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IF IN HEAVEN WE DON'T MEET,
TOGETHER WE WILL STAND THE HEAT,
IF IT GETS EXTREMELY HOT,
PEPSI COLA HITS THE SPOT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVERTISEMENT ; COMMERCIAL ; SODA POP

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults

Date learned: 06-03-1959

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To her knowledge, when a child of Greek descent is born, he or
she is given a charm (a golden eye) to protect him or her from what
is called a "matiasma." Roughly translated it means "given the eye"
or "eyed." This happens when someone admires someone out of jealousy
out loud. For example, "His voice is so incredible. I wish I had it."
Once one is eyed, if he or she is not wearing the charm or if one
doesn't say "ftousou" which is a Greek word that means "to spray
saliva," he or she is condemned to sickness. (When said, ftousou
literally sprays saliva in the person's face.)

Submitter comment: This particular superstition is feared by my informant because,
as a child, she was "eyed" and became seriously ill. All was tried to
lower my informant's fever but nothing worked. Finally, with
hesitation, a witch doctor was summoned and the fever disappeared
within a single day. To this day she has believed in the curse and
gave me and her other son the golden eye. However, both have been
misplaced and to this date have not been found.

Where learned: GREECE

Keyword(s): AILMENT ; SICKNESS ; unexplained

James Callow Keyword(s): amulet, talisman

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman
BELIEF -- Witch Shaman
BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: 00001943CA

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BELIEF

LIGHTNING INDICATES THAT GOD IS STRIKING BACK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): RETRIBUTION PUNISHMENT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Creator
BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7

Date learned: 09-30-1965

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Entertainment: Game

A method children use to select teams or "it" is for everyone to hold out both fists and someone counts off on each fist"one-potato, two-potato, three-potato, four. Five-potato, six-potato, seven-potato more." The first fist on which "more" lands must be put behind back. The winner (or loser) can either be the first or last person to have both fists behind his back.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): Choose ; COUNTING ; Elimination ; Entertainment ; Fists ; GAME ; POTATO

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School

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Language: Rhyme

Jump Rope Rhyme:

Down in the meadow where the green grass grows, there sat ____ sweet as a rose.

Along came ____ and kissed her on the cheek: How many kisses did she get?

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: Hoy, Linda

Keyword(s): Entertainment ; Jump ; Jump Rope ; Language ; Play ; RHYME ; Rope

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

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PRESERVATION OF FOOD. PRODUCT OR ACTIVITY OF MAN.

A WOMAN SHOULD NEVER CAN (JAR PICKLES, TOMATOES, ETC.)
WHEN SHE HAS HER PERIOD. IF SHE DOES, THE CANNED GOODS
WILL SPOIL.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S MOTHER CANNED TOMATORES WHILE SHE HAD
HER PERIOD AND THE WHOLE BATCH SPOILED. THIS HAPPENED
THE SUMMER OF 1971.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): MENSTRUATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.1

Date learned: 11-02-1971

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A MENSES SUPERSTITION

IF YOU CANNED ANYTHING DURING YOUR PERIOD THAT WHICH
YOU CANNED WOULD TURN BAD.

Submitter comment: LEARNED AS A CHILD AT HOME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): MENSTRUATION

Subject headings: Observation
Food Drink -- Manner of preparation Preservation

Date learned: 03-10-1967

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GET (DRINK?) CORNSILK TEA FOR PERIODS TO COME ON

Where learned: KENTUCKY ; FULTON

James Callow Keyword(s): MENSTRUATION

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

Date learned: 06-20-1970

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IT IS BAD LUCK TO BURN SASSAFRAS IN YOUR FIREPLACE.
THE SMOKE WILL RISE UP AND SPREAD AROUND AND EVERYBODY
WILL FALL OUT WITH YOU.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): ALIENATION ; ARGUMENT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Use of Object Human beings and their activities
BELIEF -- Bad luck

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WHEN YOU MOVE DON'T EVER MOVE THE CAT OR THE BROOM.
IF YOU DO, YOU WON'T GET ALONG WITH YOUR NEW
NEIGHBORS.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): ALIENATION ; ARGUMENT

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 00001928 CA.

