Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for BIRMINGHAM returned 584 results.
IF YOU ARE HAVING BAD LUCK IN CARDS, WALK AROUND
YOUR CHAIR FOR GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HAD KNOWN THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Conversions Games Pastimes Sports |
Date learned: 10-19-1967
THE RADIOACTIVITY GENERATED BY A COLOR TELEVISION WILL
CAUSE STERILITY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.3 |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
DON'T BUY A USED CAR BECAUSE YOU ARE JUST BUYING
SOMEBODY'S TROUBLES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.6 |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD ; 11-00-1968
THE BLUE THAT BRIDES WEAR KEEPS EVIL SPIRITS AWAY. IT
IS THE COLOR OF THE HEAVENS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 01-25-1968
CHINESE GOOD LUCK COLORS
ACCORDING TO CHINESE TRADITION, FRUITS ARE LUCKY IF THEY
ARE YELLOW OR GOLDEN ORANGE IN COLOR. THESE COLORS
ARE OUR GOOD COLORS, AND SO IS RED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 02-24-1968
CHINESE GOOD LUCK COLORS
WE CHINESE BELIEVE THAT RED IS THE BEST AND LUCKIEST
COLOR, AND WE USUALLY WEAR IT ON CHINESE NEW YEAR AND
MOST OF THE OTHER FESTIVALS, EXCEPT THOSE CONNECTED
WITH THE DEAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 02-24-1968
BLUE IS THE COLOR OF THE HEAVENS. EVIL SPIRITS DO NOT
LIKE THE COLOR AND THAT IS WHY BABY BOYS WEAR IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 01-25-1968
COVER THE MIRRORS IN THE HOUSE WHEN SOMEONE DIES.
THE SPIRIT OF THE DEAD PERSON COULD FLY INTO THE
MIRROR AND HIS RELEASE TO HEAVEN WOULD BE DELAYED
OR IMPEDED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Sign Color |
Date learned: 02-24-1968
IF YOU ARE IN THE ROOM WITH SOMEONE WHO IS DYING, YOU
CAN USUALLY TELL WHAT KIND OF LIFE THE PERSON HAS LED.
A GOOD PERSON WILL START SMILING BECAUSE HE CAN SEE
THE LORD COMING FOR HIM. WHEN A BAD PERSON DIES, YOU
CAN FEEL THE HEAT OF THE DEVIL COMING TO CLAIM HIS
SOUL.
Submitter comment:
MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO BE A NURSE AND HAS WITNESSED
THIS MANY TIMES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
THE BINDING RING
WHEN A WOMAN'S (USUALLY A YOUNG WOMAN) HUSBAND DIES AND
THE WIDOW PLACES HER WEDDING RING ON HER DECEASED
HUSBAND'S FINGER, IT MEANS THAT SHE HAS DECIDED TO LIVE
THE REST OF HER LIFE WITH HIS MEMORY ALONE AND NOT
REMARRY.
Submitter comment:
LOUIS L. SZEP, THE INFORMANT, LEARNED THIS CUSTOM FROM
HIS PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS IN HIS NATIVE HUNGARY,
IN THE CITY OF SZOMBATHELY, NEAR THE AUSTRIAN BORDER.
HE SAYS THAT THE CUSTOM IS A PROMINENT ONE IN
HUNGARY, AND ONE THAT WAS KNOWN WISELY IN HIS
FAMILY'S HISTORY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HUNGARY ; BIRMINGHAM ; SZOMBATHELY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 12-31-1963
WHEN THERE IS A DEATH IN THE FAMILY, NEVER HAVE OR
PUT THREE CHAIRS IN A ROW. ONE OF THE THREE WHO SIT
IN THEM AT THE SAME TIME WILL DIE WITHIN SIX MONTHS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-24-1968
RUB AN ONION ON A WART; BURY THE ONION WHERE WATER WILL DRIP
ON IT. THE ONION WILL ROT AND THE WART WILL DISAPPEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): PLUGGING ; TRANSFER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 02-22-1968
IF THE GROOM SEES THE BRIDE IN HER WEDDING GOWN
BEFORE THE CEREMONY, IT MEANS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Bride and groom must not see each other BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A BRIDE PUTS A PENNY IN HER SHOE SO THAT SHE WILL HAVE A
PROSPEROUS FUTURE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Penny in shoe |
Date learned: 11-20-1970
THROWING RICE AT A WEDDING ENSURES FRUITFULNESS
OF THE MARRIAGE.
Submitter comment: FROM PAST FRIENDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Things thrown at newlyweds BELIEF -- Use of object for determining number of children or sex of unborn P863.545 |
Date learned: 11-10-1967
A RING AROUND THE MOON AT NIGHT MEANS RAINS
IN THE MORNING.
Submitter comment: SOURCE NOT REMEMBERED
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Observation of galactic or celestial bodies |
Date learned: 11-15-1967
CIRCUMCISION RITE
THE CONTINUED USE OF FLINTS AS THE INSTRUMENT FOR
CIRCUMCISION UNTIL THE 17TH CENTURY IS CONNECTED TO
THE JEWISH LILITH MYTH. LILITH IS SAID TO BE
ADAM'S FIRST WIFE WHO LEFT HIM TO BEGET CHILDREN
WITH THE DEVIL.
IN ANCIENT TIMES, WHEN A GIRL WAS BORN, THE JEWS PUT AN
"X" ON THE WALL. FOR A BOY, THEY PUT AN "O"--
TO KEEP LILITH FROM INVADING THE SPIRIT OF THE BOY CHILD.
CIRCUMCISION BY FLINT WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN ONE FELL
SWOOP, AND EVOLVED FROM THE CIRCLE ON THE WALL
SUPERSTITION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Human Being |
Date learned: 02-24-1968
A TEACHER I HAD IN GRADE SCHOOL ONCE TOLD US THAT
EVERYTIME A PERSON COUGHS, A NAIL IS PUT IN HIS
COFFIN AND IF THE PERSON COUGHS TOO MUCH, THERE
WILL BE NO ROOM IN HIS COFFIN FOR HIM, BECAUSE THERE
WILL BE TOO MANY NAILS IN IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Prediction / Divination BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 01-23-1968
A CHILD THAT PERSISTS IN SUCKING HIS THUMB WILL ONE
DAY FIND IT CUT OFF BY A LITTLE MAN THAT OWNS THE
LARGEST PAIR OF SCISSORS EVER SEEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): SADISM
| Subject headings: | Prediction / Divination BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails |
Date learned: 01-22-1968
IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF THERE IS SOMETHING YOU WANT
TO TELL A PERSON AND YOU FORGET WHAT IT IS, IT WAS
A LIE. YOU ONLY REMEMBER TO TELL THAT WHICH IS
THE TRUTH.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG MAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Prediction / Divination |
Date learned: 07-00-1964