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The James T. Callow Computerized Folkore Archive | University of Detroit Mercy Libraries Back to Top
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IF YOU HAVE PIERCED EARS AND WEAR EARRINGS WITH A
GOLD BASE, YOU WILL NEVER HAVE HEADACHES.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED OF THIS FROM HER MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE ILE

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Metal Stone Bone Gold Silver Copper
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Ears, noise in ear
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-28-1970

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MAKING OF A FUNNY OR UGLY FACE WHILE OUTDOORS IN COLD
WEATHER, MAY CAUSE YOUR FACE TO FREEZE IN THAT
POSITION.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT USED THIS TO SCARE HER CHILDREN.

Data entry tech comment: IF WE POUTED OR MADE A FACE AT SOMEONE, OUR MOTHER USED
TO SAY THIS ALSO, REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER.--PAC
I BELIEVE, IT WAS TO DISCOURAGE THE PRACTICE.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; LE ROY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 03-00-1971

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IF YOU DO NOT WIPE DRY BETWEEN YOUR TOES AFTER A BATH
OR SHOWER, YOUR TOES MIGHT BECOME INFECTED AND FALL
OFF.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT TOLD THIS TO SCARE HER CHILDREN INTO WIPING
TOES.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; LE ROY

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNGUS ATHLETE'S FOOT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 03-00-1971

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MY GRANDMOTHER (INFORMANT) BELIEVES IN THE SUPERSTITION
THAT IF ONE WEARS A HAT IN THE HOUSE, HE WILL GO BALD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 01-31-1971

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STEPPING OVER A CHILD LYING ON THE FLOOR WILL STUNT
HIS GROWTH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-14-1970

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DO NOT WALK OVER A PERSON WHEN HE IS LYING DOWN,
BECAUSE HE WILL STOP GROWING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-00-1970

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MEAT AND WATER AND GREEN(S?) BREAKS UP FAT, BUT
MEAT IS IMPURE AND HAS A TENDENCY TO WEIGHT (SIC)
YOU DOWN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Food
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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TO CUT A BABY'S FINGERNAIL BEFORE HE REACHED HIS
FIRST BIRTHDAY WAS TO CUT OFF HIS INTELLIGENCE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 02-18-1971

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IF YOU STEP ON AN ANT, YOU WILL MAKE YOUR MOTHER CRY.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SAID THAT THIS WAS A POPULAR BELIEF
AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN. SHE SAID THAT EVERYONE WAS
VERY CAREFUL TO AVOID ANTS ON THE WAY HOME FROM
SCHOOL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 02-23-1971

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IF YOU TOUCHED A FROG, YOU'D GET WARTS.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT RELATED THIS BELIEF, BUT DID NOT SEEM
TO HOLD CREDENCE IN IT HIMSELF.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body)
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 11-23-1970

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VOODOO

IT IS BELIEVED IN MANY OF THE AFRICAN TRIBES THAT
THE WITCH DOCTOR, AND OFTENTIMES OTHER MEMBERS OF
THE TRIBE, HAVE THE POWER FROM THE EVIL ONE TO
INFLICT PAIN, OR EVEN DEATH, ON THEIR ENEMIES. THIS
IS DONE BY POKING PINS THROUGH A DOLL, WHICH REPRE-
SENTS THE ENEMY. SOON AFTERWARDS, THE ENEMY BEGINS
TO HAVE PAIN, OR IS INJURED, IN THE SAME SPOTS
WHERE THE PINS HAD BEEN DRIVEN THROUGH THE DOLL.
AN ENEMY, WHO DOES NOT HIMSELF BELIEVE IN VOODOO,
HAS A FAR BETTER CHANCE OF ESCAPING DEATH THROUGH
THIS CURSE THAN ONE WHO DOES.

