Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for POSITION returned 662 results.
SUPERSTITION
TO PREDICT VISITORS: IF A SPOON DROPS, A BABY WILL COME TO VISIT;
IF A FORK DROPS, THE VISITOR WILL BE A WOMAN; IF A KNIFE DROPS, THE
VISITOR WILL BE A MAN. WHICHEVER WAY THE UTENSIL DROPS WILL BE THE
DIRECTION FROM WHICH THE VISITOR WILL COME.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00-00-1981
SUPERSTITION
WHENEVER THE FAMILY HAS CHICKEN AND THERE IS A WISHBONE, BREAK IT
WITH THE PERSON TO YOUR RIGHT AND THE PERSON WITH THE LONGEST BONE
GETS TO MAKE A WISH.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
GOOD LUCK
IF YOU ARE WORKING AND YOU STUMBLE ON A ROCK WITH YOUR RIGHT FOOT,
GOOD LUCK IN THE FUTURE. IF IT IS THE LEFT FOOT THEN THE FUTURE
HOLDS BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN NIGERIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time Working BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
LUCK
A SYRIAN BELIEF IS THAT UPSIDE-DOWN SHOES ARE SYMBOLIC OF
INTENSELY BAD LUCK AND/OR DEATH TO THEIR OWNER.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001930S
LUCK
IN THE SOUTH, IT IS BAD LUCK TO STEP OVER SOMEONE ON THE GROUND.
DOING THIS USUALLY PRECEDES MANY ACCIDENTS.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001950S
LUCK
IT IS BAD LUCK, USUALLY FINANCIALLY TO TURN A LOAF OF BREAD
UPSIDE DOWN.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001950S
SUPERSTITOUS BELIEF
IT IS CONSIDERED BAD LUCK TO PASS SOMEONE ON THE STAIRS. YOU HAVE
TO WAIT UNTIL THE OTHER PERSON IS UP OR DOWN THE STAIRS BEFORE YOU
CAN USE THEM.
Submitter comment:
LAURA LEARNED THIS FROM HER GRANDMOTHER, AGNUS SYLVAIN, WHO IS 83
YEARS OLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
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: 10-00-1981
SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEF
IF YOU DON'T LEAVE BY THE SAME DOOR THAT YOU CAME IN THEN YOU WON'T
BE INVITED BACK AGAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
IT IS BAD LUCK FOR BASEBALL PLAYERS TO PLACE THEIR EMPTY SHOES ON
THE GROUND BACKWARDS; THAT IS, PLACING THE RIGHT SHOE ON THE LEFT
AND THE LEFT SHOE ON THE RIGHT.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS NOTED WHEN BASEBALL PLAYERS CHANGE FROM TENNIS SHOES
INTO THEIR SPIKES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: 00001970S
EACH APRIL THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SAINT FRANCIS CLUB MEETS ONE
LAST TIME BEFORE THE NEWLY-ELECTED BOARD TAKES OFFICE. THE SAINT
FRANCIS CLUB IS A UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT SOCIAL COOPERATIVE AND
STUDENT ORGANIZATION. FOR THE LAST MEETING OF THE OLD BOARD, ALL
FORMALITY IS DROPPED BECAUSE IT IS NOT REALLY MEANT TO BE A SERIOUS
MEETING. THE OFFICIAL REPORTS THAT ARE NORMALLY GIVEN ARE
DISCOURAGED, AND IT IS REALLY AN OCCASION FOR JOKING AND DRINKING AND
JUST HAVING A GOOD TIME IN THE TRADITONAL CLUB SPIRIT, WHILE THE
SECRETARY RECORDS THE MINUTES BACKWARDS (SO THAT THEY MUST BE READ
IN A MIRROR). THIS HAS BEEN AN ANNUAL TRADITION FOR SOME TIME NOW,
AND THE ENTIRE BOARD USUALLY SHOWS UP FOR THIS MEETING, AN OTHERWISE
RARE OCCURENCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- April CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 03-00-1979
IF YOU WALK OVER A CHILD LYING ON THE FLOOR, YOU MUST WALK BACK OR
THE CHILD WILL NOT GROW ANYMORE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HIS MOTHER, WHO WAS BORN IN LEBANON AND
HEARD IT THERE. NEITHER THE INFORMANT NOR HIS MOTHER TAKE THIS
SUPERSTITION SERIOUSLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRASER
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
WHEN I WANT MY TRUE LOVE BY ME
I SHAPE MY SHOES INTO A T.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS DONE TO BRING YOUR LOVER TO YOUR SIDE. YOU SAY THIS AFTER
YOU HAVE ARRANGED YOUR SHOES SO THAT THE TOE OF THE RIGHT SHOE
TOUCHES THE MIDDLE OF THE LEFT SHOE.
INFORMANT REMEMBERS READING ABOUT THIS IN A MAGAZINE.
Where learned: OHIO ; DEFIANCE
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Lower body and legs BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Emblem |
Date learned: 02-00-1982
IF YOUR LEFT EYE BEGINS TO TWITCH, IT MEANS YOU WILL RECEIVE
GOOD NEWS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
CREOLE BELIEF
WALK BACKWARDS IF YOU CURSE YOUR MOTHER OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; BREAUX BRIDGE ; LOS ANGELES
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 00-00-1929
CREOLE BELIEF
IF AN OWL HOWLS TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES AND TURN THEM UPSIDE DOWN
OR BAD LUCK WILL COME TO YOU
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; BREAUX BRIDGE ; LOS ANGELES
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 00-00-1933
CREOLE BELIEF
DO NOT WALK OVER A BROOM, BECAUSE IT IS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; BREAUX BRIDGE ; LOS ANGELES
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1930
CREOLE BELIEF
DO NOT PUT A BABY'S SHOE HIGHER THAN THE BABY'S HEAD OR IT WILL NOT
GROW ANY TALLER.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; BREAUX BRIDGE ; LOS ANGELES
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1935
WHEN YOU PUT YOUR SHIRT ON BACKWARDS OR INSIDE OUT,
WITH ANY ARTICLE OF CLOTHING, YOU MAY MAKE A WISH
WHILE PROPERLY PUTTING ON YOUR CLOTHES.
Submitter comment: THIS WISH WILL BE GRANTED.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): DRESSING ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1940
BELIEF
IF YOUR LEFT HAND IS ITCHY IT MEANS YOU WILL RECEIVE MONEY.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 00-00-1940
CURE FOR WARTS
TO RID YOURSELF OF A WART, RUB A PENNY ON IT AND TAKE THE
PENNY TO THE NEAREST CROSSROAD. THROW THE PENNY OVER YOUR
LEFT SHOULDER AND LEAVE WITHOUT LOOKING BACK. THE NEXT
PERSON FINDING THE PENNY WILL ALSO GET THE WART. THIS
WAS TOLD TO ME AROUND 1970 BY MY GRANDMOTHER, MARY GIBBLE,
IN KALAMAZOO. SHE ALSO TOLD ME THAT SHE TRIED THE CURE
YEARS AGO AND IT WORKED.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT LATER TOLD ME THAT MRS. GIBBLE WAS BORN IN
SWITZERLAND AND EMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES AROUND 1920.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; TRANSFER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 09-00-1982