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James T. Callow Computerized Folklore Archive
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IF A PERSON, WHILE DRESSING, PUTS ONE SOCK ON BACKWARDS, IT'S
VERY GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)

Date learned: 07-25-1968

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ALWAYS NAIL A HORSESHOE UPSIDE DOWN SO THE LUCK WON'T RUN OUT.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck Horseshoe

Date learned: 08-02-1968

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IF YOU PUT YOUR SHIRT ON BACKWARDS, IT IS BAD LUCK.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)

Date learned: 08-02-1968

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IF A SCREECH OWL OR A WHIP-POOR-WILL CRIES NEAR THE HOUSE,
YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK UNLESS YOU TURN YOUR COAT WRONG SIDE OUT
AND HANG IT ON THE DOOR KNOB. IN THE WINTER, YOU CAN STICK
THE SHOVEL IN THE FIRE UNTIL THE OWL IS QUIET.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; WILLIAMSON COUNTY

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Measure of time Winter
BELIEF -- Bad luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)
BELIEF -- Bad luck Animals
BELIEF -- Conversions Animals

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IF A RABBIT CROSSES ROAD IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU HAVE TO BREAK
STRING TO WARD OFF BAD LUCK, IF HE CROSSED TO LEFT. IF HE
CROSSED TO THE RIGHT, YOU TURN YOUR HAT AROUND UNTIL YOU GET
PASSED WHERE HE CROSSED. I'VE SEEN UNCLE BILLY DO THIS LOTS
OF TIMES. ANY KIND OF A STRING WOULD WORK--A THREAD OR ANYTHING.

Where learned: KENTUCKY ; HERNDON

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck Animals
BELIEF -- Conversions Objects
BELIEF -- Conversions Gestures

Date learned: 07-20-1968

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ALWAYS PUT ON LEFT SHOE FIRST.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)

Date learned: 08-00-1968

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BLACK CAT CURSE

TO BREAK THE CURSE OF A BLACK CAT, WHILE DRIVING, LICK YOUR
FINGERS, MAKE A CROSS IN THE UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE
WINDSHIELD.

Where learned: CENTERVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications

Date learned: 07-26-1968

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IF YOU PUT YOUR CLOTHES ON BACKWARDS, IT IS BAD LUCK.

Where learned: HAMPSHIRE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)

Date learned: 07-25-1968

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IF A BROOM FALLS IN FRONT OF YU, NEVER STEP OVER IT, PICK
IT UP. IT IS BAD LUCK IF YOU STEP OVER IT.

Where learned: CENTERVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck Broom Sweeping

Date learned: 07-19-1968

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WHEN A BLACK CAT CROSSES IN FRONT OF YOU, TURN YOUR HAT AROUND AND
SPIT OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER TO BREAK THE SPELL.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PRIMM SPRINGS

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance
BELIEF -- Conversions Animals
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 07-19-1968

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WHEN YOU SPILL SALT, THROW A PINCH OF IT OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER
FOR GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PRIMM SPRINGS

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Flavoring
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Good luck Food and drink
BELIEF -- Conversions Food and drink

Date learned: 07-26-1968

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IF ANY GARMENT IS INADVERTENTLY PUT ON WRONG-SIDE OUT, YOU
CHANGE IT AT GREAT RISK OF A CATASTROPHE IF DONE BEFORE THE
EXPECTED TIME OF REMOVAL.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PULASKI

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)

Date learned: 07-20-1968

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IT'S BAD LUCK TO LOOK BACK OVER YOUR SHOULDER.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PULASKI

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck Body parts and functions

Date learned: 07-27-1968

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IF YOU SEE A BLACK CAT, TURN YOUR RING OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; MOUNT PLEASANT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; REVERSAL

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color
BELIEF -- Bad luck Jewelry (gems, rings, etc.)
BELIEF -- Bad luck Animals
BELIEF -- Conversions Animals

Date learned: 07-21-1968

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IF THE FOUNTAIN BLOWS STRAIGHT UP, IT WILL BE A SUNNY DAY, IF IT
BLOWS TO ONE SIDE, SO THAT YOU CAN SEE TWO STREAMS (DRAWING ON
5X8 CARD DEPICTING THE DIFFERENCE), IT WILL BE A CLOUDY DAY.

