Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P686 returned 142 results.
NEW HOUSE BELIEF
A NEW HOUSE BRINGS A NEW BABY.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 11-17-1968
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU MOVE INTO A BRAND NEW HOUSE, THERE WILL BE A DRASTIC CHANGE
IN THE FAMILY (BIRTH, DEATH, MARRIAGE).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): OMEN ASSOCIATED WITH NEWNESS.
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 00-00-1963
MY MOTHER IS SOMEWHAT SUPERSTITIOUS, AND SHE SAYS THIS WHENEVER SHE
FINDS A PENNY.
"PENNY, PENNY, BRING ME LUCK,
I'M THE FIRST TO PICK YOU UP."
Where learned: Massachusetts
Keyword(s): APOSTROPHE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
BASEBALL SUPERSTITION (COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; BAD LUCK: BASEBALL PLAYING (CLASSIFIER'S TITLE)
IT IS BAD LUCK TO STRIKE OUT THE FIRST BATTER, BECAUSE THEN
YOU CANNOT STRIKE OUT ANYONE ELSE.
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.6 |
Date learned: 10-22-1969
NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR. ; NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
THERE WAS A BELIEF THAT A MOTHER WOULD DIE IF THE EVIL SPIRIT
CAME UPON HER BEFORE SHE WAS ABLE TO BE CHURCHED. MY GRANDFATHER
RECALLED THAT AFTER MY UNCLE JOSEPH WAS BORN THE EVIL SPIRIT
TRIED TO HARM MY GRANDMOTHER. ONE NIGHT, MY GRANDFATHER WAS
AWAKENED BY THE SOUND OF TAPPING AND SOMEONE CALLING FOR MY
GRANDMOTHER. MY GRANDMOTHER DID NOT HEAR IT SO MY GRANDFATHER
WENT TO THE DOOR BUT NO ONE WAS THERE. THE TAPPING AND
CALLING FOR MY GRANDMOTHER OCCURED THREE TIMES. THE THIRD TIME
WHEN HE WENT TO THE DOOR HE CALLED OUT: WHOEVER YOU ARE
SHOW YOUR FACE IF IF YOU ARE GOOD AND BEGONE IF YOU ARE EVIL.
AGAIN, THERE WAS NO ONE AND IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.
Where learned: HOME ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): CHURCHING OF WOMAN ; DEMON SUMMONS WOMAN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 01-15-1970
NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM
THE POLISH WRITE THE NEW YEAR ON THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR OF
THEIR HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL ; DETROIT
Date learned: 11-14-1968
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS CARD YOU RECEIVE WITH A PICTURE OF THE
THREE KINGS, YOU TACK UP ABOVE YOUR FRONT DOORWAY INSIDE THE HOUSE,
TO ENSURE THE BLESSINGS OF THE THREE KINGS ON YOUR HOUSE FOR THE
COMING YEAR. YOU LEAVE IT UP UNTIL THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WHEN THE
CUSTOM IS REPEATED.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; TOLD IN ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Greetings, wishes, prayers, cards BELIEF -- Number |
CHRISTMAS EVE BELIEF
AT THE CHRISTMAS EVE MEAL SET THE TABLE WITH THE EXACT NUMBER OF
UTENSILS. IF THERE ARE MORE THAN SUPPOSED TO BE THERE WILL BE
AN INCREASE IN THE FAMILY. IF THERE AREN'T ENOUGH, THERE WILL
BE A DEATH.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS BELIEVED BY THE INFORMANT'S FATHER STRICTLY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Holiday: Christmas ; Lore ; SUPERSTITION ; Table Setting
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.2 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Christmas BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 02-11-1972
FIRSTS
WHEN OCCUPANTS ARE ENTERING THE NEW HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME, BRING
SALT AND RICE ALONG SO THAT THE HOUSE WILL BE BLESSED WITH MUCH FOOD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 12-00-1977
BELIEF
PUTTING AN EXTRA CANDLE ON A BIRTHDAY CAKE WILL BRING GOOD
LUCK TO THE PERSON WHO IS CELEBRATING THEIR BIRTHDAY.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- P647 BELIEF -- Number BELIEF -- Good luck P881.1 BELIEF -- Good luck P881.4 |
Date learned: CA00001950S
NUMBER 13
I WILL NOT LEAVE MY HOUSE OR DRIVE MY CAR. FRIDAY THE 13, GREGORY
WRECKED MY CAR. FRIDAY JAN. 13 WAS THE DAY I HAD THE CAR ACCIDENT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WAS SERIOUS. SHE REMEMBERED THE MONTH AND DAY OF HER
