Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Arkansas returned 59 results.
VOODOO PEOPLE CAN MAKE YOU DO THINGS YOU DON'T WANT TO DO.
Where learned: Arkansas ; PINE BLUFF
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 01161984CA
Never put your purse on the floor; if you do you'll always be
broke.
Submitter comment:
Ruth says she learned this from her mother, Mary Edmonson, who
was born in Arkansas in 1899.
Where learned: Arkansas ; LITTLE ROCK
Keyword(s): POSITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001940S
Do not eat fish and watermelon together, do not drink corn
liquor and eat bananas, do not eat fish and milk together.
James Callow comment:
"If you eat bananas after drinking beer or whiskey, it will
kill you (... student, Negro, Cleveland, 1959)"; "if you eat
bananas after drinking whiskey, you will die in agony" (...
barber, Negro, Cleveland, 1956)" -- Puckett, Ohio, nos. 27489,
27490.
Where learned: Camben ; Arkansas
James Callow Keyword(s): Incompatible foods
| Subject headings: | Favorites Food Drink -- Kind of Food and Its Preparation BELIEF -- Fish BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1945
Placing baking soda in a watermelon will cause stomach cramps
and diarrhea.
Submitter comment:
This informant's neighbor had a watermelon patch. Other
people were stealing watermelons from him. He cut a small hole
on the underside of the watermelon while it was still on the vine
laying on the ground, poured in baking soda, so those stealing
the watermelon would "pay" for stealing from his patch.
James Callow comment:
Cf. Puckett, Ohio, no. 27498: "Watermelon and soda bicarb
taken together will kill you."
Where learned: Camben ; Arkansas
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1944
Old folks would say when you comb your hair, any excess should
be thrown in running water (stream, brook, etc.) This would
make your hair grow. but if you throw it on the ground, the
birds would get it and use it to build their nest which would
cause you to have a ear ache.
Where learned: Arkansas ; LITTLE ROCK
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Running water BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1920
Old folks would wear rabbit's foot around their neck for good
luck.
Where learned: Arkansas ; LITTLE ROCK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1920
On Easter Sunday morning, the old folks would say the sun would
shout.
Where learned: Arkansas ; LITTLE ROCK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday BELIEF -- Sun |
Date learned: 00-00-1920
If you wash your hair in the first May rainwater, it will grow.
Where learned: Arkansas ; LITTLE ROCK
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- May BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 00-00-1920
SIGNS OF BAD LUCK
IT'S BAD LUCK TO LAUGH BEFORE GETTING OUT OF BED OR BEFORE
BREAKFAST.
LAUGH BEFOARE YOU EAT,
CRY BEFORE YOU SLEEP.
Where learned: Arkansas ; HAMBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 02-06-1972
SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT LORE
SOMEONE IS THINKING ABOUT YOU IF YOUR FACE FEELS SUDDENLY HOT.
Where learned: Arkansas ; HAMBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 02-05-1972
SUPERSTITION
IF YOUR LEFT HAND ITCHES, EXPECT TO RECEIVE A GIFT OR MONEY.
IF THE RIGHT HAND ITCHES, EXPECT TO SHAKE HANDS WITH A STRANGER.
Where learned: Arkansas ; HAMBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 02-04-1972
SUPERSTITION
IF THE RIGHT EAR BURNS, SOMEONE IS SAYING NICE THINGS ABOUT YOU.
IF THE LEFT EAR BURNS, SOMEONE IS CRITICIZING YOU.
Where learned: Arkansas ; HAMBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 02-04-1972
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU SNEEZE BEFORE BREAKFAST, YOU WILL HAVE COMPANY BEFORE NOON.
Where learned: Arkansas ; HAMBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 02-04-1972
SIGNS OF BAD LUCK
IT'S BAD LUCK TO RUN OUT OF SALT ON NEW YEAR'S DAY BECAUSE IT
MEANS POVERTY ALL YEAR.
Where learned: Arkansas ; HAMBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 02-05-1972
TYPES OF REMEDIES
ONE SAYS SHE BLOWS ON A BURN AND MUTTERS, "GO OUT FIRE, COME IN
FROST."
Where learned: Arkansas ; HAMBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 02-06-1972
TYPES OF REMEDIES
THE CONJURER RUBS THE WART WITH A PENNY AND GIVES IT TO A BOY.
AS SOON AS THE PENNY IS SPENT THE WAIT GOES AWAY.
Where learned: Arkansas ; HAMBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 02-04-1972
IDEAS ABOUT HEALTH
TO RELIEVE CRAMPS IN LEGS AND/OR CURE BUNIONS, TURN THE
SUFFERER'S SHOES UPSIDE DOWN AND PLACE UNDER THE BED.
Where learned: Arkansas ; HAMBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 02-05-1972
IDEAS ABOUT HEALTH
IN ORDER TO STOP "NIGHT SWEATS" SET A PAN OF WATER UNDER THE BED.
IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE SEEN WITHIN THREE DAYS.
Where learned: Arkansas ; HAMBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 02-06-1972
IDEAS ABOUT HEALTH
INSANITY IS BROUGHT ON BY SLEEPING OFTEN IN THE MOONLIGHT.
Where learned: Arkansas ; HAMBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 02-06-1972
IF THE PICTURE OF A DEAD PERSON FALLS OFF THE WALL, IT'S A SIGN
OF DEATH. AT UNCLE'S FUNERAL, HIS SITER'S PICTURE FELL OFF
THE WALL, AND SHE HAD BEEN DEAD FOR A LONG TIME, BUT NOBOBY
DIED.
Submitter comment: SHE HEARD THIS FROM HER GRANDMOTHER AS A GIRL IN FORT SMITH.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; FORT SMITH ; ARKANSAS, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 08-08-1968