Submitter comment: I DO NOT KNOW FROM WHOM I OBTAINED THIS INFORMATION,
BUT I DO KNOW THAT THIS CULT IS STILL PRACTICED
TODAY, SINCE I HAVE READ ARTICLES ON THE SUBJECT.
WHETHER THE VOODOO POWERS ARE REAL OR NOT, I REALLY
CANNOT SAY; BUT I DO KNOW THAT I HAVE HEARD MANY
ACCOUNTS OF THESE POWERS FROM PEOPLE WHO, IN TURN,
HAVE HEARD THEM FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LATHRUP VILLAGE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
BELIEF -- Use of Object Domestic object, wax, needle, dishware

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IN THE PHILLIPINES IT IS BELIEVED THAT EVIL SPIRITS CAUSE
SICKNESS IN PEOPLE. IN THE CASE OF A CHILD'S OR INFANT'S
SICKNESS, A HIGHLY DECORATED RAFT IS LEFT FOR SOME TIME
BESIDE THE CHILD'S COT. THE BEAUTY OF THE FRUITS AND
FLOWERS DECORATING THE RAFT IS SAID TO ATTRACT THE EVIL
SPIRITS, WHICH LEAVE THE SICK CHILD AND ENTER THE RAFT.
TWO MEN THEN CARRY THE RAFT TO THE RIVER AND SET IT AF-
LOAT, THE EVIL SPIRITS ABOARD.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT GATHERED THIS INFORMATION WHILE VIEWING
THE TV PROGRAM, "THE GEORGE PIERROT SHOW."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 09-00-1965

