Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IT IS BAD LUCK TO WALK UNDER A LADDER.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SAID HE WOULD NEVER WALK UNDER A LADDER. HE
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; PRESTONSBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Ladder (angles, pyramid, etc.) |
Date learned: 00001928-1946
IT IS BAD LUCK TO HAVE A BLACK CAT CROSS YOUR PATH (ANYWHERE,
NOT JUST IN FRONT). IF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT THE CAT IS THERE
AND YOU TURN AND SEE IT BEHIND YOU AND IT CROSSES, YOU
MUST GO BACK AND WALK OVER WHERE YOU WERE. IF YOU DON'T SEE
IT, YOU ARE O.K.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SAID HIS FAMILY AND EVERYONE HE KNEW BELIEVED
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; PRESTONSBURG
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Bad luck Animals |
PUTTING A HAT ON THE BED MEANS THAT DEATH WILL FOLLOW.
Submitter comment: LEARNED WHILE GROWING UP IN PRESTONSBURG, KENTUCKY IN
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; LEBANON ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; PRESTONSBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
GLASS SNAKE
I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE TELL AND PROFESS BELIEF IN THE "GLASS SNAKE"
IN BOTH KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. I THINK A CHARACTERISTIC OF
PEOPLE OF BOTH STATES, ESPECIALLY IN THE RURAL AND MOUNTAINOUS
AREAS, IS THAT THEY TAKE DELIGHT IN "PULLING EACH OTHER'S LEGS."
I HAVE RELATIVES AND FRIENDS TELL ME THINGS IN ALL SERIOUSNESS
AS HAPPENING TO THEM OR SOMEONE THAT THEY WILL NAME THAT NEVER
HAPPENED AT ALL. I DOUBT IF ANYONE REALLY BELIEVES THE "GLASS
SNAKE" TALE, YET MANY WILL PROFESS A BELIEF IN IT.
THERE IS A SNAKE THAT WHEN APPROACHED BY AN ENEMY WILL BREAK
ITSELF APART INTO TWO OR THREE PIECES AND SCATTER IN ALL
DIRECTIONS. WHEN THE DANGER IS PASSED, THE SNAKE WILL RE-JOIN
ITSELF AND GO ON ITS WAY.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PROVERB
RED SKY TONIGHT, SAILOR'S DELIGHT.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; ROUTE 1 ; FULTON
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
PROVERB
STILL WATER RUNS DEEP.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; ROUTE 1 ; FULTON
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
PROVERB
IT'S A LONG ROAD THAT HAS NO TURNING.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; ROUTE 1 ; FULTON
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
PROVERB: MARRIAGE
MARRY IN RED, YOU'LL WISH YOU WERE DEAD.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; ROUTE 1 ; FULTON
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
PROVERB
THAT WOULD MAKE A PREACHER CUSS.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; ROUTE 1 ; FULTON
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
PROVERB
YOU'D WORRY THE TAIL OFF OF A BRASS MONKEY.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; ROUTE 1 ; FULTON
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
PROVERB
RUNNING AROUND LIKE A CHICKEN WITH ITS HEAD CUT OFF.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; ROUTE 1 ; FULTON
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
PROVERB
MARRIAGE IS MORE THAN FOUR BARE LEGS IN THE BED.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; ROUTE 1 ; FULTON
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
PROVERB
SHE'S AS PRETTY AS A SPECKLED PUP.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; ROUTE 1 ; FULTON
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
PROVERB
PRETTY IS AS PRETTY DOES.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; ROUTE 1 ; FULTON
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
PROVERB
MAD AS AN OLD WET HEN.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; ROUTE 1 ; FULTON
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
PROVERB
BEAUTY IS JUST SKIN DEEP.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; ROUTE 1 ; FULTON
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
BELIEF
IT'S BAD LUCK TO SEW ON FRIDAY OR SUNDAY.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; LOUISVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 06-24-1973
DURING THE 1930'S THE FAD OF TREE SITTING SWEPT THE COUNTRY.
PRACTICALLY EVERY COMMUNITY HAD A TREE SITTER, AND THERE WAS
A CONTEST OF TRYING TO BREAK PREVIOUS RECORDS. IN ASHLAND,
KENTUCKY, WE HAD SEVERAL TREE SITTERS OVER A PERIOD OF TWO OR
THREE YEARS. THE ONE I REMEMBER MOST VIVIDLY ENDED IN TRAGEDY.
A BOY WHO HAD FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND A
JOB DUE TO THE DEPRESSION, BUILT A PLATFORM ABOUT THIRTY FEET
FROM THE GROUND IN A LARGE TREE. HE MADE SOME PROVISION FOR
SHELTER AND HAD DEVISED A PULLEY BY WHICH HIS FAMILY SENT HIS
FOOD AND OTHER NECESSITIES UP IN A BUCKET. THE TOWN PEOPLE
WOULD DRIVE BY AND TALK TO HIM OR WALK UP AND SPEND AN HOUR
OR SO IN THE AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING. HE HAD BEEN
UP THE TREE FOR ABOUT FORTY DAYS AND A STORM CAME UP ONE
NIGHT. EVIDENTLY THE STORM FRIGHTENED HIM DURING THE NIGHT
AND HE FELL FROM THE PLATFORM. HIS FAMILY FOUND HIS
CRUMPLED BODY ON THE GROUND THE NEXT MORNING.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; ASHLAND
Keyword(s): POLE SITTING
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man |
Date learned: 00001930 CA.
IT IS BAD LUCK TO COUNT THE CARS IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION.
Submitter comment: I HAVE HEARD THIS SUPERSTITION IN BOTH KENTUCKY AND
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; TENNESSEE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs BELIEF -- Bad luck Crucial moment of life |
Date learned: 08-04-1968
PREDICTION--RAIN
IF IT RAINS THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH, IT WILL RAIN FIFTEEN DAYS
THAT MONTH.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; OWENSBORO
Date learned: 02-00-1972