Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P477 returned 904 results.
Fireworks were invented and used in Thailand to
bring rain. The louder and bigger the fireworks
were, the more rain the gods were supposed to
send them.
Submitter comment:
This is still very much believed by the people
and still practiced.
Where learned: THAILAND
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00001960S
To give a religious gift to someone is to wish
death on them. My great grandmother fervently
believed this, but my grandmother is much more
skeptical.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00001940S
Giving knives is bad luck unless you include
some money, usually a small amount.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Bad luck Gifts BELIEF -- Bad luck Sharp objects BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 00001960S
Giving knives as a present is bad luck unless
the person who receives them pays the giver,
usually a penny.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Bad luck Gifts BELIEF -- Bad luck Sharp objects BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 00001960S
If someone offers to finish sweeping the floor
for you after you have already started, you
must not let them, but do it yourself.
Where learned: KANSAS ; Manhattan
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time Working |
Date learned: 00001920S
Superstition
My mother used to be terrified to weep at the table,
because my grandmother told her that her tears would
turn her food to poison.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Date learned: 00001950CA
Sparta, Wisconsin has a large population
of Amish people. It is really harmful to the
Amish if someone takes their picture. They believe
their soul is being stolen.
Where learned: WISCONSIN ; Sparta
James Callow Keyword(s): Photography
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-29-1990
My uncle told me that Japanese people do not
put handles on their cups because they believe
that if it's too hot the cup shouldn't be picked up.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRASER
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Color Design Food Drink -- Service BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001990ca
If someone wants to sell a house and aren't getting
too many offers, bury a statue of St. Joseph in the
backyard. The house will be sold. My boyfriend's
mother did this and their house was sold in a week.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
MY MOTHER ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT THE NIGHT BEFORE A TEST IF
I WANTED TO RETAIN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I HAD STUDIED I SHOULD
TAKE MY BOOK OF THE SUBJECT THAT I WAS TO BE TESTED ON AND
PLACE THAT BOOK UNDER MY MATTRESS BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP, AND
THE KNOWLEDGE WOULD STAY WITH ME.
Submitter comment:
THE THING ABOUT THIS BELIEF IS THAT IT REALLY DID WORK: I
WOULD USUALLY REMEMBER ALL THE INFORMATION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- School BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 00001980CA
EVIL EYE
IF YOU BRAG ABOUT A CHILD, OR YOUR WIFE, OR ABOUT ANYTHING, THE
EVIL EYE WILL TAKE IT AWAY. TO AVOID THIS, WHENEVER BRAGGING
YOU SHOULD END THE ADULATION WITH A CRITICAL COMMENT.
Submitter comment:
AS AN EXAMPLE, INSTEAD OF SAYING, "MY SON IS SO PERFECT. HE
ALWAYS GETS GOOD MARKS IN SCHOOL." A CAUTIOUS PERSON WOULD SAY,
"MY SON IS SO PERFECT. HE ALWAYS GETS GOOD MARKS IN SCHOOL, BUT
HE NEVER CLEANS HIS ROOM."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WEST BLOOMFIELD
Keyword(s): ADVICE ; COMPENSATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 09-12-1990
WHEN SAILING IN ANY OF THE GREAT LAKES AROUND MICHIGAN
IT IS VERY UNLUCKY TO MENTION THE EDMUND FITZGERALD.
THE INFORMANT GIVES ONE EXAMPLE BASED IN ONTARIO WHERE
THE CREW, WHEN FINISHED WITH THEIR JOURNEY ON THE LAKES
WAITED UNTIL THEY GOT ONTO THE DOCK AND THEN SANG " THE
WRECK OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD" IN FULL AS A KIND OF THANK YOU
FOR MAKING THE TRIP SAFELY. THE INFORMANT ALSO CLAIMS THAT
ONE TIME HE WAS OUT ON THE LAKES IN A BOAT WITH A FRIEND AND
AFTER TALKING ABOUT THE EDMUND FITZGERALD THEY HAD PROBLEMS
WITH THE RUDDER ON THE BOAT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CHARLEVOIX
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 07-00-1989
NEVER HAVE A TOOTH PULLED WHEN THE MOON IS IN THE SIGN
OF THE HEAD OR BAD WILL COME OF IT.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO ME BY MY GRANDMOTHER, WHO FOLLOWS THE
MOON'S CYCLE FOR A NUMBER OF THINGS. THE SIGNS OF THE
ZODIAC EACH CORRESPOND TO A DIFFERENT PART OF THE BODY,
THE HEAD BEING THE SIGN OF CAPRICORN, THE RAM.
Where learned: VIRGINIA ; SPLASHDAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1930
In Baghdad, Iraq swimming in the Tigris and Euphrates river
after the holy month of Ramadan is said to be the last
cleansing process of the soul. Only Moslems participate in
this religious ceremony.
Submitter comment:
My father told me this story because he knew of many
individuals who would participate in the ceremony.
James Callow Keyword(s): bathing
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1948
Weather Predictor
Flying a kite with a northern wind direction on a bright sunny
day will mean that it will rain the next day. If you fly your
kite in a southern wind direction on a cloudy day the next day
will be bright and sunny. If you attempt to fly your kite on
a stormy day look forward to a week of terrible weather.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Game, Air.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1988
Good Luck
Standing on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean just before
sunrise can put you in a great state of mind and can bring
you a world of good luck. If you then take a quarter out
of your pocket
and throw it out into the ocean as far as you can it will
bring you 25 days of good luck. This all must be done before
the sun rises.
Where learned: FLORIDA ; FORT LAUDERDALE
Keyword(s): Buying luck
James Callow Keyword(s): East ; POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: 00-00-1991
Washing your car on just about any day is a sign that it will
rain. And your effort to keep your car clean will go to
waste.
Submitter comment:
You are jinxing yourself whenever you wash your car because
it will always rain.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Storm, wet
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through |
Date learned: 00-00-1985
Continuous lying will bring nothing but bad luck to you and to
anybody who is close to you.
Submitter comment:
My father told me this when I was very young and lied about
anything. I learned my lesson.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Untrustworthy, Dishonest
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1984
Wearing used clothes from a thrift shop may bring you either
good luck or bad luck, depending on how the original owners
conducted themselves when wearing those clothes.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WEST BLOOMFIELD
Keyword(s): Articles, Fashion
James Callow Keyword(s): BEHAVIOR
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 00-00-1985
Asking for money from a stranger and getting it can prove
to be rewarding for the man or woman who has given the
money out. For the reason being that "Good Luck" will
follow him or her for the rest of the day.
Submitter comment:
My father seemed very optimistic when he was telling me
this story.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Farmington Hills
Keyword(s): money, green
James Callow Keyword(s): donor
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1983