Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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SUPERSTITION
WHEN TWO PEOPLE MEET AN OBSTACLE IF THEY GO DIFFERENT WAYS AROUND
IT THEY WILL HAVE AN ARGUMENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): HOSTILITY ; POSITION DIRECTION
| 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.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
James Callow Keyword(s): HOSTILITY ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Formula |
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
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.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: 11-00-1968
IF YOU BACK INTO THE HOUSE YOUR GLASSES WILL NOT STEAM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
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.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT IS VERY IMPORANT TO A JEWISH STORE-OWNER THAT THE FIRST
CUSTOMER ON A MONDAY MORNING MUST BUY SOMETHING, REGARDLESS
OF THE PRICE. IF AND WHEN THE CUSTOMER DOES BUY SOMETHING, IT
MEANS GOOD LUCK AND GOOD SELLING THE REST OF THE WEEK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; SEMITISM
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Good luck |
PUTTING UP A RAILFENCE DURING THE FLOWERDAYS
THE BOTTOM LOG OF A RAILFENCE (A FENCE MADE OF UNDERLOCKING
LOGS) WILL ROT AWAY WITHIN THREE YEARS IF THE BOTTOM LOGS ARE
LAID DURING THE CERTAIN TIME OF THE MOON. OTHERWISE THE BOTTOM
LOG WILL LAST MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. THAT IS WHY THE BOTTOM LOGS ARE
ALL LAID AT ONCE SO AS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RIGHT TIME OF
THE MOON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBER ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple 686 Fifths BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.6 |
Date learned: 10-30-1968
BASEBALL SUPERSTITION
BASEBALL PLAYERS WILL NOT STEP ON THE BASE LINE WHEN GOING
OUT TO FIELD THEIR POSITION. TO DO SO IS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 01-22-1968
WHISTLING BELIEF
GIRLS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WHISTLE BECAUSE THE BLESSED MOTHER
WOULD TURN HER HEAD AND CRY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS BY HER MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG.
SHE PRACTICED THIS WHEN YOUNG, BUT DOES NOT BELIEVE IN THE
TRUTH OF IT NOW. (1920S).
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
James Callow Keyword(s): VANITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
BASKETBALL BELIEF
TIE SHOE LACES ON THE SIDE OF YOUR SHOE FOR GOOD LUCK
INSTEAD OF TYING THEM STRAIGHT UP.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Good luck P881.19 |
Date learned: 03-03-1971
BASEBALL BELIEF
PITCHERS NEVER CROSS THE FIRST OR THIRD BASE LINE BECAUSE IT
MEANS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBER ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 686 686.1 686 686.1 BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 03-07-1971
BEFORE A FRESHMAN CAN STEP ON THE BIG M IN THE CENTRE OF THE
DIAG, HE MUST HAVE TAKEN HIS FIRST EXAM, OR HE WILL FLUNK OUT OF
SCHOOL WITHIN THE YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): SLANG--DIAG FOR DIAGONAL? ; WALKING PROHIBITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School |
SILLY BELIEF
IT WAS A BELIEF IN THE 8TH GRADE THAT THE PHONE NUMBER
777-7777 WAS THE NUMBER OF A WHOREHOUSE.
Submitter comment:
I REMEMBER ONCE TRYING TO FIND OUT FOR SURE, BUT THE
NUMBER WAS NON-EXISTENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBER ; PROSTITUTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School |
Date learned: 10-20-1971
COHANIM
IN ORTHODOX JUDAISM WHEN THE HIGH PRIEST OFFERS A SPECIAL
PRAYER, IT IS FORBIDDEN TO LOOK AT HIM, IN PAIN OF BLINDNESS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SEMITISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye |
Date learned: 04-00-1968
CRIMINAL BELIEF
THIS PERSON RECALLS BELIEVING THAT A CRIMINAL ALWAYS RETURNS TO
THE SCENE OF THE CRIME. HE RECALLS FAITHFULLY
WATCHING FOR THE CULPRIT WHO STOLE HIS FAVORITE TOY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Common law BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 01-30-1968
IN THE OLDEN TIMES, IT WAS SAID IF A GIRL KISSED A BOY, SHE
WOULD HAVE A BABY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PREGNANCY WITHOUT SEXUAL INTERCOURSE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN THE OLDEN DAYS IT WAS BELIEVED BY THE YOUNG THAT THE
DOCTOR BROUGHT THE BABIES IN A LITTLE BLACK BAG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM ; PREGNANCY WITHOUT SEXUAL INTERCOURSE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-12-1971
PREGNANCY BELIEF
INFORMANT HAS HEARD REPEATEDLY FROM HER PATIENTS, POOR BLACK
WOMEN, THAT A PREGNANT WOMAN MUST NOT RAISE HER HANDS ABOVE HER
HEAD OR SHE WILL STRANGLE HER UNBORN BABY.
Submitter comment:
THERE IS, OF COURSE, NO MEDICAL TRUTH IN THIS, BUT IT IS WIDELY
BELIEVED.
INFORMANT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BIRTH BELIEF
IF A WOMAN CARRIES A BABY OUT FRONT IN HER STOMACH, IT IS A BOY.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS RELATED TO HER BY HER MOTHER WHO EXPERIENCED MANY CASES
THAT HAS PROVEN THIS BELIEF.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; SEX DETERMINATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 02-20-1971