Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for SUPERSTITION returned 465 results.
GOOD LUCK
WHEN GIVING A PURSE OR WALLET AS A GIFT, ALWAYS INCLUDE A PENNY
SO THE PERSON WON'T GO BROKE.
WHEN GIVING A GIFT WITH A SHARP EDGE, SUCH AS A KNIFE OR A LETTER-OPENER, ALWAYS INCLUDE A COIN SO THE FRIENDSHIP WON'T BE CUT.
Submitter comment:
These customs were telated with skepticism, but I receivedf a purse as a gift (with a penny included!) on the very same day.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
James Callow comment:
Re: Collector Comment: [I am glad you are including this kind of information.]
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; COIN ; Cut ; FRIENDSHIP ; GIFT ; MONEY ; Relationship ; Sharp ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 11-00-1969
BELIEF
WHEN A FRIEND LEAVES, DON'T WATCH HIM GO OUT OF SIGHT
OR YOU WILL NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN.
Submitter comment:
I WAS TOLD THIS WHEN PARTED FROM BOY FRIEND WHO BELIEVED THIS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Departure ; Goodbye ; Relationship ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
WHEN AN UNFAMILIAR GUEST ENTERS YOUR HOME, YOU
MUST HAVE FRESH FLOWERS IN THE HOUSE. THIS CUSTOM
ENSURED A HAPPY VISIT FOR BOTH PARTIES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: CANADA ; COLLECTED BY MAIL ; MONTREAL
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; FLOWERS ; Guest ; HOSPITALITY ; SUPERSTITION ; tradition
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
WEDDING DRESS OMEN
A GIRL SHOULD NEVER WEAR A WEDDING DRESS BEFORE HER TIME OR SHE WILL
REMAIN A WIDOW.
Submitter comment:
A BELIEF FROM SABINAS, MEXICO. PROBABLY COMMON IN MANY COUNTRIES. IN
FORMANT EXPRESSED LITTLE BELIEF IN IT HERSELF.
BY WIDOW THE INFORMANT MEANS SPINSTER MAIDEN.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BELIEF ; DEATH ; DRESS ; LUCK ; OMEN ; SUPERSTITION ; WEDDING
| Subject headings: | Observation ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 11-00-1981
OYSTERS WERE NEVER EATEN IN THE MONTHS THAT HAD NO
"R" IN THEM.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Consumption ; CUSTOM ; FOOD ; Letter ; Oysters ; RITUAL ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Custom CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Month Food Drink -- Meat Fish and other animal life related to water |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
VEGETABLES BELIEF
EAT VEGETABLES AND YOU WILL SLEEP LESS BUT WILL FEEL BETTER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Consume ; CUSTOM ; Eat ; Old Wives Tale ; SLEEP ; SUPERSTITION ; VEGETABLE
James Callow Keyword(s): PLANT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 11-02-1971
SUPERSTITION
ON YOUR WEDDING DAY YOU MUST HAVE A PAIR OF PENNY LOAFERS
WITH A PENNY IN THEM, WITH THE DATE OF YOUR BIRTH ON IT.
THIS WILL BRING GOOD LUCK ON THE HONEYMOON
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Keyword(s): GOOD LUCK ; MARRIAGE ; OMEN ; Penny ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL ; WEDDING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Penny in shoe BELIEF -- Good luck P881.41 |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
Railroad Tracks
Lift up your feet when you cross railroad tracks, or you will lose your boyfriend.
Data entry tech comment:
Input by TRD
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Boyfriend ; CUSTOM ; RAILROAD ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
DEATH BELIEF
IF SOMEONE LEAVES, DO NOT SHUT THE GATE RIGHT AFTER HIM
OR HE WILL DIE SOON.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; DEATH ; Gate ; Guest ; Leave ; OMEN ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 01-00-1968
GIFT BELIEF
A PURSE GIVEN AS A PRESENT SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE A PENNY IN IT SO
THE RECEIVER WON'T GO BROKE.
