Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for CHILD returned 175 results.
Custom/Belief
Holy Communion:
Sometime around her First Communion, Mary was told always to swallow the host because if you chewed it, Christ would cry out in pain and blood would fill your mouth.
Data entry tech comment:
motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CHILD ; Christ ; Communion ; Host ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): Reference
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Church |
Superstition: Pregnancy
When you're pregnant is you see a fire there will be a mark on your child.
Data entry tech comment:
motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Reference
Original BN [P870] crossed out. Replaced with P542
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
Keyword(s): Birthmark ; CHILD ; CURSE ; FIRE ; Mark ; Offspring ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): Reference
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Superstition
"Mouse"
My brother has a birthmark on his thigh. But my grandmother refuses to believe that it did not come about inthis way: She says that when my mother was pregnant a mouse must have frightened her and she must have grabbed her leg at the thigh, in the place where my brother has the "mouse." Her proof is that my uncle has the same kind of mark in the same place on his leg, and she is sure that she was scared by a mouse when pregnant with him.
Data entry tech comment:
motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Reference
Original BN [P840] crossed out and replaced with current classification.
Where learned: Myself
Keyword(s): BIRTH ; Birthmark ; CHILD ; CURSE ; FEAR ; Mouse ; Offspring ; Scare ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): Reference
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Entertainment: Game
Method of Choosing "IT":
To choose an "it," all of the players put both feet in a circle and let one person say; "engine, engine, number nine; going down Chicago Line; If the train falls off the track, do you want your money back?" The person could then respond Yes or No. The choice he picked is the number of feet more the count is advanced - (yes=3, no=no) and that person is excluded. This keeps up until only one is left.
Submitter comment:
The informant learned it from his buddies.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C570] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHILDHOOD ; Diversion ; Elimination ; Entertainment ; GAME ; Play
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Entertainment: Game
Jump Rope Song:
Changing Bedrooms Number 1/ Changing Bedrooms Number 2/ Changing Bedrooms Number 3/ Changing Bedrooms Number 4/ Changing Bedrooms Number 5/ etc. etc.
Two people are jumping at opposite sides of the rope. They must switch places on every number.
Submitter comment:
Informant learned it from her friends.
Data entry tech comment:
motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C570] crossed out/replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): CHILD ; Entertainment ; GAMES ; Jump Rope ; Play ; RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Entertainment: Game
Jump Rope Song:
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, go upstairs / Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say your prayers / Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn out the light / Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say goodnight.
Submitter comment:
The informant learned it from her friends.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN crossed out / Replaced with C750.560
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): CHILD ; Diversion ; Entertainment ; GAME ; Jump Rope ; Play
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Entertainment: Game
Jump Rope Song:
Not last night, but the night before, 24 robbers came knocking at my door. I went out (jump out of rope) to let them in (jump back in) and here's what they said to me:
"Spanish Dancer do the kicks, kicks, kicks, kicks, (jump with legs far apart)
Spanish Dancer do the splits, splits, splits, splits, (jump up with legs extended)
Spanish Dancer turn around, round, round, (turn rope)
Spanish Dancer Touch the ground, ground, ground. (touch the ground)
Submitter comment:
The informant learned it from the neighborhood kids
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C570] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; Entertainment ; GAMES ; Jump Rope ; Play ; RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Entertainment: Game
Jump Rope Song:
Mable, Mable, set the table. Don't forget the salt, but don't forget the red hot peppers. (when "red peppers" is said, the rope is spun faster.)
Submitter comment:
The informant learned it from neighborhood kids.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C570] crossed out / replaced with current classification
Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Diversion ; Entertainment ; GAME ; Jump Rope ; Play ; RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Superstition: Pregnancy
Prediction Belief:
If a pregnant woman looks at an ugly animal, her child may be ugly.
