Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P477 returned 904 results.
IF YOU HAVE A BURNING SENSATION IN YOUR RIGHT EAR, SOMEONE IS
SPEAKING VERY BADLY ABOUT YOU. A BURNING SENSATION IN YOUR LEFT
EAR MEANS SOMEONE IS GIVING YOU A COMPLIMENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): LEFT RIGHT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions |
WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING WRONG TO YOU, AND YOU DON'T
KNOW ABOUT IT, IT CANNOT HURT YOU. IF YOU GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO
FIND OUT ABOUT IT, IT WILL INDEED HURT YOU FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
IF YOU JUST HAPPEN TO HEAR ABOUT IT, THEN IT WILL NOT HURT YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
PLUG YOUR EARS WHEN YOU PASS A CEMETERY SO THE DEAD WON'T SPEAK TO
YOU.
Date learned: 11-00-1975 ; 11-00-1975
Old folks would say when you comb your hair, any excess should
be thrown in running water (stream, brook, etc.) This would
make your hair grow. but if you throw it on the ground, the
birds would get it and use it to build their nest which would
cause you to have a ear ache.
Where learned: Arkansas ; LITTLE ROCK
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Running water BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1920
NEVER TAKE A TUB BATH OR WASH YOUR HAIR DURING YOUR
MENSTRUAL PERIOD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S MOTHER TOLD HER THIS, INFORMANT IS
NOT SURE OF THE SIGNIFICANCE, BUT ALL HER FRIENDS
WERE TOLD THE SAME THING FROM THEIR MOTHERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CURSE ; MENSTRUATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1945
WAIT ONE HOUR AFTER EATING BEFORE GOING SWIMMING.
OR YOU WILL SINK.
Submitter comment:
WE HAD A POOL INSTALLED IN OUR BACKYARD IN THE EARLY 1970'S
MY MOTHER WOULD TELL US THAT, WHEN WE WOULD WANT TO GO
SWIMMING AFTER LUNCH OR DINNER. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT SHE
TOLD US THAT, BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO RELAX AND NOT HAVE TO
WATCH US SWIM IN THE POOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
Keyword(s): SWIMMING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time Routine activity BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001970S
CUT HAIR ON A GROWING MOON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-00-1987
A FULL MOON BRINGS OUT THE WORSE BEHAVIOR IN PEOPLE.
Submitter comment: SOUTHERN BLACK AMERICAN SAYING
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-00-1987
Muskeg Molly
Every summer on my camping trip to Quetico Park, I am told
the legend of Muskeg Molly. Muskeg Molly and her new husband
were camping there for their honeymoon. Unfortunately, her
husband drowned and Molly is thought to still roam about in
the park. She is approximately six feet ten inches tall, has
blond hair, like her husband, and lives off the land. She
camps in sparsely populated campsites and will assault anyone
coming near her territory, especially fair-skinned people.
Only one case has actually been reported and to this day
he resides in a mental hospital.
Where learned: Quetico Provincial Park
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
COVER MOUTH WHEN SNEEZING SO YOUR SOUL DOESN'T
GET OUT TO THE DEVIL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
IN THE CALMNESS LIES THE POWER.
Submitter comment: GERMAN PROVERB
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAZEL PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
IT IS SAID THAT THE CROSS THAT RESTS NEXT TO THE GRACE FAMILY
PLOT IN HUBARDSTON, MICHIGAN, ALIGNS ITSELF TO FACE THE HOME
OF THE NEXT MEMBER OF THE GRACE FAMILY THAT WILL DIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CARSON CITY
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications |
AS A PART OF PRIMITIVE MEDICINE, WOMEN WERE NOT PERMITTED
TO GO NEAR FLOWERING PLANTS DURING THEIR MENSTRUAL PERIOD
TO PROTECT THEIR HEALTH AND HYGIENE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-01-1988
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 |
When you see the Northern Lights at night, whistle
very loudly and the light will become brighter.
Submitter comment:
Elinor learned this belief from a student of her's who
identified herself as "full-blooded North American Indian."
This woman had lived in northern Canada for some time.
When the informant demonstrated the technique for
whistling, she placed both of her baby fingers in
her mouth to indicate that the whistle was to be
extremely loud.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): Aurora Borealis
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
WHENEVER YOU PASS A CEMETERY YOU SHOULD HOLD YOUR
BREATH SO IT DOESN'T GET SUCKED OUT OF YOU BY THE
SPIRITS OF THE DEAD BURIED THERE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
IF YOU SING WHILE AT THE DINNER TABLE YOU WILL MARRY A
CRAZY MAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Date learned: 02-01-1990
WHEN YOU ARE PLAYING POKER AND YOU SEE ANOTHER PLAYER TWISTING
HIS RING IT MEANS THAT HE IS BLUFFING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Gesture |
WHENEVER YOU BUILD A SNOWMAN YOU SHOULD BUILD IT SO IT FACES
THE ROAD TO PROTECT YOUR HOUSE FROM DANGER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Water Ice Snow BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
IF YOU GO AND CHECK THE MAIL BEFORE THE MAILMAN HAS ARRIVED
IT MEANS THAT THE NEXT TIME YOU CHECK IT THERE WILL ONLY BE
BILLS IN IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time |