Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P423 returned 88 results.
LEGENDS, EVENTS AND BELIEFS ABOUT ELVES.
IT IS KNOWN THAT ELVES ARE ABLE TO BE FOUND MORE READILY IN LATE
MAY OR EARLY JUNE, THAN ANY OTHER TIME OF THE YEAR.
IT IS KNOWN THAT CERTAIN ELVES, WOOD ELVES, ARE GENERALLY FOUND
IN THE WOODS AND VALLEYS.
WOOD ELVES ARE MORE EASILY SEEN IN THE EVENING HOURS AS THE
STARS JUST BEGIN TO EMERGE IN THEIR SPLENDOR.
IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT ELVES STAY VERY HIDDEN AND ARE VIRTUALLY
SOUNDLESS IN THEIR MOVEMENTS AND SPEECH WHILE OUT OF DOORS.
IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT ELVES WOULD PREFER TO SING BALLADS, EVENTS OR
LEGENDS RATHER THAN JUST SINGING AS A FORM OF COMMUNICATION.
IT HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN THAT ELVES ARE NOT ALL THE SAME AS A GROUP.
IN FACT SOME ELVES, SEA ELVES, PREFER TO STAY IN SAILING SHIPS
AND OTHER LARGE VESSELS WHILE PATROLLING THE SEA RATHER THAN WALK
AROUND ON LAND.
SOME ELVES WILL ONLY LIVE ON ISLANDS WHILE OTHER GROUPS WILL ONLY
DWELL IN THE MAIN LANDS.
ELVES AS A GENERAL GROUP OR CLASS OF CREATURES HAVE DIFFERENT
LEVELS OF CLASSIFICATIONS.
THERE ARE KNOWN FOR EXAMPLE TO BE HIGH ELVES AND LOW ELVES.
A UNIQUE AND KNOWN FACT ABOUT ELVES IS THAT THEY HAVE AN UNCANNY
ABILITY TO WALK VERY GENTLY AND LIGHT FOOTEDLY THROUGH THE LAND.
IN FACT SOME PEOPLE HAVE FOUND THAT ELVES HAVE WALKED IN LARGE GROUPS
RIGHT PAST THEM IN THE FALL WHEN LEAVES ARE EVERYWHERE,
WITHOUT A SOUND OF THEIR PRESENCE EVEN KNOWN.
OTHER ELVES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO WALK ON TOP OF SNOW WITH-
OUT LEAVING A TRACE OF THIN FOOTSTEPS.
ELVES OF COURSE ALWAYS WALK BARE FOOTED.
ELVES HAVE A DEFINITE SPIRITUAL SIDE TO THEIR GENDER.
IT IS KNOWN THAT ELVES CANNOT REALLY DIE, BUT RATHER PASS ON TO
ANOTHER AND FAR GREATER LAND OF EXISTENCE.
ALONG THESE SAME LINES, ELVES HAVE THE DEFINITE ABILITY TO
PICK UP INFORMATION CONCERNING PRESENT AS WELL AS PAST EVENTS.
ELVES PICK UP THIS INFORMATION FROM SUCH OBJECTS AS TREES, SMALL
FURRY ANIMALS, ROCKS, STREAMS, THE OCEANS AND OTHER THINGS.
THE ELVES SPEAK A CERTAIN ELVIN LANGUAGE TO THESE OBJECTS, THAT
ONLY THE OBJECTS AND THE ELVES KNOW HOW TO SPEAK.
Submitter comment:
MY INFORMANT SEEMS TO BE BELIEVABLE.
HE SEEMS TO KNOW MUCH MORE THAN HE WILL TELL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- May CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Star |
Date learned: 12-03-1982
IF YOU PUT A TOOTH UNDER YOUR PILLOW,
A FAIRY GODMOTHER WILL PUT A DIME UNDER
THE PILLOW AND TAKE THE TOOTH.
Submitter comment:
SHE BELIEVED IT AT THE TIME, BUT SHE NO
LONGER BELIEVES IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HIGHLAND PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 00-00-1983 ; 00-00-1985
If you hear someone wailing, somebody is going to die.
Submitter comment: These are sometimes wailings from the banshees.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001940S
When I was a small child, I believed in what was
called the tooth fairy. When my tooth fell out I
placed it under my pillow that night and the tooth
fairy would come and take the tooth and leave me a
dollar.
Submitter comment:
I stopped believing in the tooth fairy when I was
about eight years old. I caught my father taking my
tooth one night and leaving a dollar.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 00001970S
The phrase "knock on wood" originates from Ireland
in a time when people believed in fairies, trolls
and gnomes. It was believed that gnomes resided in
anything wooden and that they were cruel and
mischievous. When a person spoke of good times or good things
then they must knock on the wood to make sure that
the gnomes didn't hear them or to scare them away.
