Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for NUMBERS returned 134 results.
THE CAT
A CAT HAS NINE LIVES.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; NUMBERS ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | 686 Ninths / Nine BELIEF -- Mammal PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
PROVERB
CHILDREN WERE GIVEN TWO EARS AND ONE MOUTH SO THEY WOULD HEAR
TWICE AS MUCH AS THEY WOULD SAY.
Submitter comment: (CONVERSATION)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): NUMBERS
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; DISCIPLINE ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Seconds / Twice / Two BELIEF -- Body part Senses PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
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.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBERS ; POSITION DIRECTION ; SYMBOL
Date learned: 10-23-1970
BELIEF CONCERNING DEATH
UKRANIANS BELIEVE THAT A PERSON'S SPIRIT STAYS ON EARTH FOR
9 DAYS AFTER DEATH. IT THEN TAKES THE SPIRIT 40 DAYS TO GET TO
HEAVEN. IT IS THOUGHT THAT THIS BELIEF AROSE FROM
THE 40 DAYS AFTER THE DEATH OF CHRIST, BEFORE HE AROSE.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBERS
| Subject headings: | 686 Ninths / Nine BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Number P686.1.40 |
WARDING OFF GHOSTS LEGEND
IF GHOSTS DON'T COME IN TENS. WHEN EVER YOU SEE ONE SAY:
TEN , TEN, THE BIBLE TEN. THIS MAKES THEM GO AWAY.
Submitter comment: INFORMER DOESN'T BELIEVE THIS.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBERS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- P645 SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 01-26-1972
CHINESE FESTIVAL
CHENG YEUNG FESTIVAL IS THE FESTIVAL OF ASCENDING HEIGHTS.
ON THE 9TH DAY OF THE 9TH MOON, LEGEND SAYS THAT THE WISE
CLIMB TO HIGH PLACES TO AVOID DISASTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBERS
MOVIE STAR LEGEND
THIS IS A LEGEND ABOUT MOVIE STARS.
WHEN A FAMOUS MOVIE STAR DIES, TWO MORE WILL DIE IN A SHORT
WHILE. A MOVIE STAR DOES NOT DIE ALONE, BUT ALWAYS DIES IN THREES
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBERS
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Secular hero |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SPIRIT
ON AN AUGUST DAY WHEN THE SUN IS HIGHEST IN THE SKY AT 12
NOON, STAND WITH THREE FRIENDS IN A WOODEN DESERTED AREA. AT
EXACTLY 12 NOON HAVE EVERYONE STARE AT EACH OTHER. THE SUN COMING
THROUGH THE TREES SHOULD FORM A HALO OVER THE PERSON OR PERSONS
WHO HAVE ANY POWER OF WITCHCRAFT OR WIZARDRY IN THEIR BLOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBERS
MORAL PROVERB
EVEN THOUGH A HORSE HAS FOUR LEGS HE STILL GETS STUCK IN THE MUD.
Submitter comment:
EVEN THOSE WHO HAVE EVERYTHING ARE STILL SUBJECT TO MISFORTUNE.
TRANSLATED FROM LITHUANIAN
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION ; PESSIMISM ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | 686 Fourths / Quarters BELIEF -- Body part Senses Lower body, legs PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 02-17-1971
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
ONCE BURNT, TWICE SHY
YOU AVOID AN UNFORTUNATE HAPPENING THE SECOND TIME
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CONTRAST ; ELLIPSIS ; NUMBERS
James Callow Keyword(s): CAUTION ; FIRE ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Seconds / Twice / Two PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
ONE HUNDRED NOTHINGS
ONE HUNDRED NOTHINGS KILLED THE JACK ASS
Submitter comment: STORY EXPLAINING PROVERB
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): NUMBERS
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number P686.1.100 PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 07-00-1964
PROVERB
ONE BIRD IN HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): NUMBERS
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; MAKE THE MOST OF WHAT YOU HAVE ; VEGETATION
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Seconds / Twice / Two PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-15-1967
PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM
ONE ENLISTED MAN WORTH TEN PRESSED
THIS IS AN OLD PROVERB AMONG MILITARY MEN.
THAT DRAFTED MEN ARE WORTH ONLY ONE ENLISTED MAN AS SOLDIERS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): NUMBERS
James Callow Keyword(s): MILITARY ; QUALITY
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 First / Once / One / Newness PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
ONE FATHER
ONE FATHER CAN SUPPORT ONE HUNDRED CHILDREN
BUT ONE HUNDRED CHILDREN CANNOT SUPPORT ONE FATHER
STORY EXPLAINED
IN ONE GENERATION THE FATHER LIVED WITH HIS SON AND DAUGHTER IN LAW.
THE FATHER BECAME A PROBLEM . HIS SON TOOK HIM TO THE TOP OF A
MOUNTAIN ONE DAY. HE PUSHED HIM OFF. THE MAN DIED. IN THE NEXT
GENERATION THE SAME SITUATION TOOK PLACE. THE FATHER AND SON WERE
AT THE MOUNTAIN TOP, THE SON TURNED TO THE FATHER, LOOKED HIM IN THE
EYE AND SAID COME HOME WITH ME. THE FATHER SAID WHY DON'T YOU DO TO
ME WHAT I DID TO MY FATHER? THE SON ANSWERED, IN YEARS TO COME I WILL
WANT MY CHILDREN TO RESPECT ME. WHEN THEY CAME HOME THE SON'S WIFE
SAID, WHY DID YOU BRING HIM BACK AGAIN? THE SON SLAPPED HIS
WIFE'S FACE AND SAID, YOU WILL RESPECT HIM AS YOU WILL WANT OUR
CHILDREN TO RESPECT US.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HIS FATHER IN ITALY
James Callow comment:
THIS EXPLANATION DOESN'T SATISFY. THINK IT'S PHONEY?
--F. M. PAULSEN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): NUMBERS
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST ; PATERNAL RESPECT ; PATRICIDE
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Number P686.1.100 PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: 07-00-1964
PROVERB
ONE MAN, TWO WOMEN, ONE ROOF EQUAL TROUBLE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): NUMBERS ; PROPHESIES
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; DOMESTIC RELATIONS ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Seconds / Twice / Two PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-12-1965
SAYING
ONE THREAD OF KINDNESS DRAWS MORE THAN A HUNDRED HORSES
Submitter comment: W. W. BREESE, M.D., "WELL SPRINGS OF TRUTH," 1883, P. 144.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): NUMBERS
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Number P686.1.100 PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-05-1968
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
WELLERISM
"ONLY SEVEN MORE DAYS," DICK SAID, WEEKLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
Keyword(s): PUN
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBERS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Wellerism Quotation |
Date learned: 01-00-1972
PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM
POLISH:
A PAIR OF LEGS IN YOUTH ARE BETTER THAN THREE IN OLD AGE
LEPSZE DWIE NOGI W MTODOSCI ANIZELI TRZY W STAROSCI
Submitter comment: MY FATHER KNOWS THIS FROM POLAND
Data entry tech comment: ORIGINAL 5 X 8 CARD CONTAINS POLISH TEXT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBERS ; THIRD LEG=CANE ; TRANSLATION
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Body part Senses Lower body, legs PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 11-21-1967
PROVERB
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBERS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN