Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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UNWIND CLOCK
IF A PERSON LETS THEIR ALARM CLOCK COMPLETLY UNWIND AND STOP TICKING
THE OWNER OF THE CLOCK WILL DIE IN HIS SLEEP
Submitter comment: ONE MAY LOOK AT THE CLOCK'S MAIN-SPRING AS ONE'S OWN LIFE SPAN.
Where learned: ALABAMA
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMPATHETIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00-00-1932
PREDICTION
IF YOUR RIGHT HAND ITCHES, YOU'LL SHAKE HANDS WITH A STRANGER.
Where learned: ALABAMA
| Subject headings: | Observation |
HOT STEAM
A "HOT STEAM" IS SOMEBODY WHO CAN'T
GET TO HEAVEN, JUST WALLOWS AROUND
ON LONESOME ROADS AN' IF YOU WALK THROUGH ONE, WHEN YOU DIE YOU'LL
BE ONE TOO AN' YOU'LL GO AROUND AT
NIGHT SUCKING PEOPLE'S BREATH. YOU
CAN'T KEEP FROM PASSING THROUGH ONE. SOMETIMES THEY STRETCH ALL
THE WAY ACROSS THE ROAD, BUT IF YOU HAFTA GO THROUGH ONE YOU SAY:
ANGEL-BRIGHT, LIFE-IN-DEATH; GET
OFF THE ROAD, DON'T SUCK MY BREATH."
THIS KEEPS THEM FROM WRAPPING AROUND YOU.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: ALABAMA ; "To Kill a Mockingbird"
Keyword(s): GHOST ; LITERATURE ; Quote ; Soul ; SUPERSTITION ; Tale
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
( ANIMAL BELIEF )
IF YOU ATE AN ANIMAL RAW, YOU COULD NEVER GET THE BLOOD OFF.
Data entry tech comment:
The collector has written ["To Kill a Mockingbird," Harper Lee] on the card.
Updated by TRD
Where learned: ALABAMA
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BLOOD ; Clean ; Consume ; Eat ; FOOD ; meat ; Raw
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Meat BELIEF -- Home |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
NOT GIVEN
I LIKE HIM LIKE A HAIR ON A BISCUIT.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; HUNTSVILLE
Keyword(s): IRONY DISLIKE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 06-27-1973
NOT GIVEN
GREENER'N A GOURD.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; HUNTSVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 06-27-1973
NOT GIVEN
FIRST TIME I HEARD THAT JOKE I KICKED THE SLATS OUT OF
MY CRADLE.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; HUNTSVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 06-27-1973
NOT GIVEN
FINER'N FROG HAIR.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; HUNTSVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 06-27-1973
NOT GIVEN
BUSIER THAN A ONE-ARMED PAPERHANGER.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; HUNTSVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 06-27-1973
NOT GIVEN
ANYBODY WHO'D DO THAT WOULD PUSH LITTLE CHICKENS IN
THE CREEK.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; HUNTSVILLE
Keyword(s): CRUELTY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 06-27-1973
IN HUNTSVILLE IN JONE'S VALLEY THERE'S A
GRAVEYARD WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO AT NIGHT AND HEAR
"SCREAMING." JUDY FOSTER HEARD IT.
SUPPOSEDLY, IN THE 1800S THE JONES FAMILY WAS HAVING
A PARTY AND ONE OF THE JONES GIRLS WHO WAS A WICKED
GIRL LEFT THE PARTY EARLY. SHE NEVER CAME BACK AND
SO THE PARTIERS SEARCHED FOR HER AND FOUND HER BODY
LYING SCATTERED ALL OVER THE AREA AND ON HER HEAD
WAS A BLACK CROSS SIGN. TO THIS DAY SHE CAN BE
HEARD SCREAMING WHEN YOU ARE STANDING IN THE
GRAVEYARD.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; PEABODY ; HUNTSVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00-00-1800
A SURE SIGN THAT EASTER IS NEAR IS OBSERVED IN THE BLOOMING
OF THE DOGWOOD TREE. THIS TREE BLOOMS SYMBOLIC OF EASTER
BECAUSE THE WOOD OF THIS TREE WAS USED FOR THE CROSS ON
WHICH CHRIST WAS CRUCIFIED. IN THOSE DAYS THE DOGWOOD
TREE GREW REAL LARGE, BUT BECAUSE IT WAS MISUSED, IT NOW
IS A VERY DWARFY TREE. THE PETALS IF EXAMINED CLOSELY
RESEMBLE A CROSS.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; HUNTSVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- P663 BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications |
Date learned: 06-24-1972
PROVERBIAL COMPARISON
AS MAD AS AN OLD WET HEN.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; FLORENCE
Keyword(s): ANGRY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 06-24-1970
PROVERBIAL COMPARISON
HE TOOK OFF LIKE MOODY'S GOOSE.
Submitter comment: IN A HURRY.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; FLORENCE
Keyword(s): RUSH
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 06-21-1970
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
HE STILL HASN'T GOTTEN UP FOOL'S HILL.
Submitter comment: MEANING HE LACKS MATURITY.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; FLORENCE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 07-03-1970
IT'S BAD LUCK TO GIVE SCISSORS OR KNIVES AS GIFTS TO FRIENDS OR
KIN. IT WILL SEVER YOUR RELATIONSHIP.
IT (IF) KNIVES OR SCISSORS ARE GIVEN, THE RECEIVER SHOULD
PAY THE PERSON GIVING THE GIFT A PENNY SO THEIR FRIENDSHIP
WILL NOT BE SEVERED.
Submitter comment: MY MOTHER LEARNED THIS SUPERSTITION FROM HER MOTHER, MRS.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; FLORENCE
Date learned: 06-21-1970
IT IS BAD LUCK TO RETURN BORROWED SALT.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; FLORENCE
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Flavoring BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Bad luck Food and drink |
Date learned: 06-21-1970
IF YOU WASH ON MONDAY AFTER NEW YEAR'S DAY, SOMEONE IN THE FAMILY
WILL DIE BEFORE THE YEAR IS OUT.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; FLORENCE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Home BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 06-21-1970
DON'T THANK A FRIEND FOR A PLANT GIVEN AS A GIFT. IT WILL DIE.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; FLORENCE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 06-21-1970
WHEN A MULLEIN STALK BEGINS BLOOMING, BEND IT IN THE DIRECTION
THAT YOUR SWEETHEART LIVES. IF AFTER IT HAS BEEN BENT TO THE
GROUND, IT STRAIGHTENS UP AND LIVES, YOUR SWEETHEART LOVES YOU.
IF IT DIES, YOUR SWEETHEART DOESN'T LOVE YOU.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; FLORENCE
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Use of object for determining true love |
Date learned: 06-21-1970