Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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A DREAM CONCERNING FISH IS A SIGN OF A PREGNANCY IN THE
HOUSEHOLD.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Dreams Dreams about animals |
Date learned: 06-27-1970
NEVER THANK A PERSON FOR COMBING YOUR HAIR, OR THE HAIR
WILL FALL OUT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 06-27-1970
NEVER THANK A PERSON FOR PLANTING FLOWERS IN YOUR YARD OR THE
FLOWERS WILL DIE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 06-27-1970
THIS WAS TOLD TO ME BY MY GRANDFATHER SEVERAL YEARS AGO. HE
ALSO TOLD ME HE DIDN'T BELIEVE IT SINCE HE'D NEVER SEEN SNOW
IN JULY.
IF IT RAINS WHILE THE SUN SHINES, IT WILL SNOW IN JULY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sun BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
IF YOU SLEEP ON YOUR BACK, YOU WILL HAVE BAD DREAMS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Dreams |
TWO PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THIS WILL WORK MUST SIT ON THE FLOOR
HOLDING HANDS, RIGHT TO RIGHT, LEFT TO LEFT, FACING EACH
OTHER, IN A ROOM DARK, EXCEPT FOR ONE CANDLE. EACH HAS
A WISH. BOTH SHUT EYES TIGHTLY AND THINK OF THE OTHER'S
WISH, THEN HIS OWN, ALTERNATELY, UNTIL THEY FEEL
SATISFIED. THE WISH WILL COME TRUE IF IT WILL NOT
HARM OTHERS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00001966 CA.
ENCHANTMENT OF THE SIGN
WHEN "THE SIGN" IS IN THE BODY, ESPECIALLY NEAR THE HEART,
ANIMALS ARE DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. THE SIGN STARTS IN THE
FEET, MOVING UP INTO THE BODY AND HEAD, THEN DOWN AGAIN.
IT IS ONLY IN THE FEET FOR A FEW DAYS. THE SIGN IS IN THE
HEART WHEN THE MOON IS BEGINNING TO GET FULL, AND IS THERE
SEVERAL DAYS AFTER IT BEGINS TO GET SMALLER. A CALENDAR
SHOWING MOON CHANGES CAN BE USED TO DETERMINE WHERE THE
SIGN IS, BY THOSE WHO KNOW HOW.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): ALMANAC ZODIAC
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 08-00-1969
YOU KNOW THERE'S AN OLD SAYING, THAT IF CATS BREATHE IN YOUR
FACE, THEY WILL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY. I WOKE UP ONCE WHEN
I WAS A LITTLE BOY AND A CAT WAS BREATHING RIGHT IN MY FACE.
I NEVER HAVE LIKED CATS SINCE THEN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 08-01-1968
WHEN YOU GET MARRIED, PUT A PENNY IN HE POT EVERYTIME YOU
MAKE LOVE THE FIRST YEAR. AFTER THAT YEAR, TAKE A PENNY
OUT OF THE POT EVERYTIME YOU MAKE LOVE. YOU NEVER GET
ALL THE PENNIES OUT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): PIGGY BANK SAVINGS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 08-10-1968
DON'T TELL A DREAM BEFORE BREAKFAST OR IT WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Food BELIEF -- Dreams |
Date learned: 08-09-1968
IF YOU HOLD A BUTTERCUP UNDER YOUR CHIN AND THERE IS A
REFLECTION OF YELLOW LIGHT ON YOUR CHIN, THEN YOU LIKE BUTTER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
YOU KNOW THAT ONA AND DEBBIE CARRY AROUND A BUCKEYE AND
(AND IS UNDERLINED) A RABBIT'S FOOT FOR GOOD LUCK?
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Amulet, mojo |
Date learned: 08-06-1968
I HAD HEARD THIS WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER
WHERE OR WHEN.
NEVER TELL A DREAM BEFORE BREAKFAST, OR IT WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Food BELIEF -- Dreams |
Date learned: 07-00-1968
THIS WAS TOLD TO SISTER MARY ANTHONY BARR BY A YOUNG NEGRO
COLLEGE STUDENT.
TO DREAM OF NUDE PERSONS IS A SIGN OF DEATH.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Dreams Foretelling a death |
Date learned: 00001965 SUMMER
SISTER LEARNED THIS FROM HER FAMILY AS A YOUNG GIRL LIVING IN
LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.
NEVER KILL A SPIDER THAT HAS WALKED ON YOU. YOU'LL BE GETTING
A NEW SUIT OF CLOTHES.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Massachusetts ; LYNN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
SISTER SAID HER MOTHER LAUGHED ABOUT THIS AND WOULD SAY:
NOW IF I WERE SUPERSTITIOUS.... BUT SHE ALWAYS DID IT, IF YOU
SPILL SALT, PICK IT UP IMMEDIATELY AND THROW IT OVER THE LEFT
SHOULDER. REASON: BRING GOOD LUCK, WARD OFF BAD LUCK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
THIS IS COMMON BELIEF IN NOVA SCOTIA. THIS TOOK PLACE IN
LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS. THE INFORMANT KNEW THE PAINTER. THE
PAINTER WAS WORKING AT SISTER'S HOUSE, AND AT ANOTHER
WOMAN'S HOUSE AT THE SAME TIME.
"ONE AFTERNOON THE PAINTER CAME TO OUR HOUSE AND HE WAS
STARK WHITE. IT SEEMS HE HAD BEEN PAINTING THE LADY'S HOUSE
IN THE MORNING. WHILE THERE A DOG CAME INTO THE YARD FACING
TOWARD HER HOUSE, HE BEGAN TO HO; FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
THE WOMAN LAUGHED, AND SAID, 'IF I WERE HOME, (NOVA SCOTIA)
I'D REALLY BE WORRIED; BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE A HOWLING DOG
POINTING AT A HOUSE IS A SURE SIGN OF DEATH.' HE LAUGHINGLY
AGREED. HE WAS FROM NOVA SCOTIA, AND HAD HEARD THE SAME
THING. HE WENT ON PAINTING, AND SHE WENT BACK TO WORK.
WITHIN ONE HALF HOUR, HE HEARD A SCREAM AND STEPPED BACK IN
THROUGH THE WINDOW TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THE WOMAN WAS
ON THE FLOOR, HER DAUGHTER, THE ONE WHO HAD SCREAMED, WAS
KNEELING OVER HER. THE WOMAN HAD DIED OF A HEART ATTACK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NOVA SCOTIA ; NASHVILLE ; Massachusetts ; LYNN
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
IF YOU DROP A FORK A LADY IS COMING TO SEE YOU. IF YOU DROP
A KNIFE, A MAN IS COMING TO SEE YOU. IF YOU DROP A SPOON,
EITHER IS COMING.
Submitter comment: SISTER LEARNED THIS FROM HER FAMILY AS A YOUNG GIRL IN
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Massachusetts ; LYNN
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
THIS BELIEF IS FOUND IN NEW ENGLAND AND NOVA SCOTIA:
"SOME PEOPLE WON'T HAVE A PARAKEET OR A CANARY IN THEIR HOME
BECAUSE IT IS A SIGN OF DEATH. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS
WORKING AT A RELIGIOUS CAMP IN HAMILTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
I WAS IN ONE OF THE BUILDINGS WITH A LARGE GLASSED-IN PORCH
AND SOMEHOW A BEAUTIFUL BIRD GOT IN THE PORCH. IT FLEW
AROUND, STRIKING THE GLASS, STUNNED HIMSELF AND FELL TO
THE FLOOR. I PICKED HIM UP AND TOOK HIM OUT INTO THE YARD.
HE REVIVED IN THE FRESH AIR AND FLEW OUT OF MY HANDS. WITHIN
A VERY FEW MINUTES A TELEPHONE CALL CAME IN, TELLING US THAT
A WOMAN, A VOLUNTEER WORKER, HAD JUST BEEN KILLED ON A
NEAR-BY TURNPIKE."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NOVA SCOTIA ; NASHVILLE ; Massachusetts ; HAMILTON ; NEW ENGLAND
| Subject headings: | Observation PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL IN JACKSON, TENNESSEE USED TO BE TAUGHT BY
THE DOMINICAN SISTERS OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. THIS NEGRO
SCHOOL HAS SINCE BEEN CLOSED.
THEY WERE HAVING A PLAY ONE DAY AND ONE OF THE BOYS NEEDED A
COAT SO THAT HE WOULD LOOK THE PART OF AN ADULT. IT WAS TIME
FOR THE PLAY AND THIS BOY HAD NOT SHOWN UP. THEY WAITED AND
WAITED, BUT HE DIDN'T COME. FINALLY, HE ARRIVED AND THE
SISTER ASKED HIM WHY HE HAD TAKEN SO LONG. HE SAID THAT
THE ONLY ONE WHO HAD A COAT WAS HIS BROTHER, AND HE HAD HAD
BAD LUCK AND AS SOON AS HE WOULD PUT ON THE COAT HE
WOULD HAVE BAD LUCK TOO, AND IT WOULD MAKE HIM MAKE A
MISTAKE WITH HIS LINES.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; JACKSON
| Subject headings: | DRAMA -- D000 BELIEF -- Bad luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.) |
Date learned: 08-00-1968