Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IF YOU TOUCHED A FROG, YOU'D GET WARTS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT RELATED THIS BELIEF, BUT DID NOT SEEM
TO HOLD CREDENCE IN IT HIMSELF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
Date learned: 11-23-1970
VOODOO
IT IS BELIEVED IN MANY OF THE AFRICAN TRIBES THAT
THE WITCH DOCTOR, AND OFTENTIMES OTHER MEMBERS OF
THE TRIBE, HAVE THE POWER FROM THE EVIL ONE TO
INFLICT PAIN, OR EVEN DEATH, ON THEIR ENEMIES. THIS
IS DONE BY POKING PINS THROUGH A DOLL, WHICH REPRE-
SENTS THE ENEMY. SOON AFTERWARDS, THE ENEMY BEGINS
TO HAVE PAIN, OR IS INJURED, IN THE SAME SPOTS
WHERE THE PINS HAD BEEN DRIVEN THROUGH THE DOLL.
AN ENEMY, WHO DOES NOT HIMSELF BELIEVE IN VOODOO,
HAS A FAR BETTER CHANCE OF ESCAPING DEATH THROUGH
THIS CURSE THAN ONE WHO DOES.
Submitter comment:
I DO NOT KNOW FROM WHOM I OBTAINED THIS INFORMATION,
BUT I DO KNOW THAT THIS CULT IS STILL PRACTICED
TODAY, SINCE I HAVE READ ARTICLES ON THE SUBJECT.
WHETHER THE VOODOO POWERS ARE REAL OR NOT, I REALLY
CANNOT SAY; BUT I DO KNOW THAT I HAVE HEARD MANY
ACCOUNTS OF THESE POWERS FROM PEOPLE WHO, IN TURN,
HAVE HEARD THEM FROM OTHER PEOPLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LATHRUP VILLAGE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Use of Object Domestic object, wax, needle, dishware |
IN THE PHILLIPINES IT IS BELIEVED THAT EVIL SPIRITS CAUSE
SICKNESS IN PEOPLE. IN THE CASE OF A CHILD'S OR INFANT'S
SICKNESS, A HIGHLY DECORATED RAFT IS LEFT FOR SOME TIME
BESIDE THE CHILD'S COT. THE BEAUTY OF THE FRUITS AND
FLOWERS DECORATING THE RAFT IS SAID TO ATTRACT THE EVIL
SPIRITS, WHICH LEAVE THE SICK CHILD AND ENTER THE RAFT.
TWO MEN THEN CARRY THE RAFT TO THE RIVER AND SET IT AF-
LOAT, THE EVIL SPIRITS ABOARD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT GATHERED THIS INFORMATION WHILE VIEWING
THE TV PROGRAM, "THE GEORGE PIERROT SHOW."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 09-00-1965
CHAIN LETTER (TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN).
PRAYER FOUND IN THE HOLY SEPULCHER OF O.L.J.C.
COPY OF A LETTER OF PRAYER FOUND IN THE HOLY SEPULCHER
OF O.L.J.C. IN JERUSALEM KEPT IN A SILVER CASE BY HIS
HOLINESS AND BY THE CHRISTIAN EMPERORS AND EMPRESSES.
SAINT ELIZABETH QUEEN OF HUNGARY, SAINT MATILDA, AND
SAINT BRIGIDE WISHING TO KNOW SOME THINGS REGARDING
THE PASSION OF JESUS CHRIST, MADE CERTAIN AND SPECIFIC
PRAYERS THROUGH WHICH JESUS CHRIST APPEARED AND TOLD
THEM:
KNOW (YOU) THAT THE ARMED SOLDIERS WERE 23, THE JUDICIAL
EXECUTIONERS 83, THE PUNCHES WHICH I RECEIVED IN THE
HEAD WERE 150, IN THE BREAST 108. THE KICKS ON THE SHOULDERS
80, AND I WAS DRAGGED WITH ROPES AND BY THE HAIR 23 TIMES.
THE SPITS IN THE FACE WERE 180, BEATINGS ON THE HEART
6,666, BEATINGS ON THE HEAD 110. THEY VERY FORCIBLY
RAMMED INTO ME (ONCE), MY HEAD WAS LIFTED BY THE HAIR
ON THE 21ST HOUR (9 P.M.), I SIGHED 120 SIGHS. I WAS
DRAGGED AND PULLED BY THE BEARD 23 TIMES, WOUNDS IN THE
HEAD 20, THORNS OF (BLANK BLANK) 72. THORN WOUNDS 110.
