Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for SUPERNATURAL returned 55 results.
LUCK
IF YOU HAVE A HORSESHOE ON THE WALL MAKE SURE THE OPEN END IS AT
THE TOP SO THAT ALL YOUR LUCK WILL STAY AND NOT LEAVE.
Keyword(s): SUPERNATURAL: HORSESHOE AS LUCKY CHARM
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.12 BELIEF -- Conversions P883.12 |
Date learned: 03-10-1970
ITALIAN CUSTOM FOR GOOD LUCK
IT IS AN OLD ITALIAN CUSTOM TO PUT SALT IN A HOUSE A FEW DAYS
BEFORE MOVING IN AND THIS WILL BRING THE OCCUPANT GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; SUPERNATURAL: SALT AS LUCKY CHARM
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Good luck P881.17 |
Date learned: 01-16-1968
BAD LUCK PREVENTION: (ITALIAN)-SALT
TO PREVENT BAD LUCK FROM ENTERING A HOUSE, PLACE SALT IN LITTLE
BAGS AND PUT THE BAGS IN THE CORNERS OF THE ROOMS WHERE NO ONE SEES
THEM. IT IS ESPECIALLY GOOD TO DO THIS WHEN A NEW BABY ARRIVES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; SUPERNATURAL: SALT AS LUCKY CHARM
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Conversions P883.17 |
Date learned: 12-00-1969
BASKETBALL SUPERSTITION
IF A BASKETBALL TEAM HAS A VERY GOOD SEASON THE CAPTAIN'S SHOES ARE
HUNG PERMANENTLY IN THE LOCKER ROOM. THIS IS SAID TO BRING THE TEAM
GOOD LUCK IN FOLLOWING YEARS.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): SOCIAL RELATIONS ; SPORTS ; SUPERNATURAL: CAPTAIN'S SHOES AS LUCKY CHARM
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Good luck P881.19 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
COUNT TO TEN
IF YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING WHEN LEAVING YOUR HOUSE AND HAVE
TO GO BACK FOR IT, BE SURE TO SIT DOWN AND COUNT TO TEN BEFORE
YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE AGAIN, OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; NUMBERS: TEN ; SUPERNATURAL: COUNTING TO TEN ; TRAVEL: RETURNING HOME FOR FORGOTTEN OBJECT
Date learned: 00001965 SUMMER
KNOCK ON WOOD
YOU SAY SOMETHING THEN KNOCK 3 TIMES SO THAT NO BAD LUCK
WILL HAPPEN TO YOU.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; SOCIAL RELATIONS ; SUPERNATURAL: KNOCKING ON WOOD
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Conversions P883.2 SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 03-31-1968
BELIEF
IN UKRAINE, IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF A PERSON SPEAKS OF HIS OWN GOOD
FORTUNE, HE SHOULD AFTERWARDS KNOCK THREE TIMES ON SOME RAW,
UNFINISHED WOOD SO HIS LUCK WON'T CHANGE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT COLLECTED INFORMATION PASSED ON BY GRANDPARENTS IN UKRAINE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; SUPERNATURAL: KNOCKING ON WOOD ; UKRAINIAN BELIEF
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22 SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-01-1967
BELIEF
MANY SPANISH PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT AFTER SEEING A PRIEST CLOTHED IN
BLACK, THEY SHOULD TOUCH SOMETHING MADE OF WOOD TO AVOID BAD LUCK.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; SPANISH BELIEF ; SUPERNATURAL: TOUCHING WOOD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22 SPEECH -- Gesture PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: 02-17-1970
Goblin Story
A few years ago, in the main plant of Valente's Men's Formal Wear, the general manager, Marty Rapp, and David Palm were cleaning out the drainage wells beside the 50 pound washers down in the laundry. These wells are about 3 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep. Marty, being general manager, directed, while Dave did the cleaning. All of a sudden, Dave found himself being pulled into the well. He was waist deep in the murky water before Marty pulled him out by the arm. Maybe it was well that Marty was there directing, far Max, a vile, loathsome creature that lives in the sewers under Valente's had tried to pull Dave down into his submarine lair. For what purpose, no one knows, but it is certain it wouldn't have been pleasant. From then on, people are cautioned not to walkalone in the laundry in the dark.
Submitter comment:
For us at Valente's, Max is something to blame accidents on. Dave didn't really get pulled into the well, Marty pushed him in. Though, if you ask anyone there about Dave falling into the well, you will probably get the version with Max in it, then the real one.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; VALENTES MENS FORMALWEAR
Keyword(s): FANTASY ; Goblin ; Lore ; Mischief ; OMEN ; SEWER ; Submarine ; SUPERNATURAL ; WATER
| Subject headings: |
Goblin Story
A few years ago, in the main plant of Valente's Men's Formal Wear, the general manager, Marty Rapp, and David Palm were cleaning out the drainage wells beside the 50 pound washers down in the laundry. These wells are about 3 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep. Marty, being general manager, directed, while Dave did the cleaning. All of a sudden, Dave found himself being pulled into the well. He was waist deep in the murky water before Marty pulled him out by the arm. Maybe it was well that Marty was there directing, far Max, a vile, loathsome creature that lives in the sewers under Valente's had tried to pull Dave down into his submarine lair. For what purpose, no one knows, but it is certain it wouldn't have been pleasant. From then on, people are cautioned not to walkalone in the laundry in the dark.
