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CREOLE BELIEF

IF AN OWL HOWLS TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES AND TURN THEM UPSIDE DOWN
OR BAD LUCK WILL COME TO YOU

Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; BREAUX BRIDGE ; LOS ANGELES

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Conversions

Date learned: 00-00-1933

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CREOLE BELIEF

DO NOT WALK OVER A BROOM, BECAUSE IT IS BAD LUCK.

Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; BREAUX BRIDGE ; LOS ANGELES

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 00-00-1930

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CREOLE BELIEF

DO NOT PUT A BABY'S SHOE HIGHER THAN THE BABY'S HEAD OR IT WILL NOT
GROW ANY TALLER.

Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; BREAUX BRIDGE ; LOS ANGELES

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC ; POSITION DIRECTION

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

Date learned: 00-00-1935

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WHEN YOU PUT YOUR SHIRT ON BACKWARDS OR INSIDE OUT,
WITH ANY ARTICLE OF CLOTHING, YOU MAY MAKE A WISH
WHILE PROPERLY PUTTING ON YOUR CLOTHES.

Submitter comment: THIS WISH WILL BE GRANTED.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DRESSING ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: 00-00-1940

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BELIEF

IF YOUR LEFT HAND IS ITCHY IT MEANS YOU WILL RECEIVE MONEY.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Body part Senses

Date learned: 00-00-1940

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CURE FOR WARTS

TO RID YOURSELF OF A WART, RUB A PENNY ON IT AND TAKE THE
PENNY TO THE NEAREST CROSSROAD. THROW THE PENNY OVER YOUR
LEFT SHOULDER AND LEAVE WITHOUT LOOKING BACK. THE NEXT
PERSON FINDING THE PENNY WILL ALSO GET THE WART. THIS
WAS TOLD TO ME AROUND 1970 BY MY GRANDMOTHER, MARY GIBBLE,
IN KALAMAZOO. SHE ALSO TOLD ME THAT SHE TRIED THE CURE
YEARS AGO AND IT WORKED.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LATER TOLD ME THAT MRS. GIBBLE WAS BORN IN
SWITZERLAND AND EMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES AROUND 1920.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; TRANSFER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 09-00-1982

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IF YOU LOOK AT A BABY UPSIDE DOWN IT WILL END UP CROSSED EYED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 00001950S

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IF YOU SLEEP ON YOUR RIGHT SIDE THEN YOU'LL BE A
GRUMPY PERSON, BUT IF YOU SLEEP ON YOUR LEFT SIDE
YOU'LL BE NICE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PERSONALITY ; POSITION DIRECTION

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

Date learned: 02-00-1983

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NEVER SIT WITH YOUR BACK TOWARDS A DOOR, THIS WILL
DEFINITELY BRING YOU BAD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 03-00-1983

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IN THE GRADUATE LIBRARY (AT U. OF M.), MOST OF THE STUDY
CARRELS HAVE WINDOWS NEXT TO THEM, BUT THERE IS THIS ONE
THAT HAS A DOOR WHERE THE WINDOW USUALLY IS, AND IT'S MISSING
ITS DOORKNOB. THE DOOR HAS BEEN SHUT LIKE THAT FOR ABOUT
THIRTY YEARS AND A BIG CONTROVERSIAL QUESTION HAS ARISEN:
"WHAT IS BEHIND THAT DOOR?" THE ANSWER THAT SATISFIES MOST
PEOPLE FOR GOOD IS "THE BONES OF THOSE WHO LOOKED." THE CAMPUS
MAY NEVER KNOW.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR

James Callow Keyword(s): FATAL CURIOSITY ; HUMOR

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

Date learned: 10-00-1983

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RUSSIAN CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS

WHEN I WAS STILL IN SCHOOL WE HAD TWO WEEKS VACATION
FOR CHRISTMAS. GOVERNMENT OFFICES CLOSED FOR A WHOLE
WEEK. ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS ALL THE CHILDREN
AND GRANDCHILDREN VISITED THEIR GRANDPARENTS' HOUSE.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE DIDN'T MOVE MUCH. MANY OF THEM WERE
BORN, LIVED AND DIED IN THE SAME VILLAGE OR CITY. THEY
OFTEN HAD EIGHT TO FOURTEEN CHILDREN. IT WAS NOT
UNUSUAL TO HAVE TWENTY TO THIRTY PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE
AT THE SAME TIME. THE TABLES WERE LADEN WITH FOOD
FOR A WHOLE WEEK. ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS THE
MEN WENT FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE OF RELATIONS AND FRIENDS
FOR A DRINK OF VODKA AND SOME FOOD. THE WOMEN STAYED
HOME TO GREET THE GUESTS. ON THE THIRD AND FOURTH DAYS
OF CHRISTMAS PEOPLE WENT TO SEE THEIR BEST FRIENDS.
THEY HAD DINNER AND DRINKS AND ENDED UP SINGING AND
DANCING RUSSIAN FOLK DANCES. WE HAD NO CARS SO EVERYONE
GOT HOME SAFELY. ON THE FIFTH AND SIXTH DAYS OF
CHRISTMAS EVERYONE RESTED.

Submitter comment: THESE CUSTUMS TOOK PLACE BEFORE THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Farmington Hills

James Callow Keyword(s): VISITING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Christmas Season See F645.2 for Advent Season.

Date learned: 12-00-1983

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RUSSIAN NEW YEAR'S EVE CUSTUMS

ON NEW YEAR'S EVE CHILDREN AND EVEN ADULTS PUT ON
UNUSUAL OR FUNNY COSTUMES AND WENT FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE
TO HAVE FUN. IT IS A LOT LIKE HALLOWEEN IN THE UNITED
STATES. ALL THIS IS FORGOTTEN NOW.
ALSO ON THIS EVENING, TEENAGE GIRLS WOULD GO OUTSIDE
BETWEEN TEN AND ELEVEN O'CLOCK. A GIRL WOULD ASK THE FIRST
MAN SHE SEES HIS FIRST NAME AND THIS WOULD BE THE NAME
OF HER FUTURE HUSBAND.
ALSO ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, SOME TEENAGE GIRLS WOULD PUT
A LARGE MIRROR IN FRONT OF THE DRESSER MIRROR FACE
TO FACE. THEN THEY PUT THE LIGHTS OUT AND PUT A CANDLE
ON EACH SIDE OF THE FIRST MIRROR. THEN A GIRL LOOKED
OVER ONE MIRROR AT THE OTHER IN SUCH A WAY THAT SHE
SEES A CORRIDOR. BY CONSTANTLY STARING AND USING THE
IMAGINATION SHE BEGINS TO SEE SOME SHADOWS, THEN A FORM,
AND FINALLY SHE SEES A BOYFRIEND OF HERS. THIS WILL BE
THE ONE SHE WILL MARRY. THE OTHER GIRLS TAKE THEIR
TURNS ALSO.

Submitter comment: THESE CUSTUMS TOOK PLACE BEFORE THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Farmington Hills

James Callow Keyword(s): VISITING

Subject headings: Observation
Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 12-00-1983

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REMEDY FOR WARTS

REMEDY FOR REMOVAL OF WARTS AS TOLD BY MARK TWAIN:
UNDER A FULL MOON GO TO CEMETERY, STAND WITH YOUR
BACK TO THE MOON AND THROW THE BODY OF A DEAD BLACK
CAT BY THE CAT'S TAIL OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 10-17-1983

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IF THE HEM ON YOUR DRESS IS TURNED UP (ON THE OUTSIDE),
THEN YOU ARE GOING TO GET A NEW DRESS.

Where learned: ALABAMA ; BALDWIN COUNTY ; FOLEY

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 00001940-00001958

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IF YOUR NECKLACE TURNS AROUND SO THAT THE CLASP IS IN
FRONT AND SOMEONE NOTICES IT, THEN YOU MAKE A WISH
AS YOU TURN THE CLASP AROUND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK ; OAKLAND COUNTY

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: 00-00-1983

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WHEN OUR BABIES ARE INFANTS, WE PUT THEIR UNDERSHIRTS
ON INSIDE-OUT TO CONFUSE THE EVIL EYE AND KEEP IT AWAY
FROM THE BABY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DRESSING ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Overall body coverUpper body and arms
BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: 00-00-1950

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YOU SHOULD NOT CROSS OVER A CHILD WHO IS CRAWLING ON THE FLOOR
BECAUSE HE MIGHT HAVE SOME PHYSICAL ABNORMALITIES WHEREVER YOU
CROSSED OVER HIM. IN ORDER FOR THIS NOT TO HAPPEN, YOU SHOULD
RECROSS OVER HIM IN THE OPPOSITE WAY.

Where learned: GUADELOUPE

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

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

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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STEPPING INTO "SHIT" BRINGS GOOD LUCK, SPECIALLY IF IT IS THE
LEFT FOOT.

Where learned: GUADELOUPE

James Callow Keyword(s): LEFT RIGHT ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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WHEN TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE FRIENDS ARE WALKING SIDE BY SIDE ON THE
ROAD IT IS FORBIDDEN FOR ANOTHER PERSON TO PASS BETWEEN THEM.
IF ANOTHER FELLOW PASSES BETWEEN THEM, THE COMMONSENSE OF THE TWO
FRIENDS WILL MOVE IN TO THE HEAD OF THE PERSON THAT PASSES
WHILE THE TWO FRIENDS WILL BECOME IDIOTS.

Where learned: NIGERIA ; KADUNA

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; TRANSFER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Comet
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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POSITION OF RICE AT DINNER (THAI)

"THE THAIS WILL PLACE THEIR DISH OF RICE CLOSEST TO THEM WHEN
THEY'RE EATING."

Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS AT A THAI PARTY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT. A
THAI GIRL SAID TO ME THAT I AM NOT THAI BECAUSE I PLACED THE
RICE FAR FROM ME. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE OTHER THAIS, I SAW
THAT THEY ALL HAD THEIR DISH OF RICE CLOSEST TO THEMSELVES.

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

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.
Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Food container

Date learned: 02-00-1984

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