ACCIDENT, SHE WAS AWARE THAT FRIDAY THE 13 IS IN APRIL AND STATED
THAT SHE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF HER HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 03-00-1979
NAMES
NAME DAYS ARE CELEBRATED IN POLAND INSTEAD OF BIRTHDAYS. THE KIDS
ARE NAMED AFTER SAINTS AND ON THE DAY OF THEIR SAINT!S FEAST THERE
IS A CELEBRATION WHERE THEY RECEIVE GIFTS. IF YOU ARE 10 YEARS OLD
ON THAT DAY YOU WILL BE REFERRED TO AS 11 FROM NOW ON.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 04-08-1979
WEDDING SHOWER PREDICTION
IF A GIRL BREAKS A RIBBON WHILE OPENING GIFTS AT HER BRIDAL
SHOWER, SHE WILL BECOME PREGNANT. THE NUMBER OF TIMES SHE BREAKS
A RIBBON INDICATES THE NUMBER OF TIMES SHE WILL BECOME PREGNANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 03-00-1979
OMEN FOR ILL FATE
BEING THE LAST CAR IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION DENOTES ILL FATE.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 04-03-1970
MICHIGAN STATE LOTTERY BELIEF
THE MICHIGAN STATE LOTTERY DAILY NUMBERS GAME HAS THIS LIST OF
NUMBERS WHICH THEY NEVER LET WIN. THEY PICK THESE NUMBERS BECAUSE
PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO BET ON THEM BECAUSE THEY THINK THESE
NUMBERS ARE LUCKY. INFORMANT THEN SUGGESTED SOME LOGICAL NUMBERS
WHICH COLLECTOR FORGETS. INFORMANT KNOWS THIS BECAUSE HE USED TO BE
ON THESE NUMBERS AND STILL FOLLOWS THEM AND THESE NUMBERS HAVE NEVER
WON. INFORMANT BELIEVES THERE MUST BE SOME STATISTICAL WAY TO PROVE
HIS THEORY.
Submitter comment:
DR. MARTIN REALLY SEEMED TO BELIEVE THIS THEORY AND TRIED TO CONVINC
ME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 03-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
MY GRANDFATHER ALWAYS INSISTED THAT ONE MUST CROSS HIMSELF WHENEVER
ONE HEARD A SIREN.
IF ONE DID NOT DO THIS ACT OF CUSTOMARY PIETY IN HONOR
OF THE INJURED OR DYING PERSON,
THEN THAT PERSON'S DISEASE OR ILLNESS,
OR EVEN DEATH COULD BE TRANSFERRED TO YOU AND VERY SHORTLY AFTERWARD
YOU WOULD RECEIVE THEIR FATE AND SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES YOURSELF.
IF YOU CROSSED YOURSELF SEVERAL TIMES, YOU COULD BE THAT MUCH MORE
SURE THAT THE GESTURE WORKED AND YOU COULD BE DOUBLE OR TRIPLE
PROTECTED FROM EVIL, HARM OR DEATH. IF, HOWEVER, YOU CROSSED
YOURSELF MORE THAN TEN TIMES,
COMPLETE EVIL WOULD OVERTAKE YOU, FOR IT WAS
AN ILLUSTRATION THAT YOU DID NOT REALLY TRUST
IN GOD AND THAT YOU CONSIDERED HIM SO IGNORANT THAT
HE WOULD NOT KNOW THAT YOU WERE PRAYING TO HIM.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Number SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
CALCULATOR GAMES
GREET YOUR CALCULATOR, THEN ENTER 0.7734 FOR ITS REPLY-HELLO.
Where learned: WASHINGTON DC
James Callow Keyword(s): MODERN FOLKLORE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 02-00-1980
CALCULATOR PASTIME
TO FIND OUT A FAMOUS CIVIL WAR BATTLE ENTER 0.7145 AND INVERT-SHILO.
Where learned: VIRGINIA ; FAIRFAX
James Callow Keyword(s): MODERN FOLKLORE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 02-00-1980
WHAT DO A SUNDAY GOLFER AND THE MOVIE "CASABLANCA" HAVE IN COMMON?
MULTIPLY 332.375 BY 96 TO FIND OUT-BOGIE.
Where learned: VIRGINIA ; FAIRFAX
James Callow Keyword(s): MODERN FOLKLORE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 02-00-1980
DRINKING GAME "BUZZ"
FIVE TO TEN PEOPLE ARE ARRANGED IN A CIRCLE WITH DRINKS
IN HAND. THEY START TO COUNT OFF: 1, 2, 3, ..., ETC.
WHEN A SEVEN OR A MULTIPLE OF SEVEN IS REACHED, THE
PERSON IS TO SAY "BUZZ." IF HE DOESN'T SAY "BUZZ", HE
MUST DRINK AND THE GAME GOES BACK TO THE NUMBER ONE.
Submitter comment:
AS THE GAME PROGRESSES, THE GAME BECOMES MORE HILARIOUS.
THE PEOPLE PARTICIPATING TEND TO DRINK MORE AS THE
GAME PROGRESSES. THE PEOPLE PLAYING THE GAME USUALLY
MISS SEVENS OR MULTIPLE OF SEVENS AS THEY DRINK MORE.
WHEN THE GAME IS OVER, THE PEOPLE THAT WERE PLAYING
ARE DRUNK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Mental Activity Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Memory BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 10-00-1977