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BELIEF-DAILY LIFE
IF YOUR LEFT PALM ITCHES, YOU WILL RECEIVE A LETTER.
Submitter comment:
LEARNED FROM HER SCHOOL FRIENDS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: INDIANA ; South Bend
Keyword(s): Hand ; ITCH ; Palm ; PREDICTION ; SIGN ; SYMBOL ; Visitor
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching hands and feet |
Date learned: 11-23-1967
PENNSYLVANIA GERMANS (NATIONALITY GROUP)
A COLONY OF AMISH PEOPLE NOW LIVE IN COLON, MICHIGAN. THEY MOVED
HERE FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO ESCAPE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TEACHERS NOT
HAVING CERTIFICATES. NOW THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM IN COLON.
ONE CAN TELL AN AMISH HOUSE IN COLON, MICH. BECAUSE THE WINDOWS
NEVER HAVE CURTAINS. THEY ONLY HAVE SHADES. THERE IS NO ELECTRICITY
OR LUXURIES IN THEIR HOUSES. THE PEOPLE OFTEN TAKE THEIR
HORSE AND BUGGY TO THE LOCAL SUPERMARKET, LEAVING THE HORSE TIED
TO A HITCHING POST OFF TO THE SIDE. THEY WILL NEVER BUY FOOD WITH
PRESERVATIVES AND PREFER TO EAT A RATHER THICK TASTING BREAD.
THE INFORMANT SAID THAT SHE TASTED THE BREAD AND COULD NOT STAND
MORE THAN A FEW BITES BECAUSE IT WAS SO RICH.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT FIRST LEARNED OF THE AMISH WHILE GOING TO A FAMILY
COTTAGE IN COLON, MICH. IN 1978. HER DESCRIPTION SOUNDS TYPICAL OF
THE CLASSIC PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH ATTIRE AND ATTITUDE. SIMPLICITY
AND KEEPING TO OLD TRADITIONS ARE INHERENT TO HER DESCRIPTION.
UPON VISITING COLON WITH THE INFORMANT, THE COLLECTOR NOTICED THE
SAME CUSTOMS. ONE HEARS ON THE NEWS ABOUT THE CURRENT PROBLEMS
WITH TEACHING, STRESSING THAT NEW DIFFICULTIES ARE ALWAYS ARISING
WITH THE AMISH.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
Keyword(s): Amish ; BREAD ; Buggy ; Curtains ; GERMAN ; HORSE ; Preservatives ; Shades ; Simplicity ; Technology
Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Daily Life CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School Food Drink -- Plant food Cereal BELIEF -- P439 |
Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; 00-00-1978
WHY IS A BARBER POLE RED AND WHITE STRIPED? RED STANDS
FOR BLOOD AND WHITE STANDS FOR BANDAGES BECAUSE THE BARBER
ALWAYS DID THE BLEEDING FOR ALL KINDS OF AILMENTS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; ROCKWOOD
Keyword(s): Ailments ; Bandages ; Barber ; Barber Pole ; Bleeding ; COLOR ; CURE ; DISEASE ; HAIR ; ILLNESS ; Pole ; PREVENTION ; Red ; SICKNESS ; Signal ; Symbolize ; White
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Color BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 07-28-1968
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LANGUAGE OF ISRAEL: NO REAL NATIONAL LANGUAGE
MANY YEARS LATER, A PUPIL OF ELIEZER BEN-YEHUDA'S DECIDED TO GO
AND PINPOINT WHAT THE JEWISH PEOPLE USED FOR THEIR NATIONAL
LANGUAGE. SINCE THEY WERE ALL CAREFUL IN ORDINARY SPEAKING, THIS
PUPIL DECIDED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO FIND OUT HOW THE PEOPLE REALLY
SPOKE WOULD BE TO CATCH THEM WITH THEIR TONGUES OFF GUARD. SO ONE
DAY HE WENT TO A JEWISH SCHOOL IN JERUSALEM AND WAITED UNTIL ONE
OF THE SMALLEST BOYS CAME OUT INTO THE PLAYGROUND. THE PUPIL
WALKED UP TO HIM FROM BEHIND AND ROUGHLY KNOCKED THE LITTLE BOY'S
HAT OFF. THE PUPIL EXPECTED THE BOY TO CRY OUT "MOTHER," EITHER
SAYING "IMMA," WHICH IS HEBREW, OR "MAMALE," WHICH IS YIDDISH,
BUT INSTEAD THE LITTLE BOY PICKED UP HIS HAT, FACED BEN-YEHUDA'S
PUPIL SQUARELY AND HISSED "HAMAR" (ASSHOLE), WHICH IS THE SAME
IN BOTH LANGUAGES. SO BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT, THEN, WE STILL
DO NOT KNOW IF ISRAEL'S NATIONAL LANGUAGE IS HEBREW OR YIDDISH.
