RE:SEARCH logo
University of Detroit Mercy Libraries / Instructional Design Studio
UDM HOME BLACKBOARD MY UDMERCY
RESEARCH HOME / FIND / SPECIAL COLLECTIONS / THE JAMES T. CALLOW FOLKLORE ARCHIVE /
James Callow Folklore Archive

Collection Home

About Dr. James T. Callow

Dr. James T. Callow publications

Collectors

Browse by

Subject heading

Keyword

Location

Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.

The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

search for

Content filter is on

Your search for DIRECTION returned 635 results.

prev | items
| next

IT IS BAD LUCK IF YOU HAVE PUT A SLIP
ON INSIDE-OUT, TO TAKE IT OFF AND PUT IT ON THE
CORRECT WAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)

Date learned: 09-00-1969

View just this record

IT IS BAD LUCK TO BUTTON A VEST FROM THE TOP
DOWN.

Submitter comment: INFORMER HAD KNOWN THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)

Date learned: 10-16-1967

View just this record

CROSSING A KNIFE AND FORK IS BELIEVED UNLUCKY.

Submitter comment: FROM FRIENDS

Where learned: HOME

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; Silverware

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food
BELIEF -- Number Last events: the last person to the table...
BELIEF -- Bad luck Eating utensils

Date learned: 11-28-1967

View just this record

ON BOARD A NAVAL VESSEL, IT IS BAD LUCK TO WALK UP
A LADDER ON THE PORT SIDE OR DOWN ON THE AFT
SIDE OF THE SHIP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALMA

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Bad luck Objects

Date learned: 03-09-1970

View just this record

IF YOU LIFT UP YOUR FEET FROM THE FLOOR AND TOUCH
YOUR HANDS TO THE CEILING WHILE GOING OVER A
RAILROAD TRACK IN YOUR CAR, YOU WILL HAVE GOOD
LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Good luck Leaving Entering Returning home Travel
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

View just this record

WHEN PLAYING CARDS, IT IS GOOD LUCK TO SIT
PERPENDICULAR TO THE BATHTUB.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 881 Games / Pastimes / Sports

Date learned: 12-00-1969

View just this record

FOR GOOD LUCK A PITCHER WILL NOT SHAVE BEFORE
A (BASEBALL) GAME.
FOR GOOD LUCK, A PITCHER WILL NOT TALK TO THE OTHER
PLAYERS IF HE IS IN THE COURSE OF PITCHING A PERFECT
GAME.
WHEN DRESSING BEFORE A GAME, A PITCHER WILL PUT ON ALL
ARTICLES OF CLOTHING FROM THE LEFT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; INTERVIEW ; SAINT MATTHEW SCHOOL

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 881 Games / Pastimes / Sports
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Good luck Body parts and functions

View just this record

IF YOU SPILL SALT, THEN THROW SOME OVER YOUR LEFT
SHOULDER TO BRING GOOD LUCK.

Submitter comment: LEARNED AT HOME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ACCIDENT ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Good luck Activities

View just this record

AFTER USING SALT, YOU SHOULD THROW A PINCH OF IT
OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER TO INSURE GOOD LUCK.

Submitter comment: HEARD THIS FROM A FRIEND.

Where learned: OHIO ; CANTON

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Good luck Activities

Date learned: 12-04-1967

View just this record

IF YOU THROW SALT OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER IT WILL
BRING YOU GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Good luck Activities

Date learned: 01-20-1971

View just this record

SOME ITALIANS FEEL IT NECESSARY TO THROW SALT ON TOP
OF OIL, IF IT SHOULD HAPPEN TO FALL ON THE GROUND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ACCIDENT ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Good luck Activities

Date learned: 10-22-1971

View just this record

TO THROW SALT OVER THE LEFT SHOULDER IS A SIGN OF
LUCK. IT USED TO WARD OFF EVIL.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS A BELIEF GIVEN TO HIM BY HIS MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Good luck Activities

Date learned: 02-10-1971

View just this record

WHEN YOU ACCIDENTALLY SPILL SALT, INFORMANT TAKES
A FEW GRAINS OF SALT AND THROWS IT OVER EACH
SHOULDER FOR GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; GRADE SCHOOL ; REDFORD ; SAINT MARYS

James Callow Keyword(s): ACCIDENT ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Good luck Activities

Date learned: 02-12-1970

View just this record

IF YOU STUMP YOUR RIGHT TOE YOU'LL HAVE GOOD LUCK.
IF YOU STUMP YOUR LEFT TOE, YOU'LL HAVE BAD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails
BELIEF -- Good luck Body parts and functions
BELIEF -- Bad luck Body parts and functions

Date learned: 10-07-1971

View just this record

IT IS GOOD LUCK TO PICK UP A PIN WITH ITS POINT
TOWARD YOU.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck Sharp objects

Date learned: 01-22-1970

View just this record

IF YOU FIND A STRAIGHT PIN ON THE GROUND POINTING
TOWARD YOU, PICK IT UP AND YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER LEARNED THIS SUPERSTITION FROM A WOMAN
WITH WHOM SHE WORKED. MRS. HAIRSTON LEARNED IT
FROM HER MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck Sharp objects

Date learned: 02-00-1967

View just this record

IF SOMEONE GIVES YOU AN ELEPHANT ORNAMENTATION AND
THE TRUNK IS UP, IT MEANS GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: HOME

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; SYMBOL

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck Gifts
BELIEF -- Good luck Animals

Date learned: 02-15-1970

View just this record

TURN YOUR HIGH SCHOOL RING OVER ONCE FOR GOOD LUCK.

Submitter comment: TRADITION IN HIGH SCHOOLS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck Jewelry (gems, rings, etc.)

Date learned: 08-00-1967

View just this record

INFORMANT HAS BEEN TOLD THAT TO PUT SOMETHING ON
INSIDE OUT IS GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)

Date learned: 10-08-1971

View just this record

A HORSESHOE NAILED OPEN END UP OVER A DOOR IS
SUPPOSED TO BRING GOOD LUCK TO ALL WHO PASS UNDERNEATH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Wall Partition Door Window
BELIEF -- Good luck Horseshoe

Date learned: 11-01-1968

View just this record

prev | items
| next

University of Detroit Mercy
4001 W. McNichols Detroit , MI , 48221-3038
This site is endorsed by the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) and supports the views, values, and mission of UDM. The University of Detroit Mercy web site provides links to other web sites, both public and private, for informational purposes. The inclusion of these links on UDM's site does not imply endorsement by the University. Please contact the Associate Dean for Technical Services and Library Systems for any questions regarding this web site.