Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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TICK, TACK, TOE
AND AROUND WE GO
AND WHERE WE STOP
NOBOBY KNOWS.
THE PERSON CLOSES HIS EYES AS HE RECITES THIS VERSE.
HE CIRCLES THE CHART WITH A POINTER AND WHERE THE
VERSE ENDS, HE POINTS TO THE PLACE WHERE HE STOPS.
AS MANY POINTS HE POINTS TO, THAT'S THE AMOUNT HE
GETS. AT THE END OF THE GAME, THE PERSON WITH THE
MOST POINTS WINS.
Submitter comment: I USED TO PLAY THIS WHEN I WAS SMALL, IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SEE NUMBERED, WHEEL-CHART, DRAWN ON 5 X 8 CARD.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime C500.750 |
Date learned: 11-28-1967
To her knowledge, when a child of Greek descent is born, he or
she is given a charm (a golden eye) to protect him or her from what
is called a "matiasma." Roughly translated it means "given the eye"
or "eyed." This happens when someone admires someone out of jealousy
out loud. For example, "His voice is so incredible. I wish I had it."
Once one is eyed, if he or she is not wearing the charm or if one
doesn't say "ftousou" which is a Greek word that means "to spray
saliva," he or she is condemned to sickness. (When said, ftousou
literally sprays saliva in the person's face.)
Submitter comment:
This particular superstition is feared by my informant because,
as a child, she was "eyed" and became seriously ill. All was tried to
lower my informant's fever but nothing worked. Finally, with
hesitation, a witch doctor was summoned and the fever disappeared
within a single day. To this day she has believed in the curse and
gave me and her other son the golden eye. However, both have been
misplaced and to this date have not been found.
Where learned: GREECE
Keyword(s): AILMENT ; SICKNESS ; unexplained
James Callow Keyword(s): amulet, talisman
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00001943CA
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THE FIRST VISITOR IN THE HOME AFTER THE BIRTH OF A
BABY WILL BRING GOOD LUCK THROUGHOUT THE CHILD'S LIFE
IF IT IS A MAN AND BAD LUCK THROUGHOUT LIFE IF IT IS
A WOMAN. FR. MALONY LEARNED THIS FROM HIS MOTHER
AT HOME, WHO IS OF IRISH DESCENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; RECTORY ; HOLY NAME
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
Date learned: 02-19-1967
IF YOU WALK AN INFANT AROUND THE DINING ROOM ON SUNDAY
DURING THE HIGH MASS, THE CHILD WILL BE ABLE TO
WALK SOONER.
Submitter comment: LEARNED AT HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EXERCISE
Date learned: 03-25-1967
GIRLS WHO WEAR WHITE BOOTS ARE FRIGID.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): SEX
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
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THE BEER LABEL TEST FOR GIRLS
HOLD A BOTTLE OF BEER IN ONE HAND AND WITH THE THUMB
OF THAT HAND START AT THE TOP OF THE LABEL, TEARING
DOWN. IF THE GIRL CAN TEAR IT ALL THE WAY TO THE
BOTTOM, SHE IS SUPPOSEDLY A VIRGIN.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): SEX
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
THERE IS A SCULPTURED OWL ABOUT YEA HIGH (2 FT.)
ON DE PAUU U. CAMPUS WHICH WILL HOOT WHEN A VIRGIN
WALKS BY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): SEX
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 08-12-1968
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PLAYFUL SPIRIT
"POLTER GEIST" IS A GERMAN TERM THAT MEANS SPIRIT THAT HECKLES
(PLAYFUL). BUT THEY WON'T HARM YOU. WHEN YOU BEGIN TALKING
ABOUT THEM, PEOPLE LOOK AT YOU LIKE YOU ARE CRAZY.
THIS INCIDENT ALSO TOOK PLACE IN WINCHESTER, TENNESSEE. THE
CATHOLIC SCHOOL THERE WAS CALLED WINCHESTER ACADEMY. IT WAS
IN A CIVIL WAR BUILDING, WHICH HAD BEEN THE HEADQUARTERS OF
ROSENCRAN DURING THE CIVIL WAR. FOR MANY YEARS THE SISTERS
HAD LIVED IN THE BUILDING, BUT AROUND 1962 THE OLD BUILDING HAD
BEEN CONDEMNED AND THEY MADE THEIR RESIDENCE IN A SMALL HOUSE
A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL. THIS HOUSE HAD BELONGED
TO A VETERINARIAN WHO WAS AN ALCOHOLIC. MANY OF HIS INSTRU-
MENTS WERE STILL IN THE HOUSE WHEN THE PARISH BOUGHT IT. THE
PASTOR CLEARED AWAY THE THINGS. THE WIFE HAD TAKEN VERY GOOD
CARE OF THE YARD. THE SISTERS HADN'T DONE AS WELL AS SHE.
