Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IF YOU ATTEND A FUNERAL WHILE PREGNANT YOUR BABY WILL BE
BORN OR GROW UP TO BE A VERY DARK COMPLEXTION PERSON.
Submitter comment:
THIS ITEM WAS LEARNED DURING MY STAY IN DETROIT WITH PEOPLE WHO
LIVED THERE A LONG TIME.
THIS SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEF --THE TABOO OF ATTENDING A FUNERAL
WHILE YOU ARE PREGNANT WILL AFFECT THE COLOR OF THE UNBORN. THIS
USUALLY APPLIES TO BLACK FOLK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): COMPLECTION COMPLEXION ; NEGRO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: CA06171966
DETERMINING THE SEX OF AN UNBORN CHILD
IF YOU ARE BIG FROM THE FRONT IT IS A GIRL; IF YOU ARE BIG FROM
THE BACK IT IS A BOY.
Submitter comment: LEARNED DURING PREGNANCY OF INFORMANT'S FIRST CHILD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 10-16-1974
EXPECTANT MOTHERS
HERE ARE SOME BELIEFS ON THIS SUBJECT: IF YOU CARRY A BABY LOW,
IT IS A GIRL. IF YOU CARRY A BABY HIGH, IT IS A BOY.
DANGLE A PIN FROM A STRING, IF IT SWINGS IN A CIRCLE, ITS A GIRL;
IF IT SWINGS IN A STRAIGHT LINE, IT IS A BOY.
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN CRAVES SOMETHING, THE BABY, WHEN BORN, WILL
CRAVE IT ALSO.
IF YOU ARE SCARED OR AFRAID OF SOMETHING, THE BABY WILL BE MARKED.
IF YOU EAT STRAWBERRIES WHEN PREGNANT, YOUR BABY WILL HAVE A
STRAWBERRY MARK ON HIS FACE.
Submitter comment:
IT SEEMS THERE ARE ALOT OF THESE KIND OF FACTS TO KEEP PREGNANT WOMEN
AWARE OF WHAT THEY EAT AND DO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANAPEL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 02-00-1974
JEWISH SAYING
KLEIG VIA A MUMSER: SMART AS AN ILLEGITIMATE CHILD (ENGLISH)
Submitter comment: HEARD THIS AS A KID. THESE SAYINGS JUST WENT AROUND IN A JEWISH H
James Callow comment:
INCOMPLETE COMMENT
CN[ STATFIELD, MURRAY 730401
C1[ 21130 GARDNER
C2[ OAK PARK, MICHIGAN 48237
DNC[ 1,616
******************** C FILE 1 ********************
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Marriage PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
BIRTH
MONDAY'S CHILD IS FAIR OF FACE,
TUESDAY'S CHILD IS FULL OF GRACE.
WEDNESDAY'S CHILD IS FULL OF WOE,
AND THURSDAY'S CHILD HAS FAR TO GO.
FRIDAY'S CHILD IS LOVING & GIVING
AND SATURDAY'S CHILD HAS TO WORK FOR A LIVING.
BUT THE BAIRN THAT IS BORN ON THE SABBATH DAY,
IS BONNY AND LUCKY AND WISE AND GAY
Submitter comment: WAS GIVEN TO ME BY RABBI HALPERN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
BIRTH CUSTOM
A WOMAN WHO GAVE BIRTH WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO LEAVE HER HOUSE UNTIL
SHE WENT TO HER CHURCH AND WAS BLESSED. THERE IS A SUPERSTITION
THAT SAYS THAT IF SHE BREAKS THIS CUSTOM EITHER HER OR THE CHILD
WOULD SUFFER SOME TRAGEDY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 11-00-1973
CHAIR
NEVER WALK A CHAIR IN THE HOUSE. IT CAUSES A CHILD TO BE
BORN CRIPPLE.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
James Callow Keyword(s): CARRY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: CA11001973
ORACLE
NEVER GO TO A WAKE OR FUNERAL WHEN PREGNANT AND LOOK AT THE BODY
BECAUSE YOUR CHILD WILL ALWAYS HAVE A FEAR OF DEAD PEOPLE.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: CA11001973
LUCK
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN IS FRIGHTENED BY AN INSECT THE CHILD WILL HAVE
A BIRTH MARK THAT RESEMBLES THE INSECT.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
Date learned: CA11001973
ANIMAL
ALWAYS KEEP CATS AWAY FROM A BABY BECAUSE CATS SUCK THE LIFE OUT OF
A BABY.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: CA11001973
NUMBERS
THE SEVENTH CHILD BORN IN A FAMILY IS USUALLY THE LUCKIEST.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; UNICE
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Good luck P881.43 BELIEF -- Good luck P881.5 |
Date learned: CA11001973
WATCH YOUR STEP
NEVER STEP OVER A PERSON, ESPECIALLY A BABY BECAUSE YOU WILL STOP
THE PERSON FROM GROWING.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: CA11001973
BOY OR GIRL
IF A PREGNANT MOTHER IS BIG IN THE FRONT AND NOT
IN THE BACK, THE BABY WILL BE A GIRL. IF SHEIS BIG IN THE BACK AND
NOT SO BIG IN THE FRONT THE BABY WILL BE A BOY.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 11-03-1972
BABY PREDICTION
THIS BELIEF CONCERNS THE ABILITY TO PREDICT WHAT A MOTHER'S NEXT
CHILD WILL BE. IF THE YOUNGEST CHILD SAYS "MAMA" FIRST, THE NEXT
CHILD WILL BE A GIRL. IF THE YOUNGEST CHILD SAYS "PAPA" FIRST, THE
NEXT CHILD WILL BE A BOY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PORT HURON
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. Observation BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number Last events: the last person to the table... |
Date learned: 10-30-1972
BABY PREDICTION
THIS BELIEF CONCERNS THE ABILITY TO PREDICT WHAT AN EXPECTANT
MOTHER'S CHILD WILL BE. IF A PREGNANT MOTHER CARRIES HER BABY LOW,
THE CHILD WILL BE A GIRL. IF THE PREGNANT MOTHER CARRIES THE BABY
HIGH, THE CHILD WILL BE A BOY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PORT HURON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-30-1972
DETERMINING SEX
WHEN A WOMAN IS PREGNANT YOU HAVE HER SIT ON THE FLOOR AND WHATEVER
HAND SHE LEANS ON WILL DETERMINE THE SEX OF THE CHILD. RIGHT HAND IS
A BOY AND LEFT HAND IS A GIRL.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER AND INFORMANT DOES NOT HOLD
IT TO BE TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
James Callow Keyword(s): RIGHT-HANDEDNESS SEXISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 09-25-1972
BIRTH
WHEN AN EXPECTANT MOTHER IS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENED BY SOMEONE DRESSED
IN A FRIGHTENING COSTUME, THE BABY WOULD BE BORN IN RESEMBLANCE OF
THE COSTUME.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER AND DOES NOT HOLD IT TO BE
TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 09-25-1972
AFTER THE BIRTH OF THE CHILD, DEPENDING ON WHO HE OR SHE RESEMBLES
MOST, THAT WAS THE STRONGER PARTNER IN LOVE.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 09-10-1972
KILLER CATS
SOME PEOPLE DON'T LET CATS NEAR THEIR NEWLY BORN BABIES BECAUSE
CATS ARE SAID TO LEAP ON THE CHILD'S CHEST AND SUCK THE BREATH
OUT OF HIM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
BROWN-LINE STORY
MY MOTHER TOLD ME THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A
BROWN LINE FROM YOUR CHEST TO THE END OF
YOUR STOMACH, YOU CAN'T HAVE BABIES.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT TOLD THIS TO ME WHEN WE WERE BOTH ABOUT NINE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT