The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Ethnic: Roman

Rome is the city of cats, stones and priests becasue all three of these are very plentiful. The cats can be found everywhere and are respected by the people and are feed [sic] by them. Cats are never killed and always cared for because it is said that the Roman spirit is reincarnated in them.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P752, B440] crossed out / replaced with current classification

Where learned: ITALY ; ROME

Keyword(s): CAT ; DEATH ; ETHNIC ; Feline ; Priests ; REINCARNATION ; Roman ; Rome ; Soul ; STONES

Subject headings:

Superstition: Animals

Cats:

If there is a cat you want to get rid of, put some beans in a sack and tie it on the cat's tail, hit him on the backside and he will run himself to death.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; Beans ; CAT ; DEATH ; Eliminate ; Pest ; Rid ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings:

Belief: Animal

It is a belief among hunters that is a bear looks at you eye to eye at the instant you kill it, its spirit will haunt you after its death.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Regarding set-up of the submission card:

By moving the circumstances of collecting information to the right (taking up 2 instead of 1 line with it) you'll leave room for a title.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Pioneer

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; Bear ; BELIEF ; DEATH ; Haunting ; HUNTING ; SPIRIT ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings:

Belief: Animal

Agricultural Belief:

A Bull Frog croaks and freezes 3 times before winter.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P870] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS

Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; AMPHIBIAN ; ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; DEATH ; Fall ; Freeze ; FROG ; Frozen ; Rebirth ; SEASONS ; SUPERSTITION ; WINTER

Subject headings:

Superstition: Animals

If a household lizard falls into the soup and the soup is accidently eaten, the person will develop scales on his body.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P800] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; Consume ; CURSE ; Eat ; FOOD ; Lizard ; PET ; REPTILE ; Soup ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings:

Superstition: Animals

Turtle:

If a turtle clamp your toe or your finger, it won't let it go until it thunder.

Submitter comment:

Informant learned from childhood

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P752] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; Bite ; BODY PART ; Finger ; SUPERSTITION ; Thunder ; TOE ; Turtle ; WEATHER

Subject headings:

Belief: Animal

A snake having been killed will not die until sundown

Submitter comment:

Informant was skeptical as to this belief

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; DEATH ; Kill ; Serpent ; Snake ; Sundown ; SUPERSTITION ; Time of day

Subject headings:

Superstition: Animals

If you kill a black snake and throw him in a tree, it will rain until you take him down.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P435, P447] crossed out. Replaced wtih current classification.

Where learned: ALABAMA

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; DEATH ; Kill ; Rain ; Serpent ; Snake ; SUPERSTITION ; Tree ; WEATHER

Subject headings:

BELIEF -- Animal
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew

Belief: Animal

Snake Legend:

If you kill a snake you have to do it late in the day, because otherwise the snake would suffer until sunset.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [B440] crossed out. Replaced wtih current classification.

Where learned: HOME ; MINNESOTA ; SAINT PAUL

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; DEATH ; Kill ; Serpent ; Snake ; Sundown ; SUNSET ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings:

Superstition: Animals

Resurrection of a Snake Belief:

If you kill a snake it will come back to life after sundown

Submitter comment:

The letter B is crossed out in the upper left hand corner of the submission card. Possibly intended as a BN

Collector's phone number is listed on the bottom right of submission card: XXX-5459

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; DEATH ; Resurrection ; Serpent ; Snake ; Sundown ; SUNSET ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings:

Belief: Animal

A hoop snake puts its tail in its mouth and rolls; Anything hit by it will die.

Submitter comment:

Perswon remembers as a child being afraid of this snake and always running in a zig-zag path to avoid being struck by it.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: CLASS

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; DEATH ; MYTH ; Serpent ; Snake ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings:

Superstition: Animals

Hunting Superstition:

When a hunter shoots his game and he is sure it is dead he should never for any reason shoot it again as this will disturb its spirit and it will haunt him.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P752] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: NORTHERN MICHIGAN

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; DEATH ; GAME ; Hunter ; HUNTING ; Kill ; Shoot ; SPIRIT

Subject headings: