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 SIGN returned 164 results.
DATING SUPERSTITION
INFORMANT'S FATHER ALWAYS TOLD HER WHEN YOUR BOY FRIEND LETS YOU
WALK ON THE OUTSIDE PART OF THE WALK, HE DOESN'T WANT YOU
ANY MORE, AND ANYONE CAN TAKE YOU. HE HAS ALWAYS KIDDED
HER ABOUT THIS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CHIVALRY ; Relationship ; SIDEWALK ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL
James Callow Keyword(s): CHIVALRY ; DIRECTION ; POSITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-08-1971
MONEY BELIEF
PUT A PENNY IN A PURSE WHEN YOU GIVE IT AS A GIFT AND
IT WILL BRING PROSPERITY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; GIFT ; MONEY ; PROSPERITY ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL ; WEALTH
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 11-26-1970
WALKING
WHEN WALKING WITH SOMEONE NEVER LET A POLE OR ANY
OTHER BARRIER COME BETWEEN THE TWO PEOPLE. BOTH PEOPLE MUST
GO AROUND THE SAME SIDE OF THE BARRIER OR SOME BARRIER WILL
COME BETWEEN THEIR PERSONAL FRIENDSHIP.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANTS AUNT DOES THIS AND INFORMANT HAS BEEN WITH HER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BARRIER ; BELIEF ; OMEN ; Relationship ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION ; WALKING
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; HOMEOPATHIC ; POSITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 03-05-1971
SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEF
IF YOU GIVE A PIN TO SOMEONE WHO'S YOUR FRIEND AND THEY DO
NOT GIVE YOU A PENNY BACK, SOONER OR LATER YOU HAVE A FIGHT AND YOU
LOSE THEM AS A FRIEND. ( THIS ALSO EXTENDS TO ANY GIFT THAT CUTS.)
Submitter comment:
INFORMANTS MOTHER BELEIVES THIS FIRMLY AND SAYS THAT SOONER OR LATER
YOU ARE SURE TO LOSE THIS FRIEND IF THIS SMALL RITUAL IS NOT
CARRIED OUT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; FRIENDSHIP ; GIFT ; MONEY ; Payment ; Relationship ; Sharp ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 09-21-1969
DEATH
YOU CAN TELL IF SOMEONE IS DEAD BY PUTTING A MIRROR UNDER THEIR NOSE,
AND LOOK FOR MOISTURE DUE TO BREATHING TO SETTLE ON THE MIRROR.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; NORTH QUAD 201
Keyword(s): BREATH ; DEATH ; LIFE ; MEDICAL ; Mirror ; SIGN ; Signal ; TRICK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-27-1971
IF A SPOON AND A FORK ARE CROSSED, IT MEANS BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
MR. MARCHETT WAS TOLD THIS BY HIS RELATIVES WHILE
HE VISITED IN LATIN AMERICA.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Bad ; Fork ; LUCK ; OMEN ; SIGN ; Spoon ; UTENSILS
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION ; Silverware
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Angular forms BELIEF -- Bad luck Eating utensils |
Date learned: 02-28-1970
SAINT SANGENNARO
THE ROCK, ON WHICH ST. SANGENNARO WAS BEHEADED, IS KEPT IN A GLASS
CASE IN THE CHURCH NAMED AFTER HIM IN NAPLES, ITALY. EVERY SPRING AN
AUTUMN THE BLOOD ON THE ROCK LIQUIFIES. IF IT FAILS TO LIQUIFY IT
PORTENDS A DISASTER. IT FAILED TO LIQUIFY BEFORE WORLD WAR 1 ,
WORLD WAR 2, AND THE KOREAN WAR. IT ALSO DIDN'T LIQUIFY IN 1963, THE
YEAR THAT THE INFORMANT SAW IT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): BLOOD ; HISTORICAL ; OMEN ; Portent ; RELIGION ; Rock ; Saint Sangennaro ; SIGN ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | Observation Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 11-23-1968 ; 00-00-1963
OMENS
IF A GENTLEMAN LETS A LADY WALK ON THE CURB SIDE, IT MEANS
THAT HE HAS HER FOR SALE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Keyword(s): CHIVALRY ; Curb ; Gentleman ; Lady ; Ownership ; SALE ; SIGN ; Signal ; Walk ; WALKING
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 02-17-1970
PENNY FOR A PIN
IF YOU ARE EVER GIVEN A PIN FOR A GIFT, BE SURE AND PAY
THE PERSON WHO GIVES IT TO YOU A PENNY, OR THE PIN WILL
SURELY PRICK YOU WHEN YOU WEAR IT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FRIENDSHIP ; GIFT ; MONEY ; Pin ; Prick ; Sharp ; SIGN ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
PREDICTION -DIVINATION
IF TWO PEOPLE ARE WALKING AND A POLE IS IN THEIR PATH THEY MUST
WALK ON EACH SIDE AND SAY BREAD AND BUTTER WHEN THEY COME
TOGETHER. IF THEY DO NOT THEY WILL HAVE A FIGHT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
Keyword(s): Bread and Butter ; CUSTOM ; FRIENDSHIP ; PREDICTION ; SIGN ; SYMBOL ; Together
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
BELIEF ABOUT A FRIENDSHIP BRACELET
A RAWHIDE BRACELET IS GIVEN TO YOU BY YOUR FRIEND
AS A TOKEN OF YOUR FRIENDSHIP. IT CONSISTS OF FOUR KNOTS.
ONE THE BIGGEST, IS A SQUARE KNOT REPRESENTING SOME EVIL.
THE OTHER THREE REPRESENT IN ORDER, YOUR FRIEND, YOURSELF
AND A WALL. THIS IS SAID TO MEAN THAT AS LONG AS YOU HAVE YOUR FRIEND
YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO FACE EVIL HEAD ON, BECAUSE YOUR FRIEND IS IN
FRONT OF YOU, AND THE WALL IS BEHIND YOU.
IT WAS SAID THAT YOU HAD TO WEAR THESE BRACELETS FOR A PERIOD OF
ONE YEAR, OR UNTIL THEY ROTTED OFF.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): Bracelet ; FRIENDSHIP ; Friendship Bracelet ; JEWELRY ; Knot ; SIGN ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-23-1970
THE BLACK LINE
A BLACK LINE IN THE CEMENT OF A SIDEWALK IS A LINE TO AVOID.
IF YOU SHOULD PURPOSELY STEP ON A BLACK LINE YOU WILL GET COOTIES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; COOTIES ; CUSTOM ; SIGN ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-03-1968
IF A FISHERMAN WENT OUT TO THE OCEAN TO FISH AND SAW A PERSON
HE DID NOT LIKE OR THAT DISLIKED HIM, IT IS SAID THAT
HE SHOULD GO BACK TO SHORE, BECAUSE HE WILL NOT
CATCH ANY MORE FISH THAT DAY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CATCH ; Fisherman ; OMEN ; Relationship ; SIGN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
A male being the first person to enter your house on New
Year's Day would mean that you and your home would be blessed
with good fortune all year.
James Callow comment:
See Hand, North Carolina, nos. 3886, 3889-3890.
Where learned: GEORGIA
Keyword(s): BLESSING ; Guest ; Home ; Host ; LUCK ; Male ; Man ; New Year ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's |
IF YOU SEE A PAPER CLIP AND CONTINUOUSLY KEEP PICKING
IT UP ALL DAY YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): GOOD LUCK ; LUCK ; Paperclip ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck Objects |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
BABY SUPERSTITION
LEAVING A BABY'S ARTICLE BEHIND IN YOUR HOST'S HOUSE MEANS THAT
THAT HOUSE WILL BE DUE TO HAVE A NEW ADDITION IN THE FAMILY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; CLOTHING ; OMEN ; Predictor ; PREGNANCY ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
Dream of fish
If you dream of fish a woman in your family is pregnant.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): DREAMS ; FISH ; Portent ; PREDICTION ; PREGNANCY ; SIGN ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fish BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Dreams Dreams about animals |
BELIEF-DAILY LIFE
IF YOUR LEFT PALM ITCHES, YOU WILL RECEIVE A LETTER.
Submitter comment:
LEARNED FROM HER SCHOOL FRIENDS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: INDIANA ; South Bend
Keyword(s): Hand ; ITCH ; Palm ; PREDICTION ; SIGN ; SYMBOL ; Visitor
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching hands and feet |
Date learned: 11-23-1967
IF A PERSON HAS ITCHY PALMS, HE IS GOING TO COME INTO MONEY.
THIS MEANS THE PALMS OF THE HANDS. THE PERSON WILL GET
MONEY WITHOUT HAVING TO WORK FOR IT, IT MAY BE A PRIZE
OR AN INHERITANCE OR MONEY THAT IS FOUND.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Hand ; Inherit ; INHERITANCE ; ITCH ; Itchy ; MONEY ; Palm ; PREDICTION ; SIGN ; Windfall
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching hands and feet |
Date learned: 00001976CA
PROVERB
IF YOUR EAR RINGS,
YOUR NAME SOMEONE SINGS.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT FIRST HEARD THIS PROVERB IN 1976. THE STYLISTIC
DEVICES OF RHYME AND METER ARE USED. INVERSION IS PRESENT IN
THIS SHORT PIECE. KEY WORDS ARE EMPHASIZED AND A CAUSE AND EFFECT
RELATIONSHIP IS PRESENT. IT IS AN "A = B" EQUATION. THE
COLLECTOR INTERPRETS THIS TO MEAN THAT SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT
YOU, IF YOUR EARS RING.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; GOSSIP ; Longing ; PREDICTION ; Relationship ; RHYME ; SIGN ; Sing ; SONG ; TALK
Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; 09-00-1976