Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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Railroad Tracks
Lift up your feet when you cross railroad tracks, or you will lose your boyfriend.
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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
OLD IRISH CUSTOM
IRISH MOTHERS THROW HOLY WATER ON THEIR KIDS WHEN THEY ARE
FIGHTING IN ORDER TO DRIVE OUT THE DEVIL. THE THROWING OF HOLY WATER
WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN EXORCISM TO DRIVE THE RAGE(DEVIL) OUT OF
PEOPLE WHO WERE FIGHTING.
Data entry tech comment:
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Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; DEVIL ; EVIL EYE ; Fighting ; Holy Water ; IRELAND ; Irish ; Relationship ; Sibling
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 09-29-1968
OMENS
IF A GENTLEMAN LETS A LADY WALK ON THE CURB SIDE, IT MEANS
THAT HE HAS HER FOR SALE.
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Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Keyword(s): CHIVALRY ; Curb ; Gentleman ; Lady ; Ownership ; SALE ; SIGN ; Signal ; Walk ; WALKING
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 02-17-1970
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:
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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
GIFT BELIEF
IF SOMEONE GIVES YOU A KNIFE FOR A GIFT, YOU MUST PAY SOMETHING
FOR IT, OTHERWISE THE KNIFE CUTS YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
Data entry tech comment:
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Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Cut ; FRIENDSHIP ; GIFT ; KNIFE ; MONEY ; Sever ; Sharp ; SYMBOL ; SYMBOLISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 01-00-1968
PENNY FOR A PIN
IF YOU ARE EVER GIVEN A PIN FOR A GIFT, BE SURE AND PAY
THE PERSON WHO GIVES IT TO YOU A PENNY, OR THE PIN WILL
SURELY PRICK YOU WHEN YOU WEAR IT.
Data entry tech comment:
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Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FRIENDSHIP ; GIFT ; MONEY ; Pin ; Prick ; Sharp ; SIGN ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
SUPERSTITION
WHEN TWO PEOPLE MEET AN OBSTACLE IF THEY GO DIFFERENT WAYS AROUND
IT THEY WILL HAVE AN ARGUMENT.
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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
PREDICTION -DIVINATION
IF TWO PEOPLE ARE WALKING AND A POLE IS IN THEIR PATH THEY MUST
WALK ON EACH SIDE AND SAY BREAD AND BUTTER WHEN THEY COME
TOGETHER. IF THEY DO NOT THEY WILL HAVE A FIGHT.
Data entry tech comment:
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Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
Keyword(s): Bread and Butter ; CUSTOM ; FRIENDSHIP ; PREDICTION ; SIGN ; SYMBOL ; Together
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
BELIEF ABOUT A FRIENDSHIP BRACELET
A RAWHIDE BRACELET IS GIVEN TO YOU BY YOUR FRIEND
AS A TOKEN OF YOUR FRIENDSHIP. IT CONSISTS OF FOUR KNOTS.
ONE THE BIGGEST, IS A SQUARE KNOT REPRESENTING SOME EVIL.
THE OTHER THREE REPRESENT IN ORDER, YOUR FRIEND, YOURSELF
AND A WALL. THIS IS SAID TO MEAN THAT AS LONG AS YOU HAVE YOUR FRIEND
YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO FACE EVIL HEAD ON, BECAUSE YOUR FRIEND IS IN
FRONT OF YOU, AND THE WALL IS BEHIND YOU.
IT WAS SAID THAT YOU HAD TO WEAR THESE BRACELETS FOR A PERIOD OF
ONE YEAR, OR UNTIL THEY ROTTED OFF.
Data entry tech comment:
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Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): Bracelet ; FRIENDSHIP ; Friendship Bracelet ; JEWELRY ; Knot ; SIGN ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-23-1970
THE BLACK LINE
A BLACK LINE IN THE CEMENT OF A SIDEWALK IS A LINE TO AVOID.
IF YOU SHOULD PURPOSELY STEP ON A BLACK LINE YOU WILL GET COOTIES.
Data entry tech comment:
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Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; COOTIES ; CUSTOM ; SIGN ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-03-1968
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:
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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
IF YOU BACK INTO THE HOUSE YOUR GLASSES WILL NOT STEAM.
Data entry tech comment:
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Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; DIRECTION ; Entrance ; Fog ; GLASSES ; Steam
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
EDGE-WISE
WHEN GIVING A GIFT WITH SHARP EDGES, A PENNY SHOULD BE GIVEN
FOR EACH EDGE SO THAT THE FRIENDSHIP WILL NOT BE CUT.
Submitter comment:
FROM HER MOTHER
Data entry tech comment:
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Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cut ; FRIENDSHIP ; GIFT ; MONEY ; Relationship ; Sever ; Sharp ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 12-04-1965
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:
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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
FLOWERDAYS AND BEANS
YOU ARE NOT TO PLANT BEANS DURING THE FLOWERDAYS. ( AGAIN
MY FATHER COULD NOT REMEMBER THE SPECIFIC TIME). MY GRANDFATHER
PLANTED A ROW OF BEANS DURING THE FLOWERDAYS AND ANOTHER AFTER THE
DAYS WERE PAST. THE ROW PLANTED DURING THE DAYS GREW WITH AN
ABUNDANCE OF BLOSSOMS BUT VERY FEW BEANS. THE ROW PLANTED AFTER
THE FLOWERDAYS GREW WITH FEW BLOSSOMS BUT WITH AN ABUNDANCE
OF BEANS.
Data entry tech comment:
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Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
Keyword(s): Beans ; BELIEF ; FARMING ; Flowerdays ; GARDENING ; HARVEST ; Horticulture
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 10-30-1968
WHEN TO PLANT YOUR CROPS
THE GENERAL CONSENSUS ACCORDING TO MY FATHER, IS THAT THERE
IS A CERTAIN TIME OF THE MOON WHEN IT IS FAVORABLE TO PLANT
YOUR CROPS SO THAT THEY WILL BE PRODUCTIVE. IF YOU DO NOT PLANT
AT THIS TIME THE CROPS WILL NOT BE PRODUCTIVE. MY FATHER WAS
UNABLE TO RECALL THE EXACT TIME OF THE MOON.
Data entry tech comment:
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Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
Keyword(s): Botany ; CROPS ; FARMING ; HARVEST ; Horticulture ; MOON ; PLANT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 10-30-1968
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:
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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