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CHAIN LETTER (TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN).
PRAYER FOUND IN THE HOLY SEPULCHER OF O.L.J.C.
COPY OF A LETTER OF PRAYER FOUND IN THE HOLY SEPULCHER
OF O.L.J.C. IN JERUSALEM KEPT IN A SILVER CASE BY HIS
HOLINESS AND BY THE CHRISTIAN EMPERORS AND EMPRESSES.
SAINT ELIZABETH QUEEN OF HUNGARY, SAINT MATILDA, AND
SAINT BRIGIDE WISHING TO KNOW SOME THINGS REGARDING
THE PASSION OF JESUS CHRIST, MADE CERTAIN AND SPECIFIC
PRAYERS THROUGH WHICH JESUS CHRIST APPEARED AND TOLD
THEM:
KNOW (YOU) THAT THE ARMED SOLDIERS WERE 23, THE JUDICIAL
EXECUTIONERS 83, THE PUNCHES WHICH I RECEIVED IN THE
HEAD WERE 150, IN THE BREAST 108. THE KICKS ON THE SHOULDERS
80, AND I WAS DRAGGED WITH ROPES AND BY THE HAIR 23 TIMES.
THE SPITS IN THE FACE WERE 180, BEATINGS ON THE HEART
6,666, BEATINGS ON THE HEAD 110. THEY VERY FORCIBLY
RAMMED INTO ME (ONCE), MY HEAD WAS LIFTED BY THE HAIR
ON THE 21ST HOUR (9 P.M.), I SIGHED 120 SIGHS. I WAS
DRAGGED AND PULLED BY THE BEARD 23 TIMES, WOUNDS IN THE
HEAD 20, THORNS OF (BLANK BLANK) 72. THORN WOUNDS 110.
FATAL THORNS IN THE FOREHEAD 3, AFTERWARDS FLAGELLATED
AND CLOTHED AS KING IN MOCKERY. WOUNDS ON THE BODY
(WERE) 1000. THE (NUMBER OF) SOLDIERS THAT LED ME TO
CALVARY WERE 908, THOSE THAT GUARDED ME WERE 3, DROPS
OF BLOOD THAT I SHED WERE 5,475. TO WHOMEVER RECITES
SEVEN OUR FATHERS, AVES, AND GLORIAS EACH DAY FOR 15
YEARS, TO NUMBER (OR COUNT) THE NUMBER OF DROPS OF
BLOOD WHICH I LOST, I WILL ALLOW 5 GRACES: (1) A
PLENARY INDULGENCE AND REMISSION OF ALL SINS ; (2)
HE (OR SHE) WILL BE FREED FROM THE PAINS OF PURGATORY;
(3) IF HE (OR SHE) WILL DIE BEFORE FINISHING THE 15 YEAR
DEVOTION (4) IT WILL BE AS IF HE HAD FINISHED IT AND
SHED HIS BLOOD FOR THE FAITH. (5) I WILL COME DOWN FROM
HEAVEN TO RECEIVE HIS SOUL AND THOSE OF HIS RELATIVES
UP TO THE FOURTH DEGREE.
THE ONE THAT WILL CARRY THIS PRAYER WON'T DIE BY
DROWNING, NOR OF A BAD DEATH (I.E., HE WILL DIE A GOOD
DEATH), NOR WILL HE HAVE SUDDEN DEATH. HE WILL BE
FREED FROM CONTAGION, FROM THE PLAGUE, FROM LIGHTNING,
AND WILL NOT DIE WITHOUT CONFESSION;; HE WILL BE FREED
FROM HIS ENEMIES AND FROM JUDICIARY POWER (THE ARM OF
THE LAW) AND FROM EVERYONE WHO WISHES HIM EVIL, AND
FROM FALSE WITNESSES. WOMEN THAT COULDN'T CONCEIVE
WILL CONCEIVE AND WILL BE OUT OF DANGER.
IN THE HOUSE WHERE THIS PRAYER IS KEPT, THERE WON'T
BE ANY BETRAYALS NOR ANY BAD THINGS, AND 40 DAYS
BEFORE HIS DEATH, THE ONE THAT WILL DIE, WILL SEE
THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. AS SAINT GREGORY POPE SAID:
"A CERTAIN CAPTAIN TRAVELING BY LAND SAW NEAR
BARCELONA A HEAD CUT OFF WHICH SPOKE TO HIM THUS:
SINCE YOU ARE GOING TO BARCELONA, TRAVELER, BRING ME A
CONFESSOR SO I MAY RECEIVE CONFESSION, SINCE IT'S BEEN
THREE DAYS ALREADY SINCE I HAVE BEEN CUT OFF BY
THIEVES AND I CANNOT DIE UNLESS IF I HAVE NOT RECEIVED
CONFESSION. A CONFESSOR BEING LED TO THE PLACE BY THE
AFORESAID CAPTAIN, THE HEAD RECEIVED CONFESSION AND
THEN DIED. ON THE BODY FROM WHICH THE HEAD WAS CUT OFF
WAS FOUND THE FOLLOWING PRAYER; WHICH ON THAT OCCASION
WAS APPROVED BY VARIOUS TRIBUNALS OF THE HOLY JURISDIC-
TION OF SPAIN. THE AFOREMENTIONED SEVEN OUR FATHERS,
AVES, AND GLORIAS CAN BE RECITED AND APPLIED FOR WHICH
EVER SOUL ONE MAY WISH. ANOTHER SIMILAR COPY OF THE
LETTER HAS BEEN MIRACULOUSLY FOUND IN A PLACE (OR
LOCATION) CALLED PORTIS, FOUR LEAGUES FROM MARSEILLES
(OR MARSIGLIA), WRITTEN IN GOLDEN LETTERS AND BROUGHT
BY A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD CHILD OF PORTIS.
AN ADDITIONAL DECLARATION OF JANUARY 23, 1750 SAYS:
ALL THOSE THAT WILL WORK ON SUNDAY WILL BE CURSED BY
ME, SINCE ON SUNDAY YOU MUST GO TO CHURCH TO PRAY SO
THAT I MAY FORGIVE YOU YOUR SINS, AND IT IS FOR THIS
REASON THAT I HAVE GIVEN YOU SIX DAYS TO WORK AND ONE
FOR RESTING AND GIVING WORKS OF DEVOTION AND WITH WHAT
YOU HAVE (OWN) DO GOOD TO THE POOR AND YOUR ACTIONS
WILL BE FULL OF BLESSINGS AND GRACES (AND/OR FAVORS);
ON THE CONTRARY IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE THIS, YOU AND
YOUR CHILDREN WILL RECEIVE MAJOR PUNISHMENTS, AND I WILL
SEND PLAGUES, FAMINE, WARS, ATROCIOUS GRIEF (HORRIBLE PAIN)
AND HEART SPASMS: AS A SIGN OF MY INDIGNATION, YOU WILL
SEE SIGNS IN THE HEAVENS, THUNDERS, EARTHQUAKES. THOSE
THAT WILL JUDGE THIS LETTER NOT TO BE WRITTEN BY WORK OF
THE DIVINE AND AS COMING FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD AND
THOSE THAT WILL MALICIOUSLY KEEP IT HIDDEN WITHOUT
WRITING IT TO OTHER PERSONS, WILL BE CURSED BY GOD AND
CONFUSED ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT AND HE WHO WILL COPY IT
(OR MAKE IT PUBLIC) EVEN IF HE HAD MANY SINS, IF HE IS
TRULY SORRY OF HAVING OFFENDED ME, AND AGAIN HAVING
WRONGED HIS NEIGHBORS ASKING ME PARDON, I WILL "ERASE"
(FORGIVE) HIS SINS: THE ONES THAT WILL READ IT AND
WILL FINISH THE DEVOTION, OR WILL HAVE IT READ, WILL
BE FREE FROM ALL TEMPTATION.
WITH ECCLESIASTICAL APPROVAL.

