Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for POSITION returned 662 results.
SUPERSTITION
NEVER GO IN THE FRONT DOOR AND IMMDIATELY OUT ANOTHER DOOR
WITHOUT FIRST SITTING DOWN IN THE HOUSE.
Submitter comment:
CAROLYN LEARNED THIS FROM HER GRANDMOTHER WHO IS A FIRM
BELIEVER IN THE PRACTICE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 09-20-1967
CAR BELIEF
IF A GIRL IS RIDING IN A CAR AND IT CROSSES OVER RAILROAD
TRACKS, SHE MUST LIFT UP HER FEET OR SHE WILL NOT GET MARRIED.
Submitter comment: INFORMANTS ATTITUDE WAS QUITE SKEPTICAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): DISBELIEF ; POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WALKING
WHEN WALKING WITH SOMEONE NEVER LET A POLE OR ANY
OTHER BARRIER COME BETWEEN THE TWO PEOPLE. BOTH PEOPLE MUST
GO AROUND THE SAME SIDE OF THE BARRIER OR SOME BARRIER WILL
COME BETWEEN THEIR PERSONAL FRIENDSHIP.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S AUNT DOES THIS AND INFORMANT HAS BEEN WITH HER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 03-05-1971
BELIEF
IF A PERSON ENTERS ONE DOOR, HE SHOULD LEAVE BY THE SAME TO
AVOID BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THIS INFORMANT'S GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS MADE SURE THIS WAS DONE IN
HER HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 09-22-1970
WALKING DOWN STAIRS
WHEN WALKING UP OR DOWN STAIRS WITH ANOTHER PERSON THE TWO
PEOPLE MUST WALK ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE STAIRS OR BAD LUCK
WILL FOLLOW THEM.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANTS AUNT TOLD HER THIS. INFORMANT HAS BEEN WITH HER
AUNT WHEN SHE HAS DONE THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 03-05-1971
RAILROAD CROSSING
WHENEVER CROSSING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS EVERYONE IN THE CAR
SHOULD LIFT THEIR FEET OFF THE FLOOR, DRIVER INCLUDED, AND
TOUCH THE ROOF OF THE CAR WITH THEIR HANDS. THIS IS TO INSURE THE
OCCUPANTS OF A LONG LIFE AND TO WARD OFF THE COMING OF OLD AGE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOES THIS OFTEN WHEN CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS IN A CAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Gesture |
WHEN CROSSING A BRIDGE OVER WATER HOLD YOUR BREATH AND
PICK UP YOUR FEET OR YOU LOSE YOUR BOYFRIEND.
Submitter comment: ACQUIRED IN TAMPA, FLORIDA WHILE SHE WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL.
Where learned: PLACE TOLD IN CAR
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
PREDICTION
WHILE GOING OVER A RAILROAD TRACK YOU MUST PICK UP YOUR FEET
OR YOU WILL LOSE YOUR BOY OR GIRL FRIEND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: 09-00-1969
WHEN YOU ARE RIDING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS IN A CAR, YOU
SHOULD LIFT YOUR FEET OFF THE FLOOR SO YOU WILL NOT LOSE YOUR
NEXT GIRL FRIEND.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: 09-25-1968
COURTING BELIEF
RAISE YOUR FEET WHEN CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS OR YOU WILL LOSE
YOUR BOY FRIEND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: 11-11-1968
LUCK OF THE FAMILY.
WHEN VISITING A HOUSE IN IRELAND ONE MUST ALWAYS LEAVE BY THE
SAME DOOR YOU CAME IN, OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE STEALING THE GOOD
James Callow comment: INCOMPLETE ITEM
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 11-00-1970
OMENS
IF A GENTLEMAN LETS A LADY WALK ON THE CURB SIDE, IT MEANS
THAT HE HAS HER FOR SALE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
James Callow Keyword(s): CHIVALRY ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 02-17-1970
SUPERSTITION
WHEN TWO PEOPLE MEET AN OBSTACLE IF THEY GO DIFFERENT WAYS AROUND
IT THEY WILL HAVE AN ARGUMENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): HOSTILITY ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 01-00-1968
PREDICTION -DIVINATION
IF TWO PEOPLE ARE WALKING AND A POLE IS IN THEIR PATH THEY MUST
WALK ON EACH SIDE AND SAY BREAD AND BUTTER WHEN THEY COME
TOGETHER. IF THEY DO NOT THEY WILL HAVE A FIGHT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
James Callow Keyword(s): HOSTILITY ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Formula |
BELIEF ABOUT A FRIENDSHIP BRACELET
A RAWHIDE BRACELET IS GIVEN TO YOU BY YOUR FRIEND
AS A TOKEN OF YOUR FRIENDSHIP. IT CONSISTS OF FOUR KNOTS
ONE THE BIGGEST, IS A SQUARE KNOT REPRESENTING SOME EVIL.
THE OTHER THREE REPRESENT IN ORDER, YOUR FRIEND, YOURSELF
AND A WALL. THIS IS SAID TO MEAN THAT AS LONG AS YOU HAVE YOUR FRIEND
YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO FACE EVIL HEAD ON, BECAUSE YOUR FRIEND IS IN
FRONT OF YOU, AND THE WALL IS BEHIND YOU.
IT WAS SAID THAT YOU HAD TO WEAR THESE BRACELETS FOR A PERIOD OF
ONE YEAR, OR UNTIL THEY ROTTED OFF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBERS ; POSITION DIRECTION ; SYMBOL
Date learned: 10-23-1970
RAILROAD TRACKS
WHILE RIDING IN A CAR, IF YOU PASS OVER ANY RAILROAD TRACKS
AND DO NOT PICK UP BOTH YOUR FEET OFF THE FLOOR, YOU WILL LOSE
YOUR BOY FRIEND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: 11-00-1968
IF YOU BACK INTO THE HOUSE YOUR GLASSES WILL NOT STEAM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
RAILROAD TRACKS
TO KEEP YOUR BOY FRIEND, WHEN DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS,
A GIRL MUST LIFT HER LEFT FOOT OFF THE CAR FLOOR AND TOUCH
THE ROOF OF THE CAR WITH HER TWO INDEX FINGERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PUTTING UP A RAILFENCE DURING THE FLOWERDAYS
THE BOTTOM LOG OF A RAILFENCE (A FENCE MADE OF UNDERLOCKING
LOGS) WILL ROT AWAY WITHIN THREE YEARS IF THE BOTTOM LOGS ARE
LAID DURING THE CERTAIN TIME OF THE MOON. OTHERWISE THE BOTTOM
LOG WILL LAST MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. THAT IS WHY THE BOTTOM LOGS ARE
ALL LAID AT ONCE SO AS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RIGHT TIME OF
THE MOON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBER ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple 686 Fifths BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.6 |
Date learned: 10-30-1968
BASEBALL SUPERSTITION
BASEBALL PLAYERS WILL NOT STEP ON THE BASE LINE WHEN GOING
OUT TO FIELD THEIR POSITION. TO DO SO IS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 01-22-1968