Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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GET (DRINK?) CORNSILK TEA FOR PERIODS TO COME ON
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; FULTON
James Callow Keyword(s): MENSTRUATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
IT IS BAD LUCK TO BURN SASSAFRAS IN YOUR FIREPLACE.
THE SMOKE WILL RISE UP AND SPREAD AROUND AND EVERYBODY
WILL FALL OUT WITH YOU.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ALIENATION ; ARGUMENT
WHEN YOU MOVE DON'T EVER MOVE THE CAT OR THE BROOM.
IF YOU DO, YOU WON'T GET ALONG WITH YOUR NEW
NEIGHBORS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ALIENATION ; ARGUMENT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001928 CA.
ALWAYS IRON BEFORE GOING TO BED SO YOUR HANDS WILL NOT HAVE
TO TOUCH WATER IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THIS
TASK. IF YOUR HANDS TOUCH WATER AFTER IRONING, SOME
UNFORTUNATE OCCURRENCE WILL BEFALL YOU.
Submitter comment: THIS BELIEF WAS PRACTICED BY A MEXICAN GIRL WHO LIVED
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; COLUMBIA
James Callow Keyword(s): METAL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Water BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
ENEMY HEX
IF YOU HAD AN ENEMY, SOMEBODY YOU REALLY DIDN'T LIKE, THEN
YOU TOOK A NAIL AND NAILED IT IN THE GROUND SAYING HIS NAME
OVER AND OVER. SOMETHING BAD WOULD SURELY HAPPEN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
James Callow Keyword(s): METAL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 07-24-1968
IF A PERSON WISHES TO HARM AN ENEMY, HE MAY GO TO A ROOT
DOCTOR OR A WITCH WHO WILL WORK A SPELL OVER A NAIL.
THE NAIL IS THEN DRIVEN INTO A TREE. THE TREE IS GIVEN
THE ENEMY'S NAME. THE AMOUNT OF PAIN CAUSED THE ENEMY
IS DETERMINED BY THE DEPTH THE NAIL IS DRIVEN INTO THE
TREE. DRIVING THE NAIL IN A LITTLE DEEPER EACH DAY CAUSES SLOW
TORTURE. THE LOCATION OF PAIN IN THE ENEMY CORRESPONDS TO THE
LOCATION OF THE NAIL IN THE TREE. TO CAUSE PAIN IN THE FOOT,
DRIVE THE NAIL IN THE ROOT, AND SO FORTH. AN ENEMY MAY BE
KILLED BY DRIVING THE NAIL DEEP INTO THE HEART OF THE TREE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): METAL IRON
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 08-03-1968
IF YOU AND A FRIEND ARE WALKING TOGETHER AND A TREE OR
POLE COMES BETWEEN YOU, BOTH OF YOU MUST SAY "BREAD AND
BUTTER," OR YOU'LL HAVE A FIGHT
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ARGUMENT ALIENATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Formula |
IT'S BAD LUCK TO GET MARRIED WHEN THE HANDS OF A CLOCK ARE
GOING DOWN (2:00, 2:15). GOOD LUCK TO GET MARRIED WHEN
THE HANDS ARE CLIMBING (2:30). THEREFORE, WEDDINGS ARE
TRADITIONALLY HELD AT HALF PAST THE HOUR.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck |
IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE BAD LUCK TO GIVE ANYONE A SHARP OBJECT,
SUCH AS A KNIFE, A PAIR OF SCISSORS--FOR A PRESENT. IT WILL
CUT YOUR LOVE. THE PERSON RECEIVING THE OBJECT SHOULD GIVE
THE OTHER PERSON A PENNY OR SOMETHING.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; HERNDON
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFT ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Good luck Sharp objects BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 08-03-1968
IF YOU PLACE A SNAIL IN MEAL, IT WILL WRITE YOUR LOVER'S NAME.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): CORNMEAL?