They believed that the gnomes would bring bad luck
on the optimist who spoke.
Submitter comment:
The informant heard this from her grandfather whose
father was from Ireland.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; Black Kettle
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970S
My mother told me that when any of my teeth came out I should
put them under my pillow so that the tooth fairy would leave me
some money. My mother also said I had to be a good boy in order to
receive any money.
Submitter comment: My mother sounded very convincing.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Louise
Keyword(s): Little magical people
James Callow Keyword(s): Fairy
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
White toed sox
A good luck charm to ward off bad gremlins, was socks with
white toes. The Irish say that these socks will keep a person from
being tripped by "little people."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): Apotropaic clothing
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00001969S
When a baby is born to a Polish mother, you are supposed to put
a red ribbon on a safety pin so the child is always protected by
their guardian angel; a medal of a saint, angel, or the Mother of
God may be added also-- but the red ribbon is essential. This
will protect the child from ladies with evil eyes who will look at
your child, and the child may get sick, get a rash all over its
body, or could even die; this also protects the child from evil-
eyed women who may abduct the child, also.
Submitter comment:
This is yet another custom that my mother has passed on to her
children. It has worked with all my grandmother's children and
grandchildren so far.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001920S
WHEN A YOUNG CHILD SHOULD LOSE A TOOTH, IT IS PLACED
UNDER HIS PILLOW AND THE GOOD TOOTH FAIRY WILL REPLACE
THE TOOTH WITH A SHINY, NEW COIN.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue |
Date learned: 00001920S
THE "TOOTH FAIRY" SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED CHILDRENS'
BABY TEETH WITH MONEY WHEN THE TEETH ARE LEFT UNDER
A CHILD'S PILLOW AT NIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue |
Date learned: 11-00-1969
AT OUR HOUSE, WHENEVER SOMEONE LOSES A TOOTH, HE
PLACES IT UNDER HIS PILLOW AND THE TOOTH FAIRY TAKES
IT AND LEAVES A DIME (OR A QUARTER IF YOUR FAIRY IS
RICH!)
Submitter comment: FAMILY CUSTOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 11-24-1967
WHENEVER ONE OF THE SMALLER CHILDREN IN OUR FAMILY
LOSES ONE OF HIS OR HER TEETH, HE (OR SHE) PUTS IT
UNDER THE PILLOW FOR THE TOOTH FAIRY WHO LEAVES
A QUARTER FOR THE TOOTH IN THE MORNING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU CAPTURE A LEPRECHAUN, HE HAS TO LEAD YOU TO
HIS GOLD IF HE WANTS TO BE RELEASED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 10-00-1969
BELIEF
TROLLS LIVE UNDERBRIDGES.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BELIEF
IF SUNLIGHT STRIKES A TROLL, HE TURNS INTO A MOUNTAIN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHEN YOU ARE A CHILD AND LOSE A TOOTH, YOU PUT IT
UNDER YOUR PILLOW THAT NIGHT. THE TOOTH FAIRY
COMES AND SWAPS MONEY FOR THE TOOTH.
Submitter comment: MY PARENTS DID THIS WHEN I WAS A BIRL.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; Greenville
James Callow Keyword(s): TRADE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 03-24-1969
IN THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS OF VIRGINIA THE PEOPLE TELL
THE STORY, THAT WHEN THE MOUNTAIN FAIRIES HEARD OF
CHRIST'S DEATH, THEY BEGAN TO CRY. WHEN THEIR TEARS FELL
TO THE GROUND, THEY WERE CHANGED INTO SMALL STONE
CROSSES AND CAN STILL BE SEEN IN THE MOUNTAINS TODAY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications |
Date learned: 02-00-1972
IF YOU PUT A TOOTH THAT YOU HAVE PULLED OUT UNDER YOUR
PILLOW AT NIGHT, THE GOOD FAIRY WILL COME AND TAKE YOUR
TOOTH AND LEAVE YOU SOME MONEY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue BELIEF -- Maturity |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
NINE GRAINS OF WHEAT LAID ON A FOUR-LEAF CLOVER ENABLES ONE
TO SEE THE FAIRIES.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | 686 Fourths / Quarters 686 Ninths / Nine Spirit / Mind / Body Food Drink -- Plant food Cereal BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 07-00-1968
IN IRELAND, IF THE PEOPLE SAW A RING OF STONES OUT IN A FIELD,
THAT MEANT THAT THE FAIRIES WERE GOING TO DANCE THAT NIGHT.
Where learned: IRELAND ; NEWMAN CLUB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dance BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 08-13-1968