Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Finger returned 36 results.
WHEN A PERSON IS ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING IN WHICH HE
OR SHE NEEDS GOOD LUCK, THE PEOPLE WAITING FOR
THEM AND THEY THEMSELVES CROSS THEIR MIDDLE AND
FOREFINGERS FOR LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO ME IN GRAMMAR SCHOOL 1955-1963.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cross ; Crossing ; CUSTOM ; Finger ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 |
CROSSING THE MIDDLE AND FOREFINGERS IS A
SYMBOL FOR GOOD LUCK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cross ; Crossing ; CUSTOM ; Finger ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
CROSSING YOUR FINGERS IS SUPPOSED TO BRING GOOD LUCK.
THE SAME GESTURE CAN ALSO BE USED TO ALLOW A LIE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: FREMONT ; OHIO, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cross ; Crossing ; CUSTOM ; Finger ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Lie ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN ORDER TO RETAIN A CERTAIN STREAK OF LUCK WHICH YOU
PRESENTLY HAVE GOING FOR YOU, ONE SHOULD CROSS HIS
FINGERS, I.E., INDEX FINGER AND THIRD FINGER OVER IT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cross ; Crossing ; CUSTOM ; Finger ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 |
Date learned: 00001950S
CROSSING THE FINGERS IS A SIGN ONE WOULD MAKE IF HE
WISHES TO HAVE GOOD LUCK FALL HIS WAY.
Data entry tech comment:
Belief; Custom; Superstition; Gesture; Crossing; Fingers; Cross; Finger; Luck;
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cross ; Crossing ; CUSTOM ; Finger ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHEN DRIVING PAST A GRAVEYARD, CROSS YOUR FINGERS AND PUT
THEM ON THE CEILING, CROSS YOUR FEET AND LIFT THEM UP.
THIS GIVES YOU A HAPPY DEATH, GOOD LUCK IN LIFE, AND
PREVENTS SPIRITS FROM HAUNTING YOU.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Ceiling ; Cross ; Crossing ; CUSTOM ; DEATH ; FEET ; Finger ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; GRAVEYARD ; Haunt ; LUCK ; SPIRIT ; SUPERSTITION
Date learned: 09-00-1969
FOR GOOD LUCK, ONE SHOULD CROSS TWO FINGERS ON ONE HAND
BUT SHOULD HE CROSS FINGERS ON TWO HANDS, IT WILL
RESULT IN BAD LUCK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cross ; Crossing ; CUSTOM ; Finger ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.22 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN GERMANY INSTEAD OF CROSSING FINGERS FOR GOOD LUCK,
THE PEOPLE HOLD THEIR THUMBS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
James Callow comment:
CLENCHING FIST OVER THE THUMB OF THAT HAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cross ; Crossing ; CUSTOM ; Finger ; Fingers ; Germany ; GESTURE ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION ; Thumbs
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 |
Date learned: 10-10-1968
IF YOU AND ANOTHER PERSON SAY THE SAME THING AT THE SAME
TIME, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO SPIT BETWEEN YOUR FINGERS
FOR GOOD LUCK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BEHAVIOR ; BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Hands ; Jinxs ; Same Time ; Simultaneous ; SPIT ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 |
Date learned: 04-05-1970
IN ORDER TO WARD OFF EVIL, ONE SHOULD POINT HIS INDEX
AND LITTLE FINGERS AT SOMETHING. (THE OTHER FINGERS
SHOULD BE CLOSED).
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; EVIL ; EVIL EYE ; Eye ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Prevent ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward
James Callow Keyword(s): HORNS
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.12 |
Date learned: 02-14-1968
ITALIAN GESTURE AGAINST EVIL
A GESTURE TO RETURN EVIL TO ANOTHER IS TO PLACE THE
THUMB BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND FINGERS OF THE
SAME HAND.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; EVIL ; EVIL EYE ; Eye ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Prevent ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 12-00-1969
WHEN YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE WITH SOMEONE WHO WILL GIVE
YOU THE EVIL EYE, HOLD OUT YOUR FOREFINGER AND BABY
FINGER, HOLD THIS UNTIL THE PERSON LEAVES.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAW HIS BROTHER DO THIS WHEN IN CALABRIA,
ITALY, AND BELIEVED IT WARDED OFF THE EVIL EYE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ITALY ; OAK PARK ; CALABRIA
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; EVIL ; EVIL EYE ; Eye ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Prevent ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.12 |
Date learned: 01-24-1972
WHEN ONE SEES A LOVELY CHILD, ONE MUST SPIT ON THE
GROUND TO WARD OFF THE EVIL EYE, TO PREVENT SICKNESS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): BABY ; BEAUTY ; BELIEF ; CHILD ; CUSTOM ; EVIL ; EVIL EYE ; Eye ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Prevent ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.12 |
Date learned: 11-19-1971
IF A PERSON LOOKS AT YOU WITH THE EVIL EYE YOU CAN
RETURN IT BY PLACING YOUR INDEX AND BABY FINGERS
APREAD OUT AND POINTED DOWN. THIS WILL MAKE
YOU SAFE FROM IT.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS DONE IN SICILY BY ALL THE PEOPLE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SICILY
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; EVIL ; EVIL EYE ; Eye ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Prevent ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22 SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.12 |
Date learned: 10-06-1970
WHEN SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING PEJORATIVE ABOUT ANOTHER,
SPIT THREE TIMES ON THE BACK OF THE FIRST TWO FINGERS
OF THE RIGHT HAND TO WARD OFF THE INTENDED EVIL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BEHAVIOR ; BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; EVIL EYE ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; INSULT ; SPIT ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- P670 P670.88 |
Date learned: 03-02-1972
FINGER LAKES BELIEF
THE IROQUOIS BELIEVED THAT THE FINGER LAKES OF UPPER NEW YORK STATE WERE
FORMED BY THE HAND OF GOD, DESCENDING IN BLESSING UPON THE LAND.
Submitter comment:
MR. WYATT LEARNED OF THE LEGEND WHILE LIVING IN GENEVA, NEW YORK,
HIS HOME. GENEVA IS ONE OF THE FINGER LAKES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; CREATION ; Entomology ; Finger Lakes ; God ; Indigenous ; Iroquois ; NAME ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Meat Bred animal BELIEF -- Still water Small body. |
Date learned: 10-22-1965