RE:SEARCH logo
University of Detroit Mercy Libraries / Instructional Design Studio
UDM HOME BLACKBOARD MY UDMERCY
RESEARCH HOME / FIND / SPECIAL COLLECTIONS / THE JAMES T. CALLOW FOLKLORE ARCHIVE /
James Callow Folklore Archive

Collection Home

About Dr. James T. Callow

Dr. James T. Callow publications

Collectors

Browse by

Subject heading

Keyword

Location

Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.

The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

search for

Content filter is on

Your search for I returned 9981 results.

prev | items
| next

PROVERBIAL METAPHOR

AN OLD SAYING TO EXPRESS DISGUST OVER A NICE THING
BEING RUINED BY NEGLECT IS CALLED
PUTTING A TUXEDO ON A HOG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; ANIMAL ; CLOTHING ; CONTRAST ; INCONGRUITY

James Callow Keyword(s): COVER UP: SURFACE DRESSING

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 03-10-1968

View just this record

PROVERBIAL METAPHOR

PUT UP OR SHUT UP

James Callow comment: SIMILAR TO THE PROVERB ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; ELLIPSIS ; FUNCTION ; PARALLELISM

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

View just this record

PROVERB

PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD.

Submitter comment: FROM UNCERTAIN

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; FUNCTION

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 00001964 (SUMMER)

View just this record

PROVERB

POGGI SEIFEC F GHANTEC GHAX BILLI TGHATI TIEHU (MALTESE)
PUT YOUR SWORD AT YOUR SIDE - THOSE THAT LIVE BY
THE SWORD DIE BY THE SWORD.

Data entry tech comment: ORIGINAL 5 X 8 CARD CONTAINS MALTESE TEXT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; OBSERVATION ; THREAT ; TRANSLATION

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 03-08-1970

View just this record

LITTLE BLACK SAMBO

ONE DAY A LONG WAY FROM HERE AND NOT YET OVER THERE, PEOPLE KNEW OF
A BOY NAMED SAMBO. NOW SAMBO WAS A LITTLE AND DARK ONE, SO THE
PEOPLE CALLED HIM LITTLE BLACK SAMBO. ONE DAY SAMBO'S MOTHER AND
FATHER WENT AWAY LEAVING SAMBO WITH NOTHING BUT A BREAD CRUST TO EAT
AND NO CLOTHING BUT HIS SUNDAY BEST; A NEW YELLOW COAT AND MATCHING
CAP, A BRIGHT RED SHIRT THAT ONLY HAD BEEN WORN BY A HANGER AND A
PAIR OF SHINEY SHOES. SAMBO WAS A LITTLE FELLA BUT HE WAS ALIVE AND
HAD TO EAT TOO, TO KEEP THE LITTLE WEIGHT HE HAD - PUT. SO SAMBO HAD
TO DIVIDE THAT LITTLE BIT OF BREAD FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER
FOR TWO DAYS. "NOW I GOTTA DO SOMETHIN' 'BOUT MY EATIN' SITUATION",
SAMBO SAID ON THE THIRD DAY, HOLDING HIS BELLY, BUT ALL I GOT IS MY
NEW CLOTHES, NOBODY CAN WEAR 'EM BUT ME, NO HOW." SO SAMBO STARTED
OUT TO FIND A WAY TO FIND SOME FOOD. HE HAD TO CROSS THE RIVER THAT
WAS TOO DEEP TO CROSS, THE MOUNTAIN THAT WAS TOO HIGH TO CLIMB, THE
JUNGLE THAT WAS TOO THICK TO BREATHE IN AND THEN THE TOWN WHERE ALL
THE SHOPS WERE. LITTLE BLACK SAMBO CAME TO THE RIVER AND SWAM ACROSS,
STOPPING BUT ONCE TO ASK AN OLD FISHERMAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER,
"WOULD YOU GIVE SOME BREAD? MY MAMA AND PAPA WENT AWAY AND LEFT ME
NOTHING BUT MY OWN AND MY NEW CLOTHES." THE FISHERMAN SAID, "SORRY
LITTLE BLACK SAMBO, I'M HERE WITH NOTHING BUT MY OWN AND A FISHING
HOOK OR TWO BUT IF YOU GIVE ME THOSE SHINEY SHOES, MAYBE I CAN HELP
YOU. SO THE FISHERMAN GAVE LITTLE BLACK SAMBO A LINE AND A HOOK SO
THAT SAMBO COULD CATCH HIS OWN FOOD. AFTER WAITING TEN MINUTES SAMBO
DECIDED, "FISHING WAS TOO SLOW, I'L FIND SOME FOOD IN THE MOUNTAINS
I HOPE." SO HE STARTED FOR THE MOUNTAINS, BIDDING THE FISHERMAN WELL
AND LEAVING BEHIND HIS SHINEY SHOES. AS LITTLE BLACK SAMBO CAME TO
THE FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN HE MET A MOOSE. "MR. MOOSE WILL YOU HELP ME
GET SOMETHING TO EAT, PLEASE? MY MAMA AND PAPA WENT AWAY AND DIDN'T
LEAVE ME NOTHING BUT MYSELF AND MY NEW CLOTHES," LITTLE BLACK SAMBO
SAID TO THE MOOSE. "GIVE ME THAT PRETTY YELLOW CAP AND I'LL SHOW
YOU HOW TO GET FOOD FOR YOURSELF," THE MOOSE SAID TO LITTLE BLACK
SAMBO. "OKAY, THAT SOUNDS FAIR ENOUGH, ALTHOUGH I WANT MY YELLOW
CAP," SAMBO SAID. WELL THE MOOSE STARTED WALKING AWAY WHEN SAMBO
SAID "BUT I DO WANT TO EAT TOO, OKAY."" "WELL, DO YOU LIKE BUSHES AND
TREE LEAVES", THE MOOSE ASKED LITTLE BLACK SAMBO. THE TRUTH MR
MOOSE IS I HAIN'T NEVER TRIED NO TREES AND LEAVES FOR SUPPA, BUT I
GOT NOTHING ELSE TO EAT. I'LL TRY EM:," LITTLE BLACK SAMBO SAID TO
THE MOOSE. LITTLE BLACK SAMBO FOLLOWED BEHIND THE MOOSE, PICKING OVER
THE BUSHES AND TREE LEAVES LIKE THE MOOSE UNTIL HE SAID, "THESE
TREES AND LEAVES FOR SUPPA AIN'T GONNA GET IT, MR. MOOSE" AND
CONTINUED TO THE JUNGLE WITHOUT ANYTHING IN HIS STOMACH AND WITHOUT
HIS LITTLE YELLOW CAP, SHINEY SHOES AND STILL NO MEANS OF FOOD. AS
LITTLE BLACK SAMBO CAME TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN THAT NOBODY COULD
CLIMB HE LOOKED OVER THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN AND SPOTTED A
TIGER. LITTLE BLACK SAMBO CALLED OUT, "MR. TIGER, WILL YOU HELP ME
GET SOMETHING TO EAT? MY MAMA AND PAPA WENT OFF AND LEFT ME AND MY
NEW CLOTHES ALONE." THE TIGER YELLED BACK, "IF YOU GIVE ME THAT
BRIGHT RED SHIRT I'LL TRY TO HELP YOU." LITTLE BLACK SAMBO FIGURED
HE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TO LOSE, SO HE AGREED, "OKAY, YOU CAN HAVE MY
BRIGHT RED SHIRT." THE TIGER TOLD HIM TO DO AS HE DID,
KEEP BEHIND THE RABBIT AND DON'T LET THE RABBIT OUT OF SIGHT. WELL
LITTLE BLACK SAMBO TRIED AND TRIED BUT HE COULDN'T EVEN KEEP UP WITH
THE TIGER. SO HE SAID "I CAN'T KEEP UP WITH YOU, MR. TIGER, WILL YOU
PLEASE CATCH ME THE RABBIT AND I'LL GIVE YO ALL I HAVE - MY NEW
YELLOW PANTS AND COAT." THE TIGER SAID "AGREED, BUT FIRST, YOU GIVE
ME THE YELLOW PANTS AND COAT," INTENDING TO CATCH THE RABBIT AND KEEP
RUNNING WITH THE RABBIT AND CLOTHES. LITTLE BLACK SAMBO DID AS THE
TIGER TOLD HIM TO DO. THE TIGER WAS RUNNING, RUNNING, AND WAS
ABOUT TO CATCH THE RABBIT WHEN "BOOM!!!," A GUN SHOT KILLED THE TIGER
OVER. IT WAS LITTLE BLACK SAMBO'S MAMMA AND PAPA AND A TIGER FOR
SUPPA.

Submitter comment: THIS IS A LONG STORY; I THOUGHT SINCE MY INFORMANT'S BEEN HANDED DOWN
LONG NARRATIVE STORIES, HE MAY PASS THESE SAME STORIES ON IN A
SIMILAR FORM IF NOT THE SAME AS THEIR ORIGINAL VERSIONS.
THIS STORY PUSHES A BLACK IMAGE; THE MAIN CHARACTER, LITTLE BLACK
SAMBO, BREAKS AWAY FROM ALL OF HIS PROBLEMS IN THE END BY DOING FOR
HIMSELF.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): NEGRO MARALE? ; PERSONIFICATION

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale

Date learned: 00-00-1960

View just this record

HOW GOD MADE "FLUTTER-BYS"

WELL, THE LORD HAD JUST FINISHED MAKING THE WORLD AND HE SAT BACK
IN HIS BIG OL' ROCKER TO LOOK IT OVER. "NOT A BAD JOB, IF I SAY SO
MYSELF." HE LIT UP A BIG, FINE CIGAR AND WAS FEELING PRETTY GOOD
ABOUT IT UNTIL HE NOTICED THAT THE WORLD LOOKED KIND OF BARE. THE
FACT OF THE MATTER WAS THERE WASN'T A THING TO THE WORLD EXCEPT LAND,
TREES AND A LOTS OF WATER. THERE WAS EVEN MORE WATER THAN LAND.
"WONDER HOW I DID THAT," THE LORD SAID. "SEEMS TO ME I'D PLANNED FOR
THERE TO BE MORE LANDTHAN WATER." WELL, HE SHRUGGED HIS SHOULDERS AND
TURNED HIS MIND TO MAKE THE WORLD LOOK A BIT PRETTIER. "GIMME MY
PRUNING SHEARS," HE CALLED OUT AND ONE OF THE CUTE, LITTLE ANGELS RAN
AND GOT THEM. THEN THE GREAT LORD ALMIGHTY LEANED OUT OF HIS ROCKING
CHAIR, TRIMMED THE TREES, AND THREW THE TRIMMINGS ALL OVER THE EMPTY
GROUND. THAT'S WHAT MADE THE GRASS, BUSHES, AND ALL THE FLOWERS.
"NOW THAT DON'T LOOK TOO BAD," HE SAID AND LEANED BACK. "YESSIRY
I'VE DONE MADE A AWFUL PRETTY WORLD." AND SO SAYING, HE WENT TO BED
TO REST UP FROM ALL THAT WORK. THE NEXT MORNING THE LORD HADN'T EVEN
HAD ONE EYE OPEN YET, WHEN HE HEARD THE FLOWERS WHISPERING AMONG
THEMSELVES, "IT'S LONELY DOWN HERE"; THE OTHER FLOWER SAID, "WE
WERE PUT HERE TO KEEP THE GROUND COMPANY AND MAKE EVERYTHING LOOK
PRETTY, BUT IT SURE IS MIGHTY LONELY." THE LORD SHOOK HIS HEAD IN
DISGUST. "HAVE MERCY, FATHER. YOU GET THROUGH MAKING ONE THANG AND
AND THE NEXT THANG YOU KNOW YOU GOTTA MAKE SOMETHING TO GO WITH THE
FIRST. GIMME THEM LITTLE SHEARS, ONE OF YOU ANGELS, PLEASE." AN
ANGEL BROUGHT HIM THE TEENICHY PAIR OF SHEARS AND HE BENT OVER TO THE
EARTH AND STARTED SNIPPING LITTLE PIECES OFF OF EVERYTHING - THE SKY,
THE GROUND, THE TREES, THE ANIMALS, THE BUSHES, THE FLOWERS;
EVERYTHING HE PUT HIS SHEARS ON, GOT SNIPPED. "THE VERY IDEA OF
GETTING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WORLD AND IT AIN'T EVEN A DAY OLD.
THAT'S GRATITUDE." THE LORD HAD A FEELING HE WAS GOING TO BE GETTING
COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WORLD FROM THEN ON. HE WAS SO MAD THAT HE DID
NOT CARE WHAT HE SNIPPED - SNIP, SNIP, ALL MORNING LONG. WELL, WHEN
THE FOLKS LOOKED UP AND SAW THE TINY CLIPPINGS FLUTTERING AROUND.
THEY CALLED THEM FLUTTER-BYS. THE BLUE FLUTTER-BYS HAD BEEN SNIPPED
FROM THE SKY; THE YELLOW FLUTTER-BYS HAD BEEN CLIPPINGS FROM THE SUN;
AND THERE WERE THE LORD'S WHITE FLUTTER-BYS THAT WERE CLIPPINGS FROM
THE STARS. EVERY COLOR FLUTTER-BY YOU COULD THINK OF WAS FLUTTERING
AROUND.

