Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 5985 returned 52 results.
RIDDLE
Q: HOW FAR CAN YOU GO INTO THE WOODS?
A: HALFWAY, BECAUSE THEN YOU START COMING OUT THE OTHER SIDE.
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENTS ; PARTICULAR AREA (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
CARROTS BELIEF
IF YOU EAT CARROTS, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE IN THE DARK.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT BELIEVED THIS MATTER OF FACTLY AS A CHILD.
Where learned: CANTON ; OHIO, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Plant |
BELIEF
DO NOT GIVE ANY SHARP OBJECTS, (SCISSORS, KNIVES, ETC.)
AS A GIFT. YOU WILL SEVER YOUR FRIENDSHIP WITH THAT PERSON.
Submitter comment: INFORMANTS MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS VERY DEVOUT IN THIS BELIEF.
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; HOSTILITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 02-12-1972
SLEEPING IN CHURCH
IF YOU FALL ASLEEP IN CHURCH, AN USHER WILL COME AND TICKLE
YOUR NOSE TO WAKE YOU.
Submitter comment: DONE TO INFORMANT IN YOUNGER DAYS.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Nose BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PENNY SAVED
A PENNY SAVED IS A PENNY EARNED
Submitter comment: HEARD THIS WHEN I WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL
James Callow Keyword(s): ECONOMY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-04-1967
LENTEN RESOLUTIONS
IT IS CUSTOMARY DURING LENT FOR MANY CATHOLICS TO MAKE RESOLUTIONS.
THESE RESOLUTIONS ARE USUALLY DENIALS SELF-INFLICTED, SUCH AS
GIVING UP CERTAIN FOODS OR GIVING UP TELEVISION.
Submitter comment: (LEARNED THIS FROM HOME LIFE)
Keyword(s): SELF-SACRIFICE
| Subject headings: | 663 Lent |
Date learned: 12-04-1967
PALM SUNDAY
ON PALM SUNDAY MOST CATHOLIC CHURCHES GIVE OUT PALMS AFTER EVERY
MASS. THE PEOPLE TAKE THESE PALMS HOME AND PUT THEM ON OR BEHIND
THEIR CRUCIFIXES. THEY LEAVE THEM THERE FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
Submitter comment: (LEARNED THIS FROM HOME LONG AGO)
Where learned: CANTON ; OHIO, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | 663 Palm Sunday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church |
Date learned: 12-01-1967
NUMBER THIRTEEN
IT IS UNLUCKY TO WEAR ANYTHING WITH THE NUMBER THIRTEEN ON IT OR TO
OWN ANYTHING WITH THIRTEEN ON IT.
HEARD THIS IN GRADE SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | 686 Specific number by specific number being described |
Date learned: 11-26-1967
SLEEPING IN CHURCH
IF YOU FALL ASLEEP IN CHURCH, AN USHER WILL COME AND TICKLE
YOUR NOSE TO WAKE YOU.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID THIS WAS DONE TO HIM IN HIS YOUNGER DAYS.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BELIEF
DO NOT GIVE ANY SHARP OBJECTS,(SCISSORS, KNIVES, ETC.)
AS A GIFT. YOU WILL SEVER YOUR FRIENDSHIP WITH THAT PERSON.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANTS MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS VERY DEVOUT IN THIS BELIEF.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; FRIENDSHIP ; GIFT ; Relationship ; Sever ; Sharp ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; HOSTILITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 02-12-1972
CHRISTMAS EVE BELIEF
AT THE CHRISTMAS EVE MEAL SET THE TABLE WITH THE EXACT NUMBER OF
UTENSILS. IF THERE ARE MORE THAN SUPPOSED TO BE THERE WILL BE
AN INCREASE IN THE FAMILY. IF THERE AREN'T ENOUGH, THERE WILL
BE A DEATH.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS BELIEVED BY THE INFORMANT'S FATHER STRICTLY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Holiday: Christmas ; Lore ; SUPERSTITION ; Table Setting
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.2 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Christmas BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 02-11-1972
IT WAS ME, MY SISTER, MY 2 STEP BROTHERS
AND 2 GIRLS WHO WERE OUR FRIENDS.
