Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for RIGHT returned 73 results.
WHEN A FELLOW IS GOING SOMEWHERE AND HE KNOCKS HIS LEFT LEG
AGAINST A STONE, THAT IS A BAD OMEN. THAT SIMPLY TELLS THE
FELLOW THAT DANGER WILL BEFALL HIM WHERE HE IS GOING. THUS IT
IS ADVISABLE FOR SUCH A PERSON TO GO BACK HOME IF POSSIBLE.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SAID IT WITH ASSURANCE.
Where learned: NIGERIA ; KABBA
James Callow Keyword(s): RIGHT LEFT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
TO INCREASE FINANCES, CARRY A VERSE FROM THE BIBLE IMPRINTED ON A
SMALL CARD IN YOUR LEFT POCKET.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): LEFT RIGHT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Magic Book BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 11-19-1987
IF YOU HAVE A BURNING SENSATION IN YOUR RIGHT EAR, SOMEONE IS
SPEAKING VERY BADLY ABOUT YOU. A BURNING SENSATION IN YOUR LEFT
EAR MEANS SOMEONE IS GIVING YOU A COMPLIMENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): LEFT RIGHT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions |
326 Youth Who Wanted to Learn What Fear Is
There once was a little girl that claimed she was very
brave, and wasn't afraid of anything. So one day her
brothers dared her to go to the grave yard to steal a
tombstone and bring it back to show them. The little girl
did indeed go to the graveyard to get that tombstone but
never returned. What everyone says that happened was that as
she was putting her dress over the stone to carry it out the
stone fell on her dress and pulled her down. Of course the
little girl thought that the spirit of the grave was tugging
on her dress, and she was so scared that she died right there
on the spot.
Where learned: IOWA ; Des Moines
James Callow Keyword(s): dying of fright ; FEAR TEST
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Magic |
Date learned: 00-00-1910
If you accidentally spill salt on the table,
you should sprinkle it over your left shoulder
for good luck.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): LEFT RIGHT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- P479 BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 00001970S
If your right ear is ringing, someone is saying good
things about you. If your left ear rings, someone is
saying bad things about you.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; Carbon Hill
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST ; RIGHT LEFT
| Subject headings: | 842 Ringing ears / buzzing / hot, burning BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001950S
If your left eyebrow itches something bad will happen.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): RIGHT LEFT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itches |
Date learned: 03-00-1991
When a person in Saint Thomas gets in trouble or is "put
down" by someone else, another person will pull the bottom
of his right eye down quickly and say "Bo Bo."
Submitter comment:
The collector has no idea what it means but the gesture is
done frequently among children and the adult usually does
not see it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): RIGHT LEFT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 04-00-1991
If your nose itches on the left side it means a strange man is
coming to your house, but if your nose itches on the right side it
means a strange woman is coming to your house.
Where learned: GEORGIA ; Alberton
James Callow Keyword(s): LEFT RIGHT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching nose |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
If your left eye jumps, that means someone is going to make
you mad.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
James Callow Keyword(s): RIGHT LEFT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Eye twitch |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
When your right hand itch, it means that you will be getting
some money.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
James Callow Keyword(s): RIGHT LEFT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching hands and feet |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
It has recently become popular for males to wear an earring in
one ear. Frequently the ear that the earring is worn in is used to
tell the sexual preference of the wearer. The saying "left is
right and right is wrong" tells that an earring in the left ear
means that the wearer is heterosexual and an earring in the right
ear means that the wearer is gay or homosexual.
Submitter comment: This has become popular in the early 1990s.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
James Callow Keyword(s): LEFT RIGHT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 00-00-1991
Right hand itching
If your right hand itches, you will receive money.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): RIGHT HAND
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching hands and feet |
If your left eye jumps, money is on its way.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): RIGHT LEFT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Eye twitch |
Date learned: 02-10-1992
If your right hand itch, look for money to come your way.
Where learned: GEORGIA ; ATLANTA
James Callow Keyword(s): RIGHT LEFT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching hands and feet |
If your left hand itch, you are going to lose the money you
have.
Where learned: GEORGIA ; ATLANTA
James Callow Keyword(s): RIGHT LEFT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching hands and feet |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
AFTER AN OLD LADY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD DIED, THE BOYS WHO HAD
HATED HER WHILE SHE WAS LIVING, TOLD ONE OF THE LITTLE GIRLS
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY WOULD GIVE HER $25.00 IF SHE
WOULD GO STICK A FORK IN THIS LADY'S GRAVE. ONE NIGHT AS SHE
WENT TO GET HER $25.00, SHE TOOK THE FORK WITH HER AND
QUICKLY STABBED IT IN HER GRAVE. HOWEVER, AS SHE TURNED
TO RUN AWAY, SHE FELT A TUG AT HER SKIRT. NOT REALIZING THAT
THE FORK HAD CAUGHT SOME OF HER SKIRT, SHE THOUGHT IT WAS THE
LADY GRABBING HER AND SHE DIED OF A HEART ATTACK ON THE GROVE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): DEATH FROM FRIGHT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 07-01-1970
TO KEEP A HAG FROM BOTHERING YOU WHILE SLEEPING, PLACE ONE FOOT OF
YOUR SHOES AT THE HEAD OF YOUR BED AND THE OTHER FOOT AND THE
FOOT OF YOUR BED
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; GEORGETOWN
Keyword(s): LEFT RIGHT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PROVERBIAL PHRASE
ON THE UP AND UP.
Submitter comment: IMPROVING; BECOMING BETTER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): LEGAL RIGHT HONEST
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 05-01-1972
IF YOUR NOSE ITCHES ON THE RIGHT SIDE, A WOMAN IS COMING;
ON THE LEFT SIDE AND A MAN IS COMING.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; GADSDEN
James Callow Keyword(s): LEFT RIGHT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching nose |
Date learned: 09-12-1973