Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P883 returned 103 results.
Throwing salt over your shoulder was considered to be a cure
for bad luck.
Where learned: GEORGIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 01001900 CA
IF YOU ARE COMING OUT OF THE HOUSE AND FORGET SOME-
THING, IT IS BAD LUCK TO TURN AROUND AND GO BACK,
UNLESS YOU SPIT ON THE GROUND AND MAKE AN X WITH
YOUR FOOT.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAW A FRIEND DO THAT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 03-06-1971
IF YOUWERE WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND SAW A BLACK
CAT, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO TURN AROUND AND WALK THE
OPPOSITE WAY.
Submitter comment:
IF YOU DIDN'T TURN AROUND AND GO THE OPPOSITE WAY,
YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Bad luck Animals BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHEN A PERSON IN THAILAND IS CONFRONTED WITH A LOT
OF BAD LUCK, HE MAKES A DOLL IN THE IMAGE OF
HIMSELF, TELLS HIS PROBLEMS TO THE DOLL, CUTS OFF
THE DOLL'S HEAD, AND THROWS IT INTO THE RIVER.
Where learned: THAILAND
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
WHEN A WOOLY WORM CRAWLS PAST ONE, HE IS SUPPOSED TO SPIT
IMMEDIATELY TO BREAK THE BAD LUCK THAT IT IS CAUSING.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; LAFAYETTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Conversions SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 04-29-1969
IF YOU BREAK A MIRROR, THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BRING YOU SEVEN
YEARS OF BAD LUCK, BUT IF YOU TOSS SOME SALT OVER YOUR
SHOULDER, THAT'LL COUNTERACT THE BAD LUCK AND YOU DON'T
HAVE TO WORRY.
Where learned: NASHVILLE, ASSUMED ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 07-23-1968
WHEN I WAS IN ABOUT THE SEVENTH GRADE WE USED TO HAVE THIS
LITTLE RITUAL THAT YOU HAD TO THROUGH IF YOU AND ANOTHER
PERSON SAID THE SAME THING AT THE SAME TIME. (IT WAS BAD LUCK
IF YOU DID THIS). BOTH PEOPLE HAD TO SAY "JINX, 1-2-3-4-5-6-
7-8-9-10 AND THEN DO THIS LITTLE WAVE TO EACH SIDE. THEN WE
WOULD HAVE GOOD LUCK INSTEAD OF BAD.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Conversions SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 07-23-1968
IF YOU BREAK A MIRROR, IT IS BAD LUCK. IF YOU GATHER
UP THE GLASS AND THROW IT AWAY, THE BAD LUCK WON'T HAPPEN.
Where learned: INDIANA ; WABASH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Mirror BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
IF A BLACK CAT WALKS ACROSS YOUR PATH, YOU CAN CONVERT
THE BAD LUCK BY ROLLING UP ONE PANTS' LEG AND TURNING
YOUR HAT AROUND BACKWARDS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; COLUMBIA
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.) BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.50 BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 07-03-1972
IF A BLACK CAT CROSSES YOUR PATH, TAKE TEN STEPS BACK
TO COUNTER THE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: INDIANA ; NEW ALBANY
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Bad luck Animals BELIEF -- Conversions |
TO BREAK THE BAD LUCK THAT A BLACK CAT CAUSES WHEN HE WALKS
IN FRONT OF A PERSON, MAKE A CROSS IN FRONT OF YOUR
CHEST AND SPIT ON THE GROUND.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; LAFAYETTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Conversions SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 04-29-1969
IF A BLACK CAT HAS CROSSED YOUR PATH, MAKE AN X IN FRONT
OF YOURSELF AND CHANGE YOUR DIRECTION TO PREVENT BAD LUCK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; LAFAYETTE
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Conversions SPEECH -- Gesture |
IF A BLACK CAT CROSSES IN FRONT OF YOU, MAKE A CROSS ON THE
GROUND IN FRONT OF YOU, SPIT IN THE CROSS MARK AND THIS WILL
KEEP YOU FROM HAVING BAD LUCK ON THE WAY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; LAFAYETTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Conversions SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 02-13-1972
IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE BAD LUCK TO GIVE ANYONE A SHARP OBJECT,
SUCH AS A KNIFE, A PAIR OF SCISSORS--FOR A PRESENT. IT WILL
CUT YOUR LOVE. THE PERSON RECEIVING THE OBJECT SHOULD GIVE
THE OTHER PERSON A PENNY OR SOMETHING.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; HERNDON
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFT ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Good luck Sharp objects BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 08-03-1968
IF A BLACK CAT CROSSES IN FRONT OF A PERSON, IT IS AN
INDICATION OF BAD LUCK TO FOLLOW. TO BREAK THE BAD LUCK, THE
PERSON IS TO TURN THEIR HATS AROUND IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; LAFAYETTE
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Animals BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 04-29-1969
SISTER SAID HER MOTHER LAUGHED ABOUT THIS AND WOULD SAY:
NOW IF I WERE SUPERSTITIOUS.... BUT SHE ALWAYS DID IT, IF YOU
SPILL SALT, PICK IT UP IMMEDIATELY AND THROW IT OVER THE LEFT
SHOULDER. REASON: BRING GOOD LUCK, WARD OFF BAD LUCK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
THE FIRST THING YOU SHOULD SAY ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH IS,
"RABBIT, RABBIT." SHOULD YOU FORGET, THEN THE LAST THING
BEFORE YOU GO TO BED (IT MUST BE BEFORE MIDNIGHT) YOU SHOULD
SAY IT BACKWARD, "TIBBAR, TIBBAR." YOUR LUCK WOULD NOT BE
AS GOOD BY SAYING IT AT NIGHT, BUT NOT AS BAD AS IF YOU
DIDN'T SAY IT AT ALL.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Date learned: 06-22-1972
WHEN TWO PEOPLE WALKING TOGETHER WALK ON DIFFERENT SIDES OF AN
OBSTACLE (LIKE A TREE), YOU'LL HAVE BAD LUCK IF YOU DON'T
SAY "BREAD AND BUTTER."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Leaving Entering Returning home Travel BELIEF -- Conversions SPEECH -- Formula |
WHEN SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE WALKING TOGETHER, ALWAYS WALK ON THE
SAME SIDE OF AN OBJECT (LIKE A POST) WHICH MAY SEPARATE YOU.
IT IS BAD LUCK IF YOU DON'T. TO BREAK THE SPELL, SAY "BREAD
AND BUTTER."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance BELIEF -- Bad luck Leaving Entering Returning home Travel BELIEF -- Conversions SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 08-01-1968
SPILLING SALT IS BAD LUCK, UNLESS YOU THROW A PINCH OVER YOUR
LEFT SHOULDER.
Where learned: OHIO ; FAIRMONT RD ; CHAGRIN FALLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- P248 BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Bad luck Food and drink BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN