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IF YOU COME IN THE FRONT DOOR AND LEAVE BY THE BACK
DOOR, YOU WILL HAVE COMPANY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PONTIAC

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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CHANGE YOUR PLACE AT THE TABLE, AND YOU'LL CHANGE
YOUR BOARDING HOUSE.

Where learned: LETTER

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; THREAT?

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.

Date learned: 01-30-1970

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WHEN A FORK FALLS ON THE FLOOR, COMPANY WILL COME FROM
THE DIRECTION ITS TINES POINT TO.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Observation
Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 01-30-1968

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IF A KNIFE FALLS WHILE YOU ARE EATING DINNER, IT MEANS
A MAN IS COMING TO DINNER. IF A FORK FALLS, A WOMAN
IS COMING. IF A SOUP SPOON FALLS A YOUNG LADY WILL
ARRIVE. IF A SMALL SPOON FALLS, A YOUNG CHILD IS
COMING. THE DIRECTION IN WHICH THESE IMPLEMENTS FALL
IS THE DIRECTION YOUR GUESTS WILL COME FROM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Observation
Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 04-05-1970

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IF SILVERWARE IS DROPPED, VISITORS WILL ARRIVE COMING
FROM THE DIRECTION IN WHICH THE HEAD OF THE SILVER-
WARE WAS POINTING. DROPPING A KNIFE WILL BRING A MAN;
A FORK-A BOY; A LARGE SPOON-A WOMAN; A TEASPOON-A GIRL!

Where learned: OHIO ; NORTH OLMSTED

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Observation
Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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DROPPING A UTENSIL ON THE FLOOR MEANS COMPANY IS COMING
AND THE WAY THE UTENSIL IS POINTING SHOWS THE
DIRECTION THE COMPANY WILL BE COMING FROM.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Observation
Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 10-12-1969

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IF YOU SPILL SALT AT THE TABLE, YOU ARE SURE TO
QUARREL WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND. THROW THE SALT WITH
YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER TO WARD
OFF THE EVIL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Conversions

Date learned: 09-28-1970

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IF YOU FIND A STRAIGHT PIN ON THE FLOOR WITH THE POINT
FACING TOWARDS YOU, YOU'LL HAVE GOOD LUCK THAT DAY.
IF THE HEAD IS AWAY FROM YOU, YOU'LL HAVE BAD LUCK
THAT DAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.18
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.18

Date learned: 11-15-1968

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MILITARY CADENCE SONG

YOUR MOTHER STEPS OFF WITH HER LEFT, YOU'RE RIGHT!
YOUR FATHER STEPS OFF WITH HIS LEFT, YOU'RE RIGHT!
YOUR SISTER STEPS OFF WITH HER LEFT, YOU'RE RIGHT!
YOUR BROTHER STEPS OFF WITH HIS LEFT, YOU'RE RIGHT!
YOUR MOTHER, YOUR FATHER, YOUR SISTER, YOUR BROTHER,
THEY ALL STEP OFF WITH THEIR LEFT, YOU'RE RIGHT!

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- War cries
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535

Date learned: 12-00-1974

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PRACTICAL JOKE (PIMP)

TURN EVERYTHING UPSIDEDOWN IN THE ROOM. EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE
STUFF ON THE SHELVES, DESKS, THINGS ON THE BULLETIN BOARDS, ETC.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ; EAST LANSING

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion

Date learned: 00-00-1973

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NO-SPILL-SALT

IF YOU SPILL SALT YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK UNLESS YOU DO THIS,
TAKE A HAND FULL OF SALT AND THROW IT OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER.
THIS WILL REVERSE THE BAD LUCK AND GIVE YOU GOOD LUCK.

Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED THIS FOLKLORE FROM HER CHILDHOOD DAYS OF HER HOME TOWN.
THIS SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEF IS SYMPATHETIC MAGIC BECAUSE THERE IS A
PRIMITIVE CONNECTION BETWEEN SPILLING AND THE THROWING THE SALT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; RIGHT LEFT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.17

Date learned: 00001930'S

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FRONT DOOR---PLEASE

IF YOU COME IN THE FRONT DOOR THEN YOU MUST LEAVE BY THE FRONT DOOR.
IF NOT THEN YOU WILL CAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE HOUSE
BAD LUCK FOR SURE.

Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED THIS FROM HER HOME TOWN DURING HER ADOLESCENT STAGE.
THIS SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEF IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HOME. THIS
PRACTICE KEEPS THE HOME SAFE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ENTERING LEAVING ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 00001930'S

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CHAIN LETTERS

WHEN YOU RECEIVE A CHAIN LETTER YOU SHOULD PUT IT BACK INTO THE
ENVELOPE, BURN IT ON ALL FOUR CORNERS, AND RETURN IT TO THE SENDER.

Submitter comment: I USED BOTH OF THESE METHODS AND NO BAD LUCK CAME TO ME.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Word Letter

Date learned: CA11001973

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NEVER WEAR CLOTHES ON THE WRONG SIDE ESPECIALLY UNDERGARMENTS BECAUSE
PEOPLE WILL LIE TO YOU.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): LYING ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: CA11001973

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DEATH

NEVER WALK BACKWARDS OR IT WILL CAUSE YOUR MOTHER TO DIE.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: CA11001973

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LUCK

NEVER SIT A BABY ON THE EDGE OF A TABLE TO FEED HIM BECAUSE IT
WILL CAUSE HIM TO TEETH HARD.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: CA11001973

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LUCK

LEFT HANDED PEOPLE HAVE A TENDENCY TO BE CRAZY BECAUSE THEY DO
THINGS BACKWARDS.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; UNICE

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed
BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed

Date learned: CA11001973

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LUCK

IF YOU SPILL SALT YOU SHOULD THROW SOME SALT OVER YOUR LEFT
SHOULDER TO WARD OFF BAD LUCK.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.17

Date learned: CA11001973

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LUCK

ALWAYS LAY BREAD UPRIGHT OR YOU WILL CAUSE SOMEONE TO TURN OVER IN
THEIR GRAVE.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: CA11001973

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WATCH YOUR STEP

NEVER STEP OVER A PERSON, ESPECIALLY A BABY BECAUSE YOU WILL STOP
THE PERSON FROM GROWING.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

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

Date learned: CA11001973

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