.
Where learned: ONTARIO ; TORONTO
Keyword(s): PLANT ; SUPERSTITION
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
DEVIL'S NECESSITY
ASHES TO ASHES
DUST TO DUST
IF THE LORD WON'T TAKE YOU
THE DEVIL MUST
Submitter comment: INFORMANT COULD REMEMBER HEARING THIS ITEM IN GRADE SCHOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): RELIGION
James Callow Keyword(s): BURIAL ; INITIAL REPETITION ; PARODY ; RHYME
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb BELIEF -- Creator BELIEF -- Devil Demon PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
POLISH PROVERB
DIABET NIE SYSI. (POLISH)
THE DEVIL DOES NOT SLEEP. (TRANSLATION)
Submitter comment: MY FATHER KNOWS THIS PROVERB FROM POLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): SUPERNATURAL
James Callow Keyword(s): AWAKE?
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-17-1967
POLISH PROVERB
DIABLI TO WIEDZA. (POLSIH)
THE DEVILS KNOW IT. (TRANSLATION)
Submitter comment:
THIS IS USED IN REFERENCE TO SOME KNOWLEDGE NOBODY KNOWS. MY FATHER
KNOWS THIS FROM POLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): SUPERNATURAL
James Callow Keyword(s): SECRECY?
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-17-1967
OLD JEWISH SAYING
THE DEVIL RAN AWAY FROM A BAD WOMAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SUPERNATURAL
James Callow Keyword(s): LILITH?
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
STAR BELIEF
A FALLING STAR MEANS THAT SOMEONE IS SELLING HIS SOUL TO THE DEVIL.
IF YOU WISH TO SAVE HIS SOUL, MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS.
Where learned: WARREN
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Star BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications |
Date learned: 02-15-1970