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James T. Callow Computerized Folklore Archive
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PERMANENT

INFORMANT WAS TOLD BY HER MOTHER IF YOU GAVE YOURSELF A PERMANENT
DURING YOUR PERIOD, IT WOULD'NT TAKE.

Submitter comment: (THIS REFERS TO A PERMANENT WAVE FOR HAIR)

Where learned: OAKLAND UNIVERSITY

Keyword(s): HAIR ; MENSTRUATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak

Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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VITAMIN BELIEF

IF YOU EAT GREEN VEGETABLES
THEY'LL MAKE YOUR HAIR THICK AND GROW FASTER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 26251 ELKA

Keyword(s): VEGETABLES

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak
BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 03-31-1971

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GREY HAIRS

"EVERY GREY HAIR REPRESENTS A SIN OF THE PERSON WHO HAS IT.
THIS IS PARTICULARLY INDICATIVE WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE GREY HAIR.
PEOPLE WHO DYE THEIR HAIR SHOULD'NT BE TRUSTED.
THEY ARE PROBABLY DECEITFUL ABOUT OTHER THINGS."

Where learned: LETTER

Keyword(s): DECEIT ; SIN

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak

Date learned: 02-01-1971

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IF YOU EAT BREAD CRUSTS YOU WILL HAVE BLACK CURLY HAIR.

Submitter comment: IN AN ATTEMPT TO CURE MY BLOND HAIR,
MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD TELL ME THIS AS A CHILD.
BLACK HAIR IS CONSIDERED THE LOVELIEST FEATURE
A ROMANIAN WOMAN CAN HAVE AND HAS BEEN CONSIDERED SO FOR GENERATIONS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 19378 BURGESS

Keyword(s): BREAD ; ETHNIC SUPERSTITION ; HAIR COLOR ; ROMANIAN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak

Date learned: 11-26-1971

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A SIGN OF FAVOR* IS WHEN THE BABY WAKES UP
AND FINDS ITS HAIR BRAIDED SUPPOSEDLY BY THE ANGELS.
WHEN IT HAPPENS YOU DON'T COMB IT OUT,
BUT LET IT COME OUT NATURALLY.

Submitter comment:

* WITH THE ANGELS

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; 1003 3 MILE ; GROSSE POINTE PARK

Keyword(s): ANGELS ; BRAIDS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak

Date learned: 10-16-1971

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PREDICTION, DIVINATION, OBSERVATION

"IF A GUY HAS LOTS OF HAIR ON HIS LEGS HE'LL MAKE A RICH HUSBAND."

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS AT A BAND JOB.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 17315 SPRENGER

Keyword(s): HUSBAND ; LEGS ; MARRIAGE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak
BELIEF -- Marriage

Date learned: 11-13-1971

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HAIR

TAKE A LOCK OF SOMEONE'S HAIR FROM THEIR COMB OR BRUSH,
STICK IT BETWEEN TWO PICTURES OF YOURSELF FOLDED OVER,
PUT IT BETWEEN THE PAGES IN A BOOK.
THE RESULTS ARE THE PERSON WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ALONE EVER.
20 YEARS LATER THEY WILL STILL BE IN LOVE WITH YOU.

Submitter comment: NOTE; THIS WAS THE WAY MR. BROWN GOT HIS WIFE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC ; LOVE ; MARRIAGE ; ROMANCE

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak
BELIEF -- Marriage

Date learned: 02-10-1972

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LEGEND OF WARDING OFF A BEATING

WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING WRONG
AND YOU DON'T WANT TO BE BEATEN BY YOUR MOTHER
PULL OUT ONE OF YOUR EYELASHES AND PUT IT UNDER A ROCK.
IT MUST BE A ROCK OR IT IS NO GOOD.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID HE TRIED IT UNDER A CONCK SHELL AND IT DID'NT WORK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM ROOM

Keyword(s): CONCH SHELL

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak

Date learned: 01-26-1972

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THE SCORPION IN THE HAIRDO

IT'S WRONG FOR GIRLS TO WEAR LARGE, RATTED HAIRDOS.
RECENTLY IN CALIFORNIA,A TEENAGE GIRL DIED, APPARENTLY WITHOUT CAUSE.
BUT THEY FOUND THAT SHE HAD BEEN WEARING THE SAME HAIRDO
FOR SIX MONTHS.
IT HAD GOTTEN SO DIRTY THAT A SCORPION GOT IN IT
AND MADE HIS NEST THERE
AND FINALLY HE BIT HER, AND SHE DIED.

