Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for MICHIGAN, ASSUMED returned 785 results.
BIRTH PREDICTION
THIS ENTRY WAS MADE JAN. 17, 1967 FROM MRS. SWEROCK WHO,
UPON VISITING HER EXPECTANT NIECE, PREDICTED THE SEX
OF THE UNBORN CHILD. SHE LEARNED THIS METHOD OF
DETERMINING THE SEX FROM HER MOTHER, A NATIVE
OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA.
IF THE WOMAN IS POINTED IN THE FRONT, SHE WILL HAVE
A BOY; IF SHE IS BROAD AND WIDE FROM BEHIND, THEN
SHE'LL HAVE A GIRL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
THE SISTER-IN-LAW, IN HER SLEEP, IMAGINED THAT HER
MOTHER WAS CALLING TO HER. SHE AWAKENED FRIGHTENED
BUT SHRUGGED IT OFF AS A BAD DREAM. THE NEXT MORNING
WHEN SHE WENT TO SEE HER MOTHER, WHO LIVED TWO
HOUSES AWAY, SHE WAS DEAD. THE DOCTOR SAID SHE DIED
ABOUT 4:30 THAT MORNING, THE SAME TIME THAT THE
SISTER-IN-LAW AWAKENED FROM HER DREAM.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS COLLECTED ON JAN. 31, 1967; MRS. SWEROCK
RELATED THIS INCIDENT AS HEARD FROM HER SISTER-IN-LAW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Dreams Foretelling a death |
Date learned: 01-31-1967
LOCAL HAUNTED HOUSE STORY
THERE WAS AN OLD HOUSE NEAR HERE, BUT THIS WAS QUITE A FEW YEARS
AGO, AND PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS HAUNTED BECAUSE THEY WOULD HEAR
NOISES COMING FROM IT AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE A HORRIBLE SMELL
WOULD COME OUT OF THE HOUSE. FINALLY, THEY FOUND AN OLD WOMAN
IN THE BASEMENT WHO HAD BEEN LIVING THERE AND EATING THE RATS
TO KEEP ALIVE.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal |
Date learned: 09-19-1967
LOCAL HAUNTED HOUSE STORY
THERE WAS AN OLD HOUSE NEAR HERE, BUT THIS WAS QUITE A FEW YEARS
AGO, AND PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS HAUNTED BECAUSE THEY WOULD HEAR
NOISES COMING FROM IT AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE A HORRIBLE SMELL
WOULD COME OUT OF THE HOUSE. FINALLY, THEY FOUND AN OLD WOMAN
IN THE BASEMENT WHO HAD BEEN LIVING THERE AND EATING THE RATS
TO KEEP ALIVE.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal |
Date learned: 09-19-1967
IN POLAND, ON A CHILD'S FIRST BIRTHDAY, YOU PUT
FIVE OBJECTS IN FRONT OF HIM OR HER. THESE OBJECTS
ARE: A BOOK, A ROSARY, A WINE GLASS, A PAIR OF
SCISSORS, AND CIGARETTES. IF A CHILD CHOOSES
THE BOOK, HE WILL BE INTELLIGENT. IF HE CHOOSES
THE ROSARY, HE WILL BE A PRIEST OR NUN. IF HE
CHOOSES THE WINE GLASS, HE WILL BE AN ALCOHOLIC.
IF THE CIGARETTES, HE'LL BE A TRAMP. IF A CHILD
CHOOSES THE SCISSORS, SHE'LL BE A GOOD HOUSEWIFE.
ON MY FIRST BIRTHDAY (THERESA) I CHOSE THE
SCISSORS AND I CAN SEW AND COOK QUITE WELL..
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; SAINT HYACINTH SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of object for determining future of young |
Date learned: 02-01-1972
WILL IT BE A BOY OR GIRL?
IF A MOTHER KNITS GIRLISH THINGS DURING HER PREGNANCY,
SHE WILL GET A GIRL. IF SHE LOOKS AT BOYISH THINGS
AND MAKES THEM, SHE WILL HAVE A BOY.
Submitter comment:
DR. THORDEN SAID THIS ONE DAY WHEN A BOY ASKED HER
IF YOU CAN TELL BEFOREHAND IF YOUR CHILD WILL BE A
BOY OR A GIRL. WE WERE STUDYING REPRODUCTION AT THIS
TIME. SHE SAID THIS AS A PASSING THING, NOT AS THE
REAL ANSWER TO HIS QUESTION.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: 11-14-1969
NIGHT SWEATS
IF THE SKIN SURFACE OF THE BODY IS GIVEN A CUPPED-PALM HAND BATH
OF APPLE CIDER AT BEDTIME, THE NIGHT SWEATS WILL BE PREVENTED.
