Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P533 returned 1136 results.
If you hit or slap your mother, your hand will stick up in
your coffin.
Submitter comment:
Basically an old wives' tale, although I did hear my aunt tell
my cousin that her coffin would be shaped funny after she
jokingly hit her.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
If your soap breaks in two, it's a true sign of parting.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR
Keyword(s): breaking up, end
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00-00-1991
It is unlucky for the newly married couple
to go home from church on the same road they came.
Submitter comment: She was told this on her wedding day.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Marriage |
Whenever my parents went on vacation they wouldn't return until
the day before they were due back to work. They felt that if
they returned early they would have bad luck on their next
vacation.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
FOR GOOD LUCK: IF YOU FALL DOWN YOU SHOULD KISS THE GROUND
WHERE YOU HAVE FALLEN. IF YOU EVER WALK OVER THE SPOT AGAIN, YOU
WILL BE GRANTED A WISH OR GIVEN GREAT LUCK IN THE FUTURE.
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Date learned: UNKNOWN
Never give an empty purse or wallet for a gift; fill it with
coins and dollars so it will never be empty.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GIFT
Date learned: 00001980S
Always leave by the same door as you enter by; this will ward off
bad luck while you're out.
Submitter comment: Lisa learned this around 1980 from her mother, Kathleen Metz.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY
Keyword(s): Ingress
James Callow Keyword(s): House
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001980S
If you leave the house, and forget something, and return for it,
and you must sit down before leaving. If you do not sit down you may
never return; tragedy will strike.
Submitter comment:
Lisa learned this from her boyfriend's mother, Delores Girten,
who Lisa says is very superstitious.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Novi
Keyword(s): Danger
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1986
You must avoid stepping on cracks in the ground and sidewalk or
you'll break your mother's back.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Tragedy
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001950S
When two people are walking together if they split the pole one
person must go back and walk around the pole three times, or have bad
luck all day.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SUPERSTITION
Date learned: 00001960S
When a Greek couple is in the process of getting married and the
minister says "...to honor and obey..." the bride steps on the
groom's toe with force to show to herself that she does not have to
obey him.
Submitter comment:
My informant told me that this occurs so the bride can prove to
herself that she does not fear her husband. If she can't bring
herself to do this, she carries with her the doubt of having any
authority in the marriage. To this day this can be seen in Greek
weddings. This applies even to some Greek weddings that occur in
America if the families decide to follow tradition.
Where learned: GREECE
Keyword(s): authority
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Marriage |
Holding your breath by a cemetery
Whenever you pass a cemetery, you must hold your breath the
whole time. If you do not hold your breath for the whole time you
are beside the cemetery, you will inhale the evil spirits present
in the air.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sandusky
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
Superstition
It is bad luck to breathe while passing a cemetery, so to avoid
the bad luck, hold your breath.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001987ca
Fight Provocation
When a couple is walking and holding hands, their hands cannot be
separated to walk around an object in their path. They must go around
the object the same way, and remain holding hands at all times. If
they do not, they will have a fight before the night is over.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Monday morning a man should be the first to walk through the
house. It brings good luck.
Where learned: DETROIT
Date learned: 00001960S
Drop a dish company's coming.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00001960S
When riding over the railroad tracks if you bounce high enough
to hit your head on the roof you will have good luck the rest of
the day.
Submitter comment:
This was really fun for my sister and me, but our mother
thought differently.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00001970S
Make out a check to a charity before boarding an airplane;
when you get to your destination you mail it. This guarantees a
safe flight.
Where learned: DETROIT
Another custom in the celebration of the New Year in our home
was that it was mandatory that the first person in our home in
order to ensure a safe and happy year had to be a male.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Aberdeen
Date learned: 01-01-1935
There was a man who my mother knew of who treated women very
harsh. This particular person met a woman at a night spot that
everyone frequented and had a drink with that woman, to this day
the woman can say or do anything to that man without him raising a
finger to her.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |