Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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GHOST LIGHTS
NEAR I-75 IN FLORIDA THERE IS AN ABANDONED STRIP OF ROAD WITH
THREE LARGE HILLS. IF YOU WAIT AT THE TOP OF THE THIRD HILL, YOU
CAN SOMETIMES SEE THE GHOST LIGHTS. THIS LARGE, EERY LIGHT
STARTS AT THE BASE OF THE FIRST HILL AND CLIMBS THE THREE HILLS,
DISAPPEARING TEMPORARILY BEHIND THE HILLS. NON-BELIEVERS SAY IT
HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE LIGHT FROM I-75 AND THE FOG. HOWEVER,
A GROUP OF COLLEGE KIDS WAITED TO SEE IT ONE NIGHT. WHEN IT CAME
VERY CLOSE, THEY COULDNT START THEIR CAR. THE LIGHT SEEMED
TO CLIMB ON TOP OF THE CAR AND SHAKE IT. ONE BOY LOOKED AT IT
AND WENT INSANE, ANOTHER SAID IT WAS THE FACE OF GOD. A MAN
WATCHED THE LIGHT WITH HIS FAMILY. WHEN IT APPROACHED, HE
PULLED A GUN OUT OF HIS GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THE GUN WAS LOADED, BUT
IT WOULD NOT FIRE. THE LIGHT SHOOK THE CAR. WHEN IT WAS GONE, THE
MAN TRIED THE GUN AGAIN. HE FIRED SIX SHOTS INTO A NEARBY MAILBOX
WITH NO TROUBLE AT ALL. WHEN YOU GO THERE, YOU CAN STILL SEE THE
HOLES IN THE MAILBOX.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT WENT TO THE PLACE TO WATCH FOR THE GHOST LIGHTS. HE
SAW SOMETHING BUT ISN'T SURE EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): EERIE ; MYSTERIOUS LIGHT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Supernatural Being |
Date learned: 11-11-1970
SAMA DAVA
SAMA DAVA LITERALLY MEANS 'ALONE MAIDENS' IN BULGARIAN. THESE
ARE YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL GIRLS WHO HAVE BEEN ABDUCTED BY EVIL
SPIRITS AND TAKEN INTO THE WOODS. HERE THEY REMAIN IMMORTAL,
AS THEY TRY TO TEMPT YOUNG SHEPHERD BOYS INTO JOINING THEM. THE
SAMA DAVA RETURN TO MORTAL WOMEN, IF THEIR SPECIAL CLOTHING IS
STOLEN BY SOME FORTUNATE MAN.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SAID PEASANTS GAVE US THE EXPLANATION OF THE SAMA
DAVA TO EXPLAIN THE DISSAPPEARANCE OF YOUNG GIRLS AND SHEPHERD
BOYS IN RURAL AREAS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ETIOLOGICAL ; TRANSFORMATION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Supernatural Being |
Date learned: 03-21-1970
JAPANESE MERMAID
JAPANESE BELIEVE IN THE EXISTENCE OF A SEA CREATURE THAT IS
HALF WOMAN AND HALF FISH. HER APPEARANCE IS SIMILAR TO THE
OCCIDENTAL MERMAID. UNLIKE OTHER SUPERNATURAL CREATURES, SHE IS
NOT MISCHIEVOUS OR A PRANKSTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): THERIOMORPHISA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Supernatural Being BELIEF -- Fish |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
BODY PART BELIEF
IF YOUR RIGHT HAND ITCHES, YOU WILL LOSE MONEY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 02-19-1972
EYES JUMPING
IF YOUR LEFT EYE JUMPS CONSTANTLY, YOU ARE GOING TO GET MAD. IF
YOUR RIGHT EYE JUMPS, YOU ARE GOING TO BE GLAD ABOUT SOMETHING.
Submitter comment: THIS HAS TOLD TO HAVE ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO INFORMANT.
Where learned: WINSTON SALEM
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
Entry filtered.
CUSTOM
IT IS A CUSTOM OF THE AMISH FOR THE MEN TO GROW A THICK BEARD.
THEY MUST ALWAYS HAVE THIS BEARD AND WHILE THEY ARE GROWING IT,
THEY CANNOT GO OUT OF THE HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HAIR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- P439 BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
RAVENS
LONDONERS BELIEVE THAT WHEN ALL RAVENS LEAVE THEIR CITY, DISASTER
WILL FOLLOW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BRITISH?
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.32 |
Date learned: 11-00-1971
NEVER BOUNCE A BALL IN THE HOUSE. EACH TIME YOU DO A CHICKEN DIES.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THAT SHE ORIGINALLY HEARD THIS FROM HER MOTHER WHEN
SHE WAS A CHILD. IN ROMANIA, CHILDREN WILL NEVER BOUNCE A BALL IN
THE HOUSE FOR FEAR THEY WILL KILL THEIR PRIZE CHICKEN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
SUPERSTITION
ONE OF THE MOST COMMON KNOWLEDGE SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT BAD LUCK IS
THAT CONCERNING A BIRD THAT ENTERS THE HOUSE UNINVITED. SUCH A SIGN
MEANS ONLY ONE THING, SICKNESS, DEATH, DESPAIR. IT COULD BE ANY
SORT OF BIRD AND THERE IS NO WAY TO REMEDY THE EVIL. ONCE THE BIRD
HAS ENTERED IT DOESNT MATTER IF HE IS KILLED, CAUGHT, OR SET FREE.
EVIL WILL FOLLOW. IT COULD TAKE A FEW MINUTES, OR A FEW DAYS.
EITHER WAY, BAD LUCK WILL VISIT THE INHABITANTS OR THE BUILDING
ITSELF.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): UNINVITED GUEST
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.32 |
Date learned: 10-00-1965
DON'T BURN YOUR HAIR WHEN IT COMES OUT IN THE COMB, YOU ARE
SUPPOSED TO THROW IT OUTSIDE FOR THE BIRDS TO MAKE THEIR NESTS
OUT OF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): OPPOSITE OF A CONTAGIOUS MAGIC BELIEF ALSO IN ARCHIVE
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Bird |
IF YOUR BEES SWARM, AND SHOW SIGNS OF MOVING AWAY, OR IF A WILD
SWARM FLIES ONTO YOUR PREMISES, ALL THE FAMILY HAD BETTER 'RUN OUT
AND RING BELLS AND BLOW HORNS FOR ALL YOU ARE WORTH.' THE BEES WILL
EITHER BE SO CHARMED OR CONFUSED THAT THEY WILL SETTLE DOWN.
Submitter comment:
HIS FATHER KEPT SEVERAL SWARMS OF BEES AND FOLLOWED THIS ON
ONE OCCASION, AT WHICH TIME THE BEES SETTLED DOWN AND THE WILD ONES
WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE GROUP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NOISE NOISEMAKING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect |
Date learned: 03-10-1968
SUPERSTITION
HAIRS, WHEN LEFT IN WATER, TURN TO WORMS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFORMATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Insect |
Date learned: 10-00-1971
BEE
IT IS GOOD FOR A BEE TO STING YOU BECAUSE IT MAKES YOUR CELLS WORK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): VITALIZING BEE STING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-01-1971
SUPERSTITION
ITS GOOD FOR A BEE TO STING YOU BECAUSE IT MAKES YOUR CELLS WORK.
James Callow Keyword(s): VITALIZING BEE STING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
A BELIEF
IF A DRAGONFLY LANDS ON YOUR EAR, IT WILL SEW IT UP.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS TALE AS A CHILD, AND AT THE TIME HE THOUGHT
THAT IT WAS PROBABLY TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT ; BELIEF
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect |
Date learned: 02-15-1972
BELIEF
STEPPING ON A SPIDER WILL BRING RAIN.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOES NOT BELIEVE THIS STATEMENT.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
James Callow Keyword(s): DISBELIEF ; HARMING NATURE
Date learned: 02-19-1972
ANTS
IF YOU STEP ON A COLONY OF ANTS, IT WILL RAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT ; HARMING NATURE
Date learned: 02-27-1972
WEATHER BELIEF
SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT ONE CAN PREDICT THE SEVERITY OF THE WINTER
BY OBSERVING THE COLORATION OF THE WOOLLY BEAR CATERPILLAR. IF THEY
ARE MOSTLY BLACK IN COLOR, THE WINTER WILL BE SEVERE, WHILE IF THEY
ARE MOSTLY BROWN IN COLOR, THE WINTER WILL BE LESS SEVERE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS THIS BELIEF MIGHT BE TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT ; BELIEF
WEATHER
SIGN OF BAD WINTER: IF A CATERPILLAR HAS A WIDE
STRIPE ON HIS BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT LARVA
Date learned: 01-30-1970