WELL, IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER WHEN WE WERE PLAYING OUR WEEGIE
BOARD, WE STARTED PLAYING AND WE COULD FEEL COLD SPOTS AND I HAD
SEEN A MOVIE THAT SAID THE WEEGIE BOARD WAS THE DEVIL AND I DID
NOT WANT TO PLAY. IT SAID IT DIDN'T WANT TO PLAY MORE AND IT WAS
GETTING PISSED OFF. SO IT SPELLED OUT SLAM JEFF, AND JEFF GOT A
WEIRD FEELING AND CAT WENT WEIRD AND THE CONVERTER WENT OFF THE
TV AND AFTER THIS EVERYONE WAS WORRIED AND EVERYONE WANTED TO
STOP PLAYING AND IT STARTED GOING FAST AND WANTED TO LEAVE BECAUSE
THE DEVIL WAS COMING AND STARTED GOING REAL SLOW AND WE ASKED
WHO WAS THERE AND IT SAID SATAN AND ONE GIRL WANTED TO CONTINUE
AND SHE RAN OUT OF THE ROOM AND STOPPED AT THAT POINT AND WENT TO
BED. SHE FELT A BIG COLD SPOT BEHIND HER AND FELT LIKE SOMEONE
WAS BEHIND HER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CANTON
Keyword(s): DEVIL IN WEEGIE BOARD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 05-00-1985 ; 11-18-1987
WELL, WE WENT OVER PLAYING A WEEGIE BOARD AND WE WERE WATCHING
THEM AND THEY WOULD ASK QUESTIONS THAT THEY WOULD NOT KNOW AND
THE BOARD WAS GIVING THE RIGHT ANSWER. THE BOARD HAS DIFFERENT
PERSONALITIES. WOULD GO NUTS IF YOU DID NOT BELIEVE IT - TELL
THREATS. LOTS OF TIMES SPIRIT GIVES 3-LETTER NAME (INITIALS),
HAS DISTICT PERSONALITY AND CAN CALL BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CANTON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 05-00-1985 ; 11-18-1987
ONE TIME DURING SUMMER, BUNCH OF FRIENDS TEASED US ABOUT USING
AND THE WEEGIE BOARD STARTED INSULTING THEM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CANTON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 11-18-1987
MOSLEM BURIAL
DURING WORLD WAR II THE AMERICANS FOUGHT THE GERMANS
AND ITALIANS IN NORTH AFRICA. THE MOSLEMS WERE CAPTURED
BY OUR ENEMIES AND MADE TO FIGHT US. THESE MOSLEMS HAD
A UNIQUE WAY OF BURYING THEIR DEAD: THEY DUG A HOLE
ABOUT FOUR FEET DEEP AND STOOD THE CORPSE UP ON ITS
FEET, THEN BURIED HIM COMPLETELY, LEAVING HIS CHEST
ON UP ABOVE THE GROUND LEVEL. THE REST OF THE CORPSE
WAS COVERED BY A MOUNT OF DIRT. WHEN IT RAINED VERY
HARD, THE GROUND WOULD WASH AWAY AND UPPER PART OF THE
CORPSES WERE VISIBLE, MAKING A VERY GORY SIGHT.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD TO ME AT OUR HOUSE.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-26-1967
MANGER
MANY PEOPLE PUT FIGURINES RESEMBLING THE NATIVITY
SCENE UNDER THEIR CHRISTMAS TREES. THESE SMALL
STATUES ARE USUALLY A FEW INCHES IN HEIGHT.
Submitter comment: LEARNED THIS FROM HOME.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Manger scenes |
Date learned: 12-01-1967
MISTLETOE
DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, MISTLETOE IS HUNG FROM
CHANDELIERS, ARCHWAYS, ETC. WHEN A PERSON STANDS
UNDER THIS MISTLETOE, THE FIRST PERSON OF THE
OPPOSITE SEX TO COME UP TO SUCH PERSON, IS TO KISS
HIM OR HER.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM PARENTS WHEN VERY YOUNG.
Keyword(s): PARASITE ; poison ; POISONOUS PLANT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Mistletoe and other greenery |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
THE GROOM SHOULD NEVER LOOK AT THE BRIDE BEFORE THEY
ARE MARRIED ON THEIR WEDDING DAY. IF HE DOES, BAD
LUCK WILL COME TO HIM.
Submitter comment: HEARD THIS MANY YEARS AGO BEFORE A WEDDING.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Separation before wedding |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
EVERY BRIDE MUST HAVE ON SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING
NEW, SOMETHING BORROWED, AND SOMETHING BLUE WHEN
SHE GOES UP TO THE ALTAR.
Submitter comment: HEARD THIS LONG AGO BUT DON'T KNOW WHO FROM.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Wear something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
IT IS THE CUSTOM AT WEDDINGS TO THROW RICE AT THE BRIDE
AND GROOM AS THEY LEAVE THE CHURCH. THE RICE IS A
SYMBOL OF FERTILITY AND SO THIS THROWING OF RICE IS
A HOPE THAT THE NEWLY MARRIED COUPLE HAVE CHILDREN.
Submitter comment: LEARNED THIS A FEW YEARS AGO.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Rice |
Date learned: 12-02-1967