Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for SPINSTER returned 16 results.
IT IS BELIEVED THAT OPENING AN UMBRELLA IN THE
HOUSE WILL BRING BAD LUCK. IF YOU ARE AN UNMARRIED
GIRL, IT ESPECIALLY MEANS THAT YOU WILL REMAIN
AN OLD MAID FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Bad luck Umbrella |
Date learned: 10-27-1969
IF A GIRL TAKES THE LAST PORTION FROM A SERVING BOWL
OR PLATTER, SHE WILL BE AN OLD MAID.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; SPINSTER ; TABLE MANNERS
| Subject headings: | Observation Favorites BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. BELIEF -- Number Last events: the last person to the table... |
Date learned: 10-25-1968
IF YOU EVER SIT ON A TABLE, YOU'LL ALWAYS BE AN OLD MAID.
Submitter comment:
THIS OLD SAYING WAS CLEARLY TO KEEP ME OFF THE FURNITURE
AND ENCOURAGE ME TO BE MORE LADYLIKE.
James Callow Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Good luck P881.2 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
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
WHEN SOMEBODY IS SWEEPING THE FLOOR, AND THEY SWEEP
AROUND A GIRL, SHE WILL GROW UP TO BE AN OLD MAID.
Submitter comment:
HER MOTHER, RAISED IN KENTUCKY, TOLD HER THIS WHEN
THE INFORMANT WAS TEN YEARS OLD.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Measure of time Working |
Date learned: 04-18-1965
IF A GIRL IS NOT MARRIED BY THE TIME SHE IS TWENTY-ONE,
SHE WILL END UP AN OLD MAID.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT, WHO IS THE COLLECTOR'S GRANDMOTHER,
SAID THAT HER MOTHER TOLD HER THE TALE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Number P686.1.21 |
Date learned: 02-27-1965
IF SOMEONE SWEEPS ACROSS YOUR FEET WITH A BROOM, YOU
WILL BE AN OLD MAID.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S MOTHER HAD ALWAYS TOLD HER THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship |
Date learned: 10-13-1971
IF YOU SWEEP ON A YOUNG GIRL'S FEET, SHE WON'T GET
MARRIED.
Submitter comment: FROM MY MOTHER--COLLECTOR.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
IF YOU SWEEP UNDER A GIRL'S FEET, SHE'LL NEVER GET
MARRIED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND'S MOTHER, AND SHE REMEMBERS THIS
FROM HER CHILDHOOD IN ALABAMA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALABAMA ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship |
Date learned: 00001971 SPRING
IF YOU TAKE THE LAST PIECE OF CANDY, COOKIE, PIECE OF
MEAT, ETC., IT MEANS YOU WILL BE AN OLD MAID.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 10-18-1971
IF YOU TAKE THE LAST PIECE OF FOOD ON THE PLATE, YOU'LL
BE AN OLD MAID.
Submitter comment:
TOLD TO HER BY HER GRANDMOTHER. NEVER SAID IN REFERENCE
TO MEN BEING BACHELORS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 10-25-1970
IF YOU TAKE THE LAST COOKY ON A PLATE, YOU WILL BE
AN OLD MAID.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 09-24-1969
NEVER TAKE THE LAST PIECE OF ANYTHING ON A PLATE
OR YOU WILL BE AN OLD MAID.
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
YOU ARE ENGAGED. THE THIRD PERSON WHO TRIES ON YOUR
ENGAGEMENT RING IS A LOSER. THEY WON'T GET A HUSBAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Marriage P545.015 |
Date learned: 01-25-1968
IF YOU EAT THE LAST COOKIE ON THE PLATE, YOU WILL
BE AN OLD MAID.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert BELIEF -- Use of Object Food |
Date learned: 10-04-1967
IF SOMETHING IS BEING PASSED AROUND AND OFFERED TO A
GROUP OF PEOPLE AND YOU TAKE THE LAST ONE, YOU'LL BE
AN OLD MAID.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): SPINSTER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Number Last events: the last person to the table... |