Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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ENCHANTMENT OF THE SIGN
WHEN "THE SIGN" IS IN THE BODY, ESPECIALLY NEAR THE HEART,
ANIMALS ARE DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. THE SIGN STARTS IN THE
FEET, MOVING UP INTO THE BODY AND HEAD, THEN DOWN AGAIN.
IT IS ONLY IN THE FEET FOR A FEW DAYS. THE SIGN IS IN THE
HEART WHEN THE MOON IS BEGINNING TO GET FULL, AND IS THERE
SEVERAL DAYS AFTER IT BEGINS TO GET SMALLER. A CALENDAR
SHOWING MOON CHANGES CAN BE USED TO DETERMINE WHERE THE
SIGN IS, BY THOSE WHO KNOW HOW.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): ALMANAC ZODIAC
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 08-00-1969
YOU KNOW THERE'S AN OLD SAYING, THAT IF CATS BREATHE IN YOUR
FACE, THEY WILL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY. I WOKE UP ONCE WHEN
I WAS A LITTLE BOY AND A CAT WAS BREATHING RIGHT IN MY FACE.
I NEVER HAVE LIKED CATS SINCE THEN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 08-01-1968
WHEN YOU GET MARRIED, PUT A PENNY IN HE POT EVERYTIME YOU
MAKE LOVE THE FIRST YEAR. AFTER THAT YEAR, TAKE A PENNY
OUT OF THE POT EVERYTIME YOU MAKE LOVE. YOU NEVER GET
ALL THE PENNIES OUT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): PIGGY BANK SAVINGS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 08-10-1968
DON'T TELL A DREAM BEFORE BREAKFAST OR IT WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Food BELIEF -- Dreams |
Date learned: 08-09-1968
IF YOU HOLD A BUTTERCUP UNDER YOUR CHIN AND THERE IS A
REFLECTION OF YELLOW LIGHT ON YOUR CHIN, THEN YOU LIKE BUTTER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
YOU KNOW THAT ONA AND DEBBIE CARRY AROUND A BUCKEYE AND
(AND IS UNDERLINED) A RABBIT'S FOOT FOR GOOD LUCK?
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Amulet, mojo |
Date learned: 08-06-1968
I HAD HEARD THIS WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER
WHERE OR WHEN.
NEVER TELL A DREAM BEFORE BREAKFAST, OR IT WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Food BELIEF -- Dreams |
Date learned: 07-00-1968
THIS WAS TOLD TO SISTER MARY ANTHONY BARR BY A YOUNG NEGRO
COLLEGE STUDENT.
TO DREAM OF NUDE PERSONS IS A SIGN OF DEATH.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Dreams Foretelling a death |
Date learned: 00001965 SUMMER
SISTER LEARNED THIS FROM HER FAMILY AS A YOUNG GIRL LIVING IN
LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.
NEVER KILL A SPIDER THAT HAS WALKED ON YOU. YOU'LL BE GETTING
A NEW SUIT OF CLOTHES.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Massachusetts ; LYNN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
SISTER SAID HER MOTHER LAUGHED ABOUT THIS AND WOULD SAY:
NOW IF I WERE SUPERSTITIOUS.... BUT SHE ALWAYS DID IT, IF YOU
SPILL SALT, PICK IT UP IMMEDIATELY AND THROW IT OVER THE LEFT
SHOULDER. REASON: BRING GOOD LUCK, WARD OFF BAD LUCK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
THIS IS COMMON BELIEF IN NOVA SCOTIA. THIS TOOK PLACE IN
LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS. THE INFORMANT KNEW THE PAINTER. THE
PAINTER WAS WORKING AT SISTER'S HOUSE, AND AT ANOTHER
WOMAN'S HOUSE AT THE SAME TIME.
"ONE AFTERNOON THE PAINTER CAME TO OUR HOUSE AND HE WAS
STARK WHITE. IT SEEMS HE HAD BEEN PAINTING THE LADY'S HOUSE
IN THE MORNING. WHILE THERE A DOG CAME INTO THE YARD FACING
TOWARD HER HOUSE, HE BEGAN TO HO; FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
THE WOMAN LAUGHED, AND SAID, 'IF I WERE HOME, (NOVA SCOTIA)
I'D REALLY BE WORRIED; BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE A HOWLING DOG
POINTING AT A HOUSE IS A SURE SIGN OF DEATH.' HE LAUGHINGLY
AGREED. HE WAS FROM NOVA SCOTIA, AND HAD HEARD THE SAME
THING. HE WENT ON PAINTING, AND SHE WENT BACK TO WORK.
