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WHEN OUR BABIES ARE INFANTS, WE PUT THEIR UNDERSHIRTS
ON INSIDE-OUT TO CONFUSE THE EVIL EYE AND KEEP IT AWAY
FROM THE BABY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): DRESSING ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Overall body coverUpper body and arms BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
WHEN ENTERING THE HOUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH A NEW
BABY, USUALLY ON RETURNING FROM THE HOSPITAL, THE MOTHER
ALWAYS TOUCHES THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR HANDLE TO SHUT OUT
THE EVIL EYE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 00-00-1964
TO WARD OFF THE EVIL EYE, WE SPIT THREE TIMES AND SAY
SKARTHO WHICH MEANS GARLIC IN GREEK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Curse SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
SOME PEOPLE ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE EVIL EYES; IF SUCH A PERSON GIVES
YOU A COMPLIMENT, YOU'D BETTER KNOCK ON WOOD OR HAVE SOMEONE PINCH
YOU SO BAD LUCK WILL NOT COME UPON YOU.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Conversions SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1966
IN ORDER TO HARM SOMEONE, YOU WRITE HIS NAME ON A PIECE OF PAPER,
OR YOU TAKE SOMETHING THAT BELONGS TO HIM AND YOU PUT IT IN A
COFFIN ALONG WITH A DEAD PERSON.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
IF SOMETHING IS STOLEN, AND THERE ARE MANY SUSPECTS, YOU CAN KNOW
THE REAL PERSON THAT STOLE THE ITEM BY DOING THIS SIMPLE TEST.
OPEN THE BIBLE TO JOB CHAPTER SEVENTEEN, PLACE A KEY IN THAT
SECTION, AND USE A ROPE TO TIE THE KEY AND THE BIBLE TOGETHER.
LET EACH OF THE SUSPECT SWEAR SAYING THUS, "IF I TAKE THE LOST ITEM
LET ME BE MENTALLY SICK IMMEDIATELY". IF THE PERSON WHO STOLE THE
ITEM SAYS THIS, HE WILL BECOME MENTALLY SICK WITH IMMEDIATE
EFFECT.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LOOKED SERIOUS WHILE NARRATING THE ITEM.
Where learned: NIGERIA ; LAGOS
James Callow Keyword(s): DETECTION OF THIEF ; THEFT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 02-00-1967
SUPERSTITION
IT IS ALSO SAID THAT ONLY THE DOCTOR SHOULD KNOW THE EXACT TIME
WHEN THE BABY IS DUE, BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD "FIX" YOU OR DO EVIL
AND AS A RESULT THE BABY CAN BE CROSSED IN THE MOTHER'S STOMACH,
AND SHE WILL NOT GIVE BIRTH TO THE BABY. THIS CAN CAUSE THE
DEATH OF BOTH MOTHER AND CHILD.
Where learned: BAHAMAS ; NASSAU
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Curer BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001960S
I HAD A FRIEND THAT WAS THE PRESIDENT OF TINKIEN
BALLBEARING IN SAO PAULO. ONE DAY WHEN HE LEFT
HIS HOUSE HE FOUND A DEAD CHICKEN WITH BLACK CANDLES
AROUND IT IN A CIRCLE ON HIS PORCH. THIS IS CALLED
A MACUBA AND IT HAS TO BE PUT THERE BY A WITCH.
SOMEONE HAD PUT A CURSE ON HIM. JOHN JUST DISMISSED
IT AS NONSENSE. SHORTLY AFTER THAT HIS LIFE STARTED
GOING DOWNHILL. HE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH LABOR
RELATIONS. ALL OF HIS EMPLOYEES WENT ON STRIKE. HE WAS
HAVING PROBLEMS AND UNEXPLAINED ILLNESSES. ONE DAY
HE HAD HIRED TWENTY TELIVISIONS FOR THE PLANT SO
HIS EMPLOYEES COULD WATCH THE NATIONAL SOCCER MATCH.
NOT ONE OF THE TELEVISIONS WORKED ON THE DAY OF THE
MATCH. SHORTLY AFTER THAT HE WAS FIRED AND SENT BACK
TO THE UNITED STATES. HE BELIEVES THAT ONE OF HIS
WORKERS PUT A CURSE ON HIM AND CAUSED ALL OF THE
PROBLEMS.
Where learned: BRAZIL ; SAO PAULO
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00-00-1973
MY GRANDMA TOLD ME ABOUT THE SUPERSTITION ABOUT
HANGING A RED RIBBON ON A PRETTY BABY'S CRIB
TO WARD OFF BAD SPIRITS. RED IS SUPPOSED
TO KEEP THE DEVIL AWAY.
MY GRANDMA TOLD ME THIS STORY:
WHEN HER SISTER WAS BORN A FRIEND
OF THEIR MOTHER'S WOULD COME TO
THEIR HOUSE AND THE BABY, SHIRLEY, WOULD
SCREAM, OTHERWISE SHE WAS A GOOD BABY.
FINALLY ANOTHER FRIEND OF THEIR MOTHER'S
CAME TO THE HOUSE AND LOOKED AT SHIRLEY
AND TOLD THEM THAT SHE HAD KNOBS ON
THE BACK OF HER HEAD WITH FUZZIES
ON THEM. THIS LADY TOLD THEM TO
CUT OFF THE FUZZIES AND BURY THEM
ONE BY ONE AND PRAY.
WHEN ALL THE FUZZIES WERE CUT OFF
SHIRLEY WAS BACK TO NORMAL. THE LADY
FRIEND WHO HAD HELPED TOLD THEM THAT
SHIRLEY HAD BEEN BEWITCHED BY THE MOTHER'S FRIEND.
SHE TOLD THEM TO PUT A RED RIBBON ON
SHIRLEY TO KEEP HER SAFE FROM THE DEVIL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 00001920CA
NEVER THROW YOUR HAIR AWAY BECAUSE SOMEONE CAN GET IT AND SET A CURSE
OR WITCHCRAFT ON YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 11-18-1987
TO WARD OFF THE EVIL EYE WHEN SOMEONE IS ADMIRING A BABY OR A
PERSON ONE SAYS "POO POO POO."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 06-00-1987
TO WARD OFF THE EVIL EYE ONE SHOULD ATTACH A RED RIBBON ON A
BABY CARRIAGE OR IN THE HAIR OF A LITTLE GIRL OR ON SOME PART
OF THE CLOTHING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 06-00-1987
"Certain people have the power to give the evil eye.
Some would give it to you to make you sick, bring you
bad luck, etc. or they would say not to look in their
eyes so you would not get the evil eye (they could not
help themselves from giving the evil eye --- it was
beyond their control). Mr. DiSantis had the power. He
told my Dad and others about it when he was young,
(maybe age seven)."
Submitter comment:
This is a verbatim account from Maryann Leisner detailing
a story told many times by her Italian father, Mr. Phillip
Melone. Mr. Melone believes this to be true.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
Keyword(s): Curse, magic, harm
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Bad luck Body parts and functions |
Date learned: 00001930S
If someone admires your baby and says that
it's beautiful you must spit or the baby will
become sick or get a rash on its face. Her
parents and her husband's parents both truly
believed this. Her husband's parents used to
wipe the baby's face three times with a wash
cloth to prevent a rash if anyone admired the
baby.
Submitter comment:
Mrs. Wojtan doesn't believe this herself anymore,
but says many people in Kansas used to when she
was growing up.
Where learned: KANSAS ; Manhattan
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Favorites BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001920S
When a person praises or compliments you or
your children, you should make the sign of evil,
or the devil, behind your back by holding your
little finger and first finger up while making
a fist. By doing this you ward off the evil eye
or bad luck.
Submitter comment:
My grandmother doesn't particularly believe in this
but her parents and husband's parents did. It is
a strong belief in Malta.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): index finger
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Bad luck SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001930S
Superstition
My father's sister was an alcoholic. Her mother
believed that when a member of a family died,
he could take a curse with him. So when my uncle Marcel
died, she prayed that he would take her daughter's
alcoholism with him. Shortly thereafter her daughter
stopped drinking, and she attributes this to her wish.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFERENCE
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00001980CA
EVIL EYE
IF YOU BRAG ABOUT A CHILD, OR YOUR WIFE, OR ABOUT ANYTHING, THE
EVIL EYE WILL TAKE IT AWAY. TO AVOID THIS, WHENEVER BRAGGING
YOU SHOULD END THE ADULATION WITH A CRITICAL COMMENT.
Submitter comment:
AS AN EXAMPLE, INSTEAD OF SAYING, "MY SON IS SO PERFECT. HE
ALWAYS GETS GOOD MARKS IN SCHOOL." A CAUTIOUS PERSON WOULD SAY,
"MY SON IS SO PERFECT. HE ALWAYS GETS GOOD MARKS IN SCHOOL, BUT
HE NEVER CLEANS HIS ROOM."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WEST BLOOMFIELD
Keyword(s): ADVICE ; COMPENSATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 09-12-1990
Putting tabasco sauce on bread and feeding it to ducks can
put a curse on you. And soon something degrading will
happen to you.
Submitter comment:
I learned of this story back in grade school when the
teacher scolded some of my friends for going to the pond
and feeding the ducks with bread soaked in tabasco sauce.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WEST BLOOMFIELD
Keyword(s): tabasco, hot, spicy.
James Callow Keyword(s): CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ; FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
In the Arab culture there is a superstition referred
to as the "evil eye." This consists of statues,
pendants, jewelry etc. that are shaped like an eye
(usually blue with a big black pupil) and are worn
on the person or hung up in the house. It is the
belief that these will ward off any evil spirits
and will watch any evil thoughts or persons until
they regain their consciences. It is a form of
protection.
Submitter comment:
The informant seemed to suggest that it is no longer
a serious belief but more a silly superstition.
Where learned: Lud, Gaza
Keyword(s): evil, protection
James Callow Keyword(s): talisman
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
In the old days beggars used to stand outside the churches
after services and ask for money from the worshippers. If
someone didn't give, he was cursed by the beggar. It is
believed that even today beggars have the power to curse
people.
Where learned: ENGLAND ; LONDON
Keyword(s): MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00-00-1991