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DON'T STEP ON A CRACK,
OR YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
BAD LUCK
STEP ON A CRACK
BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS A POPULAR BELIEF WHEN MY MOTHER WAS
LITTLE IN ST. CLAIR SHORES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
STEP ON A CRACK
AND YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM SCHOOL FRIENDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
DON'T WALK ON A CRACK
OR YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
"CHILLS" FORMULA
DOT DOT (INFORMANT GOES THROUGH THESE MOTIONS ON A
SUBJECT'S BACK WHILE SAYING THE WORDS.
LINE LINE
GREAT BIG QUESTION MARK
KNIFE IN YOUR BACK (HITTING THE SPINE HARD WITH FIST)
BLOOD TRICKLING DOWN (TRACES "BLOOD" WITH FINGERS)
HE THEN BLOWS ON THE SUBJECT'S NECK AT CLOSE RANGE
AND TICKLES IT WITH HIS FINGER, AND THEN SAYS:
ON A COLD WINTER'S NIGHT.
THIS RITUAL IS SUPPOSED TO GIVE THE SUBJECT CHILLS,
AND IT ACTUALLY DID WHEN I WITNESSED IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HUNTINGTON WOODS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
NOT GIVEN
EAT SMOKED-HERRING ON NEW YEAR'S EVE TO INSURE GOOD HEALTH.
Submitter comment:
MRS. DEVEREUX LEARNED THIS FROM HER RELATIVES AND STILL
PRACTICES IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK
FRENCH CUSTOM
ON NEW YEAR'S EVE BEFORE GOING OUT TO CELEBRATE, YOU SHOULD EAT
MEAT PIE (WHICH IS MADE OF GROUND PORK SHOULDER, SALT AND PEPPER)
TO GREASE YOUR STOMACH. THIS PREVENTS ONE FROM GETTING DRUNK AND
BECOMING SICK.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM MY MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 03-20-1967
BLACK TAR FOR TEETH
WE USED TO CHEW BLACK TAR BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS GOOD FOR OUR
TEETH.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
RAW EGGS FOR STRENGTH
MY MOTHER ALWAYS ATE RAW EGGS FOR STRENGTH.
Submitter comment: COMMON BELIEF; NOT FOLLOWED TODAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Manner of preparation Food Drink -- Animal product Egg BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 04-15-1967
WINE AND BLOOD
MY MOTHER ALWAYS DRANK WINE TO ENRICH HER BLOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Fermented BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 04-15-1967
RAW IS HEALTHY
WE ATE RAW LIVER AND RAW LAMB BECAUSE WHEN IT WAS BLOODY, THEY
CONSIDERED IT MORE HEALTHY.
Submitter comment: LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Manner of preparation BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 04-15-1967
WART SUPERSTITION
WARTS ARE CAUSED BY TOUCHING TOADS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
STYE SUPERSTITION
A STYE OR INFECTION IN YOUR EYE IS CAUSED BY A SPIDER PEEING IN
YOUR EYE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): URINATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
ITALIAN CUSTOM
ITALIANS OFTEN PIERCED THEIR CHILDREN'S EARS, BELIEVING THAT IT
WAS GOOD FOR THEIR EYES. GOLD HOOPS WERE USED AS EARRINGS.
Submitter comment: TOLD TO HER BY HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HIDDEN CONNECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
MENSTRUATION SUPERSTITION
NEVER HAVE A TOOTH FILLED DURING MENSTRUATION OR IT WILL FALL OUT.
Submitter comment: SOURCE NOT REMEMBERED.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; JAMAICA
James Callow Keyword(s): DENTISTRY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 12-24-1963
COINS AT THE STEP OF THE MAST
THE CUSTOM OF PLACING A COIN OR COINS AT THE HEEL OF THE MASTS
SEEMS TO HAVE A DOUBLE PURPOSE. IN ANTIQUITY IT WAS TO PAY THE
FARES OF THE CREW ACROSS THE RIVER STYX IF THE SHIP SHOULD BE LOST
AT SEA; MORE LATTERLY IT WAS DONE TO ASSURE GOOD FORTUNE. THE
COINS MUST BE PLACED FACE UP, FOR TO HAVE THEM FACE DOWN WOULD BE
TO INVITE DISASTER. EVEN TO THIS DAY THE OWNER OF A SMALL CRAFT
WILL SECRETE A COIN ABOARD, THE LOCATION, VALUE, AND DATE OF WHICH
ARE KNOWN TO HIM ALONE--THE KNOWLEDGE ENABLING HIM TO PROVE HIS
OWNERSHIP SHOULD IT EVER BE QUESTIONED.
Submitter comment:
CAPTAIN LUMAS SAID THAT HE LEARNED OF THIS TRICK THE FIRST TIME
HE EVER OWNED A BOAT, WHICH WAS ABOUT FORTY YEARS AGO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MACKINAW ISLAND
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Custom BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 09-00-1963
EUCHARISTIC LORE
IF YOU GO TO COMMUNION WITHOUT THE RIGHT INTENTIONS THE HOST
WILL BURN YOUR TONGUE BADLY. THE REASON THAT PEOPLE DROP HOSTS
ON THE FLOOR IS BECAUSE IT BURNS SO BADLY.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM A GRADE SCHOOL NUN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
PREGNANCY EFFECTS
YOU LOSE A TOOTH FOR EVERY BABY THAT YOU HAVE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Sign Color BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-20-1967
PREGNANCY EFFECTS
SOME WOMEN BELIEVE THAT A FALL OR AN ACCIDENT OR A BLOW ON THE
STOMACH WILL ALWAYS BRING A MISCARRIAGE TO A PREGNANT WOMAN.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN SCHOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-20-1967
BELIEF-HOME
DON'T TAKE A BATH DURING AN ELECTRICAL STORM FOR FEAR OF
ELECTROCUTION.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: INDIANA ; Hudson Lake
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-23-1967