Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for AMULET returned 32 results.
ITALIAN SUPERSTITION
ALL NEW BORN BABIES MUST IMMEDIATELY BE GIVEN A HORN-SHAPED
PIECE OF CORAL TO FASTEN TO THEIR UNDERSHIRTS. THIS WILL PROTECT
THEM FROM EVIL SPIRITS.
Submitter comment: LEARNED AS A YOUNG WOMAN LIVING IN ITALY.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; YONKERS
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure |
Date learned: 12-29-1963
PATRON SAINT
ST. JOSEPH IS THE PATRON SAINT OF THE MALTESE AND WEARING HIS
MEDAL BRINGS GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET TALISMAN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Emblem BELIEF -- Good luck P881.1 |
CHARMS
A COMMON CHARM IS A TINY PIECE OF THE BLARNEY STONE FITTED INTO
A RING OR SMALL SILVER CASTLE.
James Callow comment: COLLECTOR'S SPELLING CORRECTED
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET TALISMAN ; IRELAND
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration |
HEX CHARM
THE GERMANS HAVE A CHARM WHICH IS A CIRCLE WITH POINTS. IT REMOVES A
CURSE IF IT IS WORN EVERY DAY FOR A MONTH.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET TALISMAN
Date learned: CA1963-1975
MEXICAN GOOD LUCK
THE MEXICANS HAVE A CHARM WHICH IS A CLOSED FIST WITH A BRACELET.
THIS IS PROTECTION FROM THE EVIL EYE.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET TALISMAN
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Curse SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: CA1963-1975
ST. CHRISTOPHER
A ST. CHRISTOPHER MEDAL IS WORN FOR PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET TALISMAN
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: CA1963-1975
BABIES
WHEN A BABY IS BORN, PIN A MEDAL TO THE CRIB FOR PROTECTION.
Where learned: HOME ; SCHOOL ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET TALISMAN
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: CA1963-1975
CUSTOM HOLY SATURDAY:
IN THE AFTERNOON, A PILE OF THORNS, LIKE THOSE USED IN CHRIST'S
CROWN, IS SET ON FIRE. WHEN THE FIRE HAS BURNED ABOUT HALF DOWN,
EACH PERSON TAKES A PIECE OF BURNED THORN AND KEEPS IT IN THEIR
( HIS ) HOME FOR A YEAR.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Saturday Favorites BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
TELLING FORTUNES-PROTECTION AT SEA
THE SEVENTH DAUGHTER OF SEVEN DAUGHTERS, BORN WITH A VEIL, CAN TELL
FORTUNES.
THIS VEIL IS THEN GIVEN TO A SEA CAPTAIN, SO THAT HE WILL NOT PERISH
AT SEA
(IRISH)
Submitter comment:
MRS. DUNMIRE SAID THAT THIS HAPPENED TO HER MOTHER, AND THAT SHE
REALLY DID
HAVE THE POWER TO READ FORTUNES.
Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer Favorites BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Emblem |
Date learned: 01-00-1970
LYRICAL VERSE
OH, I DON'T CARE IF IT RAINS OR FREEZES,
LONG AS I HAVE MY PLASTIC JESUS,
RIDING ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR;
THUNDER ROAR AND LIGHTNING CRASH,
I WON'T FEAR; HE'S ON THE DASH,
TAKE HIM WITH YOU WHEN YOU TRAVEL FAR.
OH, I CAN DRIVE FROM COAST TO COAST,
LONG AS I HAVE MY HOLY GHOST,
RIDING ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR;
GOIN' NINETY I AIN'T WARY,
CAUSE I GOT MY VIRGIN MARY,
GUARANTEEIN' I WON'T GO TO HELL.
OH, I DON'T CARE IF IT'S DARK AND SCARY,
LONG AS I HAVE MY VIRGIN MARY,
RIDING ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; TOLD AT ; SAILING CLUB PARTY
Keyword(s): BIBLICAL ; FEMININE RHYME ; IMPERFECT RHYME: FREEZES JESUS ; RELIGION ; RHYME: AABCCB ; SLANG FOR DASHBOARD CLIPPING ; STATUES USED AS AMULETS IN AUTOMOBILES ; TRAVEL
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 10-23-1971
DROWNING
SCAPULAR - PROTECTION AGAINST DROWNING
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): AMULET ; PREVENTION ; RELIGIOUS BELIEF
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-25-1968
SUPERSTITION
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER I USED TO HAVE A GOOD-LUCK DOLL CALLED A WISH-NIK.