WITHIN ONE HALF HOUR, HE HEARD A SCREAM AND STEPPED BACK IN
THROUGH THE WINDOW TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THE WOMAN WAS
ON THE FLOOR, HER DAUGHTER, THE ONE WHO HAD SCREAMED, WAS
KNEELING OVER HER. THE WOMAN HAD DIED OF A HEART ATTACK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NOVA SCOTIA ; NASHVILLE ; Massachusetts ; LYNN
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
IF YOU DROP A FORK A LADY IS COMING TO SEE YOU. IF YOU DROP
A KNIFE, A MAN IS COMING TO SEE YOU. IF YOU DROP A SPOON,
EITHER IS COMING.
Submitter comment: SISTER LEARNED THIS FROM HER FAMILY AS A YOUNG GIRL IN
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Massachusetts ; LYNN
| Subject headings: | Observation Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
THIS BELIEF IS FOUND IN NEW ENGLAND AND NOVA SCOTIA:
"SOME PEOPLE WON'T HAVE A PARAKEET OR A CANARY IN THEIR HOME
BECAUSE IT IS A SIGN OF DEATH. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS
WORKING AT A RELIGIOUS CAMP IN HAMILTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
I WAS IN ONE OF THE BUILDINGS WITH A LARGE GLASSED-IN PORCH
AND SOMEHOW A BEAUTIFUL BIRD GOT IN THE PORCH. IT FLEW
AROUND, STRIKING THE GLASS, STUNNED HIMSELF AND FELL TO
THE FLOOR. I PICKED HIM UP AND TOOK HIM OUT INTO THE YARD.
HE REVIVED IN THE FRESH AIR AND FLEW OUT OF MY HANDS. WITHIN
A VERY FEW MINUTES A TELEPHONE CALL CAME IN, TELLING US THAT
A WOMAN, A VOLUNTEER WORKER, HAD JUST BEEN KILLED ON A
NEAR-BY TURNPIKE."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NOVA SCOTIA ; NASHVILLE ; Massachusetts ; HAMILTON ; NEW ENGLAND
| Subject headings: | Observation PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
WHEN MY INFORMANT'S LITTLE SISTER WAS BORN, THE NEIGHBORS
TOLD HER MOTHER THAT SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO TELL THE FUTURE
BECAUSE THE BABY WAS BORN WITH A VEIL OVER HER FACE. THIS
HAPPENED IN A MINING TOWN IN PENNSYLVANIA EARLY IN THE
TWENTIETH CENTURY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): CAUL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body) BELIEF -- Birth |
MY INFORMANT HAD AN UNCLE WHO WAS VERY FOND OF ONE OF HER
BROTHERS. HER BROTHER WAS ALSO VERY CLOSE TO HIS UNCLE.
ONE DAY WHILE THEY WERE AT HOME, A WHITE MOTH FLEW IN THE
ROOM AND LANDED ON JOE'S (THE BROTHER) SHOULDER. THE MOTH
JUST STAYED THERE FOR A LONG TIME. THEY FOUND OUT LATER
THAT THEIR UNCLE HAD DIED AT THIS EXACT TIME. JOE
IMMEDIATELY RECALLED THE PRESENCE OF THE MOTH AND BELIEVED
THAT THIS HAD BEEN A SIGN OF DEATH. THE FAMILY WAS LIVING
IN A MINING TOWN IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
MR. SEARCY REMEMBERS THAT HIS BABY NURSE, MRS. HENRIETTA YOUNG,
BELIEVED THAT AFTER A ROAD GRADER CAME OVER A DIRT ROAD, IT
WAS SURE TO RAIN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Solid matter |
Date learned: 06-24-1972
IF THE WINTER IS TO BE BAD, THE NUTS IN THE FALL WILL BE
LARGER, WITH A THICKER SHELL, AND THERE WILL BE MORE OF THEM.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Plants |
Date learned: 07-06-1972
IF THE WINTER IS TO BE BAD, THE FUR ON THE ANIMALS, EVEN A
NORMALLY SLEEK ONE, WILL BECOME LONGER AND SHAGGIER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Date learned: 07-06-1972
TWO SULPHUR MATCHES IN THE MOUTH WILL PREVENT TEARING WHEN
PEELING AN ONION.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): CRYING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 06-24-1972
YOU CAN TELL HOW COLD THE WINTER IS GOING TO BE BY CHECKING
HOW THICK THE PUSSY-WILLOW BARK IS AFTER THE FIRST FROST.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Plants |
Date learned: 08-05-1968