Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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RAVENS
LONDONERS BELIEVE THAT WHEN ALL RAVENS LEAVE THEIR CITY, DISASTER
WILL FOLLOW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BRITISH?
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.32 |
Date learned: 11-00-1971
SUPERSTITION
ONE OF THE MOST COMMON KNOWLEDGE SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT BAD LUCK IS
THAT CONCERNING A BIRD THAT ENTERS THE HOUSE UNINVITED. SUCH A SIGN
MEANS ONLY ONE THING, SICKNESS, DEATH, DESPAIR. IT COULD BE ANY
SORT OF BIRD AND THERE IS NO WAY TO REMEDY THE EVIL. ONCE THE BIRD
HAS ENTERED IT DOESNT MATTER IF HE IS KILLED, CAUGHT, OR SET FREE.
EVIL WILL FOLLOW. IT COULD TAKE A FEW MINUTES, OR A FEW DAYS.
EITHER WAY, BAD LUCK WILL VISIT THE INHABITANTS OR THE BUILDING
ITSELF.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): UNINVITED GUEST
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.32 |
Date learned: 10-00-1965
DON'T BURN YOUR HAIR WHEN IT COMES OUT IN THE COMB, YOU ARE
SUPPOSED TO THROW IT OUTSIDE FOR THE BIRDS TO MAKE THEIR NESTS
OUT OF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): OPPOSITE OF A CONTAGIOUS MAGIC BELIEF ALSO IN ARCHIVE
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Bird |
IF YOUR BEES SWARM, AND SHOW SIGNS OF MOVING AWAY, OR IF A WILD
SWARM FLIES ONTO YOUR PREMISES, ALL THE FAMILY HAD BETTER 'RUN OUT
AND RING BELLS AND BLOW HORNS FOR ALL YOU ARE WORTH.' THE BEES WILL
EITHER BE SO CHARMED OR CONFUSED THAT THEY WILL SETTLE DOWN.
Submitter comment:
HIS FATHER KEPT SEVERAL SWARMS OF BEES AND FOLLOWED THIS ON
ONE OCCASION, AT WHICH TIME THE BEES SETTLED DOWN AND THE WILD ONES
WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE GROUP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NOISE NOISEMAKING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect |
Date learned: 03-10-1968
SUPERSTITION
HAIRS, WHEN LEFT IN WATER, TURN TO WORMS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFORMATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Insect |
Date learned: 10-00-1971
BEE
IT IS GOOD FOR A BEE TO STING YOU BECAUSE IT MAKES YOUR CELLS WORK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): VITALIZING BEE STING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-01-1971
SUPERSTITION
ITS GOOD FOR A BEE TO STING YOU BECAUSE IT MAKES YOUR CELLS WORK.
James Callow Keyword(s): VITALIZING BEE STING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
A BELIEF
IF A DRAGONFLY LANDS ON YOUR EAR, IT WILL SEW IT UP.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS TALE AS A CHILD, AND AT THE TIME HE THOUGHT
THAT IT WAS PROBABLY TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT ; BELIEF
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect |
Date learned: 02-15-1972
BELIEF
STEPPING ON A SPIDER WILL BRING RAIN.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOES NOT BELIEVE THIS STATEMENT.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE
James Callow Keyword(s): DISBELIEF ; HARMING NATURE
Date learned: 02-19-1972
ANTS
IF YOU STEP ON A COLONY OF ANTS, IT WILL RAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT ; HARMING NATURE
Date learned: 02-27-1972
WEATHER BELIEF
SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT ONE CAN PREDICT THE SEVERITY OF THE WINTER
BY OBSERVING THE COLORATION OF THE WOOLLY BEAR CATERPILLAR. IF THEY
ARE MOSTLY BLACK IN COLOR, THE WINTER WILL BE SEVERE, WHILE IF THEY
ARE MOSTLY BROWN IN COLOR, THE WINTER WILL BE LESS SEVERE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS THIS BELIEF MIGHT BE TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT ; BELIEF
WEATHER
SIGN OF BAD WINTER: IF A CATERPILLAR HAS A WIDE
STRIPE ON HIS BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT LARVA
Date learned: 01-30-1970
IT IS BAD LUCK TO KILL A CRICKET, ESPECIALLY ON SUNDAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.33 |
Date learned: 03-03-1970
BELIEF OR PREDICTION
YOU CAN DETERMINE THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE BY COUNTING THE NUMBER
OF TIMES A CRICKET RUBS HIS FOOT IN A MINUTE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT ; WHICH RUBBING PRODUCES CHIRPING SOUND.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.3 |
THE DEAD MAN IN A CRAB
THERE IS A CERTAIN PART OF A CRAB NEAR THE END OF THE SHELL, WHICH
IS BELIEVED BY SOME TO BE A DEAD MAN. ANYONE WHO ATE THIS WOULD
IMMEDIATELY DIE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT AND HIS FRIENDS BELIEVED THIS ABSOLUTELY WHILE CHILDREN IN TIDEWATER, VIRGINIA IN THE 1930S.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL CRUSTACEAN ; BELIEF
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fish BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance P880.34 |
Date learned: 02-18-1970
PURPOSE OF CON (OF FISH)SUMPTION
FISH IS BRAINFOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MENTAL NOURISHMENT AND HEALTH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Fish BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-05-1970
SHOES
ONE MUST NOT LEAVE HIS SHOES ON THE FLOOR AT THE END OF ONES BED,
AS THE LEPRACHAUNS WILL COME AND DANCE IN THEM AT NIGHT.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY HIS GRANDFATHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION PLACEMENT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Use of Object Human beings and their activities |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
FAIRY BELIEF
IN IRELAND,
THE FAIRIES WERE BAD TOO. THEY WOULD COME BY THE NIGHT AND MILK THE
COWS AND HAVE A PICNIC AND WHEN YOU CHURNED THE MILK YOU WOULD HAVE
NO BUTTER. THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD SHOOT THEM WAS TO PUT A SILVER
COIN IN THE GUN, ALONG WITH THE AMMUNITION. AT TWELVE MIDNIGHT,
THEY COULD TAKE YOU FOR A VERY LONG WALK AND KEEP YOU WALKING UNTIL
THE COCKS WOULD CROW AT 4 A.M. BUT YOU COULD FOOL THEM IF YOU
TURNED YOUR COAT INSIDE OUT AND BLESSED YOURSELF WITH THE SIGN OF
THE CROSS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
FAIRY BELIEF
PALLICKS FARTH WAS A HALF MILE FROM MY HOME, A DRUMBLIN OR
RIDGE OF DIRT 8010 FEET HIGH, SHAPED LIKE A BIG BOWL. EVERY NIGHT
AFTER SUNDOWN THE LEPRECHAUNS WOULD COME AND DANCE UNTIL THE COCKS
WOULD CROW IN THE MORNING AND BY SOME MYSTERIOUS POWER,
THEY WOULD PULL UP A BOWLEN, THAT IS WHAT WE CALL THE GOLDEN ROD.
THEY COULD TURN IT INTO A HORSE AND RIDE OFF UNTIL THE NEXT EVENING.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFORMATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 03-11-1972