Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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EVERY MORNING MY MOTHER WOULD GO OUTSIDE AND LOOK AT THE SMOKE
COMING OUT OF THE CHIMNEY. IF THE SMOKE WENT STRAIGHT UP THE
WEATHER WOULD BE GOOD. IF THE SMOKE CURLED AROUND THE WEATHER
WOULD BE BAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
Date learned: 10-20-1972
MY COUSIN HAD VERY SORE EYES AND NO HELP COULD BE FOUND. ONE
DAY AS THE GYPSIES WERE GOING BY MY AUNT RAN OUT AND ASKED A
GYPSY WOMAN WHAT COULD BE DONE FOR HER SON'S EYES. THE GYPSY
WOMAN WAS VERY FRIENDLY AND TOLD MY AUNT TO TAKE A BOTTLE AND
GO TO A PARTICULAR SPRING, FILL THE BOTTLE WITH SPRING WATER
AND EVERY SUNRISE WASH HIS EYES OUT WITH THE SPRING WATER. I
SAW THIS CLEAR UP MY COUSIN'S EYES. THIS TOOK PLACE IN
SCOTLAND WHERE I LIVED AS A CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SCOTLAND
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- B439 BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 10-20-1972
NEVER PLANT POTATOES BESIDE ONIONS BECAUSE THE POTATOES WILL
HAVE A STRONG ONION FLAVOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: 10-05-1972
DURING MENSTRUATION A WOMAN CANNOT GO INTO A GARDEN BECAUSE ALL
THE PLANTS WILL WILT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-05-1972
NEVER STEP OVER A BABY, IF YOU DO IT WILL NOT GROW, AT ALL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-05-1972
WHEN A PERSON HAS TRENCH MOUTH CALL THE PREACHER. HE BLOWS INTO
THE PERSON'S MOUTH AND THE TRENCH MOUTH IS CURED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC ; VINCENT'S ANGINA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curer |
Date learned: 10-05-1972
WARTS
WHEN A PERSON HAS WARTS COUNT THE NUMBER OFWARTS AND GO TO THE
DRAIN-SPOUT WHERE THE RAIN WATER RUNS OUT AND PICK UP THESAME
NUMBER OF SMALL PEBBLES. PUT THE PEBBLES INA PRETTY
HANDKERCHIEF AND TIE THEM IN A KNOT INSIDE IT. TAKE THE
HANDKERCHIEF WITH THE PEBBLES INSIDE IT TO A FORK IN THE ROAD
DROP IT, THE FIRST PERSON TO PICK IT UP WILL GET YOUR WARTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 10-05-1972
According to my Grandfather, men from town would occasionally
dare each other to swim across the channel as one of the
car ferries was coming into port. No one ever got hurt and
he claims to have done it himself.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Ludington
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Water Ice Snow BELIEF -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
TALE OF KISSING ELBO.
IF YOU KISS YOUR ELBO,
YOU WILL TURN INTO THE OPPOSITE SEX.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM ; TOLD IN
Keyword(s): ELBOW
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 01-26-1972
CHING, CHANG CHINAMAN, SITTING ON A FENCE/ TRYING TO MAKE A DOLLAR
OUT OF FIFTEEN CENTS.
HE MISSED, HE MISSED, HE MISSED LIKE THIS, 1, 2,
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM ; TOLD IN
Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; ENDURANCE ; Jump
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 11-02-1970
JUMP ROPE RHYME
LITTLE MISS MACK
DRESSED IN BLACK...
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID AS A CHILD SHE USED TO RECITE THIS
RHYME FREQUENTLY, HOWEVER SHE WAS UNABLE TO REMEMBER THE END OF IT NOW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM
Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP ; SPEED-JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 03-12-1970
OMEN
IF A BIRD FLIES INTO A HOUSE THROUGH AN OPEN WINDOW, IT MEANS A
VERY BAD OMEN HAS BEEN GIVEN AND SOMEONE LIVING IN THE HOUSE WILL
DIE WITHIN THE YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 09-26-1972
LUCK
IT IS BAD LUCK FOR A WOMAN TO SWEEP OUT ANY PART OF HER HOUSE
WHILE SHE HAS ANY COMPANY VISITING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.21 |
Date learned: 09-26-1972
MARRIAGE CUSTOM
BRIDES SHOULD ALWAYS HIDE A PAIR OF SCISSORS ON THEMSELVES SO
THEY CAN "CUT" AWAY ANY EVIL THAT MAY BE WISHED UPON THEM
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 09-26-1972
WISHING
IF YOU MAKE A WISH AS SOON AS YOU SEE A ROBIN , THEN IT WILL COME
TRUE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 09-26-1972
RIDDLE
WHAT IS IT THAT SITS UPON A SHELF, AND LIVES AS LONG AS IT EATS
ITSELF. A: A CANDLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 09-26-1972
LUCK/OMEN
IF SEVEN PEOPLE EAT A SEVEN COURSE MEAL TOGETHER, THEN THEY WILL
HAVE GOOD LUCK B/UT IF THIRTEEN PEOPLE EAT TOGER AT ALL, ONE OF TH
THE THIRTEEN WILL DIE WITHIN THE YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | 686 Specific number by specific number being described 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Good luck P881.2 BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.2 |
Date learned: 09-26-1972
NAME
HEAD: } THIS IS THE NAME GIVEN BY THE SEAGOING SERVICES FOR A }
BATHROOM.
ROOM. IT IS IN SUCH COMMON USE, THAT MANY MILITARY MEN USE THIS
TERM EVEN WHEN OFF DUTY IN A CIVILIAN SITUATION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Trade & commerce |
Date learned: 09-27-1972
LUCK
IF YOU SEE A PIN ON THE GROUND AND DON'T PICK IT UP, YOU WILL LOSE A
FRIEND AND END UP CRYING BEFORE THE DAY IS OUT. BUT IF YOU PICK IT
UP YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK THE REST OF THE DAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Good luck P881.18 |
Date learned: 09-26-1972
RIDDLE
THIRTY-TWO WHITE CALVES STANDING IN A STALL, ALONG
COMES A RED
COW AD LICKS THEM ALL. A: N TEETH AND TONGUE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL (Q) ; BODY PARTS (A)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: 09-26-1972