Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P464 returned 154 results.
SUPERSTITION
COVER ALL MIRRORS IN THE HOUSE WITH SHEETS DURING A STORM TO PREVENT
LIGHTENING FROM STRIKING THE HOUSE.
Submitter comment:
THIS BELIEF WAS BELIEVED JUSTLY EXPLAINED BY THE FACT THAT LIGHTENING
IS ATTRACTED TO MIRRORS. THUS, ACCORDING TO THE INFORMANT,
COVERING THE MIRRORS IN A HOUSE WILL PREVENT THE ATTRACTION OF
LIGHTENING, AND THEREBY PREVENT LIGHTENING FROM STRIKING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; DEPARTMENT STORE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder |
Date learned: 02-20-1979
BOOM BOOM
IF IT THUNDER IN ALL FOOLS DAY
IT BRINGS GOOD CROPS OF GRASS AND HAY.
Data entry tech comment: ITEM KEYPUNCHED AS IS
Where learned: AUDIAS PIZZARIA
Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; APRIL FOOL'S DAY ; BELIEF ; RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb C880.890 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- April 1 April Fools CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- April 1 (April Fool's Day) BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder |
Date learned: 10-03-1969
HOW CLOSE LIGHTENING IS.
THE NUMBER OF SECONDS BETWEEN THE THUNDER AND THE LIGHTNING
EQUALS THE NUMBER OF MILES AWAY IT OCCURED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): COMPUTATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Measure of time BELIEF -- Measure of space: distance, height, depth BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon |
Date learned: 04-00-1980
WHEN IT THUNDERS, IT IS BECAUSE ANGELS ARE BOWLING.
Submitter comment: 1 SHE TELLS THIS TO HER CHILDREN WHEN THEY GET SCARED IN STORMS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
WHEN CAMPING AND A LIGHTENING STORM IS FIRST STARTING, PUT YOUR MILK
IN THE RIVER, IF YOU ARE NEAR ONE, TO PREVENT IT FROM SOURING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
James Callow Keyword(s): PRESERVATION OF FOOD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder |
Date learned: 02-17-1980
ACCORDING TO GREEK ORTHODOX LEGEND, THE WEATHER ON GOOD FRIDAY
IS ALWAYS BAD, PARTICULARLY AROUND SIX IN THE EVENING. THIS APPLIES
TO THE GREEK ORTHODOX EASTER, NOT THE TRADITIONAL EASTER WHICH
FALLS ON DIFFERENT DATES.
Where learned: MISSOURI ; KANSAS CITY
| Subject headings: | 663 Good Friday BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN AFRAID OF THUNDER AND LIGHTENING SO
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL MY MOMMA TOLD ME THIS STORY.
SHE TOLD ME THAT ALL THE THUNDER WAS JUST SOME ANGELS
PLAYING POOL AND EVERY TIME THEY HIT A BALL WE WOULD
HEAR ITS ECHO. THE LIGHTENING WAS NOTHING MORE THAN A
PRANKSTER ANGEL CUTTING THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF UP IN
HEAVEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; MATERNAL ROLE
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder |
Date learned: 03-00-1983
WHEN A STORM ERUPTED, NO MATTER WHAT TIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT,
MY MOTHER WOULD SPRINKLE HOLY WATER ALL OVER US AND THE HOUSE
SAYING:
"GOD BLESS US AND SAVE US AND KEEP US FROM HARM."
SHE ALWAYS WOKE US ALL UP; SCARED THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF US - WE
THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO DIE OR SOMETHING.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
IT IS FORBIDDEN FOR A PERSON TO LOOK INTO A MIRROR WHILE IT IS
RAINING AND THUNDERING. WHOEVER DOES SO WILL BE KILLED BY THAT
THUNDER.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SAID IT WITH ASSURANCE
Where learned: NIGERIA ; KABBA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
BLACK-AMERICAN BELIEF
IF IT THUNDERS ON A CERTAIN DAY IN
FEBRUARY, THERE WILL BE FROST ON
THAT SAME DAY IN MAY.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI
Keyword(s): WEATHER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- May CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- FO20 BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
Date learned: 00-00-1958
THIS WAS AT MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE ON THE EAST SIDE
OF DETROIT. WHENEVER THERE WAS A THUNDERSTORM SHE WOULD
SING CHRISTIAN SONGS AND WALK THROUGH THE HOUSE. I DON'T
REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT THE SONGS WERE. SHE WALKED THROUGH
THE HOUSE CARRYING LIT PALM LEAVES WHICH WERE BLESSED
ON PALM SUNDAY. LATER, MY MOTHER WOULD LIGHT CANDLES.
TO THIS DAY, AUNT JUDY (SISTER) IS PETRIFIED OF STORMS AND
STILL LIGHTS CANDLES.
Submitter comment: THE BURNING WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP EVIL FROM HAPPENING.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): LIGHTNING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder |
Date learned: 00001940S
THUNDER IS NOTHING BUT GOD RE-ARRANGING HIS FURNITURE.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY HER MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS
YOUNGER SO THAT SHE WOULD NOT BE AFRAID OF THE THUNDER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder |
Date learned: 00-00-1972 ; 10-00-1987
IT IS EXACTLY SIX MONTHS FROM THE FIRST THUNDERSTORM TO THE FIRST
FROST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Ortonville
| Subject headings: | 686 Sixths / Six BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Measure of time Month |
Date learned: 00001930S CA
A THUNDERSTORM WILL TURN MILK SOUR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Ortonville
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder |
Date learned: 00001930S CA. ; 11001987 CA.
ALWAYS SIT DOWN WHEN IT IS THUNDERING AND LIGHTENING BECAUSE
GOD IS CLEANING UP HIS HOUSE.
Submitter comment: VERY SUPERSTITIOUS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder |
WHEN YOU SEE LIGHTNING START TO COUNT UNTIL YOU HEAR
THUNDER. AND WHEN YOU SEE LIGHTNING AGAIN COUNT AGAIN UNTIL
YOU HEAR THUNDER. IF THE SECOND NUMBER IS LARGER THE STORM IS
LEAVING AND WHEN IT IS SMALLER THE STORM IS COMING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs |
Date learned: 00001970S
When you see the Northern Lights at night, whistle
very loudly and the light will become brighter.
Submitter comment:
Elinor learned this belief from a student of her's who
identified herself as "full-blooded North American Indian."
This woman had lived in northern Canada for some time.
When the informant demonstrated the technique for
whistling, she placed both of her baby fingers in
her mouth to indicate that the whistle was to be
extremely loud.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): Aurora Borealis
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Mt. Lemon in Tucson, Arizona is said to have the Red God of
Fire. This is a creature which walks the mountain whenever
heat lightning strikes the mountain in the form of red
lightning.
Submitter comment:
A silly myth, of course everybody knows that light cannot
walk. The short story was still imaginative and somewhat
interesting.
Where learned: Arizona ; Tucson
Keyword(s): Tall, Weather
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- P428 BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Fire BELIEF -- Formation |
Date learned: 00-00-1991
When it thunders the angels are bowling.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Angel BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder |
Date learned: 00-00-1974