Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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BIRTH BELIEF
IF A WOMAN CARRIES A BABY IN HER HIP, IT IS A GIRL.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A BELIEF THAT WAS TOLD HER BY HER GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; SEX DETERMINATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 02-20-1971
EXPECTANT MOTHERS
JEWISH MOTHERS BELIEVE THAT IT IS BAD LUCK TO GIVE A BABY
A SHOWER BEFORE IT IS BORN, THE SAME IS TRUE WHILE IN THE HOSPITAL.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S FATHER DID THIS FOR HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): SEMITISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-12-1971
BELIEF
IF A HARE PASSES IN FRONT OF A PREGNANT WOMAN, HER CHILD WILL BE BORN
WITH A HARELIP, UNLESS SHE TEARS HER SLIP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): IMITATIVE MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 01-22-1970
CUSTOM
THERE IS A TRADITION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN THAT IF
YOU STEP ON THE M OF THE DIAGONAL EMBLAZED IN THE CROSSWALK,
YOU WILL FLUNK YOUR NEXT EXAM.
Submitter comment:
WHEN A STUDENT AT U. OF M., THE INFORMANT TRIED THIS
TO DISPROVE THE TRADITION, BY STEPPING ON THE M AFTER STUDYING
FOR AN EXAM. SHE FAILED HER EXAM.
KEYPUNCHERS COMMENT, THERE IS ANOTHER LIKE THIS IN THE ARCHIVE.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EDUCATION ; SYMBOL ; WALKING PROHIBITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School |
Date learned: 12-00-1967
PREGNANCY BELIEF
SOME ITALIAN WOMEN BELIEVE THEY CAN TELL THE SEX OF A PREGNANT
WOMAN -IF THE STOMACH IS HIGH, THE CHILD WILL BE A BOY, IF LOW
A GIRL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; SEX DETERMINATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 02-27-1971
PREGNANCY BELIEF
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN LIFTS HER ARMS ABOVE HER HEAD, SHE WILL LOSE
HER BABY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM ONE OF HER FRIENDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 840 BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-01-1971
PREGNANCY BELIEF
IT IS BAD LUCK FOR A PREGNANT WOMAN TO RAISE HER ARMS ABOVE HER
HEAD. SHE WILL WRAP THE CORD AROUND THE BABY:S NECK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-01-1972
PREGNANCY BELIEF
IF A WOMAN WHO IS ABOUT TO HAVE A BABY IS NARROW
IN THE BACK, AND IS PROTRUDING OUT IN FRONT, MORE
THAN USUAL, SHE WILL HAVE A BOY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
JEWISH SHOWER BELIEF
ORTHODOX JEWS DO NOT BELIEVE IN GIVING BABY SHOWERS.
THE BABY IS BELIEVED TO DIE IF A SHOWER IS GIVEN.
THEREFORE THE SHOWER IS CONSIDERED BAD LUCK.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SEMITISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 03-10-1972
PREGNANCY BELIEF
WHEN A WOMAN IS PREGNANT SHE SHOULD NOT STRETCH OR REACH UP
OR HANG CLOTHES BECAUSE DOING THESE THINGS WILL STRANGLE
THE BABY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
PREGNANCY BELIEF
IF THE EXPECTANT MOTHER'S STOMACH COMES TO A POINT, SHE WILL
HAVE A BOY.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; SEX DETERMINATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 09-22-1969
PREGNANCY BELIEF
IF THE EXPECTANT MOTHER SLEEPS ON HER LEFT SIDE EVERY NIGHT
HER CHILD WILL BE A BOY.
IF SHE SLEEPS ON HER RIGHT SIDE, SHE WILL HAVE A DAUGHTER.
IF SHE IS NOT CONSISTENT, SHE WILL PROBABLY HAVE TWINS, A BOY
AND A GIRL.
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 09-26-1969
PREGNANCY BELIEF
MANY FEMALE PATIENTS EXPLAIN THEIR BAD TEETH AS BEING THE
RESULT OF CHILD BEARING. MANY MORE ASK THEIR DENTISTS IF HAVING
CHILDREN WILL CAUSE THEIR TEETH TO FALL OUT.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS A DENTIST WHO HEARD THE MATTER FROM HIS PATIENTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-22-1965
VAMPIRE BELIEF
A VAMPIRE CAN BE FRIGHTENED OFF BY MAKING A CROSS OUT OF
ANYTHING, SUCH AS TWO STICKS OR EVEN YOUR ARMS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): Cross ; SUPERNATURAL ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL ; Undead ; Vampire
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHO BECOMES A VAMPIRE
WEREWOLVES KILLED BY MAGICAL MEANS WILL IN 5 DAYS RETURN AS A VAMPIRE
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: ENGLAND ; WORCESTER
Keyword(s): SUPERNATURAL ; SUPERSTITION ; Undead ; Vampire
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBER ; TRANSFORMATION
| Subject headings: | 686 Fifths BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
GREMLINS
GREMLINS ARE INVISIBLE DEMONS WHO CAUSE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
TO OPERATE ERRATICALLY FOR NO REASON
Submitter comment: COLLECTOR SAYS THIS IS NOT BELIEVED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): DEFINITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 11-17-1968
A GIRL WHISTLING
GIRLS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO WHISTLE BECUASE IT MAKES THE BLESSED
VIRGIN CRY WHENEVER THEY DO IT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS MY MOTHER, AND SHE REMEMBERS THIS FROM HER
CHILDHOOD BECAUSE MY GRANDMOTHER TELLS THIS TO HER DAUGHTERS.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
James Callow Keyword(s): VANITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero SPEECH -- Extra Corporal Means of Communication |
Date learned: 10-10-1967
WHISTLING
GIRLS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO WHISTLE BECAUSE THE BLESSED VIRGIN
WILL TURN HER HEAD AND CRY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT TOLD BY MOTHER IN THE 1920'S. SHE PRACTICED
WHEN YOUNG, BUT DOESN'T BELIEVE NOW.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
James Callow Keyword(s): VANITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero SPEECH -- Extra Corporal Means of Communication |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
GIRL WHISTLING
IN GRANDMOTHER'S TIME, GIRLS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO WHISTLE. SHE
SAID IT MADE THE BLESSED VIRGIN CRY.
Where learned: TOLEDO
James Callow Keyword(s): VANITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero SPEECH -- Extra Corporal Means of Communication |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
BLESSED MOTHER BELIEF
A WHISTLING WOMAN YOUNG OR OLD IS INSULTING THE BLESSED MOTHER.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
James Callow Keyword(s): VANITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 03-11-1972