Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for EVIL returned 90 results.
NEVER COMPLIMENT A CHILD ON HIS LOOKS--THE FATES MIGHT
BECOME JEALOUS OF IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): EVIL EYE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
IN ORDER TO WARD OFF EVIL, ONE SHOULD POINT HIS INDEX
AND LITTLE FINGERS AT SOMETHING. (THE OTHER FINGERS
SHOULD BE CLOSED).
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; EVIL ; EVIL EYE ; Eye ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Prevent ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward
James Callow Keyword(s): HORNS
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.12 |
Date learned: 02-14-1968
THERE IS A LEGEND THAT SAYS THAT ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS IN
COUNTY SLIGO, IRELAND HAS A LUMP IN THE MIDDLE AND THE PEOPLE
SAY THAT ONE DAY THE DEVIL TOOK A BITE OF THE MOUNTAIN AND SPIT
IT AT CASHEL.
Submitter comment:
KATHY HEARD THIS FROM AN IRISHMAN WHILE HITCH-HIKING FROM CORK
TO LIMERICK IN IRELAND. CASHEL IS A ROCK ABOUT THREE HUNDRED FEET
HIGH WITH A RUIN OF A CASTLE AND CATHEDRAL ON IT. I BELIEVE IT WAS
ONCE THE SEAT OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS BUT AM NOT SURE. I DO NOT KNOW
IF THE MAN WHO TOLD KATHY BELIEVED IT BUT KATHY DOESN'T.
Data entry tech comment:
Additional (non-numbered) Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
[Please make a copy. Label it B472] - handwritten at the bottom of the card.
The original Boggs Number [P400] is crossed out and B425 and B472 are written next to it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; PARTY
Keyword(s): Castle ; Cathedral ; DEVIL ; GEOLOGY ; IRELAND ; IRISH BELIEF ; MOUNTAIN ; NATURE ; Pagan ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS LEGEND ; Rock ; Rock Formation
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
Ghost Belief
A ghost won't enter your house if a camel's bones are buried beneath the doorstep.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original letter of the Boggs Number [B429] has been crossed out and replaced with a P.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BONES ; Camel ; GHOST ; House ; Protection ; PROTECTION AGAINST EVIL FORCES ; SUPERNATURAL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Belief: Children's Song
STEP ON A CRACK, BREAK THE DEVIL'S BACK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 12-01-2010 / Motifs and Keywords added by TRD
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): AA ; Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; DEVIL ; GAME ; MOTHER ; RELIGION ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 11-19-1969
Ethnic:Polish Superstition
Curing a Spell:
To cure a spell, especially the evil eye, cast on a small child, you remove all the clothes, and dress the baby again with all the clothes inside out. This is a Polish belief.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): CHILD ; CLOTHING ; CURE ; CURSE ; ETHNIC ; EVIL EYE ; Fashion ; MAGIC ; POLAND ; POLISH ; REMEDY ; Removal
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Ethnic: Isreali Superstition
The Druse, a tribe in Isreal, protect their babies from the Evil Eye by painting a circle around each eye of the child with a dye called Kehl.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): BABY ; CHILD ; CURE ; CURSE ; Druse ; Dye ; ETHNIC ; EVIL EYE ; Israel ; Israeli ; Kehl ; Protection ; REMEDY ; SUPERSTITION ; Tribe
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Superstition: Pregnancy
To Spit on a New-Born Baby:
Whenever a woman looks at another's new-born baby, they must have a little saliva fall on the child. If not, the evil-eye is cast upon the baby.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Written in the bottom left hand corner of the card: [IA25 Mark again for S600 + S644]
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BABY ; CHILD ; CURE ; CURSE ; EVIL EYE ; Newborn ; PREVENTION ; REMEDY ; Saliva
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Gesture SPEECH -- Shame |
Proverb
An idle mind is the devils workshop.
Submitter comment:
Source not remembered
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V300] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Found in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects.
Keyword(s): DEVIL ; LAZY ; Mind ; Weakness
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
An Old Saying:
An idle mind is the devil's workshop.
Submitter comment:
Sister claims to have heard this from her novice mistress in 1948.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V300] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Saint Frederick Convent ; PONTIAC
Keyword(s): DEVIL ; LAZY ; Mind ; Weakness
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
An idle mind is the Devil's workshop
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects.
Keyword(s): DEVIL ; LAZY ; Mind ; Weakness
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
Ill Wind:
It is an ill wind that blows no good.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Various grammatical corrections.
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ETHNIC ; EVIL ; FATE ; Gaelic ; Good ; Ill ; Irish ; LUCK ; OMEN ; Wind
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Toast
Irish Drinking Toast:
May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows that you are dead.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): DEVIL ; DRINKING ; ETHNIC ; HEAVEN ; HELL ; Irish ; Jest ; Social ; TOAST
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Formula |
Toast
May you be in Heaven a half an hour before the Devil knows your dead.
Submitter comment:
Well Wish
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Called a Toast by others.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): DEATH ; DEVIL ; DRINKING ; ETHNIC ; HEAVEN ; Irish ; Social ; TIME ; TOAST ; Well Wish
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Formula |
Toast
Irish Toast:
Usually at weddings - "May you be in Heaven half an hour before the Devil knows your dead."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Dead ; DEVIL ; DRINKING ; ETHNIC ; HEAVEN ; Irish ; Social ; TOAST
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Formula |
Toast
An Irish Toast:
may you be in Heaven a half hour b'fore th' Divil knows you're dead.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): Dead ; DEVIL ; ETHNIC ; HEAVEN ; Irish ; Social ; TOAST
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Formula |
Toast
May you be in heaven 1/2 an hour before the Devil discovers you've been dead and buried.
Submitter comment:
Her mother told her. Popular in Ireland.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): Buried ; Dead ; DEVIL ; DRINKING ; ETHNIC ; HEAVEN ; Irish ; Social ; TOAST
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Formula |
Toast
May you get to heaven a half-hour before the devil knows you're dead.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [W200] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: OHIO
Keyword(s): Dead ; DEVIL ; DRINKING ; ETHNIC ; HEAVEN ; Irish ; Social ; TOAST
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Formula |
Toast
May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows you have died.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): DEATH ; DEVIL ; ETHNIC ; HEAVEN ; Irish ; Social ; TOAST
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Formula |
Toast
An Irish Toast:
May you be in heaven half an hour before the Devil knows your dead.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): DEATH ; DEVIL ; DRINKING ; ETHNIC ; HEAVEN ; HELL ; Irish ; Social ; TOAST
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Formula |