RE:SEARCH logo
University of Detroit Mercy Libraries / Instructional Design Studio
UDM HOME BLACKBOARD MY UDMERCY
RESEARCH HOME / FIND / SPECIAL COLLECTIONS / THE JAMES T. CALLOW FOLKLORE ARCHIVE /
James Callow Folklore Archive

Collection Home

About Dr. James T. Callow

Dr. James T. Callow publications

Collectors

Browse by

Subject heading

Keyword

Location

Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.

The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

search for

Content filter is on

Your search for P438.41 returned 109 results.

prev | items
| next

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

View just this record

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

Subject headings: Prediction / Divination
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body)
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Curse
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

Date learned: 00-00-1918

View just this record

BLACK-AMERICAN BELIEF

THE NUMBER OF WRINKLES IN THE FOREHEAD SHOWS HOW
MANY KIDS YOU WILL HAVE.

Submitter comment: GRANDMOTHER PASSED THIS SAYING.

Where learned: MISSISSIPPI

James Callow Keyword(s): CHILDREN

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body)
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs

Date learned: 00-00-1960

View just this record

BLACK-AMERICAN BELIEF

MOLE ON THE EAR, MONEY BY THE YEAR.
MOLE ON THE NECK, MONEY BY THE PECK.
MOLE ON YOUR BACK, MONEY BY THE PACK.
MOLE ON YOUR ARM, YOU ARE A GENTLEMAN'S CHARM.
MOLE ON YOUR ARM, YOU'LL LIVE ON A FARM.

Submitter comment: HEARD WHEN A CHILD FROM GRANDMOTHER.

Where learned: MISSISSIPPI

Subject headings: Favorites
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.438
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body)

Date learned: 00-00-1957

View just this record

FRECKLES ARE ANGEL KISSES.

Submitter comment: TOLD TO SOMEONE FEELING BAD BECAUSE FRECKLES ARE THOUGHT
TO BE BLEMISHES: INSTEAD THEY BECOME TINY BLESSINGS.
OBTAINED FROM A SCHOOL MATE OF SHEILA'S, SHEILA O'CONNER.

Where learned: NEW HAMPSHIRE ; MANCHESTER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Angel
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body)
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 10-00-1985

View just this record

DO NOT SCARE OR STARTLE A PREGNANT WOMAN WITH A SNAKE OR ANYTHING
ELSE OR THE CHILD WILL HAVE A BIRTHMARK RESEMBLING SAME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Ortonville

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: 11-00-1987 ; 00001930S CA.

View just this record

Baby Belief

A baby born with a birthmark on the upper part of his/her body
will have success in life.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body)

Date learned: 03-00-1992

View just this record

It has been said that if you urinate in the middle of the
highway, you'll get a star (pimple) under you eye.

Submitter comment: Everytime I saw someone with a pimple under his/her eye I would
think about this old saying.

Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Louise

Keyword(s): Pimple

James Callow Keyword(s): Stye

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body)
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 00-00-1970

View just this record

IF A WOMAN IS PREGNANT AND HAS A CRAVING FOR SOMETHING,
THE CHILD WILL BE BORN WITH A BIRTHMARK IF THE WOMAN
SCRATCHES HERSELF SOMEWHERE (WITH HER HAND).

Submitter comment: HE LEARNED THIS FROM HIS MOTHER, WHO BELIEVES THAT
THAT IS THE REASON FOR HIS BIRTHMARK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS

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: NOT GIVEN

View just this record

IF A PREGNANT WOMAN EATS TOO MANY STRAWBERRIES, THE CHILD
WILL HAVE A STRAWBERRY (BIRTH)MARK.

Submitter comment: LEARNED AT HOME

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): GLUTTONY

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 -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
BELIEF -- Use of Object Food

Date learned: 02-14-1967

View just this record

IF YOU TOUCHED A FROG, YOU'D GET WARTS.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT RELATED THIS BELIEF, BUT DID NOT SEEM
TO HOLD CREDENCE IN IT HIMSELF.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS

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 -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 11-23-1970

View just this record

IF YOU HAVE A CORN, YOU SHOULD RUB IT WITH YOUR OWN
SALIVA AS SOON AS YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING (BEFORE
YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO WASH YOUR MOUTH OUT). JENNIE TOLD
ME THIS YEARS AGO WHEN I HAD A BAD CORN. I DON'T
KNOW IF IT WAS A CASE OF MIND OVER MATTER OR WHAT,
BUT I TRIED IT AND IT WORKED. MAYBE THE SALIVA HAS
ACID IN IT. WHETHER THIS CAME FROM THE NORTHERN PART
OF ITALY OR FROM KANSAS, I'M NOT SURE. JENNIE DIDN'T
SAY. (SHE WAS ITALIAN).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body)
BELIEF -- Remedy

Date learned: 00001950S

View just this record

IN ORDER TO GET RID OF WARTS, CERTAIN PEOPLE
POSSESS A SPECIAL POWER TO CURE THEM BY BUYING
THE WART FOR ONE CENT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

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 -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 02-18-1971

View just this record

THERE WAS A "QUACK" WHO LIVED IN SCOTLAND AND HAD A
CURE FOR WARTS. HE WOULD GIVE THE PATIENTS A LARGE
SHEAF OF STRAW AND HE HAD TO CARRY THE STRAW IN
HIS HAND AND FIND OUT WHERE A FUNERAL WAS TAKING
PLACE, AND AT THE FIRST MOVEMENT OF THE HEARSE, HE
HAD TO THROW THE STRAW UNDER THE HEARSE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SCOTLAND

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 -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 01-28-1971

View just this record

IF A PREGNANT WOMAN VISITS A FIRE, OR SOME OTHER
EXCITING OCCURENCE, HER CHILD WILL BE BORN WITH A
BIRTHMARK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body)

Date learned: 08-00-1964

View just this record

BIRTH SUPERSTITION

MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO SAY THAT WHENEVER A BABY WAS BORN AND
IT HAD A BIRTHMARK OR SOMETHING ON ITS SKIN, THAT IT WAS
DUE TO SOME SIN OF THE MOTHER AND GOD WAS PUNISHING HER
BY MARKING UP HER CHILD.

Where learned: NASHVILLE, ASSUMED ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED

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
BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: 07-23-1968

View just this record

prev | items
| next

University of Detroit Mercy
4001 W. McNichols Detroit , MI , 48221-3038
This site is endorsed by the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) and supports the views, values, and mission of UDM. The University of Detroit Mercy web site provides links to other web sites, both public and private, for informational purposes. The inclusion of these links on UDM's site does not imply endorsement by the University. Please contact the Associate Dean for Technical Services and Library Systems for any questions regarding this web site.