Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P440 returned 190 results.
IF A MAN HAS NEVER INDULGED IN A SEXUAL ACT BEFORE AND HAS NOT
COMMITED ANY SINS, HE CAN HAVE A SUPERNATURAL POWER. SUCH PEOPLE
CAN HEAR THE BIRDS AND ANIMALS WHILE TALKING.
Where learned: NIGERIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Supernatural Being BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
MY GRANDFATHER BELIEVED THAT IF YOU THREW A HAIR FROM A HORSE'S
TAIL INTO A RAINBARREL IT WOULD TURN INTO A SNAKE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFORMATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
A TURTLE NEVER DIES UNTIL THE SUN GOES DOWN. IF YOU CATCH A
TURTLE AND CUT IT UP FOR SOUP, THE PARTS KEEP SQUIRMING IN THE
SOUP UNTIL THE SUN GOES DOWN.
Submitter comment:
THIS STORY WAS TOLD TO STEVE WHEN HE WAS A CHILD BY HIS
GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
NEVER KILL A SPIDER OR IT WILL SOON RAIN. AS A CHILD,
I TRIED THIS, AND IT ALWAYS SEEMED TO HOLD TRUE.
Submitter comment:
THIS BELIEF WAS COMMUNICATED BY STEVE'S GRANDMOTHER WHEN HE
WAS A CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
Date learned: 10-18-1984
IF A SNAPPING TURTLE BITES YOU, IT WON'T LET GO UNTIL
THE SUN GOES DOWN EVEN IF YOU CHOP THE TURTLE'S HEAD OFF.
Submitter comment:
THIS FOLK BELIEF WAS COMMUNICATED TO BRIAN BY HIS MOTHER
WHEN HE WAS A CHILD LIVING IN RURAL OHIO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 10-22-1984 ; 00001960S
WHATEVER YOU DO YOU SHOULD NEVER HARM ANOTHER
PERSONS ANIMAL. PEOPLE HAVE STRONG BONDS WITH
THEIR ANIMALS, SOME PEOPLE WILL EVEN KILL YOU
ABOUT THEIR ANIMALS. I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE
BECAUSE MY MOTHER TOLD ME ABOUT A WOMAN AND THE
LOVE SHE HAD FOR HER HORSE. WELL, THIS WOMAN HAD
HER HORSE TEN YEARS BEFORE SHE TOOK A HUSBAND. THAT
OLE HORSE WAS REALLY MEAN. TIME CAME WHEN THAT HORSE
KICKED THAT WOMAN'S HUSBAND, SO THE HUSBAND SHOT THE
HORSE. WELL, THAT WOMAN DIDN'T TAKE THE DEATH OF HER
HORSE EASY. AFTER SHE FOUND OUT WHAT HER HUSBAND DID
SHE TOOK A PIECE OF LOG AND CRACKED HER HUSBAND'S SKULL
AND HE DIED. THERE IS A LESSON TO BE LEARNED, NEVER
HARM ANYONE'S ANIMAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CRUELTY TOWARD ANIMALS ; THERIONICIDE HOMICIDE
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1985
IT USED TO SCARE ME WHEN I THOUGHT OF IT.
I WAS FOLLOWING IN SOMEBODY'S FOOTSTEPS WHEN THEY
TURNED INTO LIKE DOUBLE HOOVES AND DISAPEARED INTO
A CAVE OR SOMETHING. THAT USED TO SCARE ME WHEN
I WAS LITTLE. I WAS AFRAID TO PICTURE IT. HOOVES REALLY
SCARED ME, LIKE WALKING IN THE DARK.
Submitter comment: SHE WAS VERY WITHDRAWN IN THIS SUBJECT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Animal |
IT IS BELIEVED THAT, IF A SNAKE IS KILLED, ITS
MATE WILL CURL UP AROUND IT, AND ATTACK ANYONE GOING
NEAR THE BODY. THE SNAKE BELIEVES THAT ANYONE COMING
NEAR THE BODY IS THE ONE WHO KILLED IT, AND IT WILL WANT
TO AVENGE THE DEATH.
