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CUSTOM

PLACES OF BUSINESS USUALLY SAVE THE FIRST DOLLAR THEY HAVE MADE AS
A BUSINESS. THIS IS FOR GOOD LUCK.

Submitter comment: I HAVE SEEN THIS PRACTICE DONE IN MANY STORES, AND BY OWNERS WHOM
I PERSONALLY KNOW.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; POUGHKEEPSIE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business
BELIEF -- Sign Color

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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PREGNANCY EFFECTS

YOU LOSE A TOOTH FOR EVERY BABY THAT YOU HAVE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Sign Color
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 03-20-1967

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LEGEND ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF POLAND

THERE WAS AN OLD MAN AND HE LIVED IN ASIA AND HE HAD THREE SONS
WHOSE NAMES WERE LECH, CZECH AND RUS. AND THE OLD MAN DIED AND
HE DIDN'T LEAVE HIS SONS ANYTHING, SO THEY HAD TO GO OUT INTO THE
WORLD TO SEEK THEIR FORTUNES. SO THEY WENT TO EUROPE AND RUS
WENT NORTH AND FOUNDED RUSSIA AND CZECH WENT SOUTH AND FOUNDED
CZECHOSLOVAKIA. LECH KEPT GOING AND NIGHT CAME AND HE FOUND
HIMSELF IN A CIRCLE AROUND A CLEARING AND HE SAID, "I WILL ESTAB-
LISH A COUNTRY AND THIS WILL BE THE SYMBOL ON MY BANNER." AND
THIS IS HOW THE COUNTRY OF POLAND ORIGINATED.

Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED IT FROM PAN NOWAK WHO TAUGHT HER POLISH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name
BELIEF -- Sign Color

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THE DEVIL ON SEYBURN

AS A LITTLE GIRL THE INFORMANT LIVED ON SEYBURN IN DETROIT. ON
ONE OF THE CORNERS OF SEYBURN THERE WAS A HOUSE WHICH HAD BEEN
POSSESSED BY THE DEVIL. WHEN THE PRIEST DROVE THE DEVIL FROM THE
HOUSE, HE CHASED IT INTO THE GARAGE. THE DEVIL RAN ACROSS THE
FLOOR UP THE WALL AND HALF WAY ACROSS THE CEILING BEFORE LEAVING.
THERE ARE IMPRINTS OF HIS FOOT IN THE CEMENT FLOOR OF THE GARAGE.
ON THE WALL AND ON THE CEILING THERE ARE HAND AND BELLY PRINTS.
THESE PRINTS CANNOT BE REMOVED WITH PAINT OR BY RECEMENTING THE
FLOOR. THEY ALWAYS REAPPEAR. THE INFORMANT HAS SEEN THE PRINTS
HERSELF.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Sign Color

Date learned: 03-31-1967

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MARINE HISTORIC EVENT

THE REASON THAT OFFICERS HAVE X'S ON THE TOP OF THEIR HATS DATES
BACK TO THE BATTLE OF THE BONHOMME RICHARD AND THE SERAPIS. THERE
WERE MARINE SNIPERS IN THE RIGGING AND THEY HAD THE MARINES PUT
X'S ON THEIR HATS SO THEY WOULDN'T GET SHOT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535
BELIEF -- Sign Color

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HAUNTED HOUSE

IN BARABOO, WISCONSIN, WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG, THERE WAS A
HAUNTED HOUSE ON OUR BLOCK AND WE KEPT SEEING PEOPLE IN WHITE
WALKING AROUND IN THERE, AND DOGS HOWLING UP THERE AT NIGHT.

Where learned: WISCONSIN ; SUN PRAIRIE ; BARABOO

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Sign Color

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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GHOSTLY LIGHT

IN BOSTON, IT IS SAID THAT THERE ARE NIGHTS WHEN THE LIGHT CAN BE
SEEN FROM THE NORTH CHURCH--THE CHURCH FROM WHICH CAME THE SIGNAL
BY LIGHT THAT THE BRITISH WERE COMING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): PAUL REVERE

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Sign Color

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TALE

WHEN PAT'S PARENTS FIRST LIVED IN THEIR NEW HOUSE, THEY COULD
HEAR MOANS AND CRIES IN THEIR BEDROOM. THEY LATER FOUND OUT
THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD DIED AND REMAINED THERE FOR SEVERAL
DAYS UNTIL FOUND. THE MOANS CONTINUED UNTIL THE NAME OF THE
PREVIOUS OWNER WAS REMOVED FROM THE MAILBOX.

Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Sign Color

Date learned: 11-24-1967

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THE FLAG OF MACEDONIA

THE FLAG OF MACEDONIA IS BLACK AND RED BECAUSE THE COUNTRY'S
HISTORY HAS BEEN SHROUDED IN THE BLOOD AND DESPAIR OF THE PEOPLE.
THIS HAS BEEN LEGEND SINCE ALEXANDER THE GREAT CURSED MACEDON.