Data entry tech comment:
Beginning of tale is missing.
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Culture ; ETYMOLOGY ; Hebrew ; Israel ; Jewish ; Language ; Origin ; Yiddish
Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being SPEECH -- Folk etymology PROVERB -- V620 |
LANGUAGE OF ISRAEL: ELIEZER BEN-YEHUDA AND THE FORMATION OF
THE INFORMANT TOLD ME THE STORY OF ELIEZER BEN-YEHUDA, THE MAN WHO
COMPILED THE MODERN HEBREW LANGUAGE. BEN-YEHUDA FOUND THAT THE
JEWISH PEOPLE KNEW THE MEANINGS OF ONLY 7,700 HEBREW WORDS WHEN HE
COMPILED HIS FAMOUS DICTIONARY IN THE 1800'S. BEN-YEHUDA HAD TO
MAKE UP WORDS TO FIT NEW CONCEPTS THAT DID NOT EXIST WHERE ANCIENT
HEBREW WAS USED ("CARRIAGE," ETC.) SO HE COMBINED GERMAN, HEBREW
AND ARABIC TO FORM WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS YIDDISH.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 19510 BURLINGTON
Keyword(s): ETYMOLOGY ; Hebrew ; Jewish ; Language ; Origin
Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
BATS
BATS ATTACK PEOPLE, AND PREY ON THE HUMAN BLOOD. TO COUNTERACT
THIS ATTACK ONE SHOULD WEAR A CROSS AROUND ONE'S NECK. THIS
WILL ALSO KEEP AWAY VAMPIRES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Attack ; Bats ; Cross ; Legend ; Repel ; SUPERNATURAL ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL ; Vampire
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 02-10-1972
SUPERSTITION
IF YOUR LUCK GOES BAD, WALK AROUND THE HOUSE AND LOOK FOR A HEX SIGN
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SAYS THIS IS OF GERMAN ORIGIN, AND THINKS THE HEX
SIGN IS A CIRCLE WITH A CROSS INSIDE OF IT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): ; Hex ; LUCK ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
FINGER LAKES BELIEF
THE IROQUOIS BELIEVED THAT THE FINGER LAKES OF UPPER NEW YORK STATE WERE
FORMED BY THE HAND OF GOD, DESCENDING IN BLESSING UPON THE LAND.
Submitter comment:
MR. WYATT LEARNED OF THE LEGEND WHILE LIVING IN GENEVA, NEW YORK,
HIS HOME. GENEVA IS ONE OF THE FINGER LAKES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; CREATION ; Entomology ; Finger Lakes ; God ; Indigenous ; Iroquois ; NAME ; NEW YORK
Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Meat Bred animal BELIEF -- Still water Small body. |
Date learned: 10-22-1965
HOW GOD MADE "FLUTTER-BYS"
WELL, THE LORD HAD JUST FINISHED MAKING THE WORLD AND HE SAT BACK
IN HIS BIG OL' ROCKER TO LOOK IT OVER. "NOT A BAD JOB, IF I SAY SO
MYSELF." HE LIT UP A BIG, FINE CIGAR AND WAS FEELING PRETTY GOOD
ABOUT IT UNTIL HE NOTICED THAT THE WORLD LOOKED KIND OF BARE. THE
FACT OF THE MATTER WAS THERE WASN'T A THING TO THE WORLD EXCEPT LAND,
TREES AND A LOTS OF WATER. THERE WAS EVEN MORE WATER THAN LAND.