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IF YOU AND A FRIEND ARE WALKING TOGETHER AND A TREE OR
POLE COMES BETWEEN YOU, BOTH OF YOU MUST SAY "BREAD AND
BUTTER," OR YOU'LL HAVE A FIGHT

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): ARGUMENT ALIENATION

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

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IF YOU WERE GETTING HUNT AND SOMETHING WENT WRONG WHILE THE
ROPE WAS AROUND YOUR NECK AND YOU DIDN'T GET HUNG, THEY
WOULDN'T TRY IT AGAIN, BECAUSE YOU WOULD DIE A 1000 TIMES
WHILE THE ROPE WAS AROUND YOUR NECK.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CLASS ASSIGNMENT ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): CAPITAL PUNISHMENT PENAL CODE PRISON CRIMINAL

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 03-07-1969

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IF YOU HAVE TO SEW SOMETHING ON SUNDAY, SEW IT WITHOUT A
THIMBLE AND THE DEVIL WON'T COUNT THE STITCHES.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; DORM ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): SATAN PUNISHMENT PENANCE ATONEMENT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Measure of time Working
BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs

Date learned: 04-02-1969

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IF ONE SEWS ON SUNDAY, HE WILL TAKE THE STITCHES OUT IN HELL.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; PEABODY COLLEGE LIBRARY

Keyword(s): PUNISHMENT ATONEMENT PENANCE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Measure of time Working

Date learned: 04-01-1969

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NINETY-EIGHT PERCENT OF THE BABIES ARE CONCEIVED AND BORN
ON FULL MOON.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): MENSES

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Moon
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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HAUNTED HOUSE

UP IN THE COVE THERE WAS A HOUSE THAT EVERYBODY THOUGHT
WAS HAUNTED. EVEN THE REVENUE MEN THOUGHT IT WAS
HAUNTED. IT WAS OWNED BY A BOOTLEGGER NAMED LADD.
YOU COULD SEE HIM GO IN THE HOUSE BUT WHEN YOU WENT
IN TO ARREST HIM, YOU COULD SEARCH THE PLACE OVER AND
NOT BE ABLE TO FIND HIM. THE GOVERNMENT EVEN SENT MEN
THERE TO MEASURE THE HOUSE TO SEE IF IT HAD A SECRET
ROOM BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY. AFTER OLD MAN LADD
DIED HIS CHILDREN SHOWED HOW THERE WAS A PASSAGEWAY
THROUGH THE CHIMNEY DOWN INTO THE CELLAR THAT LED OUT
TO A BIG CAVE WHERE HE STORED HIS BOOZE. EVEN THEN
NOBODY WOULD BUY THE PLACE AND FOR ALL I KNOW THE
LADDS ARE STILL LIVING THERE.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): LIQUOR MOONSHINE TREASURY DEPARTMENT T-MEN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal

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AS I WAS GOING TO ST. IVES
I MET A MAN WITH SEVEN WIVES.
EACH WIFE HAD SEVEN SACKS,
EACH SACK HAD SEVEN CATS,
EACH CAT HAD SEVEN KITS.
KITS, CATS, SACKS, AND WIVES;
HOW MANY WERE THERE GOING TO ST. IVES?
(ONE)

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CHATTANOOGA

James Callow Keyword(s): INCREMENTAL REPETITION

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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SAYING

AS RED AS A PREGNANT NUN IN CHURCH.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): EMBARRASSMENT

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: 03-00-1972

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PROVERB

ROSES ARE FOREVER.

Where learned: KENTUCKY ; LOUISVILLE

Keyword(s): SENTIMENT

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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PROVERB

TROT MOMMY, TROT DADDY,
DON'T EXPECT THE COLT TO PACE.

Submitter comment: PROVERB USED TO MEAN THE CHILD CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO DO
ANYTHING BETTER THAN HIS PARENTS.

Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): HEREDITY ENVIRONMENT

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 06-21-1972

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