Submitter comment: (I THINK SISTER REALLY BELIEVED THIS STORY.)

Where learned: 3RD OR 4TH GRADE CLASS

Keyword(s): FATAL HAIRDO ; SCORPION

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak

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BLONDE

BORN BLONDE, DIE BALD

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): BALDNESS ; CONTRAST ; ELLIPSIS ; HAIR COLOR

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak
BELIEF -- Birth
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 11-23-1968

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JOHN TOLD THE STORY OF A SEAMSTRESS WHOM HE HEARD OF IN MALTA.
IN HER HOME SHE HAD MANY BEAUTIFUL MIRRORS
SOME TO AID HER CUSTOMERS AND SOME FOR DECORATION.
ONE DAY A WOMAN CAME IN AND LOOKED AROUND THE HOUSE COMMENTING ON
ALL THE NICE MIRRORS. SHE LEFT. THE NEXT DAY ALL THE MIRRORS
IN THE HOUSE WERE CRACKED. SHE WAS SAID TO HAVE THE EVIL EYE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): PRAISE

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

Date learned: 03-06-1972

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IF A PERSON HAS AN EYELASH ON THEIR CHEEK, TELL THEM TO MAKE TWO
WISHES, ONE FOR EACH SIDE.
THE SIDE THAT THE EYELASH IS ON IS THE SIDE
THE WISH WILL COME TRUE.

Submitter comment: ROMANIAN BELIEF

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): CHANCE ; WISH ; WISHING

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

Date learned: 09-15-1969

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HUMAN DEFORMATION

THE BALINESE FILLED THEIR FRONT TEETH
SO THAT UPON REACHING ADULTHOOD
THEIR TEETH WOULD BE EVEN AND THE GODS WOULD NOT MISTAKE THEM
FOR MONSTERS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 6319 LODEWYCK

Keyword(s): MONSTER

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Maturity
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue

Date learned: 02-07-1970

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THIN LIPS DENOTE CRUELTY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 19601 Ketting

Keyword(s): CHARACTER TRAITS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue

Date learned: 01-29-1970

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SMALL MOUTH DENOTES STINGINESS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 19601 Ketting

Keyword(s): CHARACTER TRAITS ; MISERLY. ; STINGY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue

Date learned: 01-29-1970

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BIRTH: TREATMENT OF EXPECTANT MOTHERS

FOR EVERY BABY YOU HAVE YOU WILL LOSE A TOOTH.

Where learned: OHIO ; NORTH OLMSTED

Keyword(s): CHILDBIRTH ; LOSS OF TEETH ; PREGNANCY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 03-08-1970

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RELIGIOUS BELIEF

IF YOU SAY A "HAIL MARY" FOR EACH ONE OF YOUR TEETH,
THEN SAINT POLLONIA WILL PROTECT YOUR TEETH FROM HARM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; KALAMAZOO ; 5583 S 4TH ST

Keyword(s): PRAYERS ; SAINTS

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue
BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 02-18-1971

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LARGE EARS DENOTES A GENEROUS NATURE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 19631 KETTING

Keyword(s): CHARACTER TRAITS ; HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Ears, noise in ear

Date learned: 01-29-1970

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IF YOU HAVE BIG EARLOBES YOU ARE GENEROUS.
IF YOU HAVE SMALL EARLOBES YOU ARE STINGY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 17647 PATTON

Keyword(s): CHARACTER TRAITS ; HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Ears, noise in ear

Date learned: 11-07-1968

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BELIEF ABOUT CLEFT IN CHIN

IF YOU HAVE A CLEFT IN YOUR CHIN-
YOU ARE HONEST, CLEAN CUT, AND ALL AMERICAN.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): AMERICAN ; CLEAN CUT ; HONESTY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Ears, noise in ear

Date learned: 02-20-1972

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