FATAL THORNS IN THE FOREHEAD 3, AFTERWARDS FLAGELLATED
AND CLOTHED AS KING IN MOCKERY. WOUNDS ON THE BODY
(WERE) 1000. THE (NUMBER OF) SOLDIERS THAT LED ME TO
CALVARY WERE 908, THOSE THAT GUARDED ME WERE 3, DROPS
OF BLOOD THAT I SHED WERE 5,475. TO WHOMEVER RECITES
SEVEN OUR FATHERS, AVES, AND GLORIAS EACH DAY FOR 15
YEARS, TO NUMBER (OR COUNT) THE NUMBER OF DROPS OF
BLOOD WHICH I LOST, I WILL ALLOW 5 GRACES: (1) A
PLENARY INDULGENCE AND REMISSION OF ALL SINS ; (2)
HE (OR SHE) WILL BE FREED FROM THE PAINS OF PURGATORY;
(3) IF HE (OR SHE) WILL DIE BEFORE FINISHING THE 15 YEAR
DEVOTION (4) IT WILL BE AS IF HE HAD FINISHED IT AND
SHED HIS BLOOD FOR THE FAITH. (5) I WILL COME DOWN FROM
HEAVEN TO RECEIVE HIS SOUL AND THOSE OF HIS RELATIVES
UP TO THE FOURTH DEGREE.
THE ONE THAT WILL CARRY THIS PRAYER WON'T DIE BY
DROWNING, NOR OF A BAD DEATH (I.E., HE WILL DIE A GOOD
DEATH), NOR WILL HE HAVE SUDDEN DEATH. HE WILL BE
FREED FROM CONTAGION, FROM THE PLAGUE, FROM LIGHTNING,
AND WILL NOT DIE WITHOUT CONFESSION;; HE WILL BE FREED
FROM HIS ENEMIES AND FROM JUDICIARY POWER (THE ARM OF
THE LAW) AND FROM EVERYONE WHO WISHES HIM EVIL, AND
FROM FALSE WITNESSES. WOMEN THAT COULDN'T CONCEIVE
WILL CONCEIVE AND WILL BE OUT OF DANGER.
IN THE HOUSE WHERE THIS PRAYER IS KEPT, THERE WON'T
BE ANY BETRAYALS NOR ANY BAD THINGS, AND 40 DAYS
BEFORE HIS DEATH, THE ONE THAT WILL DIE, WILL SEE
THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. AS SAINT GREGORY POPE SAID:
"A CERTAIN CAPTAIN TRAVELING BY LAND SAW NEAR
BARCELONA A HEAD CUT OFF WHICH SPOKE TO HIM THUS:
SINCE YOU ARE GOING TO BARCELONA, TRAVELER, BRING ME A
CONFESSOR SO I MAY RECEIVE CONFESSION, SINCE IT'S BEEN
THREE DAYS ALREADY SINCE I HAVE BEEN CUT OFF BY
THIEVES AND I CANNOT DIE UNLESS IF I HAVE NOT RECEIVED
CONFESSION. A CONFESSOR BEING LED TO THE PLACE BY THE
AFORESAID CAPTAIN, THE HEAD RECEIVED CONFESSION AND
THEN DIED. ON THE BODY FROM WHICH THE HEAD WAS CUT OFF
WAS FOUND THE FOLLOWING PRAYER; WHICH ON THAT OCCASION
WAS APPROVED BY VARIOUS TRIBUNALS OF THE HOLY JURISDIC-
TION OF SPAIN. THE AFOREMENTIONED SEVEN OUR FATHERS,
AVES, AND GLORIAS CAN BE RECITED AND APPLIED FOR WHICH
EVER SOUL ONE MAY WISH. ANOTHER SIMILAR COPY OF THE
LETTER HAS BEEN MIRACULOUSLY FOUND IN A PLACE (OR
LOCATION) CALLED PORTIS, FOUR LEAGUES FROM MARSEILLES
(OR MARSIGLIA), WRITTEN IN GOLDEN LETTERS AND BROUGHT
BY A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD CHILD OF PORTIS.
AN ADDITIONAL DECLARATION OF JANUARY 23, 1750 SAYS:
ALL THOSE THAT WILL WORK ON SUNDAY WILL BE CURSED BY
ME, SINCE ON SUNDAY YOU MUST GO TO CHURCH TO PRAY SO
THAT I MAY FORGIVE YOU YOUR SINS, AND IT IS FOR THIS
REASON THAT I HAVE GIVEN YOU SIX DAYS TO WORK AND ONE
FOR RESTING AND GIVING WORKS OF DEVOTION AND WITH WHAT
YOU HAVE (OWN) DO GOOD TO THE POOR AND YOUR ACTIONS
WILL BE FULL OF BLESSINGS AND GRACES (AND/OR FAVORS);
ON THE CONTRARY IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE THIS, YOU AND
YOUR CHILDREN WILL RECEIVE MAJOR PUNISHMENTS, AND I WILL
SEND PLAGUES, FAMINE, WARS, ATROCIOUS GRIEF (HORRIBLE PAIN)
AND HEART SPASMS: AS A SIGN OF MY INDIGNATION, YOU WILL
SEE SIGNS IN THE HEAVENS, THUNDERS, EARTHQUAKES. THOSE
THAT WILL JUDGE THIS LETTER NOT TO BE WRITTEN BY WORK OF
THE DIVINE AND AS COMING FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD AND
THOSE THAT WILL MALICIOUSLY KEEP IT HIDDEN WITHOUT
WRITING IT TO OTHER PERSONS, WILL BE CURSED BY GOD AND
CONFUSED ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT AND HE WHO WILL COPY IT
(OR MAKE IT PUBLIC) EVEN IF HE HAD MANY SINS, IF HE IS
TRULY SORRY OF HAVING OFFENDED ME, AND AGAIN HAVING
WRONGED HIS NEIGHBORS ASKING ME PARDON, I WILL "ERASE"
(FORGIVE) HIS SINS: THE ONES THAT WILL READ IT AND
WILL FINISH THE DEVOTION, OR WILL HAVE IT READ, WILL
BE FREE FROM ALL TEMPTATION.
