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HEADACHE
IF YOU LET A STRAND OF HAIR FLY OUT THE CAR WINDOW THE PERSON TO WHOM
THE HAIR BELONGS WILL GET A HEADACHE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; CAUSE
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
HICCUPS
TAKE A TEASPOONFUL OF SUGAR AND SAY THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
AND THE HICCUPS WILL GO AWAY.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): RELIGION, EUCHARIST
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
HICCUPS
TAKE A TEASPOONFUL OF SUGAR AND THINK OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.
Submitter comment: TOLD BY GRANDFATHER
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): RELIGION, EUCHARIST
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
LIGHTNING
IF YOU LIGHT CHARCOAL BEFORE A STORM
YOU WILL NEVER GET HIT BY LIGHTING.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): PREVENTION ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001950'S
NECK
IF YOU HAVE A STIFF NECK, HAVE A LEFT-HANDED PERSON CRACK IT FOR YOU.
Submitter comment: SOURCE NOT REMEMBERED
Where learned: NEW YORK ; JAMAICA
Keyword(s): LEFT HANDEDNESS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 01-01-1964
PIMPLES
IF YOU GO TO THE BATHROOM WITH FOOD IN YOUR MOUTH
YOU WILL GET PIMPLES ON YOUR TONGUE.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY HIS PARENTS
WHEN HE WAS NINE YEARS OLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; COLLECTORS HOME ; HARPER WOODS
Keyword(s): CAUSE ; FUNCTION ; URINATION, DEFECATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
TOENAILS
HER FATHER ONCE HAD AN INGROWN TOENAIL AND SO CUT A HOLE IN A POTATO
AND PUT THE POTATO ON HIS TOE.
HE KEPT IT ON HIS TOE FOR ABOUT THREE DAYS,
AFTER WHICH THE POTATO TURNED A BLUEISH GREEN COLOR
AND THE TOENAIL WAS NO LONGER INGROWN.
Submitter comment: NO DOUBT IN HER MIND THAT THE POTATO REALLY WORKED.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): TRANSFER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 10-29-1971
VOMITING
THE VICTIM IS KNEELING BY THE TOILET,
TRYING TO VOMIT,
WHEN HE STARTS TO HEAVE,
PUT YOUR KNEE IN THE CENTER OF HIS BACK
AND LOCK YOUR HANDS AROUND HIS STOMACH AND PULL.
THIS RELIEVES STOMACH PAINS
AND HELPS TO GET MORE OUT.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): STOMACH AILMENTS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
VOMITING
WHEN YOU HAVE FOOD POISONING AND VOMIT,
DRINK A GLASS OF WATER WITH A TEASPOONFUL
OF APPLE CIDER VINEGAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 18285 LESURE
Keyword(s): FOOD POISONING ; STOMACH AILMENTS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 03-10-1971
TAPEWORM
TO CURE TAPEWORM: DON'T EAT FOR A WEEK.
THEN SIT DOWN IN A PAN OF WATER
WHICH IS WARM. THE TAPEWORM IS SUPPOSED TO COME OUT.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): FASTING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
WORMS
REMEDY FOR PINWORMS: ONE-HALF TEASPOON OF SUGAR, TWO DROPS OF SPIRITS
TURPENTINE. TAKE ORALLY.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): PINWORMS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 03-22-1967
WORMS
IF YOU EAT TOO MUCH SUGAR YOU WILL GET WORMS.
Keyword(s): CAUSE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
WORMS
A CURE FOR STOMACH WORMS IS TO PUT MINT IN THE PERSON'S BOTTOM
AND PUT CHEESE IN THEIR MOUTH.
WORMS HATE CHEESE BUT THEY LIKE MINT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S MOTHER-IN-LAW PERFORMED THIS IN FRONT OF HER
TO INFORMANT'S DAUGHTER, WHEN THE CHILD WAS SIX YEARS OLD.
THE CHILD STOPPED CHOCKING AND WAS CURED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM: BOTTOM FOR ANUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 01-21-1972
WOUNDS
IN UKRAINE IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF YOU SPEAK OF ANOTHER'S OPERATION
OR WOUNDS AND DEMONSTRATE ON YOUR OWN BODY THEIR LOCATION
THE SAME WILL HAPPEN TO YOU.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT RECEIVED INFORMATION
PASSED ON FROM GRANDPARENTS IN THE UKRAINE.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; TRANSFERENCE
| Subject headings: | DRAMA -- Secular BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 10-01-1967
WOUNDS
THE PERSON WHO GAVE ME THIS CURE LIVES IN DETROIT AND WAS IN EUROPE
DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. URINATING ON OPEN WOUNDS OR SORES HELPS
TO SPEED UP THE HEALING PROCESS. THIS PERSON WAS IN A GERMAN LABOR
CAMP AND SAID THIS IS WHAT HE WAS TOLD TO DO
BY THE MEDICS WHEN HE WAS COLLECTING THE WOUNDED.
