Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IF YOU SEW ON SUNDAY, IT'S BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS BY HIS PENNSYLVANIA MOTHER
IN HIS CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Date learned: 01-12-1967
SEEING YOUR ADOPTED SON OR DAUGHTER THE FIRST THING
IN THE MORNING IS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
DO NOT EVER MOVE INTO A HOUSE IF THE CHIMNEY OF THE
HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET IS BURNING. IT WILL ONLY
BRING BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
Date learned: 03-03-1971
IT IS BAD LUCK FOR A COUPLE TO HAVE THEIR PICTURE
TAKEN TOGETHER. IT WILL LEAD TO A BREAK-UP IN
THE ROMANCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): Photography
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
Date learned: 03-01-1971
WHEN ANYTHING HANGS ON A DOORKNOB, BAD LUCK WILL
OCCUR.
Submitter comment: FROM HER AUNT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Wall Partition Door Window BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
NEVER PART YOUR HAIR ON THE RIGHT; IT BRINGS BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: BARBARA LEARNED THIS FROM HER HUNGARIAN UNCLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Bad luck Body parts and functions |
Date learned: 09-23-1967
IT'S BAD LUCK TO COUNT YOUR TEETH.
Submitter comment: HIS MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs BELIEF -- Bad luck Body parts and functions |
Date learned: 07-29-1964
IT IS BAD LUCK TO HAVE A WOMAN ON A SHIP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MARITIME ; SEXISM
Date learned: 03-03-1971
IT IS BAD LUCK TO HAVE WOMEN ABOARD SHIP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MARITIME ; SEXISM
Date learned: 03-15-1968
NEVER LET A PERSON BORROW SALT, UNLESS HE PAY
A PENNY OR A COPPER PIECE FOR IT, BECAUSE THAT IS
A SIGN OF BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED FROM CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Bad luck Money BELIEF -- Bad luck Food and drink |
Date learned: 03-05-1971
NEVER GIVE YOUR BOYFRIEND SCISSORS, A RAZOR, OR AN
ELECTRIC SHAVER. IT IS BAD LUCK AND YOU WILL
BREAK UP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Bad luck Sharp objects |
Date learned: 03-01-1971
IT IS A CUSTOM OF THE AMISH FOR THE GIRLS TO GO TO
SCHOOL ONLY UNTIL THE FOURTH GRADE, AND THE BOYS TO GO
ONLY TO THE EIGHTH GRADE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BOOK BUILDING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
CROSSING THE EQUATOR
IT IS A CUSTOM IN THE NAVY THAT ALL MEN CROSSING
THE EQUATOR FOR THE FIRST TIME MUST WEAR ALL THEIR
CLOTHES BACKWARDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALMA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: 03-09-1970
IT'S CONSIDERED UNLUCKY IF YOU USE A SCISSORS ON
SUNDAY. A RAZOR OR ANY OTHER CUTTING DEVICE IS
O.K., BUT A SCISSORS IS NOT TO BE USED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS BY HIS PENNSYLVANIA
MOTHER IN HIS CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck Sharp objects |
Date learned: 01-12-1967
PRACTICAL JOKE AND PRANK: TONGUE HOLDER
IF YOU WANT TO EMBARRASS SOMEONE, HAVE THEM HOLD THEIR TONGUE
WHILE SAYING THE FOLLOWING: MM
MY DADDY WORKS IN A SHIPYARD PITCHING ASHES. MM
THE RESULT WILL SOUND LIKE: MM
MY DADDY WORKS IN A SHITYARD PINCHING ASSES.
Submitter comment:
THIS PRANK WAS FIRST HEARD BY THE COLLECTOR IN 1970. IT
IS A PLAY ON WORDS AND HAS THE OPPOSITE EFFECT AS A PRETENDED
OBSCENE RIDDLE. IT IS SIMILAR TO A TONGUE TWISTER IN THAT A
DIFFERENT SENTENCE FROM THE ORIGINAL IS PRODUCED. THIS CAUSES
EMBARRASSMENT TO THE UNKNOWING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; USA ; SOUTHGATE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Phonology Phonetics SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; 00-00-1970
DON'T GIVE A COMB AS A GIFT BECAUSE IT MEANS BAD
LUCK FOR THE RECEIVER.
Submitter comment: GRANDMOTHER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck Gifts |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
DON'T OPEN AN UMBRELLA IN A HOUSE. IT'S BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: HEARD FROM HER FATHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Umbrella |
Date learned: 04-04-1967
WING PANEL STRETCHER
WHEN NEW YOUNG RECRUITS ARE FIRST PUT TO WORK
UNDER SEASONED PETTY OFFICERS IN THE NAVY AIRBORNE,
THEY HAVE MANY TRADITIONAL PRANKS PLAYED UPON THEM.
ONE CONCERNS THE SENDING OF A YOUNG "BOOT"
TO THE STORE ROOM, WITH ORDERS TO RETURN WITH A
"WING PANEL STRETCHER," A DEVICE SUPPOSEDLY DESIGNED
TO STRETCH THE WIND (SING?) PANELS OF A PLANE.
OBVIOUSLY, NO SUCH CONTRAPTION EXISTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALMA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: 03-09-1970
DON'T OPEN AN UMBRELLA IN THE HOUSE--IT'S VERY
UNFORTUNATE.
Submitter comment: GRANDMOTHER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Umbrella |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
VIGIL OF ST. ANDREW, MARRIAGE BELIEF
ON THE VIGIL OF SAINT ANDREW, WHICH IS NOVEMBER 29, ALL THE GIRLS
WRITE DOWN THE NAMES OF ALL THE BOYS THEY KNOW ON SMALL SLIPS OF
PAPER. THESE SLIPS ARE THEN FOLDED AND PLACED UNDER THE GIRLS'
PILLOW. IN THE MORNING WHEN THE GIRL WAKES UP, THE FIRST THING SHE
SHOULD DO IS TO PUT HER HAND UNDER THE PILLOW AND PULL OUT ONE
PIECE OF PAPER. THE NAME THAT APPEARS ON THE PAPER IS THE NAME OF
THE PERSON SHE WILL MARRY.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS CUSTOM IS PRACTICED IN POLAND ONLY. MY MOTHER
KNEW IT SINCE SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL. WHEN SHE WAS IN HER TWENTIES
SHE DID THIS AND ONE OF THE NAMES SHE WROTE ON ONE OF THE SLIPS OF
PAPER WAS MY FATHER'S. IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT THE NAME SHE
PULLED FROM THE BOTTOM OF HER PILLOW AT THIS TIME WAS MY FATHER'S.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F112 BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 10-09-1971