Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P546 returned 1346 results.
IT IS FORBIDDEN FOR A PERSON TO LOOK INTO A MIRROR WHILE IT IS
RAINING AND THUNDERING. WHOEVER DOES SO WILL BE KILLED BY THAT
THUNDER.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SAID IT WITH ASSURANCE
Where learned: NIGERIA ; KABBA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
THERE IS A SMALL VILLAGE IN THE WESTERN PART OF NIGERIA WHERE A
A SHOCKING INCIDENT HAPPENED. ELECTRICITY HAD JUST BEEN
INSTALLED IN THIS VILLAGE, AND THE PEOPLE NEVER REALISED HOW
DANGEROUS IT CAN BE WHEN IT IS FAULTY. IT HAPPENED THAT ONE
DAY A GROUP OF WOMEN IN THIS VILLAGE, ABOUT SIX IN NUMBER, WERE
RETURNING FROM THE WELL. THE FIRST WOMAN WHO WAS ABOUT TWELVE
YARDS FROM THE OTHERS, MISTAKENLY STEPPED ON A FAULTY
ELECTRICITY WIRE, AND SHE WAS ELECTROCUTED. THE NEXT WOMAN THAT
FOLLOWED HER NEVER KNEW WHAT HAPPENED, SHE JUST SAW THAT HER
COUNTERPART WAS STANDING STILL, AND SHE TAPPED HER ARM IN THE
ATTEMPT OF SAYING "WHY WAITING?" UNFORTUNATELY THIS SECOND WOMAN
WAS ELECTROCUTED TOO. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE THIRD WOMAN AND
THE FOURTH WOMAN. THE FIFTH AND THE SIXTH WOMEN WERE VERY
VERY OBSERVANT, THEY NOTICED THAT SOMETHING UNUSUAL HAS HAPPENED
TO THEIR COUNTERPARTS. THEY RAISED AN ALARM. THUS THE PEOPLE
IN THE VILLAGE RUSHED OUT. THEY FOUND THE FOUR WOMEN STONE DEAD.
THE ELDERS IN THE VILLAGE WENT TO THE POLICE STATION
AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LOOKED TERRIFIED WHEN NARRATING THE INCIDENT.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
IF A WOMAN USED TO GIVE BIRTH TO ABIKU (A CHILD THAT DIES)
SHE CAN BE FREED OF THIS ORDEAL BY CONSULTING AN HERBALIST.
IF SHE HAS ANOTHER CHILD, SHE WILL TAKE HER TO AN HERBALIST WHO
WILL PERFORM A KIND OF RITUAL FOR THE BABY WHICH WILL INVOLVE
MAKING SOME MARKS ON THE FACE OF THE CHILD WITH BLADE, THEN HE WILL
PUT SOME BLACK MAGIC POWDER ON THE FRESH MARKS HE HAS JUST CUT.
THE MARKS ON THE CHILD'S FACE WILL DRY UP AFTER TWO DAYS, THUS THE
CHILD WILL NOT BE AN "ABIKU". THERE IS USUALLY ONE ONE-INCH
MARK ON EACH CHEEK BONE AT ITS HIGHEST POINT.
Where learned: NIGERIA ; KADUNA
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
IF A ROOSTER FLIES IN YOUR WINDOW, AND CROWS AFTER HE
PERCHES ON THE FOOT OF YOUR BED, YOU WILL BE DEAD BY SUNRISE.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; SELMA
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 01111984CA
IF YOU DREAM ABOUT A WEDDING GOWN IT IS SAID TO BE A SIGN OF DEATH.
