Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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LUCK
IF YOU HAVE A HORSESHOE ON THE WALL MAKE SURE THE OPEN END IS AT
THE TOP SO THAT ALL YOUR LUCK WILL STAY AND NOT LEAVE.
Keyword(s): SUPERNATURAL: HORSESHOE AS LUCKY CHARM
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.12 BELIEF -- Conversions P883.12 |
Date learned: 03-10-1970
ITALIAN CUSTOM FOR GOOD LUCK
IT IS AN OLD ITALIAN CUSTOM TO PUT SALT IN A HOUSE A FEW DAYS
BEFORE MOVING IN AND THIS WILL BRING THE OCCUPANT GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; SUPERNATURAL: SALT AS LUCKY CHARM
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Good luck P881.17 |
Date learned: 01-16-1968
BAD LUCK PREVENTION: (ITALIAN)-SALT
TO PREVENT BAD LUCK FROM ENTERING A HOUSE, PLACE SALT IN LITTLE
BAGS AND PUT THE BAGS IN THE CORNERS OF THE ROOMS WHERE NO ONE SEES
THEM. IT IS ESPECIALLY GOOD TO DO THIS WHEN A NEW BABY ARRIVES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; SUPERNATURAL: SALT AS LUCKY CHARM
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Conversions P883.17 |
Date learned: 12-00-1969
BASKETBALL SUPERSTITION
IF A BASKETBALL TEAM HAS A VERY GOOD SEASON THE CAPTAIN'S SHOES ARE
HUNG PERMANENTLY IN THE LOCKER ROOM. THIS IS SAID TO BRING THE TEAM
GOOD LUCK IN FOLLOWING YEARS.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): SOCIAL RELATIONS ; SPORTS ; SUPERNATURAL: CAPTAIN'S SHOES AS LUCKY CHARM
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Good luck P881.19 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Entry filtered.
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
"Certain people have the power to give the evil eye.
Some would give it to you to make you sick, bring you
bad luck, etc. or they would say not to look in their
eyes so you would not get the evil eye (they could not
help themselves from giving the evil eye --- it was
beyond their control). Mr. DiSantis had the power. He
told my Dad and others about it when he was young,
(maybe age seven)."
Submitter comment:
This is a verbatim account from Maryann Leisner detailing
a story told many times by her Italian father, Mr. Phillip
Melone. Mr. Melone believes this to be true.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
Keyword(s): Curse, magic, harm
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Bad luck Body parts and functions |
Date learned: 00001930S
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
TALK IS CHEAP
TALK IS CHEAP, BUT IT TAKES MONEY TO BUY A COW.
Submitter comment: CHILDHOOD
Keyword(s): {THIS IS WHY ALL FARMERS ARE MUTE.} {??!!}
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
FORMULA SPEECH
ABOUT TWO IN A HILL.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT STATES THAT WHEN PLANTING CORN, ONE PLACES THREE GRAINS IN
A "HILL", IN HOPES THAT AT LEAST ONE WILL GROW. SO WHEN A FARMER IS
ASKED HOW HE IS, HE ANSWERS "ABOUT TWO IN A HILL", INFERRING
THAT HE IS PRETTY GOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-24-1971
RIDDLE
HOW DID THE BUCKWHEAT COME TO AMERICA?
-- IT CAME THREE-CORNERED. (THE GRAIN ITSELF)
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): FARMING AGRICULTURE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 02-25-1970
RIDDLE
IF A FARMER CAN RAISE 50 BUSHELS OF CORN IN DRY WEATHER,
WHAT CAN HE RAISE IN WET WEATHER ?
-- AN UMBRELLA
Where learned: HOME ; OHIO ; Sylvania ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): FARMING AGRICULTURE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-0000
Warm Blood
Vivien's mother would drink warm blood from the butcher shop to prevent disease and sickness.
Data entry tech comment:
Stamped into Archive; December 1969
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BLOOD ; Butcher ; ILLNESS ; MEDICAL ; PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE ; PREVENTION ; Vampire ; Vampirism
James Callow Keyword(s): PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE ; Warm Blood
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
ONCE THERE WAS AH...AH COLORED MAN, A WHITE MAN IN SLAVERY TIME.
HE HAD TWO NEGROES WORKING ON HIS PLANTATION. AND ONE DAY HE TOLD
HIM SAY LISTEN THERES A BEAR DOWN THERE IN THERE IN THAT BOTTOM
EATING MY CORN. SAY JOHN GO DOWN THERE AND BRING THAT BEAR UP
HERE. GOES DOWN THERE AND GET THAT BEAR AND BRING HIM ON UP HERE.
JOHN GOT OUT HE DID THAT MORNING EARLY THAT MORNING... WENT ON
DOWN THERE THERE IN THE BOTTOM HE DID AND HE SEEN THE BEAR. AND
THE BEAR HAD AN ARM OF CORN. SO HE TOLD HIM HEY PUT DOWN THAT
CORN. AND THE BEAR THROWD THE CORN DOWN AND GOT AFTER HIM AT
JOHN. JOHN JUST...HE WENT TO THE BARN. HE RAN JUST AS HARD AS
HE COULD UP TO THE HILL. TILL HE GOT TO THE BARN. HE WENT IN THE
BARN DOOR AND CLOSE...AND WENT ON DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THE BEAR
COME ON IN THE BARN AND HE CLOSED IT AND COME ON THE OUTSIDE
AND CLOSED THE DOORS. OK, SAY, NOW HE WENT ON UP TO THE HOUSE, TO
OLE MASTER'S HOUSE, HE SAY. JOHN YOU GET THAT BEAR(?) / . SAY YEA, I
GOT THAT BEAR. SAY WHERE'S HE AT? HE UP THERE IN THE BARN. WELL,
YOU TAKE THIS KNIVE AND GO ON UP THERE AND KILL THE BEAR NOW.
