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BELIEF OR PREDICTION

YOU CAN DETERMINE THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE BY COUNTING THE NUMBER
OF TIMES A CRICKET RUBS HIS FOOT IN A MINUTE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT ; WHICH RUBBING PRODUCES CHIRPING SOUND.

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.3

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BELIEF

A PRAYING MANTIS IS AN AGENT OF THE DEVIL. IT MAY SPIT IN YOUR
EYE AND BLIND YOU IF ANNOYED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.11

Date learned: 02-02-1970

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WHEN YOU SEE A LADYBUG YOU CHANT: LADYBUG, LADYBUG FLY AWAY HOME,
YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE, YOUR CHILDREN WILL ROAM. IF THE LADYBUG WAS
FOUND INSIDE THE HOUSE, IT WAS CONSIDERED A SIGN OF GOOD LUCK. IF IT
WAS FOUND OUTSIDE, IT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE BAD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.33
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.33

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IF A MOSQUITO IS BITING YOU, SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RETRACT HER
NEEDLE IF YOU HOLD YOUR BREATH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.11

Date learned: 11-23-1968

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IF A MOSQUITO IS BITING YOU ON THE FOREARM, SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE
TO RETRACT HER NEEDLE IF YOU EXTEND YOUR ARM OUT AND FLEX IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck
BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.11

Date learned: 11-24-1968

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SEWING BUGS

NEVER GET TOO NEAR A SEWING BUG (DRAGON FLY), BECAUSE THEY WILL
SEW YOUR EYELIDS SHUT.

Submitter comment: I REALLY BELIEVED IN THIS WHEN I WAS LITTLE, AND I WAS TERRIFIED
OF SEWING BUGS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye
BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.11

Date learned: 11-17-1968

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A WAY TO MAKE A SWARM OF BEES SETTLE, IS TO THROW DIRT OR WATER
AT THEM. THEY CANNOT FLY WHEN THEIR WINGS ARE WET.

Submitter comment: THIS IS FAIRLY WELL KNOWN, ESPECIALLY THE WATER ON THE WINGS IDEA.
THEY CANNOT EVEN FLY IF THEIR WINGS ARE COVERED WITH HEAVY DEW.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.11

Date learned: 03-10-1968

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PROVERB

CRAZIER THAN A BESS BUG.

Submitter comment: PROVERBIAL COMPARISON--HEARD BY THE INFORMANT FROM SOME SOUTHERN
KENTUCKY FRIENDS AND NOW USED BY HER.THE BUG INVOLVED RUNS AROUND IN
FIRST ONE DIRECTION, THEN ANOTHER, WITHOUT SEEMING TO KNOW WHERE
ITS GOING. THIS PHRASE IS APPLIED TO PEOPLE WHO DO FOOLISH OR CRAZY
THINGS. USUALLY HE OR SHE IS CRAZIER THAN A BESS BUG.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): INSECT

James Callow Keyword(s): BETSY BUG? BED BUG?

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: 10-21-1969

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WEATHER BELIEF

AS A YOUNG BOY IN CANADA, I WAS ALWAYS TOLD BY MY MOTHER,
THAT I SHOULD NEVER KILL A SPIDER. SHE SAID THAT IF I DID
IT WOULD RAIN ALL DAY, AND SPOIL MY FUN.

Submitter comment:

I GUESS SHE JUST DIDN:T LIKE ME TO KILL SPIDERS.

Where learned: CANADA ; MONTREAL

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; FUNCTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7

Date learned: MANY YEARS AGO

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A NATURAL TRANSITION

AT ABOUT TEN YEARS, I BEGAN A COLLECTION OF THE WHITE BALLS
OF FUZZ, WHICH COME OFF THE TREES IN OUR OLD NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN MY
FRIENDS HEARD OF MY COLLECTION, THEY TOLD ME TO RID MYSELF OF IT
BEFORE THE LITTLE BALLS EVOLVED INTO SPIDERS. I RUSHED HOME
AS QUICKLY AS POSIBLE AND SCATTERED THEM FROM MY HOUSE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL: ARACHNID

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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POLISH FOLK BELIEF

LIPOWY MIOD JEST NAJLEPSYM Z MIODOW.
NIBY DOJZALY BURGUND ZACHOWIYE W SOBIE
ENERGIE STONECZNA. OKRESLENCE 'STARY LEPIES' BRZMCATO JAKO
NAJIOYNSZN POCHWATADLA TRUNKU.
THE HONEY OF JULY IS THE BEST OF ALL HONEYS. IT RETAINS
WITHIN ITSELF THE ENERGY OF THE SUN. THE PHRASE, 'OLD JULY'
RINGS AS THE GREATEST PRAISE OF ITS DRINKS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Dylza, Helen

