Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P444 returned 345 results.
GOOD LUCK SUPERSTITION
IF THERE IS A BIRD'S NEST IN YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE IT WILL BRING YOU
LUCK FOR THE COMING YEAR.
THIS TREE IS THE ONE YOU WOULD BRING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 00-00-1965
SUPERSTITION
WHEN A BIRD PECKS ON A WINDOW, SOMEONE IN THAT HOUSE WILL DIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-02-1977
WEATHER BELIEF
IF THE MORNING DOVE CAN BE HEARD AT DAWN,
IT WILL BE A SUNNY DAY. IF NOT, RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: CA07151970
DEATH CUSTOM
IF A WHITE DOVE FLEW DOWN YOUR CHIMMEY, THAT WAS A SIGN THAT SOMEBODY
WAS GOING TO DIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 03-00-1979
BIRTH BELIEFS
BABIES ARE BROUGHT TO A FAMILY BY THE STORK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 02-00-1977
SUPERSTITION
OWLS ARE BAD LUCK. IF YOU SEE ONE, OR IF ONE FLIES OVER YOU, YOU'LL
GET BAD LUCK FOR A WEEK. IF YOU'RE WALKING, YOU'LL FALL. IF YOU'RE
WRITING, YOU'LL MAKE MISTAKE; IF YOU DRIVE CAR, YOU'LL MAKE ACCIDENT.
Submitter comment: HE LEARNED THIS SUPERSTITION FROM HIS FAMILY AND BELIEVES IN IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): PALESTINIAN INFORMANT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
IF BIRDS GET SOME OF YOUR HAIR YOU'LL GO CRAZY.
Submitter comment:
THE REASONING BEHIND THIS BELIEF WAS THE FACT THAT ONE'S HAIR
IS A PART OF ONE'S HEAD, THEREFORE, POSSESSION BY BIRDS WOULD
GIVE ONE THE MENTALITY OF BIRDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK ; FRIENDS HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
SUPERSTITION
A BIRD IN THE HOUSE IS A SIGN OF BAD LUCK, MORE SPECIFICALLY,
A SIGN OF DEATH.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT STATES THAT SHE REMEMBERS HEARING THIS BELIEF FROM
HER GRANDMOTHER WHEN SHE WAS ALIVE, BUT OFFERS NO EXPLANATION
FOR THE BELIEF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; DEPARTMENT STORE
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-13-1979
FORTUNE TELLING RICE BIRDS OF INDONESIA
IN INDONESIA A VENDER COME AROUND THE HOUSE WITH THREE
LITTLE RICE BIRDS IN A CAGE. HE WOULD ASK IF HE COULD
TELL YOUR FORTUNE FOR THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS. IF ALLOWED,
HE WOULD THROW RICE INTO THE CAGE OF BIRDS. IF THE BIRDS
ATE THE RICE, YOU WOULD HAVE SEVEN YEARS OF STARVATION, BE-
CAUSE EVERYTHING HAS BEEN EXHAUSTED. IF THEY DIDN'T EAT
ALL THE RICE, YOU WOULD HAVE SEVEN YEARS OF SUCCESS AND
GOOD LUCK. THE IDEA WAS TO GET THE VENDER AFTER HE HAS
BEEN TO ALL THE OTHER HOUSES, BY THAT TIME THE BIRDS WOULD
BE TOO FULL OF RICE, YOU COULD NOT HELP BUT GET GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): AUSPEXY ; HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer 870 Favorites BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 04-00-1979 ; 00001930-1950
OWL AT MIDNIGHT MEANS SOMEONE WILL DIE.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT DORMS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
DEATH BELIEF
YOU TIE A KNOT IN THE BED SHEET WHEN YOU HEAR AN OWL.
IF YOU DON'T IT MEANS SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: CA00001929
MR. SPRINGY
MY GRANDFATHER TOLD THE STORY OF A CERTAIN MR. SPRINGY WHO CAME TO
HIS FEEDER EACH MORNING TO RECEIVE HIS DAILY RATION OF SEED. YOU SEE
MR. SPRINGY WAS A ROBIN AND MY GRANDFATHER BELIEVED THAT ROBINS
WERE A SYMBOL OF GOOD LUCK. IF A ROBIN CAME TO YOUR FEEDER IN THE
MORNING AND SANG LOUDLY, IT MEANT THAT YOU WOULD HAVE GOOD LUCK AND
THAT THE DAY WOULD BE FILLED WITH JOY AND PEACE. IF, HOWEVER, THE
ROBIN DID NOT SING, THEN YOU KNEW THAT THE DAY WOULD BE BAD.
MR. SPRINGY REPRESENTED THE BEST OF EVERYTHING AS FAR AS MY
GRANDFATHER WAS CONCERNED. HE WOULD TELL THE STORY OF MR. SPRINGY,
REGAL FELLOW WHO WOULD SING A BREAKFAST SONG WHILE PERCHED HIGH ON
BARN. MY GRANDFATHER CONSIDERED THIS TO
BE THE MORNING PRAYER OF
THANKS FOR THE GOODNESS OF GOD WHICH WAS TO BE SHOWN THAT DAY. MR.
SPRINGY WAS WISE AND KNEW OF ALL SORTS
OF THINGS INCLUDING VERY COMPLEX
THEOLOGICAL NOTIONS. THE BIRD REPRESENTED
ALL THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE
WHICH INCLUDED WEALTH, HEALTH, SUCCESS
AND BEAUTY. THE DAY WOULD BE
GOOD IF MR. SPRINGY SANG LOUDLY. A POOR SONG WARNED MY GRANDFATHER T
BE CAREFUL IN BUSINESS DEALINGS
THAT DAY AND SINCE MY GRANDFATHER
WAS THE PRESIDENT OF L.A. YOUNG WIRE
WIRE CO, SUCH ADVICE WOULD BE CAREFULLY
HEEDED. A SONG WAS WORTH MY GRANDFATHER'S SMILE AND NOD OF APPROVAL
FOR PAY. IT WAS EVEN WORTH A SPECIAL
HOME FOR MR. SPRINGY WHICH WAS A
RUSTIC AND STURDY CABIN, MADE OUT OF STRONG PINE WOOD. BURNED IN TH
WOOD OF THE UNDERSIDE WERE THE WORDS: "TO A CERTAIN MR. SPRINGY, KIN
OF THE AIR". INDEED, THE ROBIN DESERVED HIS TITLE OF RECOGNITION.
MY GRANDFATHER WOULD TELL THE STORY
WITH DELIGHT. IT WAS ALMOST AS IF HE
COULD REMEMBER THE WAY MR. SPRINGY LOOKED. HE WASN'T JUST ANY
ROBIN, YOU KNOW. THE OLD SONG MR. SPRINGY SANG MUST HAVE STILL RANG
IN MY GRANDFATHER'S EARS. IT WAS A CERTAIN SIGN OF THE BEST OF TIMES
AFTER HEARING THE STORY SEVERAL TIMES, I ASKED MY GRANDFATHER
WHAT IT WAS THAT MADE MR. SPRINGY LEAVE. MY GRANDFATHER DID NOT TELL
ME. HE SAID HE DID NOT KNOW AND HE REMINDED ME THAT MR. SPRINGY
STAYED WITH HIM FOR EIGHT YEARS AND THAT WAS A LONG TIME FOR FRIENDS
TO MEAN THE SAME THING TO EACH OTHER. I NEVER PUSHED FOR A FURTHER
EXPLANATION. BEING TOO YOUNG TO REALLY UNDERSTAND, I WAS CONTENT TO
LISTEN TO MORE STORIES ABOUT THE VICTORY GARDENS AND POLO HORSES.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I BROUGHT UP THE OLD STORY OF MR. SPRINGY AT
FAMILY DINNER. MY GREAT-AUNT FINISHED
THE STORY IN TEARS: "THE BIRD SANG HIS
SONG FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, BUT THERE WAS NO FOOD
TO GIVE HIM. THE DEPRESSION
ERA LEFT HARDLY ENOUGH FOR OURSELVES
CAME BACK AFTER THAT. HE
UNDERSTOOD THAT THE STOCK MARKET HAD CRASHED FOR HE WAS A BIRD WITH
GREAT WISDOM AND POWER. YOUR GRANDFATHER BELIEVED IN HIM. I CAN STIL
REMEMBER WHEN YOUR GRANDFATHER GAVE HIM HIS LAST TASTY MORSEL OF OLD
RAISIN BREAD THAT FELL IN EXCESS FROM OUR TABLE. THE TWO SEEMED TO
KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. THEY HAD AN AGREEMENT, THOUGH. MR.
SPRINGY'S HOUSE WAS NOT TO BE TORN DOWN NO MATTER WHAT. AND SO THAT
OLD RUSTIC HOUSE REMAINED ON TOP OF
THAT OLD BARN FOR NEARLY TWENTY FIVE
YEARS UNTIL THE BARN ITSELF WAS TORN
DOWN AND REPLACED BY THE NEW
ALUMINUM GARAGE. BARNS WERE FOR BIRDS, ANIMALS
AND PEOPLE. GARAGES ARE
MERELY FOR CEMENT AND CARS. MR. SPRINGY
WAS LIKE SO MANY OTHER FAITHFUL
SINGERS OF DREAMS THAT NEVER CAME TRUE
AND FRIENDSHIPS THAT NEVER
FAILED."
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
ON HOLMES STREET IN HAMTRAMCK, MICHIGAN, IT IS BELIEVED BY A FAMILY
OF BAKERS THAT IF YOU FOUND A DEAD OVEN BIRD WHILE YOU WERE UNDER
THE AGE OF THIRTY, YOU WOULD DEFINITELY BECOME A BAKER IN LIFE.
Submitter comment:
IT IS STRANGE FOR I FOUND AN OVEN BIRD AND I HAVE NO INTENTION OF
BECOMING A BAKER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
HAWKS
HAWKS HAVE NESTS ON THE HILLS NEAR THE LAKES OF KILLARNEY. IT
BRINGS BAD LUCK TO SHOOT THEM DOWN BECAUSE ALL THE HAWKS HAVE THE
SPIRITS OF THE EARLY PIRATES WHO TRIED TO INVADE IRELAND, BUT WHO
WERE KILLED BY THE NATIVES. THEIR SOULS DID NOT GO TO HELL; THEY
WENT INTO THE HAWKS NEAR KILLARNEY. THIS IS WHY THOSE HAWKS ARE
SO VICIOUS, AND THEY HATE THE NATIVES. BUT THEY ARE LEFT LIVE,
BECAUSE OF THE SPIRITS THEY CONTAIN. TO KILL THEM WOULD BE TO LET
LOOSE THE BAD SPIRITS OVER THE PLACE, AND THAT WOULD BE VERY
DANGEROUS TO THE NATIVE PEOPLE OF KILLARNEY AND THE AMERICAN
TOURISTS WHO VISIT THE PLACE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate BELIEF -- Bird |
Date learned: 11-00-1970
MAGIC
ALWAY'S BURN YOUR HAIR BECAUSE IF A BIRD MAKE A NEST OUT OF IT,
YOU WILL GO CRAZY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: CA00001966
PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM
NA ZWIASTOQANIE BUCIAN NA GNIAZDZIE STANIE. (ON MARCH 25, THE
ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, THE STORKS WILL RETURN TO
THEIR NESTS FROM THE SOUTH.)
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT REMEMBERS THAT IN POLAND, WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF MARCH 25,
THIS WAS ALWAYS TRUE. HE LEARNED IT FROM HIS FATHER DURING HIS GRAD
SCHOOL YEARS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 25 BELIEF -- Bird |
Date learned: 02-07-1980 ; 00-00-1934
WHEN YOU SEE THE FIRST ROBIN OF SPRING, LICK YOUR THUMB, RUB IT ON
THE OPPOSITE FIST AND BANG THEM TOGETHER. THEN MAKE A WISH.
Submitter comment: 1 HE LEARNED THIS IN GERMANY
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY
Date learned: 00-00-1950
SUPERSTITION
THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY WOULD PUT A CRADLE, FULL OF STRAW, IN A TREE,
HOPEFULLY, A STORK WOULD MAKE ITS NEST THERE. WHEN THE STORK
THROWS ONE OF HER BABIES OUT OF THE NEST, THIS MEANS THAT THERE
WILL BE A BAD SUMMER.
Submitter comment:
THIS WEATHER PREDICTOR WAS FIRST HEARD BY THE INFORMANT AROUND 1910
IN POLAND. A STORK, CRADLE AND GOOD SUMMER ALL SYMBOLIZE LIFE.
THIS IS HINDERED BY A BIRD FALLING FROM THE CRADLE (DEATH) CAUSING
A BREAK IN THE LINK (A BAD SUMMER).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation Favorites BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Measure of time Summer BELIEF -- Use of Object BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; CA00001910
IRISH SUPERSTITION
IF A BIRD GETS INTO YOUR HOME AND CIRCLES AROUND YOUR HEAD THREE
TIMES, YOU ARE GOING TO DIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1920
SUPERSTITOON
ROOSTER CROWING BEFORE MIDNIGHT MEANS RAIN.
Submitter comment:
IN POLAND, WHERE MY GRANDMOTHER GREW UP, LOCAL TTADITIONS WERE
ACCEPTED AS FACT, AND WERE NOT QUESTIONED.
Where learned: POLAND ; WARSAW ; MIELIEC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00-00-1940