Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P740 returned 781 results.
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
IF YOU WEAR GARLIC, YOU WILL HAVE GOOD HEALTH AND WARD OFF
EVIL SPIRITS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
TO WARD OFF THE EVIL EYE WHEN SOMEONE IS ADMIRING A BABY OR A
PERSON ONE SAYS "POO POO POO."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 06-00-1987
NEVER SLEEP ON YOUR LEFT SIDE.
IT IS BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
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 LOOK INTO A MIRROR AND TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND SAY
BLOODY MARY 3 TIMES OVER AND THEN TURN THE LIGHTS BACK ON,
YOU WOULD BE BLEEDING FROM SOMEWHERE ON YOUR FACE.
Submitter comment: THIS ACT WAS USED AS A DARE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; WINSHIP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration Favorites BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001970S
YOU WILL GET A HEADACHE IF YOU THROW YOUR HAIR AWAY AND A
BIRD GETS IT AND MAKES A NEST WITH IT.
Submitter comment:
TOLD MY COUSIN THIS AS SHE THREW HAIR FROM HER BRUSH OUT
THE WINDOW.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001970S
IF YOU PLAY WITH A WHEELCHAIR OR CRUTCHES YOU WILL BE
CONFINED TO ONE WHEN YOU GET OLDER.
Submitter comment: I BELIEVE THAT THIS TEACHER IS FROM ATLANTA OR ALABAMA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001970S
When I was little my mother used to say that while
I was making a face at my sister it would get stuck
that way forever, because God was watching and He
didn't make faces to do that !
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
While looking at a friend's scrap book I noticed
that they had pictures of their old pets, but
no current pictures of current pets. When I asked
why, the response was that if you took a picture of
your pet it would soon die afterwards. This was
said with conviction and firm belief. The reason
the belief was so strong was that this happened
to 4 of their pets after they took their picture.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): Post hoc reasoning
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001988 ca
Balinese and Chinese custom
One month after the birth of a baby a bracelet is placed on
the baby for good luck and good health.
Where learned: Bali ; Indonesia
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Month BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
Japanese custom
Removal of shoes when entering a home is necessary because one
may bring in bad diseases or spirits.
Where learned: JAPAN
Keyword(s): Contamination
Date learned: 00-00-1925
Kim's family used to wax their cars, but every time they did,
whoever drove it after the waxing got into an auto accident.
This happened quite a few times. Kim's parents quit waxing
the cars and have not been in an accident since.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PLYMOUTH
James Callow Keyword(s): Post hoc reasoning
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Bad luck |
This a mystery, but anytime my sister got sick, I got a
fever. When her fever went down, so did mine. This happened
when we hadn't even seen each other for a week.
Submitter comment:
My sister and I were not twins. She was three and one half
years older than I.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): sympathetic sickness
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
TO KEEP FROM SNEEZING, THINK OF A COW AND YOU
WILL NOT SNEEZE.
Submitter comment: THIS REMEDY REALLY WORKS
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-00-1987
If you eat carrots you won't have to wear
glasses.
Submitter comment:
Informant believes this; however, she says that this
is told to children to get them to eat their carrots.
Children do not like to eat carrots but they dislike
wearing glasses even more.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FOOD ; FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001960S
If you play with frogs you will get warts on your
hands.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001950S
Always hold your breath when passing a cemetery. If
you do not you will "inhale" death.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; Carbon Hill
Date learned: 00001950S
If you are having difficulty sleeping, spray yourself
with perfume before going to bed and you will have no
more problem.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): INSOMNIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1975