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CREOLE BELIEF

BROKEN MIRROR IS SEVEN YEARS OF BAD LUCK

Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; BREAUX BRIDGE ; LOS ANGELES

Subject headings: 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 00-00-1930

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CREOLE BELIEF

WALK BACKWARDS IF YOU CURSE YOUR MOTHER OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.

Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; BREAUX BRIDGE ; LOS ANGELES

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Curse
BELIEF -- Conversions

Date learned: 00-00-1929

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NOISEMAKING

ON DECEMBER 31, AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT, YOU MUST
BANG POTS AND PANS TO BRING GOOD LUCK FOR THE COMING
NEW YEAR.

Submitter comment: A COMMON PRACTICE IN DETROIT NEIGHBORHOODS.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): NOISE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Good luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event

Date learned: 00-00-1975

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ON THE FIRST SIGHT OF SPRING, A CELEBRATION MUST
BE INITIATED BY THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE TWO OR MORE BOYS
IN THE VILLAGE TO INSURE GOOD LUCK FOR THE NEW YEAR.

Submitter comment: IT WAS BELIEVED THIS WOULD INSURE HEALTHY BIRTHS OF
ALL CHILDREN AND WOULD INCREASE THE BIRTHS OF BOYS.

Where learned: COLLECTED BY MAIL ; COOKHAM RISE ; BERKSHIRE

James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Measure of time Spring
BELIEF -- Good luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event

Date learned: 00-00-1970

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NEW YEAR'S DAY BELIEF

IT IS CONSIDERED BAD LUCK FOR A WOMAN TO ENTER YOUR HOUSE
BEFORE A MAN ON NEW YEAR'S DAY. THE FIRST PERSON ENTERING
YOUR HOUSE ON NEW YEAR'S MUST NOT BE A WOMAN OR YOU WILL
HAVE BAD LUCK FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR. THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT I HEARD AS A CHILD. WE DIDN'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY BUT
I DO KNOW OF PEOPLE WHO WILL REFUSE A WOMAN ENTRANCE ON
NEW YEAR'S DAY UNTIL A MAN ENTERS FIRST.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Bad luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event

Date learned: 09-00-1982

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HAIR CUTTING BELIEF

HAVING YOUR HAIR CUT ON GOOD FRIDAY WILL BRING GOOD LUCK
FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. MY GRANDMOTHER TOLD THIS TO MY
MOTHER IN DUQUESNE, PENNSYLVANIA AROUND 1945. MY MOTHER
THINKS THAT MY GRANDMOTHER BELIEVED IT TO BE TRUE BUT
DOESN'T RECALL ANYONE ACTUALLY HAVING THEIR HAIR CUT ON
GOOD FRIDAY IN ORDER TO BRING GOOD LUCK.

Submitter comment: THE GRANDMOTHER, ELIZABETH DORULLA MARTIN IS OF SLOVAKIAN
DESCENT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Subject headings: 663 Good Friday
Prediction / Divination
Observation
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Good luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event

Date learned: 09-00-1982

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SERBIAN CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

THE SERBIAN COMMUNITY OF DUQUESNE, PENNSYLVANIA OBSERVED
THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS BY SPREADING
STRAW ON THE FLOOR, THE KITCHEN TABLE, AND THROUGHOUT THE
KITCHEN TO REPRESENT JESUS' MANGER. A BURNING CANDLE WAS
PLACED ON THE TABLE AND IT WAS CONSIDERED BAD LUCK FOR THE
ENTIRE YEAR IF THE CANDLE WENT OUT. MY MOTHER WITNESSED
THE PRACTICE IN DUQUESNE, PENNSYLVANIA AROUND 1947.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT'S MOTHER'S NAME IS MARY MORSILLO GINGERICH,
BORN OCTOBER 3, 1937, FARRELL, PENNSYLVANIA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Subject headings: Observation
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- 39815
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- 39816
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 4
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 5
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F122
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 28 Holy Innocents
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 26 Boxing Day St. Stephen's Day
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F122
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F123
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Lights and candles
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Straw
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Good luck
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 09-00-1982

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RURAL BLACK NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM

DURING THE DEPRESSION, IN LOUISVILLE, MISSISSIPPI IT WAS
CUSTOMARY AMONG BLACKS TO PREPARE HOG JOWLS AND BLACK-EYED
PEAS AS THE FIRST MEAL OF THE NEW YEAR. IT WAS THOUGHT
THAT THIS WOULD BRING GOOD LUCK FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
I DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE ACTUALLY BELIEVED THAT GOOD LUCK
COULD RESULT FROM EATING A PARTICULAR MEAL. IT WAS JUST
A CUSTOMARY THING TO DO. SOMETIMES, AFTER WE CAME NORTH,
WE WOULD STILL FIX THE MEAL FOR NEW YEAR'S. AFTER I GOT
MARRIED, IN 1950, I DON'T RECALL PREPARING ANY PARTICULAR
MEAL ON NEW YEAR'S.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LIVED IN LOUISVILLE, MISSISSIPPI UNTIL BEING
SENT OVERSEAS IN WORLD WAR II. BY HIS RETURN, IN 1946,
THE FAMILY HAD MOVED TO DETROIT. THE INFORMANT HAS LIVED
IN DETROIT SINCE THAT TIME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Custom
Food Drink -- Food
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable
Food Drink -- Meat Bred animal
Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption
BELIEF -- Custom
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Good luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event

Date learned: 09-00-1982

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FEAST OF ST. GEORGE-APRIL 23 BYZANTINE RITE

THE USUAL PICTURE OF ST. GEORGE HAS HIM PICTURED ON A
HORSE, WITH A SPEAR IN HIS HAND. HE IS KILLING A DRAGON
WHICH IS SYMBOLIC OF PAGANISM. THE DEW OF THE FEAST DAY
IS CONSIDERED MIRACULOUS AND IF GATHERED BEFORE SUNRISE,
IT SHOULD HEAL ANY DISEASE OF THE EYES. ANOTHER COMMON
EVENT FOR THE DAY IS A PROCESSION AROUND THE FIELD WITH
RELIGIOUS SERVICES. THE PRAYERS ARE PETITIONS FOR A GOOD
HARVEST. ALSO ON THIS DAY, YOUNG GIRLS TRY TO PREDICT THEIR
MARRIAGE DATE. THEY ASK THE CUCKOO HOW LONG BEFORE THEY WILL
MARRY. IF THE CUCKOO STOPS COOING AT THE END OF THE QUESTION
SHE WILL MARRY BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. IF IT BEGINS
COOING, THE NUMBER OF TIMES IT SINGS WILL BE THE NUMBER OF
YEARS BEFORE HER MARRIAGE.

Submitter comment: SOME OF THESE CUSTOMS ARE BEGINNING TO DIMINISH IN THE
UNITED STATES.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER

Keyword(s): ANIMALS

Subject headings: Observation
Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- April 23
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern
BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs
BELIEF -- Remedy
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 00001950S

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DAYS OF THE WEEK

VARIOUS BELIEFS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DAYS OF THE WEEK.
MONDAY IS CONSIDERED A WORK DAY. THEREFORE, IF NEW YEAR'S
DAY FALLS ON A MONDAY, THE ENTIRE YEAR WILL BE HARD.
TUESDAY IS CONSIDERED A HAPPY DAY. WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY
ARE FAST DAYS COMMEMORATING GOOD FRIDAY AND THE WEDNESDAYS
OF LENT. THURSDAY IS ASSOCIATED WITH GOOD LUCK AND IS THE
DAY ASSOCIATED WITH MATCHMAKING. IF YOU ARE BORN ON THIS
DAY YOU WILL BE RICH. SATURDAY IS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF
THE DEAD.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER

Keyword(s): SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: Observation
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Good luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event

Date learned: 00001950S

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ALWAYS HAVE MONEY IN YOUR POCKET ON NEW YEARS DAY AND YOU WILL
ALL DURING THE YEAR.

Where learned: DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth

Date learned: 00001950S

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IF THE FIRST VISITOR ON NEW YEARS DAY IS A MAN YOU WILL HAVE
GOOD LUCK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Good luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event

Date learned: 00001950S

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IF A PERSON WASHES ON NEW YEAR'S DAY SOMEONE CLOSE WILL
DIE BEFORE THE YEAR IS OUT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year

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YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BRING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH BLACK EYED
PEAS AND HOMEMADE WINE. THE PEAS WILL BRING YOU LUCK
AND THE WINE WILL PROMISE YOU WARMTH THROUGHOUT THE
NEW YEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable
Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Fermented
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 03-00-1983

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ON NEW YEAR'S EVE YOU SHOULD SERVE SOME COLLARD GREENS
MIXED WITH SOME TURNIP GREENS BECAUSE THIS WILL INSURE
THAT MONEY WILL COME TO YOU IN THE NEW YEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth

Date learned: 04-00-1983

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ON EPIPHANY IN THE MORNING, WE'D GO TO MASS AND BRING
FRANKINCENSE AND MYRHH AND A BIT OF GOLD TO BE BLESSED.
WHEN WE GOT HOME, THE FRANKINCENSE WOULD BE PUT ON HOT COALS
AND WE'D WALK WITH IT THEN ALL OVER THE HOUSE, INTO EVERY
ROOM WITH IT, I GUESS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DRIVE OUT EVIL SPIRITS
OR CLEAN THE AIR FOR GOOD ONES OR SOMETHING, I DON'T REALLY
KNOW... ANYWAY, AFTER WE FINISHED GOING THROUGH THE HOUSE,
OVER EACH DOORWAY IN THE HOUSE, WE'D WRITE IN CHALK
A " K " THEN A CROSS, THEN A " M ", THEN ANOTHER CROSS, AND
A " B " . THE THREE LETTERS WERE THE INITIALS OF THE NAMES OF
THE THREE WISE MEN WHO CAME TO SEE THE BABY JESUS. YOU HAD TO
LEAVE THE CHALK UP ALL YEAR LONG; IF YOU WASHED THE WALLS,
YOU WASH AROUND THE CHALK. IT WAS BAD LUCK IF YOU WIPED IT OFF
BEFORE THE NEXT YEAR'S EPIPHANY.

Submitter comment: THIS IS AN OLD POLISH-CATHOLIC CUSTOM. MRS. MASTERS GREW UP
IN ST. HEDWIG'S PARISH, WHERE MANY OLD WORLD TRADITIONS LIVED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 11-00-1983

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MY MOTHER WAS ALWAYS ON US ON NEW YEAR'S EVE TO GET ALL OUR
WORK AND CHORES DONE BY THE END OF THE DAY, BECAUSE IF YOU
DON'T GET EVERYTHING DONE THAT YOU HAVE TO, IT WILL FOLLOW
YOU INTO THE NEW YEAR, AND YOU'LL BE LATE THE WHOLE NEXT YEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Measure of time Working

Date learned: 11-00-1983

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IF YOU DON'T EAT BLACK EYED PEAS ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, THEN YOU
WILL HAVE BAD LUCK THAT YEAR.

Where learned: ALABAMA ; BALDWIN COUNTY ; FOLEY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 00001940-00001960

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NEW YEAR'S DAY IS THE OCCASION FOR BAKING AND SERVING
VASSILOPITA, A SPECIAL LARGE, HOLIDAY CAKE BAKED WITH
A COIN INSIDE. THE CAKE IS BLESSED AND CUT AND THE
RECIPIENT OF THE PIECE CONTAINING THE COIN SHOULD HAVE
GOOD LUCK ALL YEAR. THE COIN IS SAVED, NEVER SPENT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Monetary system Money Wealth
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: 10-00-1983

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WHEN I FIRST CAME TO MICHIGAN, MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR, MRS.
SHELLIE, WOULD ALWAYS CALL US THE FIRST THING ON NEW
YEAR'S DAY. SHE BELIEVED THAT A MAN SHOULD ENTER HER HOME
FIRST FOR GOOD LUCK. THEREFORE, SHE WOULD ALWAYS CALL AND
ASK YOUR FATHER TO VISIT THEM AT EIGHT O' CLOCK ON NEW
YEAR'S MORNING. THIS WAS HER BELIEF SO YOUR DADDY WOULD
GO OVER AND VISIT HER. HE WAS THE FIRST MAN, THE FIRST
MALE TO ENTER HER HOME ON NEW YEAR'S DAY. AFTER HE
ENTERED THE HOUSE, ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTED TO VISIT HER
COULD. IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WAS PASSED ON TO HER
FROM HER MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER; TO THEM IT MEANT GOOD
LUCK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

Submitter comment: CALLING AND VISITING FRIENDS AND RELATIVES ARE COMMON ON
NEW YEAR'S DAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Good luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event

Date learned: 00001900s ; 09-28-1984

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