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BAD LUCK PREVENTION: (ITALIAN)-SALT

TO PREVENT BAD LUCK FROM ENTERING A HOUSE, PLACE SALT IN LITTLE
BAGS AND PUT THE BAGS IN THE CORNERS OF THE ROOMS WHERE NO ONE SEES
THEM. IT IS ESPECIALLY GOOD TO DO THIS WHEN A NEW BABY ARRIVES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; SUPERNATURAL: SALT AS LUCKY CHARM

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.17

Date learned: 12-00-1969

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SUPERSTITION

IF YOU LEAVE HOME AND DISCOVER THAT YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING,
YOU MUST SIT STILL A MOMENT BEFORE RETURNING FOR IT, OR YOU WILL
HAVE BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: THIS OLD SUPERSTITION WAS TOLD TO ME BY MY AUNT WHEN SHE VISITED
HERE FROM JAMESTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, IN OCTOBER OF 1963.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; TRAVEL: RETURNING HOME FOR FORGOTTEN OBJECT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.2

Date learned: 10-00-1963

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BELIEF

IF SOMEONE COMES IN THE FRONT DOOR AND LEAVES BY THE BACK DOOR IN
IRELAND IT WILL BRING BAD LUCK TO THE HOUSE, BECAUSE THE PERSON
TOOK ALL THE GOOD LUCK OUT WITH HIM.

Submitter comment: THE POLICE USED TO DO THIS ALL THE TIME IN IRELAND JUST
TO DISTURB THE WOMEN.

Where learned: LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; IRISH BELIEF

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.2

Date learned: 11-15-1968

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SUPERSTITION

WHEN YOU ENTER A HOUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME EXIT THROUGH THE SAME
DOOR YOU ENTERED, OTHERWISE YOU HAVE BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HIS MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.21

Date learned: 03-25-1967

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INSIDE OUT

IF YOU PUT SOMETHING ON INSIDE OUT DON'T CHANGE IT OR YOU WILL HAVE
BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT ACTUALLY SAID THIS ON SUCH AN OCCASION.

Where learned: 20102 BEECH ROAD

Keyword(s): CLOTHING ; CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS

James Callow Keyword(s): DRESSING ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22

Date learned: NONE GIVEN

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LUCK

AN ELEPHANT WITH ITS TRUNK TURNED UP IS GOOD LUCK, WITH HIS TRUNK
DOWN IS BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: THIS ELEPHANT MAY BE A FIGURINE, A TOY ETC.

Where learned: 8160 LANTZ ; ; COLLECTORS HOME

Keyword(s): ANIMALS: ELEPHANTS

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.31
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.31

Date learned: 03-10-1970

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BAD LUCK

IF, IN PLAYING CARDS, YOU HAVE BAD LUCK, A WALK AROUND THE CHAIR
WILL BRING GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; GAMES: CARDS ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.6

Date learned: 11-01-1967

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SUPERSTITION

TO PREDICT VISITORS: IF A SPOON DROPS, A BABY WILL COME TO VISIT;
IF A FORK DROPS, THE VISITOR WILL BE A WOMAN; IF A KNIFE DROPS, THE
VISITOR WILL BE A MAN. WHICHEVER WAY THE UTENSIL DROPS WILL BE THE
DIRECTION FROM WHICH THE VISITOR WILL COME.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

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

Date learned: 00-00-1981

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SUPERSTITION

WHENEVER THE FAMILY HAS CHICKEN AND THERE IS A WISHBONE, BREAK IT
WITH THE PERSON TO YOUR RIGHT AND THE PERSON WITH THE LONGEST BONE
GETS TO MAKE A WISH.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary
BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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GOOD LUCK

IF YOU ARE WORKING AND YOU STUMBLE ON A ROCK WITH YOUR RIGHT FOOT,
GOOD LUCK IN THE FUTURE. IF IT IS THE LEFT FOOT THEN THE FUTURE
HOLDS BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN NIGERIA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Measure of time Working
BELIEF -- Good luck
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 10-00-1981

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LUCK

A SYRIAN BELIEF IS THAT UPSIDE-DOWN SHOES ARE SYMBOLIC OF
INTENSELY BAD LUCK AND/OR DEATH TO THEIR OWNER.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 00001930S