Where learned: ALABAMA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Dreams Dreams about objects |
Date learned: 01111984CA
DEATH COMES IN THREE'S
Where learned: LOUISANA
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 01-15-1984
IF YOUR DOG HOWLS CONTINUOUSLY AT NIGHT IT IS SAID THAT SOMEONE
IN THAT HOUSE WILL DIE.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
MY MOTHER BELIEVED THAT IF YOU DREAM OF A DEATH YOU WILL HERE OF A
BIRTH AND IF YOU DREAM OF A BIRTH YOU WILL HEAR OF A DEATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST ; INVERSION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Dreams |
Date learned: 03-00-1984
MY MOTHER BELIEVED THAT IF A FAMILY'S DOG HOWLED ALL NIGHT
SOMEONE IN THAT FAMILY WOULD DIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 03-00-1984
A DOG HOWLING WITH HIS HEAD DOWN INDICATES
DEATH, A DOG HOWLING WITH HIS HEAD UP INDICATES FIRE.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Angel BELIEF -- Fire BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
ON THE WEDDING DAY IF THE WIFE IS THE FIRST
ONE IN THE BED SHE WILL DIE FIRST, IF THE
HUSBAND IS THE FIRST ONE IN THE BED HE WILL
DIE FIRST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
IF YOU HAVE A DREAM OF YOUR TOOTH FALLING
OUT, AND THERE IS BLOOD IN THE DREAM,
SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY WILL DIE. IF
THERE IS NO BLOOD, YOU WILL HEAR OF A
DEATH BUT IT WILL NOT BE IN YOUR FAMILY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Dreams |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
IF YOU ARE MOVING, NEVER TAKE YOUR BROOM
WITH YOU, IT WILL BRING ALONG DEATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
CHINESE BURIAL CUSTOM
"WHEN BURYING THEIR DEAD, THE CHINESE ARE VERY CHOOSEY ABOUT
THE SITE. THE AREA WHICH IS CHOSEN WILL HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE
NEXT GENERATION. THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SITE WILL AFFECT THE
ELDEST SON, THE THIRD SON, THE FIFTH SON,...(1,3,5,7,...).
THE LEFT SIDE WILL AFFECT THE EVEN-NUMBERED SONS AND THE BACK
SIDE WILL AFFECT ALL THE DAUGHTERS."
Submitter comment:
IF ALL THE SIDES ARE GOOD, EVERYTHING WILL BE GOOD FOR THE FAMILY.
BUILDINGS NEAR THE SITE CAN CHANGE THE AFFECT OF THE SITE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Cemetery BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Even number (not specific) BELIEF -- Number Odd number (not specific) |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
BELIEF ABOUT CUTTING FINGERNAILS
"YOU SHOULD NOT CUT YOUR FINGER NAILS AT NIGHT OR YOU'LL CUT
THE LIFE OF A RELATIVE SHORT."
Submitter comment:
IN OLD TIMES, THE CHINESE USED A KNIFE TO CUT THEIR FINGER
NAILS AND BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE LIGHT THEY MIGHT LOSE A
FINGER IF THEY'RE NOT CAREFUL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 04-00-1984
BELIEF
IF A BIRD FLIES INTO THE HOUSE, SOMEONE IN THE FAMILY IS GOING
TO DIE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S MOTHER REALLY BELIEVES THIS. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE.
Where learned: NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001965CA
BELIEF
"IF AN EMPTY ROCKING CHAIR IS ROCKING, SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE."
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S MOTHER USED TO GET REAL UPSET IF SOMEONE MADE THE
CHAIR ROCK DELIBERATELY.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
Keyword(s): ROCKING CHAIR
| Subject headings: | Observation Favorites BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 00001965CA
IF A GIRL HAS BEEN BAD TO HER PARENTS OR HAS TRIED TO HIT
THEM, HER HAND WILL COME OUT OF HER GRAVE UNTIL IT IS SLAPPED
DOWN.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY HER BOYFRIEND. HIS
GRANDMOTHER TOLD HIM THIS STORY WHEN HE WAS A LITTLE BOY.
SHE SAID THAT IT COULD ONLY HAPPEN TO GIRLS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PUNISHMENT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; JUSTICE ; SEXISM
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- Gesture |
SUPERSTITION
IN READING THE PALMS IT IS BELIEVED THAT A LONG LINE IN THE PALM
OF YOUR HAND MEANS LONG LIFE, AND A SHORT LINE MEANS YOU WILL DIE
AT A YOUNG AGE.
Where learned: BAHAMAS ; NASSAU
Keyword(s): LONGEVITY
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001970S
SUPERSTITION--DREAMS
IT IS BELIEVED THAT DREAMS CAN MEAN THE OPPOSITE OF WHATEVER
YOU DREAM. FOR EXAMPLE:
(1) IF YOU DREAM YOU GOT MARRIED IT WILL OR CAN MEAN THAT
SOMEONE IN THE FAMILY WILL DIE.
(2) DREAMING OF LOSING YOUR FRONT TOOTH ALSO MEANS SOMEONE
IN THE FAMILY WILL DIE OR BECOME ILL.
(3) IF YOU DREAM YOUR MOM OR DAD DIED OR IF YOU DREAM YOU
ATTENDED A FUNERAL, IT CAN MEAN THE PERSON WHO HAD DIED IN THE
DREAM WILL LIVE LONG.
(4) DREAMING OF WEDDINGS ALSO SIGNIFY DEATH.
Where learned: BAHAMAS ; EXUMA
Keyword(s): CONTRAST
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001920S