Submitter comment:
FROM HIS MOTHER
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; GIFT ; MONEY ; Penny ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-04-1965
SUPERSTITION
WHEN TWO PEOPLE MEET AN OBSTACLE IF THEY GO DIFFERENT WAYS AROUND
IT THEY WILL HAVE AN ARGUMENT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): ARGUMENT ; BELIEF ; FIGHT ; FRIENDSHIP ; Obstacle ; Separate ; SUPERSTITION ; Teamwork ; Together
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 01-00-1968
RAILROAD TRACKS
WHILE RIDING IN A CAR, IF YOU PASS OVER ANY RAILROAD TRACKS
AND DO NOT PICK UP BOTH YOUR FEET OFF THE FLOOR, YOU WILL LOSE
YOUR BOY FRIEND.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS
James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Boyfriend ; FEET ; Railroad Tracks ; Relationship ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | Prediction / Divination BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
RAILROAD TRACKS
TO KEEP YOUR BOY FRIEND, WHEN DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS,
A GIRL MUST LIFT HER LEFT FOOT OFF THE CAR FLOOR AND TOUCH
THE ROOF OF THE CAR WITH HER TWO INDEX FINGERS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Boyfriend ; Railroad Tracks ; Relationship ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BECAUSE OF THE HIGH WORK ABSENTEEISM ON FRIDAYS AND MONDAYS
(DAYS SURROUNDING WEEKENDS, AND OR HOLIDAYS) AND THEREFORE
MANY TEMPORARY SUBSTITUTE WORKERS, AUTOMOBILES MADE
ON THESE DAYS ARE SUBJECT TO CONSIDERABLY MORE DEFECT
POSSIBILITIES.
Submitter comment:
SOME PEOPLE ARE SO SUPERSTITIOUS ABOUT THIS THAT THEY REFUSE
DELIVERY OF SUCH CARS, SO SAID TIME MAGAZINE IN 1971.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TIME MAGAZINE
Keyword(s): Automotive ; Cars ; Defects ; Labor ; SUPERSTITION ; Time Magazine ; Workers
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 12-00-1971
IT IS VERY IMPORANT TO A JEWISH STORE-OWNER THAT THE FIRST
CUSTOMER ON A MONDAY MORNING MUST BUY SOMETHING, REGARDLESS
OF THE PRICE. IF AND WHEN THE CUSTOMER DOES BUY SOMETHING, IT
MEANS GOOD LUCK AND GOOD SELLING THE REST OF THE WEEK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Buy ; CUSTOM ; Customer ; Jewish ; Merchant ; Monday ; OMEN ; Purchase ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 10-00-1969
PUTTING UP A RAILFENCE DURING THE FLOWERDAYS
THE BOTTOM LOG OF A RAILFENCE (A FENCE MADE OF INTERLOCKING
LOGS WILL ROT AWAY WITHIN THREE YEARS IF THE BOTTOM LOGS ARE
LAID DURING THE CERTAIN TIME OF THE MOON. OTHERWISE THE BOTTOM
LOG WILL LAST MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. THAT IS WHY THE BOTTOM LOGS ARE
ALL LAID AT ONCE SO AS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RIGHT TIME OF
THE MOON.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Construction ; Fence ; Logs ; MOON ; Rot ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 10-30-1968
BELIEF
HARD WORK WILL PUT HAIR ON YOUR ARMS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Arms ; BELIEF ; GROWTH ; HAIR ; SUPERSTITION ; WORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 03-29-1968
SEWING ON SUNDAY
IF YOU SEW ON SUNDAY YOU WILL HAVE TO REMOVE ALL THE
STITCHES WITH YOUR NOSE WHEN YOU DIE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; NOSE ; PUNISHMENT ; Sew ; SEWING ; Stitches ; Sunday ; SUPERSTITION ; WORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PREGNANCY EFFECTS
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN SLEEPS A LOT OR SPENDS TOO MUCH TIME LYING
ON HER BACK, THE BABY WILL STICK TO HER BACK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; BIRTH ; MOTHER ; PREGNANCY ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-31-1967
PREGNANCY EFFECTS
WHAT A PREGNANT WOMAN THINKS ABOUT WILL HARM THE BABY IF IT IS
A BAD THOUGHT AND WILL HELP THE BABY IF IT IS A GOOD THOUGHT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; BIRTH ; MOTHER ; PREGNANCY ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-20-1967