Where learned: GERMANY ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 10-08-1969
SNEAKY
THERE WAS A GUY WO RETIRED HERE AT FORD'S SOME YEARS AGO. FOR A
LONG TIME BEFORE HIS RETIREMENT, HE USED TO GO THROUGH THE PLANT
GATES WITH A WHEELBARROW FULL OF SAW DUST. THE GUARDS WOULD SIFT
THROUGH THE SAWDUST, BUT THEY NEVER FOUND ANYTHING, SO THEY WOULD
LET HIM GO. THIS WENT ON FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. THEN THE DAY OF HIS
RETIREMENT CAME. AFTER THE TRADITIONAL DINNER AND HONORS AND
SPEECHES, THE MAN LEFT THE COMPANY.
BEFORE HE DID, HOWEVER, ONE OF HIS
FELLOW EMPLOYEES ASKED HIM WHAT HE WAS TAKING OUT WITH ALL THOSE
WHEELBARROWS THAT HE HAD BEEN TAKING THROUGH THE GATES ALL THIS
TIME. HE ANSWERED VERY SERIOUSLY, "WHEELBARROWS."
Submitter comment:
(I HEARD THIS STORY, TOLD AS BEING TRUE, FROM MAC MCLAIN AT
THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN DEARBORN WHEN I WORKED THERE IN 1955-569)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): OCCUPATIONAL STORY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate |
Date learned: 05-00-1965
CUCKOO MOTHER
A LONG, LONG TIME AGO, A WIDOW MOTHER LIVED ON A FARM WITH HER
THREE SONS; STRONG AS OAK TREES AS BROAD AS TREE-TRUNKS. THEY
LIVED MANY YEARS HAPPILY, EVERYONE'S RESPECTED, TILL HER SONS
GREW UP. AND WHEN THEY GREW UP, THE KING INVITED THEM TO RIDE
WITH HIM INTO WAR. ONE RODE OUT TO THE EAST, ANOTHER TO THE SOUTH,
AND THE THIRD, THE YOUNGEST--TO THE WEST. WHEN THEY RODE OUT,
THROUGH THE THREE YEARS NOT ONE SENT ANY WORD AND THE MOTHER
DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER THEY WERE ALIVE OR DEAD. SHE CRIED, BUT
DIDN'T GIVE UP HOPE, THAT SOMEDAY THEY WILL RETURN, TO CALM
HER OLD DAYS. BUT WHEN THE THIRD SPRING CAME, SHE WENT OUT
ON TOP OF A HILL AND SAW, THAT A HORSE WAS RIDING EMPTY-SADDLED.
AND SHE RECOGNIZED IT AS HER OLDEST SON'S HORSE. SHE
RECOGNIZED AND REALIZED, THAT HER OLDEST SON WAS NO LONGER ALIVE.
