Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for SICK returned 25 results.
BELIEF ABOUT A GHOST
MY MOTHER WAS VERY ILL. BECAUSE OF THE LENGTH OF THE
ILLNESS, HER BED WAS PLACED IN THE PARLOR. SOMEBODY
USUALLY SAT WITH HER AT ALL TIMES. THERE WAS A
PIANO IN THE PARLOR. ALL OF A SUDDEN A NOISE CAME FROM
THE PIANO, AS IF A KEY WAS BEING STRUCK.
THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE ROOM AT THE TIME.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THAT THIS INCIDENT MADE SUCH AN IMPRESSION
UPON HIM AS A CHILD, THAT HE HAS NEVER FORGOTTEN IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
Keyword(s): SICKROOM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 11-23-1970
BELIEF ABOUT A GHOST
MY MOTHER WAS VERY ILL. BECAUSE OF THE LENGTH OF THE
ILLNESS, HER BED WAS PLACED IN THE PARLOR. SOMEBODY
USUALLY SAT WITH HER AT ALL TIMES. THERE WAS A
PIANO IN THE PARLOR. ALL OF A SUDDEN A NOISE CAME FROM
THE PIANO, AS IF A KEY WAS BEING STRUCK.
THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE ROOM AT THE TIME.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THAT THIS INCIDENT MADE SUCH AN IMPRESSION
UPON HIM AS A CHILD, THAT HE HAS NEVER FORGOTTEN IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
Keyword(s): SICKROOM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 11-23-1970
To her knowledge, when a child of Greek descent is born, he or
she is given a charm (a golden eye) to protect him or her from what
is called a "matiasma." Roughly translated it means "given the eye"
or "eyed." This happens when someone admires someone out of jealousy
out loud. For example, "His voice is so incredible. I wish I had it."
Once one is eyed, if he or she is not wearing the charm or if one
doesn't say "ftousou" which is a Greek word that means "to spray
saliva," he or she is condemned to sickness. (When said, ftousou
literally sprays saliva in the person's face.)
Submitter comment:
This particular superstition is feared by my informant because,
as a child, she was "eyed" and became seriously ill. All was tried to
lower my informant's fever but nothing worked. Finally, with
hesitation, a witch doctor was summoned and the fever disappeared
within a single day. To this day she has believed in the curse and
gave me and her other son the golden eye. However, both have been
misplaced and to this date have not been found.
Where learned: GREECE
Keyword(s): AILMENT ; SICKNESS ; unexplained
James Callow Keyword(s): amulet, talisman
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00001943CA
Entry filtered.
WHY IS A BARBER POLE RED AND WHITE STRIPED? RED STANDS
FOR BLOOD AND WHITE STANDS FOR BANDAGES BECAUSE THE BARBER
ALWAYS DID THE BLEEDING FOR ALL KINDS OF AILMENTS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; ROCKWOOD
Keyword(s): Ailments ; Bandages ; Barber ; Barber Pole ; Bleeding ; COLOR ; CURE ; DISEASE ; HAIR ; ILLNESS ; Pole ; PREVENTION ; Red ; SICKNESS ; Signal ; Symbolize ; White
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Color BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 07-28-1968