Submitter comment:
For us at Valente's, Max is something to blame accidents on. Dave didn't really get pulled into the well, Marty pushed him in. Though, if you ask anyone there about Dave falling into the well, you will probably get the version with Max in it, then the real one.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; VALENTES MENS FORMALWEAR
Keyword(s): FANTASY ; Goblin ; Lore ; Mischief ; OMEN ; SEWER ; Submarine ; SUPERNATURAL ; TRICKSTER ; WATER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Legend of Writing to Dead People for Lottery Numbers
When writing to dead people for numbers in the lottery, don't cross your t's or dot your i's. And don't use punctuation. At night, put it over a glass of water, under the bed, on top of silver three-pence. A number is to be provided somehow.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Boggs Number [B420 429] crossed out and others added: P840, P429, P686
Where learned: DORM ROOM
Keyword(s): Clairvoyance ; Gamble ; GAMBLING ; GRAMMAR ; Lottery ; NUMBERS ; RITUAL ; Spell ; SPIRIT ; SUPERNATURAL
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Number |
Ghost Belief
A ghost won't enter your house if a camel's bones are buried beneath the doorstep.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original letter of the Boggs Number [B429] has been crossed out and replaced with a P.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BONES ; Camel ; GHOST ; House ; Protection ; PROTECTION AGAINST EVIL FORCES ; SUPERNATURAL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Superstition
Werewolf Moon
When the moon takes on a very orange color, this is said to be the time when werewolves come out.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: Myself
Keyword(s): COLOR ; FANTASY ; Man ; MOON ; Orange ; SUPERNATURAL ; SUPERSTITION ; Transform ; TRANSFORMATION ; Werewolf ; Wolf
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Werewolf Vampire PROSE NARRATIVE -- Moon |
Urban Legend
Hookman of Percy Warner Park:
I can't recall when I first heard this tale, but it seems to have been with me as long as I remember. There is supposedly a large rock located somewhere in Percy Warner Park, Nashville, where many people have reported seeing a hookman. The hookman only appears after dark and people whop have parked near this rock have heard the scraping of metal against their car.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): HOOK ; PARKING ; Sexuality ; SUPERNATURAL ; SUPERSTITION ; TABU ; Urban Legend
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend |
Ghost Tale
In Chapel Hill, TN, There is a ghost that roams next to the railroad. All you can see is his light as he flashes it up and down the tracks. It is supposedly a lineman who had fallen off the train many years before. When he fell he lost his head. Now he roams the track swinging the light looking for his head.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Beheaded ; DECAPITATION ; GHOST ; HEAD ; Lineman ; RAILROAD ; Story ; SUPERNATURAL ; Tale ; Urban Legend
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
ON AGES OF VAMPIRES
VAMPIRES NEVER SHOW AGING PHYSICALLY. THEY ALWAYS LOOK THE SAME
AS THE DAY THEY BECAME VAMPIRES, AND WILL SHOW
THEIR TRUE AGE WHEN THEY ARE DESTROYED.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): APPEARANCE ; Destroy ; SUPERNATURAL ; Vampire
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WEREWOLF AT A CERTAIN LOCATION
IF YOU PARK YOUR CAR AT THE END OF DIXIE HIGHWAY, TURN OFF
THE LIGHTS AND SIT QUIETLY, A MAN THAT HAS THE FEATURES
OF A WEREWOLF
WILL APPROACH THE CAR, LOOK IN, AND THEN RUN OFF.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Lycan ; SUPERNATURAL ; SUPERSTITION ; Urban Legend ; Werewolf
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire |
Date learned: 10-18-1968
VAMPIRE BELIEF
A VAMPIRE CAN BE FRIGHTENED OFF BY MAKING A CROSS OUT OF
ANYTHING, SUCH AS TWO STICKS OR EVEN YOUR ARMS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): Cross ; SUPERNATURAL ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL ; Undead ; Vampire
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
VAMPIRE BELIEF
VAMPIRES CAN BE KEPT AWAY BY HANGING GARLIC AROUND YOUR
DOORS AND WINDOWS
GARLIC HUNG AROUND THE NECK ALSO SERVES THE PURPOSE
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): Garlic ; SUPERNATURAL ; SUPERSTITION ; Undead ; Vampire
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
TO KILL A WEREWOLF
WEREWOLVES CAN BE KILLED BY SOMETHING SILVER, SUCH AS A KNIFE
OR BULLET.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): Lycan ; Silver ; SUPERNATURAL ; SUPERSTITION ; Werewolf
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN