Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P686.1.0 returned 113 results.
FIRST STREELIGHT GAME
WHEN THE FIRST STREETLIGHT COMES ON, YOU
ARE TO YELL OUT, ZERO, FIRST STREETLIGHT.
ANOTHER PERSON SHOUTS, ZERO, SECOND
STREETLIGHT. THE PERSON WHO SAYS, ZERO,
THIRD STREETLIGHT, GETS HIT BY THE REST
OF THE GROUP.
Submitter comment:
WE USED TO PLAY THIS EVERY NIGHT WHEN
THE STREETLIGHT WOULD COME ON. THEN
EVERYBODY CAUGHT ON AND WE WOULD HAVE TO
COMPEL SOMEONE TO TAKE THE THIRD PART
SO THE GAME COULD FINISH AND WE COULD SWAT SOMEONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
(AN EMPTY SEAT)
AT CHRISTMAS TIME, THE FAMILY LEAVES AN EMPTY SEAT AT THE TABLE.
THIS SEAT IS SAVED FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS DIED.
Submitter comment:
TOLD BY UNCLE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; HOLDEN HALL ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; holiday ; tradition
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Table setting and clearing BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
OMEN
IF YOU DO NOT WORRY ABOUT A TEST YOU JUST TOOK, THEN THE
NEXT ONE WILL BE EVEN WORSE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- School BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
WHEN JEWISH WOMEN ARE PREGNANT THEY DO NOT BUY A LAYETTE FOR FEAR IF
THEY DO, THEY WILL LOSE THE CHILD OR ELSE THE CHILD WILL BE BORN DEA
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): RELIGION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-09-1971
IT IS BAD LUCK IF SOME ONE GIVES YOU BABY ARTICLES AS SOON AS YOU
KNOW YOU ARE PREGNANT.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR ; TOLD AT HER HOME
Keyword(s): IMPLIED WARNING ; MISFORTUNE
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFT-GIVING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-15-1970
IF A CHILD CRIES CONSTANTLY, ITS MOTHER WAS HUNGRY DURING PREGNANCY
FOR SOMETHING SHE NEVER GOT.
Keyword(s): FOOD EATING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 03-03-1968
TRADITION
THE BUDDHIST NUNS OF MALAYSIA FOR THEIR INITIATION SHAVE THEIR
HEADS, THEN WITH LONG INCENSE STICKS THEY BURN LITTLE HOLES IN A
LINE DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR HEADS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 11-00-1978
BELIEFS
AN EMPTY ROCKING CHAIR THAT IS MOVING IS A SIGN OF DEATH.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; MONROVIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: CA00001964
SUPERSTITION
AN EMPTY ROCKING CHAIR THAT IS MOVING IS A SIGN OF DEATH
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; MONROVIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: CA00001964
DON'T ROCK A ROCKING CHAIR WITHOUT SOMEONE IN IT--
OTHERWISE YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: MISS Z. LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER AS A CHILD.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-02-1963
IT IS BAD LUCK FOR BASEBALL PLAYERS TO PLACE THEIR EMPTY SHOES ON
THE GROUND BACKWARDS; THAT IS, PLACING THE RIGHT SHOE ON THE LEFT
AND THE LEFT SHOE ON THE RIGHT.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS NOTED WHEN BASEBALL PLAYERS CHANGE FROM TENNIS SHOES
INTO THEIR SPIKES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: 00001970S
BELIEF
"IF AN EMPTY ROCKING CHAIR IS ROCKING, SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE."
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S MOTHER USED TO GET REAL UPSET IF SOMEONE MADE THE
CHAIR ROCK DELIBERATELY.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
Keyword(s): ROCKING CHAIR
| Subject headings: | Observation Favorites BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 00001965CA
IF A PICTURE FALLS OFF THE WALL YOU'RE
GONNA DIE.
OR IF A ROCKING CHAIR ROCKS BY ITSELF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
James Callow Keyword(s): EMPTY
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 00001930S
ROCKING AN EMPTY ROCKING CHAIR MEANS A DEATH WILL FOLLOW.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TAUGHT TO HER BY HER MOTHER WHO INSISTED THAT THE PRACTICE
BE REFRAINED FROM.
UNNATURAL
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Ortonville
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 00001930S CA. ; 11-00-1987
Never rock an empty rocking chair because it invites
an evil spirit into it.
Where learned: ALABAMA
Keyword(s): Furniture
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 00001950S
THERE IS AN OLD MYTH IN MY FAMILY THAT GOES LIKE THIS:IF
YOU ROCK AN EMPTY ROCKING CHAIR YOU ARE INVITING BAD LUCK
TO COME YOUR WAY, SO IF YOU DO THIS BY ACCIDENT YOU MUST
IMMEDIATELY SAY "BREAD AN' BUTTER" TO BREAK THE EFFECT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) BELIEF -- Conversions Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001970CA
If you leave a hat rack empty then you
will never have visitors again. You may
lose all your friends.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
James Callow Keyword(s): hat rack
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 00001982CA
Put the first money you receive each day into an
empty pocket; it will attract more coins.
Submitter comment:
In English market places this custom is still very
popular; that original coin is called handsel.
Where learned: ENGLAND ; LONDON
James Callow Keyword(s): Pilot
Date learned: 00-00-1989
Never give an empty purse or wallet for a gift; fill it with
coins and dollars so it will never be empty.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GIFT
Date learned: 00001980S
Baby's First Teeth
It's been said that if you let a baby look into the mirror
before he/she grows his/her first teeth then he/she will never grow
any teeth at all.
Submitter comment:
My mother had this big grin on her face when she told me this
but it took me a few years to realize she was lying.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Louise
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 00-00-1980