Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for SUPERSTITION returned 465 results.
Ethnic: Isreali Superstition
The Druse, a tribe in Isreal, protect their babies from the Evil Eye by painting a circle around each eye of the child with a dye called Kehl.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): BABY ; CHILD ; CURE ; CURSE ; Druse ; Dye ; ETHNIC ; EVIL EYE ; Israel ; Israeli ; Kehl ; Protection ; REMEDY ; SUPERSTITION ; Tribe
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Ethnic:Polish Superstition
Superstitions:
A Polish pregnant woman must not eat twin pears, apples, or other fruits for fear of bearing attached twins.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The card has been stamped as KEYPUNCHED, but the word has been crossed out.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; Conjoined ; CURSE ; Eat ; ETHNIC ; FOOD ; FRUIT ; Newborn ; POLAND ; POLISH ; PREGNANCY ; SUPERSTITION ; TABU ; TWINS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Proverb
Superstition:
Sing before breakfast, cry before supper.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects
KW:EZX,X9X
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Breakfast ; Cry ; Dinner ; Emotion ; FOOD ; PROPHECY ; Sing ; SONG ; SUPERSTITION ; Supper
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Proverb
Wedding Proverb:
On your wedding day, you should wear something new, something old, and something borrowed.
Submitter comment:
Mrs. Malony learned this when she was a child. She did not know the verse form of the tradition and left out the rhyming "blue."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
BN chosen because submission card was located in pile - all cards in pile were marked V300
James Callow comment:
Original BN [c880] crossed out. Not replaced wtih any classification.
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; BORROW ; Maxim ; New ; Old ; PROVERB ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE ; WEDDING
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Superstition
Werewolf Moon
When the moon takes on a very orange color, this is said to be the time when werewolves come out.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: Myself
Keyword(s): COLOR ; FANTASY ; Man ; MOON ; Orange ; SUPERNATURAL ; SUPERSTITION ; Transform ; TRANSFORMATION ; Werewolf ; Wolf
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Werewolf Vampire PROSE NARRATIVE -- Moon |
Urban Legend
Hookman of Percy Warner Park:
I can't recall when I first heard this tale, but it seems to have been with me as long as I remember. There is supposedly a large rock located somewhere in Percy Warner Park, Nashville, where many people have reported seeing a hookman. The hookman only appears after dark and people whop have parked near this rock have heard the scraping of metal against their car.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): HOOK ; PARKING ; Sexuality ; SUPERNATURAL ; SUPERSTITION ; TABU ; Urban Legend
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend |
Superstition
The fisherman have two kinds of folk belief: magic and empirical. Magic have no rational explanation-porpoises bring good luck. Empirical can be explained or have a rational line of thought - Circle around moon means bad weather. There is a rational connection between moon, ring, and bad weather.
Beneath the instrumental function of beliefs (to explain something) there is a phycological [sic] function (to ease the dangers of their hazardous occupation.)
Black suitcase is a very bad taboo object. Going out (in boat) on Friday - bad luck. The word alligator - bad luck. Throw change overboard - good luck.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: The Function of Magic Among Texas Coastal Fisherman ; Journal of American Folklore
Keyword(s): Alligator ; BELIEF ; Boat ; Change ; Empirical ; Fisherman ; Friday ; LUCK ; MAGIC ; MONEY ; MOON ; Ocean ; Porpoise ; Sail ; Sailor ; SEA ; Ship ; Suitcase ; SUPERSTITION ; WEATHER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Still water Large body. BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Saying
If you are serarated from the person you are walking with by a pole say "bread and butter."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Keyword(s): BREAD ; Butter ; Pole ; Saying ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Belief: Medical
Stand in front of house after losing baby tooth and repeat three times:
Little Mouse Little Mouse
Give me an iron tooth
For this bone tooth.
Then the tooth is thrown over the house in hope that new tooth is stronger.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P700] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Verse?
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; Dentist ; House ; MEDICAL ; Mouse ; SUPERSTITION ; TEETH ; Tooth ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Saying
Step on a crack you'll break your mother's back
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Back ; Crack ; Line ; MOTHER ; Saying ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
GOING OUT OF A HOUSE THROUGH THE SAME DOOR BY WHICH
YOU ENTERED IS BAD LUCK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CORNERSVILLE
Keyword(s): Door ; Enter ; Exit ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001972-00001973 (ASSUMED)
IF SOMEONE SWEEP UNDER A GIRL'S FEET, SHE'LL BE AN OLD
MAID.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CORNERSVILLE
Keyword(s): Girl ; Maid ; MARRIAGE ; Old ; SUPERSTITION ; Sweep
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Measure of time Working |
A GIRL MUST LIFT HER FEET WHEN CROSSING A RAILROAD
TRACK OR SHE'LL LOSE HER LOVER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CORNERSVILLE
Keyword(s): Crossing ; FEET ; OMEN ; RAILROAD ; SUPERSTITION ; Tracks
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00001972-00001973 (ASSUMED)
WHENEVER WALKING PAST A GRAVEYARD, SPIT THREE TIMES
THROUGH THE GATE OR THERE WILL BE A DEATH IN THE FAMILY
WITHIN A MONTH.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; MCKENZIE
Keyword(s): DEATH ; FAMILY ; GRAVEYARD ; SPIT ; SUPERSTITION ; THREE
IF YOU BRAG, TO BREAK THE BAD SPELL, YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY
KNOCK ON WOOD.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; BRAG ; BRAG ; Knock On Wood ; Spell ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 06-25-1973
STEP ON A CRACK AND YOU'LL BREAK THE DEVIL'S DISHES.
VARIATION: STEP ON A CRACK AND YOU'LL BREAK YOUR
MOTHER'S BACK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: OHIO ; TROTWOOD
Keyword(s): Back ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; DEVIL ; Dishes ; GAME ; RHYME ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
THE WELL HOUSE KISS
AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY IN BLOOMINGTON THERE IS A CERTAIN
WELL HOUSE SITUATED NEAR THE CAMPUS BELL TOWER. IN ORDER
TO BECOME AN OFFICIAL COED, A FRESHMAN MUST BE KISSED BY
AN UPPERCLASSMAN AT PRECISELY THE STROKE OF TWELVE
MIDNIGHT. THIS KISS MUST BE HELD THROUGHOUT THE TWELVE
STROKES OF THE CLOCK OR SHE WILL BE DOOMED TO OLD
MAIDSHIP.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: INDIANA UNIVERSITY
Keyword(s): Co-ed ; COLLEGE ; KISS ; Legend ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 09-00-1969
IF AN UNMARRIED GIRL TAKES THE LAST SERVING OF FOOD, SHE
IS DOOMED TO BE AN OLD MAID.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): FOOD ; Maid ; MANNERS ; Old Maid ; Serving ; SUPERSTITION ; Unmarried
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 03-00-1972
YOU CAN TELL IF SOMEONE IS FIBBING BY FEELING HIS NOSE;
IF IT IS COLD, HE IS LYING.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: OHIO ; TROTWOOD
Keyword(s): Cold ; LYING ; NOSE ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Color |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
YOU MUST WHEN RIDING IN A CAR, HOLD YOUR BREATH WHILE
PASSING A CEMETERY, OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE HAUNTED BY
THE DEAD.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: OHIO ; TROTWOOD
Keyword(s): BREATH ; CEMETERY ; GRAVEYARD ; HAUNTED ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | Prediction / Divination |
Date learned: 04-00-1972