Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for MAGIC returned 149 results.
EARACHE
IF YOU HAVE AN EARACHE, FIND SOMEONE WHO SMOKES A CIGAR, AND HAVE HIM
BLOW THE SMOKE IN YOUR EAR. THE SMOKE WILL GO IN ONE EAR AND THE
INFECTION WILL BE BLOWN OUT THROUGH THE OTHER EAR.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): IMITATIVE MAGIC ; TOBACCO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 02-26-1972
HANDS
THE INFORMANT BELIEVES THAT YOU SHOULDN'T WASTE TIME COUNTING
THE STARS. NOT ONLY IS IT AN INFINITE TASK BUT ALSO YOU ARE REWARDED
WITH STAR MARKS ON YOUR PALMS.
Keyword(s): CAUSE ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Star BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-15-1967
Food - Fixed Date
EAT ANYTHING THAT ROOTS (DIGS THEIR WAY INTO THE GROUND) LIKE
PIGS, ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, OR AS THE FIRST MEAL OF THE NEW YEAR.
NEVER EAT ANYTHING THAT SWIMS OR FLIES OR YOUR MONEY WILL DO THE
SAME. EAT NO FOWL OF ANY KIND.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant is grandmother of collector.
Where learned: informant's home
Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
Date learned: 11-10-1970
NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM
WASHING WITH A PIECE OF SILVER
SO THE NEW YEAR WILL BE PROSPEROUS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CONTAGIOUS MAGIC ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
Date learned: 10-22-1968
CUSTOM-FIRST FOOTING
THE FIRST PERSON TO STEP FOOT IN YOUR HOUSE AFTER THE NEW YEAR
CANNOT DO SO EMPTY-HANDED. IF THEY DO IT MEANS THAT YOU AND YOUR
FAMILY WILL HAVE A LEAN YEAR. IF THEY BRING A GIFT, THEN YOU AND
YOUR FAMILY WILL HAVE A FAT YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC ; SYMBOLIC ACTION
Date learned: 09-26-1965
CUSTOM
WHEN INFORMANT WAS LITTLE, A FAMILY
CUSTOM AT NEW YEAR'S WAS TO BE SURE THAT
SOMEONE--THE FIRST PERSON INTO THE HOUSE AFTER
MIDNIGHT--BROUGHT WITH HIM SOME BREAD
AND A BOTTLE OF WINE TO INSURE A FULL
CUPBOARD DURING THE COMING YEAR. IF NO ONE
WAS GOING TO BE OUT LATE, THE PROVISIONS
WERE LEFT OUT ON THE KITCHEN TABLE UNTIL
MORNING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Keyword(s): GIFTGIVING ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
Date learned: 11-08-1967
SUPERSTITION
SHEAVES OF GRAIN TIED WITH RIBBON ARE LEFT IN CORNERS OF THE ROOM AT
CHRISTMAS TIME FOR A GOOD HARVEST IN THE NEXT SEASON, IN POLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Predictions CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Straw |
CLEANLINESS
IF YOU TAKE A BATH BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR, YOU WILL BE CLEAN
ALL YEAR. ( DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR THE SPIRIT WILL BE PURGED ).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
Date learned: 03-01-1968
CHRISTMAS BELIEF
YOUNG GIRLS SHOULD WASH THEIR FACES WITH SILVER DOLLARS ON CHRISTMAS
EVE SO THEY WILL HAVE BEAUTIFUL COMPLEXIONS.
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC ; WASHING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Predictions |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY THE COLLECTOR
NEVER THROW AWAY TRASH ON CHRISTMAS DAY. IF YOU DO YOU ARE
"THROWING OUT" YOUR LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THAT SHE REALLY DOES NOT BELIEVE IT ALTHOUGH SHE
SAVES HER TRASH UNTIL THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS. INFORMANT SAID THAT
THE PRACTICE DATES BACK TO HER CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Predictions |
Date learned: 11-12-1971
CHRISTMAS BELIEF
EVERY CHRISTMAS MORNING A PAN OF WATER IS PLACED UNDER THE SINK. A
CHRISTMAS TREE BRANCH, A PENNY, A NICKEL, A DIME, A QUARTER AND A
FIFTY CENT PIECE IS PLACED IN THE WATER. THIS WATER IS THEN USED TO
WASH IN. WHEN YOU WASH IN THE WATER YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND
MONEY FOR HEALTH.
