Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for TENNESSEE returned 5179 results.
WHEN I WAS ABOUT 7 YEARS OLD WE USED TO, WHENEVER WE SAW A
TAXICAB, WE WOULD LICK THE THUMB AND PRESS IT ON THE
PALM OF THE OTHER HAND AND THEN IT (HIT?) IT WITH YOUR
FIST. THIS WAS TO INSURE GOOD LUCK. TO FAIL TO DO THIS
WAS BAD LUCK
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 06-13-1972
WHEN A PERSON IS WEARING A NECKLACE AND THE CLASP HAS
WORN AROUND UNTIL IT MEETS THE PENDANT, THE GIRL TAKES
BOTH IN HER TWO FINGERS, SHUTS HER EYES AND MAKES A
WISH. AFTERWARDS SHE LIFTS BOTH OF THEM TO HER LIPS
AND KISSES THEM, THEN SHE RETURNS THE CLASP TO THE
POSITION OF BEHIND HER NECK.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 06-11-1971
WHEN TWO PEOPLE SAY THE SAME WORD OR PHRASE AT THE SAME TIME,
THEY SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CLASP LITTLE FINGERS OF EACH PERSON
TOGETHER AND MAKE A WISH.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Word Letter |
WHEN I WAS IN ABOUT THE SEVENTH GRADE WE USED TO HAVE THIS
LITTLE RITUAL THAT YOU HAD TO THROUGH IF YOU AND ANOTHER
PERSON SAID THE SAME THING AT THE SAME TIME. (IT WAS BAD LUCK
IF YOU DID THIS). BOTH PEOPLE HAD TO SAY "JINX, 1-2-3-4-5-6-
7-8-9-10 AND THEN DO THIS LITTLE WAVE TO EACH SIDE. THEN WE
WOULD HAVE GOOD LUCK INSTEAD OF BAD.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Conversions SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 07-23-1968
TO STOP AN OWL FROM SCREECHING AT NIGHT, TIE A KNOT IN THE
FOUR CORNERS OF A SHEET.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 06-00-1972
IF A WHIPPOORWILL IS SCREECHING IN THE NIGHT, TURN A
SLIPPER OVER AND HE WILL STOP
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): BIRD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 07-00-1972
WEATHER
MY MOTHER USED TO THINK THAT IF YOU STEPPED ON AN ANT
OF AN ANTHILL THAT IT WOULD RAIN.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Year |
Date learned: 08-13-1968
A SINGLE GIRL TAKES A PIECE OF WEDDING CAKE AND PUTS IT
UNDER HER PILLOW FOR THREE NIGHTS. ON THE THIRD NIGHT
SHE WILL DREAM OF THE MAN SHE WILL MARRY.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 06-25-1972
TO DISCOVER WHO YOU WILL MARRY, ON THE FIRST NIGHT IN A
NEW HOUSE, NAME OR INITIAL THE FOUR CORNERS OF YOUR
BEDROOM. IN THE MORNING, THE CORNER YOU FIRST LOOK AT
WILL TELL YOU THE FUTURE MATE.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 06-00-1972
IN CHAPEL HILL, TENNESSEE, A MAN WAS ONCE DECAPITATED
BY THE RAILROAD. SINCE THEN, PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN BY
THE TRACKS AT NIGHT HAVE REPORTED SEEING A LIGHT MOVING
ALONG THE TRACKS.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; PEABODY COLLEGE, ASSUMED ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Fire |
Date learned: 04-29-1969
IF YOU GIVE A PURSE AS A GIFT, YOU SHOULD PUT A PENNY IN IT
FOR GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; PEABODY CAFE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 05-13-1969
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
THE BEER LABEL TEST FOR GIRLS
HOLD A BOTTLE OF BEER IN ONE HAND AND WITH THE THUMB
OF THAT HAND START AT THE TOP OF THE LABEL, TEARING
DOWN. IF THE GIRL CAN TEAR IT ALL THE WAY TO THE
BOTTOM, SHE IS SUPPOSEDLY A VIRGIN.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): SEX
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
PROVERB
A WHISTLING WOMAN AND A CACKLING HEN NEVER COME TO A GOOD END.
Submitter comment:
MY GRANDMOTHER HELD THE NOTION THAT A WOMAN SHOULD NEVER DO
ANYTHING THAT WOULD ATTRACT ATTENTION TO HERSELF. SHE SHOULDN'T
SIT ON THE PORCH AND SING, OR WHISTLE, OR EVEN LAUGH LOUD. SHE
OFTEN WARNED THE YOUNGER GENERATION WITH THE FOLLOWING PROVERB:
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
IT IS BAD LUCK TO CARRY AN AX IN THE HOUSE OR IN THE HALL OF
THE HOUSE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; DOYLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Tools |
Date learned: 07-27-1968
ALWAYS GO OUT THE SAME DOOR AS YOU CAME IN. IT IS BAD LUCK IF
YOU DON'T.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; DOYLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Leaving Entering Returning home Travel |
Date learned: 07-27-1968
IF A MOCKING BIRD WAKES YOU UP AT NIGHT, IT MEANS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; DOYLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck Animals BELIEF -- Bad luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event |
Date learned: 07-27-1968
IF A BLACK CAT CROSSES THE ROAD IN FRONT OF YOU, TAKE A ROCK
AND SPIT ON IT, AND PUT IT DOWN. (THIS ACT WILL PREVENT THE
BAD LUCK).
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; DOYLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color BELIEF -- Bad luck Animals SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 07-27-1968
IT IS BAD LUCK TO SING IN BED.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; DOYLE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Song BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) |
Date learned: 07-27-1968
A LARGE NUMBER OF COB WEBS INDICATES A BAD WINTER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; DOYLE
James Callow Keyword(s): COBWEBS ; QUANTITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Measure of time Winter |
Date learned: 07-27-1968