Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 6074 returned 123 results.
This is the legend of the Northville Tunnels: It is believed
that one can enter the Northville tunnels off of Sheldon Rd. and
Five Mile Rd. in Northville. These tunnels once led to the
Northville Psychiatric Hospital. Legend has it that many of the
patients used these tunnels to escape from the hospital. These
tunnels are believed to stretch out over many miles and contain
different rooms used to examine and hold patients. Today many
teenagers break into these sealed-off tunnels to find excitement
and to see if there is any proof that the rooms are still being
used today.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1989
The Legend of the Shoe Tree
This is the Legend of the Shoe Tree: If you drive down a
certain back road (road name not known) in Northville, Michigan
you will come across a tree with hundreds of shoes thrown up into
it. Legend has it that a murderer used to kill his victims and
leave his mark by throwing each victim's shoes into the tree. It
is also believed that anyone who touches the tree or anything in
it will be cursed and then die.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
James Callow Keyword(s): Touching tabu
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1990
Bury a statue of St. Joseph upside down in your garden, if
your house is for sale it will sell immediately.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Never put new or used shoes on the kitchen table; to do so
will bring about bad luck in the household.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet BELIEF -- Home BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 03-02-1992
EATING THE FIRST SLICE OF YOUR BIRTHDAY CAKE WILL BRING
YOU GOOD LUCK AND MAKE YOUR WISH COME TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 04-03-1970
PRANKS
EVERY YEAR, THE DORMIES USUALLY TAKE SOME SOAP SUDS
AND GO OUT TO THE SCHOOL FOUNTAIN LATE AT NIGHT.
WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING, THEY DUMP THE SUDS IN.
BY MORNING, THE RESULT IS SUDS ALL OVER THE FOUNTAIN
AND IMMEDIATE AREA BECAUSE OF THE AGITATION CAUSED
BY THE FALLING WATER.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAW IT HAPPEN HIS FRESHMAN YEAR AT SCHOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00001966 FALL
POLISH WEDDING
AFTER THE GROOM HAS REMOVED THE GARTER FROM THE BRIDE'S
LEG, THE BRIDE STANDS UP AND TURNS HER BACK TO ALL OF
THE ELIGIBLE GIRLS WHO ARE ATTENDING THE RECEPTION.
AT THE COUNT OF THREE, SHE THROWS IT OVER THE BACK OF
HER HEAD AND THE GIRL WHO CATCHES IT, TRADITIONALLY,
IS THE NEXT TO BE MARRIED.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS PARENTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Bouquet toss |
POLISH WEDDING
AT POLISH WEDDINGS, JUST AFTER THE WEDDING CAKE IS CUT,
THE BRIDE IS SEATED ON A CHAIR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
DANCE FLOOR. THE GROOM THEN COMES UP TO HER,
REACHES UP HER DRESS AND TAKES HER GARTER BELT OFF.
THEN ALL OF THE ELIGIBLE BACHELORS LINE UP IN A
MOB IN BACK OF THE GROOM. THE GROOM COUNTS THREE
AND THROWS IT BACKWARDS OVER HIS HEAD. THE MAN WHO
CATCHES IT IS TRADITIONALLY THE NEXT TO BE MARRIED.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS PARENTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Garter toss |
Date learned: 00001964 SPRING
IF A MAN HAS A DIMPLE IN HIS CHIN, THIS SHOWS THAT
HE WILL BE MARRIED MORE THAN ONCE IN HIS LIFETIME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 04-03-1970
SENIOR SKIP DAY
ON THE DAY BEFORE THE SENIOR PROM, THE SENIOR CLASS --
EN MASSE, FAILS TO SHOW UP FOR THEIR CLASSES WHILE
PREPARING FOR THE SENIOR PROM. JUNIORS AND SOPHOMORES
GOING TO THE PROM ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT ONLY IF
THEY ARE GOING AS A DATE.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SAW HER FELLOW CLASSMATES DO IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 00001967 FALL
SINGING OF SERDECZNA MATKO
THIS IS A POLISH SONG SUNG TO OUR BLESSED VIRGIN BY AN
ORCHESTRA AT THE BRIDES HOUSE BEFORE EVERYONE LEAVES
FOR THE CHURCH AND AFTER THE PARENTS' BLESSING. IT ASKS
GOD'S BLESSING FOR THE COUPLE.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HER PARENTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Marriage CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00001967 FALL
THE BREAKING OF OPLATKI (OH-PWAT-KEY)
THIS IS A POLISH CUSTOM OF BREAKING UNLEAVENED BREAD
WITH ANOTHER PERSON ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND EATING THE
PIECE YOU HAVE BROKEN OFF YOUR RELATIVE'S WAFER.
BEFORE EATING IT, BOTH WISH EACH OTHER GOOD HEALTH,
FORTUNE, ETC. IT TAKES PLACE ON CHRISTMAS EVE BEFORE
DINNER AND IS PLACED IN THE CENTER OF THE MIDST OF
SOME STRAW ON A DISH.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Oplatki |
Date learned: 00001967 FALL
BLESSING THE EASTER BASKET: THIS IS A POLISH CUSTOM
WHICH TAKES PLACE ON HOLY SATURDAY. THE FOOD WHICH
IS TO BE EATEN ON EASTER IS TAKEN TO CHURCH IN
AN EASTER BASKET AND BLESSED BY THE PRIEST.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Saturday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: 00001967 FALL
TEEPEEING A HOUSE
AT NIGHT, THE PLAYERS TAKE ROLLS OF TOILET PAPER AND
THROW THEM OVER AND BACK ACROSS THE BUSHES, HOUSE,
AND LAWN OF SOMEONE THEY GENERALLY DISLIKE. THE
RESULT THE FOLLOWING DAY IS TOILET PAPER STREWN
ACROSS THE PERSON'S PROPERTY IN PLACES THAT ARE
TOO OFTEN TOO HARD TO REACH.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAW SOME FELLOW STUDENTS DO IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00001964 SUMMER
IT IS GOOD LUCK IF IT RAINS ON YOUR WEDDING DAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Superstition about good weather BELIEF -- Good luck Activities |
Date learned: 04-03-1970
WHENEVER YOU MOVE INTO A NEW HOME, YOU MUST MAKE
SURE YOU HAVE A BROOM, SALT, AND A BIBLE WITH YOU.
THIS IS FOR GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID SHE HAD DONE THIS WHEN SHE MOVED
INTO HER NEW HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Good luck Broom Sweeping BELIEF -- Good luck Numbers |
Date learned: 03-18-1972
EATING THE FIRST SLICE OF YOUR BIRTHDAY CAKE WILL BRING
YOU GOOD LUCK AND MAKE YOUR WISH COME TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Good luck Crucial moment of life |
Date learned: 04-03-1970
IF YOU BREAK A MIRROR YOU WILL GET SEVEN YEARS
BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Bad luck Mirror |
Date learned: 09-00-1968
IF YOU WEAR A PEARL RING IT WILL BRING BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Metal Stone Bone Precious stone Gem BELIEF -- Bad luck Jewelry (gems, rings, etc.) |
Date learned: 10-03-1968
YOU MUST ALWAYS LEAVE A PERSON'S HOME BY THE DOOR
YOU ENTER. IF YOU DO NOT, YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THIS CAME FROM THE "OLD COUNTRY"
(YOZGOT, TURKEY).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TURKEY ; LIVONIA ; YOZGAT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck Leaving Entering Returning home Travel |
Date learned: 03-11-1972