Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for S600 returned 515 results.
"DON'T POINT"
DON'T POINT AT A GRAVE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; COLUMBIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT IS AN ILL OMEN TO POINT DIRECTLY AT ANY PERSON.
Where learned: HIS HOME
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-26-1967
IF THERE ARE FOUR PEOPLE GREETING ONE ANOTHER AND TWO
OF THEM SHAKE HANDS ACROSS THE HAND SHAKE OF THE OTHER
TWO, THERE WILL BE A WEDDING.
Submitter comment:
MRS.. MALONY LEARNED THIS WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD. SHE WAS
BORN AND RAISED IN IRELAND.
Where learned: DETROIT ; RECTORY ; IRELAND ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; HOLY NAME
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 02-19-1967
WHEN TWO PEOPLE SHAKE HANDS AND TWO OTHER PEOPLE SHAKE
HANDS ACROSS THE FIRST COUPLE, THERE IS GOING TO
BE A WEDDING IN THE FAMILY.
Submitter comment:
MRS. BERGER LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS
A CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 02-19-1967
A DISTINCTIVE STYLE OF WALKING CAN BE OBSERVED IN
MEMBERS OF THE YOUNG, INTELLECTUAL, NON-CONFORMIST
GROUP AND THE RELATED HIPPIE GROUP. THEY TEND TO
LEAN SLIGHTLY FORWARD FROM THE HIPS AND WALK WITH
A SORT OF BOUNCE TO EACH STEP. (THIS BOUNCING MAY
BE THE RESULT OF WEARING TENNIS SHOES OR RUBBER-SOLED
BOOTS).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- P439 SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
GESTURE IN JOKE
WHEN SOMEONE SAYS A DEAD JOKE, YOU SAY
"THAT'S A KNEE SLAPPER, HA, HA" DURING WHICH YOU
PROCEED TO SLAP THE OTHER'S KNEE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-08-1971
GESTURE FOR HOT
HOT -- WET MIDDLE FINGER IN MOUTH, REACH IT FORWARD
AND JERK IT BACK.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
James Callow Keyword(s): TEMPERATURE
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Gesture SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.14 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
GESTURE FOR COLD.
HOLD FIST NEAR SHOULDER AND SHAKE IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): TEMPERATURE
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
SHAKING HANDS BET
WHEN TWO PEOPLE SHAKE HANDS ON A BET, THAT THEY HAVE
MADE, IT IS LEGITIMATE ONLY IF A THIRD PERSON BREAKS
THE HAND SHAKE WITH HIS ARM OR HAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-02-1965
CUSTOM
THE THAI HAVE A TRADITIONAL WAY OF GREETING CALLED THE "WAI."
THIS HOLDS THE SAME SIGNIFICANCE AS THE AMERICAN HANDSHAKE,
BUT ALSO SIGNIFIES RESPECT, THANKS, OR APOLOGY. A PERSON
"WAIS" BY PLACING HIS HANDS TOGETHER IN A PRAYERFULL MANNER
AND LIFTING THEM TO HIS FACE WITH THE THUMBS BELOW THE
CHIN AND THE INDEX FINGERS AGAINST THE FOREHEAD, AND THE
HEAD SLIGHTLY BOWED. REFUSING TO RETURN A "WAIS" HAS THE
SAME EFFECT AS REFUSING A HAND SHAKE.
Where learned: THAILAND
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Gesture SPEECH -- Greetings Salutations SPEECH -- Respect |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
"WAI" GESTURE
THIS IS DONE BY PUTTING THE HANDS TOGETHER IN A PRAYING
POSITION BEFORE YOUR FACE AND SLIGHTLY NODDING YOUR
HEAD. THIS GESTURE HOLDS THE SAME TRADITIONAL SIGNIFI-
CANCE AS THE AMERICAN HANDSHAKE, BUT ALSO SIGNIFIES
RESPECT, THANKS, AND APOLOGY.
James Callow comment: TIPS OF FINGERS OF BOTH HANDS AT LIPS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): THAILAND
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Gesture SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.1 SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.14 SPEECH -- Greetings Salutations SPEECH -- Respect |
Date learned: 10-24-1970
PLACING THE HAND OVER THE HEART MEANS SYMPATHY OR
CLOSE CALL FOR ESCAPE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Gesture SPEECH -- Mock sympathy and mock enthusiasm |
Date learned: 01-23-1971
STUDENT MUST STAY THREE FEET BEHIND TEACHER WHEN
ENTERING A DOORWAY AS A MATTER OF RESPECT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 11-27-1971
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Belief
When driving past a cemetery place on efinger on the roof of the car and put another finger on your mouth and say "shhhh". This is so you will not wake up the dead.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; BELIEF ; CEMETERY ; GESTURE ; GRAVEYARD ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Gesture |
Superstition
Point at a shooting star or even speak of it and you lose your next wish.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Origina BN's [P600.880, P800, P880] crossed out and replaced with current classifications.
Where learned: SCHOOL
Keyword(s): ASTROLOGY ; ASTRONOMY ; BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; GESTURE ; jinx ; Point ; SPEAKING TABU ; SUPERSTITION ; TABU ; WISH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Comet BELIEF -- Prayer SPEECH -- Gesture |
Superstition
Always cross your fingers when passing a black crow.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out and replaced with current classifications.
The question For Good Luck? is written underneath the submission.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BIRD ; COLOR ; Crow ; OMEN ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Color SPEECH -- Gesture |