Submitter comment:
Prediction / Belief
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Reference
Original BN [P800] crossed out / replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; BIRTH ; CHILD ; CURSE ; jinx ; Offspring ; Old Wives Tale ; PREGNANCY ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): Reference
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Superstition: Pregnancy
Birth Omen:
When you are pregnant, if you thread a needle and hold it over your left arm with your right hand, you can learn what the sex of the child is. If it swings across the arm, it is a boy. If it swings up and down the arm, it is a girl.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Reference
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): BIRTH ; CHILD ; DIVINATION ; gender ; Ordaining ; PREGNANCY ; SEX
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Superstition: Pregnancy
Cats:
Cats shouldn't be allowed in the same room as a sleeping baby because the smell of milk on a baby's breath will cause the cat to suffocate the baby when the cat attempts to suck the milk out of the baby through the baby's mouth.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P400] crossed out / replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; ASPHYXIATION ; BABY ; CAT ; CHILD ; DEATH ; FEAR ; Feline ; FOOD ; Kill ; Milk ; Newborn ; Offspring ; Suffocate ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Superstition: Pregnancy
Cats and Babies:
Many mothers will not leace cats in the same room as an infant. They believe a cat can suck all the aior out of a baby's lungs and kill it.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ASPHYXIATION ; BABY ; CAT ; CHILD ; FEAR ; Feline ; infant ; Newborn ; Suffocate ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Superstition: Pregnancy
Cat Belief:
Never place a baby unattended in the same room as a cat, because the cat will leap up onto the child and take hold of the child's tongue and strangle the child.
Submitter comment:
Informant said she saw a cat do this and was able to save the child before the child expired.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P740] crossed out / replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; KALAMAZOO
Keyword(s): ASPHYXIATION ; BABY ; CAT ; CHILD ; FEAR ; Feline ; infant ; Newborn ; STRANGULATION ; SUFFOCATION ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Superstition: Pregnancy
Cats:
Never let a Tom Cat sleep in the same bedroom with a child, it will take the child's breath away and smother it, killing the child.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P549] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: OHIO ; LUCAS COUNTY
Keyword(s): ASPHYXIATION ; BABY ; CAT ; CHILD ; FEAR ; Feline ; SUFFOCATION ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Superstition: Animals
La Cicilia (Snake Belief):
This is a little short snake (type of viper) which is blind and hisses. It comes out once a year on the feast of the Madonna degli Angeli. On this feastday no child is left alone for the people believe that these vipers seek babies and small children. The vipers are believed to have the spirit of the devil within them and seek little children's souls.
Submitter comment:
My mother really believes this story and claims to have seen them.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Written on the right hand side of the card: Date? Unknown.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Babies ; CHILDREN ; Feast ; FESTIVAL ; holiday ; Holy Day ; Prey ; Serpent ; Snake ; Soul ; Viper
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Mammal |
Superstition: Pregnancy
Remedy:
If a woman is frightened during her pregnancy, the child will have a birth mark.
Submitter comment:
Learned at home on the farm.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; Birth Mark ; CHILD ; CURSE ; FEAR ; Frightened ; Offspring ; PREGNANCY ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Ethnic:Polish Superstition
Curing a Spell:
To cure a spell, especially the evil eye, cast on a small child, you remove all the clothes, and dress the baby again with all the clothes inside out. This is a Polish belief.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): CHILD ; CLOTHING ; CURE ; CURSE ; ETHNIC ; EVIL EYE ; Fashion ; MAGIC ; POLAND ; POLISH ; REMEDY ; Removal
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Ethnic: Isreali Superstition
The Druse, a tribe in Isreal, protect their babies from the Evil Eye by painting a circle around each eye of the child with a dye called Kehl.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): BABY ; CHILD ; CURE ; CURSE ; Druse ; Dye ; ETHNIC ; EVIL EYE ; Israel ; Israeli ; Kehl ; Protection ; REMEDY ; SUPERSTITION ; Tribe
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Superstition: Pregnancy
To Spit on a New-Born Baby:
Whenever a woman looks at another's new-born baby, they must have a little saliva fall on the child. If not, the evil-eye is cast upon the baby.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Written in the bottom left hand corner of the card: [IA25 Mark again for S600 + S644]
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BABY ; CHILD ; CURE ; CURSE ; EVIL EYE ; Newborn ; PREVENTION ; REMEDY ; Saliva
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Gesture SPEECH -- Shame |
Language
Weather Verse:
Rain Rain, go away. Come again another day.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Dup. of WPP
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ;
Keyword(s): CHILD ; CHILDREN ; Language ; Play ; Rain ; RHYME ; SONG ; VERSE ; WEATHER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |