Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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TO STOP SOMEONE FROM CHOKING, BREAK AN EGG IN A CUP AND GIVE THE
WHITE PART TO THE PERSON CHOKING. THIS USUALLY CATCHES AROUND THE
OBSTACLE AND SLIDES IT OUT.
Submitter comment:
ALTHOUGH THE INFORMANT LIVED ON A FARM AND WOULD HAVE HAD EASY
ACCESS TO EGGS, SHE DOESN'T REMEMBER EVER USING THIS METHOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 03-04-1982
TO STOP A NOSE BLEED, PUT A PIECE OF WRITING PAPER, FOLDED SEVERAL
TIMES, BETWEEN THE UPPER LIPS AND GUMS.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD IN INDIANA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 03-04-1982
TO CLEAR MUDDY WATER, THROW A FEW DRIED PEACH KERNELS, SLIGHTLY
CRACKED, INTO A BARREL OF WATER. IT WILL BE PERFECTLY CLEAR IN AN
HOUR OR TWO.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD IN INDIANA BUT DOESN'T
REMEMBER EVER USING IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 03-04-1982
TO REMOVE FURNITURE BRUISES, FOLD A PIECE OF BROWN WRAPPING PAPER
FIVE OR SIX TIMES, SOAK IT IN WARM WATER, THEN LAY IT ON THE
BRUISED SPOT AND APPLY A HOT IRON UNTIL THE PAPER IS DRY. IF THE
BRUISE HAS NOT DISAPPEARED, REPEAT UNTIL IT DOES.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD IN INDIANA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: 03-04-1982
AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CREAM, BEAT THREE EGGS TO A STIFF FROTH;
GRADUALLY POUR BOILING HOT TEA OVER THEM UNTIL THICKNESS OF CREAM IS
REACHED.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD IN INDIANA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Animal product Egg Food Drink -- Animal product Milk product Food Drink -- Brew of leaf, bark, root |
Date learned: 03-04-1982
TO DETERMINE THE SEX OF EGGS, LOOK AT THE SMALL ENDS. EGGS WITH MALE
GERMS HAVE WRINKLES AT THE SMALL ENDS, WHILE THOSE CONTAINING FEMALE
GERMS WILL BE QUITE SMOOTH.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD IN INDIANA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Animal product Egg |
Date learned: 03-04-1982
TO DRIVE AWAY FLIES, BOIL THREE OR FOUR ONIONS IN A PINT OF WATER.
APPLY IT WITH A BRUSH TO GLASS, PICTURE FRAMES, ETC.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD IN INDIANA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home BELIEF -- Insect |
Date learned: 03-04-1982
TO GET A SMOKEY FLAVOR FOR MEAT OR FISH, DIP THEM INTO A PINT OF
WATER THAT HAS A DROP OF CREOSOTE ADDED TO IT.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD IN INDIANA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Manner of preparation Process |
PROVERB
FLESH ONLY BY CONTRACT.
Submitter comment:
THE MEANING BEHIND THIS SAYING IS THAT THE BOND BETWEEN MARRIED
PEOPLE IS NOT AS STRONG AS THE ONE BETWEEN BROTHER AND SISTER,
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER, ETC. THE MARRIED COUPLE IS TOGETHER,
OR "FLESH," ONLY THROUGH A MARRIAGE CONTRACT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 02-25-1982
PROVERB
IT'S GOT TO PINCH TO HURT.
Submitter comment:
THE MEANING BEHIND THIS SAYING IS THAT PERSON A CAN'T KNOW THE PAIN
PERSON B IS FEELING UNLESS PERSON A EXPERIENCES IT HIMSELF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 02-25-1982
PROVERB
LONG POCKET, SHORT ARMS.
Submitter comment:
THIS SAYING REFERS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE TIGHT WITH THEIR MONEY; THEY
CAN'T REACH INTO THEIR POCKETS BECAUSE, FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING,
THEIR ARMS CAN'T REACH THE MONEY THAT'S IN THE POCKET.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): STINGINESS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 02-25-1982
PROVERB
THE LORD GIVES NUTS TO THOSE WITH NO TEETH.
Submitter comment:
THE MEANING BEHIND THIS SAYING IS THAT A PERSON WHO IS
UNAGGRESSIVE OR AFRAID TO GO AFTER WHAT HE/SHE WANTS WILL BE LEFT
WITH THINGS THEY DON'T WANT OR CAN'T USE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 02-25-1982
PROVERB
PUT BREAD BETWEEN YOUR TEETH AND YOUR HUNGER SHALL RETURN.
