Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for OMEN returned 163 results.
Omen
A cat on board a ship will keep death and disaster away.
Data entry tech comment:
Motif added by T.R. Davidson
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; TORONTO
Keyword(s): CAT ; DEATH ; Disaster ; Nautical ; OMEN ; PREVENTION ; Ship
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Goblin Story
A few years ago, in the main plant of Valente's Men's Formal Wear, the general manager, Marty Rapp, and David Palm were cleaning out the drainage wells beside the 50 pound washers down in the laundry. These wells are about 3 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep. Marty, being general manager, directed, while Dave did the cleaning. All of a sudden, Dave found himself being pulled into the well. He was waist deep in the murky water before Marty pulled him out by the arm. Maybe it was well that Marty was there directing, far Max, a vile, loathsome creature that lives in the sewers under Valente's had tried to pull Dave down into his submarine lair. For what purpose, no one knows, but it is certain it wouldn't have been pleasant. From then on, people are cautioned not to walkalone in the laundry in the dark.
Submitter comment:
For us at Valente's, Max is something to blame accidents on. Dave didn't really get pulled into the well, Marty pushed him in. Though, if you ask anyone there about Dave falling into the well, you will probably get the version with Max in it, then the real one.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; VALENTES MENS FORMALWEAR
Keyword(s): FANTASY ; Goblin ; Lore ; Mischief ; OMEN ; SEWER ; Submarine ; SUPERNATURAL ; WATER
| Subject headings: |
Goblin Story
A few years ago, in the main plant of Valente's Men's Formal Wear, the general manager, Marty Rapp, and David Palm were cleaning out the drainage wells beside the 50 pound washers down in the laundry. These wells are about 3 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep. Marty, being general manager, directed, while Dave did the cleaning. All of a sudden, Dave found himself being pulled into the well. He was waist deep in the murky water before Marty pulled him out by the arm. Maybe it was well that Marty was there directing, far Max, a vile, loathsome creature that lives in the sewers under Valente's had tried to pull Dave down into his submarine lair. For what purpose, no one knows, but it is certain it wouldn't have been pleasant. From then on, people are cautioned not to walkalone in the laundry in the dark.
Submitter comment:
For us at Valente's, Max is something to blame accidents on. Dave didn't really get pulled into the well, Marty pushed him in. Though, if you ask anyone there about Dave falling into the well, you will probably get the version with Max in it, then the real one.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; VALENTES MENS FORMALWEAR
Keyword(s): FANTASY ; Goblin ; Lore ; Mischief ; OMEN ; SEWER ; Submarine ; SUPERNATURAL ; TRICKSTER ; WATER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Ethnic:Polish Superstition
If you sing at the table you'll marry a crazy husband.
Submitter comment:
I distinctly recall hearing this in a Polish Verse form but I can't find anyone else who recalls it.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P800] crossed out and replaced with P88o. The numbers 880 are crossed out and replaced with 477.
Various grammatical correction symbols.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; HUSBAND ; MANNERS ; Omen, Singing ; POLISH ; SUPERSTITION ; TABLE MANNERS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Ethnic:Polish Superstition
IF A YOUNG GIRL SINGS AT THE TABLE, SHE WILL MARRY A CRAZY HUSBAND.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND OF MINE WHO REMEMBERS THIS FROM HER CHILDHOOD.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; HUSBAND ; MANNERS ; Omen, Singing ; POLISH ; SUPERSTITION ; TABLE MANNERS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
Ethnic:Polish Superstition
IF YOU SING AT THE TABLE, YOU WILL MARRY A CRAZY HUSBAND.
Submitter comment:
SHE HEARD THIS FROM HER MOTHER.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; HUSBAND ; MANNERS ; Omen, Singing ; POLISH ; SUPERSTITION ; TABLE MANNERS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
Superstition
Superstition: Bad Luck:
A howling dog means someone will die shortly.
Submitter comment:
[Informant] learned from her grandmother.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out and replaced with P870
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; J L HUDSONS COMPANY
Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BELIEF ; DOG ; Howling ; OMEN ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Fate
He who disturbs the sleeper by the wayside will be forever damned.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
BN [P880] was written 3 times across the top of the card. All but one of them was crossed out.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
Keyword(s): Disturb ; FATE ; Maxim ; OMEN ; SLEEP ; Traveler ; Wayside
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Destiny
Killing an albatross while on a ship means that the ship is going to meet disaster.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P870] crossed out and replaced with current classification.
