Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for TABU returned 30 results.
Superstition: Baseball
WHEN THE PITCHER HAS A NO-HITTER GOING IN A BASEBALL GAME IT IS BAD
LUCK TO MENTION THIS FACT UNTIL THE GAME IS OVER. IF YOU DO MENTION
IT THE PITCHER WILL LOSE HIS NO-HITTER. DURING THE 1979 DETROIT
TIGERS BASEBALL SEASON DAVE ROZEMA HAD A NO-HITTER GOING IN THE
SEVENTH INNING AND THE UN-BASEBALL-WISE CHANNEL FOUR TV ANNOUNCER
MIKE BARRY ANNOUNCED THIS AND SURE ENOUGH THE NEXT BATTER GOT A
HOMERUN. THE OTHER TV ANNOUNCERS, FORMER BASEBALL PLAYERS AL KALINE
AND GEORGE SWELL, ALMOST THREW BARRY OUT OF THEIR THIRD-DECK BOOTH.
ANYBODY THAT KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT BASEBALL KNOWS YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSE
TO MENTION A NO-HITTER AND BARRY SAID IT IN FRONT OF A QUARTER
MILLION PERSON TV AUDIENCE.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): SPEAKING TABU
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 11-23-1979
Superstition
Don't say it, it might happen:
It is a superstition not to mention a possibility of a bad event to occur for fear that to say so would thus cause the feared event to occur. [sic]
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out and replaced with P477
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Myself ; BATTLE CREEK
Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BELIEF ; jinx ; LUCK ; SPEAKING TABU ; SUPERSTITION ; TABU
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Superstition
Point at a shooting star or even speak of it and you lose your next wish.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Origina BN's [P600.880, P800, P880] crossed out and replaced with current classifications.
Where learned: SCHOOL
Keyword(s): ASTROLOGY ; ASTRONOMY ; BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; GESTURE ; jinx ; Point ; SPEAKING TABU ; SUPERSTITION ; TABU ; WISH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Comet BELIEF -- Prayer SPEECH -- Gesture |
Superstition
Superstition:
That warts come from handling frogs
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880.440] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AMPHIBIAN ; ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; CURE ; Fallacy ; FROG ; HEALTH ; ILLNESS ; MEDICINE ; SUPERSTITION ; Touching tabu ; Warts
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Menstrual
Menstrual:
Pickling: you can't pickle beans or make kraut while on your period or it will ruin.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P535] crossed out.
Submission card found in pile marked [?]
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Canning ; COOKING ; FOOD ; MENSES ; MENSTRUATION ; Period ; Pickling ; TABU
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Entertainment: Game
Childhood Game:
When they were kids, they had a game called "Step on a crack and you'll break your mother's back." They would run along the sidewalk but not step on the pavement cracks or they would "break their mother's back" and lose.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C870] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): Entertainment, Tabu, Game, Childhood ; RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.520 |
Entry filtered.
Ethnic:Polish Superstition
Superstitions:
A Polish pregnant woman must not eat twin pears, apples, or other fruits for fear of bearing attached twins.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The card has been stamped as KEYPUNCHED, but the word has been crossed out.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; Conjoined ; CURSE ; Eat ; ETHNIC ; FOOD ; FRUIT ; Newborn ; POLAND ; POLISH ; PREGNANCY ; SUPERSTITION ; TABU ; TWINS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Proverb
Little pitchers have big ears.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The words (Not Pictures) is written under the submission, along with [sic]. On the back of the card, Callow has written: Type as is. A good illustration of narration in folklore.
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects.
Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDREN ; CONVERSATION ; Eavesdrop ; Listen ; METAPHOR ; Overhear ; Speak ; TABU
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
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 |