Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P600 returned 371 results.
A PREGNANT WOMAN CAN NOT WALK ACROSS A
FIELD OR WEEDS WILL SPRING UP.
Where learned: RESIDENCE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF A PITCHER PASSES A HORSEDRAWN CART WITH THREE
EMPTY BARRELS ON THE WAY TO THE GAME HE'LL PITCH
A SHUTOUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; UNION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
BABY'S RASH
IF YOU PLACE A RED RIBBON UNDER A BABY'S PILLOW
THE BABY WILL NEVER BE BOTHERED WITH A RASH OR SKIN DISEASE.
Submitter comment:
PAT HEARD THIS SHORTLY AFTER SHE WAS MARRIED(APPR. 1954) FROM
A WOMAN WHOSE NAME SHE COULD NOT REMEMBER.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 01-09-1964
NINE FIRST FRIDAYS
IF A PERSON GOES TO MASS NINE
FIRST FRIDAYS OF THE MONTH IN A ROW,
HE IS CERTAIN TO HAVE A PRIEST AT HIS
SIDE AT THE MOMENT OF DEATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Ninths / Nine BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 00-00-1958
SPIRITS
THIS IS A BELIEF IN INDIA. "GOOD SPIRITS WANDER AROUND
ETERNALLY SOMETIMES, DOING GOOD WORKS."
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; India ; SPIRIT ; Undead
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 02-04-1968
SPIRITS
ALL SOULS WANDER AFTER DEATH, INCLUDING ANIMAL SOULS.
THEY WANDER IF THEY HAD AN UNHAPPY LIFE, OR IF THEY WERE UNSATISFIED
BEFORE THEY DIED. THEY KEEP SEARCHING FOR PEACE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A BELIEF IN INDIA.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; India ; Soul ; SPIRIT ; SUPERSTITION ; Undead
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 02-04-1968
Smoke follows an ugly person.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S EXPLANATION OF WHY SMOKE FROM A FIRE OR ANY SOURCE WILL FOLLOW SOMEONE NO MATTER WHERE THEY MOVE TO.
THERE IS NO INFORMANT CARD FOR THIS INFORMANT, BUT I THINK THIS IS AN EXCELLENT CONTRAST BETWEEN THIS ITEM AND ANOTHER ONE I'M SUBMITTING BECAUSE THEY'RE EXACT OPPOSITES. SEE MARSHAL, MABLE FOR THE OTHER ONE.
Data entry tech comment:
Collector notes that informant is an elderly African American woman from Georgia who learned this around 1920 or earlier.
Where learned: GEORGIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fire BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 00001920S OR EARLIER
BELIEF ( COLLECTOR'S TITLE ) ; HUMAN BEINGS AND THEIR ACTIVITIES ( CLASSIFIER'S TITLE )
IT IS GOOD LUCK IF YOU KISS THE BLARNEY STONE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Blarney Stone ; Irish ; KISS ; Legend ; Lore ; LUCK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color BELIEF -- Good luck P881.2 |
Date learned: 03-15-1968
CHURCH CUSTOM
ON THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY (JAN. 6), IT IS A CUSTOM AMONG ROMAN
CATHOLICS TO HAVE A PIECE OF CHALK BLESSED BY A PRIEST AND TO WRITE
OVER AN ENTRANCE TO THEIR HOUSE THE INITIALS OF THE THREE KINGS IN
THE FOLLOWING MANNER: FIRST, THE FIRST TWO NUMBERS OF THE YEAR ARE
WRITTEN, THEN A CROSS, THEN K (FOR KASPAR), CROSS, M (MELCHIOR),
CROSS, B (BALTAZAR), CROSS, THEN THE LAST TWO NUMBERS OF THE YEAR.
FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE YEAR 1979: 19 + K + M + B + 79.
IF THIS IS DONE, IT WILL PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM BEING STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING IN THE COMING YEAR.
Submitter comment:
THE SPELLINGS OF THE NAMES OF THE KINGS ARE AS GIVEN TO ME BY MY
INFORMANT.
Where learned: DETROIT
Date learned: 02-17-1979
TO PREVENT ANY ONE FROM GIVING A BABY THE EVIL EYE PUT A RED
RIBBON ON THE DIAPER.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT DID NOT KNOW WHY THE RIBBON HAD TO BE RED AS OPPOSED
TO ANY OTHER COLOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
CUSTOM ; BELIEF
ON THE NIGHT BEFORE EASTER, YOU TAKE MONEY (CHANGE) AND PUT IT INTO A
DISH OF WATER. NEXT MORNING, EVERYBODY WASHES THEIR HANDS IN IT.
DOING THIS BRINGS WEALTH TO THE HOUSEHOLD.
Submitter comment:
TRADITION WAS FOLLOWED IN HIS FAMILY. IT COMES FROM THE SLAVIC CHURCH
TRADITION AND WAS INTRODUCED BY HIS MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC AND CONTAGIOUS MAGIC
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Saturday Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
MY GRANDFATHER SAID THAT IT WAS A BELIEF OF HIS OWN GRANDPARENTS
THAT A ROSARY IN THE ROOM WOULD WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS. HE SAID THE
PRACTICE WAS HIGHLY DESIRABLE AND THAT HE, TOO,
WISHED TO CONTINUE IT,
INSISTING THAT A DISPLAYED ROSARY WOULD WARD OFF EVIL AND THAT WE
WOULD BE MIRACUOLOUSLY PROTECTED FROM HARM OR DANGER.
HE ENCOURAGED US TO DO THE SAME IN OUR HOMES AND IN OUR AUTOMOBILES.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
FOR ROMANTIC TROUBLES, TURN A STATUE OF ST. ANTHONY UPSIDE DOWN,
UNTIL HE SOLVES THE PROBLEM
Where learned: MEXICO
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
IN A CATHOLIC HOME, HOLY WATER IS USED TO BLESS THE BEDS. THIS IS TO
ASSURE A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BERKELEY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
SEE A PIN, PICK IT UP,
ALL THE DAY YOU'LL HAVE GOOD LUCK.
SEE A PIN AND LET IT LAY,
BAD LUCK YOU'LL HAVE ALL THE DAY.
Submitter comment: FROM HIS MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 10-04-1965
NEW YEAR'S EVE
A CHINESE CUSTOM ON THE EVE OF THE NEW YEAR IS TO BURN
FACSIMILE MONEY IN THE HOPE THAT IT WILL ATTRACT REAL MONEY
TO THAT PERSON DURING THE YEAR.
Submitter comment: ORALLY TRANSMITTED
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
LUCK
A WAY OF RECEIVING GOOD LUCK IN THE FORM OF MONEY IS DONE BY
SPITTING ON THE SIDEWALK. AFTER SOMEONE DOES THIS, THEY CAN
EXPECT TO FIND MONEY ON THE GROUND SOON AFTERWARD.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color BELIEF -- Good luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-10-1981
IT IS NOT THIS CANDLE ALONE I STICK
BUT MY LOVE'S HEART I MEAN TO PRICK
IF (INSERT ANY NAME) BE ASLEEP OR AWAKE
I'LL HAVE (INSERT ANY NAME) COME TO ME AND SPEAK.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS DONE TO BRING YOUR LOVER TO YOU. YOU SAY THIS
WHILE STICKING PINS INTO A CANDLE.
INFORMANT SAW THIS IN A MAGAZINE AND WROTE IT
DOWN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
SPRINKLE RED PEPPER AROUND THE FRONT DOOR TO PREVENT
EVIL PEOPLE FROM ENTERING THE HOUSE.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SAYS RED PEPPER ALSO WARDS OFF STRAY DOGS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 04-00-1983
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU PUT A PERSONAL ITEM TAKEN FROM SOMEONE YOU LOVE
AND PUT IT UNDER YOUR PILLOW AT NIGHT, THEN DREAM ABOUT
THAT PERSON HE/SHE WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU.
Submitter comment:
I TRIED THIS WHEN I WAS THIRTEEN AND IT DIDN'T WORK.
I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD FROM A FRIEND'S MOTHER WHO
WAS FROM NEW ORLEANS AND SHE BELIEVED IN WITHCRAFT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color BELIEF -- Dreams BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 04-00-1983