Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for POSITION returned 662 results.
IF YOU LOOK AT A BABY UPSIDE DOWN IT WILL END UP CROSSED EYED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001950S
IF YOU SLEEP ON YOUR RIGHT SIDE THEN YOU'LL BE A
GRUMPY PERSON, BUT IF YOU SLEEP ON YOUR LEFT SIDE
YOU'LL BE NICE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PERSONALITY ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 02-00-1983
NEVER SIT WITH YOUR BACK TOWARDS A DOOR, THIS WILL
DEFINITELY BRING YOU BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 03-00-1983
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
LIMERICK ON A FAMILY TRIP
THERE ONCE WAS A GIRL NAMED CHER,
WHO WAS ALWAYS BRUSHING HER HAIR.
ONE DAY PEOPLE SAY
HER HAIR BLEW AWAY.
AND NOW POOR CHER'S HEAD IS BARE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A POEM THAT MY SISTER MADE UP WHILE WE WERE PLAYING
A GAME IN THE CAR ON A FAMILY TRIP. THE GAME CONSISTS
OF EVERYBODY MAKING UP A FIVE-LINE POEM WITH A PERSON'S
NAME IN IT. AT THE END THE PERSON WITH THE BEST LIMERICK
GETS A PRIZE OF SOME SORT. USUALLY THE PRIZE TURNED OUT TO
BE A MILKSHAKE AT MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
James Callow Keyword(s): IMPROMPTU COMPOSITION OF POETRY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Wit Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
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 COMMITS SUICIDE AND THEREFORE CAN'T BE BURIED IN CHURCH.
THE BODY IS LEFT OUTSIDE IN THE SUN ON A WARM JULY AFTERNOON,
WHILE THE FAMILY SEEKS BURIAL APPROVAL FROM THE BISHOP.
THE BODY SITS OUTSIDE FOR HOURS, YET NO DECOMPOSER TAKES PLACE.
WAS HE BURIED ALIVE?
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WHITMORE LAKE
James Callow Keyword(s): DECOMPOSITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
(sung to a funeral dirge)
The worms crawl in
The worms crawl out
The worms play pinochle on your snout.
(spoken in a hushed and fearful tone)
When you see a hearse go by
You may be the next to die.
They wrap you up in a big white sheet
And drop you down a couple of feet.
(sung)
They eat out your eyes
They eat out your nose
They eat out the dirt that's between your toes.
Submitter comment:
When I hummed the melody of the dirge in this song and
asked Elinor if she had learned a children's song with
this same tune, she knew exactly the one I was referring
to, and repeated the one that I had learned, word for word.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRASER
Keyword(s): Death, Burial, Decomposition, Gore
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001950S
Pictures of counselors, dead on the floor,
Killed by the campers, one and all.
Blood on their shoulders,
Blood on their shirts,
Great big globs of blood on the dirt. MM
When counselors die
When counselors die
Don't bury their bones
Don't bury their bones
Just leave them lie
Just leave them lie
Among the stones
Among the stones
And paint a sign
And paint a sign
In letters green
In letters green
Here lie the bones of the losing team!
Here lie the bones of the losing team!
Submitter comment:
The repeating lines in the second stanza are sung
by two groups who alternate singing. Maryann states
that she was taught this song by her counselors while
attending Maskokie Day Camp in 1967.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
Keyword(s): death, decomposition, humor
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
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 |