Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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BELIEF
WHEN ONE'S RIGHT EYELID TWITCHES, MANY BELIEVE HE WILL SOON
RECEIVE GOOD NEWS. HOWEVER IF IT IS THE LEFT EYELID, BAD
NEWS IS BELIEVED TO FOLLOW.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 02-01-1970
BELIEF
IF TWO FRIENDS WASH THEIR HANDS TOGETHER IN THE SAME SINK AND
THEN DRY THEIR HANDS ON THE SAME TOWEL, THEIR FRIENDSHIP
WILL BE BROKEN.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 02-20-1970
CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALK
IF YOU STEP ON A CRACK YOU WILL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
Submitter comment:
I LEARNED THIS FROM MY CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND REMEMBER THE
PAINS I WOULD GO THROUGH NOT TO STEP ON A CRACK. IF I HAPPENED
TO STEP ON ONE, I COULDN'T WAIT TO GET HOME TO MAKE SURE THAT
MY MOTHER'S BACK WASN'T BROKEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 05-12-1965
BABY ON BED
IF SOMEONE COMES TO YOUR HOUSE WITH THEIR NEW BABY AND IT
IS THE FIRST TIME THE BABY HAS BEEN OUT, AND IF THEY PUT IT ON
YOUR BED, THIS IS A SURE SIGN THAT YOU WILL HAVE A BABY SOON.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER GREAT-AUNT, BELLE MACDOUGALL
ABOUT 1920
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 05-12-1965
SUPERSTITION
A PREGNANT MOTHER MUST NOT LOOK AT A MOUSE OR ELSE THE
CHILD WILL LOOK LIKE ONE.
Submitter comment:
HER YOUNGER SISTER FRIGHTFULLY STATED THIS WHEN A
MOUSE RAN ACROSS THE ROOM WHEN MRS. TAUBE WAS EXPECTING
HER FOURTH CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 05-21-1965
OMEN
THIS WAS COLLECTED 04011967 FROM MY MOTHER WHO WAS
RELATING SOME OF THE OLD WIVES TALES CONCERNING NEW BORN
CHILDREN-TALES SHE HEARD AS A YOUNGSTER.
A BABY'S DIAPERS MUST ALWAYS BE HUNG UNDER A ROOF AND
NEVER OUTSIDE UNTIL AFTER THE BABY IS BAPTIZED THIS IS TO INSURE
GOOD LUCK IN THE BABY'S LIFE.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | Observation |
EXPECTANT MOTHER
IF A MOTHER BURNS HERSELF WHILE
WITH CHILD, THE BABY WILL HAVE A
BIRTHMARK IN THE SAME PLACE. IF SHE
IS SCARED BY A MOUSE AND GRABS
HERSELF, THE BABY WILL HAVE A
MOUSE-SHAPPED BIRTHMARK ON THE
CORRESPONDING PLACE.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 04-10-1967
BAD LUCK OMEN FROM YUGOSLAVIA
IF YOU ARE GOING INTO A EXAM AND HAPPEN TO MEET A PRIEST
BEFORE YOU HAVE THE EXAM HE WILL BRING YOU BAD LUCK. THIS IS
BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE IS DRESSED, BEING THAT HE IS WEARING
BLACK CLOTHERS. YOU CROSS YOUR FINGERS IN THREE FOR THE FATHER,
SON, AND HOLY GHOST, THEN THE FIRST PERSON YOU MEET YOU TOUCH
THEM TO GET RID OF THE EVIL SPELL.
Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED THIS IN HER COUNTRY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 09-17-1967
SUPERSTITION ON BIRTH MARKS
WHEN BARBARA'S MOTHER WAS PREGNANT WITH HER,
SHE WAS SCARED BY A BAT. SO WHEN BARBARA WAS
BORN, SHE HAD A BAT AS A BIRTH MARK ON HER.
Submitter comment:
BARBARA'S MOTHER TOLD HER THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF HER STRANGE
BIRTH MARK. ALSO, BARBARA'S MOTHER TOLD HER THAT THIS WAS
AN OLD WIVES'S TALE, BUT A STRANGE COINCIDENCE IN IT HAPPENING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 11-06-1967
BAD LUCK OMEN
IN ITALY IF A PERSON MEETS A NUN OR A PRIEST
THEY CROSS THEIR FINGERS IN THE FORM OF A
HORN TO AVOID BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: TRADITION IN ITALY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 10-23-1967
SUPERSTITION ON BIRTH MARKS
WHEN A WOMAN IS PREGNANT, AND HAS A DESIRE FOR SOME
KIND OF FOOD, BUT DOESN'T GET THE FOOD DESIRED AND
HAPPENS TO SCRATCH HERSELF, A MARK OF THE FOOD DESIRED
WILL APPEAR ON THE CHILD IN THE SAME PLACE WHERE THE
MOTHER SCRATCHED HERSELF. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS MY
GRANDMOTHER HAD A DESIRE FOR SOME CHERRY POP AND SHE
BIRTH MARK ON HER HAND. THE BIRTH MARK WAS RED AND
SORT OF LIKE A CHERRY.
Submitter comment: MY GRANDMOTHER TOLD HER THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 10-19-1967
BIRTH
YOUR BABY WILL NOT COME ON THE DATE THAT IT IS DUE.
IT WILL BE BORN WHEN THE MOON CHANGES FOR THE FIRST
TIME - LIKE WHEN THE MOON HAS A NEW QUARTER. AND
THAT'S TRUE. I'VE TOLD LOTS OF WOMAN THAT AND IT'S HAPPENED.
Submitter comment:
COULDN'T REMEMBER WHERE SHE LEARNED IT - PERHAPS HOME
TOWN OF GLOUCESTER, OHIO BUT BIDES BY IT TODAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; SOUTHFIELD DOWNS TRAILER CAMP
| Subject headings: | Observation |
A PREDICTION
WHEN A PREGNANT WOMAN CARRIES HER CHILD HIGH AND HER FORM
APPEARS WELL-ROUNDED, SHE WILL HAVE A GIRL.
WHEN SHE CARRIES THE CHILD LOW, AND IN FRONT, IT WILL BE A BOY.
Submitter comment:
MY INFORMANT IS NOT CERTAIN FROM WHOM SHE HEARD THIS
INFORMATION, BUT SHE KNOWS SHE HEARD IT QUITE RECENTLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LATHRUP VILLAGE
| Subject headings: | Observation |
POLITICAL PARTIES BELIEF
MY DAD SAYS THAT WHEN THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN POWER, ALL LIQUOR CAN
BE BOUGHT ONLY IN PARTY STORES BUT WHEN REPUBLICANS ARE IN POWER,
ONLY DRUG STORES HAVE IT.
Submitter comment: ROSS LIVES IN TOLEDO, OHIO.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DORM ROOM ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 11-02-1970
INDICATOR OF AN ARGUMENT
NEVER HAND A PERSON A SHARP OBJECT AS THIS WILL BRING ABOUT
AN ARGUMENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; TOLD AT INFORMANTS HOME
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 03-24-1970
BIRTH BELIEF
IF A NEW MOTHER LEAVES ANY DIAPERS AT A HOME SHE
IS VISITING, SOMEONE IN THAT HOME WILL SOON
BECOME PREGNANT.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 03-10-1970
HER GRANDFATHER SAID THAT WHEN YOU BLOW A CANDLE OUT
AND THE SMOKE IS LONG, YOU WILL HAVE A LONG LIFE; IF THE
SMOKE IS SHORT, YOU WILL HAVE A SHORT LIFE.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; HOLDEN HALL
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
A BABY
IF A FRIEND LEAVES BABY CLOTHES AT YOUR HOUSE,
YOU CAN EXPECT A BABY.
Where learned: APARTMENT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 11-02-1969
EVIL OMEN
THE VIET CONG WILL NOT ATTACK WHEN THE MOON IS FULL.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 11-15-1968
BELIEF
DON'T TICKLE A BABY BECAUSE AFTER
IT LAUGHS IT'LL CRY ALL DAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 03-20-1968