Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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BELIEF
THE WORDS "HOCUS POCUS" WERE FIRST USED TO MAKE
FUN OF WORDS OF THE TRANSUBSTANTIATION.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
MAGIC
WHEN YOUR CIGARETTE BURNS ON ONE SIDE
ONLY, SOMEONE LOVES YOU.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
Entry filtered.
WHEN MRS. SMITH WAS A GIRL IN THE BEET FIELDS OF KANSAS
SHE REMEMBERS A RUSSIAN COMMUNITY WHICH WAS NEARBY.
THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY ON AT LEAST ONE
INSTANCE IN HER MEMORY MARCHED AROUND THE HOUSE OF
SOMEONE WHO HAD GIVEN THEM A ROUGH TIME AND PRONOUNCED
A HEX ON THE HOUSE. THE NEXT DAY THE HOUSE BURNED DOWN
AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY EXPLANATION FOR IT.
THEREFORE THEY CONSIDERED THE RUSSIAN HEX AS THE CAUSE OF IT.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
HOLY WATER FONT
FOR THE TWENTY YEARS THAT I RESIDED AT MY PARENT'S HOME
I CAN NOT REMEMBER EITHER MY BROTHERS OR MYSELF LEAVING
THE HOUSE BY THE FRONT DOOR WITHOUT DIPPING OUR
FINGERS INTO THE HOLY WATER FONT AND MAKING THE SIGN
OF THE CROSS. DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT WAS A HABIT,
MY MOTHER (POLISH) WOULD ALWAYS REMIND US.
AS WE OPENED THE FRONT DOOR SHE WOULD CALL, "DON'T FORGET TO
BLESS YOURSELF". THIS BECAME QUITE EMBARRASSING
AS WE BECAME YOUNG MEN AND WOULD BE LEAVING THE HOUSE WITH
FRIENDS BOTH MALE AND FEMALE. IN HER OWN HOME, WHEN MY
MOTHER WAS A YOUNG GIRL, HER MOTHER WOULD CHASE HER
BROTHERS DOWN THE STREET AND MAKE THEM RETURN TO THE HOUSE
IF SHE SAW THEM GO OUT WITHOUT BLESSING THEMSELVES.
THIS WAS NEVER MENTIONED IF WE WENT OUT THROUGH THE BACK DOOR.
AS I WRITE THIS IT SUDDENLY OCCURS TO ME THAT MY MOTHER ENCOURAGED
US TO USE THE BACK DOOR BY IMPOSING THIS FRONT DOOR
RITUAL UPON US.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A CURSE
IF A CHILD STRIKES HIS PARENTS, HIS HAND WILL WITHER.
Submitter comment: MY GRANDMOTHER HAD RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00-00-1949
BIRD IN THE WINDOW
IF THERE HAPPENS TO BE AN OPEN WINDOW IN THE HOUSE
AND A BIRD FLIES IN THE HOUSE, THERE IS SURE
TO BE A DEATH IN THE HOUSEHOLD.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS AN OLD
POLISH TRADITION. AT ANY RATE, HER POLISH
MOTHER INFORMED HER OF THE BELIEF.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
HAT ON THE BED
IF SOMEONE LEAVES THEIR HAT ON THE BED,
THEY ARE SOON TO DIE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT'S MOTHER TOLD HER THIS WHEN SHE WAS
A SMALL GIRL IN JACKSON, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
REMOVAL OF WARTS
THERE WAS A CERTAIN MAN IN TOWN OF GRAND MARAIS, MICHIGAN,
WHO HAD THE POWER TO REMOVE WARTS BY RECITING
MAGIC WORDS AND SPECIFYING THE DATE BY WHICH THEY WOULD
DISAPPEAR.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HAD FOURTEEN WARTS CHARMED FROM HER HAND
IN 1912 IN GRAND MARAIS BY A LUMBERJACK WHO "CHARMED".
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Curer |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
COLOR SIGNIFICATION
THIS WAS COLLECTED ON MONDAY 3-6-67 FROM
MY SISTER. SHE MADE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT ON THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF CERTAIN COLORS WORN ON CERTAIN
DAYS OF THE WEEK.
IF YOU WEAR BLUE ON MONDAY, THIS MEANS YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE A BABY.
IF YOU WEAR GREEN AND YELLOW ON THURSDAY,
THIS MEANS YOU ARE A QUEER.
