Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P542 returned 854 results.
IF A WOMAN IS PREGNANT AND HAS A CRAVING FOR SOMETHING,
THE CHILD WILL BE BORN WITH A BIRTHMARK IF THE WOMAN
SCRATCHES HERSELF SOMEWHERE (WITH HER HAND).
Submitter comment:
HE LEARNED THIS FROM HIS MOTHER, WHO BELIEVES THAT
THAT IS THE REASON FOR HIS BIRTHMARK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body) BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN IS FRIGHTENED BY SOMETHING
I.E. A DOG, THEN THE CHILD WILL HAVE A FEAR OF THE
SAME THING.
Submitter comment: HE LEARNED THIS FROM HIS MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF A BABY IS BORN AND THE AMNIOTIC SAC IS NOT
BROKEN, THE CHILD WILL BE A MYSTIC.
Submitter comment: HE HEARD THIS FROM HIS MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS
Keyword(s): CAUL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
ALWAYS MAKE A WISH ON ANY NEW BORN BABY THE FIRST TIME
YOU SEE IT. IT WILL COME TRUE.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM PARENTS IN GLOUCESTER, OHIO
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OHIO ; DETROIT ; GLOUCESTER
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 05-11-1965
WHEN YOU THINK OF SOME LIVING PERSON, SOMEONE WILL
DIE; WHEN YOU THINK OF SOMEONE DEAD A BABY WILL
BE BORN.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 04-08-1967
TIE A RIBBON UNDER THE CRIB TO KEEP EVIL SPIRITS
AWAY.
Submitter comment: FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-01-1965
IF YOU TURN A LOAF OF FRESHLY BAKED BREAD UPSIDE
DOWN ON A TABLE, SOMEONE WILL GET PREGNANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 01-00-1968
Entry filtered.
BURP A BABY OVER YOUR SHOULDER AND HE'LL GROW UP
TO BE TALL.
Where learned: DETROIT ; PASTEUR SCHOOL ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 01-29-1968
YOU WILL ALWAYS BE PROSPEROUS IF YOU CARRY A
COIN WITH THE YEAR OF YOUR BIRTH STAMPED ON IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET ; MONEY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IRISH
THE SEVENTH DAUGHTER OF SEVEN DAUGHTERS, BORN
WITH A VEIL, CAN TELL FORTUNES. THIS VEIL IS THEN
GIVEN TO A SEA CAPTAIN, SO THAT HE WILL NOT
PERISH AT SEA.
Submitter comment:
MRS. DUNMIRE SAID THAT THIS HAPPENED TO HER MOTHER,
AND THAT SHE REALLY DID HAVE THE POWER TO READ
FORTUNES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CAUL
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 01-00-1970
IF A BABY IS BORN WITH A VEIL (PLACENTA) OVER HIS
FACE THEN THAT CHILD WAS GIFTED (I.E., IN THE
SENSE THAT HE WOULD HAVE OCCULT POWERS, ESP, ETC.).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CAUL
| Subject headings: | Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 01-00-1971
BELIEF AT THE BIRTH OF A CHILD WHO WILL BE A PROPHET,
IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF THERE IS A WEB-LIKE COVERING,
SOMETIMES CALLED A BIRTH VEIL, THE CHILD WILL
BECOME PSYCHIC.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CAUL
| Subject headings: | Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 02-19-1972
IF YOU ARE BORN "UNDER THE VEIL" OVER YOUR EYES,
YOU'LL BE ABLE TO FORESEE THINGS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BERKELEY
James Callow Keyword(s): CAUL
| Subject headings: | Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-24-1970
IF A BABY IS BORN WITH A COWLICK ON THE SIDE OF ITS
HEAD, THE NEXT BABY WILL BE A BOY; IF THE COWLICK
IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HEAD, THE NEXT BABY WILL BE
A GIRL.
Submitter comment:
HEARD FROM INGRID ZITZEWITZ, WHO HEARD IT FROM HER
MOTHER, WHO IS OF SPANISH DESCENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 08-09-1964
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN CUTS YOUR HAIR, IT WILL GROW
THICK. (MEXICAN SUPERSTITION).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 07-03-1964
THE SEVENTH SON OF THE SEVENTH SON WILL BE GIFTED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 09-26-1965
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
WHEN A CHILD IS STILL AN INFANT, ONE SHOULD TIE
BLACK RIBBONS ON THE WRISTS AND ANKLES OF THE
CHILD TO WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck BELIEF -- Body part Senses Lower body, legs BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 11-04-1969
IN IRELAND, IF SOME PERSON (PERHAPS A GYPSY)
COMES TO THE HOME OF AN IRISH FAMILY TO SELL HIS
WARES, THE MOTHER IN THE FAMILY WOULD IMMEDIATELY
PLACE A PAIR OF TONGS FROM THE FIREPLACE OVER THE
CRADLE OF HER INFANT CHILD TO PREVENT A CURSE OR
BAD OMEN ON THE CHILD. TO INSURE GOOD LUCK AND TO
INSURE PROTECTION FROM ANY EVIL OMENS, THE MOTHER
WOULD ALSO NEVER SEND THE SALESMAN AWAY WITHOUT
BUYING SOMETHING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 11-03-1969