Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P860.11 returned 106 results.
IF A BIRD GETS IN THE HOUSE, IT MEANS SOMEONE IS GOING
TO DIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals |
Date learned: 01-26-1968
IF A BIRD FLIES INTO YOUR HOUSE, OR AGAINST A WINDOW
OF YOUR HOUSE, THERE WILL BE A DEATH IN YOUR FAMILY
SOON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals |
Date learned: 02-09-1968
IF A BIRD FLEW INTO THE ROOM THERE WOULD BE A DEATH
IN FAMILY.
Submitter comment: FROM FRIENDS.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals |
Date learned: 00001950S
TO LOSE A BUCKET OVERBOARD IS A BAD OMEN TO SAILORS;
ALSO TO SEE A BIRD FLY ACROSS THE SHIP WHEN LEAVING
PORT.
Submitter comment:
MEMBERS OF HIS FISHING CREW BELIEVED THIS, BUT NEVER
TO THE EXTENT OF RETURNING TO PORT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; YPSILANTI
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals |
Date learned: 03-01-1968
IF A BIRD, WHILE IN FLIGHT, HITS ANY HOUSE WINDOW,
THIS IS SUPPOSED TO SYMBOLIZE THAT GOOD NEWS WILL
COME TO YOU IN A FEW DAYS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU TURN YOUR EYELID INSIDE OUT AND A DOG BARKS, YOU
WILL REMAIN LIKE THAT FOREVER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
CURE
IF A CHILD, USUALLY A BABY, IS SUFFERING FROM AN ILLNESS, USUALLY A
CHILD'S ILLNESS LIKE A COLD OR FLU, YOU SHOULD CUT OFF THE EAR OF A
CAT. THEN DRIP THE BLOOD ON A PIECE OF BREAD AND FEED IT TO THE
INFANT. THIS IS SALEM WITCHCRAFT.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT THOUGHT THIS WAS A SICKENING THING TO DO, BUT HE
TALKED OF IT AS AN AUTHENTIC CURE ACCORDING TO SOME PEOPLE. AS HE
SAID, WHAT ELSE COULD THEY DO, THE DRUG STORES WERE CLOSED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HIGHLAND PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): IRONY
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food BELIEF -- Remedy BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals |
Date learned: 11-00-1975
PREDICTION
WHEN YOU HEAR A DOG HOWL, SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU WILL DIE. IF,
AFTER THE DOG HAS HOWLED, YOU LOOK BETWEEN ITS EARS, YOU WILL SEE
THE IMAGE OF THE PERSON THAT WILL DIE.
Submitter comment:
ALTHOUGH HE NEVER WITNESSED IT, THIS PHENOMENON SCARED THE INFORMANT
WHEN HE WAS A CHILD. AS AN ADULT THE INFORMANT, LIKE MYSELF,
DISREGARDS THIS SUPERSTITION. THE INFORMANT WAS FIRST INTRO-
DUCED TO THIS PREDICTION BY HIS FATHER IN DETROIT.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals |
Date learned: CA00001930 ; 01-13-1980
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN IS FRIGHTENED BY SOMETHING
I.E. A DOG, THEN THE CHILD WILL HAVE A FEAR OF THE
SAME THING.
Submitter comment: HE LEARNED THIS FROM HIS MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF A DOG HOWLS OR BAYS DURING THE NIGHT, SOMEONE YOU
KNOW IS GOING TO DIE.
Submitter comment: LEARNED AT HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals |
Date learned: 03-29-1967
MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD NEVER ALLOW YELLOW CATS INTO THE
HOUSE. THEY WERE TO REMAIN IN THE BARN. TIGER CATS,
BLACK CATS, WHITE CATS, THESE ALL HAD THE HOPE OF BEING
HOUSEHOLD PETS. STRICT APARTHEID WITH YELLOW CATS--TO
THE BARN! IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE BELIEF THAT THEY
WOULD BRING MISFORTUNE ON THE HOUSEHOLD. ON THE OTHER
HAND, MY FAMILY ONCE LIVED NEXT DOOR TO A FAMILY ORIGINALLY
FROM THE VERY RURAL PARTS OF KENTUCKY. MRS. PATTON COLLECTED
EVERY YELLOW CAT SHE COULD FIND AND CLAIMED THEY PURRED
LOUDER THAN OTHER CATS AND BROUGHT MORE CHEER TO A HOUSE.
WE OFTEN HEARD HER CRY, "YELLER CAT, HERE YELLER CAT"
FROM HER FRONT PORCH, AND WE WERE GLAD THAT MY GRANDMOTHER
AND MRS. PATTON NEVER LIVED NEAR EACH OTHER.
Submitter comment: TOLD TO ME BY MY NEIGHBOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.31 |
Date learned: 00001940-1950
YOUR BUSINESS WILL PROSPER IF YOU SEE THREE BIRDS FLY
IN SINGLE FILE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
THROW THREE KISSES AT THE FIRST ROBIN YOU SEE IN THE
SPRING; YOUR WISH WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Measure of time Spring BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals SPEECH -- Gesture |
IF YOU TOUCH A MUSHROOM OR A TOAD, YOU WILL GET A WART.
Submitter comment: LEARNED AT HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 02-14-1967
IF A CAT JUMPS ON A BABY'S LAP, IT WILL TAKE ITS
BREATH AWAY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THAT THIS BELIEF WAS IN HER FAMILY
SINCE SHE COULD REMEMBER. SHE IS THE COLLECTOR'S
MOTHER.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals |
Date learned: 04-18-1965
IF A SPIDER DROPS DOWN IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU WILL
INHERIT MONEY.
Submitter comment: FROM AUNT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals |
Date learned: 12-04-1967
WHEN SWALLOWS FLY LOW, IT'S A SIGN OF RAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
BIRDS SINGING IN THE RAIN MEAN THE RAIN WILL STOP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
IF A BIRD FLIES IN THE HOUSE, IT IS A SIGN THAT
THERE WILL BE A DEATH IN THE FAMILY.
Submitter comment: LEARNED AT HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals |
Date learned: 03-29-1967
TO DETERMINE IF A SICK PERSON WILL GET WELL, CUT A
PIECE OF BREAD, RUB THE PATIENT'S TEETH WITH IT,
THROW THE BREAD BEFORE A DOG. IF THE DOG EATS IT,
THE PATIENT WILL RECOVER, IF NOT, THE ILLNESS IS
DANGEROUS.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM YOUTH.
Where learned: INDIANA ; VEEDERSBURG
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Use of Object Food BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals |
Date learned: 11-24-1967