Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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THE GREEN MAN
THERE WAS A MAN WHO USED TO WORK FOR ONE OF THE POWER COMPANIES
IN PITTSBURGH. IT SEEMS THAT ONE DAY HE HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH A HIGH
TENSION WIRE AND WAS HORRIBLY DISFUGURED. THE SHOCK TURNED
HIS SKIN A GREEN COLOR AND GREATLY DISTORTED HIS FACE.
THIS MAN NOW LIVES BY HIMSELF IN A RAMSHACKLE HOUSE OUT IN
SOUTH PARK. HE IS KNOWN TO SCARE CHILDREN AND CHASE ANYONE
WHO GOES NEAR HIS PLACE AWAY. PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS
SOMETHING WEIRD ABOUT HIM. TONY HAS NEVER SEEN THE MAN
BUT APPARENTLY HIS EXISTENCE IS ACCEPTED AS A FACT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): DISFIGUREMENT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face |
Date learned: 11-08-1968
MOON BELIEF
WHEN THE FULL MOON APPEARS, PEOPLE GET LOONEY.
Where learned: HIGH SCHOOL
James Callow Keyword(s): LOONEY COMES FROM WORD FOR MOON IN LATIN= LUNA ; MADNESS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
THINGS GROW WITH THE MOON
IF A PERSON CUTS THEIR HAIR WHEN THERE IS A FULL MOON, IT WILL
GROW WITH THE MOON. IF YOU CUT YOUR HAIR WHEN THERE IS
A FULL MOON, IT WILL GROW SLOWLY.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 03-24-1970
MOON BELIEF
GRANDMOTHER AND HER SISTERS HAD THEIR HAIR TRIMMED AT NEW
MOON, IN THIS WAY, IT WOULD GROW WITH THE NEW MOON, AND
MUCH FASTER TOO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak |
Date learned: 03-31-1971
BELIEF
LIGHTNING INDICATES THAT GOD IS STRIKING BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): RETRIBUTION PUNISHMENT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Creator BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7 |
Date learned: 09-30-1965
TOMATO BELIEF
IF YOU EAT MANY TOMATOS, YOUR SKIN WILL TURN RED.
Where learned: OHIO ; NORTH OLMSTED
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
SPINACH BELIEF
SPINACH IS THE BROOM OF THE STOMACH, FOR IT CLEANSES AND PURIFIES
THAT ORGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): METAPHOR
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
HEALTH BELIEF
'BEETS GIVE YOU RED BLOOD.'
MY INFORMANT SAID THAT HER MOTHER STRICTLY BELIEVED THAT,
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
ORIGIN OF THE JACK O LANTERN
A BOY NAMED JACK WANTED TO GO TO HEAVEN, BUT HIS CONSCIENCE
WOULD NOT LET HIM. SO JACK WANTED TO GET INTO HELL, BUT SINCE
HE PLAYED TRICKS AND JOKES, THE DEVIL WOULD NOT LET HIM IN.
SO JACK HAD TO ROAM THE EARTH FOR ALL TIME, CARRYING
A LANTERN. THEREFORE PEOPLE HAVE CALLED HIM, JACK O' LANTERN.
Data entry tech comment:
A-T 330 THE SMITH OUTWITS THE DEVIL
MT[ A2817 ORIGIN OF WILL-OF-THE-WISP (JACK-O'-LANTERN)
CK[ IGNUS FATUUS ; JACK-O'-LANTERN IS NAME FOR HOLLOWEEN PUMPKIN
WL[ ALPENA, MICHIGAN
****************** NEW D FILE 2 ******************
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALPENA
James Callow Keyword(s): IGNUS FATUUS ; JACK-O'-LANTERN IS NAME FOR HOLLOWEEN PUMPKIN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 10-04-1970
BREAD BELIEF
IN CUTTING A LOAF OF BREAD.
NEVER LEAVE A KNIFE IN THE BREAD, IT IS LIKE CUTTING THE
HEART OF JESUS.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | Custom Food Drink -- Plant food Cereal BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 09-15-1969
GROWTH BELIEF
IN THE UKRAINE IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF A SMALL CHILD IS LYING
DOWN AND A PERSON JUMPS OVER THEM, THE CHILD WON'T GROW.
