Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P686.1.0 returned 113 results.
Wigilia
Wigilia is celebrated by Polish Americans on Christmas Eve. It
consists of a meatless meal; high in carbohydrates. The table
setting also plays a part of this tradition. There should always
be one empty chair at the table, with one extra setting for an
unexpected guest.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
At the Jewish Passover meal, the Jewish people leave an empty
chair for the prophet Elijah, in case he happens to come by.
Submitter comment:
From being a Girl Scout Leader, my mom had to do research on a
different country every year, and she remembered this little fact
from one of those years.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Movable Date BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 00001980'S
NEVER ROCK AN EMPTY ROCKING CHAIR OR IT IS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) |
Date learned: 00001920S
IT IS BAD LUCK TO SPEAK ABOUT A NO-HIT GAME, IF THE
PITCHER HAS NOT YET ALLOWED A HIT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS WHEN HE WAS PLAYING MINOR
LEAGUE BASEBALL FOR THE WASHINGTON SENATOR'S FARM
SYSTEM.
Where learned: WASHINGTON SENATORS FARM SYSTEM (BASEBALL TEAM)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Bad luck Games Pastimes Sports |
Date learned: 02-28-1965
PEOPLE WHO ROCK EMPTY ROCKING CHAIRS ARE ASKING
FOR BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: 02-01-1970
IT'S BAD LUCK TO ROCK A ROCKING CHAIR WITH NO ONE
IN IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: 11-20-1968
ROCK AN EMPTY CHAIR
AND BAD LUCK WILL SOON APPEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: 03-28-1968
IF YOU ROCK A ROCKING CHAIR WITHOUT SOMEONE IN
IT, YOU WILL SURELY HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PONTIAC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT IS BAD LUCK TO ROCK AN EMPTY CHAIR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: 04-05-1970
IF YOU RUB A BEAN OVER A WART, THEN THROW IT AWAY, WHEN THE BEAN
SPROUTS UP, THE WART WILL DISAPPEAR.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU TAKE THE LAST PIECE OF CANDY, COOKIE, PIECE OF
MEAT, ETC., IT MEANS YOU WILL BE AN OLD MAID.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 10-18-1971
IF YOU TAKE THE LAST PIECE OF FOOD ON THE PLATE, YOU'LL
BE AN OLD MAID.
Submitter comment:
TOLD TO HER BY HER GRANDMOTHER. NEVER SAID IN REFERENCE
TO MEN BEING BACHELORS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 10-25-1970
IF A YOUNG GIRL EATS THE LAST PIECE OF CAKE OR CANDY
LEFT, SHE WILL END UP A SPINSTER.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND OF MINE WHO REMEMBERS THIS FROM
HER CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
IF YOU TAKE THE LAST COOKY ON A PLATE, YOU WILL BE
AN OLD MAID.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 09-24-1969
NEVER TAKE THE LAST PIECE OF ANYTHING ON A PLATE
OR YOU WILL BE AN OLD MAID.
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
PEOPLE WHO LIE QUITE A BIT WILL HAVE GAPS BETWEEN THEIR
TEETH OR A PAINFUL BUMP ON THEIR TONGUES. HENCE THE TERM
LIE GAP" OR "LIE BUMP."
Submitter comment: MY MOTHER TOLD ME THIS. I RECORDED IT ON JULY 23, 1968.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 07-23-1968
WHEN A PERSON ROCKS A ROCKING CHAIR WITH NO ONE IN IT, THEY CAN
EXPECT BAD LUCK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; LAFAYETTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 03-29-1969
IF YOU ROCK A ROCKING CHAIR WITHOUT ANYONE IN IT, YOUR
MOTHER WILL DIE.
Where learned: GEORGIA ; ATHENS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 07-22-1968
ROCKING AN EMPTY CHAIR MEANS SOMEONE IN THE FAMILY WILL
DIE SOON.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | Prediction / Divination BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 04-03-1972
DON'T LEAVE A ROCKER ROCKING OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) |
Date learned: 06-28-1970