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WEATHER BELIEF AND PRECAUTION

NEVER TOUCH METAL WHEN IT IS RAINING OR YOU WILL BE ELECTROCUTED.

Submitter comment:

THE INFORMANT HAD WITNESSED THIS MANY TIMES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 00-00-1963

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VITAMIN BELIEF

IF YOU EAT YELLOW VEGETABLES LIKE CARROTS, SQUASH, WAX BEANS,
YOUR EYES WILL BE STRONG AND YOU WILL HAVE GOOD VISION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): VITAMIN A CONTENT

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable
Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye
BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 03-31-1971

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SHAKER LAKE BELIEF

MANY PEOPLE HAVE DROWNED IN SHAKER LAKE AROUND CLEVELAND, OHIO.
BECAUSE OF THIS, NO ONE WILL SWIM THERE, BECAUSE IT IS BELIEVED
THAT ANYONE WHO DOES WILL DROWN.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; Wittman, Dave

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cleveland ; Drown ; Lake ; OHIO ; Shaker Lake ; SUPERSTITION ; WATER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Still water Small body.
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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GROWTH BELIEF

IN THE UKRAINE IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF A SMALL CHILD IS LYING
DOWN AND A PERSON JUMPS OVER THEM, THE CHILD WON'T GROW.
BUT IF THE PERSON JUMPS BACK OVER AGAIN, THEN WALKS AROUND HIM, HE
WILL GROW NORMALLY.

Submitter comment: BELIEF STILL HIGHLY RESPECTED, HEARD FROM GRANDPARENTS.
BY INFORMANT IN UKRAINE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; RITUAL

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

Date learned: 10-01-1967

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SUPERSTITION

WHEN YOU ARE IN A CAR, AND GOING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS,
YOU MUST PUT YOUR HAND FLAT AGAINST THE ROOF OF THE CAR, OR
YOU WILL LOSE YOUR SEX APPEAL.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 02-02-1971

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PREGNANCY BELIEF

MANY FEMALE PATIENTS EXPLAIN THEIR BAD TEETH AS BEING THE
RESULT OF CHILD BEARING. MANY MORE ASK THEIR DENTISTS IF HAVING
CHILDREN WILL CAUSE THEIR TEETH TO FALL OUT.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS A DENTIST WHO HEARD THE MATTER FROM HIS PATIENTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-22-1965

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AVOID THE MAIN DISH

IF ONE'S FORK IS ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE PLACE-SETTING AT A DINING
TABLE THAT PERSON IS GOING TO GET SICK FROM THE COOK'S FOOD; THEY
SHOULD AVOID EATING THE MAIN DISH.

Submitter comment: I RECENTLY ASKED MY MOTHER ABOUT THIS SAYING SEEING THAT SHE WORKS
WITH A CATERING SERVICE. I THOUGHT SHE MAY HAVE HAD SOME KNOWLEDGE OF
THIS MATTER;, HOWEVER SHE HAS "NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING."

Where learned: WASHINGTON DC

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Food
Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

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JAMAICAN CEMETERY BELIEF

YOU MUST NEVER POINT AT A GRAVEYARD OR YOUR FINGER WILL FALL OFF.

Submitter comment: DONALD LEE LEARNED THIS ITEM IN BUFF BAY, JAMAICA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Cemetery
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 10-31-1975

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JAMAICAN MUMP PREVENTION IN ANIMALS

TO KEEP PUPPIES FROM GETTING MUMPS PUT RED CLOTH AROUND THEIR NECKS.

Submitter comment: DONALD LEE LEARNED THIS ITEM IN BUFF BAY, JAMAICA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; COLOR

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

Date learned: 10-31-1975

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DURING STRENUOUS PRACTICE SESSIONS OR DURING GAMES, PARTICIPATING
BASKETBALL PLAYERS NEVER DRINK WATER. THEY FEAR THIS WOULD CAUSE
THEIR STOMACHS TO BE BOGGED DOWN AND WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THEIR
PLAY. INSTEAD THEY COOL OFF BY POURING A STEADY STREAM OF COLD WATER
ON THEIR WRISTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION ; SPORTS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-00-1975

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DRINKING STROHS BEER, MORE SO THAN INBIBING ANY OTHER BREW, WILL
RESULT IN THE PERSON GETTING A HANGOVER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ; PROPAGANDA

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

Date learned: 10-00-1975

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A WOMAN MUST NOT TRIP OVER ANY TYPE CORD DURING PREGNANCY. IF THE
EXPECTANT MOTHER WAS TO BE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO DO SO, THE UMBILICAL
CORD WOULD WRAP AROUND THE UNBORN CHILD'S NECK AND THE BABY WOULD BE
STRANGLED TO DEATH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL ; SYMPATHETIC MAGIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-00-1975

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EASTER BELIEF

YOU WILL BE HEALTHY ALL YEAR ROUND IF ON EASTER MORNING
YOU GET UP EARLY AND SWIM IN WATER.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 48219 ; 16785 WESTBROOK

Keyword(s): WATER

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 02-18-1971

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BELIEF: (MEDICAL)

IF ON EASTER MORNING YOU GO TO A RIVER FOR WATER, AND NEVER
LOOK SIDEWAYS OR BACKWARDS OR SPEAK TO ANYONE, AND MAKE IT BACK
HOME BEFORE SUNRISE, YOU WILL HAVE HEALING WATER TO USE FOR A
WHOLE YEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY

Keyword(s): HEALTH ; WATER

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-31-1969

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EASTER MORNING RITUAL (OR CUSTOM)

ON EASTER MORNING, AFTER RESURRECTION MASS, THE FAMILY WOULD ALL
GATHER FOR BREAKFAST, MADE UP OF THE THINGS FOUND IN THE SWIECONKA
(EASTER BASKET BLESSED AT CHURCH ON HOLY SATURDAY).
MY FATHER WOULD TAKE ONE OF THE BOILED, PEELED EGGS (BLESSED) AND CUT
IT INTO FIVE PIECES--ONE FOR EACH MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. THEN HE
WOULD TAKE A PIECE OF RAW HORSERADISH (SCRAPED CLEAN THE PREVIOUS
DAY) AND GIVE EACH OF US A PIECE OF IT. A LOAF OF RYE BREAD WAS CUT
AND DISTRIBUTED TO EACH OF US (IT WAS A TINY LOAF, MADE ESPECIALLY
FOR THE EASTER BASKET), AS WAS THE KIELBASA, BUTTER AND COFFEE CAKE.
AFTER EACH OF US HAD AT LEAST A TINY PIECE OF EACH OF THE ABOVE, WE
WERE ALLOWED TO HAVE LARGER PORTIONS OF THE NON-BLESSED FOOD.
HOWEVER, ONE OF THE RITUALS THAT MY DAD WOULD GO THROUGH WAS TAKING
A WHOLE, BLESSED EGG (BOILED AND PEELED) AND RUBBING IT ON HIS JAW,
FROM LEFT EAR TO HIS CHIN THEN TO THE RIGHT EAR, THEN BACK AGAIN TO
THE LEFT. THIS, HE TOLD US, WOULD WARD OFF TOOTHACHES.

Submitter comment: AS FAR AS I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE, MY FATHER GOT THIS CUSTOM
FROM HIS PARENTS WHO WERE BORN AND RAISED IN POLAND. MY FATHER CAME
TO AMERICA IN 1914, AT THE AGE OF !7.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 16156 PETOSKEY

Keyword(s): FAMILY UNITY ; FOOD CUSTOM ; SWIECZONKA

Subject headings: 663 Holy Saturday
Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 04-00-1965

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YUGOSLAVIAN EASTER CUSTOM

ON EASTER MONDAY, CROATIAN CHILDREN WOULD GO FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE
CARRYING AN ORANGE, AND THEIR NEIGHBORS WOULD STICK DIMES OR NICKELS
INTO THE ORANGE FOR GOOD HEALTH.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector share the same surname and residence.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 19972 WHITCOMB ; informant's home

Keyword(s): BEGGING ; EASTER GIFTS ; FOOD CUSTOM ; HEALTH

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Monday Dyngus
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: (VARIOUS DATES)

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CUSTOM

EATING THE DESSERT FIRST AT ANY MEAL IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH.

Submitter comment: INFORMANTS FATHER USED TO PRACTICE THIS CUSTOM. HE BROUGHT IT WITH
HIM FROM A GERMAN SETTLEMENT AROUND PITTSBURGH.

Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.
Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert
BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-00-1976

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CUSTOM

PUTTING A RAW EGG IN YOUR SOUP IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH.

Submitter comment: INFORMANTS FATHER USED TO PRACTICE THIS CUSTOM. HE BROUGHT IT WITH
HIM FROM A GERMAN SETTLEMENT NEAR PITTSBURGH.

Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Mixed preparation in liquid
Food Drink -- Animal product Egg
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-00-1976

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RELIGIOUS CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

CALLED THE OPLATKI. IT IS A BLESSED WAFER ON WHICH YOU PUT HONEY AND
A WALNUT. A GOOD WALNUT REPRESENTS GOOD HEALTH. THEY ALSO USED TO
PUT GARLIC ON IT TO CHASE AWAY THE EVIL SPIRITS. SHE SAID THAT THIS
TASTED AWFUL.

Submitter comment: THIS IS A SLOVAK CUSTOM THAT IS HARD TO PRACTICE BECAUSE OF THE
DIFFICULTY IN ACQUIRING A BLESSED HOST.

Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20
Food Drink -- Plant food Nut
BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-00-1976

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IF AT COMMUNION YOU BITE THE HOST, BLOOD WILL COME OUT OF YOUR
MOUTH AND NOSE AND YOU WILL DIE.

Submitter comment: ENTIRELY FALSE--I TRIED IT THE NEXT DAY.

Where learned: MISSOURI ; SAINT JOSEPH

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Church
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: CA09001965

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