Submitter comment:

THIS IS ANOTHER LONG NARRATIVE WITH A STRONG BLACK IMAGE, AS REFERRED
TO IN MY COLLECTION'S SEQUENCE NUMBER 731772-1; I GET THE
IMPRESSION THAT THIS IS A BLACK GOD.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Butterfly ; CREATION ; ETYMOLOGY ; God ; NAME ; Origin ; PERSONIFICATION ; Tale

James Callow Keyword(s): PERSONIFICATION

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Animal Life
SPEECH -- Proper Name

Date learned: 00-00-1954

View just this record

ONE'S SURROUNDINGS

A PERSON SOON STARTS TO TAKE-ON CHARACTERISTICS OF HIS SURROUNDINGS.

Where learned: WASHINGTON DC

James Callow Keyword(s): CONTAGION

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 00-00-1970

View just this record

WHY DOGS AND CATS DON'T GET ALONG

NOW THE DOG, HE WAS A FREE MAN ALWAYS. HE MINED THE YARD. ONE DAY
THE DOG WAS GONNA GO FOR A WALK AND HE DRESSED, GOT HIS CANE AND ALL.
NOW HE HAD TO GO THROUGH HIS MASTER HOUSE TO GET TO THE FRONT, SO HE
HAD TO PASS THE CAT WHO WAS ALWAYS IN THE KITCHEN BY THE FIRE-IRON.
THE DOG SAY, "SISS CAT, HOW YOU FIND YO' HEALTH THESE HERE DAYS?"
SAY, "BR'ER, I AIN'T DOING SO WELL, THANK YOU FOE ASKING." I'M
GOING OUT FOR A WALK AND I WISH YOU BE SO KIND AS TO TAKE CHARGE OF
MY PAPER FOR ME, TEL I GET BACK. SISS CAT SAY, "SHOW, I SHOW WILL
BR'ER-DOG, WITH PLESURE. SO BR'ER-DOG HAND SISS-CAT HIS PAPER AND
WENT OUT FOR HIS WALK. SISS-CAT WAS TRYING TO STAY CAREFUL WITH
BR-ER-DOG'S PAPER BUT SHE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT OR
HOW TO DO IT. SO SHE KINDLY PUT IT ON THE FLOOR, MADE A MAT AND SOON
FELL TO SLEEP ON IT. WELL THE RAT STUCK HIS LITTLE HEAD OUT HIS HOLE
TO SEE WHAT THE NEWS WAS. WHEN HE SAW THE PAPER UNDER THE CAT HE
STARTED THANKING HOW HE WAS GONNA GET IT FROM HER. AND HE DECIDED
TO TAKE JUST A NIBBLE OFF A LITTLE PIECE, THAT WOULD'NT WAKE-UP THE
CAT BUT BEFORE HE GOT THE WHOLE PIECE IN HIS LITTLE MOUTH SIS' CAT
WOKE-UP, FORGOT ALL ABOUT BEING CAREFUL WITH BR'ER-DOG'S PAPER AND
JUMPED AFTER THE RAT, AS HE MADE HIS GET-A-AWAY THROUGH HIS HOLE WITH
A LITTLE PIECE OF BR'ER DOG'S PAPER IN HIS MOUTH. SO SIS' CAT CAME
BACK OUT OF BREATH AND SHE HAD TO LOOK FOR THE PAPER BECAUSE THE
WIND HAD BLOWN IT ABOUT. SHE LOOKED, LOOKED AND LOOKED, AIN'T FOUND
NO TRACE OF THE PAPER, YET. AND WHEN BR'ER DOG CAME BACK HE ASKED,
"WHERE MY PAPER I LAID WITH YOU?" SIS' CAT SAYS, "WHO TOLD YOU TO
LAY YO' PAPER WITH ME I WANT TO KNOW:" I GO TO COMBAT THAT HOUSE-RAT
I CANN'T LOOK OUT FOR YO' PAPER TOO, SOMEBODY MUST HAVE PLAYED
THIEF WHEN I TURNED FOR A MINUTE." BR'ER DOG SAY, "YOU NO GOOD FOE
NOTHING THANG YO. WHAT IS CATS FOE ANYWAY - THAT I WANT TO KNOW;
I AIN'T GOT NO USE FOR THEM. BOW-WOW-WOW:" SIS' CAT ANSWERED,
"SP-T-Z-Z" AND THEY STOPPED SPEAKING AND TODAY THEY AIN'T SPEAKING.

