The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE LEGEND OF ZAMORA

AN OLD POLISH LEGEND HAS IT THAT WHEN A PERSON IS GOING
TO BED, HIS SHOES SHOULD BE PLACED IN A POSITION SO THAT
THE TOES OF THE SHOES SHOULD BE POINTED TOWARDS THE MIDDLE
OF THE BED. IF YOU DO THIS, A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN COMES
INTO YOUR ROOM WHILE YOU ARE SLEEPING AND ACTUALLY GETS
INTO BED WITH YOU AND STARTS TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU. IN
REALITY, HOWEVER, SHE IS A WITCH AND NOT A BEAUTIFUL
WOMAN. SHE IS AN OLD WOMAN FROM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THE
POINT OF THE LEGEND IS THAT YOU SHOULD NOT POINT YOUR
TOES OF YOUR SHOES TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE BED, AND IF
YOU DO THIS, YOU WILL SLEEP IN PEACE.

Submitter comment: THIS STORY IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE NEIGH-
BORHOOD OF THIRTY-SECOND STREET AND BUCHANAN RIGHT HERE
IN DETROIT {MICHIGAN}. A PRIEST HAS CLAIMED THAT HE
STAYED UP ONE NIGHT AND ACTUALLY SAW THE WITCH ENTER
INTO SOMEONE'S ROOM. THE PRIEST IS FROM ST. FRANCIS
PARISH AND HE CLAIMS TO HAVE SEEN THIS SIGHT SOME
THIRTY OR FORTY YEARS AGO.
MR. SOSNOWSKI SAID THAT HE HEARD THAT THIS STORY HAPPENED
MANY TIMES IN POLAND TO HIS GREAT-GRANDFATHER AND THAT HE
EVENTUALLY WENT INSANE FROM ITS EFFECTS. HE ALSO CLAIMS
THAT HIS GRANDMOTHER KNEW OF THE PRIEST WHO ACTUALLY SAW
ZAMORA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 11-00-1963