Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for GESTURE returned 48 results.
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
THE "KNOCKING ON WOOD" SIGNIFIES LUCK THAT A PERSON
NEEDS. BY DOING IT, THE PERSON HOPES THAT ALL TURNS
OUT THE WAY IT IS DESIRED.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: ON A DATE
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; GESTURE ; Knock ; Knocking ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION ; WOOD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 |
Date learned: 02-12-1968
IF YOU SAY SOMETHING LIKE "I'VE NEVER BROKEN MY LEG,"
KNOCK ON WOOD SO IT WON'T HAPPEN.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; GESTURE ; Knock ; Knocking ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION ; WOOD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 |
Date learned: 04-02-1968
YOU TAP A PIECE OF WOOD TO PREVENT THE LOSS OF GOOD
LUCK BY MENTIONING THE FACT THAT YOU HAD GOOD LUCK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; GESTURE ; Knock ; Knocking ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION ; WOOD
James Callow Keyword(s): Knock On Wood
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU HAVE BEEN HAVING GOOD LUCK AND YOU HAPPEN TO
MENTION IT OUT LOUD, YOU SHOULD KNOCK ON A PIECE OF
WOOD SO YOUR LUCK WILL NOT LEAVE YOU.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; GESTURE ; Knock ; Knocking ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION ; WOOD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE WHO JUST LOST THEIR
HUSBAND (DIED OR DIVORCED), YOU KNOCK ON WOOD SO
YOU WON'T LOSE YOURS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; DEATH ; Divorce ; GESTURE ; HUSBAND ; Knock ; Knocking ; LUCK ; MARRIAGE ; SUPERSTITION ; Wife ; WOOD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 BELIEF -- Conversions P883.44 |
Date learned: 01-25-1968
KNOCK ON WOOD FOR LUCK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; GESTURE ; Knock ; Knocking ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION ; WOOD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 |
Date learned: 09-00-1968
WHEN AN ITALIAN PINCHES SOMEONE ELSE ON THE CHEEKS OF
THEIR FACE, IT IS AN EXPRESSION OF APPROVAL OF THAT
PERSON. IT ALSO IS A GESTURE WISHING THE PERSON
GOOD LUCK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ; Approval ; BELIEF ; Cheeks ; CUSTOM ; GESTURE ; Italian ; LUCK ; Pinch ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.1 |
Date learned: 09-20-1969
SOME OLD FISHERMEN OF WESTERN MICHIGAN STILL BELIEVE
THAT IF THEIR LUCK IS BAD, THAT THEY CAN SPIT ON THE
WORM, THEN PUT IT ON THE HOOK, AND GOOD LUCK WILL
FOLLOW THEIR DAY'S FISHING.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Bait ; BEHAVIOR ; BELIEF ; CATCH ; FISH ; Fisherman ; FISHING ; GESTURE ; HOOK ; LUCK ; SPIT ; SUPERSTITION ; Worm
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Fish BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 |
Date learned: 09-10-1969
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