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IF ONE EXPERIENCES REPEATED ITCHINESS OF THE PALMS,
IT IS A SURE SIGN THAT UNEXPECTED MONEY WILL BE RECEIVED.

Where learned: VIRGINIA ; SPLASHDAM

Keyword(s): ITCH

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth

Date learned: 00001930ca

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Good Luck

Standing on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean just before
sunrise can put you in a great state of mind and can bring
you a world of good luck. If you then take a quarter out
of your pocket
and throw it out into the ocean as far as you can it will
bring you 25 days of good luck. This all must be done before
the sun rises.

Where learned: FLORIDA ; FORT LAUDERDALE

Keyword(s): Buying luck

James Callow Keyword(s): East ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Sun
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Still water Large body.
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
BELIEF -- Number P686.1.25
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 00-00-1991

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Asking for money from a stranger and getting it can prove
to be rewarding for the man or woman who has given the
money out. For the reason being that "Good Luck" will
follow him or her for the rest of the day.

Submitter comment: My father seemed very optimistic when he was telling me
this story.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Farmington Hills

Keyword(s): money, green

James Callow Keyword(s): donor

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 00-00-1983

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If you find a penny and the front is facing
upwards then it will bring you good luck.
If the back is facing upwards then it will
bring you bad luck.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
BELIEF -- Good luck
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 00001970S

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A woman should never place her purse on the floor or she will
never receive any money.

Submitter comment: The informant learned this from an older woman while she was
attending church. She also said that the older woman was
clutching her purse in her lap as if she fully believed this
to be true.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 48221

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; Taboo ; Unnatural place

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth

Date learned: 03-00-1991

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Money makes everything legitimate, even bastards.

Submitter comment: This Jewish proverb is shared among Jews as a
humorous excuse as to why they do "anything" for money.

Where learned: FLORIDA ; DelRay Beach

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 00001960S

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A jar of pennies in the kitchen brings good luck.

Submitter comment: Her mom has always had one there.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON

James Callow Keyword(s): COINS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 00001970S

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Turn a piece of silver in your pocket upon seeing
a full moon & your wish will come true.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Lower body and legs
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- P753

Date learned: 00001980S

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Put the first money you receive each day into an
empty pocket; it will attract more coins.

Submitter comment: In English market places this custom is still very
popular; that original coin is called handsel.

Where learned: ENGLAND ; LONDON

James Callow Keyword(s): Pilot

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero
SPEECH -- Common Word

Date learned: 00-00-1989

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Seeing someone in polka dot clothing brings you money.

Submitter comment: Polka dots look like coins, so if you make that
connection, you will get money.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE ILE

Keyword(s): shape size

James Callow Keyword(s): design pattern

Subject headings: Favorites
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Color Design
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth

Date learned: 00001970S

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If by accident you find the back tooth of a horse,
carry it along with you as long as you live and
you will never want money; but it must be by chance
that you found it.

Submitter comment: Irish superstition

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth

Date learned: 00001950S

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When visitors come to Rome they traditionally throw coins into
the Trevi Fountain before they leave so they will have the
luck to return to the city someday.

Where learned: ITALY ; ROME

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 00-00-1989

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WHEN THE WAGERS FAMILY ARRIVED FROM FRANCE IN THE LATE
1700'S, THE TWO BROTHERS WHO IMMIGRATED BOUGHT LAND IN CENTRAL
KENTUCKY. THEY BUILT TWIN PLANTATION HOUSES. DURING THE CIVIL
WAR, A WARFORD DESCENDANT ALLEGEDLY FILLED A HUNTING HORN WITH
MONEY AND HID IT SOMEWHERE ON THE FAMILY'S LAND. NO ONE HAS YET
FOUND THE LEGENDARY MONEY HORN. THE LAND IS NO LONGER HELD BY THE
FAMILY.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER LEARNED OF THIS LEGEND THIS YEAR FROM HER ELDERLY
AUNTS AND AN UNCLE. WHEN SHE AND HER RELATIVES WENT TO VISIT THE
REMAINING HOUSE (THE OTHER BURNED DOWN), THEY WERE GREETED BY THE
CURRENT OWNER WITH "Y'ALL MUST BE WARFORDS!" WHEN MY MOTHER TOLD
ME OF THIS LEGEND SHE ADDED A COMMENT THAT "KNOWING THE LUCK OUR
FAMILY HAS, IF THERE REALLY IS A MONEY HORN, IT'S PROBABLY FILLED
WITH CONFEDERATE MONEY!"

Where learned: KENTUCKY ; IRVINE

Keyword(s): TREASURE

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
BELIEF -- Bad luck

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Never give an empty purse or wallet for a gift; fill it with
coins and dollars so it will never be empty.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): GIFT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero

Date learned: 00001980S

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At Oakland Sanctified Church no wedding rings are allowed to be
given during the ceremony; wedding watches take the place of the
rings.

Submitter comment: Leah says this is to prevent the competition of big diamonds
amongst the church members.

Where learned: DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Measure of time
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth

Date learned: 00001980S

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A penny in your shoe,
And wearing something blue.
Will keep your marriage true.

Submitter comment: The informant can recall the exact date she learned this because
it is the day of her marriage to Willis Muckle. Her mother gave her
the penny and a blue flower for her hair. The marriage lasted more
than thirty-five years.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): LOVE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
BELIEF -- Color

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On January first, Greeks celebrate what is known as St. Basil's
Day. It is the equivalent of Christmas here. It begins at twelve
o'clock midnight on December 31. "Vasilopita" - St Basil's Bread - is
served. Baked in the sweet bread is a single gold coin. The person to
receive the slice of sweet bread with the coin is said to have good
luck for the duration of the year. Presents are distributed. Then
snacks and drinks are served to all because in Greece there is no
certain age that must be attained before one is allowed to drink
alcohol.

Submitter comment: St. Basil is the equivalent of Santa Claus.

Where learned: GREECE

Keyword(s): holiday

James Callow Keyword(s): drinking age

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 00001945CA

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Wishing

When eating Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, cut out the
wishbone carefully without breaking it. Let the bone dry
overnight so it will snap easily. When the bone is dry, two
people take ahold of opposite ends of the wishbone. Then you
count to three, "one, two, three, go..." and each person pulls on
the bone at the same time until the bone breaks. Whoever gets the
larger segment of the bone has their wish granted. To cheat place
your thumb on the bone which connects the two bones together and
you push forward while they pull. This snaps the bone below the
connecting piece, making the other person's bone shorter.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Frankenmuth

Subject headings: Favorites
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Autumn Fall Harvest Thanksgiving
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 00-00-1976

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Tips

A waitress I had been working with told me to use my first tip
received each night to buy someone else a drink. This would act as a
"lucky omen," and cause me to receive more tips.

Submitter comment: I have been waitressing for nearly two years, have practiced this
tradition, and have always received excellent tips.

Where learned: Saginaw Country Club

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
Favorites
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 00-00-1990

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Money on the inside of your door on New Year's Eve will bring
you money all the year long.

Submitter comment: Gladys learned this from her mother and passed it down to me.

Where learned: DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Wall Partition Door Window
BELIEF -- Maturity P544.2
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth

Date learned: 00001960S

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