WHEN THE PARISH BOUGHT THE HOUSE THEY HAD TO DO SOME REMAKING
SO AS TO MAKE A CONVENT FOR THE SISTERS. THEY HAD PUT THE
CHAPEL RIGHT NEXT TO ONE OF THE BEDROOMS.
ONE NIGHT AROUND 11:30 OR 12:00, THE SISTERS HEARD A SQUEAKING
SOUND, LIKE A DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING. BUT THEY COULD SEE
NO DOOR MOVING; THEN THEY HEARD HEAVY FOOTSTEPS AND WALKING
AROUND. THE SISTERS WERE IN THE SAME ROOM. THEY HEARD "HA,
HA, HA"--SOUNDING LIKE IT WAS IN THE CHAPEL, THE ROOM RIGHT
NEXT TO THEM. THEY WENT AND LOOKED ALL AROUND THE HOUSE,
THINKING SOME ONE WAS IN THE HOUSE. BUT THEY COULD FIND NO
ONE. THEY WENT BACK TO THEIR ROOM AND THEY COULD HEAR THE
SOUNDS AGAIN. SO THE TWO SISTERS DECIDED TO SAY THE ROSARY
OUT LOUD AND THE NOISE STOPPED WITHIN A SHORT TIME.
James Callow Keyword(s): EXORCISM ; POLTERGEIST
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
GHOST OF ROSECRAN; POLTERGEIST
FOUR SISTERS WERE TEACHING IN WINCHESTER, TENNESSEE, IN AN OLD
SCHOOL BUILDING THAT USED TO BE THE HEADQUARTERS OF ROSECRAN.
TWO SISTERS WERE IN THE SISTERS' ROOM AND THEY COULD HEAR THE
SOUND OF FEET DRAGGING, AND THE SOUND OF FINGERS POPPING. THIS
BUILDING HAD BEEN USED AS A PLACE TO HANG SPIES DURING THE
CIVIL WAR. ONE OF THE SISTERS SAID, "I HEAR FEET DRAGGING AND
SHUFFLING, DO YOU?" "YES," SHE HEARD IT TOO. THEY HEARD IT A
SECOND TIME. THEY WENT TO ANOTHER SISTER AND ASKED HER. SHE
DID HAVE A HEAVY FOOT; SHE SAID THAT SHE HADN'T. THIS SISTER
HAD HAD EXPERIENCES WITH THE SPIRITS ALSO. SHE SAID SHE KNEW
HOW TO GET RID OF THEM. SHE SAID TO SAY, "IN THE NAME OF GOD,
WHAT DO YOU WANT, AND MAY YOU REST IN PEACE." ALSO TAKE HOLY
WATER, WHICH IS A SACRAMENTAL IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND
SPRINKLE IT AROUND AS YOU SAY THIS. THE SISTER WHO WAS MY
INFORMANT, SAID THAT SHE WASN'T GOING TO SAY "WHAT DO YOU WANT?"
BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO FIND OUT. BUT SHE DID SAY, "IN THE
NAME OF GOD MAY YOU REST IN PEACE." THEN THE NOISE STOPPED.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): EXORCISM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
COAL MINER'S BELIEF
AN ANCIEN BELIEF AMONG MANY COAL MINERS IS THAT IT IS BAD LUCK
FOR A WOMAN TO COME INTO THE MINES. I ASKED THREE VETERANS
OF COAL MINING, CANDY WRIGHT, RICH CLAUSE, AND BILL STOTT,
IF THEY HAD HEARD THIS OLD SAYING. THEY SAID THEY HAD HEARD
IT MANY TIMES, BUT THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE IT. THEY REMEMBERED
WOMEN BEING ALLOWED TO TOUR THE MINES WHERE THEY WORKED AND
NOTHING HAPPENED. THIS TALE IS JUST "DOODLE DUST" AS WE
MINERS SAY.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; WILLIAMSBURG
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 03-29-1969
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IF A PREGNANT WOMAN GOES TO A FUNERAL, THE BABY WILL BE
BORN PALE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; WARTRACE
James Callow Keyword(s): COMPLEXION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 06-18-1972
SHE SAID THAT YOU SHOULD NEVER LET A WOMAN COME TO YOUR HOUSE
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY BECAUSE IT BRINGS BAD LUCK. SHE SAID THAT ONE
DAY A LADY CAME TO HER HOUSE ON THIS DAY AND IT MADE HER
CALENDAR THAT SHE LOVED FALL OFF THE WALL AND BURN UP.
ALSO SHE SAID THAT ONE TIME A MAN AND WOMAN CAME TO HER
HOUSE AND A FEW DAYS AFTER THEY HAD GONE, ONE OF HER
DOGS DIED.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; FAYETTEVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
Date learned: 07-04-1970