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 S returned 8807 results.
COURTING BELIEF
RAISE YOUR FEET WHEN CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS OR YOU WILL LOSE
YOUR BOY FRIEND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: 11-11-1968
LUCK OF THE FAMILY.
WHEN VISITING A HOUSE IN IRELAND ONE MUST ALWAYS LEAVE BY THE
SAME DOOR YOU CAME IN, OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE STEALING THE GOOD
James Callow comment: INCOMPLETE ITEM
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 11-00-1970
OLD IRISH CUSTOM
IRISH MOTHERS THROW HOLY WATER ON THEIR KIDS WHEN THEY ARE
FIGHTING IN ORDER TO DRIVE OUT THE DEVIL. THE THROWING OF HOLY WATER
WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN EXORCISM TO DRIVE THE RAGE (DEVIL) OUT OF
PEOPLE WHO WERE FIGHTING.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOSTILITY ; SPRINKLING HOLY WATER
OMENS
IF A GENTLEMAN LETS A LADY WALK ON THE CURB SIDE, IT MEANS
THAT HE HAS HER FOR SALE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
James Callow Keyword(s): CHIVALRY ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 02-17-1970
BELIEF IN RANK
MEN ARE INTELLECTUALLY SUPERIOR TO WOMEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 02-26-1970
SUPERSTITION
WHEN TWO PEOPLE MEET AN OBSTACLE IF THEY GO DIFFERENT WAYS AROUND
IT THEY WILL HAVE AN ARGUMENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): HOSTILITY ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 01-00-1968
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.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
James Callow Keyword(s): HOSTILITY ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Formula |
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.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBERS ; POSITION DIRECTION ; SYMBOL
Date learned: 10-23-1970
RAILROAD TRACKS
WHILE RIDING IN A CAR, IF YOU PASS OVER ANY RAILROAD TRACKS
AND DO NOT PICK UP BOTH YOUR FEET OFF THE FLOOR, YOU WILL LOSE
YOUR BOY FRIEND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: 11-00-1968
IF YOU BACK INTO THE HOUSE YOUR GLASSES WILL NOT STEAM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
EDGE-WISE
WHEN GIVING A GIFT WITH SHARP EDGES, A PENNY SHOULD BE GIVEN
FOR EACH EDGE SO THAT THE FRIENDSHIP WILL NOT BE CUT.
Submitter comment: FROM HER MOTHER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATIC ; SYMBOLISM UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
RAILROAD TRACKS
TO KEEP YOUR BOY FRIEND, WHEN DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS,
A GIRL MUST LIFT HER LEFT FOOT OFF THE CAR FLOOR AND TOUCH
THE ROOF OF THE CAR WITH HER TWO INDEX FINGERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT IS VERY IMPORANT TO A JEWISH STORE-OWNER THAT THE FIRST
CUSTOMER ON A MONDAY MORNING MUST BUY SOMETHING, REGARDLESS
OF THE PRICE. IF AND WHEN THE CUSTOMER DOES BUY SOMETHING, IT
MEANS GOOD LUCK AND GOOD SELLING THE REST OF THE WEEK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; SEMITISM
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Good luck |
PUTTING UP A RAILFENCE DURING THE FLOWERDAYS
THE BOTTOM LOG OF A RAILFENCE (A FENCE MADE OF UNDERLOCKING
LOGS) WILL ROT AWAY WITHIN THREE YEARS IF THE BOTTOM LOGS ARE
LAID DURING THE CERTAIN TIME OF THE MOON. OTHERWISE THE BOTTOM
LOG WILL LAST MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. THAT IS WHY THE BOTTOM LOGS ARE
ALL LAID AT ONCE SO AS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RIGHT TIME OF
THE MOON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBER ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple 686 Fifths BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.6 |
Date learned: 10-30-1968
TELEPHONE PRANK
CALLER: DO YOU HAVE SIR WALTER RALEUGH IN A CAN?
ANSWERER: (WHO CAN WORK IN A STORE) YES.
CALLER: WELL THEN LET HIM OUT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HAS DONE THIS WITH FRIENDS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ; SLANG: "CAN" FOR TOILET."
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
CARD BELIEF
CUT THIN AND WIN. CUT DEEP AND WEEP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
James Callow Keyword(s): CARD-PLAYING ; ELLIPSIS ; RHYME PARALLELISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport S555.500 PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
GOLF
NEVER UP, NEVER IN.
Submitter comment:
MEANING IF THE BALL NEVER LEAVES THE GROUND, IT WILL
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON
James Callow Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS PARALLELISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport S555.500 PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
HOCKEY SUPERSTITION
HOCKEY GOALIES ALWAYS PUT THEIR LEFT LEG PAD ON FIRST
FOR GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): SEQUENCE
| Subject headings: | 686 686.1 BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Good luck SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport S555.580 |
Date learned: 01-22-1968
BASEBALL SUPERSTITION
BASEBALL PLAYERS WILL NOT STEP ON THE BASE LINE WHEN GOING
OUT TO FIELD THEIR POSITION. TO DO SO IS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 01-22-1968
BASKETBALL BELIEF
TIE SHOE LACES ON THE SIDE OF YOUR SHOE FOR GOOD LUCK
INSTEAD OF TYING THEM STRAIGHT UP.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Good luck P881.19 |
Date learned: 03-03-1971