Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for BLOOMFIELD HILLS returned 88 results.
MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD NEVER ALLOW YELLOW CATS INTO THE
HOUSE. THEY WERE TO REMAIN IN THE BARN. TIGER CATS,
BLACK CATS, WHITE CATS, THESE ALL HAD THE HOPE OF BEING
HOUSEHOLD PETS. STRICT APARTHEID WITH YELLOW CATS--TO
THE BARN! IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE BELIEF THAT THEY
WOULD BRING MISFORTUNE ON THE HOUSEHOLD. ON THE OTHER
HAND, MY FAMILY ONCE LIVED NEXT DOOR TO A FAMILY ORIGINALLY
FROM THE VERY RURAL PARTS OF KENTUCKY. MRS. PATTON COLLECTED
EVERY YELLOW CAT SHE COULD FIND AND CLAIMED THEY PURRED
LOUDER THAN OTHER CATS AND BROUGHT MORE CHEER TO A HOUSE.
WE OFTEN HEARD HER CRY, "YELLER CAT, HERE YELLER CAT"
FROM HER FRONT PORCH, AND WE WERE GLAD THAT MY GRANDMOTHER
AND MRS. PATTON NEVER LIVED NEAR EACH OTHER.
Submitter comment: TOLD TO ME BY MY NEIGHBOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.31 |
Date learned: 00001940-1950
IF SOMEONE SWEEPS OVER YOUR FEET WITH A BROOM,
YOU WON'T GET MARRIED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship |
Date learned: 09-15-1969
WART CURE--GO TO A HOUSE WHERE THE WOMAN IS FRYING BACON. WHEN
SHE ISN'T LOOKING, STEAL A PIECE OF BACON AND WHEN YOU GO
OUTSIDE, THROW IT AWAY.
Submitter comment: TOLD TO ME BY MY NEIGHBOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 00001940-1950
ROMANIAN
TUESDAY-BAD LUCK ALL DAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 09-17-1969
CANNOT SEW ON SUNDAY, IT'S BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.4 |
Date learned: 10-06-1969
AFTER HAVING BREAD OR ANY FOOD BLESSED BY A PRIEST
YOU MUST FIRST MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS WITH A
KNIFE ON THE UNDERSIDE BEFORE EATING OR CUTTING
THE FOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications |
Date learned: 10-06-1969
IT IS BAD LUCK IF YOU DON'T HOLD A WHITE BUTTON
WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A CEMETERY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Conversions Leaving Entering Returning home Travel |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT IS BAD LUCK IF YOU DON'T LIFT YOUR LEGS WHEN
DRIVING BY A CEMETERY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Conversions Leaving Entering Returning home Travel |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT IS BAD LUCK IF YOU DON'T LIFT YOUR LEGS WHEN
DRIVING OVER A RAILROAD TRACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
James Callow Keyword(s): TRAVELING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Conversions Leaving Entering Returning home Travel |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHEN LEAVING THE HOUSE, ALWAYS STEP OUT WITH THE
RIGHT LEG, THEN YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK. IF
YOU STEP OUT WITH LEFT LEG, YOU WILL HAVE BAD
LUCK ALL DAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Conversions Leaving Entering Returning home Travel |
Date learned: FROM YOUTH
IF SOMEONE ASKS FOR YOUR HANDERCHIEF, MAKE SURE
YOU GET IT BACK OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
James Callow Keyword(s): BORROW
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Conversions Activities |
IT IS BAD LUCK TO LIGHT MORE THAN THREE CIGARETTES
WITH THE SAME MATCH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU WHISTLE IN THE HOUSE, IT BRINGS BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: ROMANIAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
Date learned: 10-07-1969
NEVER LEAVE A LOAF OF BREAD ON ITS TOP WITH
BOTTOM UP; IT SHOWS DISRESPECT FOR GOD AND
THEREFORE IS BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: FRENCH
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Favorites Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit BELIEF -- Bad luck Food and drink |
Date learned: 09-15-1969
CANNOT OPEN AN UMBRELLA IN THE HOUSE--IT IS BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment: ROMANIAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Umbrella |
Date learned: 10-06-1969
FOLLOW THE ARROWS
WE USED TO GET UP A BIG GANG OF TEN OR FIFTEEN KIDS
FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN NASHVILLE. THIS WAS WHEN
I WAS AROUND TEN YEARS OLD. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS
ABOUT THE SIZE OF TWO CITY BLOCKS, BUT WITHOUT
FENCES AND VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC. THERE WERE LOTS OF
STOREHOUSES, GARAGES AND A CREEK RUNNING THROUGH
IT. LITTLE KIDS COULDN'T PLAY WITH US BECAUSE
THEY COULDN'T RUN FAST ENOUGH.
YOU LET ONE OR TWO KIDS HIDE THEIR EYES WHILE THE
OTHERS RUN IN A GROUP TOWARD SOME SPECIAL PLACE,
SAY, BEHIND A GARAGE. ONE PERSON IN THE GANG MAKES
CHALK ARROWS POINTING THE DIRECTION TO GO. THEN
THE SEARCHERS WOULD HUNT FOR THE ARROWS. THE GAME
WAS OVER WHEN THE SEARCHERS WOULD SPOT THE BIG
GANG.
WE WOULD USUALLY PLAY THIS ONLY ONCE A DAY BECAUSE
OF THE RUNNING TIRING US OUT.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT PLAYED THIS GAME AROUND 1942 WHEN SHE
WAS A TEN YEAR OLD IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
PLANTING TIME
PLANT CUCUMBER SEEDS ON JUNE 13 FOR A BUMPER CROP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June 13 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: 00001940-1950
WHEN TO PLANT
FARMERS SAY NEVER PUT SEED (IN) WHEN THE MOON GETS
LESS, BUT WHEN IT GETS MORE. YOU PLANT AND GET MORE,
BIGGER FRUIT.
Submitter comment:
TOLD TO ME IN MY HOME BY MY NEIGHBOR, WHO WAS BORN
AND RAISED IN RURAL GERMANY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GERMANY ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F476 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F476 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting |
USE OF ZODIAC CALENDAR FOR CASTRATION
WHEN WE WOULD BUTCHER THE HOGS IN FALL, WE WOULD USE THE
ZODIAC CALENDAR. WE DIDN'T LIKE TO CASTRATE ANIMALS
UNLESS THE ZODIAC SIGN WAS IN THE FEET ON THE CHART.
IF THE SIGN WAS IN THE PROPER PLACE, THE ANIMAL WOULDN'T
BLEED AS MUCH IF CASTRATED AT THE WRONG TIME IN THE
ZODIAC CALENDAR.
Submitter comment: TOLD BY MY NEIGHBOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time BELIEF -- Animal Husbandry Farming Ranching |
Date learned: 00001940-1950
IN MONTMORENCY COUNTY, S SHIVAREE BEGAN WITH RINGING
BELLS. MY MOTHER'S BIG BELL WAS USED OFTEN. THE
NEWLYWEDS WERE GIVEN A LITTLE NOTICE, AND THEY
WERE TO HAVE FOOD OR DRINKS READY FOR THE SHIVAREE
CROWD.
SOMETIMES, A COUPLE HAD TO GET MARRIED, OR THEY
WEREN'T WELL LIKED, AND THESE DIDN'T GET A SHIVAREE.
IF YOU DIDN'T GET SHIVAREED, IT WAS A SIGN OF BAD
LUCK ON THE MARRIAGE.
Submitter comment: TOLD TO ME BY MY NEIGHBOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage F545.1341 |
Date learned: 00001940-1950