Submitter comment:
THE MEANING BEHIND THIS SAYING IS LITERAL. IF A PERSON, FOR EXAMPLE,
COMES HOME FROM WORK AND SAYS HE/SHE IS NOT HUNGRY, IT WILL TAKE
JUST ONE BITE OF THE DINNER THAT HAS BEEN PREPARED TO CHANGE THEIR
MIND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 02-25-1982
PROVERB
IF YOU SPIT IN THE SKY, IN YOUR FACE IT SHALL RETURN.
Submitter comment:
THE MEANING BEHIND THIS SAYING IS THAT A PERSON SHOULDN'T SAY BAD
THINGS ABOUT ANOTHER BECAUSE THE COMMENTS WILL EVENTUALLY COME BACK
TO HAUNT THE PERSON THAT SAID THEM. THIS PARTICULARLY APPLIES TO A
PERSON'S CHILDREN. IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF PERSON A TALKS ABOUT THE
THINGS THAT PERSON B'S CHILDREN DO, THOSE SAME THINGS WILL
HAPPEN TO THE CHILDREN OF PERSON A IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 02-25-1982
HOLY WEEK CUSTOM.
AN ITALIAN CUSTOM FOR HOLY WEEK IS THE RECITING OF THE STATIONS OF
THE CROSS, WHICH DEPICTS THE LORD'S CRUCIFIXION. THIS WOULD BE
DONE EACH DAY OF THE WEEK IN THE SAME CHURCH AND SERVES AS A FORM
OF PENANCE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS MORE OF A CUSTOM THAN A RELIGIOUS BELIEF AND IS, FOR THE MOST
PART, NOT DONE BY ITALIANS IN AMERICA. SAYING IT IN THE SAME CHURCH
EVERY DAY IS SUPPOSED TO INCREASE THE PERSON'S CLOSENESS WITH GOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Holy Week BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: 02-25-1982
HOLY WEEK CUSTOM
AN ITALIAN CUSTOM FOR HOLY THURSDAY IS TO VISIT SEVEN CHURCHES.
A FAMILY WOULD SPEND A HALF-HOUR IN EACH CHURCH AND SAY PRAYERS AS A
FORM OF PENANCE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS DONE IN ITALY BUT NOT IN THE UNITED STATES. THE FAMILY
WOULD WALK TO EACH CHURCH, SO THEY PICKED THOSE THAT WERE CLOSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Thursday 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several Favorites BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 02-25-1982
EVIL EYE
THE MOLOQUE IS A HAND GESTURE THAT HAS THE FIRST AND FOURTH FINGER
POINTING STRAIGHT UP WITH THE OTHER TWO FINGERS AND THUMB CLENCHED
IN A FIST.
Submitter comment:
THE MOLOQUE IS USED BY A PERSON AGAINST SOMEONE WHO IS EITHER
ENVIOUS OF OR SAYING BAD THINGS ABOUT THAT PERSON. IT IS MOST OFTEN
FLASHED SOMEWHERE THE ENVIOUS PERSON CAN'T SEE IT (BEHIND A THIGH
OR IN A POCKET, FOR EXAMPLE). IT IS BELIEVED TO "REPULSE" WHATEVER
"SIGNALS" OR "VIBES" THE ENVIOUS PERSON IS SENDING OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Bird SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 02-25-1982
DREAM BELIEF
WHEN SOMEONE SPEAKS TO YOU IN YOUR DREAMS THEY WANT YOU TO PRAY FOR
THEM.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS AN OLD ITALIAN BELIEF FROM AGUSTA AND SICILY. ALTHOUGH
THIS IS FOR ALL DREAMS IN GENERAL, IT MORE SPECIFICALLY APPLIES
TO PEOPLE IN THE DREAMS WHO HAVE RECENTLY DIED. THE INFORMANT
STRONGLY BELIEVED THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Dreams Dreams about people BELIEF -- Dreams Requesting prayers |
Date learned: 02-25-1982
A WAY TO DETERMINE THE SEX OF AN UNBORN CHILD IS TO HOLD A SAUCER
OF WATER OVER THE MOTHER'S HEAD AND THEN PUT A DROP OF OIL IN THE
SAUCER. IF THE DROP SPREADS, THE UNBORN BABY WILL BE A GIRL; IF THE
DROP STAYS IN PLACE, THE BABY IS A BOY.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT MADE IT A CLEAR THAT SHE BELIEVES IN THIS OLD ITALIAN
BELIEF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 02-25-1982
ONE WAY TO DETERMINE THE SEX OF AN UNBORN CHILD IS TO HOLD A RING
ON A STRING OVER THE EXPECTANT MOTHER'S STOMACH. IF THE RING SWAYS
TO THE RIGHT, THE CHILD WILL BE A GIRL; IF IT SWAYS TO THE LEFT,
IT'S A BOY.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT MADE IT CLEAR THAT SHE BELIEVES IN THIS OLD ITALIAN
BELIEF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 02-25-1982