Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P474 returned 316 results.
LUCK BELIEF ABOUT SALT
IF YOU SPILL SALT, YOU MUST THROW SOME OF IT OVER YOUR
RIGHT SHOULDER IN ORDER TO AVOID A FIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Flavoring BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 11-15-1968
INDIAN LEGEND ABOUT ROCKS
THERE IS A TYPE OF ROCK CALLED A DESERT ROSE. THE DEPOSIT SEEMS
TO GROW BY ADDING CRYSTALLINE PARTS. THE INDIANS BELIEVE
THAT THESE ARE REINCARNATED TRIBESMEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WAYNE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Supernatural Being BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 01-00-1970
IRISH BELIEF
WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR LIPS WHEN YOU KISS THE BLARNEY STONE?
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Mineral SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-25-1968
SALT
IN IRISH SUPERSTITON: WHEN EATING AT A TABLE AND SOMEONE ASKS
FOR THE SALT, YOU MUST FIRST SET IT DOWN NEXT TO THE PERSON AND
LET HIM PICK IT UP.. IF YOU SHOULD PASS IT TO HIM IT IS SAID THAT
THE TWO WILL GET INTO A FIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE
Date learned: 10-05-1972
ONION SUPERSTITION
PUT A PIN IN YOUR MOUTH WHEN PEELING ONIONS AND YOU WILL NOT CRY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 10-00-1970
GET RID OF THOSE BLACK MUSHROOMS
BOIL MUSHROOMS WITH A COIN AND IF THE COIN TURNS BLACK, THE
MUSHROOMS ARE POISONOUS.
Submitter comment:
WE WERE STUDYING ABOUT MUSHROOMS IN MY EDUCATION CLASS, AND
DR. THORDEN MADE THIS STATEMENT IN A JOKING WAY, SO
I WROTE I DOWN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): TOADSTOOLS/ UNSAFE PRACTICE
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Plant |
TREE BELIEF
TREES WHICH BEAR FRUIT WILL BEAR BETTER FRUIT IF ONE DRIVES A NAIL
INTO THEM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): IRON?
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 02-20-1970
PLANT BELIEF
PUT A PENNY IN YOUR TULIPS AND THEY WILL KEEP FRESHER IN THE VASE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
James Callow Keyword(s): PLANT MINERAL: COPPER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 01-20-1971
FOLK DEODORANT
USE BAKING SODA AS A DEODORANT FOR UNDERARMS
AND FEET. USE BAKING SODA ON VOMIT TO ELIMINATE THE
UNPLEASANT ODOR.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): Baking Soda ; Deodorant ; Domesticity ; Household ; HYGIENE ; Odor ; REMEDY ; Smell ; Tip ; TRICK ; Vomit
James Callow Keyword(s): SODIUM BICARBONATE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Home |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
HOUSEHOLD SUPERSTITON
IN MEXICO, WHEN PASSING SALT TO SOMEONE AT THE TABLE, PUT IT
ON THE TABLE, IF YOU HAND IT TO THE ASKER, YOU WILL FIGHT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Home BELIEF -- P86O SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 02-04-1968
SPIRITS
IN ORDER FOR ONE TO KEEP SPIRITS OUT OF THE HOUSE HE OR SHE
SHOULD NAIL A PENNY OR MORE ON THE FLOOR OF THE DOORWAY OR
HE SHOULD WEAR PENNIES AROUND ONE'S ANKLE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COINS ; Copper ; GHOST ; Haunt ; MONEY ; Repel ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): MINERALS -- IRON (NAIL) COPPER (PENNY)
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 02-10-1972
PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM
NEVER RETURN SALT BECAUSE YOUR FRIENDSHIP WILL BE DISSOLVED
Submitter comment: LEARNED IN GLOUCESTER, OHIO AND STILL BIDES BY IT TODAY
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MISFORTUNE ; OBSERVATION ; PESSIMISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 05-11-1965
POLISH PROVERB
ZJESZ Z RINAS BECZKI SOLI ZANIM POZNASZ CO GO BOLI (POLISH)
ONE HAS TO EAT WITH SOMEONE A WHOLE BARREL OF SALT BEFORE ONE KNOWS WHAT HURTS THE OTHER
Submitter comment:
THIS SAYING IMPLIES THAT IT TAKES A LONG TIME BEFORE
ONE REALLY KNOWS ANOTHER.
MY GRANDFATHER KNOWS THIS FROM POLAND
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): CONSIDERATION ; TRANSLATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-25-1967
MEANING BEHIND A CUSTOM
WHEN YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE TAKING IT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT, YOU MEAN
THAT YOU DOUBT IT VERY MUCH. THIS GOES BACK TO THE ROMAN TIMES,
WHEN SALT WAS RARE AND COSTLY AND HAD A HIGH VALUE. THEY FELT THAT
IT HAD MAGICAL POWERS AND THEY ALSO USED IT FOR SEASONING. GENERAL
POMPEII THREW SALT OVER HIS SHOULDER BEFORE GOING INTO BATTLE FOR
GOOD LUCK. THE ROMANS ALSO BELIEVED THAT IF SOME FOOD WAS BAD, THEY
COULD NEUTRALIZE IT BY PUTTING SALT ON IT. THEY WOULD ONLY EAT
ANYTHING QUESTIONABLE IF THEY PUT SALT ON IT FIRST. THIS IS WHY WE
TODAY SAY THAT WE TAKE SOMETHING DOUBTFUL WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS ITEM ON A RADIO BROADCAST ON 102 FM WDOK.
WDOK BROADCASTS IN CLEVELAND, OHIO.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral SPEECH -- Folk etymology PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 10-00-1976
LITHUANIAN ST. JOHN' EVE
ON ST. JOHN'S EVE (JUNE 24) A DIAMOND HUNT IS HELD. IT IS BELIEVED
THAT A LUCKY DIAMOND APPEARS IN THE WOODS ON THIS DAY. LITHUANIAN
YOUNG PEOPLE GATHER IN A WOODED AREA, BUILD A BONFIRE, AND SING
RELIGIOUS SONGS WHILE HUNTING FOR THE DIAMOND. OFTEN A PLASTIC
DIAMOND IS PLANTED PREVIOUS TO THE HUNT. THE INFORMANT
PARTICIPATES IN THIS ACTIVITY WITH HER LITHUANIAN YOUTH GROUP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June 23 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June 24 St. John's Day / Midsummer Day BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 11-16-1969
SIGNIFICANCE OF SALT
WE HAVE A ROAD SIDE STAND BACK HOME. ONE OF OUR CUSTOMERS WANTED
SOME SALT TO EAT TOMATOES WITH. RATHER THAN GIVE THEM THE SALT,
HE SOLD IT TO THEM. LATER TOLD ME NEVER TO GIVE SALT AWAY. FOR
IF YOU DO, YOU WILL BECOME WEAK, AND OTHER PEOPLE WILL HAVE POWER
OVER YOU. SALT, THEREFORE, HAS MUCH SIGNIFICANCE AND MEANING.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 08-00-1969
CHARM
SALT IS A GOOD GENERAL DEFENSE AGAINST WITCH CRAFT
AND SORCERY. PUTTING A FEW GRAINS IN YOUR
FOOD WILL PREVENT IT FROM BEING USED AS A MEDIUM
FOR BEWITCHING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
CARRYING SALT
CARRY SALT WITH A NEW BABY TO WARD OFF
EVIL SPIRITS WHICH MIGHT HARM HIM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): EVIL EYE
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration Favorites BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 02-07-1970
THE OPAL
IF YOU ARE WEARING AN OPAL WHILE YOU ARE FEELING WELL,
THE STONE IS A BRIGHT BLUE COLOR; AND WHEN YOU
ARE NOT WELL, THE STONE WILL TURN A DULL, GREYISH-BLUE.
Submitter comment: MY INFORMANT IS NOT SURE WHERE SHE OBTAINED THIS INFORMATION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LATHRUP VILLAGE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Color |
A CHARM
THE OCTOBER BIRTHSTONE IS THE OPAL OR AMBER
AND IS A SYMBOL FOR LOVABLENESS.
Submitter comment: FROM A BOOK
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 11-05-1967