Submitter comment: JIM LEARNED THIS FROM HIS GRANDPARENTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Curse
BELIEF -- Sign Color

Date learned: 10-15-1967

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A GIRL WITH RED HAIR

IF A GIRL WITH RED HAIR COMES TO YOUR HOUSE ON MONDAY. THERE WILL BE
CONFUSION ALL WEEK. MARYLOU'S INFORMANT WAS BEATRICE SAYAS 38 MARRIED
BLACK-AMERICAN, LIVING IN DETROIT ORIGINALLY FROM NEW ORLEANS

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Sign Color

Date learned: 11-08-1972

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DEATH

IF A HUSBAND DIES, THE WIFE MUST WEAR BLACK OR SHE WILL DIE TOO.

Submitter comment: HE CONSIDERS THIS A MALTESE BELIEF.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Sign Color

Date learned: 03-21-1975

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SHAMROCK BELIEF

THE SHAMROCK HAS BECOME ONE OF THE NATIONAL EMBLEMS OF IRELAND.
THE FOUR LEAFED VARIETY IS MUCH RARER AND IS SAID TO BE FOUND
ONLY WHERE THE MARE DROPS THE FIRST FOAL. IT IS SAID TO
HAVE SPECIAL POWERS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL PLANT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Sign Color

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IRISH BELIEF ABOUT THE MOON

WHENEVER THE MOON IS RED IT MEANS THERE WILL BE BLOODSHED.

Submitter comment: THIS ITEM WAS GIVEN TO MRS. CHESNEY BY MATILDA MELLON, HER MOTHER,
WHO WAS AN IRISH IMMIGRANT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS

James Callow Keyword(s): INTERNAL RHYME ; SYMBOL ; SYMPATHETIC MAGIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Moon
BELIEF -- Sign Color
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control

Date learned: 09-16-1975

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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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LENT

RED WINE IS TAKEN AT DINNER ON EVERY SUNDAY OF LENT EXCEPT THE THIRD.
WHITE WINE IS THEN TAKEN.
(MY UNCLE'S FRIEND WAS THE SOURCE OF THIS)

Submitter comment: ( THIS IS ) NOT NECESSARILY ( A GERMAN CUSTOM ).

Where learned: DETROIT ; 5254 HEREFORD ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM

Subject headings: 663 Lent
BELIEF -- Sign Color
BELIEF -- Number

Date learned: 00001960S

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SOME CATHOLIC FAMILIES, MAINLY THOSE OF EASTERN-EUROPEAN BACKGROUNDS,
COVER THE FAMILY CRUCIFIX WITH A BLACK CLOTH ON GOOD FRIDAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY ; 6312 ELIZABETH

Subject headings: 663 Good Friday
Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Sign Color

Date learned: 11-21-1971

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GOOD FRIDAY

IN ST. CROIX, VIRGIN ISLANDS, GOOD FRIDAY IS OBSERVED IN THE
STRICTEST MANNER. EVERYONE WEARS BLACK ALL DAYS ( DAY ) AND ACTS AS
IF A VERY CLOSE RELATIVE HAS JUST DIED. THEY ARE VERY RELIGIOUS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 7015 EATON ; 48238

Subject headings: 663 Good Friday
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Sign Color

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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IF YOU HAVE LITTLE WHITE MARKS UNDER YOUR FINGERNAILS, EACH ONE
SIGNIFIES A WHITE LIE.

Where learned: MISSOURI ; SAINT JOSEPH

Keyword(s): LYING

Subject headings: Spirit / Mind / Body
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Sign Color

Date learned: 10-05-1976

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CUSTOM: MOTHER'S DAY

IT'S CUSTOMARY TO WEAR A FLOWER ON MOTHER'S DAY, WHICH IS A SPECIAL
DAY SET ASIDE FOR MOTHER'S (SIC). THE FLOWERS MAY BE WORN EITHER
BY MAN OR WOMAN. A WHITE FLOWER IS WORN IF YOUR MOTHER IS DECEASED,
AND A RED OR PINK FLOWER IS WORN IF YOUR MOTHER IS ALIVE.

Submitter comment: FLOWERS ON MOTHER'S DAY. BUT THE INFORMANT KNOWS OTHER PEOPLE OTHER
THAN HIS MOTHER WHO WEAR FLOWERS ON MOTHER'S DAY.
INFORMANT KNOWS THIS FROM HIS MOTHER WHO MADE IT A PRACTICE TO WEAR

Data entry tech comment: MOTHER'S DAY: SECOND SUNDAY IN MAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 21 equinox to June 20
BELIEF -- Sign Color

Date learned: 11-08-1971

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BELIEF

HER GRANDMOTHER WOULD PLANT A RELIGIOUS STATUE IN THE GROUND OF (SIC)
WHICH SHE WAS PLANNING TO PURCHASE SO THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS WOULD
GO THROUGH.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): MAGICAL USE OF STATUE

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business
BELIEF -- Sign Color

Date learned: 09-00-1967

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