AND WHEN SHE REALIZED THIS, SHE CRIED FOR THREE DAYS AND THREE
NIGHTS. BUT THE PEOPLE TOLD HER: "DON'T CRY, THAT YOUR SON DIED
IN WAR. GOD GAVE, AND GOD TAKETH AWAY. BETTER YOU ASK HIM TO
RETURN YOUR OTHER TWO SONS WELL." WHILE THEY WERE CALMING HER,
THEY SAW A SECOND HORSE COME GALLOPING UP, NEIGHING AS IF
WEEPING HIMSELF. THE REIGNS PULLED OFF, THE SADDLE SPLASHED WITH
BLOOD AND THE HORSE ITSELF WOUNDED. HE RAN UP TO THE GATE, KNELT
DOWN ON ALL FOURS AND FELL OVER DEAD. AND THE MOTHER RECOGNIZED
THAT THE SECOND HORSE BROUGHT HER PAINFUL NEWS. SHE BEGAN TO CRY
EVEN MORE PAINFULLY, THAT NOW HER SECOND SON WAS DEAD. THE
PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW TO COMFORT HER NOW. "IF ONLY. LORD, I KNEW
WHERE MY SONS LIE. WITH A FOX I'D RUN THERE, WITH A BIRD I'D FLY
THERE, ON THEIR GRAVES I WOULD CRY." SHE CRIED DAY AND NIGHT,
CURSING HER FUTURE, WAITING FOR HER YOUNGEST SON. BUT WHILE
SHE WAS CRYING, THE THIRD HORSE CAME HOME, TOO, INJURED AND
WOUNDED. HE RAN UP TO THE GATES, NEIGHED SORROWFULLY AND
KNEELING ON ALL FOURS, FELL OVER DEAD. THE MOTHER RECOGNIZED THAT
NOW HER THIRD SON WOULDN'T COME HOME. SHE FELL TO THE GROUND
FROM THE GRIEF AND TURNED INTO A CUCKOO BIRD, CUCKOOD IN A
SORROWFUL WAY AND FLEW AWAY TO FOREIGN LANDS IN SEARCH OF HER
SONS: SHE FLIES AND HUNTS FOR THEM YEAR ROUND IN THE STRANGE LANDS,
AND IN THE SPRING TIME COMES HOME, FLIES THROUGH THE FORESTS,
CRYING FOR HER SONS. AND WHEN THE DAY COMES THAT THE YOUNGEST
SON'S HORSE CAME HOME, SHE AGAIN FLIES OUT TO THE FOREIGN LANDS
TO SEARCH FOR THEM. AND THAT'S HOW IT ALWAYS WAS, AND ALWAYS WILL
BE....
Submitter comment: (TRANSLATED FROM LITHANIA BY RAMUNE M. STONYS)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): BIRDS, ANIMALS, TRANSFORMATION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
ABOUT A MOUSE, THAT WAS A CAT, DOG AND TIGER
IT IS SAID: THAT IF A TIGER HAS THE HEART OF A MOUSE, THEN IT
WOULD BE BETTER IF HE DIDN'T SEE OR MEET A CAT. ONE TIME, A CROW
WAS CARRYING A MOUSE IN HIS BEAK, AND FLYING OVER A FOREST WHEN HE
DROPPED IT. IN THAT FOREST LIVED A MAN THAT KNEW MAGIC. AND
THE MOUSE DROPPED DOWN BY THE MAN'S FEET. SEEING THE MOUSE,
THE MAN PICKED HIM UP AND CARRIED HIM INTO HIS HUT. MANY DAYS
THE MOUSE LIVED WITH THE MAN. THE MAN FED HIM, WATERED HIM
AND THE MOUSE WAS HAPPY. BUT ONE TIME, GOING OUT OF THE HUT,
HE SAW A BIG CAT NOT TOO FAR AWAY. HE RAN BACK INTO THE HUT,
CRAWLED INTO THE FARTHEST AND DARKEST CORNER AND SHOOK FROM FRIGHT.
SEEING THIS, THE MAN ASKED: "WHT'S WRONG? WHY ARE YOU SHAKING?"
"O MY GOOD MAN," SQUEEKED THE MOUSE, "NOT FAR AWAY FROM
OUR HUT I MET A CAT AND NOW I'M DYING FROM FRIGHT}" AFTER
THINKING FOR AWHILE, THE MAN SAID: "ALRIGHT, I'LL DO IT SO THAT
YOU'LL NEVER BE AFRAID OF CATS AGAIN} GO TO BED. IN THE
MORNING WHEN YOU WAKE UP, YOU'LL BE A CAT--NOT A MOUSE." THE MAN
DID AS HE PROMISED: THE MOUSE WOKE UP AS A CAT. "--NOW YOU DON'T
HAVE TO BE AFRAID OF CATS ANYMORE. YOU ARE A CAT YOURSELF,"
SAID THE MAN. HAPPILY, THE CAT-MOUSE RAN OUT OF THE HUT.
AND WHEN SHE WANTED TO TWIST AROUND IN THE SUN, SHE AGAIN SAW
THE CAT. THE POOR THING IMMEDIATELY FORGOT THAT SHE HERSELF WAS
A CAT, AND RAN BACK INTO THE HUT. "WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?" ASKED
THE MAN. "HOW COME YOU'RE FRIGHTENED AGAIN?" THE CAT WAS
LIED. "I MET A DOG IN THE FOREST: HE STARTED CHASING ME AND I
BARELY MANAGED TO ESCAPE FROM HIM. THE MAN SAID AGAIN: "GO TO SLEEP.
