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SUPERSTITION

ITS GOOD FOR A BEE TO STING YOU BECAUSE IT MAKES YOUR CELLS WORK.

Where learned: OHIO ; PARMA

James Callow Keyword(s): VITALIZING BEE STING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

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A BELIEF

IF A DRAGONFLY LANDS ON YOUR EAR, IT WILL SEW IT UP.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS TALE AS A CHILD, AND AT THE TIME HE THOUGHT
THAT IT WAS PROBABLY TRUE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT ; BELIEF

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect

Date learned: 02-15-1972

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WEATHER BELIEF

SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT ONE CAN PREDICT THE SEVERITY OF THE WINTER
BY OBSERVING THE COLORATION OF THE WOOLLY BEAR CATERPILLAR. IF THEY
ARE MOSTLY BLACK IN COLOR, THE WINTER WILL BE SEVERE, WHILE IF THEY
ARE MOSTLY BROWN IN COLOR, THE WINTER WILL BE LESS SEVERE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS THIS BELIEF MIGHT BE TRUE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT ; BELIEF

Subject headings: 891 Animals, vertebrate and invertebrate)
891 Animals, (vertebrate and invertebrate)
891 Animals, (vertebrate and invertebrate)
891 Animals, (vertebrate and invertebrate)
891 Animals, (vertebrate and invertebrate)
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Weather sign or control
BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Animals (vertebrate and invertebrate)
BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through P891.3

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IF A LADYBUG LANDS ON YOU SHE WILL BRING YOU GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL BEETLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.33

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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SIGN OF GOOD LUCK

HAVING A LADYBUG LAND ON YOU IS A SIGN OF GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL BEETLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.33

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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BELIEF OR PREDICTION

YOU CAN DETERMINE THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE BY COUNTING THE NUMBER
OF TIMES A CRICKET RUBS HIS FOOT IN A MINUTE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT ; WHICH RUBBING PRODUCES CHIRPING SOUND.

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.3

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SEWING BUGS

NEVER GET TOO NEAR A SEWING BUG (DRAGON FLY), BECAUSE THEY WILL
SEW YOUR EYELIDS SHUT.

Submitter comment: I REALLY BELIEVED IN THIS WHEN I WAS LITTLE, AND I WAS TERRIFIED
OF SEWING BUGS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye
BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.11

Date learned: 11-17-1968

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FISH (REPTILE)

IF YOU PICK UP A TOAD, AND IN DOING SO, TOUCHED ITS BACK, SAID
PERSON WOULD RECEIVE WARTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL AMPHIBIAN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fish
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.35

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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THE DEAD MAN IN A CRAB

THERE IS A CERTAIN PART OF A CRAB NEAR THE END OF THE SHELL, WHICH
IS BELIEVED BY SOME TO BE A DEAD MAN. ANYONE WHO ATE THIS WOULD
IMMEDIATELY DIE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT AND HIS FRIENDS BELIEVED THIS ABSOLUTELY WHILE CHILDREN IN TIDEWATER, VIRGINIA IN THE 1930S.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL CRUSTACEAN ; BELIEF

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fish
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance P880.34

Date learned: 02-18-1970

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DANCING DEVIL

THERE IS A BELIEF AMONG SOME PEOPLE THAT IF YOU SING AT THE DINNER
TABLE, THE DEVIL IS DANCING OVER YOUR HEAD.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER SAYS THIS BELIEF REFLECTED THE GENERAL BELIEF IN HER
CONSERVATIVE LUTHERAN FAMILY THAT GRACE AND DINNER SHOULD BE QUIET
AND DIGNIFIED. THE DEVIL WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BEHIND SINGING AT
THE TABLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.8

Date learned: 04-04-1970

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BELIEF ABOUT THE DEVIL

WHEN YOU COME HOME FROM CONFESSION, THE DEVIL HIDES IN THE BUSHES
AND TRIES TO GET YOU. WHEN YOU GO BY YOU CAN FEEL THE HEAT
RADIATING FROM HIM. SOMETIMES HE LEAPS FROM THE BUSHES AND CHASES
YOU.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER WAS TOLD THIS WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD IN DETROIT BY AN
IRISH FRIEND. HER FRIEND HAD FELT THE HEAT OF THE DEVIL MANY TIMES.
HER MOTHER HAD ACTUALLY BEEN CHASED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE OLD COUNTRY
WHEN THE JEALOUS DEVIL TRIED TO CAPTURE HER SOUL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT MUST BE DONE TO HAVE SOFT HANDS?
A: NOTHING.

Submitter comment: TRANSLATED FROM LITHUANIAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; LITERAL ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q) HANDS

James Callow Keyword(s): IRONY

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 02-17-1971

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PRETENDED OBSCENE RIDDLE

Q: WHAT DOES A LADY DO SITTING DOWN, A MAN STANDING UP, AND A DOG ON
THREE LEGS?
A: SHAKE HANDS

Data entry tech comment: 2 MORE EXAMPLES ARE IN THE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; PART OF THE BODY (A) HANDS ; PERSONS (Q) AND DOG.

James Callow Keyword(s): URINATE, IS ONE'S FIRST THOUGHT

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 09-00-1971

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MIZSLE - LITHUANIAN RIDDLE

Q: KAS SALDESNIS US NEDIZ? - WHAT IS SWEETER THAN HONEY?
A: MIEGAS - SLEEP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; COMMUNICATIONS AND ; EATABLE (HONEY) (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 03-20-1968

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MIZSLE - LITHUANIAN RIDDLE

Q: KAS JUODAS NEDAZYTAS? - WHAT IS BLACK AND UNPAINTED?
A: VARNA. - A CROW.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL (A) ; LITERAL ; STATE OF BEING (Q) AND COLOR

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 03-08-1968

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RIDDLE

Q: WHO ALWAYS GOES TO BED WITH HIS SHOES ON?
A: A HORSE

Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER EXAMPLE IN THE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL (A) ; LITERAL NONOPPOSITIONAL ; WEARABLE (Q) ; WISDOM

James Callow Keyword(s): HORSESHOES

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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RIDDLE

Q: IF YOU LIVED IN A HOUSE, ALL FOUR SIDES OF WHICH HAD A SOUTHERN
EXPOSURE. WHAT COLOR WOULD BE THE BEAR WHICH WALKED BY?
A: WHITE - HE WOULD BE A POLAR BEAR AT THE NORTH POLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL (A) ; ANIMAL AND BUILDING (Q) ; ANTITHETICAL OPPOSITONAL

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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THOUGHT TEASER

Q: IF YOU ARE IN A ONE ROOM HOUSE WHICH HAS ONE WINDOW ON EACH
WALL AND EACH WINDOW HAS A SOUTHERN EXPOSURE. AS YOU LOOK OUT ONE
OF THE WINDOWS AND SEE A BEAR OUTSIDE, WHAT COLOR IS THE BEAR?
A: IT IS WHITE! IT'S A POLAR BEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BATTLE CREEK

Keyword(s): ANIMAL (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): BUILDING (Q) ; HARD WARE (Q) ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 00-00-1964

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT IS BLACK AND WHITE AND RED ALL OVER?
A: A ZEBRA WITH A SUNBURN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL (A) ; METAPHORICAL ; STATE OF BEING - COLOR (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 11-00-1971

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