Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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TESTS
SMOKE ONLY BEFORE AND AFTER A TEST AND YOU WILL PASS IT.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): MAGICAL CONTROL ; SMOKING TABU DURING EXAMINATIONS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School |
Date learned: CA1963-1975
GODPARENTS
CONFIRMATION SPONSORS AND GODPARENTS GIVE PRESENTS AS PROTECTION
FROM EVIL.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): BAPTISM ; GIFTGIVING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Maturity |
Date learned: CA1963-1975
HORSESHOES
NEVER HANG A HORSESHOE UPSIDE DOWN BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS THE
DEVIL'S HORNS.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ;
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms |
Date learned: CA1963-1975
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
IF THE FIRST PERSON TO COME THROUGH THE DOOR OF YOUR HOUSE ON
CHRISTMAS EVE IS A DARK HAIRED MAN YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK IN THE
YEAR TO COME.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CHRISTMAS ; COLOR ; GOOD LUCK ; HAIR ; holiday ; LUCK ; Man ; OMEN ; SYMBOL
James Callow Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 BELIEF -- Good luck P881.42 |
Date learned: 00001930S
RIDDLE
WHAT BOW CAN NEVER BE TIED?
A RAINBOW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): RAINBOW
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00001960S
LIMERICK
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON IN TOWN
WHOSE FACE WAS ADORNED WITH A FROWN
WHEN HE OPENED THE DOOR,
FOR A MINUTE OR MORE,
HE ALARMED ALL THE PEOPLE IN TOWN.
Submitter comment:
THESE LIMERICKS WERE LEARNED OF IN A SIXTH GRADE ENGLISH CLASS
AT SAINT HEDWIG GRADE SCHOOL. THE BOOK THEY WERE TAKED FROM
IS NOT KNOWN BY ME BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD BY THE TEACHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): RHYME: AABBA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 00001960S
LIMERICK
A LIVELY YOUNG FELLOW NAMED KELLY,
GOT AN AWFUL SAD ACHE IN HIS DIGESTION.
HIS WIFE IN HER HASTE,
HAD SERVED HIM UP PASTE
INSTEAD OF THE TOAST AND THE JELLY.
Submitter comment:
THESE LIMERICKS WERE LEARNED OF IN A SIXTH GRADE ENGLISH CLASS
AT SAINT HEDWIG GRADE SCHOOL. THE BOOK THEY WERE TAKED FROM
IS NOT KNOWN BY ME BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD BY THE TEACHER.
James Callow Keyword(s): DISTORTION OF RHYME SCHEME ; EUPHEMISM: DIGESTION FOR BELLY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 00001960S
RAVENS
LONDONERS BELIEVE THAT WHEN ALL RAVENS LEAVE THEIR CITY, DISASTER
WILL FOLLOW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BRITISH?
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.32 |
Date learned: 11-00-1971
DON'T BURN YOUR HAIR WHEN IT COMES OUT IN THE COMB, YOU ARE
SUPPOSED TO THROW IT OUTSIDE FOR THE BIRDS TO MAKE THEIR NESTS
OUT OF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): OPPOSITE OF A CONTAGIOUS MAGIC BELIEF ALSO IN ARCHIVE
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Bird |
BEE
IT IS GOOD FOR A BEE TO STING YOU BECAUSE IT MAKES YOUR CELLS WORK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): VITALIZING BEE STING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-01-1971
SUPERSTITION
ITS GOOD FOR A BEE TO STING YOU BECAUSE IT MAKES YOUR CELLS WORK.
James Callow Keyword(s): VITALIZING BEE STING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
A BELIEF
IF A DRAGONFLY LANDS ON YOUR EAR, IT WILL SEW IT UP.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS TALE AS A CHILD, AND AT THE TIME HE THOUGHT
THAT IT WAS PROBABLY TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT ; BELIEF
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect |
Date learned: 02-15-1972
BELIEF
STEPPING ON A SPIDER WILL BRING RAIN.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOES NOT BELIEVE THIS STATEMENT.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
James Callow Keyword(s): DISBELIEF ; HARMING NATURE
Date learned: 02-19-1972
WEATHER BELIEF
SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT ONE CAN PREDICT THE SEVERITY OF THE WINTER
BY OBSERVING THE COLORATION OF THE WOOLLY BEAR CATERPILLAR. IF THEY
ARE MOSTLY BLACK IN COLOR, THE WINTER WILL BE SEVERE, WHILE IF THEY
ARE MOSTLY BROWN IN COLOR, THE WINTER WILL BE LESS SEVERE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS THIS BELIEF MIGHT BE TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT ; BELIEF
IF A LADYBUG LANDS ON YOU SHE WILL BRING YOU GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL BEETLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Good luck P881.33 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SIGN OF GOOD LUCK
HAVING A LADYBUG LAND ON YOU IS A SIGN OF GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL BEETLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Good luck P881.33 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BELIEF OR PREDICTION
YOU CAN DETERMINE THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE BY COUNTING THE NUMBER
OF TIMES A CRICKET RUBS HIS FOOT IN A MINUTE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT ; WHICH RUBBING PRODUCES CHIRPING SOUND.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.3 |
SEWING BUGS
NEVER GET TOO NEAR A SEWING BUG (DRAGON FLY), BECAUSE THEY WILL
SEW YOUR EYELIDS SHUT.
Submitter comment:
I REALLY BELIEVED IN THIS WHEN I WAS LITTLE, AND I WAS TERRIFIED
OF SEWING BUGS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.11 |
Date learned: 11-17-1968
FISH (REPTILE)
IF YOU PICK UP A TOAD, AND IN DOING SO, TOUCHED ITS BACK, SAID
PERSON WOULD RECEIVE WARTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL AMPHIBIAN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fish BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.35 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE DEAD MAN IN A CRAB
THERE IS A CERTAIN PART OF A CRAB NEAR THE END OF THE SHELL, WHICH
IS BELIEVED BY SOME TO BE A DEAD MAN. ANYONE WHO ATE THIS WOULD
IMMEDIATELY DIE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT AND HIS FRIENDS BELIEVED THIS ABSOLUTELY WHILE CHILDREN IN TIDEWATER, VIRGINIA IN THE 1930S.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL CRUSTACEAN ; BELIEF
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fish BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance P880.34 |
Date learned: 02-18-1970