Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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CHINESE BURIAL CUSTOM
"YOU SHOULD NOT PUT FLOWERS ON OR GIVE FLOWERS TO A DEAD PERSON
OR YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS WILL HAVE A LOT OF BOY OR GIRL-
FRIENDS."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 04-00-1984
"YOU SHOULD NOT LEAVE ANY GRAINS OF RICE ON THE DISHES AFTER A
MEAL OR YOUR HUSBAND'S OR WIFE'S FACE WILL HAVE ACNE."
Submitter comment: BELIEF PROBABLY TO PREVENT THE WASTE OF FOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
Date learned: 04-00-1984
BELIEF ABOUT CUTTING FINGERNAILS
"YOU SHOULD NOT CUT YOUR FINGER NAILS AT NIGHT OR YOU'LL CUT
THE LIFE OF A RELATIVE SHORT."
Submitter comment:
IN OLD TIMES, THE CHINESE USED A KNIFE TO CUT THEIR FINGER
NAILS AND BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE LIGHT THEY MIGHT LOSE A
FINGER IF THEY'RE NOT CAREFUL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 04-00-1984
THAI CHILDREN'S RECREATION
"ONE OF THE THINGS WE USED TO DO WAS GO TO THE FOREST AND FIND A
LONG STRAND OF SPIDER WEB. WE WOULD THEN STICK AN ANT TO THE END
OF THE WEB AND DROP IT INTO THE RIVER. WHEN WE FELT A TUG ON THE
END WE WOULD LIFT A TINY NEEDLE FISH OUT OF THE WATER. THE TINY
FISH WOULD SWALLOW THE ANT AND GET CAUGHT ON THE WEB."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): THAI FISHING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
THAI STORY
"A FALANG (WESTERNER) WAS ON A RIVERBOAT IN THAILAND AND SOMEHOW
SLIPPED OVERBOARD INTO THE RIVER. ONE OF THE OTHER PEOPLE GRABBED
A LADDER AND ATTEMPTED TO HELP HIM. HE SHOUTED TO THE MAN IN THE
WATER TO GRAB THE LADDER IN THAI LANGUAGE. 'GAW-GAH-DAI! GAW-
GAH-DAI!' HE SHOUTED. HEARING THIS THE FALANG SWAM EVEN FASTER
BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THE MAN WAS SHOUTING 'CROCODILE! CROCODILE!'"
Submitter comment: "GAW-GAH-DAI" MEANS "GRAB THE LADDER" IN THAI LANGUAGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 04-00-1984
CHINESE BURIAL CUSTOM
"WHEN BURYING THEIR DEAD, THE CHINESE ARE VERY CHOOSEY ABOUT
THE SITE. THE AREA WHICH IS CHOSEN WILL HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE
NEXT GENERATION. THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SITE WILL AFFECT THE
ELDEST SON, THE THIRD SON, THE FIFTH SON,...(1,3,5,7,...).
THE LEFT SIDE WILL AFFECT THE EVEN-NUMBERED SONS AND THE BACK
SIDE WILL AFFECT ALL THE DAUGHTERS."
Submitter comment:
IF ALL THE SIDES ARE GOOD, EVERYTHING WILL BE GOOD FOR THE FAMILY.
BUILDINGS NEAR THE SITE CAN CHANGE THE AFFECT OF THE SITE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Cemetery BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Even number (not specific) BELIEF -- Number Odd number (not specific) |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
POSITION OF RICE AT DINNER (THAI)
"THE THAIS WILL PLACE THEIR DISH OF RICE CLOSEST TO THEM WHEN
THEY'RE EATING."
Submitter comment:
I LEARNED THIS AT A THAI PARTY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT. A
THAI GIRL SAID TO ME THAT I AM NOT THAI BECAUSE I PLACED THE
RICE FAR FROM ME. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE OTHER THAIS, I SAW
THAT THEY ALL HAD THEIR DISH OF RICE CLOSEST TO THEMSELVES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Food container |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
SNEEZING (CHINESE BELIEF)
"THE CHINESE BELIEVE THAT WHEN THEY SNEEZE IT'S AS SIGN THAT
SOMEONE THEY LOVE IS THINKING OF THEM."
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SAID THAT WHENEVER SHE SNEEZED HER MOTHER WAS THINK-
ING OF HER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
Date learned: 04-00-1984
JAPANESE EATING CUSTOM
"IN THE SOUTHERN PARTS OF JAPAN, SLURPING OR EATING FOOD NOISILY
IS NOT CONSIDERED RUDE BUT IN PARTS LIKE TOKYO IT IS CONSIDERED
VERY IMPOLITE AND A SIGN OF BAD MANNERS. MOTHERS IN TOKYO WILL
SCOLD THEIR CHILDREN IF THEY ARE NOISY EATERS."
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM A JAPANESE STUDENT AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
Date learned: 02-00-1984
REMEMBERING
IF YOU FORGET SOMETHING TAKE THREE STEPS BACK TO REMEMBER.
HE WAS TOLD THIS BY HIS GRANDMOTHER WHEN HEWAS LITTLE.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION POSITION ; HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-00-1972
NAVY
THE NAVY HAS AN OLD CUSTOM: THE FIRST TIME A SAILOR CROSSES THE
EQUATOR HE HAS TO APPEAR AT A MOCK TRIAL WHICH IS HELD BY KING
NEPTUNE
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. DRAMA -- Secular CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: 10-00-1972
CANDLE
IF YOU BURN A CANDLE ALL THE WAY DOWN, IT WILL BRING SEVEN YEARS
GOOD LUCK
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Good luck P881.1 |
Date learned: 10-00-1972
TRIP
IF YOU TRIP IN CHURCH YOU WILL NOT GET MARRIED THAT YEAR.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions |
Date learned: 11-19-1972
SNEEZE
THE REASON PEOPLE SAY "GOD BLESS YOU!" WHEN YOU SNEEZE IS THAT YOU
SNEEZE OUT YOUR SOUL AND THE DEVIL HAS CHANCE TO BEAT YOUR
SOUL BACK INTO YOUR BODY
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-19-1972
GORE ORPHANAGE
GORE ORPHANAGE BURNED DOWN IN THE 1920s AND ALL THE CHILDREN
DIED. YOU CAN GO TO THE SITE ON THE ANNIVERSARY AND HEAR THE
CHILDREN CRY.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMER KNOWS SOMEONE WHO SAID HE HEARD THE CRYING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NOISE SOUND
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
BUTTER CUP
PLACE A BUTTER CUP (FLOWER) UNDER A PERSONS CHIN AND IF YOU CAN SEE
A YELLOW REFLECTION ON HIS CHIN. IT MEANS HE LIKES BUTTER.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): VARIANT PLANT: DANDELION
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food N244.44 BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 11-19-1972
PICTURES OF THE DEAD
HIS GRANDMOTHER TOOK PICTURES OF HIS GRANDFATHER'S WAKE (HIM IN THE
COFFIN) AND SHE HUNG THEM AROUND THE HOUSE FOR ONE YEAR. THIS
HELPS HIM GET TO HEAVEN
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-19-1972
SILVER DOLLAR
HE HAS CARRIED A SILVER DOLLAR WITH HIM FOR A YEAR AS A GOOD
LUCK CHARM
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): COIN
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 11-19-1972
SAINT ANTHONY
WHEN YOU LOSE SOMETHING, TURN THE STATUE OF SAINT ANTHONY
UPSIDE DOWN UNTIL YOU FIND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. THIS IS
SUPPOSED TO HELP YOU FIND THINGS
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 11-19-1972
ACE OF SPADES
IF YOU WALK THRU AN OPEN FIELD WITH A DECK OF CARDS WITH THE ACE
OF SPADES ON THE TOP, FACE UP, YOU CAN HEAR THE DEVIL FOLLOW YOU
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PLAYING CARDS
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 11-19-1972