Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P534 returned 59 results.
DON'TS ON THE SABBATH
SABBATH BEGINS AT SUNDOWN ON FRIDAY (JUDAISM). A
PERSON CANNOT TURN ON A LIGHT OR LIGHT UP AN OVEN
UNTIL SUNDAY. ONCE COULD NOT / TELL SOMEONE ELSE TO DO
IT, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED THAT HE WERE
WORKING. (THE SOMEONE ELSE WOULD BE WORKING, TOO).
ONLY BEFORE
SUNDOWN ON FRIDAY, COULD ONE EMPLOY SOMEBODY TO DO
SOMETHING FOR HIM; AND, ONLY, BEFORE OR AFTER THE
SABBATH, COULD HE OFFER PAYMENT.
Submitter comment:
SHE LEARNED THIS FROM HER FAMILY, BUT DOES NOT PRACTICE
IT TODAY. SHE RECALLED THAT HER FATHER WOULD COME
HOME FROM WORK ON FRIDAY AND THEN RUN SEVERAL BLOCKS
TO THE THEATER TO BUY TICKETS FOR THE SATURDAY
MATINEE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour BELIEF -- Home BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 04-00-1965
FRIDAY-BAD LUCK
NEVER START A PROJECT ON A FRIDAY. EITHER YOU WILL
NEVER FINISH IT OR IT WILL END IN DISASTER.
Submitter comment:
TOBY LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD FROM HER HUNGARIAN
MOTHER.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Bad luck |
SELLING SALT AT NIGHT BRINGS ILL LUCK TO THE SHOPKEEPER. THIS BELIEF
IS SO DEEP-ROOTED THAT ONE WILL NEVER SUCCEED IN PERSUADING A SHOP-
KEEPER TO GIVE SALT AT ANY TIME DURING THE NIGHT.
Where learned: TANZANIA ; EAST AFRICA
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck Food and drink |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
ANOTHER CURE THAT MY MOTHER USED TO GIVE MY FATHER WAS FOR
SORES. THIS CURE WAS CALLED A BAGBON. WHAT THIS WAS I DO NOT
KNOW, BUT IT WAS A MIXTURE OF LARD AND CARBOLIC ACID.
Submitter comment:
MRS. TOWNE'S FATHER WAS ABLE TO COME HOME EACH DAY AFTER WORK,
BECAUSE HIS FAMILY LIVED CLOSE TO THE LUMBERING CAMP. MOST
LUMBERJACKS DID NOT ENJOY THIS LUXURY. IN FACT MRS. TOWNE
KNEW ONE LUMBERJACK WHO WALKED TWENTY MILES HOME AFTER WORK
ON SATURDAY AND THEN WALKED TWENTY MILES BACK THE NEXT DAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HOUGHTON LAKE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 00001930S
PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIX FINGERS INSTEAD OF FIVE ARE REGARDED
AS PEOPLE WITH GOOD LUCK. WHOEVER MAKE A DEAL WITH THEM WILL BE
LUCKY TOO.
Submitter comment: HE WAS EXCITED WHILE NARRATING THE ITEM.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Sixths / Six Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
On the feast of St. Barbara (Dec.4), artillerymen wear
red socks.
Submitter comment:
Ray was not sure how this custom came into being, but says
that St. Barbara is the patron saint of artillerymen. Perhaps
because she is the saint to be prayed to for protection from
lightening and fire, the artillerymen feel that she has an
affinity with the explosive power of their weapons.
Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI
Keyword(s): Military, soldiers
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
If you are having trouble selling your house, bury a
statue of St. Joseph, head-down and facing the rear of
the house, until your house is sold. Afterwards you
dig the statue up and permanently display it in a place
of honor in your new home.
Submitter comment:
This belief was heard from Maryann's sister, Leda, who
was having trouble selling her condominium. Leda's real
estate agent suggested that she try this. Within the
month Leda's condo was sold, and now the statue of St.
