Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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WHEN SHAKING HANDS MEN WILL FOLD THEIR MIDDLE FINGER
IN AND SCRATCH THE PALM OF THE OTHER. THEY ARE
CHECKING FOR WARTS OR HAIR--A SIGN OF MASTURBATION.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): SEX
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001969 ASSUMED
THE BEER LABEL TEST FOR GIRLS
HOLD A BOTTLE OF BEER IN ONE HAND AND WITH THE THUMB
OF THAT HAND START AT THE TOP OF THE LABEL, TEARING
DOWN. IF THE GIRL CAN TEAR IT ALL THE WAY TO THE
BOTTOM, SHE IS SUPPOSEDLY A VIRGIN.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): SEX
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
GLASS SNAKE
I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE TELL AND PROFESS BELIEF IN THE "GLASS SNAKE"
IN BOTH KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. I THINK A CHARACTERISTIC OF
PEOPLE OF BOTH STATES, ESPECIALLY IN THE RURAL AND MOUNTAINOUS
AREAS, IS THAT THEY TAKE DELIGHT IN "PULLING EACH OTHER'S LEGS."
I HAVE RELATIVES AND FRIENDS TELL ME THINGS IN ALL SERIOUSNESS
AS HAPPENING TO THEM OR SOMEONE THAT THEY WILL NAME THAT NEVER
HAPPENED AT ALL. I DOUBT IF ANYONE REALLY BELIEVES THE "GLASS
SNAKE" TALE, YET MANY WILL PROFESS A BELIEF IN IT.
THERE IS A SNAKE THAT WHEN APPROACHED BY AN ENEMY WILL BREAK
ITSELF APART INTO TWO OR THREE PIECES AND SCATTER IN ALL
DIRECTIONS. WHEN THE DANGER IS PASSED, THE SNAKE WILL RE-JOIN
ITSELF AND GO ON ITS WAY.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE GHOST OF CHAPEL HILL
IN CHAPEL HILL, TENNESSEE, THERE IS A SET OF RAILROAD TRACKS
WHERE ONE CAN SEE A GHOST. AT NIGHT, WHEN A TRAIN COMES
THROUGH THE TRACKS, YOU CAN SEE A RED LIGHT, WHICH IS A
LITTLE WAYS BEHIND IT. THE LIGHT FOLLOWS THE TRAIN AT
ABOUT THE SAME DISTANCE ALL THE TIME. NO ONE CAN REALLY TELL
JUST EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. PEOPLE HAVE SHOT AT IT AND NOTHING
HAPPENS. PEOPLE SAY THAT ONE, A LONG TIME AGO, A MAN WAS
SEVERED. SUPPOSEDLY THE GHOST, THE RED LIGHT, KEEPS
RETURNING IN SEARCH OF HIS HEAD.
Where learned: TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; COLUMBIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Fire BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
HOO DOO
LAST YEAR WHILE I WAS WORKING AT THE MAURY COUNTY HOSPITAL, AN
AID, WHOSE NAME ESCAPES ME, TOLD ME ABOUT AN OLD LADY IN
MOUNT PLEASANT, WHO PRACTICED HOO DOO. THIS OLD LADY HAD
THE POWER TO PUT A CURSE ON ANYONE WHO BOTHERED HER. SHE'S
AN OLD NEGRO AND APPARENTLY THE NEGROES IN MOUNT PLEASANT
BELIEVE IN HER POWERS. THE ONES WHO DON'T HAVE BEEN
SHOWN THAT HER POWER DOES EXIST.
Where learned: TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; COLUMBIA
James Callow Keyword(s): VOO DOO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: 06-15-1970
IF YOU GIVE A PURSE AS A GIFT, YOU SHOULD PUT A PENNY IN IT
FOR GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; PEABODY CAFE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 05-13-1969
IN CHAPEL HILL, TENNESSEE, A MAN WAS ONCE DECAPITATED
BY THE RAILROAD. SINCE THEN, PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN BY
THE TRACKS AT NIGHT HAVE REPORTED SEEING A LIGHT MOVING
ALONG THE TRACKS.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; PEABODY COLLEGE, ASSUMED ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Fire |
Date learned: 04-29-1969
TO DISCOVER WHO YOU WILL MARRY, ON THE FIRST NIGHT IN A
NEW HOUSE, NAME OR INITIAL THE FOUR CORNERS OF YOUR
BEDROOM. IN THE MORNING, THE CORNER YOU FIRST LOOK AT
WILL TELL YOU THE FUTURE MATE.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 06-00-1972
A SINGLE GIRL TAKES A PIECE OF WEDDING CAKE AND PUTS IT
UNDER HER PILLOW FOR THREE NIGHTS. ON THE THIRD NIGHT
SHE WILL DREAM OF THE MAN SHE WILL MARRY.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 06-25-1972
PUTTING A HAT ON THE BED MEANS THAT DEATH WILL FOLLOW.
