Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P890 returned 105 results.
When maple leaves curl up so you can
see the bottom, it will rain.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Allegan
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00001970S
When the birds all fly low, it means
that it is going to rain soon.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Allegan
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00001970S
When you find a wooly caterpillar in the
summer you should always pick it up and look
at it because it will foretell the weather
that coming winter. There is a black band
around its middle. If the band is pretty
small there will be a mild winter. But the
larger the band the more harsh and the longer
the winter will be.
Submitter comment:
Marty swears that this always works. He didn't
know if there was any biological truth to this.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Allegan
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Measure of time Winter BELIEF -- Measure of time Summer BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00001970S
Prediction
My mother was taught that, six weeks after the first
grasshopper chirped, there would be snow.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 00001950CA
IF ANTS HAVE A HIGH PILE OF DIRT AROUND THEIR HILLS THIS MEANS
IT IS GOING TO RAIN. THE HIGHER THE HILL, THE MORE IT WILL RAIN.
Where learned: MISSOURI
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Measure of space: distance, height, depth BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00001940S
IF YOU SEE A BLACK BEETLE LYING ON HIS BACK THE WEATHER IN THE
NEAR FUTURE WILL BE BAD. IF YOU HELP THE BEETLE YOU WILL HAVE BAD
LUCK IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00001940S
IF YOU HEAR OR SEE BIRDS DURING A RAINSTORM THE POSSIBILITY OF
A TORNADO IS GREAT.
Where learned: MISSOURI
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Wind Whirlwind Hurricane Cyclone Tornado BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00001940S
When yellow-green air is present take shelter, a tornado is near
by.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Wind Whirlwind Hurricane Cyclone Tornado BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00-00-1953
A snowstorm is actually the angels having a pillow fight in
Heaven.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANTHROPOMORPHISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Angel BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00-00-1982
Thunder is really potatoes rolling down a hill after God
spills a cart full of them.
Submitter comment:
This was told to children at one time to prevent them from
being afraid of thunder.
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00-00-1956
Thunder is really the angels bowling in Heaven.
Submitter comment:
This was told to children to prevent them from being afraid of
thunderstorms.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Angel BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 02-00-1992
IF YOU STEP ON A BLACK ANT, IT'S GOING TO RAIN.
Submitter comment:
AS A CHILD THE INFORMANT REALLY BELIEVED THIS AND TRIED
HER HARDEST NOT TO STEP ON BLACK ANTS.
Where learned: NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00001950S LATE
IF YOU HAVE A DUCK, HEN, OR TURKEY SETTING, PUT ROCKS AROUND
ITS NEST TO KEEP THUNDER FROM JARRING THE EGGS, BECAUSE
THUNDER WILL KEEP THE EGGS FROM HATCHING.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; ATHENS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Control Prevention Provocation Protection P892.25 |
IF A GROUND HOG SEES HIS SHADOW, WE WILL HAVE SIX MORE WEEKS
OF COLD WEATHER.
Data entry tech comment: ON GROUNDHOG'S DAY, PRESUMABLY.
Where learned: ALABAMA, ASSUMED ; MONTGOMERY
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF THERE'S A RING AROUND THE MOON, IT MEANS IT'S GOING TO RAIN.
Where learned: SOURCE UNKNOWN ; BETHESDA ; MARYLAND, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF THERE HAS BEEN LOVELY WEATHER FOR A LONG TIME, THEN THERE IS
SURELY GOING TO BE A BAD WINTER (OR WET SPRING, OR MISERABLE
SUMMER) FOLLOWING.
Where learned: SOURCE UNKNOWN ; BETHESDA ; MARYLAND, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF THE LEAVES TURN UP (SO THAT THE UNDER-PARTS SHOW), A RAIN-
STORM IS COMING.
Where learned: COLORADO ; SOURCE UNKNOWN ; BOULDER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon |
Date learned: 00001942 CA.
A RING AROUND THE MOON IN SUMMER, RAIN IS COMING.
A RING AROUND THE MOON IN WINTER, SNOW IS COMING.
IF YU COUNT THE NUMBER OF STARS WITHIN THE RING, YOU WILL
KNOW HOW MANY DAYS (BEFORE THE RAIN COMES).
Submitter comment: I HAVE HEARD THE SAME THING IN MAINE.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; MAINE ; HOLLY SPRINGS
James Callow Keyword(s): PARALLELISM
Date learned: 08-11-1968
THE MOON INFLUENCES THE GROWTH OF CROPS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Plants |
Date learned: 07-29-1968
IF THE SUN SHINES WHILE IT IS RAINING, IT IS A SIGN THAT IT
WILL RAIN TOMORROW.
Submitter comment: MRS. REAVES TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON SUPERSTITION IN
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Arkansas ; FORT SMITH
Date learned: 08-08-1968