IT WAS SMALL, NEITHER MALE NOR FEMALE, WITH A TROLL'S FACE, AND IT
HAD LONG, BRIGHTLY COLORED HAIR. TO MAKE A WISH, YOU RUBBED ITS BELLY
OR STROKED ITS HAIR, WHILE THINKING OF WHAT YOU WANTED TO HAPPEN.
THE ORIGINAL WISH-NIKS HAD HORSESHOES STAMPED ON THE BOTTOM OF THEIR
FEET. WHEN THEY BECAME MORE COMMERCIALIZED, THEY STOPPED DOING THAT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 03-00-1979
GOOD LUCK OMEN
THE FIGURE OF AN ELEPHANT WITH HIS TRUNK UP IN THE AIR SHOULD BE
PLACED WITH HIS BACK FACING THE ROOM FOR GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: PUERTO RICO
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET TALISMAN STATUE ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.1 BELIEF -- Good luck P881.31 |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
POSTCARD FOR LUCK
GOOD LUCK
I PATIENTLY TUMBLED OVER
THE POSTCARDS OLD AND NEW,
TO FIND THIS FOUR LEAF CLOVER
TO SEND FOR LUCK TO YOU.
THE FIRST LEAF STANDS FOR PATIENCE
THE SECOND FOR PLUCK
THE THIRD FOR PERSEVERANCE
THAT'S WHY THE FOURTH BRINGS LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THE VERSE IS PRINTED ON THE FRONT CARD, WITH A PICTURE OF A
CLOVER.
Where learned: OHIO ; VERSE ON POSTCARD ; PAINESVILLE
Keyword(s): CHARM ; RHYME: ABABCDED
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET ; SYMBOL
SUPERSTITION
MY GRANDFATHER SAID THAT IT WAS A BELIEF OF HIS OWN GRANDPARENTS
THAT A ROSARY IN THE ROOM WOULD WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS. HE SAID THE
PRACTICE WAS HIGHLY DESIRABLE AND THAT HE, TOO,
WISHED TO CONTINUE IT,
INSISTING THAT A DISPLAYED ROSARY WOULD WARD OFF EVIL AND THAT WE
WOULD BE MIRACUOLOUSLY PROTECTED FROM HARM OR DANGER.
HE ENCOURAGED US TO DO THE SAME IN OUR HOMES AND IN OUR AUTOMOBILES.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
RELIGIOUS LEGEND
LONG AGO, THERE WAS THIS LITTLE GIRL WHO ALWAYS WORE HER SCAPULAR.
THIS ONE DAY, SHE WAS WALKING HOME FROM SCHOOL; BUT, INSTEAD OF
RETURNING HOME SHE STOPPED TO PLAY WITH HER FRIENDS. ALL THE
OTHER CHILDREN WERE HIDING, WHILE SHE WAS CLIMBING UP THIS
VERY TALL TREE. SUDDENLY, SHE SLIPPED AND LOST HER BALANCE.
HOWEVER, SHE WAS SAVED BECAUSE HER SCAPULAR REMAINED FIXED AROUND
THE BRANCH OF THE TREE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 09-20-1969
JAPANESE SEA-HORSE
PREGNANT JAPANESE WOMEN WILL WEAR A DRIED SEA HORSE.
IT IS A CHARM FOR SAFE CHILD BIRTH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GOOD LUCK CHARM ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
FOLKLORE OF GOOD LUCK
IN JAPAN, BAMBOO IS HUNG IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE HOUSE TO GIVE ITS
STRENGTH TO WARD OFF SICKNESS AND TO BE ABLE TO KEEP WORKING.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): Holistic ; Japan ; LUCK ; PLANT ; SYMBOL
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: CA00001935
MY FATHER BROUGHT BACK A QUITE UNUSUAL GIFT FROM HIS
BUSINESS TRIP-- AN OSTRICH'S TOENAIL KEY CHAIN. THIS
KEYCHAIN IS POLISHED QUITE NICELY, IT IS SAID TO BRING
GOOD LUCK TO THOSE WHO HAVE IT.
Submitter comment:
THEY SAY THAT AN OSTRICH'S TOENAIL CAN KILL SOMEONE
IF THEY ARE STUCK BY THE OSTRICH'S FOOT.
PURCHASED AT BUSH GARDENS, FLORIDA
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
Keyword(s): ART ; GOOD LUCK CHARM ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 02-00-1978
WEAR A BULB OF GARLIC AROUND YOUR NECK TO WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS.
Submitter comment:
LEARNED AT A SUMMER ETHNIC CAMP
A LIST OF ITEMS COMPILED BY THE CAMP DIRECTOR BUT LOST BY
THE INFORMANT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 07-00-1975