Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IF A BLACK CAT CROSSES YOUR PATH YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: ALABAMA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Animals |
Date learned: 04091984CA
IF YOU WALK OUT OF YOUR HOUSE AND HAVE TO TURN AROUND IN YOUR
TRACKS, YOU SHOULD TURN AROUND SIX TIMES BEFORE YOU GO BACK INTO
THE HOUSE.
Where learned: ALABAMA
| Subject headings: | 686 686.1 BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 04091984CA
IF YOU WALK UNDER A LADDER YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK ALL DAY.
Where learned: ALABAMA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck Ladder (angles, pyramid, etc.) |
Date learned: 04091984CA
BLACK-AMERICAN BELIEF
IF YOU SAY YOUR PRAYERS AFTER YOU GO TO BED, YOU
SAY THEM TO THE DEVIL.
Submitter comment: MOTHER USED TO REMIND HIM OF THIS BEFORE BED-TIME.
Where learned: ALABAMA
James Callow Keyword(s): BEDTIME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Prayer |
BLACK AMERICAN
A MAN WHOSE SECOND TOE IS LONGER
THAN HIS BIG TOE WILL BE HENPECKED.
Where learned: ALABAMA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
BLACK-AMERICAN BELIEF
IF A YOUNG MAN DREAMS THAT HE EATS
A PICKLE, HE WILL BE LOVED BY AN
OLDER, SOUR-TEMPERED WOMAN.
Where learned: ALABAMA
Keyword(s): DREAMS
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body |
Date learned: 09-18-1985
BLACK-AMERICAN CUSTOM
FOR VENTILATION, PLACE A PAN OF
COLD WATER IN THE CENTER OF THE
ROOM BEFORE GOING TO SLEEP; THIS
HELPS CLEANSE THE AIR WHILE YOU
ARE SLEEPING.
Where learned: ALABAMA
Keyword(s): VENTILATION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Sleeping |
Date learned: 09-18-1985
THIS IS A CHANT USED BY A BLACK PEANUT VENDOR TO ATTRACT ATTENTION
TO HIS WARES.
LARGE PEANUTS, GOLDEN BROWN,
MAKES MY LIPS JUMP UP AND DOWN.
BEST PEANUTS IN ALL THE TOWN.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS LEARNED BY ME WHEN MY FRIEND RECALLED THE RATHER AMUSING
INCIDENT WHEN SHE RETURNED FROM A VACATION IN ALABAMA
Where learned: ALABAMA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Cries of street vendor |
Date learned: 00-00-1986 ; 00-00-1986
Entry filtered.
When the first child is born in the family hold it up to the
moon the first night of its birth for blessing from God.
Submitter comment:
My cousin was born on New Year's Day and my grandfather held
him up to the midnight moon and said a prayer.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; Linden
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Prayer |
If you want money to spend on pleasurable wants and needs
never put your new purse on the floor because you will never have
any money to spend.
Submitter comment:
I went to see my great grandmother in the south one summer
when I was nine year old. A few days before I was going to leave
for home she took me shopping. While at the shopping center my
grandmother purchased me a new purse. When we returned home I
placed the shopping bags on the floor. She quickly picked up the
shopping bags and sat them on the sofa and said, "Sweetheart,
never place a new purse on the floor; you will never have any
money."
Where learned: ALABAMA ; Linden
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
Never set your purse on the floor because if you do
you will never have much money.
Where learned: ALABAMA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Monetary system Money Wealth BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Date learned: 00-00-1958
Never rock an empty rocking chair because it invites
an evil spirit into it.
Where learned: ALABAMA
Keyword(s): Furniture
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 00001950S
IF YOU EAT A LOT OF CORNBREAD WHEN YOU ARE YOUNG, YOU
WILL NOT GET ULCERS WHEN YOU GET OLDER.
Submitter comment: MY INFORMANT'S GRANDFATHER FIRMLY BELIEVES THIS.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; WAUGH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-09-1984
IF YOU EAT BAKING SODA AND WATERMELON YOU WILL DIE.
Submitter comment:
BAKING SODA IS USED TO CURE A STOMACH ACHE.
OFTEN, PEOPLE GET STOMACH ACHES AFTER EATING A LOT OF
WATERMELON.
IF YOU GET A STOMACH ACHE AFTER EATING WATERMELON, USE
ANOTHER REMEDY INSTEAD OF BAKING SODA.
MY INFORMANT'S GRANDFATHER FIRMLY BELIEVES THIS BECAUSE
HE KNEW SOMEONE WHO DIED AFTER EATING BAKING SODA AND
WATERMELON.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; WAUGH
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
IF YOU EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE GAS DURING PREGNANCY YOUR BABY
WILL HAVE THICK HAIR.
Submitter comment:
BIRTH
PREGNANT WOMEN EXPERIENCE GAS WHILE PREGNANT; SCIENTIFIC
FACT
Where learned: ALABAMA ; WAUGH
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-20-1984
When there are a lot of pigeons on a roof there will
be a death in the family or the neighborhood.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; Carbon Hill
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001950'S
Never step on a grave. Because if you do, you will make
a dead person angry because you are showing disrespect.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; Carbon Hill
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001950S
If your right ear is ringing, someone is saying good
things about you. If your left ear rings, someone is
saying bad things about you.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; Carbon Hill
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST ; RIGHT LEFT
| Subject headings: | 842 Ringing ears / buzzing / hot, burning BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001950S
Always hold your breath when passing a cemetery. If
you do not you will "inhale" death.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; Carbon Hill
Date learned: 00001950S