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LUCK

IN THE SOUTH, IT IS BAD LUCK TO STEP OVER SOMEONE ON THE GROUND.
DOING THIS USUALLY PRECEDES MANY ACCIDENTS.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 00001950S

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LUCK

IT IS BAD LUCK, USUALLY FINANCIALLY TO TURN A LOAF OF BREAD
UPSIDE DOWN.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 00001950S

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SUPERSTITOUS BELIEF

IT IS CONSIDERED BAD LUCK TO PASS SOMEONE ON THE STAIRS. YOU HAVE
TO WAIT UNTIL THE OTHER PERSON IS UP OR DOWN THE STAIRS BEFORE YOU
CAN USE THEM.

Submitter comment: LAURA LEARNED THIS FROM HER GRANDMOTHER, AGNUS SYLVAIN, WHO IS 83
YEARS OLD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

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

Date learned: 10-00-1981

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SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEF

IF YOU DON'T LEAVE BY THE SAME DOOR THAT YOU CAME IN THEN YOU WON'T
BE INVITED BACK AGAIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

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

Date learned: 10-00-1981

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IT IS BAD LUCK FOR BASEBALL PLAYERS TO PLACE THEIR EMPTY SHOES ON
THE GROUND BACKWARDS; THAT IS, PLACING THE RIGHT SHOE ON THE LEFT
AND THE LEFT SHOE ON THE RIGHT.

Submitter comment: THIS IS NOTED WHEN BASEBALL PLAYERS CHANGE FROM TENNIS SHOES
INTO THEIR SPIKES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet
BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero
BELIEF -- Bad luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)
BELIEF -- Bad luck Games Pastimes Sports

Date learned: 00001970S

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EACH APRIL THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SAINT FRANCIS CLUB MEETS ONE
LAST TIME BEFORE THE NEWLY-ELECTED BOARD TAKES OFFICE. THE SAINT
FRANCIS CLUB IS A UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT SOCIAL COOPERATIVE AND
STUDENT ORGANIZATION. FOR THE LAST MEETING OF THE OLD BOARD, ALL
FORMALITY IS DROPPED BECAUSE IT IS NOT REALLY MEANT TO BE A SERIOUS
MEETING. THE OFFICIAL REPORTS THAT ARE NORMALLY GIVEN ARE
DISCOURAGED, AND IT IS REALLY AN OCCASION FOR JOKING AND DRINKING AND
JUST HAVING A GOOD TIME IN THE TRADITONAL CLUB SPIRIT, WHILE THE
SECRETARY RECORDS THE MINUTES BACKWARDS (SO THAT THEY MUST BE READ
IN A MIRROR). THIS HAS BEEN AN ANNUAL TRADITION FOR SOME TIME NOW,
AND THE ENTIRE BOARD USUALLY SHOWS UP FOR THIS MEETING, AN OTHERWISE
RARE OCCURENCE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- April
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School

Date learned: 03-00-1979

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IF YOU WALK OVER A CHILD LYING ON THE FLOOR, YOU MUST WALK BACK OR
THE CHILD WILL NOT GROW ANYMORE.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HIS MOTHER, WHO WAS BORN IN LEBANON AND
HEARD IT THERE. NEITHER THE INFORMANT NOR HIS MOTHER TAKE THIS
SUPERSTITION SERIOUSLY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRASER

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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WHEN I WANT MY TRUE LOVE BY ME
I SHAPE MY SHOES INTO A T.

Submitter comment: THIS IS DONE TO BRING YOUR LOVER TO YOUR SIDE. YOU SAY THIS AFTER
YOU HAVE ARRANGED YOUR SHOES SO THAT THE TOE OF THE RIGHT SHOE
TOUCHES THE MIDDLE OF THE LEFT SHOE.
INFORMANT REMEMBERS READING ABOUT THIS IN A MAGAZINE.

Where learned: OHIO ; DEFIANCE

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Lower body and legs
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Emblem

Date learned: 02-00-1982

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IF YOUR LEFT EYE BEGINS TO TWITCH, IT MEANS YOU WILL RECEIVE
GOOD NEWS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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