Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for POSITION DIRECTION returned 526 results.
REMEDY FOR WARTS
REMEDY FOR REMOVAL OF WARTS AS TOLD BY MARK TWAIN:
UNDER A FULL MOON GO TO CEMETERY, STAND WITH YOUR
BACK TO THE MOON AND THROW THE BODY OF A DEAD BLACK
CAT BY THE CAT'S TAIL OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 10-17-1983
IF THE HEM ON YOUR DRESS IS TURNED UP (ON THE OUTSIDE),
THEN YOU ARE GOING TO GET A NEW DRESS.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; BALDWIN COUNTY ; FOLEY
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001940-00001958
IF YOUR NECKLACE TURNS AROUND SO THAT THE CLASP IS IN
FRONT AND SOMEONE NOTICES IT, THEN YOU MAKE A WISH
AS YOU TURN THE CLASP AROUND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK ; OAKLAND COUNTY
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
WHEN OUR BABIES ARE INFANTS, WE PUT THEIR UNDERSHIRTS
ON INSIDE-OUT TO CONFUSE THE EVIL EYE AND KEEP IT AWAY
FROM THE BABY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): DRESSING ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Overall body coverUpper body and arms BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
YOU SHOULD NOT CROSS OVER A CHILD WHO IS CRAWLING ON THE FLOOR
BECAUSE HE MIGHT HAVE SOME PHYSICAL ABNORMALITIES WHEREVER YOU
CROSSED OVER HIM. IN ORDER FOR THIS NOT TO HAPPEN, YOU SHOULD
RECROSS OVER HIM IN THE OPPOSITE WAY.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
STEPPING INTO "SHIT" BRINGS GOOD LUCK, SPECIALLY IF IT IS THE
LEFT FOOT.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
James Callow Keyword(s): LEFT RIGHT ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
WHEN TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE FRIENDS ARE WALKING SIDE BY SIDE ON THE
ROAD IT IS FORBIDDEN FOR ANOTHER PERSON TO PASS BETWEEN THEM.
IF ANOTHER FELLOW PASSES BETWEEN THEM, THE COMMONSENSE OF THE TWO
FRIENDS WILL MOVE IN TO THE HEAD OF THE PERSON THAT PASSES
WHILE THE TWO FRIENDS WILL BECOME IDIOTS.
Where learned: NIGERIA ; KADUNA
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; TRANSFER
Date learned: 00-00-1972
POSITION OF RICE AT DINNER (THAI)
"THE THAIS WILL PLACE THEIR DISH OF RICE CLOSEST TO THEM WHEN
THEY'RE EATING."
Submitter comment:
I LEARNED THIS AT A THAI PARTY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT. A
THAI GIRL SAID TO ME THAT I AM NOT THAI BECAUSE I PLACED THE
RICE FAR FROM ME. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE OTHER THAIS, I SAW
THAT THEY ALL HAD THEIR DISH OF RICE CLOSEST TO THEMSELVES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Food container |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
CHINESE BURIAL CUSTOM
"WHEN BURYING THEIR DEAD, THE CHINESE ARE VERY CHOOSEY ABOUT
THE SITE. THE AREA WHICH IS CHOSEN WILL HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE
NEXT GENERATION. THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SITE WILL AFFECT THE
ELDEST SON, THE THIRD SON, THE FIFTH SON,...(1,3,5,7,...).
THE LEFT SIDE WILL AFFECT THE EVEN-NUMBERED SONS AND THE BACK
SIDE WILL AFFECT ALL THE DAUGHTERS."
Submitter comment:
IF ALL THE SIDES ARE GOOD, EVERYTHING WILL BE GOOD FOR THE FAMILY.
BUILDINGS NEAR THE SITE CAN CHANGE THE AFFECT OF THE SITE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Cemetery BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Even number (not specific) BELIEF -- Number Odd number (not specific) |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
SUPERSTITION
IN ORDER FOR SPIRITS NOT TO HARM YOU, THEY SAY YOU MUST GO TO
THE GRAVEYARD OR CEMETERY AND PICK UP A HANDFUL OF DIRT. AFTER
YOU HAVE THE DIRT IN YOUR POSSESSION YOU MUST THEN SPRINKLE
IT IN THE FOUR CORNERS OF YOUR HOUSE OR YARD.
Where learned: BAHAMAS ; NASSAU
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 00001950S
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU FIND A PENNY TAILS UP, DON'T PICK IT UP BECAUSE IT IS
BAD LUCK AND YOU WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT.
Submitter comment:
LINDA WAS VERY SERIOUS AS SHE WAS TELLING ME THESE SUPERSTITIONS.
SHE BELIEVES IN THEM AND FOLLOWS THEM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Bad luck Money |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
NEVER SLEEP ON YOUR LEFT SIDE.
IT IS BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
A MAN MUST BUY A BROOM FOR HIS HOUSE, AND CARRY IT
INSIDE UPSIDE DOWN ALONG WITH A BOX OF SALT. IT IS
GOOD LUCK TO DO SO.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SMALL MINING TOWN IN
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Home BELIEF -- Good luck |
Good Luck
Standing on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean just before
sunrise can put you in a great state of mind and can bring
you a world of good luck. If you then take a quarter out
of your pocket
and throw it out into the ocean as far as you can it will
bring you 25 days of good luck. This all must be done before
the sun rises.
Where learned: FLORIDA ; FORT LAUDERDALE
Keyword(s): Buying luck
James Callow Keyword(s): East ; POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: 00-00-1991
If you find a penny and the front is facing
upwards then it will bring you good luck.
If the back is facing upwards then it will
bring you bad luck.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001970S
If you hang wolfbang (an herb) above the
kitchen door all will be well in your house.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; wolfbane?
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Home BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 00001985ca
Don't step over someone younger than you or you will stunt his
growth. If you do, you should step back over him to reverse
the omen.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Conversions |
A woman should never place her purse on the floor or she will
never receive any money.
Submitter comment:
The informant learned this from an older woman while she was
attending church. She also said that the older woman was
clutching her purse in her lap as if she fully believed this
to be true.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; Taboo ; Unnatural place
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Date learned: 03-00-1991
In England myrtle is considered lucky. In Wales
myrtle is planted on each side of a home to
insure love & to keep the atmosphere peaceful.
Submitter comment: Many people still consider myrtle a sign of peace.
Where learned: ENGLAND ; LONDON
Keyword(s): nature, beauty
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1990
Cure for the hiccups
Drink a glass of water and turn upside down. Your hiccups will
be cured. If by some chance that does not work, hold your breath
for 15 seconds.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number P686.1.15 BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 00001970S