Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for BELIEF returned 508 results.
WHEN CROSSING A BRIDGE OVER WATER HOLD YOUR BREATH AND
PICK UP YOUR FEET OR YOU LOSE YOUR BOYFRIEND.
Submitter comment:
ACQUIRED IN TAMPA, FLORIDA WHILE SHE WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Boyfriend ; BREATH ; Bridge ; FEET ; Girlfriend ; Relationship ; SUPERSTITION ; WATER
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
Date learned: 08-02-1969
PREDICTION
WHILE GOING OVER A RAILROAD TRACK YOU MUST PICK UP YOUR FEET
OR YOU WILL LOSE YOUR BOY OR GIRL FRIEND.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Boyfriend ; Girlfriend ; Relationship ; SUPERSTITION ; Tracks
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
Date learned: 09-00-1969
WHEN YOU ARE RIDING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS IN A CAR, YOU
SHOULD LIFT YOUR FEET OFF THE FLOOR SO YOU WILL NOT LOSE YOUR
NEXT GIRL FRIEND.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Boyfriend ; Car ; Girlfriend ; Relationship ; SUPERSTITION ; Tracks
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
| Subject headings: |
Date learned: 09-25-1968
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
PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM
ONE TODAY IS WORTH TWO TOMORROWS
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
Keyword(s): ADVICE ; BELIEF ; Maxim ; NUMBERS ; NUMBERS
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE ; CARPE DIEM ; Positive
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Seconds / Twice / Two PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-21-1968
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
SAINT PATRICK'S DAY FESTIVAL AND BELIEFS
SAINT PATRICK DERTA GEROGADE E FRANC OR ALBAN. THAT MEANS SAINT
PATRICK CAME FROM FRANCE OR ENGLAND. WE WERE TAUGHT THAT EXPRESSION
AS CHILDREN. HE WAS SENT BY POPE CELESTINE TO BRING THE CATHOLIC
FAITH TO IRELAND. HE KILLED ALL THE SNAKES IN IRELAND BY SQUASHING
THEM WITH HIS STAFF. HE DIDN'T REALLY EXIST THOUGH. WE WOULD
CELEBRATE SAINT PATRICK'S DAY IN ENGLAND BY WEARING ALL GREEN.
Submitter comment:
"SPELLMAN, BURKE, AND I WOULD GO OUT FOR A WALK IN THE COUNTRY BECAUSE
WE HAD NO MONEY AND WE DIDN'T WANT THOSE DAMN ENGLISH TO THINK WE
WERE STAYING HOME ON SAINT PATRICK'S DAY."
MY MOTHER, WHO IS FROM IRELAND, WENT TO NURSING SCHOOL IN ENGLAND IN
1947. SHE CAME FROM A POOR FAMILY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Celebrate ; Green ; holiday ; IRELAND ; Irish ; Legend ; Lore ; Origin ; Saint Patrick's Day ; Tale
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 00-00-1947 ; 11-22-1979
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
FISH IS BRAIN FOOD, THE MORE YOU EAT, THE MORE INTELLIGENT YOU WILL
BE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; DIET ; FISH ; HEALTH ; Nutrition ; Smart
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fish |
Date learned: CA00001915
KING ARTHUR
A FRIEND OF MINE, MIKE JONES, REVEALED TO ME THAT KING ARTHUR
REALLY LIVED. HE CONTENDS THAT ENGLAND KNEW A PERIOD OF FIFTY
YEARS WHEN THERE WAS COMPLETE PEACE. THERE WAS NO ADVANCE OF
THE SAXONS, AND THAT LEADS MIKE TO BELIEVE THAT KING ARTHUR AND
HIS KNIGHTS REALLY EXISTED.
Submitter comment:
MIKE LEARNED THIS SOMEWHERE, BUT HE WASN'T SURE WHERE, PROBABLY
MERE SPECULATION.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Camelot ; King Arthur ; Legend ; Saxons
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 10-05-1967
When you clear the table you should never put
the crumbs on the floor so that you won't go
hungry. You should never sweep the dirt and
crumbs from the floor directly out the door;
you should always use a dustpan.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: KANSAS ; Manhattan
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; Domesticity ; Housekeeping ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Date learned: 00001920S
"Ka zoon tight" is a word used to scare away bad spirits,
because when you sneeze you open up your body to bad spirits.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; ETYMOLOGY ; Origin ; SNEEZE
James Callow Keyword(s): Gesundheit
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Devil Demon SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001960S
Good Luck
If you put a penny in a purse and give the purse as a gift, the person receiving the gift will become rich.
Data entry tech comment:
Input by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; GIFT ; GOOD LUCK ; LUCK ; MONEY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
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 |
LUCK OF THE FAMILY.
WHEN VISITING A HOUSE IN IRELAND ONE MUST ALWAYS LEAVE BY THE
SAME DOOR YOU CAME IN, OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE STEALING THE GOOD
LUCK FROM THAT FAMILY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cultural ; CUSTOM ; GOOD LUCK ; Guest ; HOSPITALITY ; IRELAND ; Irish ; LUCK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 11-00-1970
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
NEVER GIV E A GOOD FRIEND PEARLS, PEARLS MEAN TEARS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; Friend ; FRIENDSHIP ; Gem ; JEWELRY ; Pearl ; SYMBOL ; TEARS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 10-01-1968