Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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WHEN YOU'RE PREGNANT, IF YOU BECOME VERY EXCITED OR FRIGHTENED, AND AT THAT MOMENT TOUCH YOURSELF, YOUR BABY WILL HAVE A BIRTHMARK ON HIS BODY WHEREVER YOU TOUCHED YOURSELF.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; St. Clair's Restaurant
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body |
Date learned: 08-12-1970
WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD, INFORMANT HAD A NANNY NAMED AUNT JANE, AN OLD COLORED WOMAN. WHEN AUNT JANE, INFORMANT, AND HER SISTERS USED TO GO TO THE WOODS TO PICK BERRIES, AUNT JANE WOULD OFTEN HEAR A TWIG SNAP AND WOULD SAY, "THE SPIRITS IS CALLIN' ME." BY SPIRITS SHE MEANT LOVED ONES WHO WERE DEAD. SHE TOLD INFORMANT THAT THE SPIRITS COULD BE SEEN IF INFORMANT WOULD LOOK QUICKLY OVER AUNT JANE'S LEFT SHOULDER. OFTEN AUNT JANE WOULD GO OFF INTO THE WOODS BY HERSELF A SHORT DISTANCE (WHEN TWIGS SNAPPED) AND WHISPER WITH THE SPIRITS, WHO SHE SWORE SHE COULD SEE.
AUNT JANE WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THE "SPIRITS IS CALLIN' ME" WHEN SHE WAS DOING A DISAGREABLE TASK. FOR INSTANCE, SHE WOULD BE DOING DISHES, WHEN SUDDENLY THE "SPIRITS" WOULD CALL HER, AND SHE WOULD GO OUT UNDER A TREE AND TALK TO THEM.
AUNT JANE ALSO HAD A HABIT OF SPRINKLING SALT ABOUT THE HOUSE, AND ESPECIALLY AROUND THE ENTRANCE WAYS TO KEEP OUT EVIL SPIRITS.
ALSO, WHEN SHE TOOK THE CHILDREN FISHING AUNT JANE WOULD SAY, "DON'T TALK ABOUT SNAKES OR YOU'LL SEE THEM."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; INFORMANT'S HOME
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body |
Date learned: 07-15-1970
WHEN YOU FIND A WITCHES SKIN BEHIND A DOOR, FILL IT WITH RED PEPPER. WHEN THE WITCH JUMPS IN IT, SHE WILL YELL, "SLIP SKIN, SLIP SKIN, SLIP..!"
Data entry tech comment:
Informant learned this from the book "These Are Our Lives" (Kingsport Press, 1939, pp.26-29), a Federal Writers' Project publication featuring the everyday lives of people in the South.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; KINGSPORT ; "These Are Our Lives"
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
WHEN YOU GO TO SLEEP, PUT A SIFTER UNDER YOUR BED, AND A WITCH WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH EVERY HOLE BEFORE HE CAN BOTHER YOU.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant learned this from the book "These Are Our Lives" (Kingsport Press, 1939, pp.26-29), a Federal Writers' Project publication featuring the everyday lives of people in the South.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; KINGSPORT ; "These Are Our Lives"
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
A KNIFE UNDER YOUR PILLOW WILL KEEP A WITCH FROM RIDING YOU AT NIGHT.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant learned this from the book "These Are Our Lives" (Kingsport Press, 1939, pp.26-29), a Federal Writers' Project publication featuring the everyday lives of people in the South.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; KINGSPORT ; "These Are Our Lives"
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
PLACING A FORK OR A BUTCHER KNIFE UNDER YOUR PILLOW WILL PROTECT YOU FROM SPELLS.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant learned this from the book "These Are Our Lives" (Kingsport Press, 1939, pp.26-29), a Federal Writers' Project publication featuring the everyday lives of people in the South.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; KINGSPORT ; "These Are Our Lives"
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
TO KEEP A HOUSEHOLD SAFE FROM ANY CALAMITIES, SPRINKLE THE HOUSE REGULARLY WITH HOLY WATER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; INFORMANT'S HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 08-02-1970
IF YOU GO SOMEWHERE AND FORGET SOMETHING, WHEN YOU GO BACK FOR IT YOU HAVE TO SIT DOWN BEFORE YOU GO OUT AGAIN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; INFORMANT'S HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 08-02-1970
IT'S BAD LUCK TO PASS SOMEONE ON A STAIRWAY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; INFORMANT'S HOME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 08-02-1970
GROUND HOG DAY
ON THE FARM IN ARKANSAS WHERE INFORMANT GREW UP, THE GROUND WAS ALWAYS BROKEN FOR SPRING PLANTING AFTER GROUND HOG DAY FOR IT WAS BELIEVED THE GROUND WOULD NOT RE-FREEZE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
NON-FERTILIZED EGGS
INFORMANT'S GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS KEPT A ROOSTER WITH HER CHICKENS, FOR SHE BELIEVED UNFERTILIZED EGGS WERE NOT GOOD FOR A PERSON.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 07-06-1972
PLANTING POTATOES
MR. MARTIN'S GRANDMOTHER WOULD DROP POTATOES ON THE FULL MOON IN MARCH FOR ROOT VEGETABLES "JUST DON'T MAKE" IF NOT PLANTED DURING A FULL MOON.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 07-06-1972
RABBIT FEVER
RABBITS WERE ONLY KILLED DURING THE FROST SEASON. RABBITS COULD CARRY THE DISEASE TULERAMIA--BETTER KNOWN AS RABBIT FEVER. WHEN THE RABBIT WAS DRESSED, THERE WAS A DANGER OF GETTING SOME OF THE BLOOD INTO A CUT IN THE SKIN. THE DISEASE WAS FATAL. HOWEVER, IT WAS BELIEVED THAT THE FROST
WOULD KILL ANY INFECTED RABBIT, SO IT WAS SAFE TO HUNT AND DRESS RABBITS AFTER THE FIRST FROST AND UNTIL SPRING.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 07-06-1972
WISHING ON THE NEW MOON
WHEN YOU SEE THE NEW MOON, TURN YOUR BACK AND MAKE A WISH OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
CANNING KRAUT
NEVER CAN KRAUT DURING MENSTRUATION. THE OLD TIMERS BELIEVED THAT IF YOU DID, IT WOULD ROT BEFORE IT COULD BE USED.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
FRIDAY
MY UNCLE BEN NEVER WOULD START ANYTHING ON FRIDAY. IF A JOB IS STARTED ON FRIDAY IT WILL NEVER BE FINISHED.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
BLESSING ON CHILD
FELLOW DOCTOR WILL NOT TOUCH A CHILD WITHOUT
SAYING, "GOD BLESS!" THREE TIMES.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Legend |
WHISTLING GIRL AND CACKLING HEN
WHISTLING GIRL AND CACKLING HEN
ONLY CAN COME TO NO GOOD END.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Legend |
DEPARTURE
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS STEP OUT OF A HOUSE ON YOUR RIGHT FOOT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Legend |
Date learned: 08-08-1968