"WONDER HOW I DID THAT," THE LORD SAID. "SEEMS TO ME I'D PLANNED FOR
THERE TO BE MORE LANDTHAN WATER." WELL, HE SHRUGGED HIS SHOULDERS AND
TURNED HIS MIND TO MAKE THE WORLD LOOK A BIT PRETTIER. "GIMME MY
PRUNING SHEARS," HE CALLED OUT AND ONE OF THE CUTE, LITTLE ANGELS RAN
AND GOT THEM. THEN THE GREAT LORD ALMIGHTY LEANED OUT OF HIS ROCKING
CHAIR, TRIMMED THE TREES, AND THREW THE TRIMMINGS ALL OVER THE EMPTY
GROUND. THAT'S WHAT MADE THE GRASS, BUSHES, AND ALL THE FLOWERS.
"NOW THAT DON'T LOOK TOO BAD," HE SAID AND LEANED BACK. "YESSIRY
I'VE DONE MADE A AWFUL PRETTY WORLD." AND SO SAYING, HE WENT TO BED
TO REST UP FROM ALL THAT WORK. THE NEXT MORNING THE LORD HADN'T EVEN
HAD ONE EYE OPEN YET, WHEN HE HEARD THE FLOWERS WHISPERING AMONG
THEMSELVES, "IT'S LONELY DOWN HERE"; THE OTHER FLOWER SAID, "WE
WERE PUT HERE TO KEEP THE GROUND COMPANY AND MAKE EVERYTHING LOOK
PRETTY, BUT IT SURE IS MIGHTY LONELY." THE LORD SHOOK HIS HEAD IN
DISGUST. "HAVE MERCY, FATHER. YOU GET THROUGH MAKING ONE THANG AND
AND THE NEXT THANG YOU KNOW YOU GOTTA MAKE SOMETHING TO GO WITH THE
FIRST. GIMME THEM LITTLE SHEARS, ONE OF YOU ANGELS, PLEASE." AN
ANGEL BROUGHT HIM THE TEENICHY PAIR OF SHEARS AND HE BENT OVER TO THE
EARTH AND STARTED SNIPPING LITTLE PIECES OFF OF EVERYTHING - THE SKY,
THE GROUND, THE TREES, THE ANIMALS, THE BUSHES, THE FLOWERS;
EVERYTHING HE PUT HIS SHEARS ON, GOT SNIPPED. "THE VERY IDEA OF
GETTING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WORLD AND IT AIN'T EVEN A DAY OLD.
THAT'S GRATITUDE." THE LORD HAD A FEELING HE WAS GOING TO BE GETTING
COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WORLD FROM THEN ON. HE WAS SO MAD THAT HE DID
NOT CARE WHAT HE SNIPPED - SNIP, SNIP, ALL MORNING LONG. WELL, WHEN
THE FOLKS LOOKED UP AND SAW THE TINY CLIPPINGS FLUTTERING AROUND.
THEY CALLED THEM FLUTTER-BYS. THE BLUE FLUTTER-BYS HAD BEEN SNIPPED
FROM THE SKY; THE YELLOW FLUTTER-BYS HAD BEEN CLIPPINGS FROM THE SUN;
AND THERE WERE THE LORD'S WHITE FLUTTER-BYS THAT WERE CLIPPINGS FROM
THE STARS. EVERY COLOR FLUTTER-BY YOU COULD THINK OF WAS FLUTTERING
AROUND.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS ANOTHER LONG NARRATIVE WITH A STRONG BLACK IMAGE, AS REFERRED
TO IN MY COLLECTION'S SEQUENCE NUMBER 731772-1; I GET THE
IMPRESSION THAT THIS IS A BLACK GOD.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Butterfly ; CREATION ; ETYMOLOGY ; God ; NAME ; Origin ; PERSONIFICATION ; Tale
James Callow Keyword(s): PERSONIFICATION
Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Animal Life SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 00-00-1954
WHISTLING
GIRLS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WHISTLE BECAUSE THE BLESSED MOTHER
WOULD TURN HER HEAD AND CRY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS BY HER MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG.
SHE PRACTICED THIS WHEN YOUNG, BUT DOES NOT BELIEVE IN THE
TRUTH OF IT NOW. (1920s).
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH ; informant's home
Keyword(s): Blessed Mother ; BLESSED VIRGIN ; Cry ; Female ; Feminine ; Girls ; Holy Mother ; Ladylike ; Whistle
James Callow Keyword(s): VANITY
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Extra Corporal Means of Communication |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
SCHOOL BELIEF
IT IS BELIEVED THAT GETTING TOTALLY DRUNK THE NIGHT BEFORE A
PSYCHOLOGY TEST WILL BRING A PASSING GRADE ON THE TEST.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT AND HIS ROOMMATE FOLLOWED THIS FOR THREE
TESTS AND RECEIVED THREE PASSING GRADES OF B OR BETTER,
HOWEVER THE INFORMANT LATER DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL DUE TO POOR GRADES.
Data entry tech comment:
Told at the University of Scranton 1969-1970.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON ; SCRANTON
James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School |
Date learned: 00001969-00001970
ASTROLOGICAL BELIEF
EVERY TIME A SCORPIO IS BORN, A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY HAS DIED THE
YEAR BEFORE, AND EVERY TIME ONE DIES, THERE WILL BE A BIRTH IN THAT
FAMILY WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ASTROLOGICAL SIGN FOR PERSONS BORN 10-24--11-22.
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Crucial Moment of Life Life Cycle BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-00-1969
FERTILITY
SOME SYRIAN WOMEN BELIEVE THAT A MARK TATOOED IN THE GROIN
AREA WILL MAKE THEM MORE FERTILE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Mount Carmel Hospital
Keyword(s): TATTOO
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Lower body, legs BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- P866 |
Date learned: 08-00-1969
CROATION PREGNANCY BELIEF
A PREGNANT WOMAN SHOULDN'T EAT APPLES BECAUSE IT WILL CAUSE HARM
TO THE CHILD.
Submitter comment:
HER MOTHER-IN-LAW TOLD HER THIS AS IT WAS AN OLD CROATION BELIEF.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; collector's home
James Callow Keyword(s): APPLE AS ORIGINAL SIN SYMBOL ; HOMEOPATHIC
Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-07-1970
UNIVERSITY BELIEF
THERE IS A TRADITION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN THAT IF
YOU STEP ON THE "M" EMBLAZED IN THE CROSSROADS OF THE SCHOOL,
YOU WILL FLUNK YOUR NEXT EXAM.
Submitter comment:
WHEN A STUDENT AT U OF M, THE INFORMANT TRIED TO DISPROVE THE
TRADITION BY STEPPING ON THE "M" AFTER STUDYING FOR A TEST AND
FEELING FAIRLY CONFIDENT. SHE FAILED HER EXAM.
Data entry tech comment:
THERE IS ANOTHER LIKE THIS IN THE ARCHIVE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; HOLDEN HALL ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EDUCATION ; SYMBOL ; WALKING PROHIBITION
Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- School |
Date learned: 12-01-1967
WHEN THE DEVIL BEATS HIS WIFE IN HUNGARY
IN HUNGARY, WHEN IT IS BOTH SUNNY AND RAINING, THE PEOPLE
SAY THAT THE DEVIL IS BEATING HIS WIFE. THE SUN REPRESENTS HIS
LAUGHING AND THE RAIN BEING HER TEARS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD FROM GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOLISM
Subject headings: | Air / Weather / Fire BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Sending red roses to someone implies a serious relationship -- yellow roses are for friendship.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Plant |
When I was in junior high, there was a "belief" that was followed religiously and carelessness elicited much ridicule: one did not wear green on Thursday because that meant he/she was queer. Red clothing on Friday signified that a girl was pregnant.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Informant probably first learned this in Houston, Texas.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; TEXAS ; NASHVILLE ; HOUSTON
Keyword(s): COLOR
Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern BELIEF -- P5 |
TOMATO BELIEF
IF YOU EAT TOO MANY TOMATOES, YOUR SKIN WILL TURN RED.
Submitter comment:
Cause of illness.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: OHIO ; NORTH OLMSTED
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
Get Rid of Those Black Mushrooms
BOIL MUSHROOMS WITH A COIN AND IF THE COIN TURNS BLACK, THE MUSHROOMS ARE POISONOUS.
Submitter comment:
WE WERE STUDYING ABOUT MUSHROOMS IN MY EDUCATION CLASS, AND DR. THORDEN MADE THIS STATEMENT IN A JOKING WAY, SO I WROTE IT DOWN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; education class
James Callow Keyword(s): TOADSTOOLS ; UNSAFE PRACTICE
Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 10-22-1969