Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P477 returned 904 results.
NEVER BUY A MAN A PAIR OF SHOES, OR HE WILL WALK ALL OVER
YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
DON'T PUT YOUR PURSE ON THE FLOOR, OR YOU WILL NOT GET ANY
MONEY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Putting your purse on the floor meant that you would never be
able to keep any money.
James Callow comment:
Puckett, Ohio, no. 20178: "If you place your pocketbook on
the floor, you will have little money."
Where learned: GEORGIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Date learned: 01001910 CA
Putting your hat on the bed meant you would bring yourself
bad luck.
James Callow comment:
See Puckett, Ohio, nos. 3368 ("the boggyman will spank you"),
13928 ("you will be an old maid"), 18283, 18284 ("bad luck to the
owner of the hat"), 18285, 18288 ("new hat"), 18289 ("man's
hat"), 18291 ("bring a house bad luck"), 18292 ("on a friend's
bed"), 18295 ("and the police will be involved"), 18296 ("spit in
it three times before setting it down"), 18297 ("Never put your
hat on the bed upside down"), 18298 (the hat "should always be
placed upside down"), 27634 ("after a funeral"). Puckett has
many more items on this topic; I have selected only those items
which come from Africa
Where learned: GEORGIA ; ATHENS
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 01001960 CA
Since I was little, the kitchen table always had to be cleaned
before we went to bed at night in case the spirits, especially
those relatives that had passed, wanted to come and have dinner.
The spirits must leave the table the way they found it; therefore,
the table must be cleaned of crumbs, etc., before we go to bed;
otherwise it would be too difficult for the spirits to clean their
crumbs and only leave the ones we had left on the table.
Submitter comment:
This custom came from Poland, and even in my house today it is
followed, more out of habit than anything--I never knew the reason
for having been taught to clear off the kitchen table every night.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping |
Date learned: 00001920S
When you want to sell your house, you should bury a statue (or
small figure) of Saint Francis in the backyard so you can sell your
house.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001950S
Never sit your purse on the floor; to do so would cause a
person to always be short of cash.
Submitter comment:
The floor denotes scraping the bottom, and you will never
obtain the money you'd like to have.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Never speak ill of the dead; if someone dies, never say
anything bad about them. If you do they could come back and
haunt your house: this would cause discomfort and confusion.
Submitter comment:
This informant believes this very strongly. She said her
mother has told her tales of happenings to friends. She said
when she gets the time, she would tell me some of those stories.
Where learned: ONTARIO ; WINDSOR
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 02-10-1992
Never sweep the feet of a person with a broom. It's bad
luck.
Where learned: GEORGIA ; ATLANTA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-10-1992
Superstition
Break a mirror and you'll have seven years of bad luck. Open an
umbrella indoors and something bad will happen to you. Walk
underneath a ladder and you'll have an accident.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ECORSE
Date learned: 00-00-1968
Good Luck
If cats are always hanging around your house, that is a sign
of good luck.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
NEVER LIE ABOUT ILLNESS OR DEATH, IT MAY COME TRUE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT BELIEVES VERY STRONGLY IN THIS. SHE SAID
THAT THE ONE TIME SHE USED ILLNESS AS AN EXCUSE INSTEAD
OF THE TRUTH, SHE BECAME SICK THE FOLLOWING WEEK. THE
INFORMANT IS VERY QUICK TO CORRECT SOMEONE WHEN THEY
TRY TO USE ILLNESS OR DEATH AS AN EXCUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 02-13-1971
IF YOU CUT YOUR HAIR ON YOUR BIRTHDAY, IT WILL BE A
BAD YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 03-19-1971
NOTHING IS EVER TO BE PLACED ON TOP OF THE BIBLE, SUCH
AS OTHER BOOKS, NOR IS IT EVER TO BE PUT ON THE FLOOR.
THIS IS AN INEXCUSABLE SIN.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU SEW ON SUNDAY, IT'S BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS BY HIS PENNSYLVANIA MOTHER
IN HIS CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Date learned: 01-12-1967
IT IS BAD LUCK TO SEW ON SUNDAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A HOUSEWIFE CANNOT CUT DRESS MATERIAL ON A FRIDAY.
THIS WILL BRING BAD LUCK WHEN THE DRESS IS WORN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MILFORD
James Callow Keyword(s): SEWING
Date learned: 09-22-1968
IF YOU ARE SEWING AND USING A THIMBLE, AND LOSE THE
THIMBLE THROW THE GARMENT OUT, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS
FOR IT CAN ONLY BRING BAD LUCK.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time Working BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
Date learned: 09-00-1969
IT IS BAD LUCK TO SEW ON A PERSON. MY MOTHER-IN-LAW
WHO IS GREEK, IS A FIRM BELIEVER OF THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time Working BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
Date learned: 06-29-1964
NEVER LET ANYONE SEW A BUTTON ON A SHIRT OR DRESS
WHILE YOU ARE WEARING IT, OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THAT SHE LEARNED THIS FROM HER
GRANDMOTHER WHEN SHE WAS SMALL AND TO THIS DAY SHE
WILL NEVER SEW A BUTTON ON A GARMENT WHILE SOMEONE
IS WEARING IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time Working BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
Date learned: 11-18-1971