Submitter comment: THE ORIGINAL, IN ITALIAN, IS IN THE POSSESSION OF
THE INFORMANT'S MOTHER.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Subject headings: 686 Fifths
686 Seven / Sevenths / Several
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Working
BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control
BELIEF -- Church
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Number P686.1.15
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 02-00-1968

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THE GREEKS HAVE A VERY STRONG BELIEF IN THE EVIL
EYE, WHICH THEY CALL TO MATI. IF A GREEK PERSON
THINKS YOU ARE PUTTING THE EYE ON THEM, THEY WILL
SAY "SKORTHA STA MATIA SU" MEANING "GARLIC
IN YOUR EYES."

Where learned: SCHOOL

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Expression of Fixed Form
BELIEF -- Curse
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-24-1969

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THE GREEKS PUT A LITTLE CROSS INSIDE A PERSON'S
SHIRT TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE EVIL EYE AT ALL
TIMES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye
BELIEF -- Curse
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 11-09-1969

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THE NATIVES OF SOME ISLANDS IN THE CARIBBEAN WILL
NOT LET YOU TAKE THEIR PICTURE, AS THEY FEEL THAT
IN TAKING THEIR PICTURE YOU WILL ALSO TAKE
THEIR SOUL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 04-03-1970

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THIS CUSTOM WAS PRACTICED BY MY DAD AND HIS FAMILY
IN GOERGIA.
AFTER EATING FISH, NEVER DRINK MILK OR EAT ICE
CREAM BECAUSE IT MIGHT POISON YOU.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84.
Food Drink -- Meat Fish and other animal life related to water
Food Drink -- Animal product Milk product
Food Drink -- Drink from animal product Milk
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 09-00-1969

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YOU SHOULD NEVER STEP OVER A CHILD WHO IS LYING ON
THE GROUND. NOT ONLY IS IT EXTREMELY BAD LUCK,
BUT YOU WILL ALSO STUNT THE CHILD'S GROWTH.

Submitter comment: I HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF STEPPING OVER MY COUSIN
ONE DAY AND I NEARLY GAVE MY GRANDMOTHER A HEART
ATTACK WHEN I DID IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
BELIEF -- Bad luck Gestures
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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WEARING COPPER ON THE BODY WILL HELP SOMEONE SUFFERING FROM SCIATICA.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; St. Clair's Restaurant

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 08-12-1970

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