Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P542 returned 854 results.
NEVER GET MARRIED DURING A MONTH IN WHICH THE BRIDE OR THE
GROOM WAS BORN. IF THIS HAPPENS IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST 7 YEARS TO
CONCEIVE A CHILD.
Where learned: CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Measure of time Month |
Date learned: 00001940S
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
While you're pregnant don't eat hot peppers or hot sauce, because
it'll make you have a mean baby.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00-00-1991
You should never talk about other people. For example, never
make fun of the handicapped or people that you think are ugly. If
you do your children will be born just like the person you make fun
of.
Submitter comment:
My grandmother told my mother this to keep her from making fun of
other people.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CURSE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00001930S
Thirteen as Lucky Number
My lucky number has always been thirteen contrary to everyone
else's belief. Even Friday the thirteenth has always been an
especially good day for me. The reasons that I first chose this
to be my lucky number is that I was born on Friday August 13th, at
8:13 p.m. This was the eighth month, Thirteenth day at 8:13 and I
weighed 8 lbs. 13 oz.
Submitter comment:
She and her family believe that this is her lucky day because
she was born a very healthy happy child on such a superstitious
day. She overcame the bad luck and therefore that day would
always be a special day.
| Subject headings: | 686 Specific number by specific number being described 686 Eighths / Eight Favorites BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Good luck Friday the Thirteenth |
Date learned: 00-00-1988
Take a necklace a hang it over a lady's arm. If it swing in a
circle it will be some time before she has a baby. If it swing
horizontal she will have a little girl. If it swings vertical she
will have a little boy.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANAPEL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00001960S
There was a belief that ran throughout the family that if
someone had a dream about fish then it was a sign that one of the
females in the family was pregnant.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Aberdeen
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Dreams Untamed varieties BELIEF -- Dreams P841.61 |
There was a belief that if a woman was angry with another
person or started to have arguments that persisted with someone
then their baby would be delivered looking like the person that
they had the disagreement with.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Aberdeen
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Birth |
There was a woman whose husband played a practical joke on his
wife when she was pregnant. He surprised her coming out of a
closet with a toy monkey. When the wife had the child, the child
looked exactly like the monkey.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Aberdeen
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate BELIEF -- Birth |
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
When pregnant if the child is carried high it's a boy and if
carried low it's a girl.
James Callow comment:
Of the five items in Puckett, Ohio, only no. 719 (from a
student nurse of English, Irish, Scottish heritage) equates a male
baby with high carriage; the four items in no. 720 all say that a
fetus carried low will turn out to be a boy.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00-00-1988
Take a baby's wet urine diaper and rub it on your face and this
will make one have beautiful skin.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVER ROUGE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
Do not let a pregnant woman look upon a corpse; if she does the
baby would be born looking like the dead corpse. The informant was
carrying her third child when her father-in-law died and was not
permitted to view the body because of this belief.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1946
After having a baby take a couple drops of milk from your
breast, place it on a brick and stick it in the oven and it will
help dry up the milk in a woman's breast.
Where learned: GEORGIA ; Alberton
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
When the first child is born in the family hold it up to the
moon the first night of its birth for blessing from God.
Submitter comment:
My cousin was born on New Year's Day and my grandfather held
him up to the midnight moon and said a prayer.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; Linden
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Prayer |
Never let young girls wear make-up before age 13 for she may
become a mother before her custom allows.
Submitter comment:
My mother explain to me at 12 that I could not wear makeup
until I was 13 years of age because I cannot become a grown lady
before my time.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): COSMETICS
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two 686 Specific number by specific number being described BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Maturity |
Date learned: 00-00-1987
Always read to a child when it is in the womb so that it may
be very wise after it is born.
Submitter comment:
I always used to hear my mother talking to my sister before
she was born and used to wonder why she was doing this.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
If you are pregnant, never go to loud parties or talk loud
because your child may be a loud person.
Submitter comment:
I really believe this because my mother always went to loud
parties while she was pregnant with my sister. Now, my sister is
a very outspoken person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
Determining Fetus Sex
To determine the sex of a baby before it is born a needle is
threaded, approximately 12 inches long. The pregnant female lies
on her back and a friend, relative, etc. holds the thread where it
has been tied. The needle is pointed at the center of the female's
abdomen. If the motion of the needle and thread is circular it is
a girl; if the motion is rocking back and forth it is a boy.
Submitter comment:
This particular belief goes back to my great-grandmother's time
(in Poland) and was relayed to me by my mother. Many older Polish
women contend it works.
James Callow comment: For needles in sex determination see Puckett, Ohio, no. 860.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
James Callow Keyword(s): ANAPEL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 01-29-1992
Superstition
It is a old Polish belief that you should not have a cat around
a sleeping baby. It is believed that the cat will lie on the
baby's face, especially the mouth and nose, and the baby will
suffocate.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-00-1992