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RAILROAD CROSSING

WHENEVER CROSSING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS EVERYONE IN THE CAR
SHOULD LIFT THEIR FEET OFF THE FLOOR, DRIVER INCLUDED, AND
TOUCH THE ROOF OF THE CAR WITH THEIR HANDS. THIS IS TO INSURE THE
OCCUPANTS OF A LONG LIFE AND TO WARD OFF THE COMING OF OLD AGE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOES THIS OFTEN WHEN CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS IN A CAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
SPEECH -- Gesture

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WHEN CROSSING A BRIDGE OVER WATER HOLD YOUR BREATH AND
PICK UP YOUR FEET OR YOU LOSE YOUR BOYFRIEND.

Submitter comment: ACQUIRED IN TAMPA, FLORIDA WHILE SHE WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL.

Where learned: PLACE TOLD IN CAR

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship
SPEECH -- Gesture

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PREDICTION

WHILE GOING OVER A RAILROAD TRACK YOU MUST PICK UP YOUR FEET
OR YOU WILL LOSE YOUR BOY OR GIRL FRIEND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 09-00-1969

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WHEN YOU ARE RIDING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS IN A CAR, YOU
SHOULD LIFT YOUR FEET OFF THE FLOOR SO YOU WILL NOT LOSE YOUR
NEXT GIRL FRIEND.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 09-25-1968

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COURTING BELIEF

RAISE YOUR FEET WHEN CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS OR YOU WILL LOSE
YOUR BOY FRIEND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 11-11-1968

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OLD IRISH CUSTOM

IRISH MOTHERS THROW HOLY WATER ON THEIR KIDS WHEN THEY ARE
FIGHTING IN ORDER TO DRIVE OUT THE DEVIL. THE THROWING OF HOLY WATER
WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN EXORCISM TO DRIVE THE RAGE (DEVIL) OUT OF
PEOPLE WHO WERE FIGHTING.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): HOSTILITY ; SPRINKLING HOLY WATER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Water
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color
SPEECH -- Gesture

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OMENS

IF A GENTLEMAN LETS A LADY WALK ON THE CURB SIDE, IT MEANS
THAT HE HAS HER FOR SALE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

James Callow Keyword(s): CHIVALRY ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 02-17-1970

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RAILROAD TRACKS

WHILE RIDING IN A CAR, IF YOU PASS OVER ANY RAILROAD TRACKS
AND DO NOT PICK UP BOTH YOUR FEET OFF THE FLOOR, YOU WILL LOSE
YOUR BOY FRIEND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Dating Courtship
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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KICKING A CAN

IF A KID FROM ALABAMA WAS ABLE TO KICK A CAN, STICK OR ANY OTHER
ABANDON(ED) OBJECT
FROM HIS FRONT YARD TO THE STORE OR ANY WHERE ELSE HIS
MOTHER OR FATHER WAS SENDING HIM THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO GO THAT KID
WOULD NOT HAVE TO GO AGAIN THAT DAY.

Submitter comment: SAID BY BLACKS IN ALABAMA.
I CAN REMEMBER KICKING A TIN-CAN TO THE STORE IN ALABAMA BUT AT THE
TIME I DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT MEANT; HOWEVER, MOST OF THE KIDS WOULD
EITHER KICK AN OBJECT THERE AND BACK OR CARRY A STICK ABOUT THEIR OWN
HEIGHT TO THE STORE AND BACK IN THE AREA WHERE I LIVED.

Where learned: ALABAMA

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Common law
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Common law
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 00-00-1960

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DROPPING CANDY

WHEN A KID DROPS SOME CANDY OR FOOD ON THE FLOOR OR GROUND, BY
STUMPING HIS LEFT FOOT AND SAYING ALOUD, "GOD KISS IT,"
THE CANDY OR FOOD CAN BE EATEN WITHOUT FEAR OF DIRT OR GERMS MAKING
THEM ILL.

Submitter comment: I HAVE HEARD THE SAME BELIEF IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA (EXCLUDING THE
PART ABOUT STAMPING ONE'S FOOT); I HAVE ALSO RECENTLY HEARD
THIS BELIEF IN DETROIT.

Where learned: MISSISSIPPI

James Callow Keyword(s): DISINFECT

Subject headings: Favorites
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech
Food Drink -- Food
BELIEF -- Prayer
SPEECH -- Formula
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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JAMAICAN CEMETERY BELIEF

YOU MUST NEVER POINT AT A GRAVEYARD OR YOUR FINGER WILL FALL OFF.

Submitter comment: DONALD LEE LEARNED THIS ITEM IN BUFF BAY, JAMAICA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Cemetery
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 10-31-1975

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MAFIA APPLICATION

=====================================================================
MAFIA APPLICATION
WHATZA U NAME?}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}U HAGE?}}}}}}}
WHATZA U HOWZA NUMBA?}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}U STREETA?}}}}}}}}}}
WHATZA U BAG? HITTAMAN}}}}}LONE ARRANGER}}}}}PROSTITUIT}}}}}
PUTTA DOWNNA WEAR U WORGA NOW}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
IZZA U GIRL!!!! OR BOY?!!!! (JUSTTE CHEKA ONE)
WAZZA U INN DE BIGGA OUSE?}}}}}WHATTA WAZZA U INN DE BIGGA OUSE 4?
I SHOOTE ONE GUIZE}}}}}I KEEDENAP SOMEBODYS}}}}}
PROTECKSHON RAGGETS}}}}}SOM UDDER DINGZA}}}}}
U WANNA BE DE BIGGA SHOTZA SOMDAZE? YASSE?}}}}}NO?}}}}}EH?}}}}}
U NO OW 2 MAKKE DE CEMENT SHOOZE?}}}}}}}}}}
U NO OW 2 DRIVA DE CAR? CADDILLAC?}}}}}BUICK?}}}}}LINKEN?}}}}}
U LIKA EAT GARLIC?}}}}}PIZZA?}}}}}SALAMI?}}}}}U LIKKA SPAGHETTI?}}}}}
U LIKKA GIRLZE OR BOYZE?}}}}}}}}}}(PEEKA JUSTA ONE, NO FOOLA ROUND)
U SEE DE GODFATHER?}}}}}OR JUSTE DE MOVIE?}}}}}
---------------------------------------------------------------------
WHENNA U JOINNE U GONNA GETTA SOMADING U REELY GONNA LIKKE.
1 PR. DARKE GLAZZES
1 BLAKE SHIRTE WIDDA WITE TIE
1 WITE HAT WIDDE BLACKE BRIMA
1 PR. POINIE SHOOZE
1 PR. CEMENT SHOOZE (COMZA LATER IFFA U FOOLAROUND)
GOODA STOFF (IFFA U NOTTE SURE, I TELLA U WHATTA U GET WIZZA GUY)
1 KISSE (LATER-ONNA U CHEEDK)
=====================================================================

Submitter comment: MONOLOGUE IN ITALIAN DIALECT

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): HOUSE NUMBER STREET LONE RANGER PROSTITUTE ; SLANG: BIG HOUSE

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Underworld
SPEECH -- Formula
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 10-00-1975

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SUPERSTITION

IF SOMEONE IS SICK AND THERE IS NO WAY THEY'RE GOING TO PULL OUT,
MEXICANS PRAY TO THE VIRGIN OF GUADALOUPE, WHO IS THE PATRON SAINT
OF MEXICO. WHEN YOU PRAY, YOU SAY THAT YOU WILL WALK TO THE ALTAR
OF ONE OF TWO CHURCHES-ONE IS IN MEXICO CITY AND ONE IS IN
GUANAGUATO-FROM A CERTAIN POINT OUTSIDE THE CHURCH ON YOUR KNEES.
I DON'T KNOW IF I BELIEVE THIS. I THINK I DO. MY MOTHER TRIED THIS
WITH MY BROTHER AND SISTER A FEW TIMES AND IT WORKED.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SEEMED SKEPTICAL, BUT IN THE END HE SEEMED TO BELIEVE
THE IDEA. HE WAS VERY EARNEST ABOUT THE STORY AND MADE SURE I GOT
ALL THE FACTS RIGHT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

James Callow Keyword(s): SUPPLICATION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church
BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Prayer
SPEECH -- Gesture

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CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

IT IS A WIDESPREAD AND WELL-KNOWN CUSTOM THAT A PIECE OF MISTLETOE
IS HUNG FROM DOORWAYS, CHANDELIERS, CEILINGS, ETC. AS A CHRISTMAS
DECORATION. IF A MAN AND WOMAN SHOULD BOTH HAPPEN TO BE STANDING
UNDER THE MISTLETOE, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO KISS. IF ONE OF THEM IS
UNDER THE MISTLETOE ALONE, THE OTHER MAY COME UP TO KISS THEM.

Submitter comment: THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST WIDESPREAD OF CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS.
PEOPLE PROBABLY FOLLOW IT BECAUSE IT IS FUN AND FITS IN WITH THE
FESTIVE HOLIDAY MOOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PLANT PARASITIC

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Mistletoe and other greenery
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: CA00001966

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THE EVIL EYE

TWO SIGNS WHICH SHOULD BE WORN TOGETHER ON A CHAIN ARE A HAND WITH
THE INDEX AND LITTLE FINGERS EXTENDED AND AN ITALIAN HORN. THEY
ARE WORN TO WARD OFF THE EVIL EYE. THE SYMBOL OF THE HAND IS ALSO
DONE WHEN YOU WANT TO WISH PEOPLE THE EVIL EYE.

Submitter comment: THE ITALIAN HORN HAS IN RECENT YEARS BECOME A FAD AND IS WORN BY
MANY PEOPLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

James Callow Keyword(s): GESTURE SYMBOL ; MANU CORNUTA

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye
BELIEF -- Sign Color
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 11-00-1975

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GOOD FRIDAY

ON GOOD FRIDAY THE CHURCH IS PACKED WITH PEOPLE. SOME PEOPLE IN THE
PHILIPPINES GO UP TO THE ALTAR ON THEIR KNEES WHILE OTHERS MAY
(BE) DRESSED WITH A KIND OF MASK WHICH ENACTS THE SUFFERINGS OF
CHRIST. THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS ARE DONE BY THE PEOPLE IN
PROCESSION OUTSIDE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: 663 Good Friday
Favorites
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Accessories
DRAMA -- Religious
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Mask
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 11-00-1970

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WHEN SOMEONE DOESN'T GO TO KISS THE CROSS IN CHURCH ON GOOD FRIDAY,
IT WILL APPEAR BEFORE THEM THE WHOLE DAY.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): APPARITION OF CROSS

Subject headings: 663 Good Friday
Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 10-00-1968

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( GOOD FRIDAY ) BELIEF

IF ONE MAKES A WISH AND THEN STANDS THE THREE HOURS ON GOOD FRIDAY
AFTERNOON, HIS WISH WILL COME TRUE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 17287 GREENVIEW

Subject headings: 663 Good Friday
BELIEF -- Prayer
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 01-27-1970

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BREAKING OF BREAD

DURING EASTER, BEFORE DINNER, THE FAMILIES GATHER TOGETHER AND EACH
MEMBER HAS A PIECE OF "ANGEL BREAD" (UNLEAVENED BREAD). THEN EACH
MEMBER BREAKS A PIECE OFF OF EACH OF THE OTHER MEMBERS' PIECE(S)
OF "ANGEL BREAD" WHILE WISHING THEM THE BEST OF EVERYTHING FOR THAT
SEASON, FOLLOWED BY A KISS OR A HANDSHAKE. AFTER EVERYONE HAS
EXCHANGED, THE PIECES ARE EATEN.
IF A MEMBER IS OUT OF TOWN, THE OUT OF TOWNER SENDS A PIECE OF "ANGEL
BREAD" IN A GREETING CARD TO THE FAMILY FOR EXCHANGE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): FAMILY UNITY ; FOOD CUSTOM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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CUSTOM (FESTIVAL)

ON EASTER, ALWAYS MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS ON A BLESSED EGG BEFORE
EATING.

Data entry tech comment: THE EGG IS PERHAPS THE STRONGEST SYMBOL OF THE EASTER SEASON. THE
CUSTOM HAS ITS ORIGINS IN ANCIENT FERTILITY LORE. IN PRE-CHRISTIAN
TIMES THE EGG WAS GIVEN AS A GIFT TO CELEBRATE THE "DEAD" OF WINTER
AWAKENING INTO SPRING (AS THE SEEMINGLY DEAD EGG BECAME A CHICK).
IT IS NOW GIVEN AND EATEN WITH THE SAME THOUGHT IN MIND--THE
AWAKENING OF A NEW CHRISTIAN/SPIRITUAL LIFE.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 10-00-1968

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