Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for gender returned 21 results.
Several years ago I was told that a way to determine
the sex on an unborn child is by how much pain the
mother-to-be experiences during her nine month
pregnancy. If a woman experiences a lot of pain she
will give birth to a boy. If she experiences little
or no pain, she will give birth to a girl.
Submitter comment:
I had some doubts about this until after my sister
gave birth to her first child. She now has three kids
and went through enormous pain during each pregnancy
and as it turns out, she gave birth to three boys.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): gender
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Trick
Cooties:
You used to put an "X" on your hand or something. That was your cootie shot. One girl was designated as having cooties and if she touched you, you passed it on to somebody else. Or else if you didn't have the "X" you'd get it."
Submitter comment:
Informant recalls this as being practices often while attending grade school.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): GAME ; gender ; Prank ; SCHOOL ; Tease ; TRICK ; TRICKSTER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Belief: Children
Determining Sex of Unborn Child:
A pin on a thread, if held motionless over the wrist of an expectant mother, can determine sex of child by the motion which it takes up after it is perfectly still. If pin or needle takes up a circular motion than first child weill be a girl. If needle takes up back and forth motion then a boy. If pin stops and then moves again, this can be used to predict the future sex and number of children.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P860] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME ; NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
Keyword(s): ANAPEL ; BELIEF ; Biology ; BIRTH ; CHILDREN ; CUSTOM ; Forecasting ; gender ; Ordain ; Pendulum ; Predictions ; SEX
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Superstition
How Many Children?
Thread a needle and hold it at the top, next to your left wrist. If you keep watching for awhile, the needle and thread will move all by itself. If it moves in circles, for example, three times, that means you will have three daughters someday. If it sways back and forth, that means you will have the respective number of sons. If the needle and thread don't move at all, you will be childless.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P542, P860] crossed out. Replaced with current Classification
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BIRTH ; Childbirth, divination ; CHILDREN ; FUTURE ; GAME ; gender ; NUMBER ; Offspring ; Ordaining ; SUPERSTITION ; TRICK
James Callow Keyword(s): Reference
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Custom/Belief
Tie a diamond ring to a piece of string with the diamond hanging at the lowest point. Hold the string at eye level. Hold it steady and place someone's hand palm down under the diamond. If the ring sways from left to right that is the sign that the expectant mother will have a baby boy. If it sways to and fro, the baby will be a girl.
Data entry tech comment:
motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Reference
Original BN [F500] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; BIRTH ; DIVINATION ; gender ; Old Wives Tale ; Ordaining ; SEX ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): Reference
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Superstition: Pregnancy
Birth Omen:
When you are pregnant, if you thread a needle and hold it over your left arm with your right hand, you can learn what the sex of the child is. If it swings across the arm, it is a boy. If it swings up and down the arm, it is a girl.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Reference
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): BIRTH ; CHILD ; DIVINATION ; gender ; Ordaining ; PREGNANCY ; SEX
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Proverb
Man has his will, but woman has her way.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V400] crossed out. Replaced wtih current classification.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; gender ; Man ; Maxim ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PROVERB ; PUN ; Sexes ; VERSE ; Way ; Will ; Woman
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Proverb
Man has his will - but woman has her way.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V400] crossedout. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: MACKENZIE HIGH SCHOOL
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; gender ; Man ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; PUN ; Sexes ; Way ; Will ; Woman
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Proverb
Behind every great man there is a great woman.
Submitter comment:
From - Uncertain
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V300] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE ;
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; gender ; Man ; Maxim ; POWER ; PROVERB ; VERSE ; Woman
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Autograph Verse
Album rhyme:
Standing on the street corner
My frock above my knees
I'm a full born American
And I'll do as I please
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): AMERICAN ; AUTOGRAPH ; Corner ; DRESS ; Frock ; gender ; Knees ; Liberation ; NATIONALITY ; poem ; Propriety ; RHYME ; Signature ; STREET ; VERSE ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music C700 .881 |
IF THE STOMACH IS POINTED DURING PREGNANCY, THE CHILD WILL
BE A BOY; IF ROUNDED, A GIRL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; ; BELZONI
Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; Boy ; Fetus ; gender ; Girl ; Pointed ; PREGNANCY ; Rounded ; SHAPE ; STOMACH
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 09-00-1973
IF THE UNBORN CHILD IS CARRIED HIGH, IT WILL BE A GIRL;
IF CARRIED LOW, IT WILL BE A BOY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BELZONI
Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; Boy ; Carriage ; CARRY ; CHILD ; Fetus ; gender ; Girl ; High ; Low ; PREGNANCY ; STOMACH ; Unborn
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 09-00-1973
IF THE STOMACH IS LARGE AT NINE MONTHS, THE BABY WILL BE
A GIRL; IF SMALL, A BOY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BELZONI
Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; BELLY ; gender ; Large ; PREDICTION ; PREGNANCY ; Small ; STOMACH
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Measure of space: distance, height, depth |
Date learned: 08-21-1973
A CHILD CARRIED TO THE LEFT SIDE IS A BOY; TO THE
RIGHT SIDE, A GIRL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Boy ; CARRY ; gender ; Girl ; LEFT ; PREDICTION ; PREGNANCY ; RIGHT ; Side ; STOMACH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 08-20-1973
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN'S FEMALE CHILD IS ATTRACTED TO A
MALE SHE HAS PREVIOUSLY DISLIKED, HER CHILD WILL BE A BOY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Attraction ; BELIEF ; Boy ; gender ; Girl ; PREDICTION ; PREGNANCY
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-23-1973
IF THE BABY BEFORE BIRTH IS ACTIVE, IT WILL BE A BOY;
IF INACTIVE, A GIRL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BELZONI
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Boy ; gender ; Girl ; Movement ; PREDICTION ; PREGNANCY
James Callow Keyword(s): SEX DETERMINATION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 09-13-1973
A CHILD CONCEIVED ON THE QUARTER MOON WILL BE A BOY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BELZONI
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Boy ; Conceived ; gender ; PREDICTION ; PREGNANCY
James Callow Keyword(s): FRACTION ; SEX DETERMINATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually |
Date learned: 09-00-1973
IF A LITTLE BOY IS ATTRACTED TO A PREGNANT WOMAN, HER
CHILD WILL BE A GIRL. IF A GIRL IS ATTRACTED TO THE
WOMAN, HER CHILD WILL BE A BOY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Attraction ; BELIEF ; Boy ; CHILD ; gender ; Girl ; PREDICTION ; PREGNANCY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-23-1973
TO DETERMINE PRE-NATALLY THE SEX OF A CHILD, HOLD A
RING ON THE END OF A STRING ABOVE THE PREGNANT WOMAN'S
NAVEL. IF THE RING SWINGS IN A CIRCLE, THE CHILD WILL
BE A BOY. IF IT SWINGS BACK AND FORTH, THE CHILD WILL
BE A GIRL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): ; BELIEF ; Boy ; gender ; Girl ; PREDICTION ; PREGNANCY ; RING
James Callow Keyword(s): ANAPEL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Use of object for determining number of children or sex of unborn P863.4 |
Date learned: 10-23-1973
ATTACH NEEDLE AND THREAD TO THE ERASER END OF PENCIL. HOLD
THREAD IN RIGHT HAND SO PENCIL DNGLES OVER LEFT WRIST(PALM
UP). IF THE PENCIL TRAVELS VERTICALLY IT INDICATES A BOY,
HORIZONTALLY, A GIRL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: OHIO ; TROTWOOD
Keyword(s): Boy ; Dangle ; gender ; Girl ; Pencil ; PREDICTION ; PREGNANCY ; Swing
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 04-00-1972