Submitter comment: LEARNED WHILE GROWING UP IN PRESTONSBURG, KENTUCKY IN
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; LEBANON ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; PRESTONSBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
DEATHS COME IN THREES.
Submitter comment: I HAVE HEARD THIS BELIEF ALL MY LIFE, FIRST IN LOUISVILLE,
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; LEBANON ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; LOUISVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
WEATHER
MY MOTHER USED TO THINK THAT IF YOU STEPPED ON AN ANT
OF AN ANTHILL THAT IT WOULD RAIN.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Year |
Date learned: 08-13-1968
IF A WHIPPOORWILL IS SCREECHING IN THE NIGHT, TURN A
SLIPPER OVER AND HE WILL STOP
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): BIRD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 07-00-1972
TO STOP AN OWL FROM SCREECHING AT NIGHT, TIE A KNOT IN THE
FOUR CORNERS OF A SHEET.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 06-00-1972
IN THE THEATRE, A PERFORMER IS NEVER SUPPOSED TO WISH
ANOTHER PERSON GOOD LUCK IN THE NORMAL GOOD LUCK WORDS.
YOU KNOW LIKE "GOOD LUCK" OR "KNOCK 'EM DEAD." HE'S
SUPPOSED TO SAY "BREAK A LEG." I THINK THAT IT HAS
SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHEN JOHN WILKES BOOTH JUMPED ONTO
THE STAGE AFTER SHOOTING LINCOLN AND BROKE HIS LEG.
Where learned: NASHVILLE, ASSUMED ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | DRAMA -- D000 BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Good luck SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 07-23-1968
I'VE ALWAYS HEARD THAT OPENING AN UMBRELLA IN THE HOUSE
IS SUPPOSED TO BRING BAD LUCK.
Where learned: NASHVILLE, ASSUMED ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 07-23-1968
IF YOU BREAK A MIRROR, THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BRING YOU SEVEN
YEARS OF BAD LUCK, BUT IF YOU TOSS SOME SALT OVER YOUR
SHOULDER, THAT'LL COUNTERACT THE BAD LUCK AND YOU DON'T
HAVE TO WORRY.
Where learned: NASHVILLE, ASSUMED ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 07-23-1968
BIRTH SUPERSTITION
MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO SAY THAT WHENEVER A BABY WAS BORN AND
IT HAD A BIRTHMARK OR SOMETHING ON ITS SKIN, THAT IT WAS
DUE TO SOME SIN OF THE MOTHER AND GOD WAS PUNISHING HER
BY MARKING UP HER CHILD.
Where learned: NASHVILLE, ASSUMED ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
Date learned: 07-23-1968
WHEN I WAS IN ABOUT THE SEVENTH GRADE WE USED TO HAVE THIS
LITTLE RITUAL THAT YOU HAD TO THROUGH IF YOU AND ANOTHER
PERSON SAID THE SAME THING AT THE SAME TIME. (IT WAS BAD LUCK
IF YOU DID THIS). BOTH PEOPLE HAD TO SAY "JINX, 1-2-3-4-5-6-
7-8-9-10 AND THEN DO THIS LITTLE WAVE TO EACH SIDE. THEN WE
WOULD HAVE GOOD LUCK INSTEAD OF BAD.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Conversions SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 07-23-1968
WHEN TWO PEOPLE SAY THE SAME WORD OR PHRASE AT THE SAME TIME,
THEY SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CLASP LITTLE FINGERS OF EACH PERSON
TOGETHER AND MAKE A WISH.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Word Letter |