Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P477 returned 904 results.
IF A WOMAN HAS A GAP BETWEEN HER TWO FRONT TEETH,
SHE LOVES MEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF SOMEONE HAS A GAP BETWEEN THEIR TWO FRONT TEETH,
THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD LIARS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHEN A PERSON WANTS TO REMEMBER SOMETHING IMPORTANT,
HE WILL TIE A STRING ON HIS FINGER, WHICH KEEPS
HIM THINKING OF THE MATTER OF IMPORTANCE. (A
RUBBER BAND IS FREQUENTLY USED, ALSO).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 03-10-1968
WITHIN A YEAR OF THEIR INTRODUCTION, THE BELIEF
AROSE THAT, OTHER THINGS BEING REMOTELY EQUAL,
AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NEVER BE ABLE
TO BEAT A MANUAL SHIFT TRANSMISSION/CLUTCH IN A
DRAG RACE
Submitter comment:
HOWEVER, LIKE MANY FOLK THEORIES IN SCIENCE, THIS
HAS BEEN DISPROVEN AS OF 1962.
Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
EVER SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF DETERGENT OIL, THERE
HAS BEEN A BELIEF THAT IT IS BAD FOR THE AVERAGE
ENGINE. THE FACT THAT THIS BELIEF IS STILL AROUND
SHOWS THE STRENGTH OF FOLKLORE FOR ALL HEAVY DUTY
ENGINE MANUFACTURERS (G.M., CUMMINS, DETROIT
DIESEL, ETC.) AND MOST GENERAL DUTY ENGINE
MANUFACTURERS (FORD, CHEVY) RECOMMEND HIGH DETERGENT
OIL.
Submitter comment:
THIS BELIEF IS HELD BY MANY CAR OWNERS OF ALL AGE
BRACKETS AND BY SOME OLDER, CONSERVATIVE TYPE
MECHANICS.
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
IF YOU DRY YOUR HANDS WITH ANOTHER PERSON ON THE
SAME TOWEL, SIMULTANEOUSLY, YOU WILL HAVE A
FIGHT.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
GRAMMIE NEVER ALLOWED US TO SEW ANYTHING WHILE WE
HAD IT ON. IT WOULD CAUSE ONE TO BECOME DUMB.
STUPID, THAT IS.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
MY MOTHER WOULD NEVER DO ANY CANNING WHILE SHE WAS
MENSTRUATING, BECAUSE IT WOULD SPOIL.
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Manner of preparation Preservation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
IF YOU TELL A LIE, YOUR NOSE WILL GROW LONG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PINOCCHIO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 03-04-1968
WHEN A PERSON YAWNS, HE SHOULD PUT HIS HAND OVER HIS
MOUTH TO KEEP THE EVIL SPIRITS FROM COMING IN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 03-13-1968
IF YOU CAN ROLL YOUR TONGUE, IT IS A SIGN OF
VIRGINITY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 03-15-1968
WHEN YOU SNEEZE, YOUR SPIRIT LEAVES THE BODY.
WHEN YOU SAY GESUNTHEIDT, THE SPIRIT RETURNS.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
YOU SHOULD NEVER SWEEP DUST OUT OF THE BACK DOOR WHEN
SWEEPING THE FLOOR, BECAUSE IF YOU DO, YOUR FATHER
WILL DIE IN A SHORT TIME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: 10-28-1967
BURP A BABY OVER YOUR SHOULDER AND HE'LL GROW UP
TO BE TALL.
Where learned: DETROIT ; PASTEUR SCHOOL ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 01-29-1968
WHEN LOOKING FOR SOME PROPERTY, TAKE A STATUE AND
BURY IT IN THE BACKYARD. IF IT IS FOR YOU, YOU'LL
GET THE PROPERTY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU ARE IN A BAD MOOD IT IS ATTRIBUTED TO GETTING
UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED.
Where learned: HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
IF YOU GET LOST, SPIT IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND AND
PUNCH YOUR FIST INTO YOUR PALM. THE DIRECTION THE
SPIT FLIES IS THE DIRECTION YOU SHOULD TRAVEL IN.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND OF MINE, AND HE REMEMBERS THIS
FROM HIS CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Prediction / Divination BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001971 SPRING
IF YOU CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SAY,
THEN IT MUST BE A LIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Prediction / Divination BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 04-01-1970
IT IS SAID THAT IF YOU FORGET SOMETHING THAT YOU
WANTED TO TELL SOMEONE, IT IS BECAUSE IT WAS
A LIE.
Submitter comment: THIS IS SAID BY MANY PEOPLE NOW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-30-1971
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN CUTS YOUR HAIR, IT WILL GROW
THICK. (MEXICAN SUPERSTITION).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 07-03-1964