Submitter comment: THIS IS A NEW STORY TO ME. I FOUND SOME WORDS IN THE STORY, SUCH AS
BR'ER FOR MY BROTHER AND SIS FOR SISTER, TO BE COMMON LANGUAGE AMONG
BLACKS MAINLY IN THE SOUTH.

Data entry tech comment: A-T 200 THE DOG'S CERTIFICATE
MT[ A2281.1 CAT LOSES DOG'S CERTIFICATE: ; A2281.1 (CONT'D) ENMITY BETWEEN CATS AND DOGS
****************** NEW D FILE 2 ******************

Where learned: ALABAMA

James Callow Keyword(s): PERSONIFICATION

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal

Date learned: 00-00-1920

View just this record

HOW THE SNAKE GOT ITS RATTLE

EVERY DAY THE OL' SNAKE FOUND HIS SELF GETTIN' STEPPED ON, RAN OVER,
KICKED AROUND OR SOMETHING WHEN HE TRIED TO CROSS THE PATH DOWN BY
MASON CREEK. HE WAS GETTIN' MIGHTY TRIED OF IT: SO HE TOLD THE LORD
SAY, "LORD, I'M GETTIN' MIGHTY TRIED OF FOLKS STEPPING ON,
RUNNING OVER AND KICKING ME AROUND - JUS' AIN'T FAIR. I LIVE DOWN
HERE TOO; I GOT JUS' MUCH RIGHTS AS EVERYBODY ELSE DOWN HERE;
PEOPLE DON'T PAY NO ATTENTION TO ME, LORD: THE SNAKE COMPLAINTED.
"COULD BE THAT THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT. CAN'T
BLAME 'EM, CAUSE YOU IS WAY-LOW-DOWN, YA SEE", THE LORD ASKED THE
SNAKE. THE SNAKE SAID, "YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT." "I KNOW,
HERE, TAKE THIS HERE SHAKER, EVERYTIME YOU SEE SOMEBODY COMING YO'
WAY YOU JUS' SHAKE IT. YA' HEAR ME NOW?", THE LORD ASKED THE SNAKE.

Submitter comment: I HAVE HEARD A SIMILAR STORY IN ALABAMA ABOUT THIS SNAKE'S RATTLE; I
NOTICED A LOCAL NAME - "MASON CREEK".

