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 P880 returned 670 results.
DANDELION BELIEF
AS CHILDREN IN MAMARONECK, NEW YORK, WE BELIEVED THAT IF YOU PICKED A DANDELION, YOU'D HAVE TO URINATE.
Submitter comment:
Learned in late 1940s.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector appear to be the same person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; NEW YORK ; MAMARONECK
Keyword(s): COLOR ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
James Callow Keyword(s): PLANT WEED ; YELLOW COLOR ASSOCIATES WITH URINATION?
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 12-00-1971
IT IS A UKRAINIAN CUSTOM TO MIX POPPIES AND WHEAT TOGETHER AT
CHRISTMAS TIME. THEN TAKE THE MIXTURE IN A SPOON AND THROW IT IN THE
AIR AND TRY TO CATCH IT. IF YOU CATCH IT, YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; NORTH QUAD ; DORMS ; TOLD IN
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; PREDICTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Predictions CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Single dishes BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 02-07-1971
ON CHRISTMAS EVE SOME PEOPLE LIGHT A BAYBERRY CANDLE AND IF IT BURNS
TO THE END WITHOUT BEING EXTINGUISHED IT IS SAID TO BRING GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOES THIS EVERY CHRISTMAS EVE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Predictions CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Lights and candles BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 02-15-1972
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
AT THE END OF THE MEAL ON CHRISTMAS EVE, EACH PERSON LIGHTS A CANDLE
STARTING FROM THE OLDEST ONE PRESENT TO THE YOUNGEST AND IF THE
SMOKE(AFTER BLOWING THE CANDLE OUT) GOES UP STRAIGHT THE PERSON IS
SUPPOSED TO HAVE GOOD LUCK THE COMING YEAR. THIS IS A SLOVAKIAN
CUSTOM.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): PREDICTION
Date learned: 04-00-1972
LUCK
WHEN PASSING AN ELVE'S MOUND WHICH IS ANY SMALL MOUNTAIN OF EARTH IN
THE WOODS, SAY THE FOLLOWING: TABI- TABI PO LOLA, LOLO. THIS SIMPLY
MEANS EXCUSE ME GRANDMOTHER, GRANDFATHER. IF THESE WORDS ARE NOT
SAID, YOU WILL MEET BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: ELFIS MOUND
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Formation BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 12-00-1977
WHEN TWO PEOPLE ARE TALKING AND THEY SAY THE SAME THING AT THE SAME
TIME, EACH PERSON SHOULD SAY, "ONE, TWO, THREE, GOOD LUCK TO ME"
AT THE SAME TIME.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A FILIPINO BELIEF.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.881 Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech BELIEF -- Number P686.3.3 BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 11-21-1977
SUPERSTITION
DON'T ACCEPT A PURSE AS A GIFT UNLESS IT HAS THREE
PENNIES IN IT, OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THIS INFORMATION WAS HEARD FROM MY MOTHER, STELLA KRZYZANOWSKI
AND FROM A FRIEND, BARBARA KLEIN. STELLA KRZYZANOWSKI AND
BARBARA KLEIN LIVE IN DETROIT AND ARE OF POLISH DESCENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 10-20-1977
SUPERSTITION
DON'T ACCEPT STRAIGHT PINS AS A GIFT. IT'S BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT DOES NOT BELIEVE THIS SUPERSTITION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK ; SAINT FLORIAN HIGH SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 00-00-1973
POLISH SUPERSTITION
IF YOU ACCEPT OLD KNIVES FROM SOMEONE, YOU WILL HAVE MISFORTUNE.
Submitter comment:
STELLA KRZYZANOWSKI LEARNED THIS SUPERSTITION FROM HER MOTHER,
JULIA WASIELEWSKI. THIS SUPERSTITION IS TAKEN AS FACT. IT
CAME ABOUT PROBABLY BECAUSE IT WOULD BE HIGHLY UNLIKELY
ANYONE WOULD MAKE A GIFT OF OLD KNIVES. IF THEY WOULD, THE
GIFT WOULD CAUSE SUSPICION ON THE PART OF THE WOULD-BE
RECIPIENT. THE KNIVES CAUSING MISFORTUNE MAY REPRESENT THE
ABILITY OF A KNIFE TO HARM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 10-02-1977
POLISH SUPERSTITION
ACCEPTING A MIRROR AS A GIFT BRINGS YOU BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
STELLA KRZYZANOWSKI LEARNED THIS SUPERSTITION FROM HER MOTHER, JULIA
WASIELEWSKI. THIS SUPERSTITION COMES FROM THE FACT THAT SOME
PREVIOUS INFORMANT KNEW SOMEONE WHO DIED AFTER ACCEPTING A
MIRROR AS A GIFT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 10-07-1977
NURSERY RHYME
AS I WALKED BY MYSELF AND TALKED TO MYSELF
MYSELF SAID UNTO ME, LOOK TO THYSELF, TAKE CARE OF THYSELF,
FOR NOBODY CARES FOR THEE. I ANSWERED MYSELF,
AND SAID TO MYSELF IN THE SAME REPARTEE, LOOK TO THYSELF,
OR NOT TO THYSELF, THE SELF-SAME THING WILL BE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FATE ; MONOLOGUE AS DIALOGUE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
WEATHER BELIEF
IF IT RAINS ON MONDAY, YOU'LL HAVE THREE DAYS OF RAIN THAT WEEK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVERVIEW
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 04-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
ALWAYS LEAVE THRU THE SAME DOOR YOU ENTERED OR BAD LUCK WILL COME
Submitter comment: MY GRANDMOTHER IS VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT THIS SUPERSTITION. SHE WILL EVEN BE SURE TO DO THIS IN STORES
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
Railroad Tracks
Lift up your feet when you cross railroad tracks, or you will lose your boyfriend.
Data entry tech comment:
Input by TRD
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Boyfriend ; CUSTOM ; RAILROAD ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
SUPERSTITION
IF YOUR LUCK GOES BAD, WALK AROUND THE HOUSE AND LOOK FOR A HEX SIGN
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SAYS THIS IS OF GERMAN ORIGIN, AND THINKS THE HEX
SIGN IS A CIRCLE WITH A CROSS INSIDE OF IT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): ; Hex ; LUCK ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
POLISH: "FARTUNA KOTEM SIE TOCZY"
TRANSLATION: "FORTUNE TURNS AS A WHEEL" MEANING THAT IT HAS
ITS UPS AND DOWNS. I KNOW THIS FROM HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
PREDICTION ON HOW A PERFORMANCE WILL GO.
IF YOU HAVE A BAD REHEARSAL (PLAYS, CONCERTS, OR WEDDINGS) YOU'LL
A GOOD PERFORMANCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 04-00-1980
NO ROOM FOR THE BROOM
MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT IT IS BAD LUCK TO TAKE A BROOM
WITH YOU WHEN YOU MOVE FROM ONE HOUSE TO ANOTHER.
INSTEAD, THEY LEAVE IT AT THE OLD HOUSE.
Submitter comment:
MR. MURCHISON, WHO WORKED FOR THE JOHN F. IVORY MOVING
CO. FOUND THIS SUPERSTITION WAS PUT INTO PRACTICE TIME
AND TIME AGAIN BY ALL KINDS OF INDIVIDUALS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 07-01-1964
Superstition: Baseball
IF YOU'RE PLAYING BASEBALL AND YOUR PITCHER IS PITCHING
A NO-HITTER, IT'S BAD LUCK TO TALK ABOUT IT AND SAY
ANYTHING ABOUT IT TO HIM. JUST PRETEND LIKE YOU
KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS AN OLD CUSTOM IN BASEBALL THAT I LEARNED FROM
PLAYING IT VERY EARLY IN LIFE.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS ; ASSUMED
Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Superstition: Baseball
NO ONE SHOULD MENTION TO A PITCHER BETWEEN INNINGS THAT
HE HAS A SHUTOUT OR NO-HITTER GOING.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 09-24-1969