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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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CROSSEYED

IF YOU LET A BABY LOOK IN A MIRROR BEFORE HE IS A YEAR OLD,
HE WILL BE CROSSEYED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE (IMPLIED)

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-00-1968

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MEDICAL BELIEF

SLEEPING IN THE MOONLIGHT WILL MAKE YOU GO CRAZY.

Submitter comment:

MY MOTHER LEARNED THIS FROM SOME IRISH FRIENDS WHEN SHE WAS A
CHILD IN DETROIT HER FRIENDS BELIEVED THIS SO STRONGLY THAT
BEFORE GOING TO BED, THEY WOULD ALWAYS CHECK TO MAKE SURE NO
MOONLIGHT WAS COMING IN AROUND THE SHADES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE ; MADNESS

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed
BELIEF -- Moon
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 11-22-1970

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MOON BELIEF

IF YOU CUT YOUR HAIR ON A FULL MOON IT WILL GROW TWICE AS LONG.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT SHAVED HER DAUGHTER'S HEAD WHEN SHE WAS VERY YOUNG
BECAUSE SHE HAD A SCALP DISEASE. NOW HER DAUGHTER HAS
SHOULDER LENGTH HAIR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak
BELIEF -- Moon

Date learned: 12-07-1971

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PREDICTION

IF YOU SEE A FALLING STAR, YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY MAKE
A WISH AND IT WILL COME TRUE.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Star
BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: 10-27-1969

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WEATHER BELIEF, IN REGARD TO JEWISH HOLIDAY

IT IS A COMMON BELIEF THAT ON ANY JEWISH HOLIDAY IT IS GOING
TO RAIN, EVEN IF THE DAY STARTS OUT AS SUNNY AND BRIGHT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANTI-SEMITISM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- NOT SURE
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7

Date learned: 11-15-1969

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MYSTERY SPOT-GRAVITY

THIS IS A SPOT AT ST. IGNACE MICHIGAN IN THE U.P. WHERE BECAUSE
OF A GHOST HAUNTING THE PARK, THE GRAVITY IS EXTRA-STRONG, AND
YOU CAN STAND ON THE WALL OF A CABIN AND NOT FALL BECAUSE OF THIS
GRAVITY ABNORMAL FORCE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANTI-GRAVITY ; UPPER PENINSULA=U.P.

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Creation and Order of Universe
BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Earth

Date learned: 03-08-1970

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HILL LEGEND

THERE IS A CERTAIN HILL AROUND WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA
WHERE A CAR WILL ROLL
UPHILL WITH THE DRIVER'S FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANTI-GRAVITY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Creation and Order of Universe
BELIEF -- Formation

Date learned: 04-00-1970

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THE HILL

THERE IS A HILL IN THE ROSEDALE PARK CEMETERY. WHENEVER ANYONE
PARKED THEIR CAR IN FRONT OF THE HILL, THE CAR WOULD BEGIN
ROLLING UP THE HILL.

Submitter comment:

THIS WAS A STORY WHICH CIRCULATED AROUND MY HIGH SCHOOL. I HAD
HEARD IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO SOMEONE, BUT I DID NOT KNOW
ANYONE WHO HAD ACTAULLY EXPERIENCED IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK

James Callow Keyword(s): ANTI-GRAVITY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Formation

Date learned: 00001960S LATE

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SALT

IN IRISH SUPERSTITON: WHEN EATING AT A TABLE AND SOMEONE ASKS
FOR THE SALT, YOU MUST FIRST SET IT DOWN NEXT TO THE PERSON AND
LET HIM PICK IT UP.. IF YOU SHOULD PASS IT TO HIM IT IS SAID THAT
THE TWO WILL GET INTO A FIGHT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Flavoring
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.
BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.

Date learned: 10-05-1972

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FOOD BELIEF

IF YOU EAT SPINACH, YOU WILL HAVE LONG HAIR AND ROSY CHEEKS.

Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE ; FUNCTION

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable
Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: CHILDHOOD

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VITAMIN BELIEF

IF YOU EAT GREEN VEGETABLES, THEY WILL MAKE YOUR HAIR THICK
AND GROW FASTER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE ; FUNCTION

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable
Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption
BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 03-31-1971

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DANDELION BELIEF

AS CHILDREN IN MAMARNECK, NEW YORK, WE BELIEVED THAT IF
YOU PICKED A DANDELION, YOU WOULD HAVE TO URINATE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PLANT WEED ; YELLOW COLOR ASSOCIATES WITH URINATION?

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 12-00-1972

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VITAMIN BELIEF

IF YOU EAT YELLOW VEGETABLES LIKE CARROTS, SQUASH, WAX BEANS,
YOUR EYES WILL BE STRONG AND YOU WILL HAVE GOOD VISION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): VITAMIN A CONTENT

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable
Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye
BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 03-31-1971

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HAIR ON CHEST

WHEN I WAS SSMAL, MY FATHER TRIED TO CONVINCE
ME TO EAT SOME DISTASTEFUL VEGETABLE BY TELLING ME IT WOULD
PUT HAIR ON MY CHEST.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE ; FUNCTION

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable
Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck
BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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NAMING A RIVER

THE RIVRE ROUGE WHICH RUNS THROUGH DEARBORN GOT ITS NAME
FROM THE FRENCH EXPLORER LASALLE. HE NOTICED THAT THE RIVER
WAS A DEFINITE RED IN SOME PARTS, INQUIRING INTO THE MATTER,
HE FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS BLOOD WHICH WAS COMING FROM UPSTREAM
AREAS WHERE THE INDIANS AND THE FRENCH WERE FIGHTING. THUS
HE NAMED THE DISCOVERY RIVRE ROUGE.

Submitter comment: MR. BARRYS SOURCES ARE TRADITIONAL AND OCCUR
IN CONJUNCTION WITH HIS JOB AS A GUIDE THROUGH THE FORD
ROUGE PLANT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR ; HOSTILITY

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Running water Small current. Brook, spring....
BELIEF -- Explanation of a name

Date learned: SUMMER 1963

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WELL BELIEF

IN NORTH CAROLINA THERE IS A CERTAIN WELL WHERE AFTER THROWING
A ROCK DOWN INTO IT, IT WILL FLOAT BACK UP.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD
Informant and collector share the same surname.

 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT COLLECTOR'S HOME

Keyword(s): Float ; GRAVITY ; Legend ; North Carolina ; Well

James Callow Keyword(s): ANTI-GRAVITY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Still water Man made container.

Date learned: 04-00-1970

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JEWISH BELIEF

JEWS CANNOT EAT PORK BECAUSE IT IS UNCLEAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR

James Callow Keyword(s): SEMITISM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.
BELIEF -- P439

Date learned: 02-28-1971

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KITCHEN BELIEF

PUT UTENSILS IN A WARM OVEN FOR A FEW MINUTES AFTER YOU
HAVE WASHED AND DRIED;, THIS KEEPS THEM FROM RUSTING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; FUNCTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Home

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BELIEF

PUT NAIL POLISH IN THE ICEBOX, IT KEEPS THE POLISH FROM GETTING
THICK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; FUNCTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Home

Date learned: 01-20-1971

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GREEK CUSTOM

THE GREEKS HANG THEIR CROSSES ON THE EAST WALLS OF THEIR HOME
WHERE THE SUN RISES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; FACING EAST ; POSITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Wall Partition Door Window

Date learned: 11-14-1969

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