IN THE MORNING YOU'LL WAKE UP AS A DOG, AND YOU WON'T HAVE TO
BE AFRAID OF DOGS ANYMORE." AND THAT'S HOW IT WAS: IN THE MORNING
THE CAT WOKE UP AS A DOG AND BARKING LOUDLY, RAN OUT OF THE
HUT. BUT NEARING A TREE SHE AGAIN SAW THE CAT. THE CAT ALSO
SAW THE DOG. SHE THOUGHT THAT THE DOG WAS GOING TO ATTACK,
SO SHE PREPARED TO DEFEND HERSELF, HISSED, LIFTED HER RIGHT PAW
AND LOUDLY MEOWD. HEARING THE CAT MEOWING, THE DOG RAN INTO THE
HUT FRIGHTENED. "WHAT FRIGHTENED YOU THIS TIME?" ASKED THE
MAN. THE DOG WAS ASHAMED TO ADMIT, THAT HE HAD BEEN FRIGHTENED
BY A CAT, SO AGAIN HE LIED: "O MY GOOD MAN, NOT FAR FROM
OUR HUT I MET A TIGER} UP TO NOW I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND
HOW I MANAGED TO GET AWAY ALIVE} "WELL, I'LL MAKE IT SO THAT
FROM NOW ON, YOU WON'T BE AFRAID OF ANYTHING. TOMORROW YOU
SHALL WAKE UP AS A TIGER." AND THAT'S HOW IT WAS: IN THE MORNING
THE DOG WOKE UP A TIGER AND DECIDED: "IT DOESN'T BEFIT ME,
RULER OF THE ANIMALS TO LIVE IN A MERE MAN'S HUT} I WILL GO INTO
THE FOREST AND LET THE OTHER ANIMALS TREMBLE AT MY POWER AND
BRAVERY}" THINKING THIS, THE TIGER STEPPED OUT OF THE HUT AND
HEADED FOR THE DARK JUNGLE. AND SUDDENLY HE SAW THE CAT. AND
THE CAT SAW THE TIGER. OUT OF FRIGHT, THE CAT'S FUR STOOD
ON END, BACK ARCHED AND EYES CRACKED FIRE. "NOW I'M DEAD}"
THOUGHT THE CAT. "FROM THE TIGER I WILL NOT ESCAPE}" THE TIGER,
IN WHOSE BREAST BEAT THE HEART OF A MOUSE, SAW THE CRACKLING
EYES AND IMMEDIATELY RAN OFF TO THE MAN'S HUT. HE SHOT INTO THE
HOUSE, CRAMPED HIMSELF INTO THE FARTHEST CORNER AND LAYED
THERE WITH TEETH CHATTERING OUT OF FRIGHT. THE MAN WAS
SUPRISED: "HOW COME YOU ARE TREMBLING AGAIN? IS THERE IN OUR
LAND AN ANIMAL STRONGER THAN THE TIGER?" "THERE IS..." WHISPERED
THE TIGER. "WHAT IS HE?" ASKED THE SUPRISED MAN. "A..A..
CAT}" THEN THE MAN UNDERSTOOD AND SAID: "A TIGER, IN WHOSE
BREAST BEATS THE HEART OF A MOUSE, IS WEAKER THAN A CAT. LET HIM,
THAT HAS A HEART OF A MOUSE, ALWAYS BE A MOUSE. HAVING SAID
THIS, THE MAN TURNED THE TIGER BACK INTO A POOR LITTLE MOUSE.
Submitter comment:
(THIS IS THE TALE RETOLD AND ILLUSTRATED BY MARCIA BROWN
AS "ONCE A MOUSE"9)
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): TRANSFORMATION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
NUN'S TALE
IF A GIRL SITS ON A BOY'S LAP, SHE SHOULD PUT A PHONE BOOK BENEATH
HER UNLESS THE GUY IS HER FATHER OR A RELATIVE, IN WHICH CASE A NEWS-
PAPER WILL BE SUFFICIENT, ACCORDING TO THE NUNS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): NEWSPAPER SITTING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 02-12-1968
GENERAL FOLKLORE
A MAN IN ENGLAND IN THE 1500,S COULD BE CRUSHED TO DEATH BY BEING
PLACED BETWEEN TWO BOARDS WHICH WERE LOADED WITH STONES, FOR NOT
PLEADING GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY AT THE BAR IN THE COURTS. BECAUSE
THIS WOULD HOLD UP THE COURTS AND DELAY OTHER TRIALS.
Where learned: WORK
Keyword(s): PLEADING ENGLISH COURTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Common law |
Date learned: 11-00-1968