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BELIEF LUCK

IF YOU BEND BACKWARDS AND KISS THE BLARNEY STONE IN IRELAND YOU WILL
HAVE GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CONTORTION ; POSITION DIRECTION BACKWARDS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck P881.1
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 06-00-1972

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CURE FOR WARTS

TO GET RID OF WARTS, RUB A FRESHLY PICKED MUSHROOM ON THE WART AND
THROW IT OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER. THE WART WILL DISAPPEAR IN 2 DAYS.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID AN OLD GERMAN TOLD HIM THIS WHEN HE WAS} YOUNG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): LEFT DIRECTION POSITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 10-03-1972

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DON'T TURN YOUR HAT BIBB BACKWARD. THIS IS UNLUCKY.

Submitter comment: BIBB= BRIM.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION OR POSITION: BACKWARDS ; WEARING CLOTHES: HAT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 10-00-1972

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IF YOU PUT A GARNET ON THE WRONG SIDE, HAVE SOME ELSE TO TAKE IT
OFF. IT WOULD BE BAD LUCK FOR YOU TO DO SO.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): GARMENT? ; POSITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 09-08-1972

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MY BACK IS BREAKING, MY GIRDLE'S TOO TIGHT, MY HIPS ARE SHAKING
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. LEFT, RIGHT...

Submitter comment: THIS IS USE TO TEACH CHILDREN THEIR LEFT FROM THEIR RIGHT SIDES.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; POSITION--LEFT AND RIGHT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: 08-04-1972

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A HORSESHOE OVER THE DOORS IN YOUR HOUSE WILL RID IT OF EVIL
SPIRITS.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.12

Date learned: 10-09-1972

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PUT A PENNY OVER THE DOORS IN YOUR HOUSE FOR GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck P881.15

Date learned: 00-00-1960

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PICTURE MAGIC

IF THE PERSON YOU LIKE IS STRAYING AWAY TAKE HIS PICTURE AND PUT IT
IN SOME WATER FACE DOWN. THIS WILL MAKE HIM STAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color

Date learned: 09-00-1172

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CLOTHES

NEVER HANG CLOTHES BACKWARDS OR SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN TO THEM.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Custom

Date learned: CA1963-1975

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HORSESHOES

NEVER HANG A HORSESHOE UPSIDE DOWN BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS THE
DEVIL'S HORNS.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ;

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION ; SYMBOL

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms

Date learned: CA1963-1975

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SHOES

LEAVING SHOES IN THE WRONG ORDER BRINGS BAD LUCK.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ;

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: CA1963-1975

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HORSESHOE

THROW A HORSESHOE OVER YOUR SHOULDER FOR GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: HOME ; SCHOOL ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.12

Date learned: CA1963-1975

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WAITRESS BELIEF ABOUT SILVERWARE

NEVER PUT SILVERWARE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF A CUSTOMER
OR YOU WON'T GET A TIP.

Submitter comment: THIS HAS A LOT TO DO WITH A RIGHTHANDED CUSTOMER
HAVING TO REACH OVER FOR HIS SILVERWARE.

Where learned: HOME ; SCHOOL ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; RIGHTHANDEDNESS ; TIPPING

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food

Date learned: CA1963-1975

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BODY PART BELIEF

IF YOUR RIGHT HAND ITCHES, YOU WILL LOSE MONEY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Spirit / Mind / Body
BELIEF -- Body part Senses

Date learned: 02-19-1972

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EYES JUMPING

IF YOUR LEFT EYE JUMPS CONSTANTLY, YOU ARE GOING TO GET MAD. IF
YOUR RIGHT EYE JUMPS, YOU ARE GOING TO BE GLAD ABOUT SOMETHING.

Submitter comment: THIS HAS TOLD TO HAVE ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO INFORMANT.

Where learned: WINSTON SALEM ; 2108 E 25TH ST

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Spirit / Mind / Body
BELIEF -- Body part Senses

Date learned: 00-00-1969

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SHOES

ONE MUST NOT LEAVE HIS SHOES ON THE FLOOR AT THE END OF ONES BED,
AS THE LEPRACHAUNS WILL COME AND DANCE IN THEM AT NIGHT.

Submitter comment:

THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY HIS GRANDFATHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION PLACEMENT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome
BELIEF -- Use of Object Human beings and their activities

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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FAIRY BELIEF

IN IRELAND,
THE FAIRIES WERE BAD TOO. THEY WOULD COME BY THE NIGHT AND MILK THE
COWS AND HAVE A PICNIC AND WHEN YOU CHURNED THE MILK YOU WOULD HAVE
NO BUTTER. THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD SHOOT THEM WAS TO PUT A SILVER
COIN IN THE GUN, ALONG WITH THE AMMUNITION. AT TWELVE MIDNIGHT,
THEY COULD TAKE YOU FOR A VERY LONG WALK AND KEEP YOU WALKING UNTIL
THE COCKS WOULD CROW AT 4 A.M. BUT YOU COULD FOOL THEM IF YOU
TURNED YOUR COAT INSIDE OUT AND BLESSED YOURSELF WITH THE SIGN OF
THE CROSS.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 03-11-1972

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BELIEF

IF YOU SPILL SALT, BE SURE TO PICK SOME OF IT UP BETWEEN THUMB
AND FIRST FINGER AND THROW IT ACROSS THE RIGHT SHOULDER. IT GOES
IN THE DEVIL'S EYES. HE WILL NOT TEMPT YOU TO DO ANYTHING WRONG.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Mineral

Date learned: 03-11-1972

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Q: WHY ARE A COWARD AND A LEAKY FAUCET THE SAME?
A: THEY BOTH RUN.

Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER VARIANT IN U OF D FOLKLORE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; HARDWARE (Q) ; METAPHORICAL NONOPPOSITIONAL

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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PRETENDED OBSCENE RIDDLE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

Q: WHAT IS A FOUR LETTER WORD FOR INTERCOURSE?
A: TALK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; COMMUNICATION (Q) ; LITERAL NONOPPOSITIONAL

James Callow Keyword(s): SEX

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 09-00-1971

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