BUT IF THE PERSON JUMPS BACK OVER AGAIN, THEN WALKS AROUND HIM, HE
WILL GROW NORMALLY.
Submitter comment:
BELIEF STILL HIGHLY RESPECTED, HEARD FROM GRANDPARENTS.
BY INFORMANT IN UKRAINE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; RITUAL
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-01-1967
POLISH BELIEF
GDY CHTLOP TRAWE KOSI, LADA BABA DESZCZ UPROSI.
GDY CHTLOP TRAWE KOSI, LADA BABA DESCZ REPROSI.
WHEN A MAN CUTS HIS GRASS, THE WOMAN BEGS FOR RAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): RHYME (IN POLISH) ; SEXISM ; TRANSLATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SUPERSTITION
THERE IS A RIGHT AND WRONG WAY TO SWEEP YOUR FLOOR. YOU ARE SUPPOSED
TO SWEEP TOWARD THE BACK DOOR AND NOT THE FRONT DOOR.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
James Callow Keyword(s): INTERNAL RHYME ; OPPOSITES ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Daily Life |
Date learned: 11-10-1970
SUPERSTITION PERTAINING TO WOMEN AND CHICKEN
A WOMAN MUST NOT EAT CHICKEN LEST HER CHILDREN BECOME
FLIGHTY HEADED LIKE THE BIRDS. THIS ABSTINENCE IS REQUIRED
THROUGHOUT HER ENTIRE LIFE NOT JUST DURING PREGNANCY.
Submitter comment:
THE SUPERSTITION IS PROPER TO THE BATOORO TRIBE OF ABOUT
100,000 PEOPLE IN UGANDA. THE SUPERSTITION IS DYING OUT
WITH INCREASED RECOGNITION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AFRICA ; ANIMAL ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC ; SEXISM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. Food Drink -- Meat Bird Poultry |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
FOLK DEODORANT
USE BAKING SODA AS A DEODORANT FOR UNDERARMS
AND FEET. USE BAKING SODA ON VOMIT TO ELIMINATE THE
UNPLEASANT ODOR.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): Baking Soda ; Deodorant ; Domesticity ; Household ; HYGIENE ; Odor ; REMEDY ; Smell ; Tip ; TRICK ; Vomit
James Callow Keyword(s): SODIUM BICARBONATE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Home |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
BELIEF
DO NOT GIVE ANY SHARP OBJECTS, (SCISSORS, KNIVES, ETC.)
AS A GIFT. YOU WILL SEVER YOUR FRIENDSHIP WITH THAT PERSON.
Submitter comment: INFORMANTS MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS VERY DEVOUT IN THIS BELIEF.
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; HOSTILITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 02-12-1972
SUPERSTITION ABOUT SCISSORS (POLISH)
POLISH BELIEF. YOU MUST NEVER HAND A PAIR OF SCISSORS OR A KNIFE
TO A PERSON. BECAUSE THIS WILL SEVER THE FRIENDSHIP. YOU LAY
THEM DOWN ON A TABLE AND LET THE OTHER PERSON PICK THEM UP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; HOSTILITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 01-00-1970
NEVER GIVE OR ACCEPT ANYTHING SHARP OR POINTED TO A FRIEND
BECAUSE IT WILL SEVER THE RELATIONS WITH THAT PERSON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
James Callow Keyword(s): FRIENDSHIP ; HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-25-1969
NEW WALLET
IF YOU GIVE A PURSE OR WALLET TO SOMEONE, PUT A PENNY
IN IT TO ASSURE THE RECEIVER NEVER GOES BROKE.
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
BELIEF
THE RECIPIENT OF A KNIFE AS A GIFT MUST PAY SOME
TOKEN AMOUNT FOR IT, OR IT WILL CUT THE FRIENDSHIP.
Submitter comment:
SYLVIA COLLECTED THIS FROM HER SISTER WHO IN TURN
LEARNED IT AT THE NURSES LOUNGE AT BEAUMONT HOSPITAL.
(ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN)
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 09-23-1967