Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P477 returned 904 results.
Superstition
Never let a man place his hat on a woman's bed. It's bad
luck to the woman.
James Callow comment:
"Putting your hat on the bed is an almost universal Negro
sign of bad luck" (N. N. Puckett, "Folk Beliefs of the Southern
Negro," p. 410). Puckett cites informants from Alabama and
Mississippi.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Laurel
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1944
Pinching
When two people say the same thing at the same time, it is up
to one of the people to pinch the other.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Gesture |
Unknown
Don't leave your purse on the floor or you will never have
any money.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Numbers
You will never hit the number if you look up a lady's dress.
Submitter comment: This is a belief of people who play the lottery.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1992
Dreams
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die,
Life is a broken winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go,
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Biddle School
James Callow Keyword(s): dreaming
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Never open an umbrella in a building.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
If you break a mirror you will have seven years of bad luck.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
Don't walk under a ladder, especially with someone on it.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
If a picture falls off the wall by itself, someone you know
will die.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
Menstruating women were not allowed in the barn in the olden
days because the cows would cease to give milk.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Female Hygiene Myths
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 02-00-1985
Sweeping one's foot is cause for never being married.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Broom superstitions
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage |
There is a very narrow and tall building on Western Michigan
University's campus. It was said that, if a virgin graduated still
a virgin, it would come tumbling down.!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; KALAMAZOO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
God Bless You
When I was a small child my grandmother told me that the reason
a person must say, "God bless you" after someone sneezes is that,
according to American-Indian beliefs, a man's spirit escapes his
body when he sneezes. When you "bless" him his spirit returns to
his body.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001960S
Bad Luck. Anyone who is in possession of a yellow lighter will
have bad luck and misfortune. It does not matter whether the
lighter is found, purchased or received as a gift, the owner of the
lighter will have bad luck. The only way to rid yourself of the
bad luck is to destroy the lighter by blowing it up!
Submitter comment:
The informant claims not to believe this story to be true, but
laughingly stated that she will never own, or even use, a yellow
lighter just in case it has some validity.
Where learned: DETROIT AREA ; stranger in a night club
Keyword(s): Cigarette Lighters
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001990s
Child Rearing
If a child is slow to walk (over one year old), stand the child
behind any door in your home and sweep his/her feet with a straw
broom.
Submitter comment:
This really works!!! I tried it with my son, within three days
he was walking.
Where learned: Arkansas ; PINE BLUFF
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Gossiping
If someone is gossiping about you (sullying your good name),
put a penny in your shoe for a week and "walk" that person out of
your life.
Where learned: Arkansas ; PINE BLUFF
Itching nose
If your nose itches someone is talking about you.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Nose BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching nose |
DON'T SWEEP A PERSON'S FEET, WITH A BROOM, OR THEY WILL GO TO
JAIL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time Working BELIEF -- Bad luck |
IF YOU CROSS OVER A BRIDGE, WITH WATER UNDER IT,
IT WILL BRING YOU GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Water BELIEF -- Good luck |
WHEN A KNIFE FALLS OFF THE TABLE, AND HIT THE FLOOR,
THAT MEANS A STRANGER, OR SOMEONE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IN A WHILE
WILL BE COMING TO YOUR HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 03-03-1967