Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for MAGIC returned 149 results.
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP A PERSON OUT OF YOUR HOUSE, THROW SOME SALT
BEHIND THEM WHEN THEY LEAVE THE HOUSE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MAGICAL CONTROL OF WOULD-BE VISITORS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
IF SOMEONE SWEEPS YOUR FEET SPIT ON THE BROOM AND SAY YOUR NAME.
IT WILL KEEP YOU FROM GOING TO JAIL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MAGICAL PROPERTIES OF SPIT ; NAME MAGIC ; PREVENTIVE MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
TESTS
SMOKE ONLY BEFORE AND AFTER A TEST AND YOU WILL PASS IT.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): MAGICAL CONTROL ; SMOKING TABU DURING EXAMINATIONS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School |
Date learned: CA1963-1975
FRIENDSHIP
IF A PERSON IS GIVEN A CUTTING TOOL, HE MUST GIVE A COIN IN RETURN
SO THE TOOL WILL NOT CUT THEIR FRIENDSHIP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 02-28-1970
DON'T BURN YOUR HAIR WHEN IT COMES OUT IN THE COMB, YOU ARE
SUPPOSED TO THROW IT OUTSIDE FOR THE BIRDS TO MAKE THEIR NESTS
OUT OF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): OPPOSITE OF A CONTAGIOUS MAGIC BELIEF ALSO IN ARCHIVE
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Bird |
LUCK
ON THE WAY TO A TRACK MEET, A RUNNER WOULD NOT GO
ACROSS A YELLOW LINE, SO IN THE MEET IT WOULD
CAUSE THE RUNNER TO LACK THE ABILITY TO PASS UP OPPOSING RUNNERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTAGEIOUS MAGIC? ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC?
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.6 |
Date learned: 10-00-1971
BELIEF ABOUT A CROSS-EYED WOMAN
IF YOU MEET A CROSS-EYED WOMAN IN THE MORNING, THINGS WILL
GET CROSSED ALL DAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 03-05-1971
THINGS GROW WITH THE MOON
IF A PERSON CUTS THEIR HAIR WHEN THERE IS A FULL MOON, IT WILL
GROW WITH THE MOON. IF YOU CUT YOUR HAIR WHEN THERE IS
A FULL MOON, IT WILL GROW SLOWLY.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 03-24-1970
MOON BELIEF
GRANDMOTHER AND HER SISTERS HAD THEIR HAIR TRIMMED AT NEW
MOON, IN THIS WAY, IT WOULD GROW WITH THE NEW MOON, AND
MUCH FASTER TOO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak |
Date learned: 03-31-1971
TOMATO BELIEF
IF YOU EAT MANY TOMATOS, YOUR SKIN WILL TURN RED.
Where learned: OHIO ; NORTH OLMSTED
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
HEALTH BELIEF
'BEETS GIVE YOU RED BLOOD.'
MY INFORMANT SAID THAT HER MOTHER STRICTLY BELIEVED THAT,
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
BREAD BELIEF
IN CUTTING A LOAF OF BREAD.
NEVER LEAVE A KNIFE IN THE BREAD, IT IS LIKE CUTTING THE
HEART OF JESUS.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | Custom Food Drink -- Plant food Cereal BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 09-15-1969
SUPERSTITION PERTAINING TO WOMEN AND CHICKEN
A WOMAN MUST NOT EAT CHICKEN LEST HER CHILDREN BECOME
FLIGHTY HEADED LIKE THE BIRDS. THIS ABSTINENCE IS REQUIRED
THROUGHOUT HER ENTIRE LIFE NOT JUST DURING PREGNANCY.
Submitter comment:
THE SUPERSTITION IS PROPER TO THE BATOORO TRIBE OF ABOUT
100,000 PEOPLE IN UGANDA. THE SUPERSTITION IS DYING OUT
WITH INCREASED RECOGNITION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AFRICA ; ANIMAL ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC ; SEXISM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. Food Drink -- Meat Bird Poultry |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
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
UNWIND CLOCK
IF A PERSON LETS THEIR ALARM CLOCK COMPLETLY UNWIND AND STOP TICKING
THE OWNER OF THE CLOCK WILL DIE IN HIS SLEEP
Submitter comment: ONE MAY LOOK AT THE CLOCK'S MAIN-SPRING AS ONE'S OWN LIFE SPAN.
Where learned: ALABAMA
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMPATHETIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00-00-1932
DIVINATION OF DESTINY
WHEN A BABY IS VERY YOUNG PLACE A COIN, BEER AND A ROSARY WITHIN THE
REACH OF THE BABY. IF THE BABY FIRST REACHES FOR THE COIN, IT WILL
ALWAYS HAVE MONEY. IF IT REACHES FOR THE BEER IT WILL FAVOR THE
DRINK. IF IT FIRST REACHES FOR THE ROSARY THE BABY IS DESTINED TO
BECOME RELIGIOUS.
Submitter comment: THIS ITEM WAS GIVEN TO MRS. CHESNEY BY MATILDA MELLON, HER MOTHER, WHO WAS AN IRISH IMMIGRANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ; SYMBOLS ; SYMPATHETIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 09-16-1975
IRISH BELIEF ABOUT THE MOON
WHENEVER THE MOON IS RED IT MEANS THERE WILL BE BLOODSHED.
Submitter comment:
THIS ITEM WAS GIVEN TO MRS. CHESNEY BY MATILDA MELLON, HER MOTHER,
WHO WAS AN IRISH IMMIGRANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
James Callow Keyword(s): INTERNAL RHYME ; SYMBOL ; SYMPATHETIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Sign Color BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 09-16-1975
IRISH GIFT BELIEF
WHENEVER A PURSE IS GIVEN AWAY THERE SHOULD ALWAYS BE A PENNY IN IT
TO INSURE THAT THE RECIPIENT WILL ALWAYS HAVE WEALTH.
Submitter comment:
THIS ITEM WAS GIVEN TO MRS. CHESNEY BY MATILDA MELLON, HER MOTHER,
WHO WAS AN IRISH IMMIGRANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL ; SYMPATHETIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 09-16-1975
JAMAICAN CURSE
IF YOU WANT TO GET RID OF ANYONE GO TO A RELATIVE'S GRAVE AND
SPRINKLE RICE AROUND IT' THEN, TRAIL THE RICE TO YOUR ENEMY,S
YARD. HE WILL BE DEAD THE NEXT DAY.
Submitter comment: DONALD LEE LEARNED THIS ITEM IN BUFF BAY, JAMAICA.
Where learned: JAMAICA ; BUFF BAY
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 10-31-1975
A WOMAN MUST NOT TRIP OVER ANY TYPE CORD DURING PREGNANCY. IF THE
EXPECTANT MOTHER WAS TO BE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO DO SO, THE UMBILICAL
CORD WOULD WRAP AROUND THE UNBORN CHILD'S NECK AND THE BABY WOULD BE
STRANGLED TO DEATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL ; SYMPATHETIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-00-1975