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 07-08-1970
IF YOU WERE GETTING HUNT AND SOMETHING WENT WRONG WHILE THE
ROPE WAS AROUND YOUR NECK AND YOU DIDN'T GET HUNG, THEY
WOULDN'T TRY IT AGAIN, BECAUSE YOU WOULD DIE A 1000 TIMES
WHILE THE ROPE WAS AROUND YOUR NECK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CLASS ASSIGNMENT ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): CAPITAL PUNISHMENT PENAL CODE PRISON CRIMINAL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 03-07-1969
IF YOU HAVE TO SEW SOMETHING ON SUNDAY, SEW IT WITHOUT A
THIMBLE AND THE DEVIL WON'T COUNT THE STITCHES.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; DORM ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): SATAN PUNISHMENT PENANCE ATONEMENT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Measure of time Working BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs |
Date learned: 04-02-1969
IF ONE SEWS ON SUNDAY, HE WILL TAKE THE STITCHES OUT IN HELL.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; PEABODY COLLEGE LIBRARY
Keyword(s): PUNISHMENT ATONEMENT PENANCE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Measure of time Working |
Date learned: 04-01-1969
MAKING A WISH ON THE LAST DRINK OF COKE.
Data entry tech comment: INITIALS "EB" APPEAR UNDERNEATH NAME OF INFORMANT.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): COCA COLA--BRAND NAME OF SOFT DRINK.
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Drink BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Number Last events: the last person to the table... |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
AUNT ELLEN TYE LIVED OUT IN ROCKY HOLLOW. SHE TOLD ME IN
TIME OF CHILDBIRTH IT WOULD BE WELL TO PUT AN AX UNDER THE
BED. THIS WOULD CUT THE PAIN, SAID AUNT ELLEN. WELL,
SHE HAD HER CONVICTION ABOUT THIS BACKED UP BY PROVEN CASES,
SO I JUST LISTENED--GAVE HER MY RESPECTFUL ATTENTION
ON THE SUBJECT.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; WILLIAMSBURG
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 03-00-1969
NINETY-EIGHT PERCENT OF THE BABIES ARE CONCEIVED AND BORN
ON FULL MOON.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): MENSES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
WHEN YOU GET FLOWERS, GIVE THEM TWO BUFFERIN AND TWO
BUFFERIN EVERY DAY AFTER AND CHANGE THEIR WATER. THEY WILL
LIVE LONGER.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; LOUISVILLE
Keyword(s): ASPIRIN PRODUCT--BRAND NAME=BUFFERIN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF (YOU) SEE DEAD ANIMAL, THROW SALT ON TELEGRAM POLE OR
ANIMAL WILL BE ON MOTHER'S TABLE WHEN ARRIVING HOME.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; LOUISVILLE
Keyword(s): DINNER SUPPER MEAL
James Callow Keyword(s): PUCKETT OHIO 29885
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Food BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 03-00-1969
IF YOU PUT AN AX UNDER THE BED, IT WILL CUT IN HALF THE PAIN
OF CHILDBIRTH
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; BRENTWOOD
Keyword(s): METAL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 07-05-1973
THE HAND OF GOD
ONCE THIS OLD COUPLE WHO LIVED ON A FARM AWOKE ONE MORNING
TO FIND A HORSE MISSING. NOW ON THE FARM THEY HAD A
HIRED MAN NAMED TOMMY LYTLE EDGAR WHITAKER JOHN KNOX
FREEMAN WYNN, AND AS HE SAID "AND COOPER COMES IN THAR
SOMEWHAR." SO THEY SENT THIS MAN OUT TO LOOK FOR THE
HORSE, WITH HIS FATHER. IN A FIELD THEY FOUND THE HORSE
UNDER A DEAD TREE THAT HAD BEEN STRUCK BY LIGHTNING AND
FALLEN ON THE ANIMAL, KILLING HIM. THE FATHER OF THE
HIRED MAN SUMMED UP THE SITUATION IN THIS WAY, "YOU TAKE
GOD UP ONE SIDE AND DOWN T'OTHER AND HE DOES JUST ABOUT
AS MUCH HARM AS HE DOES GOOD."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): GOD EVALUATED, FOUND EQUALLY HELPFUL AND HARMFUL ; HUMOROUS NAME
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Gods PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lightning Thunder |
Date learned: 08-12-1968