Submitter comment:
DOROTHY BANAS RELATED THE CUSTOM BUT WHEN QUESTIONED ON THE REASON
FOR THE CUSTOM SHE WAS UNABLE TO REPLY. EMIL MAZUR IMMEDIATELY
INSERTED HIS BELIEF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Predictions |
Date learned: 10-24-1970
CHRISTMAS PRACTICE
IF YOU WASH YOURSELF WITH A FIFTY CENT PIECE ON CHRISTMAS MORNING,
YOU'LL NEVER WANT FOR MONEY.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT DID THIS AS A CHILD, NOT ANYMORE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Predictions |
Date learned: 02-22-1970
TRADITION
AT MIDNIGHT(CHRISTMAS) GET A PAIL OF WATER FROM THE WELL. IN THE
MORNING WE FOUND MONEY AND OURS TO KEEP. WASHED OUR HANDS AND FACE
WITH THAT WATER AND WE WOULD BE HEALTHY ALL YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC ; WASHING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Predictions |
Date learned: 11-22-1968
CUSTOM ; BELIEF
ON THE NIGHT BEFORE EASTER, YOU TAKE MONEY (CHANGE) AND PUT IT INTO A
DISH OF WATER. NEXT MORNING, EVERYBODY WASHES THEIR HANDS IN IT.
DOING THIS BRINGS WEALTH TO THE HOUSEHOLD.
Submitter comment:
TRADITION WAS FOLLOWED IN HIS FAMILY. IT COMES FROM THE SLAVIC CHURCH
TRADITION AND WAS INTRODUCED BY HIS MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC AND CONTAGIOUS MAGIC
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Saturday Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
CUSTOM ; BELIEF
WE USED TO TAKE AN EASTER EGG TO THE EASTER SERVICE, AND THE PRIEST
WOULD BLESS IT. LATER, AT HOME, EVERYONE EATS A PART OF THE EGG.
DOING THIS BRINGS HEALTH TO EVERYONE.
Submitter comment:
COMES FROM SLAVIC CHURCH TRADITION (VIA MOTHER) AND IS FOLLOWED IN
HIS HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC AND CONTAGIOUS MAGIC
Date learned: 01-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU PUT A MAN'S HAT ON YOUR BED YOU WILL BECOME PREGNANT.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Head BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
OUR FAMILY DOCTOR HAS A LARGE BIRTH MARK ON THE SIDE OF HIS FACE.
IT WAS SAID THAT WHILE HIS MOTHER WAS PREGNANT WITH HIM THERE
WAS A FIRE AND HIS MOTHER RAISED HER HAND TO HER FACE. THIS
CAUSED THE BIRTH MARK ON HIS FACE IN THE SAME PLACE WHERE THE
MOTHER HAD TOUCHED HER FACE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): MARKS BROUGHT ABOUT BY FEAR.
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 01-00-1968
HOKEY DOKEY
DAISY TELLS THE STORY OF HOW ONE WOMAN PUT A SPELL ON ANOTHER
WOMAN'S DAUGHTER BECAUSE EACH WOMAN WANTED HER DAUGHTER TO MARRY
ONE PARTICULAR FELLOW. ONE WOMAN PUT A PACKAGE IN THE MAILBOX FOR
THE OTHER'S DAUGHTER. IN THIS PACKAGE WAS SOMETHING IN THE FORM OF
A MAN. WHEN THE GIRL OPENED THE PACKAGE, THERE WAS A SPELL CAST ON
HER. THE LITTLE MAN STARTED TALKING TO HER. HE SAID HE CAME IN AND
OUT OF THE KEY HOLE, AND HIS NAME WAS HOKEY DOKEY.
HE WOULD COME IN THROUGH THE KEY HOLE WHISTLING LIKE A MAN. IF
PEOPLE ASKED WHERE HE WAS, HE SAID, IN THE BEDSPRINGS AND ON THE
CEILING. PEOPLE FROM FAR AWAY WOULD COME AND WHEN THE HOUSE GOT
FULL OF PEOPLE, HE WOULD SAY HE WASN'T GOING TO GO UNLESS HE WANTED.
HE STAYED WITH THE GIRL UNTIL SHE FINALLY LOST HER MIND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): MAGIC
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman PROSE NARRATIVE -- Abnormal in size PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 07-23-1964
BAMBOO DIPPERS
PREGNANT JAPANESE WOMEN BELIEVE IN OFFERING A BAMBOO DIPPER TO
SHRINES. THE BOTTOMS ARE BROKEN THROUGH,
SYMBOLIZING AN EASY DELIVERY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
EXPECTANT MOTHERS
PREGNANT WOMEN ARE NOT TO WALK OVER A HOSE (GARDEN HOSE, ETC.)
AS THIS WILL STRANGLE THE UNBORN CHILD
Submitter comment: INFORMANT ASSURED ME THIS WAS ACTUALLY TRUE.
Keyword(s): THREAT SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMESOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 02-26-1971