Where learned: APARTMENT ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-08-1969
SALT OVER YOUR SHOULDER ( COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; GOOD LUCK; SALT ( CLASSIFIER'S TITLE )
FOR GOOD LUCK YOU THROW SALT OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.17 |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED
LOCAL HAUNTED HOUSE STORY
THERE WAS AN OLD HOUSE NEAR HERE, BUT THIS WAS QUITE A FEW YEARS
AGO, AND PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS HAUNTED BECAUSE THEY WOULD HEAR
NOISES COMING FROM IT AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE A HORRIBLE SMELL
WOULD COME OUT OF THE HOUSE. FINALLY, THEY FOUND AN OLD WOMAN
IN THE BASEMENT WHO HAD BEEN LIVING THERE AND EATING THE RATS
TO KEEP ALIVE.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal |
Date learned: 09-19-1967
FRUITS DECAY AS SOON AS THEY RIPEN
LOVE AND KISSES SOON GROW OLD
YOUNG MEN'S VOWS ARE SOON FORGOTTEN
LOOK OUT! DON'T GET SOLD.
Submitter comment:
THIS WOMAN, WHO WISHES TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, PERMITTED
ME TO COLLECT THESE VERSES FROM HER AUTOGRAPH BOOK.
THE VERSES WERE ENTERED BY HER HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATES
IN 1939.
Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Cynical insight |
Date learned: 00-00-1939
TAKE A HANDFUL OF ANY KIND OF METAL (GOLD, SILVER, IRON)
AND PUT IT UNDER YOUR PILLOW,
THE NEXT DAY THERE WILL BE A LARGE SUM OF MONEY THERE.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER TOLD ME THIS WHEN SHE SAID SHE HAD TO GET SOME MONEY
TO PAY OUR BILLS. SHE THEN WENT ON TO SAY THAT SHE
SHOULD DO THIS AND SEE IF IT WORKED.
Where learned: HOME ; DETROIT, ASSUMED ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 11-21-1969
WHEN IT RAINS ON A WEDDING DAY, BAD LUCK WILL FOLLOW.
(TRANSLATED FROM THE POLISH).
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; DEARBORN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Superstition about good weather BELIEF -- Bad luck Crucial moment of life |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
FIRE PREVENTION- ALLGAU, BAVARIA, GERMANY
IN ORDER TO PREVENT HOUSE FIRES, ALWAYS KEEP A PICTURE
OF ST. FLORIAN IN THE HOME.
Where learned: WARREN ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; PENNSYLVANIA, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Use of Object SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 11-17-1968
CURES
MRS. BOLCEN TOLD ME OF THE HOME MADE CURES HER MOTHER HAD.
SHE TOLD ME OF THE TIME THAT SHE CURED SCARLET FEVER BY MAKING THE
CHILDREN SOAK IN HOT WATER AND MUSTARD.
SHE ALSO CURED BOILS BY PUTTING BREAD AND MILK POULTICES ON THEM.
TO CURE BURNS SHE PUT COLD TEA ON THEM.
Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD.
Data entry tech comment: COLLECTOR'S SPELLING CORRECTED BY KEYPUNCHER.
Where learned: DETROIT, ASSUMED ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; BRASS RAIL CHOP HOUSE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
WHEN TWO PEOPLE SAY THE SAME THING AT THE SAME TIME,
THEY LINK PINKIES AND MAKE A WISH.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts BELIEF -- Prayer SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Wishes Wants Desires Predictions |
Date learned: 10-02-1967
AT WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY, NO FEMALE STUDENT IS
OFFICIALLY A COED OF W.M.U. UNTIL SHE IS KISSED
UNDER A PARTICULAR LAMP ON EAST HALL ON EAST CAMPUS,
BY HER FAVORITE BEAU.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
A NEW BROOM SWEEPS WELL BUT AN OLD ONE IS BEST FOR THE CORNERS
Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): PARODY ; POLITICS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
POLISH GOOD FRIDAY CUSTOM
IF THE PEOPLE CAN'T BE IN CHURCH FOR THE TRE ORE SERVICES, THEY DO
NOT SPEAK AT ALL FOR THE 3 HOURS.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): SILENCE ; SPEECH TABOO
| Subject headings: | 663 Good Friday |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
FAMILY CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
EVERY CHRISTMAS WE HAVE PLUM PUDDING.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: HARPER WOODS ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; FOOD ; PLUM ; Pudding ; tradition
| Subject headings: | 122 Christmas |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED
POLISH PROVERB
LET THE HORSE WORRY SINCE HE HAS A BIG HEAD.
TRANSLATION FROM THE POLISH:
NIECH SIE MARTIVI KON', HO MA WILLKA GLOIVA.
Where learned: DEARBORN ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-21-1967