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 MICHIGAN returned 23056 results.
WHENEVER MY GRANDFATHER WOULD LOSE AT CARDS, HE WOULD
GET UP AND WALK AROUND HIS CHAIR, FOR LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Conversions Games Pastimes Sports |
Date learned: 10-23-1970
IN THE BAND, "THE BLUE ANGELS," WHENEVER THE NAME
"URSULA" IS MENTIONED, EVERYONE IN THE BAND KNOCKS
ON WOOD. THE "BLUE ANGELS" PLAYED AT URSULA'S
WEDDING, WHERE EVERYTHING WENT WRONG. THEY KNOCK
ON WOOD TO PREVENT BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A MEMBER OF THE BAND WHERE HE AND THE
OTHER MEMEBERS KNOCK ON WOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Conversions Activities SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 11-02-1971
THOSE IN THE THEATER, WHEN THEY WANT TO WISH AN
ACTOR OR AN ACTRESS GOOD LUCK, SAY: "BREAK A LEG."
Submitter comment:
THOSE CONNECTED WITH THE THEATER FEEL IT IS BAD
LUCK TO WISH SOMEONE GOOD LUCK BEFORE THEY GO ON
STAGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FORMULA SPEECH
| Subject headings: | DRAMA -- Secular BELIEF -- Conversions Activities SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-24-1968
IF YOU SPILL SALT ON THE TABLE, YOU HAVE TO THROW
SOME OVER YOUR SHOULDER TO GET RID OF THE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ACCIDENT ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Conversions Activities |
Date learned: 01-26-1968
IN ORDER TO AVOID BAD LUCK, A PERSON SHOULD THROW
SALT OVER HIS LEFT SHOULDER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Conversions Activities |
Date learned: 10-27-1969
THE THROWING OF SALT OVER ONE'S SHOULDER IS TO
WARD OFF BAD LUCK, A SIGN OF GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Conversions Activities |
Date learned: 11-25-1969
IF YOU SPILL SALT ON THE TABLE, YOU HAVE TO THROW
SOME OF THE SALT OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER TO WARD
OFF BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ACCIDENT ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Conversions Activities |
Date learned: 11-02-1970
OLD IKE
OLK IKE WAS THE STORY OF A MAN WHO COULDN'T DIE. HE WAS A GIANT OF
A MAN, AND HE LIVED IN THE WOODS OF UPPER MICHIGAN. IKE WAS
ACCUSED OF MURDER AND WAS SENTENCED TO BE HUNG, BUT HE KEPT BREAK-
ING THE ROPE. FINALLY THEY FOUND A ROPE STRONG ENOUGH, BUT IKE
BROKE THE TREE LIMB AND ESCAPED, AND HE'S STILL LOOSE IN THE WOODS
LOOKING FOR REVENGE BECAUSE HE WAS ACTUALLY INNOCENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST TAWAS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Abnormal in size |
IF YOU KICK SOMEONE IN THE BACK OF THE SHOE WHEN
YOU ARE WALKING BEHIND SOMEONE, YOU MUST TAP
HIM ON THE BACK THREE TIMES OR YOU WILL HAVE
SEVEN YEARS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Conversions Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.) |
Date learned: 10-30-1968
IF THE GROOM SEES HIS BRIDE IN HER GOWN BEFORE THEY
GET TO THE CHURCH, IT'S BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Superstition about good weather BELIEF -- Bad luck Crucial moment of life |
Date learned: 11-00-1970
IT IS CONSIDERED BAD LUCK FOR THE GROOM TO SEE THE
BRIDE IN HER WEDDING GOWN IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE
WEDDING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Morning before wedding BELIEF -- Bad luck Crucial moment of life |
Date learned: 10-27-1969
FRIDAY THE 13TH IS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Specific number by specific number being described BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck Friday the Thirteenth |
Date learned: 03-15-1968
ON FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH, CLARA'S MOTHER WILL BURN
INCENSE TO AVOID BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Specific number by specific number being described BELIEF -- Bad luck Friday the Thirteenth BELIEF -- Conversions Friday the Thirteenth |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
IF A LEAF FALLS ON YOUR HEAD, IT'S BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT GAVE NO REASON WHY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Bad luck Plants |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
IT'S BAD LUCK TO COUNT THE CARS IN A FUNERAL
PROCESSION.
Submitter comment: HIS MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: 07-29-1964
THREE ON A MATCH IS BAD LUCK BECAUSE WHILE THE FIRST
PERSON IS LIGHTING UP, AN ENEMY IS GETTING OUT A
GUN, WHILE THE SECOND PERSON IS LIGHTING UP, THE
ENEMY IS LINING UP HIS GUN SIGHTS, AND WHILE THE
THIRD PERSON IS LIGHTING UP THE ENEMY AIMS AND
SHOOTS THAT THIRD PERSON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: 09-23-1967
BAD LUCK TO LIGHT THREE CIGARETTES OFF ONE MATCH.
Submitter comment: HEARD IT FROM HIS FRIEND.
Data entry tech comment: REPORTED ON VETERAN'S DAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: 11-11-1967
THREE ON A MATCH STICK IS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
THE THIRD PERSON TO HAVE HIS CIGARETTE LIT ON ONE
MATCH WILL EXPERIENCE BAD LUCK. IF THE THIRD
PERSON IS A FEMALE, SHE WILL BECOME PREGNANT.
Submitter comment:
THE FIRST STATEMENT OF THE SUPERSTITION IS COMMON
IN THE OSWALD FAMILY; THE SECOND I LEARNED FROM
MY COWORKERS THIS SUMMER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Bad luck Body parts and functions BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: 09-20-1967
IT IS BAD LUCK TO LIGHT THREE CIGARETTES ON ONE MATCH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: 00-00-1968