Where learned: MISSISSIPPI

James Callow Keyword(s): COMPOUND EPITHET: WAY-LOW-DOWN ; METATHESIS: TRIED FOR TIRED

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Characteristics of Animals

Date learned: 00-00-1940

View just this record

DROPPING CANDY

WHEN A KID DROPS SOME CANDY OR FOOD ON THE FLOOR OR GROUND, BY
STUMPING HIS LEFT FOOT AND SAYING ALOUD, "GOD KISS IT,"
THE CANDY OR FOOD CAN BE EATEN WITHOUT FEAR OF DIRT OR GERMS MAKING
THEM ILL.

Submitter comment: I HAVE HEARD THE SAME BELIEF IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA (EXCLUDING THE
PART ABOUT STAMPING ONE'S FOOT); I HAVE ALSO RECENTLY HEARD
THIS BELIEF IN DETROIT.

Where learned: MISSISSIPPI

James Callow Keyword(s): DISINFECT

Subject headings: Favorites
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech
Food Drink -- Food
BELIEF -- Prayer
SPEECH -- Formula
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 00-00-1965

View just this record

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

View just this record

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

View just this record

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

View just this record

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

View just this record

JAMAICAN METHOD FOR EXORCISING SPIRITS

IF THERE IS A BAD SPIRIT OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE AND YOU WANT TO GET RID
OF IT, BURN A CAR TIRE. THEN YOU, BUT ONLY YOU, WILL HEAR IT SCREAM
AND KNOW IT IS GONE.

Submitter comment: THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF MODERN FOLKLORE.
DONALD LEE LEARNED THIS ITEM IN BUFF BAY JAMAICA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE TIRE

Subject headings: Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration
BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 10-31-1975

View just this record

JAMAICAN SPIRIT BELIEF

NEVER HIT A BLACK DOG AT NIGHT BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE A GHOST. THERE
WERE GUYS WHO WOULD STONE STRAY DOGS UNTIL ONE NIGHT THEY SAW A BLACK
DOG. THEY THREW STONES AT IT BUT SOON FELT TNE STONES COMING BACK
AT THEM NO MATTER WHERE THEY WOULD GO. THE STONES JUST KEPT
FOLLOWING THEM. THEY ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL.

Submitter comment: DONALD LEE LEARNED THIS ITEM IN BUFF BAY, JAMAICA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL COLOR

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Mammal

Date learned: 10-31-1975

View just this record

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

View just this record

JAMAICAN METAPHORICAL PROVERB

YOU PLAY WITH A PUPPY THE PUPPY WILL LICK YOUR LIPS.

Submitter comment: THIS IS SIMILAR IN MEANING TO "FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT".
DONALD LEE LEARNED THIS ITEM IN BUFF BAY JAMAICA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; OBSERVATION

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 10-31-1975

View just this record

JAMAICAN SPIRIT BELIEF

WHEN YOU ARE BUILDING OR MOVING INTO A HOUSE, KILL ANY ANIMAL AND
SPRINKLE ITS BLOOD AROUND THE HOUSE TO MAKE A DEAL WITH THE
SPIRITS TO LEAVE IT ALONE. OFTEN MEN WON'T WORK ON HOUSES BEFORE
THIS IS DONE.

Submitter comment: DONALD LEE LEARNED THIS ITEM IN BUFF BAY JAMAICA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL SACRIFICE

Subject headings: Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration
BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business
BELIEF -- Number

Date learned: 10-31-1975

View just this record

JAMAICAN MUMP PREVENTION IN ANIMALS

TO KEEP PUPPIES FROM GETTING MUMPS PUT RED CLOTH AROUND THEIR NECKS.

Submitter comment: DONALD LEE LEARNED THIS ITEM IN BUFF BAY, JAMAICA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; COLOR

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-31-1975

View just this record

prev | items
| next

University of Detroit Mercy
4001 W. McNichols Detroit , MI , 48221-3038
This site is endorsed by the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) and supports the views, values, and mission of UDM. The University of Detroit Mercy web site provides links to other web sites, both public and private, for informational purposes. The inclusion of these links on UDM's site does not imply endorsement by the University. Please contact the Associate Dean for Technical Services and Library Systems for any questions regarding this web site.