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Botany ; FOOD ; HONEY ; July ; Lore ; Moth ; Old July ; POLISH ; PRAISE ; Saying ; Sun

James Callow Keyword(s): MIDDLE-AGE? ; SYMBOL ; TRANSLATION

Subject headings: Custom
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- July
BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Sun
BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Observation of galactic or celestial bodies

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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BELIEF

A WAD OF COTTON ON THE FRONT DOOR WILL KEEP FLIES AWAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Home

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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GOOD FRIDAY

ON GOOD FRIDAY, SOMEONE IN THE FAMILY WOULD BRING HOLY WATER AND A
PIECE OF THORN BRANCH FROM CHURCH AND OPEN THE DOOR TO THE HOUSE AND
THEN TURN AROUND 3 TIMES AND SAY, "HOLY WATER AND THORNS COME INTO
THE HOUSE; BUGS GO OUT OF THE HOUSE."

Submitter comment: INFORMANT DID THIS AS A CHILD AT HER FATHER'S REQUEST.
( THE PURPOSE ) CHANGES, DEPENDING ON CURRENT NEEDS. ONE TIME IT
MAY BE TO TAKE OUT EVIL, ANOTHER TIME DUST.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 8160 LANTZ

Keyword(s): EXTERMINATION CHARM

Subject headings: Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration
663 Good Friday
686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
BELIEF -- Insect

Date learned: 03-10-1970

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WAR

WHEN YOU FIND A LOCUST WITH A MARK LIKE A "W" ON IT, IT IS A SIGN
OF WAR.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT REMEMBERS HEARING THIS SAID WHEN A YOUNG MAN DURING THE
1920'S. HE DOES NOT REMEMBER THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH HE HEARD
IT SAID, AND DOES NOT BELIEVE IN THE SAYING.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Insect

Date learned: 10-02-1971

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NEGRO SUPERSTITION

IF YOU KILL A SPIDER, IT WILL RAIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew

Date learned: 10-00-1969

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BUG

IF A LIGHTING BUG ENTERS YOUR HOME. THAT IS A SIGN, THAT A STRANGER
IS COMING TO YOUR HOUSE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANTS LEARNED IN CHILDHOOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): LIGHTNING BUG FIREFLY INSECT

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Insect

Date learned: 01-26-1971

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THE WORMS CRAWL IN

YOU SHOULD NEVER LAUGH AS THE HEARSE GOES BY
'CAUSE YOU MIGHT BE THE NEXT TO DIE.
THEY'LL PUT YOU IN A WOODEN BOX
AND COVER YOU UP WITH DIRT AND ROCKS.

ALL GOES FINE FOR ABOUT ONE WEEK
AND THEN THE COFFIN BEGINS TO LEAK.
THE WORMS CRAWL IN, THE WORMS CRAWL OUT,
THE WORMS PLAY PEANUCKLE ON YOUR SNOUT.
YOUR INSIDES TURN A SLIMY GREEN
AND PUSS FLOWS OUT JUST LIKE WHIPPED CREAM.
THE WORMS CRAWL IN, THE WORMS CRAWL OUT,
THE WORMS PLAY PEANUCKLE ON YOUR SNOUT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRADE SCHOOL ; SAGINAW

Keyword(s): DECAY OF BODY AFTER DEATH ; GORE, GOTHIC HORROR ; PINOCHLE, A CARD GAME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Death
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children
BELIEF -- Insect

Date learned: 00-00-1958

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IF YOU SPILL ASHES ON THE CARPET, RUB IT IN
AND IT WILL KEEP THE MOTHS AWAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM ; 633 ARLINGTON

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect

Date learned: 00-00-1967

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DEATH

IF A PERSON KILLS A FLY ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH,
HE WILL DIE A VIOLENT DEATH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
Favorites
BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Measure of time Month
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour

Date learned: 10-10-1969

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MAGIC

TELLING THE TEMPERTATURE BY COUNTING CRICKET CHIRPS. IF YOU COUNT
THE CHIRPS FOR A MINUTE, MULTIPLY BY THE SQUARE ROOT OF A COW'S HORN,
SUBTRACT YOUR AGE AND TOSS IN THE PRICE OF A HAM SANDWICH,
YOU COME UP WITH THE TEMPERATURE IN DEGREES OF FARENHEIT.

Submitter comment: HUMOR

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE ; NEWSPAPER ; THE DETROIT NEWS ; 48066

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control

Date learned: 00-00-1977

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