WITH ECCLESIASTICAL APPROVAL.
Submitter comment:
THE ORIGINAL, IN ITALIAN, IS IN THE POSSESSION OF
THE INFORMANT'S MOTHER.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Date learned: 02-00-1968
THE GREEKS HAVE A VERY STRONG BELIEF IN THE EVIL
EYE, WHICH THEY CALL TO MATI. IF A GREEK PERSON
THINKS YOU ARE PUTTING THE EYE ON THEM, THEY WILL
SAY "SKORTHA STA MATIA SU" MEANING "GARLIC
IN YOUR EYES."
Where learned: SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Expression of Fixed Form BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-24-1969
THE GREEKS PUT A LITTLE CROSS INSIDE A PERSON'S
SHIRT TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE EVIL EYE AT ALL
TIMES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-09-1969
THE NATIVES OF SOME ISLANDS IN THE CARIBBEAN WILL
NOT LET YOU TAKE THEIR PICTURE, AS THEY FEEL THAT
IN TAKING THEIR PICTURE YOU WILL ALSO TAKE
THEIR SOUL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 04-03-1970
THIS CUSTOM WAS PRACTICED BY MY DAD AND HIS FAMILY
IN GOERGIA.
AFTER EATING FISH, NEVER DRINK MILK OR EAT ICE
CREAM BECAUSE IT MIGHT POISON YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 09-00-1969
YOU SHOULD NEVER STEP OVER A CHILD WHO IS LYING ON
THE GROUND. NOT ONLY IS IT EXTREMELY BAD LUCK,
BUT YOU WILL ALSO STUNT THE CHILD'S GROWTH.
Submitter comment:
I HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF STEPPING OVER MY COUSIN
ONE DAY AND I NEARLY GAVE MY GRANDMOTHER A HEART
ATTACK WHEN I DID IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Bad luck Gestures SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WEARING COPPER ON THE BODY WILL HELP SOMEONE SUFFERING FROM SCIATICA.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; St. Clair's Restaurant
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 08-12-1970
IF YOU HAVE A SPLINTER IN YOUR FINGER, TAKE IT OUT AND PUT IT IN YOUR HAIR, AND YOUR FINGER WON'T BE SORE.
Submitter comment:
Collected at informant's home.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 07-07-1970
ASPHIDITY SEWN IN A CLOTH BAG AND WORN AROUND A CHILD'S NECK WILL WARD OFF CHILDHOOD DISEASES AND TOOTHACHE.
Submitter comment:
Collected at St. Clair's Restaurant.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; St. Clair's Restaurant
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 08-12-1970
IN THE SPRING, INFORMANT'S MOTHER WOULD GIVE HER A TONIC OF MOLASSES AND SULPHER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; St. Clair's Restaurant
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 08-12-1970
SASSAFRAS TEA REMEDY
SASSAFRAS TEA DRUNK IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH WILL THIN THE BLOOD FOR THE SUMMER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 08-12-1968
BLOOD HEMORRHAGE
AN AXE EMBEDDED NEAR A SICK PERSON WILL STOP HEMORRHAGING.
Data entry tech comment:
SPELLING CORRECTED BY STUDENT EDITOR.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
BELIEF
TOADS CAUSE WARTS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Entry filtered.
A GIRL OR A WOMAN SHOULD NOT TAKE A BATH DURING HER MENSES,
ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER TIME.
Where learned: ALABAMA, ASSUMED ; MONTGOMERY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Winter BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
MOON RAYS
SISTER MARY EDMUND, WHO COMES FROM NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA,
SAID THAT IT IS A BELIEF THAT NO ONE SHOULD SLEEP IN THE
DIRECT RAYS OF THE MOON, THEN SHE RECALLED THE INCIDENT,
WHERE A WOMAN HAD DONE THIS REPEATEDLY AND THE MUSCLES IN HER
FACE DREW UP. PEOPLE BELIEVED THIS WAS DUE TO THE POWER OF
THE MOON.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
IF YOU LOOK AT (A) BIG BLACK GRASSHOPPER IN THE EYE,
HE'LL SPIT AT YOU AND YOU'LL GO BLIND.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |