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IN THE OLD DAYS OF SAIL, IT WAS DEEMED UNLUCKY BY
THE SAILORS TO HAVE ANY WOMAN ABOARD SHIP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

James Callow Keyword(s): MARITIME ; SEXISM

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Bad luck Sex

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IT IS BAD LUCK TO GO BY A GRAVEYARD OF DEAD
SHIPS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): MARITIME

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force
BELIEF -- Bad luck Objects

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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THE LOSS OF A MOP OR BUCKET OVERBOARD WAS
BAD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS

James Callow Keyword(s): MARITIME

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force
BELIEF -- Bad luck Objects

Date learned: 10-29-1968

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IF ST. ELMO'S FIRE APPEARS AROUND A SHIP IT IS A
SURE SIGN OF BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: I SAW THIS ON TELEVISION IN "MOBY DICK."

Where learned: NEW HAMPSHIRE ; MILFORD

James Callow Keyword(s): MARITIME ; ST. ELMO, PATRON OF SAILORS.

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force
BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Fire
BELIEF -- Water
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 09-00-1967

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SEE A PIN AND PICK IT UP
ALL DAY YOU'LL HAVE GOOD LUCK.
(SEE A PIN AND LET IT LAY
CAN'T REMEMBER THE REST).

Submitter comment: THIS WAS COLLECTED FROM MY SISTER. SHE HEARD THIS
FROM HER CLASSMATES; SHE'S IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE

James Callow Keyword(s): NURSERY RHYME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Good luck Sharp objects

Date learned: 04-11-1967

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IF TWO PEOPLE, WALKING, APPROACH A POLE AND WALK ON
OPPOSITE SIDES OF IT, THE TWO PEOPLE WILL HAVE A
FIGHT OR ARGUMENT.

Submitter comment: SYLVIA COLLECTED THIS FROM HER SISTER, WHO IN TURN
LEARNED IT AT THE NURSES' LOUNGE AT BEAUMONT HOSPITAL
IN ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC

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

Date learned: 09-23-1967

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IF A WOMAN'S SECOND TOE IS LONGER THAN HER BIG TOE, IT
MEANS THAT SHE WILL BE THE BOSS OF HER FAMILY.

Submitter comment: LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ALSO HAVE HEARD THIS MEANS YOU ARE DESCENDED FROM ROYALTY.

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails

Date learned: 00001967 FALL

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IF YOU GET A PIECE OF BREAD WITH A HOLE IN IT, YOU'LL
GET A RING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ENGAGEMENT? ; HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: Observation
Food Drink -- Food
BELIEF -- Use of Object Dress, buttons, jewelry

Date learned: 01-00-1970

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BAD OMEN

RED SKY AT NIGHT, SAILORS DELIGHT.
RED SKY AT MORN, SAILORS TAKE WARN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): RHYME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.460
BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon

Date learned: 12-00-1974

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MILITARY CADENCE SONG

MR. NIXON DROPPED THE BOMB,
BUT I DON'T WANT TO GO TO 'NAM.
BUT IF I GET MY ORDERS TO 'NAM,
I'M GOING AWOL TO MY MOM.
IF THAT DOOR'S NOT OPEN WIDE,
GOT MY WEAPON BY MY SIDE.
IF THAT WEAPON JAMS ON ME, OH OH OH OHHH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): 'NAM FOR VIETNAM ; RHYME: 'NAM MOM

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

Date learned: 12-00-1974

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ROUND OF APPLAUSE

SOMEONE IN THE GROUP YELLS OUT, "A ROUND OF APPLAUSE" AND THE PEOPLE
DO THIS BY CLAPPING THEIR HANDS WHILE MOVING THEIR ARMS IN A BIG
CIRCLE.

Submitter comment: I WATCHED THIS CHEER BEING DONE AT A CAMPFIRE. AFTER A SONG WAS SUNG,
EVERYONE WOULD DO A CHEER.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; GATLINBURG

James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR ; METAPHOR INTERPRETED LITERALLY

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics
SPEECH -- Formula
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 08-00-1974

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A BIG HAND

SOMEONE IN THE GROUP YELLS OUT, "A BIG HAND" AND
EVERYONE HOLDS UP AN OUTSTRETCHED HAND.

Submitter comment: I WATCHED THIS CHEER BEING DONE AT A CAMPFIRE. AFTER A SONG WAS SUNG,
EVERYONE WOULD DO A CHEER.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; GATLINBURG

James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR ; METAPHOR INTERPRETED LITERALLY

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 08-00-1974

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SINGING, DANCING, AND CLAPPING GAME

TAKE ME OUT TO THE CAFE. TAKE ME OUT WITH THE CROWD.
BUY ME SOME WHISKEY AND GINGERALE,
I DON'T CARE IF I WIND UP IN JAIL.
CAUSE IT IS ONE ROOT-ROOT FOR THE CAFE./
DRINK IS ALRIGHT WITH ME.
SO IT'S ONE/, TWO, THRE OUTE STRIKES YOU'RE .

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME

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

Date learned: 11-00-1974

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SINGING, DANCING, AND CLAPPING GAME

PEPSI COLA, COCA COLA, ROYAL CROWN, YOU GOT TO HYPNOTIZE THEM,
BOOMERIZE THEM, KNOCK THEM DOWN. YOU KNOW THAT PEPSI COLA SHOT 'EM
DOWN. DR. PEPPER PICKED THEM UP AND NOW WE'RE DRINKING SEVEN-UP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CARBONATED BEVERAGES POP SOFT DRINKS ; NEOLOGISM: BOOMERIZE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.523

Date learned: 11-00-1974

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SINGING, DANCING, AND CLAPPING GAME

WHAT CAN YOU DO PUNCHINELLA, PUNCHINELLA?
WHAT CAN YOU DO PUNCHINELLA IN MY SHOE?
I CAN DO THE TWIST PUNCHINELLA, PUNCHINELLA
I CAN DO THE TWIST PUNCHINELLA IN MY SHOE.
WE CAN DO IT TOO PUNCHINELLA, PUNCHINELLA.
WE CAN DO IT TOO PUNCHINELLE IN MY SHOE.
I CAN DO THE JERK PUNCHINELLA, PUNCHINELLA.
I CAN DO THE JERK PUNCHINELLA IN MY SHOE.
WE CAN DO IT TOO PUNCHINELLA, PUNCHINELLE,
WE CAN DO IT TOO PUNCHINELLA IN MY SHOE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DANCE ; NAME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching

Date learned: 11-00-1974

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SHE'S--MARKED:

BURNING "S" ON THE FACE OF A FEMALE WAS TO SHOW THAT SHE WAS AN
AN ADULTERER. THE MARK COULD BE ALSO CUT ON HER FACE.

Submitter comment: THIS ITEM WAS LEARNED DURING HIS LATE ADOLESCENT STAGE IN HIS HOME TOWN.
THIS ITEM WAS TOLD TO HIM BY HIS ACQUAINTANCES WHEN HE VISITED IRELAND. THIS
TALE CAME ABOUT IN THE EARLY YEARS OF IRELAND'S BIRTH. THE SIGN WAS PUT ON THE
WOMAN'S FACE SO TO TELL "THE WORLD" OF HER SIN. I DIDN'T GET AN EXPLANATION WHY
THEY USED THE LETTER S.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; IRELAND

James Callow Keyword(s): BRANDING ; PUNISHMENT

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

Date learned: 00001930S

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CLIMBING

WHEN CLIMBING THE LADDER TO SUCCESS,/ DON'T LET THE BOYS LOOK
UNDER YOUR DRESS.

Submitter comment: SHE REMEMBERED THIS ITEM FROM TIMES WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG. BUT
IT WAS TOLD TO HER BY HER MOTHER AND NEIGHBORS USUALLY BY WORD
OF MOUTH. HER MOTHER AS WELL AS HER MOTHER'S MOTHER BELIEVED
THAT OLD SAYINGS ARE WORTH REMEMBERING. THE INFORMANT REGARDS
THIS FOLK ITEM AS A PIECE OF GOLD FOR A GUIDE LINE OF LIFE'S
EXPERIENCE.
SHE LEARNED THIS ITEM IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; VIRGINIA ; PHILADELPHIA ; RICHMOND

James Callow Keyword(s): METAPHOR

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

Date learned: 00-00-1935

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FLY LEAF PROSE

IF YOU ARE HUNGARY, EAT THIS BOOK; IT IS FULL OF BOLOGNA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PUNS ON PLACE NAMES

Subject headings: Z220

Date learned: CA00001968

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CURE FOR MILKLEG

SOAK OAK LEAVES IN WATER UNTIL PLIABLE, THEN WRAP AROUND THE
INFECTED LEG. AFTER COVERING WITH THE LEAVES WRAP THE LEG AND
LEAVES WITH HOT TOWELS.

Submitter comment: AN INDIAN FROM CANADA CURED HIS GRANDMOTHER AFTER A DOCTOR TOLD
HER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO TO SAVE THE LEG.
THE INFORMANT SEEMED TO BELIEVE THE STORY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS

James Callow Keyword(s): AMERINDIAN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 10-00-1973

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