Where learned: LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): Albatross ; ANIMAL SYMBOL ; DESTINY ; Disaster ; Lore ; LUCK ; Nautical ; OMEN ; Sailor ; SEA ; Ship
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Superstition
Always cross your fingers when passing a black crow.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out and replaced with current classifications.
The question For Good Luck? is written underneath the submission.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BIRD ; COLOR ; Crow ; OMEN ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Color SPEECH -- Gesture |
Ethnic:Ugandan
Cocks and Misfortune:
If a family keeps poultry, and is a cock among them crows between sun-set and mid-night [sic], that particular bird must be strangled immediately to overt misfortune!
Submitter comment:
The superstition is proper to the Batooro tribe of about 100,000 poeple of Uganda.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P530, P880] crossed out/replaced with current classifications
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; FARMING ; MISFORTUNE ; Omens ; Poultry ; SUPERSTITION ; Tribe ; Uganda
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird |
Maxim
Sun and Rain:
Happy is the bride the sun shines on;
Lucky is the corpse that rain falls on.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880, P45] crossed out/ replaced with current classifications.
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Bride ; BURIAL ; Corpse ; DEATH ; Funeral ; MARRIAGE ; Maxim ; OMEN ; SUPERSTITION ; WEDDING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Superstition:Wedding
Wedding Superstition:
For each ribbon a bride breaks on a wedding or shower gift she'll have a child.
Submitter comment:
This is a superstition common in the Oswald family
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P545] crossed out/replaced with current classifications
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; BIRTH ; CHILD ; CUSTOM ; FUTURE ; MARRIAGE ; OMEN ; Ribbon ; SUPERSTITION ; WEDDING
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Superstition
Superstition:
If you come in one door and immediately go out another you'll have company.
Submitter comment:
Sylvia learned this from her sister who in turn learned it at the nurses' lounge at Beaumont Hospital, Detroit.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P860] crossed out/replaced with current classifications
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Company ; CUSTOM ; Entrance ; Exit ; OMEN ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Maxim
It begins with you sinking into his arms and ends with your arms in the sink.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Submission card located in pile marked [?]
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; OFFICE
Keyword(s): Feminism ; MARRIAGE ; Newlywed ; OMEN ; ROMANCE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Numerology
If the numerical number of your birthday coincides with your actual age, then you will have good luck that year.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P686, P800] crossed out/replaced with current classifications
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Birthday, Numerology, Numbers ; LUCK ; OMEN
James Callow Keyword(s): Birthday ; Birthday Belief ; NUMEROLOGY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- P647 BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Belief: Luck
Wedding Luck:
If it rains on a wedding day this is good luck; if it doesn't, the couple is sprinkled with champagne.
Data entry tech comment:
motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [I545] crossedo ut. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; LUCK ; MARRIAGE ; OMEN ; SUPERSTITION ; WEDDING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Superstition
Bad Luck:
If you see a black cat on ground hog's day, destruction is at hand.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD.
Collector's last name may be: Supenski, Suprinski, Serpenski, Surpinski...
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Black ; CAT ; Destruction ; Groundhog ; OMEN ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Superstition
Never cross the path of a black cat becasue bad luck will follow.
Data entry tech comment:
motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P752] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Myself
Keyword(s): Black ; CAT ; jinx ; LUCK ; OMEN ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Ethnic: Polish
House Initiation / Polish Custom:
Put a cat in a house before you move into it and there will always be good luck.
Submitter comment:
A neighbor came over to borrow our cat for one of their relatives who had just bought a new house. These relatives of ournaighbors had just recently come over from Poland. I don't know the people's names and the neighbor doesn't live around here any more.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F532] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications.
Message on the bottom of card:
[Please copy this item on the yellow card below so it will ALSO be filed under F686]
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Myself
Keyword(s): CAT ; ETHNIC ; fortune ; Good ; House ; Housewarming ; LUCK ; OMEN ; POLAND ; POLISH ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing BELIEF -- Mammal |