Submitter comment: THERE IS A HUGE FOUNTAIN IN LAKE GENEVA; IT SHOOTS HUNDREDS

Where learned: GENEVA ; SWITZERLAND

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Weather sign or control
BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon

Date learned: 08-00-1966

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WHEN A MULLEIN STALK BEGINS BLOOMING, BEND IT IN THE DIRECTION
THAT YOUR SWEETHEART LIVES. IF AFTER IT HAS BEEN BENT TO THE
GROUND, IT STRAIGHTENS UP AND LIVES, YOUR SWEETHEART LOVES YOU.
IF IT DIES, YOUR SWEETHEART DOESN'T LOVE YOU.

Where learned: ALABAMA ; FLORENCE

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Use of object for determining true love

Date learned: 06-21-1970

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DURING THE 1930'S THE FAD OF TREE SITTING SWEPT THE COUNTRY.
PRACTICALLY EVERY COMMUNITY HAD A TREE SITTER, AND THERE WAS
A CONTEST OF TRYING TO BREAK PREVIOUS RECORDS. IN ASHLAND,
KENTUCKY, WE HAD SEVERAL TREE SITTERS OVER A PERIOD OF TWO OR
THREE YEARS. THE ONE I REMEMBER MOST VIVIDLY ENDED IN TRAGEDY.
A BOY WHO HAD FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND A
JOB DUE TO THE DEPRESSION, BUILT A PLATFORM ABOUT THIRTY FEET
FROM THE GROUND IN A LARGE TREE. HE MADE SOME PROVISION FOR
SHELTER AND HAD DEVISED A PULLEY BY WHICH HIS FAMILY SENT HIS
FOOD AND OTHER NECESSITIES UP IN A BUCKET. THE TOWN PEOPLE
WOULD DRIVE BY AND TALK TO HIM OR WALK UP AND SPEND AN HOUR
OR SO IN THE AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING. HE HAD BEEN
UP THE TREE FOR ABOUT FORTY DAYS AND A STORM CAME UP ONE
NIGHT. EVIDENTLY THE STORM FRIGHTENED HIM DURING THE NIGHT
AND HE FELL FROM THE PLATFORM. HIS FAMILY FOUND HIS
CRUMPLED BODY ON THE GROUND THE NEXT MORNING.

Where learned: KENTUCKY ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; ASHLAND

Keyword(s): POLE SITTING

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man

Date learned: 00001930 CA.

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HAINTS

SOME PEOPLE MET TWO PEOPLE IN A BUGGY ONE NIGHT. ONE OF THE
PEOPLE LOOKED LIKE A STIFF, YE MIGHT SAY, AND THEY KNEW IT
WAS A DEAD PERSON. ANYWAY, THEY GOT RIGHT EVEN WITH 'EM AND
THEY JUST VANISHED AWAY.
THIS WAS SAID TO HAVE HAPPENED, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER "HAINTS,"
AT A CERTAIN POINT OUTSIDE OF PLEASANT SHADE, AND ONE OF MY
GREAT UNCLE'S SONS LIVES THERE NOW.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): SPIRIT SPECTER

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 07-06-1973

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HAINTS

A NEIGHBOR IN PLEASANT SHADE, RIDING HOME FROM COURTIN' ONE
NIGHT, WAS SURPRISED TO HAVE HIS HORSE STOP. HE COULDN'T GET
THE HORSE TO GO FORWARD AT ALL, AND THE HORSE NEVER WOULD GO
PAST THAT SPOT AGAIN.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): SPIRIT SPECTER

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 07-06-1973

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A FRIEND'S EXPERIENCE (RELATED AS A TRUE STORY)

THERE WAS A FRIEND OF OURS, HE STUTTERED--REALLY STUTTERED.
HE SAID THAT THERE WAS A 'HAINT' SOMEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.
ANYWAY, THERE WAS A CERTAIN PLACE THEY COULD GO, AN', UH,
THEY DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING, BUT THEY COULD JUST SENSE SOMETHIN',
AN' THE DOG WOULD EVEN GET SCARED, Y'KNOW. SO THIS PARTICULAR
TIME HE WENT OUT, AN', UH, HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS--HE
COULD HEAR IT, BUT HE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. AN', UH, THE DOG
STARTED TO THE HOUSE, AN' HIM RIGHT AFTER IT, Y'KNOW, THE
DOG WAS SO SCARED HE KNEW THERE HAD TO BE SOMETHIN', AN' HE SAID,
"THET DOG WAS GOIN' JUST AS FAST AS HE COULD, AN' ME RIGHT AFTER
HIM," HE SAID, "WHEN THET DOG HIT THE BOTTOM DOORSTEP I HIT
THE TOP ONE! EVERY TIME OL' BOUNCE'S FEET HIT THE GROUND THEY
WENT MUGWUMP!"

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): SPIRIT SPECTER

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man
SPEECH -- Phonology Phonetics

Date learned: 07-06-1973

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