IF YOU WEAR RED ON FRIDAY, THIS MEANS YOU ARE A DEVIL.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Color |
BELIEF
ON THE RADIO ONE NIGHT I HEARD A SCIENTIST TALKING ABOUT
U.F.O.'S (UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS). HE EXPRESSED BELIEF
IN THE IDEA THAT THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM WAS ACTUALLY A FLYING SAUCER
FROM VENUS, AND CHRIST, HE BELIEVES, WAS VENETIAN.
Submitter comment:
I HEARD THIS AT THE TIME WHEN U.F.O.'S WERE THE BIG THING IN 1968.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
James Callow comment:
The Star of Bethlehem, according to Christian Belief, is the star seen by the local sheperds on the night of Christ's birth. It also led the Three Wise Men from the East to Christ.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): Alien ; Broadcast ; Christ ; Planet ; RADIO ; RELIGION ; RELIGION ; Star of Bethlehem ; UFO ; Unidentified Flying Object ; Venetian ; VENUS
| Subject headings: | Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer Observation BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Celestial body come to earth |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
THE MARK ON THE SIDEWALK
AT THE FAR END OF OUR BLOCK THERE WAS A DARK SPOT ON THE SIDEWALK BECAUSE A MAN HAD BEEN HIT BY A POWERLINE DURING A STORM AND HIS BODY WAS BURNED INTO THE CEMENT.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Wind Whirlwind Hurricane Cyclone Tornado BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7 |
Date learned: 00-00-1953
SIGNIFICANCE OF SALT
WE HAVE A ROADSIDE STAND BACK HOME, AND ONE OF OUR CUSTOMERS WANTED SOME SALT TO EAT TOMATOES WITH. RATHER THAN GIVE THEM THE SALT, HE SOLD IT TO THEM, AND LATER TOLD ME NEVER TO GIVE SALT AWAY. FOR, IF YOU DO, YOU WILL BECOME WEAK, AND OTHER PEOPLE WILL HAVE POWER OVER YOU.
Submitter comment:
SALT, THEREFORE, HAS MUCH SIGNIFICANCE AND MEANING.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant is collector's father, but he is unnamed.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable Food Drink -- Flavoring BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 08-00-1969
CHRISTMAS EVE CUSTOM
THE ITALIANS NEVER DO DISHES AFTER CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; FOOD ; holiday ; Italian
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Christmas Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Night mealsSupper |
Date learned: 11-17-1968
CHINESE WISDOM ONE JOY DISPELS A HUNDRED CARES.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
SAYINGS
ONE ROTTEN APPLE SPOILS THE BARREL
Submitter comment: FROM RELATIVES
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-08-1967
LEGAL PROVERB
ONE WHO SEEKS EQUITY MUST DO EQUITY
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 03-28-1968
PROVRBIAL PHRASE
OUT OF LETTUCE ( DOUGH )
Data entry tech comment: ORIGINAL 5 X 8 CARD INDICATES THE INFORMATION WAS RECEIVED BY LETTER
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 10-23-1969
A NUN'S STORY
ONE DAY A FIRST GRADE TEACHER TOLD HER CLASS THAT ALL
THE NUNS AT THE CONVENT WERE GOING TO AN INSTITUTE THAT
WEEKEND. ONE PARTICULAR LITTLE GIRL WENT HOME
AND TOLD HER MOTHER THAT ALL THE NUNS WERE GOING
ON AN "INNOCENT TOOT."
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School SPEECH -- Vocabulary |
Date learned: 06-00-1964
THE CROWDED SYNAGOGUE
THE SYNAGOGUE WAS CROWDED DURING THE HIGH HOLY DAYS AND
THE PEWS WERE RESERVED FOR TICKET HOLDERS. LAPIDIS
TRIED TO GET PAST THE USHER. "IT'S MY BROTHER--
I'VE GOT TO SEE HIM--IT'S VERY IMPORTANT." "HAVE
YOU GOT A TICKET?" ASKED THE USHER. "NO," SAID
LAPIDIS. "BUT I HAVE GOT TO SEE MY BROTHER--IT'S
A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH." "ALL RIGHT," SAID THE
USHER, "GO INSIDE AND TALK TO YOUR BROTHER. BUT
DON'T LET ME CATCH YOU PRAYING!"
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 07-00-1964