Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Asia returned 3 results.
During the Vietnam War, when a soldier was to go back to the
United States shortly, his time in Vietnam was considered "short."
There was a "short superstition" among the American soldiers
during the war. It was generally believed that as a soldier's time
became "short" he was more likely to be killed than at any other
time of his tour of duty.
Submitter comment:
The informant could name numerous time when a soldier had
survived most of his tour of duty only to be killed when he was
"short".
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- P535 BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
During the Vietnam War, it was felt to be unlucky for an
American soldier to carry a camera. The soldiers felt that there
was a high incidence of being killed shortly after buying a
camera, or receiving one from home.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- P535 BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
Many Vietnamese people believe that the spirit of dead
ancestors sit on the heads and shoulders of the living. It is
therefore considered inappropriate to touch the shoulder or pat
the head of a Vietnamese person. This is an insult to the
ancestors.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Body part Senses SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1969