Submitter comment:
PRESTON HEARD THIS FROM HIS UNCLE IN GEORGIA. HE
CANNOT REMEMBER THE DATE HE HEARD IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
NEVER KILL A DADDY LONG LEG SPIDER OR IT WILL RAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00-00-1965 ; 10-00-1987
While looking at a friend's scrap book I noticed
that they had pictures of their old pets, but
no current pictures of current pets. When I asked
why, the response was that if you took a picture of
your pet it would soon die afterwards. This was
said with conviction and firm belief. The reason
the belief was so strong was that this happened
to 4 of their pets after they took their picture.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): Post hoc reasoning
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001988 ca
Balinese custom
If snakes appear at a temple and you kill one, if it is a
snake of one of the God's, a God will come down and kill you
in a horrible way within twenty-four hours.
Where learned: Bali ; Indonesia
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
If the cows are standing it means that there is
good fishing.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
WHILE VISITING THE WEST, TOURISTS MIGHT BE TOLD THE STORY
OF THE MOST FEROCIOUS AND DIFFICULT ANIMAL TO HUNT. THIS
BEAST IS CALLED A JACKALOPE. IT HAS THE BODY OF A
JACKRABBIT AND THE ANTLERS OF AN ANTELOPE. WILD JACKRABBITS
MATED WITH ANTELOPE TO SCARE OFF SETTLERS. IN SOME SMALL
TOWNS YOU MAY ACTUALLY SEE ONE OF THESE WILD BEASTS
STUFFED AND MOUNTED ON THE WALL AS A WARNING TO
OVERZEALOUS TOURISTS.
Submitter comment:
THE REALLY INTERESTING PART OF THE STORY IS WHEN
TOURISTS REALLY BELIEVE IT!
Where learned: MONTANA
James Callow Keyword(s): HYBRID
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 00001980S CA
If you play with frogs you will get warts on your
hands.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001950S
My aunt heard this story from a friend whose
friend had it happen to her. She had gone to
a large nursery and bought a cactus that was
about two or three feet tall. She had just had
a baby and was home alone all day caring for it.
When she sat down to rest she thought she saw the
the cactus moving a little. When she told her
husband he just figured that she was fatigued from
taking care of the baby all day. One day it really
started to bother her so she called the store.
The manager got on the phone and told her not to
panic but to put the cactus in a dark closet and
to leave the house until he arrived. A few minutes
later, they arrived, went into the house, covered
it up and carried it to a truck. The manager was
also sending an exterminator to the house.
Apparently a whole shipment of cactuses from the
southwest had eggs laid in them by tarantulas.
When the sun warmed up the cactus, the eggs would
begin to hatch and that's what gave the cactus the
appearance of moving. If they don't eat their way
out, the cactus will literally explode from the
pressure created by all the baby tarantulas inside.
Submitter comment:
I thought that this story was true, but in the
last couple years I've heard other people tell
similar stories. I think my aunt also thought it
was true.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER HILLS
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00001980S
Camp Songs, Girl Scouts
This song was taught to me
by a Girl Guide Troop from England
It is sung to the tune of O'Christmas Tree
or O'Tannenbaum
O'Tom the toad, O'Tom the toad
Why are you lying in the road?
O'Tom the toad O'Tom the Toad
Why are you lying in the road?
You did not see the truck ahead.
And now you're marked with tire tread.
O'Tom the Toad O'Tom the Toad
That's why you're lying in the road.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Camp Innisfree ; Howell
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Social reunion Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 07-00-1989
IF YOU WALK INTO A SPIDER'S WEB IT WILL BRING YOU GOOD
LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1935
If your legs fall asleep or become numb when you are horseback
riding out West, be careful. A rattlesnake might be
around.
Submitter comment:
I heard this line a long time ago from a movie and it's
been with me ever since.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions |
Date learned: 00-00-1987
Putting tabasco sauce on bread and feeding it to ducks can
put a curse on you. And soon something degrading will
happen to you.
Submitter comment:
I learned of this story back in grade school when the
teacher scolded some of my friends for going to the pond
and feeding the ducks with bread soaked in tabasco sauce.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WEST BLOOMFIELD
Keyword(s): tabasco, hot, spicy.
James Callow Keyword(s): CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ; FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
Down South dragon flies are called snake doctors by the old
blacks because they believe that dragon flies bring dead
snakes back to life and the blacks are really afraid of
snakes. So, whenever a black man sees a dragon fly around
he knows that there's a snake around.
Where learned: VIRGINIA, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder |
Date learned: 00001977CA