Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in /var/www/libs/inc/cfa/cfa-item.inc.php on line 328

Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in /var/www/libs/inc/cfa/cfa-item.inc.php on line 328
The James T. Callow Computerized Folkore Archive | University of Detroit Mercy Libraries Back to Top
Top Nav content Site Footer
University Home
James T. Callow Computerized Folklore Archive
search for

Offensive content Filter is ON

Your search for POSITION DIRECTION returned 526 results.

prev | items
| next

If you hang a horseshoe above your door for good luck, the
horseshoe legs must be pointed up. If the horseshoe legs are
pointed down, the luck will run out.

Where learned: OHIO ; TORONTO

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure
BELIEF -- Good luck
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 00-00-1957

View just this record

Luck

In order for a horseshoe to be lucky, it has to be turned up.
If it faces down all the luck will run out.

Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND ; ca 1931

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 00-00-1931

View just this record

Bury a statue of St. Joseph upside down in your garden, if
your house is for sale it will sell immediately.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Religious hero

View just this record

STATUE

ONE PERSON WOULD BECOME THE CUSTOMER AND WOULD HAVE
TO LEAVE TILL THE SIGNAL WAS GIVEN. THEN A SECOND
PERSON, AS THE STORE OWNER, WOULD TWIRL THE OTHERS
AROUND AND IN WHATEVER POSITION THEY ENDED, THEY
WOULD HAVE TO REMAIN. THEN THE CUSTOMER WOULD RETURN
AND CHOOSE ONE. THE 'STORE OWNER' WOULD 'TURN ON'
THE STATUE AND WHOEVER WAS CHOSEN HAD TO DO SOMETHING
AND AT THE COMMAND 'STOP' WOULD REMAIN IN THE POSITION
LAST ATTAINED. THE CUSTOMER WOULD THEN HAVE TO GUESS
WHAT IT WAS. THE FIRST ONE HE GUESSED RIGHT BECAME THE
NEXT CUSTOMER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

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

Date learned: 11-29-1967

View just this record

IF YOU SPILL SALT, YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK UNLESS
YOU IMMEDIATELY THROW SALT OVER YOUR RIGHT
SHOULDER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ACCIDENT ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Conversions Activities

Date learned: 04-03-1967

View just this record

IF YOU SPILL SALT, PICK SOME UP AND THROW IT OVER
YOUR LEFT SHOULDER OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER COLLECTED THIS FROM A WOMAN WITH WHOM
SHE WORKED. MRS. HAIRSTON LEARNED IT FROM HER
MOTHER AND HER GRANDMOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ACCIDENT ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Conversions Activities

Date learned: 02-00-1967

View just this record

IF YOU SPILL SALT, PICK SOME UP AND THROW OVER LEFT
SHOULDER TO PREVENT BAD LUCK FROM HAPPENING.

Where learned: OHIO, ASSUMED ; Mount Clemens

James Callow Keyword(s): ACCIDENT ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Conversions Activities

Date learned: 02-00-1970

View just this record

IF YOU SPILL SALT, YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK UNLESS
YOU PICK SOME OF IT UP WITH YOUR RIGHT HAND AND THROW
IT OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER.

Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED THIS FROM A FRIEND IN HIGH SCHOOL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ACCIDENT ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Conversions Activities

Date learned: 10-20-1967

View just this record

IF YOU SPILL SOME SALT YOU SHOULD PICK SOME UP
AND THROW IT OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER TO AVOID
BAC LUCK.

Where learned: HOME

James Callow Keyword(s): ACCIDENT ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Conversions Activities

Date learned: 00-00-1959

View just this record

SPILLING SALT BRINGS BAD LUCK, BUT THROWING IT
OVER YOUR RIGHT SHOULDER BRINGS GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ACCIDENT ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Conversions Activities

Date learned: 09-20-1965

View just this record

IF YOU SPILL SALT ON THE TABLE, YOU HAVE TO THROW
SOME OVER YOUR SHOULDER TO GET RID OF THE BAD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ACCIDENT ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Conversions Activities

Date learned: 01-26-1968

View just this record

IF YOU SPILL SALT, THROW A BIT OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER
AND MAKE A WISH OR YOU'LL HAVE BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: I'VE SEEN THE INFORMANT PRACTICE THIS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ACCIDENT ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Conversions Activities

Date learned: 03-01-1971

View just this record

NEVER STEP OVER A PERSON LYING DOWN ON THE FLOOR.
IT WILL BRING HIM BAD LUCK. IF YOU HAPPEN TO
STEP OVER HIM, QUICKLY STEP BACKWARDS OVER HIM
TO REMOVE THE BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: I CAN REMEMBER MY RELATIVES SAYING THIS TO ME,
IF I WAS ABOUT TO STEP OVER ONE OF MY YOUNGER
COUSINS LYING ON THE FLOOR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

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

Date learned: 00001950S LATE

View just this record

IF YOU STEP OVER ANY PART OF A PERSON (E.G., STEP-
PING OVER THEIR LEGS TO AVOID THEIR HAVING TO
MOVE THEM) WITHOUT STEPPING BACK OVER AT THE SAME
POINT, YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.

Where learned: TELEPHONE

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

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

Date learned: 09-22-1969

View just this record

IT IS CONSIDERED GOOD LUCK IF YOU KILL A SPIDER
GOING UP A WALL, BUT IF IT IS GOING DOWN A WALL
AND YOU KILL IT, THEN BAD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Wall Partition Door Window
BELIEF -- Good luck Animals
BELIEF -- Bad luck Animals
BELIEF -- Conversions Animals

Date learned: 11-02-1969

View just this record

IF YOU CAN'T MAKE UP YOUR MIND WHICH WAY TO GO, SPIT
INTO THE PALM OF YOUR HAND, THEN BRING YOUR FIST DOWN
ONTO THE PALM OF YOUR HAND HARD. THE WAY THAT THE
SPIT FLICKS IS THE WAY YOU SHOULD GO.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Use of Object Human beings and their activities

Date learned: 03-17-1972

View just this record

IF A BLACK CAT CROSSES YOUR PATH, IT MEANS DEATH OR
TROUBLE.

Submitter comment: WHENEVER A BLACK CAT CROSS IN FRONT OF ME, I WILL
TURN AROUND AND GO IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Animal
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Sign Color

Date learned: 02-12-1972

View just this record

TO CURE WARTS: QUARTER A CARROT LONGWAYS, RUB IT ON THE WART
AND BURY EACH QUARTER CARROT AT EACH CORNER OF THE HOUSE AND
WHEN THE CARROT ROTS FROM THE WATER FROM THE EAVES, THE
WARTS WILL GO.

Where learned: ENGLAND ; LONDON

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; TRANSFER PLUGGING

Subject headings: 686 Fourths / Quarters
BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 04-00-1972

View just this record

IF A PERSON HAS A WART OR WARTS, THEY MAY BE CURED BY
RUBBING THEM THREE TIMES OVER A WET STONE AFTER A RAIN.
WHILE RUBBING THE STONE, COUNT BACKWARD FROM THREE TO ONE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 11-04-1969

View just this record

WHEN SOMEBODY IS SWEEPING THE FLOOR, AND THEY SWEEP
AROUND A GIRL, SHE WILL GROW UP TO BE AN OLD MAID.

Submitter comment: HER MOTHER, RAISED IN KENTUCKY, TOLD HER THIS WHEN
THE INFORMANT WAS TEN YEARS OLD.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Keyword(s): SPINSTER

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Measure of time Working

Date learned: 04-18-1965

View just this record

prev | items
| next

Back to Top