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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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TERROR TALE

I REMEMBER IN THE SUMMER OF 1964, I WAS AN ACTIVE SIX YEAR OLD.
MY FRIENDS AND I WOULD GO TO THE HILL AT THE SOUTHFIELD CIVIC
CENTER AND RUN UP AND DOWN IT FOR FUN AND EXCITEMENT. THE
GARDENER OVER THERE TOLD US ABOUT HOOP SNAKES. HE SAID THEY WERE
SNAKES ROLLED UP LIKE HOULA HOOPS AND THEY ROLL DOWN HILLS.
HE TOLD US TO RUN ZIG ZAG SO AS NOT TO GET CAUGHT BY THE LITTLE
CREATURES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale
BELIEF -- Animal

Date learned: 00-00-1964

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BLASON POPULAIRE

WHAT DOES BOAC STAND FOR?

Submitter comment: BETTER ON A CAMEL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Blason Populaire
RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 10-00-1977

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SIGN OF THE CROSS

WHENEVER I TAKE A TEST OR AM ABOUT TO EMBARK ON A HOMEWORK
ASSIGNMENT I WILL WRITE A LITTLE CROSS ON THE FIRST LINE.
I RECALL LEARNING THIS FROM MY SECOND GRADE TEACHER AT A PAROCHIAL
SCHOOL. THE CROSS WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP US TO DO WELL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications

Date learned: 00-00-1977

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ACNE CURE

I HEARD FROM SOME SINCE FORGOTTEN SOURCE THAT THE DRINKING OF BEER
WILL HELP TO CLEAR UP ACNE.

Submitter comment: I TRIED THIS LAST SUMMER AND ALMOST LOST MY JOB.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Fermented
BELIEF -- Remedy

Date learned: 00-00-1977

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ACNE CURE

IT WAS MENTIONED TO ME SOME TIME AGO THAT THE DAILY EATING OF A
CUBE OF ACTIVE YEAST WOULD CLEAR UP ACNE. THE YEAST SHOULD BE
EATEN DAILY UNTIL THE ACNE DISAPPEARS AND THEN AT INTERMITANT
INTERVALS TO KEEP THE ACNE UNDER CONTROL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Remedy

Date learned: 00-00-1977

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RELIGIOUS BELIEF

WHENEVER I PASS IN FRONT OF AN ALTER, AS IN CHURCH I GENUFLECT
AS A SIGN OF RESPECT. I LEARNED THIS SOME TIME IN GRADE
SCHOOL, I BELIEVE THE SECOND GRADE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 00-00-1977

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CURING RHEUMATISM

A SWISS METHOD OF CURING RHEUMATISM IS TO TAKE THE FUR
OF A MARMOT AND PLACE IT OVER THE AREA IN PAIN.
THIS WILL CAUSE THE PAIN TO GO AWAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Keyword(s): ANIMAL CURE ; IMITATIVE MAGIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Animal

Date learned: 10-28-1970

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NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM

FOR THE LAST FIVE MINUTES OF THE OLD YEAR, AND THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES
OF THE NEW YEAR, IT IS NECESSARY TO SWEEP ONE'S HOUSE FROM BACK
TO FRONT. YOU SWEEP THE HOUSE TO "SWEEP OUT" TROUBLE AND SICKNESS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; collector's home

Keyword(s): BROOM ; SYMBOLIC ACTION

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F123
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Fixed DateFor specific dates, use the following system: F640.0101
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Fixed DateFor specific dates, use the following system: F640.1231
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20

Date learned: 10-25-1970

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Never open an umbrella in a building.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 02-07-1992

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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IN CROSSING A RAILROAD TRACK IN AN AUTOMOBILE, RAISE YOUR
FEET TO INSURE A SAFE JOURNEY.

Where learned: SOUTH AMERICA ; BOGATA ; COLOMBIA

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

Date learned: 06-23-1973

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IF A GIRL CLIMBS A FRUIT BEARING TREE, THE TREE WILL NEVER
BEAR FRUITS AGAIN.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; GEORGETOWN

Keyword(s): Female ; FERTILITY ; FRUIT ; INFERTILITY ; NATURE ; SEXISM ; SUPERSTITION ; Tree

James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IF A FEMALE LETS A PREGNANT WOMAN FIX HER HAIR, SHE WILL
BECOME BALD HEADED.

Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; GEORGETOWN

James Callow Keyword(s): HAIRDRESSING.

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Daily Life
BELIEF -- Daily Life
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IF A PERSON BITES YOU, RUB SOME CHICKEN DO-DO ON THE SPOT
AND HIS TEETH WILL ROTTEN. (ROT)

Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; GEORGETOWN

Keyword(s): FECAL FECES

James Callow Keyword(s): DUNG

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue
BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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