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 9 returned 1262 results.
THROW HOLY WATER ON THE GROUND,
AND YOU WILL RELEASE A SOUL FROM PURGATORY.
Submitter comment: TAUGHT TO HIM BY A NUN IN GRADE SCHOOL.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
TRAIN THAT BRINGS LUCK
WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING UNDER AN OVERHEAD RAILROAD TRACK
AND A TRAIN IS GOING ACROSS IT,
PICK YOUR FEET UP OFF THE FLOOR (NOT IF YOU ARE DRIVING}),
CROSS YOUR FINGERS WHILE TOUCHING THE ROOF (BOTH HANDS),
CLOSE YOUR EYES, AND MAKE A WISH. THEN IT WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
MAGIC OF SPEECH
MAKE A WISH BEFORE BREAKING THE CHICKEN BREASTBONE,
COMMONLY CALLED THE WISHBONE.
TWO PEOPLE TAKE EITHER END AND PULL.
THE PERSON BREAKING OFF THE LARGER PIECE
WILL HAVE HIS WISH COME TRUE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 10-02-1967
MAGIC OF SPEECH
ON SOMEONE'S BIRTHDAY, THEY MAKE A WISH
BEFORE BLOWING OUT THE CANDLES ON THEIR BIRTHDAY CAKE.
IF THEY SUCCEED IN BLOWING THEM ALL OUT,
THEIR WISH WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 10-02-1967
BELIEF--MAGIC OF SIGN
IN THE ACT OF CAPTURING A BIRD
THE CAPTOR SHOULD PUT SALT ON THE BIRD'S TAIL,
THUS RENDERING IT HELPLESS TO FLY AWAY.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
N-FOOD-DRINK SPECIAL FORM AND PURPOSE
IF A PERSON HAS A WISH OR SECRET AMBITION
TO SUCCEED ALL HE HAS TO DO IS THINK OF THIS WISH
WHILE BREAKING THE BREASTBONE (WISHBONE)
OF A CHICKEN WHICH HE HAS EATEN SOME OF.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
TIE A STRING AROUND YOUR FINGER SO YOULL REMEMBER.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
HOLY WATER HOME
MOST CATHOLICS HAVE A PRIEST COME TO THEIR HOME
TO BLESS IT. THIS IS TO KEEP GOD IN THE HOUSE.
SIGNIFIES THAT THE PEOPLE WANT GOD TO WATCH OVER IT.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 03-02-1968
EXORCISING
MY STEPMOTHER, AN EX-SCHOOLMARM FROM A RURAL QUEBEC
VILLAGE, USED TO SPRINKLE HOLY WATER ON MY FATHER
TO EXORCISE HIM OF THE DEVIL IN HIM
WHWNEVER HR
WHEN EVER HE WOULD BECOME HEATEDLY ANGRY.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): TEACHER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
HOCUS POCUS
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Expression of Fixed Form |
Date learned: 11-10-1969
BELIEF
SWEEPING UNDER THE FEET OF A
MAIDEN WILL INSURE HER OF
BEING AN OLD MAID.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Expression of Fixed Form |
Date learned: 10-14-1968
BELIEF IN MAGIC RITUAL
UPON CATCHING A MILKWEED SEED,
ONE SHOULD CUP IT IN BOTH HANDS, CLOSE YOUR
EYES TURN AROUND THREE TIMES WHILE MAKING
A WISH, AND THEN RELEASE THE SEED.
IF THE SEED BLOWS AWAY IN A
A PARTICULAR DIRECTION, INFORMANT COULD NOT REMEMBER
WHAT DIRECTION, THE WISH WILL COME TRUE.
Submitter comment:
TOLD AS AN EXAMPLE OF CHILDHOOD BELIEF
IN A CONVERSATION ON FOLKLORE.
INFORMANT NO LONGER BELIEVES IT BUT ONCE DID.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
TO MAKE A WISH COME TRUE
WHILE IN A BOAT AND GOING UNDER A BRIDGE
HOLD YOUR BREATH AND MAKE A WISH.
IF YOU HOLD YOUR BREATH UNTILL YOU GET
FROM UNDER THE BRIDGE, YOUR WISH WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU GO UNDER RAILROAD TRACKS WHEN A
TRAIN IS PASSING MAKE A WISH AND IT WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 11-28-1970
COMMUNION WISH
A GRADE SCHOOL NUN SAID THAT IF YOU
HAD A WISH THAT GOD WANTED TO COME TRUE
YOU SHOULD SAY WHILE THE HOST WAS STILL ON YOUR TONGUE
" MY FONDEST WISH IS ------ ."
Submitter comment:
IN 1959, FOR SEVEN DAYS IN A ROW, TOM'S FONDEST
WISH WAS FOR THE PIRATES TO BEAT THE
YANKEES IN THE WORLD SERIES AND THEY DID.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BELIEF
IT IS SAID THAT IF YOU CATCH A SANTA CLAUS
REFERING TO THE POLLEN CARRIER OF FUZZ OF A CERTAIN WEED
YOU CAN MAKE A WISH AND IT WOULD COME TRUE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
HOLY COMMUNION WISH
IN THE SECOND GRADE TOM WAS TOLD IN CATECHISM
THAT IF HE WOULD CLOSE HIS EYES AND SAY
" MY FONDEST WISH IS ---
" MY FONDEST WISH IS ------ " AT THE MOMENT
HE RECIEVED COMMUNION, IF HE
HE RECEIVED COMMUNION, IF HIS WISH WAS NOT
SINFUL, IT WOULD BE GRANTED.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
INDIAN PRAYER
GREAT SPIRIT GRANT THAT I MAY NOT
CRITIZE MY NEIGHBOR UNTIL I HAVE WALKED
A MILE IN HIS MOCCASINS.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): CRITICIZE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
NEGRO PRAYER
LORD HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU
AIN'T GWINE TO LET NUTHEN' COME MY
WAY THAT YOU AND ME CAN'T HANDLE TOGETHER.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN