Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Gem returned 19 results.
IF YOU GET A PIECE OF BREAD WITH A HOLE IN IT, YOU'LL
GET A RING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ENGAGEMENT? ; HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Food BELIEF -- Use of Object Dress, buttons, jewelry |
Date learned: 01-00-1970
BELIEF
SIVIETA URSZULA PERTY ROZSUWA.
ST. URSULA DISTRIBUTES PEARLS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BLESSING ; GEMS ; Pearls ; Saint ; Saint Ursula
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PROVERB
IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED TRY, TRY AGAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): DISCOURAGEMENT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
It is unlucky for someone who is not a Scorpio to
wear an opal.
Submitter comment:
Elinor's great aunt was a Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21),
and owned a lovely opal ring. Her daughter, Nettie, wanted
the ring, but her mother cautioned her against wearing it,
as it would bring bad luck. Nettie wore the ring anyway. The
first time she wore it, she was almost hit by a car. The
second time that she wore the opal, she had a mishap,
mangling the ring beyond repair, and losing the opal. After
that, Nettie believed what her mother had told her.
Nettie told this to Elinor as a warning, because they are both
Sagittarius. Elinor also was told by one of her students,
Molly, that she had a terrible string of bad luck for a
whole week, until she gave away her opal ring.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRASER
Keyword(s): Horoscope, proscription, advice, astrology, gems, jewelry
Date learned: 00001960S
Wearing opals when you are not a Scorpio is only bad
luck if you are single; if you are married they won't
harm you.
Submitter comment:
Jane, a friend of Elinor's, states that wearing an opal if
you are not supposed to interferes in the finding of
a husband. She then told Elinor that she could wear
an opal if she wanted to, since she was married.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): horoscope, astrology, spinster, advice, reassurance, gems
James Callow Keyword(s): JEWELRY
Date learned: 00001987ca
If you are going to wear jewelry with opals, it is
better luck to wear an odd number of opals than an
even number.
Submitter comment:
Elinor's friend, Jane, states that the ring (or other piece
of jewelry) will be stronger this way.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): Advice, gems
Date learned: 00001980S
An opal will shine more brightly for someone who
is supposed to wear it, but will look dull, or will crack,
if the wrong person wears it. If you have Scorpio rising
in your astrological sign, that is as good as being born
under Scorpio.
Submitter comment:
Annie, an acquaintance of Elinor's, complimented Elinor
on the beauty of her opal ring. When Elinor related her
misgivings about wearing the ring, Annie reassured her
that it was safe, since Scorpio was her rising sign. She
also warned her not to let anyone wear it, as the ring
might crack if that person was not born under the proper
sign.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): Advice, gems
Date learned: 00001980S
Chinese custom
When a close family member dies, the first day of the funeral
one of the children must place one pearl and two coins in the
mouth of the deceased for burial.
Where learned: CHINA
Keyword(s): Gem or Money
Date learned: 00-00-1955
PLANT CUCUMBERS WHEN THE SIGNS ARE IN THE TWINS
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; FULTON
James Callow Keyword(s): GEMINI
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
TWIN DAYS IS A GOOD TIME TO PLANT CUCUMBERS AND FLOWERS.
Where learned: PARIS ; TENNESSEE
Keyword(s): GEMINI ASTROLOGY ZODIAC
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
PLANT CUCUMBER SEEDS ON TWIN DAYS IN MAY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): GEMINI ZODIAC ALMANAC
| Subject headings: | 686 Seconds / Twice / Two CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- May BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: 07-03-1970
OPALS ARE VERY BAD LUCK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): GEMS GEMSTONE GEM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Jewelry (gems, rings, etc.) |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
WHEN THE SIGN IS IN THE ARM, PLANT COTTON.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): GEMINI ; ZODIAC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal Husbandry Farming Ranching |
Date learned: 09-23-1973
Entry filtered.
Custom
Wedding Custom:
When a woman in her family is engaged to be married, the aunts on her fahter's side give a shower gift to her which is a pure white negligee. This is a sign that the perspective groom has been accepted as a member of the family.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME ; NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
Keyword(s): Engagement ; FAMILY ; GIFT ; Shower ; WEDDING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Ethnic: Yugoslavian
Engagement:
In Yugoslavia, parents still arrange any marriages. Thus, whenever a horn is heard blowing, everyone knows that an engagement has been decided. Often, the young people involved may be the last ones to know.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F533] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): Arranged Marriages ; COURTSHIP ; DATING ; Engagement ; ETHNIC ; Horn ; MARRIAGE ; Weddings ; Yugoslavia
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Proverb
Out of the mouths of babes comes gems.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Babe ; Babes ; GEMS ; Maxim ; Mouth ; PROVERB ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
AN OPAL LOSES BRILLIANCE WHEN THE WEARER IS ILL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Brilliance ; Gem ; ILLNESS ; Opal
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure |
Date learned: 10-13-1973
NEVER GIV E A GOOD FRIEND PEARLS, PEARLS MEAN TEARS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; Friend ; FRIENDSHIP ; Gem ; JEWELRY ; Pearl ; SYMBOL ; TEARS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 10-01-1968