Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Sit returned 875 results.
DON'T TURN YOUR HAT BIBB BACKWARD. THIS IS UNLUCKY.
Submitter comment: BIBB= BRIM.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION OR POSITION: BACKWARDS ; WEARING CLOTHES: HAT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-00-1972
IF YOU PUT A GARNET ON THE WRONG SIDE, HAVE SOME ELSE TO TAKE IT
OFF. IT WOULD BE BAD LUCK FOR YOU TO DO SO.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): GARMENT? ; POSITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 09-08-1972
MY BACK IS BREAKING, MY GIRDLE'S TOO TIGHT, MY HIPS ARE SHAKING
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. LEFT, RIGHT...
Submitter comment: THIS IS USE TO TEACH CHILDREN THEIR LEFT FROM THEIR RIGHT SIDES.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; POSITION--LEFT AND RIGHT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 08-04-1972
A HORSESHOE OVER THE DOORS IN YOUR HOUSE WILL RID IT OF EVIL
SPIRITS.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Conversions P883.12 |
Date learned: 10-09-1972
PUT A PENNY OVER THE DOORS IN YOUR HOUSE FOR GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.15 |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
PICTURE MAGIC
IF THE PERSON YOU LIKE IS STRAYING AWAY TAKE HIS PICTURE AND PUT IT
IN SOME WATER FACE DOWN. THIS WILL MAKE HIM STAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 09-00-1172
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP A PERSON OUT OF YOUR HOUSE, THROW SOME SALT
BEHIND THEM WHEN THEY LEAVE THE HOUSE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MAGICAL CONTROL OF WOULD-BE VISITORS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
CLOTHES
NEVER HANG CLOTHES BACKWARDS OR SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN TO THEM.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: CA1963-1975
HORSESHOES
NEVER HANG A HORSESHOE UPSIDE DOWN BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS THE
DEVIL'S HORNS.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ;
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms |
Date learned: CA1963-1975
SHOES
LEAVING SHOES IN THE WRONG ORDER BRINGS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ;
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: CA1963-1975
HORSESHOE
THROW A HORSESHOE OVER YOUR SHOULDER FOR GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: HOME ; SCHOOL ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms BELIEF -- Good luck P881.12 |
Date learned: CA1963-1975
WAITRESS BELIEF ABOUT SILVERWARE
NEVER PUT SILVERWARE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF A CUSTOMER
OR YOU WON'T GET A TIP.
Submitter comment:
THIS HAS A LOT TO DO WITH A RIGHTHANDED CUSTOMER
HAVING TO REACH OVER FOR HIS SILVERWARE.
Where learned: HOME ; SCHOOL ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; RIGHTHANDEDNESS ; TIPPING
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food |
Date learned: CA1963-1975
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
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 |
SHOES
ONE MUST NOT LEAVE HIS SHOES ON THE FLOOR AT THE END OF ONES BED,
AS THE LEPRACHAUNS WILL COME AND DANCE IN THEM AT NIGHT.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY HIS GRANDFATHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION PLACEMENT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Use of Object Human beings and their activities |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
FAIRY BELIEF
IN IRELAND,
THE FAIRIES WERE BAD TOO. THEY WOULD COME BY THE NIGHT AND MILK THE
COWS AND HAVE A PICNIC AND WHEN YOU CHURNED THE MILK YOU WOULD HAVE
NO BUTTER. THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD SHOOT THEM WAS TO PUT A SILVER
COIN IN THE GUN, ALONG WITH THE AMMUNITION. AT TWELVE MIDNIGHT,
THEY COULD TAKE YOU FOR A VERY LONG WALK AND KEEP YOU WALKING UNTIL
THE COCKS WOULD CROW AT 4 A.M. BUT YOU COULD FOOL THEM IF YOU
TURNED YOUR COAT INSIDE OUT AND BLESSED YOURSELF WITH THE SIGN OF
THE CROSS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
BELIEF
IF YOU SPILL SALT, BE SURE TO PICK SOME OF IT UP BETWEEN THUMB
AND FIRST FINGER AND THROW IT ACROSS THE RIGHT SHOULDER. IT GOES
IN THE DEVIL'S EYES. HE WILL NOT TEMPT YOU TO DO ANYTHING WRONG.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
Q: WHY ARE A COWARD AND A LEAKY FAUCET THE SAME?
A: THEY BOTH RUN.
Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER VARIANT IN U OF D FOLKLORE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; HARDWARE (Q) ; METAPHORICAL NONOPPOSITIONAL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PRETENDED OBSCENE RIDDLE
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
Q: WHAT IS A FOUR LETTER WORD FOR INTERCOURSE?
A: TALK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; COMMUNICATION (Q) ; LITERAL NONOPPOSITIONAL
James Callow Keyword(s): SEX
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 09-00-1971