Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for HOME returned 1952 results.
GOOD LUCK
WHEN YOU FIND AN OPEN SAFETY PIN PICK IT UP AND CLOSE IT
AND IT WILL BRING YOU GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.18 |
Date learned: 03-10-1970
If you have asthma, measure your height to a tree and mark
it. As the tree grows you will grow out of the asthma.
James Callow comment:
Puckett, Ohio, no. 2325: "If a child has asthma, take him
into the woods and find a young tree. Measure the child up to
the tree and mark his height by putting a nail into the tree. As
the tree grows the child will outgrow his asthma."
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): MEASURING
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Measure of space: distance, height, depth BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
If you break a mirror you will have seven years of bad luck.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
When walking down a street with someone, don't split a tree
or a pole because it is bad luck.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
Don't walk under a ladder, especially with someone on it.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
If you paint the bedroom walls blue, you will sleep your
best.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
If a picture falls off the wall by itself, someone you know
will die.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
There were three men on a boat, two white and one black.
While fishing in the ocean a storm came up and almost tipped the
boat over. One of the white men spoke to the other, "We need to
pray." The other white man said, "I don't know how to pray, but
we can get John, the black man, to pray for us." John began to
pray to the Lord, "Oh Lord, you know when I was in Mississippi
waiting for my sister to come in on the bus I wanted some water
and the sign said, Only whites. I went to the train station and
wanted some water and the sign said, Only whites. So if this boat
tips over and someone has to die, let it be Only whites."
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): Racial segregation
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
IN CANADA, THEY HAVE A CERTAIN SPIDER THAT MAKES A TICKING
SOUND, AND HE'S CALLED THE "TICKING SPIDER." THEY SAY THAT WHEN
YOU HEAR THIS SPIDER IN YOUR HOUSE, THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO
DIE. FUNNY THING, GRANDMA HEARD ONE, AND GRANDPA WELLS DIED.
Where learned: HOME ; BARRETT RD
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 08-13-1968
PROVERBIAL COMPARISON
NERVOUS AS A HEN ON A HOT SHOVEL
Submitter comment: MY GRANDMOTHER LEARNED THIS EXPRESSION AS A CHILD ON A FARM IN CASEVILLE, MICHIGAN
Where learned: HOME ; BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): BIRDS
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; ANXIETY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
CUSTOM
WHEN SOMEONE IN OUR FAMILY DIES, WE NEVER PUT A HEADSTONE ON THEIR
GRAVE UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN DEAD FOR A YEAR. I THINK IT HAS SOMETHING
TO DO WITH THE TRAVEL OF THE SOUL.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A JEWISH CUSTOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Year |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
CUSTOM
WHEN SOMEONE IN OUR FAMILY DIES, WE BURN A CANDLE IN A SPECIAL, SMALL
GLASS JAR FOR A WEEK. WE'RE BURNING IT FOR THE DEAD PERSON'S SPIRIT,
TO FEED THE SPIRIT. THEN ON EACH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH WE BURN
THE SAME CANDLE FOR A WEEK. THIS IS SO THE DEAD PERSON'S SOUL
KNOWS YOU HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN HIM.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A JEWISH CUSTOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): FOOD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- P647 |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
GOOD LUCK CHARM
I WEAR A SMALL, GOLDEN HAND ON A CHAIN AROUND MY NECK, WITH A PIECE
OF TURQUOISE ON IT. IT WILL KEEP ME FROM EVIL. THIS HAND WAS GIVEN
TO ME BY MY GRANDMOTHER WHEN I WAS BORN--I HAVE IT ALWAYS WITH ME.
IT HAS MUCH POWER BECAUSE IT WAS MADE IN PALESTINE, ABOUT 1916.
Submitter comment:
THE HAND IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT THE HAND OF FATIMA, DAUGHTER OF THE
PROPHET MOHAMMED. IF THERE IS A TINY STONE SET INTO THE HAND, IT
REPRESENTS AN EYE--IT WILL THROW THE CURSE BACK DOUBLY ON ITS
ORIGINATOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
CUSTOM
IN LEBANON WE HAVE A CUSTOM THAT IS FOLLOWED WHEN A MAN AND A WOMAN
MARRY. A WOMAN MUST BE A VIRGIN WHEN SHE MARRIES, SO ON THE NIGHT
AFTER THE WEDDING, THE COUPLE TAKES THEIR BLOODY SHEET TO THE HOUSES
OF BOTH THEIR FAMILIES TO PROVE THIS. IF THE WOMAN WAS NOT A VIRGIN,
HER HUSBAND WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO DIVORCE HER AT ONCE, AND HER
FAMILY WOULD LOSE THEIR HONOR.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A CUSTOM FOLLOWED BY MUSLIMS IN LEBANON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): BREAKING THE HYMEN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER I USED TO HAVE A GOOD-LUCK DOLL CALLED A WISH-NIK.
IT WAS SMALL, NEITHER MALE NOR FEMALE, WITH A TROLL'S FACE, AND IT
HAD LONG, BRIGHTLY COLORED HAIR. TO MAKE A WISH, YOU RUBBED ITS BELLY
OR STROKED ITS HAIR, WHILE THINKING OF WHAT YOU WANTED TO HAPPEN.
THE ORIGINAL WISH-NIKS HAD HORSESHOES STAMPED ON THE BOTTOM OF THEIR
FEET. WHEN THEY BECAME MORE COMMERCIALIZED, THEY STOPPED DOING THAT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 03-00-1979
FOLK ART: FUNCTIONAL SHIFT
I HAVE CONVERTED AN OLD PRINTER'S TYPE CASE INTO A KITCHEN
WALL DECORATION.
Submitter comment:
THE COMPARTMENTS WERE FILLED WITH BEANS, GRAIN AND OTHER KITCHEN
OR FOOD ORIENTED ITEMS. GLASS WAS THEN USED TO SEAL THE ITEMS
IN AND TO ALLOW THEM TO BE VIEWED. THE CASE ALSO HOUSES A SPICE
RACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Color Design |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
FOLK ART: FUNCTIONAL SHIFT
I HAVE CONVERTED AN OLD GALVANIZED, COPPER-BOTTOMED OVAL WASH
TUB INTO A MAGAZINE RACK.
Submitter comment:
THE TUB WAS PAINTED BLACK AND DECALED WITH A SCENE DEPICTING AN
OLD GENERAL STORE. MAGAZINES ARE STACKED INSIDE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Color Design |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
FOLK ART: FUNCTIONAL SHIFT
WE USE AN OLD WOOODEN CABBAGE CUTTER AS A WALL DECORATION AND
"WHAT-NOT" SHELF.
Submitter comment:
THE CUTTER IS NOT MODIFIED IN ANY WAY EXCEPT FOR THE ADDITION OF
A HOOK SO THAT IT MAY BE HUNG. FIGURINES AND OTHER DISPLAY ITEMS
ARE ARRANGED IN THE BOX SHAPED PORTION WHICH SERVED TO HOLD THE
CABBAGE FOR CUTTING.
THIS ITEM IS ALSO CALLED A CABBAGE SHREDDER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Color Design |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
LUCK
AN ELEPHANT WITH ITS TRUNK TURNED UP IS GOOD LUCK, WITH HIS TRUNK
DOWN IS BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: THIS ELEPHANT MAY BE A FIGURINE, A TOY ETC.
Where learned: ; COLLECTORS HOME
Keyword(s): ANIMALS: ELEPHANTS
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Good luck P881.31 BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.31 |
Date learned: 03-10-1970
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