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CROSSING YOUR FINGERS IS SUPPOSED TO BRING GOOD LUCK.
THE SAME GESTURE CAN ALSO BE USED TO ALLOW A LIE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: FREMONT ; OHIO, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cross ; Crossing ; CUSTOM ; Finger ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Lie ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IN ORDER TO RETAIN A CERTAIN STREAK OF LUCK WHICH YOU
PRESENTLY HAVE GOING FOR YOU, ONE SHOULD CROSS HIS
FINGERS, I.E., INDEX FINGER AND THIRD FINGER OVER IT.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cross ; Crossing ; CUSTOM ; Finger ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22

Date learned: 00001950S

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CROSSING THE FINGERS IS A SIGN ONE WOULD MAKE IF HE
WISHES TO HAVE GOOD LUCK FALL HIS WAY.

Data entry tech comment:

Belief; Custom; Superstition; Gesture; Crossing; Fingers; Cross; Finger; Luck;

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cross ; Crossing ; CUSTOM ; Finger ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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WHEN DRIVING PAST A GRAVEYARD, CROSS YOUR FINGERS AND PUT
THEM ON THE CEILING, CROSS YOUR FEET AND LIFT THEM UP.
THIS GIVES YOU A HAPPY DEATH, GOOD LUCK IN LIFE, AND
PREVENTS SPIRITS FROM HAUNTING YOU.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Ceiling ; Cross ; Crossing ; CUSTOM ; DEATH ; FEET ; Finger ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; GRAVEYARD ; Haunt ; LUCK ; SPIRIT ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: Favorites
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Cemetery
BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22

Date learned: 09-00-1969

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FOR GOOD LUCK, ONE SHOULD CROSS TWO FINGERS ON ONE HAND
BUT SHOULD HE CROSS FINGERS ON TWO HANDS, IT WILL
RESULT IN BAD LUCK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cross ; Crossing ; CUSTOM ; Finger ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.22

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IN GERMANY INSTEAD OF CROSSING FINGERS FOR GOOD LUCK,
THE PEOPLE HOLD THEIR THUMBS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

James Callow comment:

CLENCHING FIST OVER THE THUMB OF THAT HAND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cross ; Crossing ; CUSTOM ; Finger ; Fingers ; Germany ; GESTURE ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION ; Thumbs

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22

Date learned: 10-10-1968

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THE "KNOCKING ON WOOD" SIGNIFIES LUCK THAT A PERSON
NEEDS. BY DOING IT, THE PERSON HOPES THAT ALL TURNS
OUT THE WAY IT IS DESIRED.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: ON A DATE

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; GESTURE ; Knock ; Knocking ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION ; WOOD

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22

Date learned: 02-12-1968

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IF YOU SAY SOMETHING LIKE "I'VE NEVER BROKEN MY LEG,"
KNOCK ON WOOD SO IT WON'T HAPPEN.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; GESTURE ; Knock ; Knocking ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION ; WOOD

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22

Date learned: 04-02-1968

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YOU TAP A PIECE OF WOOD TO PREVENT THE LOSS OF GOOD
LUCK BY MENTIONING THE FACT THAT YOU HAD GOOD LUCK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; GESTURE ; Knock ; Knocking ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION ; WOOD

James Callow Keyword(s): Knock On Wood

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IF YOU HAVE BEEN HAVING GOOD LUCK AND YOU HAPPEN TO
MENTION IT OUT LOUD, YOU SHOULD KNOCK ON A PIECE OF
WOOD SO YOUR LUCK WILL NOT LEAVE YOU.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; GESTURE ; Knock ; Knocking ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION ; WOOD

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE WHO JUST LOST THEIR
HUSBAND (DIED OR DIVORCED), YOU KNOCK ON WOOD SO
YOU WON'T LOSE YOURS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

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

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; DEATH ; Divorce ; GESTURE ; HUSBAND ; Knock ; Knocking ; LUCK ; MARRIAGE ; SUPERSTITION ; Wife ; WOOD

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.44

Date learned: 01-25-1968

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KNOCK ON WOOD FOR LUCK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; GESTURE ; Knock ; Knocking ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION ; WOOD

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22

Date learned: 09-00-1968

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WHEN AN ITALIAN PINCHES SOMEONE ELSE ON THE CHEEKS OF
THEIR FACE, IT IS AN EXPRESSION OF APPROVAL OF THAT
PERSON. IT ALSO IS A GESTURE WISHING THE PERSON
GOOD LUCK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ; Approval ; BELIEF ; Cheeks ; CUSTOM ; GESTURE ; Italian ; LUCK ; Pinch ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22
SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.1

Date learned: 09-20-1969

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YOU CAN GET THE GIFT OF "BLARNEY" WITHOUT KISSING THE
BLARNEY STONE--JUST KISS SOMEONE WHO HAS ALREADY
KISSED THE STONE.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT TRAVELLED

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: OFFICE

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Blarney ; Blarney Stone ; CUSTOM ; Irish ; KISS ; Legend ; LUCK ; STONE ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22

Date learned: 10-03-1967

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HOLDING DICE IN YOUR HAND AND BLOWING ON THEM IS
SUPPOSED TO BRING YOU GOOD LUCK IN A DICE GAME.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Blow ; BREATH ; Breathe ; CUSTOM ; DICE ; GAMBLING ; GAME ; Gaming ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IF YOU AND ANOTHER PERSON SAY THE SAME THING AT THE SAME
TIME, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO SPIT BETWEEN YOUR FINGERS
FOR GOOD LUCK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BEHAVIOR ; BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Hands ; Jinxs ; Same Time ; Simultaneous ; SPIT ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22

Date learned: 04-05-1970

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IN ORDER TO WARD OFF EVIL, ONE SHOULD POINT HIS INDEX
AND LITTLE FINGERS AT SOMETHING. (THE OTHER FINGERS
SHOULD BE CLOSED).

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; EVIL ; EVIL EYE ; Eye ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Prevent ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward

James Callow Keyword(s): HORNS

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.12

Date learned: 02-14-1968

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ITALIAN GESTURE AGAINST EVIL

A GESTURE TO RETURN EVIL TO ANOTHER IS TO PLACE THE
THUMB BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND FINGERS OF THE
SAME HAND.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; EVIL ; EVIL EYE ; Eye ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Prevent ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: 12-00-1969

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WHEN YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE WITH SOMEONE WHO WILL GIVE
YOU THE EVIL EYE, HOLD OUT YOUR FOREFINGER AND BABY
FINGER, HOLD THIS UNTIL THE PERSON LEAVES.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT SAW HIS BROTHER DO THIS WHEN IN CALABRIA,
ITALY, AND BELIEVED IT WARDED OFF THE EVIL EYE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ITALY ; OAK PARK ; CALABRIA

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; EVIL ; EVIL EYE ; Eye ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Prevent ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse
SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.12

Date learned: 01-24-1972

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WHEN ONE SEES A LOVELY CHILD, ONE MUST SPIT ON THE
GROUND TO WARD OFF THE EVIL EYE, TO PREVENT SICKNESS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): BABY ; BEAUTY ; BELIEF ; CHILD ; CUSTOM ; EVIL ; EVIL EYE ; Eye ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Prevent ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.12

Date learned: 11-19-1971

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