Joseph is on the mantlepiece of her new home. This
superstition is, evidently, very widely held by Italians.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; Rogers Park
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Good luck Objects BELIEF -- Conversions |
A pregnant beautician will make your hair grow during the middle
months of the pregnancy and fall out at the end.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): OCCUPATION
Date learned: 00-00-1991
Never trust a bald barber; he has no respect for other people's
hair.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): OCCUPATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses No hair, baldness BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00-00-1976
IN IRELAND, IF SOME PERSON (PERHAPS A GYPSY)
COMES TO THE HOME OF AN IRISH FAMILY TO SELL HIS
WARES, THE MOTHER IN THE FAMILY WOULD IMMEDIATELY
PLACE A PAIR OF TONGS FROM THE FIREPLACE OVER THE
CRADLE OF HER INFANT CHILD TO PREVENT A CURSE OR
BAD OMEN ON THE CHILD. TO INSURE GOOD LUCK AND TO
INSURE PROTECTION FROM ANY EVIL OMENS, THE MOTHER
WOULD ALSO NEVER SEND THE SALESMAN AWAY WITHOUT
BUYING SOMETHING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 11-03-1969
Entry filtered.
I ALWAYS HEARD THAT MINERS TOOK CANARY BIRDS DOWN INTO THE MINES.
IF POCKETS OF POISON GAS WERE CUT INTO, THE BIRD WOULD KEEL
OVER. THE MINERS WOULD THEN KNOW THAT POISON GAS WAS PRESENT
AND WOULD LEAVE THE MINE. I NEVER REALLY SAW A BIRD BEING
TAKEN INTO A MINE, BUT IT WAS COMMONLY SUPPOSED BY MOST PEOPLE
THAT THEY WERE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 07-28-1968
COAL MINER'S BELIEF
AN ANCIEN BELIEF AMONG MANY COAL MINERS IS THAT IT IS BAD LUCK
FOR A WOMAN TO COME INTO THE MINES. I ASKED THREE VETERANS
OF COAL MINING, CANDY WRIGHT, RICH CLAUSE, AND BILL STOTT,
IF THEY HAD HEARD THIS OLD SAYING. THEY SAID THEY HAD HEARD
IT MANY TIMES, BUT THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE IT. THEY REMEMBERED
WOMEN BEING ALLOWED TO TOUR THE MINES WHERE THEY WORKED AND
NOTHING HAPPENED. THIS TALE IS JUST "DOODLE DUST" AS WE
MINERS SAY.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; WILLIAMSBURG
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 03-29-1969
IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO SOME WORK ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, FOR
WHATEVER YOU DO THAT DAY, YOU WILL DO ALL YEAR.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): pilot day
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
IF YOU CUT A DRESS ON FRIDAY, IT WILL NEVER BE FINISHED.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 07-03-1970
NO WORK PROSPERS UNLESS IT IS BEGUN IN THE STAGE OF A NEW MOON.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; HOPKINSVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 04-15-1972
MOLE ON THE CHIN MEANS YOU'RE FORTUNATE IN YOUR CHOICE
OF FRIENDS. MOLE ON THE NOSE MEANS YOU'LL SUCCEED IN
BUSINESS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Date learned: 10-08-1973
DO YOU KNOW WHERE TIPPING CAME FROM? WELL, IN ENGLAND
A LONG TIME AGO, THEY HAD A PLATE BY THE DOORS OF
RESTAURANTS AND AS PEOPLE WENT IN, THEY PUT MONEY
IN IT TO INSURE PROMPTNESS. THE PEOPLE WHO PUT THE
MOST MONEY IN GOT THE BEST AND QUICKEST SERVICE.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): TO INSURE PROMPTNESS--INITIALS=TIP
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Explanation of a name BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 08-06-1968
Luck and the Assembly Line
It is bad luck to cross from one side of the line to the other side, when the assembly line is stopped.
Submitter comment:
The informant was told this by his fellow workers at the Hamtramck Assembly Plant.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |