Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for SUPERSTITION returned 465 results.
Superstition
Bad Luck:
If you see a black cat on ground hog's day, destruction is at hand.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD.
Collector's last name may be: Supenski, Suprinski, Serpenski, Surpinski...
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Black ; CAT ; Destruction ; Groundhog ; OMEN ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Superstition
Never cross the path of a black cat becasue bad luck will follow.
Data entry tech comment:
motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P752] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Myself
Keyword(s): Black ; CAT ; jinx ; LUCK ; OMEN ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Ethnic: Polish
House Initiation / Polish Custom:
Put a cat in a house before you move into it and there will always be good luck.
Submitter comment:
A neighbor came over to borrow our cat for one of their relatives who had just bought a new house. These relatives of ournaighbors had just recently come over from Poland. I don't know the people's names and the neighbor doesn't live around here any more.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F532] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications.
Message on the bottom of card:
[Please copy this item on the yellow card below so it will ALSO be filed under F686]
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Myself
Keyword(s): CAT ; ETHNIC ; fortune ; Good ; House ; Housewarming ; LUCK ; OMEN ; POLAND ; POLISH ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing BELIEF -- Mammal |
Superstition
Black Cat:
If a black cat crosses your path to the left you'll have bad luck. If he crosses to the right you'll have good luck.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [B440, P880] crossed out / Replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME ; WINSTON SALEM ; NORTH CAROLINA
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; Black ; CAT ; Feline ; LEFT ; LUCK ; OMEN ; RIGHT ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Superstition: Animals
Cat Superstitions:
If a human touches kittens before their eyes are open the mother cat will let them starve.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P752] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Abandon ; ANIMALS ; BELIEF ; Cats ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Belief: Animal
Mammal:
The excess handling of any or all of a litter of kittens may cause the mother cat to abandon the one kitten or the whole litter.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [B442] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Keyword(s): Abandon ; ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; CAT ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Superstition: Animals
Cats:
If there is a cat you want to get rid of, put some beans in a sack and tie it on the cat's tail, hit him on the backside and he will run himself to death.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; Beans ; CAT ; DEATH ; Eliminate ; Pest ; Rid ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Superstition: Pregnancy
IF A HARE PASSES IN FRONT OF A PREGNANT WOMAN, HER CHILD WILL BE BORN
WITH A HARELIP UNLESS SHE MAKES A TEAR IN HER SLIP.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added and information updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; informant's home
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; CURSE ; Deformity ; Hare ; Offspring ; PREGNANCY ; Rabbit ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): IMITATIVE MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 01-22-1970
Belief: Luck
Belief/Luck:
If a rabbit crosses your way from right to left, it will be lucky for you, but it will be unlucky of he crosses from left to right.
Submitter comment:
Informant and I work together
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; CHANCE ; DIRECTION ; FATE ; Hare ; LUCK ; Rabbit ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Belief: Animal
White Horse:
make a wish, and it will come true if you see a white horse.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P800] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; COLOR ; Equine ; HORSE ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION ; White ; WISH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Belief: Animal
IF YOU TAKE A HAIR OUT OF A HORSE'S TAIL AND PUT IT IN A
GLASS OF WATER, IT WILL TURN INTO A WORM.
Submitter comment:
HEARD FROM HER MOTHER.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; HAIR ; HORSE ; MAGIC ; SUPERSTITION ; TRANSFORMATION ; WATER ; Worm
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Creation and Order of Animal Life BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 03-07-1969
Belief: Animal
Belief in Magic:
If you place a horsehair in vinegar it will turn into a worm.
Submitter comment:
This was told to the informant by her grandmother many years ago.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P600] crossed out. Replaced wtih current classifications.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; WORK ; CHILDRENS HOSPITAL
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; HAIR ; HORSE ; MAGIC ; SUPERSTITION ; TRANSFORMATION ; VINEGAR ; Worm
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Creation and Order of Animal Life BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Belief: Animal
It is a belief among hunters that is a bear looks at you eye to eye at the instant you kill it, its spirit will haunt you after its death.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Regarding set-up of the submission card:
By moving the circumstances of collecting information to the right (taking up 2 instead of 1 line with it) you'll leave room for a title.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Pioneer
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; Bear ; BELIEF ; DEATH ; Haunting ; HUNTING ; SPIRIT ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Belief: Animal
Robin:
Make a wish on the first Robin you see in the spring.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Written on card and then crossed out: For Birds?
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; BIRD ; LUCK ; Robin ; SEASON ; Spring ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird |
Belief: Animal
Warts/Toads:
This is the belief that a person gets warts on his hands from handling toads.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P740] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): AMPHIBIAN ; ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; CURSE ; Disfigure ; SUPERSTITION ; Toad ; Toads ; Wart
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
Belief: Animal
Cause for Warts:
If you touch a frog or a toad, you will get warts.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P400] crossed out. Replaced with P440
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AMPHIBIAN ; ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; CURSE ; Disfigure ; FROG ; SUPERSTITION ; Toad ; Warts
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
Belief: Animal
Toads give warts.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P600] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Keyword(s): Amphibians ; ANIMALS ; BELIEF ; CURSE ; Disfigure ; SUPERSTITION ; Toads ; Wart
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
Belief: Animal
Agricultural Belief:
A Bull Frog croaks and freezes 3 times before winter.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P870] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS
Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; AMPHIBIAN ; ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; DEATH ; Fall ; Freeze ; FROG ; Frozen ; Rebirth ; SEASONS ; SUPERSTITION ; WINTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
Belief: Animal
Some people believe that handling toads will give a person warts.
Submitter comment:
I do not believe this statement
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P740] is crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Keyword(s): AMPHIBIAN ; ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; CURSE ; Disfigure ; SUPERSTITION ; Toad ; Wart
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
Belief: Animal
If you touch a frog, it will cause warts.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P870] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): AMPHIBIAN ; ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; Disfigure ; FROG ; SUPERSTITION ; Wart ; Warts
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |