Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for AMULET returned 32 results.
MY FATHER BROUGHT BACK A QUITE UNUSUAL GIFT FROM HIS
BUSINESS TRIP-- AN OSTRICH'S TOENAIL KEY CHAIN. THIS
KEYCHAIN IS POLISHED QUITE NICELY, IT IS SAID TO BRING
GOOD LUCK TO THOSE WHO HAVE IT.
Submitter comment:
THEY SAY THAT AN OSTRICH'S TOENAIL CAN KILL SOMEONE
IF THEY ARE STUCK BY THE OSTRICH'S FOOT.
PURCHASED AT BUSH GARDENS, FLORIDA
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
Keyword(s): ART ; GOOD LUCK CHARM ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 02-00-1978
WEAR A BULB OF GARLIC AROUND YOUR NECK TO WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS.
Submitter comment:
LEARNED AT A SUMMER ETHNIC CAMP
A LIST OF ITEMS COMPILED BY THE CAMP DIRECTOR BUT LOST BY
THE INFORMANT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 07-00-1975
To her knowledge, when a child of Greek descent is born, he or
she is given a charm (a golden eye) to protect him or her from what
is called a "matiasma." Roughly translated it means "given the eye"
or "eyed." This happens when someone admires someone out of jealousy
out loud. For example, "His voice is so incredible. I wish I had it."
Once one is eyed, if he or she is not wearing the charm or if one
doesn't say "ftousou" which is a Greek word that means "to spray
saliva," he or she is condemned to sickness. (When said, ftousou
literally sprays saliva in the person's face.)
Submitter comment:
This particular superstition is feared by my informant because,
as a child, she was "eyed" and became seriously ill. All was tried to
lower my informant's fever but nothing worked. Finally, with
hesitation, a witch doctor was summoned and the fever disappeared
within a single day. To this day she has believed in the curse and
gave me and her other son the golden eye. However, both have been
misplaced and to this date have not been found.
Where learned: GREECE
Keyword(s): AILMENT ; SICKNESS ; unexplained
James Callow Keyword(s): amulet, talisman
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00001943CA
WEAR GARLIC AROUND YOUR NECK TO KEEP EVIL SPIRITS
AWAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 09-12-1969
YOU WILL ALWAYS BE PROSPEROUS IF YOU CARRY A
COIN WITH THE YEAR OF YOUR BIRTH STAMPED ON IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET ; MONEY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A PROTECTION AGAINST WITCHES
TIE GARLIC AROUND THE NECK AND IT WILL MAKE YOU
INVISIBLE TO WITCHES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: 11-12-1969
MISS STOUDT, WHILE EMPLOYED ON THE NURSING STAFF AT HERMAN
HOSPITAL IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, OBSERVED PATIENTS WHO WORE DIMES
ON A CHAIN AROUND THEIR ANKLES TO WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; TEXAS ; NASHVILLE ; HOUSTON
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 07-00-1968
WEARING A NECKLACE MADE OF GARLIC KEEPS EVIL SPIRITS
AWAY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
IF YOU WEAR A SCAPULAR AROUND YOUR NECK AND DIE WITH
IT ON, YOU WILL GO DIRECTLY TO HEAVEN. HOWEVER,
A STORY TOLD BY AN ELEMENTARY NUN GOES, A COUPLE
WAS IN A CAR NECKING AND PETTING; THEY BOTH HAD
SCAPULARS; ON THE WAY HOME, THE BOY HAD AN
ACCIDENT, IN WHICH HIS HEAD WAS SEVERED FROM HIS
BODY AND THE SCAPULAR WAS HANGING ON A TREE, THIS
INFERRING THAT HE WENT STRAIGHT TO HELL.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD BY A NUN AS A WARNING TO HER STUDENTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; LANSING-REILLY
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET ; BELIEF TALE ; FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-06-1970
IF YOU WEAR A SCAPULAR AROUND YOUR NECK AND DIE WITH
IT ON, YOU WILL GO DIRECTLY TO HEAVEN. HOWEVER,
A STORY TOLD BY AN ELEMENTARY NUN GOES, A COUPLE
WAS IN A CAR NECKING AND PETTING; THEY BOTH HAD
SCAPULARS; ON THE WAY HOME, THE BOY HAD AN
ACCIDENT, IN WHICH HIS HEAD WAS SEVERED FROM HIS
BODY AND THE SCAPULAR WAS HANGING ON A TREE, THIS
INFERRING THAT HE WENT STRAIGHT TO HELL.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD BY A NUN AS A WARNING TO HER STUDENTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; LANSING-REILLY
James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF TALE AMULET FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-06-1970
Remedy - Animal
Whoever carries the right eye of a wolf fastened inside his right sleeve, remains free from all injury.
Where learned: INDIANA ; VEEDERSBURG
Keyword(s): "NATURAL" REMEDY ; AMULET ; ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; CLOTHING ; CURE ; Injury ; MEDICAL ; PREVENTION ; talisman
James Callow Keyword(s): "NATURAL" REMEDY ; ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; REMEDY
| Subject headings: |
FOLKLORE OF GOOD LUCK
IN JAPAN, BAMBOO IS HUNG IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE HOUSE TO GIVE ITS
STRENGTH TO WARD OFF SICKNESS AND TO BE ABLE TO KEEP WORKING.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): Holistic ; Japan ; LUCK ; PLANT ; SYMBOL
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: CA00001935