Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P446 returned 235 results.
BELIEF
A SPIDER HANGING FROM THE CEILING IS A SIGN OF GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Good luck P881.33 |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
A BELIEF
IF A DRAGONFLY LANDS ON YOUR EAR, IT WILL SEW IT UP.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS TALE AS A CHILD, AND AT THE TIME HE THOUGHT
THAT IT WAS PROBABLY TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT ; BELIEF
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect |
Date learned: 02-15-1972
BELIEF
STEPPING ON A SPIDER WILL BRING RAIN.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOES NOT BELIEVE THIS STATEMENT.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
James Callow Keyword(s): DISBELIEF ; HARMING NATURE
Date learned: 02-19-1972
ANTS
IF YOU STEP ON A COLONY OF ANTS, IT WILL RAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT ; HARMING NATURE
Date learned: 02-27-1972
WEATHER BELIEF
SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT ONE CAN PREDICT THE SEVERITY OF THE WINTER
BY OBSERVING THE COLORATION OF THE WOOLLY BEAR CATERPILLAR. IF THEY
ARE MOSTLY BLACK IN COLOR, THE WINTER WILL BE SEVERE, WHILE IF THEY
ARE MOSTLY BROWN IN COLOR, THE WINTER WILL BE LESS SEVERE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS THIS BELIEF MIGHT BE TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT ; BELIEF
WEATHER
SIGN OF BAD WINTER: IF A CATERPILLAR HAS A WIDE
STRIPE ON HIS BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT LARVA
Date learned: 01-30-1970
IF A LADYBUG LANDS ON YOU SHE WILL BRING YOU GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL BEETLE
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Good luck P881.33 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SIGN OF GOOD LUCK
HAVING A LADYBUG LAND ON YOU IS A SIGN OF GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL BEETLE
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Good luck P881.33 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A HONEY BEE FLYING AROUND A PERSON IS A SIGN OF GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Good luck P881.33 |
Date learned: 02-26-1970
IT IS BAD LUCK TO KILL A CRICKET, ESPECIALLY ON SUNDAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.33 |
Date learned: 03-03-1970
BELIEF OR PREDICTION
YOU CAN DETERMINE THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE BY COUNTING THE NUMBER
OF TIMES A CRICKET RUBS HIS FOOT IN A MINUTE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT ; WHICH RUBBING PRODUCES CHIRPING SOUND.
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.3 |
BELIEF
A PRAYING MANTIS IS AN AGENT OF THE DEVIL. IT MAY SPIT IN YOUR
EYE AND BLIND YOU IF ANNOYED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.11 |
Date learned: 02-02-1970
WHEN YOU SEE A LADYBUG YOU CHANT: LADYBUG, LADYBUG FLY AWAY HOME,
YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE, YOUR CHILDREN WILL ROAM. IF THE LADYBUG WAS
FOUND INSIDE THE HOUSE, IT WAS CONSIDERED A SIGN OF GOOD LUCK. IF IT
WAS FOUND OUTSIDE, IT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Good luck P881.33 BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.33 |
IF A MOSQUITO IS BITING YOU, SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RETRACT HER
NEEDLE IF YOU HOLD YOUR BREATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.11 |
Date learned: 11-23-1968
IF A MOSQUITO IS BITING YOU ON THE FOREARM, SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE
TO RETRACT HER NEEDLE IF YOU EXTEND YOUR ARM OUT AND FLEX IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.11 |
Date learned: 11-24-1968
SEWING BUGS
NEVER GET TOO NEAR A SEWING BUG (DRAGON FLY), BECAUSE THEY WILL
SEW YOUR EYELIDS SHUT.
Submitter comment:
I REALLY BELIEVED IN THIS WHEN I WAS LITTLE, AND I WAS TERRIFIED
OF SEWING BUGS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.11 |
Date learned: 11-17-1968
A WAY TO MAKE A SWARM OF BEES SETTLE, IS TO THROW DIRT OR WATER
AT THEM. THEY CANNOT FLY WHEN THEIR WINGS ARE WET.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS FAIRLY WELL KNOWN, ESPECIALLY THE WATER ON THE WINGS IDEA.
THEY CANNOT EVEN FLY IF THEIR WINGS ARE COVERED WITH HEAVY DEW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.11 |
Date learned: 03-10-1968
PROVERB
CRAZIER THAN A BESS BUG.
Submitter comment:
PROVERBIAL COMPARISON--HEARD BY THE INFORMANT FROM SOME SOUTHERN
KENTUCKY FRIENDS AND NOW USED BY HER.THE BUG INVOLVED RUNS AROUND IN
FIRST ONE DIRECTION, THEN ANOTHER, WITHOUT SEEMING TO KNOW WHERE
ITS GOING. THIS PHRASE IS APPLIED TO PEOPLE WHO DO FOOLISH OR CRAZY
THINGS. USUALLY HE OR SHE IS CRAZIER THAN A BESS BUG.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): INSECT
James Callow Keyword(s): BETSY BUG? BED BUG?
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 10-21-1969
WEATHER BELIEF
AS A YOUNG BOY IN CANADA, I WAS ALWAYS TOLD BY MY MOTHER,
THAT I SHOULD NEVER KILL A SPIDER. SHE SAID THAT IF I DID
IT WOULD RAIN ALL DAY, AND SPOIL MY FUN.
Submitter comment:
I GUESS SHE JUST DIDN:T LIKE ME TO KILL SPIDERS.
Where learned: CANADA ; MONTREAL
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; FUNCTION
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7 |
Date learned: MANY YEARS AGO
A NATURAL TRANSITION
AT ABOUT TEN YEARS, I BEGAN A COLLECTION OF THE WHITE BALLS
OF FUZZ, WHICH COME OFF THE TREES IN OUR OLD NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN MY
FRIENDS HEARD OF MY COLLECTION, THEY TOLD ME TO RID MYSELF OF IT
BEFORE THE LITTLE BALLS EVOLVED INTO SPIDERS. I RUSHED HOME
AS QUICKLY AS POSIBLE AND SCATTERED THEM FROM MY HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL: ARACHNID
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN