Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P684 returned 334 results.
FLOWERS BELIEF
RED ROSE MEANS LOVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Color |
FLOWER BELIEF
WHITE ROSE MEANS PURE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 03031971 YEAR ASSUMED
BLACK TABOO
IF YOU EAT BLACK GRAPES OR BLACK FIGS THEN SOME SORT OF BAD LUCK
WILL COME TO YOU, SUCH AS BAD NEWS, OR YOU WILL DO SOMETHING
THAT YOU WILL REGRET LATER. HOWEVER RED, WHITE , GREEN, AND BLUE
GRAPES AND FIGS ARE FINE TO EAT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; KALAMAZOO
Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-18-1971
HEALTH BELIEF
'BEETS GIVE YOU RED BLOOD.'
MY INFORMANT SAID THAT HER MOTHER STRICTLY BELIEVED THAT,
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
CEMETERY BELIEF
IF YOU ARE OUT IN THE EARLY EVENING AT MT. ELIOT CEMETERY
AT 6 MILE ROAD, AND YOU FACE THE WEST SIDE OF IT, YOU WILL SEE
A GLOWING RED TOMBSTONE, WHY THIS PARTICULAR TOMBSTONE GLOWS,
NO ONE KNOWS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE BLACK LINE
A BLACK LINE IN THE CEMENT OF A SIDEWALK IS A LINE TO AVOID.
IF YOU SHOULD PURPOSELY STEP ON A BLACK LINE YOU WILL GET COOTIES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 10-03-1968
BELIEF
THE PEOPLE OF LIBYA BELIEVE THE WHITE SPIRIT APPEARS AT NIGHT IN
SOME FORM OF LIGHT, SO WHENEVER THEY SEE ANY LIGHT AT NIGHT
THEY SHUDDER IN FEAR OF THE WHITE SPIRIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Color SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 11-29-1969
MOTHER'S DAY CUSTOM
IF YOU WANT TO BUY YOUR MOTHER A CORSAGE FOR MOTHER'S DAY, THERE ARE
THINGS YOU SHOULD FIRST KNOW. IF YOUR MOTHER'S MOTHER IS DEAD, YOU
SHOULD BUY HER A WHITE FLOWER. IF YOUR MOTHER'S MOTHER IS ALIVE,
YOU SHOULD BUY HER A PINK FLOWER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT A RED FLOWER
MEANS.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO ME WHEN I BOUGHT MY MOTHER THE WRONG COLOR OF
FLOWER. I HAVE BEEN MORE CAREFUL SINCE THEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR SYMBOL
Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 21 equinox to June 20 BELIEF -- Color |
EASTER
UKRAINIAN GIRLS DYE EXQUISITE EGGS TO CELEBRATE EASTER. THEY GIVE
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL EGG TO THE BOY THEY LOVE. TO A BOY THEY WANT TO
GET RID OF THEY GIVE A BLACK EGG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): COLOR SYMBOLISM ; UKRAINIAN
Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 03-00-1970
EASTER
GREEKS DYE THEIR EASTER EGGS ONLY A DEEP BLOOD RED WHICH
SIGNIFIES THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.
Submitter comment:
FROM FAMILY TIES.
Where learned: MAIL
Keyword(s): COLOR SYMBOLISM
Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 08-00-1967
BELIEF IN LEBANON
A SMALL BLUE SPECIAL STONE WORN ON THE PERSON
WILL KEEP BAD LUCK AND EVIL AWAY.
Where learned: MARYGROVE COLLEGE
Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
JAPANESE CHARM
WE GET CARDS FROM A SHRINE THAT ARE GOOD
FOR TRAFFIC IN A CAR. THEY PREVENT ACCIDENTS.
HERE IS MINE. THEY ARE WRAPPED IN RED CLOTH
BECAUSE RED IS THE COLOR FOR HAPPINESS AND
GOOD OMEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 02-04-1968
BABY'S RASH
IF YOU PLACE A RED RIBBON UNDER A BABY'S PILLOW
THE BABY WILL NEVER BE BOTHERED WITH A RASH OR SKIN DISEASE.
Submitter comment:
PAT HEARD THIS SHORTLY AFTER SHE WAS MARRIED(APPR. 1954) FROM
A WOMAN WHOSE NAME SHE COULD NOT REMEMBER.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 01-09-1964
THE OPAL
IF YOU ARE WEARING AN OPAL WHILE YOU ARE FEELING WELL,
THE STONE IS A BRIGHT BLUE COLOR; AND WHEN YOU
ARE NOT WELL, THE STONE WILL TURN A DULL, GREYISH-BLUE.
Submitter comment: MY INFORMANT IS NOT SURE WHERE SHE OBTAINED THIS INFORMATION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LATHRUP VILLAGE
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Color |
A DANCE OF DEATH
A GIRL DANCED A DANCE OF DEATH WITH THE DEVIL.
HER PARENTS FORBID HER TO DANCE BUT SHE USED TO
SLIP OUT AND GO TO THE DANCES ANYWAY. ONE NIGHT
SHE PUT ON RED SHOES AND WENT TO THE DANCE.
THERE SHE MET THIS STRANGER WHO WAS DRESSED DIFFERENTLY
FROM ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE AT THE DANCE. HE WAS VERY
SHARP. HE ASKED HER TO DANCE AND SHE SAID YES. THEY
DANCED AND DANCED AND DANCED. FINALLY SHE ASKED
DANCE SAID THAT IF SHE TOOK OFF HER RED SHOES
TO STOP AND HE SAID NO. THE REST OF THE PEOPLE AT THE
THAT THIS WOULD MAKE HIM
STOP BUT SHE COULDN'T. FINALLY SHE DROPPED DEAD FROM
EXHAUSTION AND WHILE THE REST OF THE PEOPLE CAME TO SEE
WHAT HAPPENED THE STRANGE MAN HAD DISAPPEARED. THE STRANGER
WAS THE DEVIL FOLKS SAID AND HE TOOK HER WITH HIM BACK
TO HELL. ON THE DEATH OF THIS GIRL A FEW OF THE
PEOPLE SAID THEY SAW THE MAN'S HORNS
AS HE RAN OUT.
Submitter comment:
MRS. LEWIS SAID THAT THIS STORY WAS TOLD TO HER BY HER
GRANDMOTHER WHEN SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL. HER GRANDMOTHER
SAID THAT THIS WAS A TRUE STORY.
Where learned: FREE PRESS SERVICE DESK
Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Color |
SUPERSTITION-BAD LUCK
RED-HAIRED PEOPLE ARE UNLUCKY.
Submitter comment: DOES NOT REMEMBER.
Where learned: HOME
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 10-26-1967
BLACK CAT
IF A BLACK CAT CROSSES YOUR PATH YOU WILL
HAVE BAD LUCK FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY.
Submitter comment:
LEARNED IN CHILDHOOD IN DETROIT WHERE
PLAYMATES AVOIDED BLACK CATS.
Where learned: HOME
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 00-00-1949
COLOR SIGNIFICATION
THIS WAS COLLECTED ON MONDAY 3-6-67 FROM
MY SISTER. SHE MADE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT ON THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF CERTAIN COLORS WORN ON CERTAIN
DAYS OF THE WEEK.
IF YOU WEAR BLUE ON MONDAY, THIS MEANS YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE A BABY.
IF YOU WEAR GREEN AND YELLOW ON THURSDAY,
THIS MEANS YOU ARE A QUEER.
IF YOU WEAR RED ON FRIDAY, THIS MEANS YOU ARE A DEVIL.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Color |
THE OLD GRAY MARE?
IN THE FALL OF 1961, MY HUSBAND AND I TOOK A FRIEND
OF OURS TO THE RACE TRACK. OUR FRIEND, JIMMY, IS NOW
74 YEARS OLD, AND IS BLIND (HAS BEEN FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS).
JIMMY COMES FROM ENGLAND AND HE HAD A FONDNESS FOR HORSE RACING
WHEN HE WAS SIGHTED.
WHEN WE TOOK HIM TO THE TRACK, WE HAD TO BE HIS "EYES",
SO I WOULD READ THE RACING SHEET ENTRIES TO HIM.
BEFORE EACH BET, HE WOULD ASK, "WHAT COLOR IS THE HORSE"?
UNLESS IT WERE GRAY, HE WOULD NOT BET ON IT BY HIMSELF:
HE WOULD, HOWEVER, SPLIT THE BET WITH US.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAZEL PARK RACEWAY
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 05-00-1965
COLOR BELIEF
THE FIRST DARK-HAIRED PERSON TO COME TO YOUR DOOR
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY WILL BRING GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment: MRS. DEVEREUX LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD FROM HER RELATIVES.
Where learned: HOME
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 11-03-1963