JOHN SAY LISTEN BOSS, I WENT AND BROUGHT THE BEAR HERE WHY DON'T
YOU MAKE THE OTHER GUY KILL HIM. SAY YEA, MRS SAY, YEA. JOHN
DONE BROUGH THE BEAR HERE. LET THE OTHER FELLA KILL HIM. SO SLE
JOHN HE WENT IN DOWN THERE AND GOT ON TOP OF THE FENCE. AND THE
OTHER FELLA WHEN IN THE BARN WHERE THE BEAR WAS, AND OUT CAME
HIM AND THE BEAR. DOWN ACROSS THE FIELD HIM AND THE BEAR WENT.
AND HE GOT DOWN DOWN THERE IN THE FIELD A GOOD WAYS AND SAID AH
JOHN HOW DID YOU BRING THAT BEAR HERE? JUST LIKE HE GOT THE SON
OF A BITCH TO COME DOWN ACROSS THAT FIELD.
James Callow comment:
SOME SPELLING HAS BEEN CORRECTED
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AN EPISODE ; CAPTURE BY ESCAPE, AS IN \"JACK AND THE VARMINTS\"
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Romantic Realistic |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
House-Demons
By a clean river, there grew oak trees from centuries before. Not far from there lived a Samogitian of many years. Together with im lived his beautiful and larg efamily. Their barns were full of cattle, the corn overflowed into the storehouse. No farmer, happier or richer than him, was around.
The other farmers, jealous of his success, started talking about him, that a house demon brought him all his riches. Many said that they saw the demons flying around the house.
The people's council, hearing such talk from the neighbors, sent an inspector over to the farmer's house; they ordered him to forbid the farmer, to tell him to finally learn to live with the other people.
the inspector, showing up at the farmer's house, told him directly that yhe should be ashamed to keep a demon in his house and that he should do only what is good for his neighbors.
the Samogitian only laughed at him. Still laughung he told the inspector that not a single of his demons has yet done wrong to any of his neighbors. Then the inspector told him to show him his demons. With that,. the farmer led the inspector by hand to his barn where all his farming tools stood.
-These- said the farmer, -are my demons that do good for me and my neighbors.-
Submitter comment:
Translated from Lithuanian by Ramune Stonys
An asterisk denotes a message for the word Samogalia, and explains that: Lithuania is divided into different regions. Samogalia is one region, located in Northern Lithuania.
On tha back of the card is an address for the translator:
R. Stonys
17276 Milton
Southfield, MI 48075
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Grammatical correction: Leave to Live.
Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; Demon ; Demons ; DISCIPLINE ; FARMER ; FARMING ; HARD WORK ; House ; Moral ; Neighbors ; Parable ; Relationships ; SELF DISCIPLINE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon |
Entry filtered.
Custom
Good Friday and Planting Custom:
Potatoe [sic] seeds should be planted, if at all possible, on Good Friday.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F663] has been crossed out and replaced with F535
Where learned: HOME ; NEW YORK ; LeRoy
Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; CUSTOM ; FARMING ; Good Friday ; HARVEST ; PLANT VEGETABLE ; POTATO ; Religious Holiday ; VEGETABLE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 |
Ethnic:Ugandan
Cocks and Misfortune:
If a family keeps poultry, and is a cock among them crows between sun-set and mid-night [sic], that particular bird must be strangled immediately to overt misfortune!
Submitter comment:
The superstition is proper to the Batooro tribe of about 100,000 poeple of Uganda.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P530, P880] crossed out/replaced with current classifications
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; FARMING ; MISFORTUNE ; Omens ; Poultry ; SUPERSTITION ; Tribe ; Uganda
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird |
Ethnic: Polish
House Initiation / Polish Custom:
Put a cat in a house before you move into it and there will always be good luck.
Submitter comment:
A neighbor came over to borrow our cat for one of their relatives who had just bought a new house. These relatives of ournaighbors had just recently come over from Poland. I don't know the people's names and the neighbor doesn't live around here any more.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F532] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications.
Message on the bottom of card:
[Please copy this item on the yellow card below so it will ALSO be filed under F686]
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Myself
Keyword(s): CAT ; ETHNIC ; fortune ; Good ; House ; Housewarming ; LUCK ; OMEN ; POLAND ; POLISH ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing BELIEF -- Mammal |
Proverb
A house without a woman and firelight is like a body without a soul or sprite.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V700] crossed out. Replaced with current classfication.
Located in a pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects
Keyword(s): BODY ; Domesticity ; Feminine ; FIRE ; Firelight ; PROVERB ; RHYME ; Soul ; SPIRIT ; Warmth ; Woman
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |