Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P740 returned 781 results.
Bloody Mary
At slumber parties we always used to hear from at least
one person a story about Bloody Mary. Bloody Mary was
supposed to be seen by a person who stood in front of
a mirror, in the dark. The designated person would
stand in front of a mirror anywhere in the house and say
bad things about Bloody Mary. The person would call her
name and say things like "Show yourself Bloody Mary,
or are you too scared?" The person would also call her
names or even swear at her. If the person got Bloody
Mary angry enough, she would appear in the mirror and
cause an injury to the person who had called her.
Submitter comment:
A few people that I knew had enough nerve to do this.
Even though two of the people that did were unaffected,
three of the people I know who tried this came out with
severe scratches on both of her arms, and one also
had severe scratches on her throat.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 00-00-1980
You should never point at a rainbow or you or
your child could lose a hand.
Where learned: THAILAND
Date learned: 00001960S
If someone admires your baby and says that
it's beautiful you must spit or the baby will
become sick or get a rash on its face. Her
parents and her husband's parents both truly
believed this. Her husband's parents used to
wipe the baby's face three times with a wash
cloth to prevent a rash if anyone admired the
baby.
Submitter comment:
Mrs. Wojtan doesn't believe this herself anymore,
but says many people in Kansas used to when she
was growing up.
Where learned: KANSAS ; Manhattan
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Favorites BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001920S
RED M&M CANDIES CAUSE CANCER.
RUMORS WERE CIRCULATING NATIONWIDE ABOUT CARCINOGENIC NATURE
OF THE DYE USED TO MAKE RED M&M'S. THIS WAS STRENGTHENED WHEN
M&M BEGAN SELLING M&M'S WITHOUT RED CANDIES. THE RED CANDIES
WERE BROUGHT BACK AROUND 1985, BUT MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL LEERY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): CANDY
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001980CA
IF ONE URINATES AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, ONE
WILL ACQUIRE A STY UPON ONE'S EYE WITHIN ONE WEEK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LEXINGTON
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
ONE MUST NEVER LET THE HAIR FROM THEIR BRUSH OR COMB
FALL TO THE GROUND. IF A BIRD WERE TO BUILD A NEST
WITH THIS HAIR, THE PERSON FROM WHICH THE HAIR CAME
WILL EXPERIENCE HEADACHES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001930ca
A PREGNANT WOMAN SHOULD NEVER HANG CLOTHES OUT ON A LINE
TO DRY. IF SHE DOES THE UMBILICAL CORD WILL BECOME WOUND
AROUND THE NECK OF HER UNBORN BABY.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY STELLA ODOERFER, HIS
MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MARLETTE
James Callow Keyword(s): WASHING CLOTHES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001945CA
Forever Young
If a Chinese girl with green eyes marries any man that man
will remain forever young. It is very hard to find a
Chinese girl with this type of eye color so luck is also
a great factor.
Submitter comment:
I personally have never seen a Chinese girl with green eyes
but my informant has and he spoke with her, that's how he
gave me this story.
Where learned: OHIO
Keyword(s): Eternal youthfulness
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1991
There is a saying we used to do on the way
home from school. "Step on a crack, break your
mother's back. Step on a line, break your
father's spine." We would try not to step on
any cracks or lines. If we did, we were always
afraid that it would come true.
Where learned: NEW JERSEY ; Tuckerton
Date learned: 00001970S
Don't step over someone younger than you or you will stunt his
growth. If you do, you should step back over him to reverse
the omen.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Conversions |
Don't walk around with one shoe on or your mother will die.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 03-00-1991
It is bad luck to count the number of cars of a funeral as it
passes you by. It could cause serious illness or death.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
If you eat raw cookie dough then you will get worms.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
When I went to camp with my school one summer I was told this
"true" story. Several years earlier one of the camp counselors
went swimming in the river. Unknown to her a leech planted its
eggs in her scalp. A few weeks later as she was combing her hair
the eggs broke open and hundreds of little leeches slithered
down her face. She's been in an asylum ever since.
Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
You must avoid stepping on cracks in the ground and sidewalk or
you'll break your mother's back.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Tragedy
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001950S
When you're pregnant you should never hold your arms up over your
head, because the umbilical cord will tighten around the baby's neck
and strangle the baby.
Submitter comment:
Felicia says that since she has been pregnant she has heard so
many superstitions about what a pregnant woman should or should not
do to maintain healthy pregnancy.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1991
If you ever make an ugly face and someone slaps you on the back
while you are making that face your face will become stuck like
that.
Submitter comment: Lisa saw this in a movie once.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): CURSE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001990s
Never step over a person, specially a small child because it
stunts their growth.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001960S
A pregnant beautician will make your hair grow during the middle
months of the pregnancy and fall out at the end.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): OCCUPATION
Date learned: 00-00-1991
Always wash your hair on the first April Shower; it will make
your hair grow.
Date learned: 00-00-1955