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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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COHANIM

IN ORTHODOX JUDAISM WHEN THE HIGH PRIEST OFFERS A SPECIAL
PRAYER, IT IS FORBIDDEN TO LOOK AT HIM, IN PAIN OF BLINDNESS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SEMITISM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye

Date learned: 04-00-1968

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CRIMINAL BELIEF

THIS PERSON RECALLS BELIEVING THAT A CRIMINAL ALWAYS RETURNS TO
THE SCENE OF THE CRIME. HE RECALLS FAITHFULLY
WATCHING FOR THE CULPRIT WHO STOLE HIS FAVORITE TOY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Common law
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

Date learned: 01-30-1968

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EVERY TIME A SCORPIO IS BORN, A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY HAS DIED THE
YEAR BEFORE, AND EVERY TIME ONE DIES, THERE WILL BE A BIRTH IN THAT
FAMILY WITHIN THE YEAR.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

James Callow Keyword(s): ASTROLOGICAL SIGN FOR PERSONS BORN 10-24--11-22

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Crucial Moment of Life Life Cycle
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 10-00-1967

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TAKING SIDES

WHEN A WOMAN IS PREGNANT IF SHE SLEEPS ON HER RIGHT SIDE, THE
CHILD WILL BE A BOY, IF ON HER LEFT IT WILL BE A GIRL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

James Callow Keyword(s): SEX DETERMINATION

Subject headings: 840
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 11-05-1969

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IN THE OLDEN TIMES, IT WAS SAID IF A GIRL KISSED A BOY, SHE
WOULD HAVE A BABY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PREGNANCY WITHOUT SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IN THE OLDEN DAYS IT WAS BELIEVED BY THE YOUNG THAT THE
DOCTOR BROUGHT THE BABIES IN A LITTLE BLACK BAG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM ; PREGNANCY WITHOUT SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 10-12-1971

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PREGNANCY BELIEF

A PREGNANT WOMAN SHOULD NOT EAT APPLES, IT WILL CAUSE HARM TO
THE CHILD.

Submitter comment:

HER MOTHER TOLD HER, OLD CROAATION BELIEF

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): APPLE AS ORIGINAL SIN SYMBOL ; HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 10-07-1970

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BIRTH BELIEF

AFTER THE BABY IS BORN THE MOTHER IS TO HOLD THE BABY IN HER
ARM AND WALK OVER WHEAT THAT HAS BEEN STREWN OVER THE FLOOR OR
GROUND, TO INSURE THE GOOD LIFE TO COME.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT'S MOTHER DID THIS WITH EACH OF HER CHILDREN SOON AFTER
BIRTH, ALSO DONE IN EGYPT.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): BABY ; BIRTH ; CHILD ; CUSTOM ; Good ; LUCK ; MOTHER ; Practice ; RITUAL ; Wheat

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 03-23-1971

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BIRTH BELIEF

IF A PREGNANT WOMAN BECOMES FAT ALL OVER, SHE WILL HAVE A
GIRL. IF SHE BECOMES FAT SLIGHTLY, SHE WILL HAVE A BOY.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER GRANDMOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SEX DETERMINATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 03-01-1971

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PREGNANCY BELIEF

INFORMANT HAS HEARD REPEATEDLY FROM HER PATIENTS, POOR BLACK
WOMEN, THAT A PREGNANT WOMAN MUST NOT RAISE HER HANDS ABOVE HER
HEAD OR SHE WILL STRANGLE HER UNBORN BABY.

Submitter comment:

THERE IS, OF COURSE, NO MEDICAL TRUTH IN THIS, BUT IT IS WIDELY
BELIEVED.
INFORMANT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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PREGNANCY BELIEF

INFORMANT HAS BEEN TOLD SEVERAL TIMES BY HER PATIENTS, MOSTLY
POOR BLACK GHETTO RESIDENTS, THAT A BABY WILL LOOK
LIKE THE PERSON THE PREGNANT WOMAN HATES THE MOST. A POSSIBLE
PARTIAL EXPLANATION OF THIS IS THE HIGH PERCENTAGE OF DESERTED MOTHERS,
HATING THE LOST FATHER, OR LOVERS, SEE A RESEMBLANCE IN THE CHILD TO THE FATHER.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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BIRTH BELIEF

IF A WOMAN CARRIES A BABY OUT FRONT IN HER STOMACH, IT IS A BOY.

Submitter comment:

THIS WAS RELATED TO HER BY HER MOTHER WHO EXPERIENCED MANY CASES
THAT HAS PROVEN THIS BELIEF.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; SEX DETERMINATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 02-20-1971

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BIRTH BELIEF

IF A WOMAN CARRIES A BABY IN HER HIP, IT IS A GIRL.

Submitter comment:

THIS IS A BELIEF THAT WAS TOLD HER BY HER GRANDMOTHER.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; SEX DETERMINATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 02-20-1971

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LYDIE PINKHAM

LYDIE PINKHAM USED TO BE SOLD IN STORES. IT WAS A REMEDY FOR THOSE
PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT HAVING LUCK IN HAVING BABIES-IF
YOU TOOK IT YOU WOULD BE SURE TO HAVE A BABY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): LYDIA PINKHAM WAS A POPULAR NON-PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth

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EXPECTANT MOTHERS

JEWISH MOTHERS BELIEVE THAT IT IS BAD LUCK TO GIVE A BABY
A SHOWER BEFORE IT IS BORN, THE SAME IS TRUE WHILE IN THE HOSPITAL.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT'S FATHER DID THIS FOR HER MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

James Callow Keyword(s): SEMITISM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 02-12-1971

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PREGNANCY BELIEF

INFORMANT HAS REPEATEDLY HEARD THAT BATHING IN PREGNANCY CAUSES THE
BABY TO DROWN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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BIRTH BELIEF

A PREGNANT WOMAN WHO IS CARRYING AN ACTIVE CHILD IS USUALLY
CARRYING A BOY.

Submitter comment:

THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY HER MOTHER, SHE ACTUALLY
BELIEVES THIS.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; PASSIVE GIRLS?

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 02-20-1971

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BELIEF

IF A HARE PASSES IN FRONT OF A PREGNANT WOMAN, HER CHILD WILL BE BORN
WITH A HARELIP, UNLESS SHE TEARS HER SLIP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

James Callow Keyword(s): IMITATIVE MAGIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 01-22-1970

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FOOD SUPERSTITIONS REGARDING PREGNANCY

IF WHILE A WOMAN IS PREGNANT, AND SHE HAS A CRAVING FOR A
CERTAIN FOOD AND SHE THEN TOUCHES HERSELF, THE BABY WILL HAVE
A BIRTHMARK ON THAT SPOT THE WOMAN TOUCHED.

Submitter comment:

KEYPUNCHERS COMMENT, THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHERS LIKE THIS IN THE
ARCHIVE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC?

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Food
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body)
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 03-07-1971

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CUSTOM

THERE IS A TRADITION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN THAT IF
YOU STEP ON THE M OF THE DIAGONAL EMBLAZED IN THE CROSSWALK,
YOU WILL FLUNK YOUR NEXT EXAM.

Submitter comment:

WHEN A STUDENT AT U. OF M., THE INFORMANT TRIED THIS
TO DISPROVE THE TRADITION, BY STEPPING ON THE M AFTER STUDYING
FOR AN EXAM. SHE FAILED HER EXAM.
KEYPUNCHERS COMMENT, THERE IS ANOTHER LIKE THIS IN THE ARCHIVE.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): EDUCATION ; SYMBOL ; WALKING PROHIBITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- School

Date learned: 12-00-1967

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