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BURN OLD HAIR

ALWAYS BURN YOUR HAIR THAT IS LEFT IN THE COMB OR BRUSH BECAUSE IF
A BIRD MAKES HIS NEST WITH YOUR HAIR, YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A HEADACHE

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak
BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: CA11001973

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COMBING HAIR

IF TWO PEOPLE COMB IN THE SAME PERSONS' HAIR AT THE SAME TIME THE
YOUNGEST WILL DIE FIRST.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): SIMULTANEITY

Subject headings: 686 Seconds / Twice / Two
Observation
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.21

Date learned: 11-05-1973

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BROOM AND BAD LUCK

NEVER STAND A BROOM UPSIDE DOWN IN A HOUSE. IT IS A SIGN OF BAD
LUCK. ALSO: IF YOU STAND A BROOM UPSIDE DOWN IN A CORNER WITH A
FORK STUCK IN IT, YOU CAN MAKE AN UNWANTED VISITOR LEAVE.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.1
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.21

Date learned: 11-05-1973

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BAD LUCK BY A BROOM

DO NOT WALK OVER A BROOM OR NO ONE WILL COME TO VISIT YOU

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

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

Date learned: 11-05-1973

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BAD LUCK BY A BROOM

NEVER SWEEP DIRT FROM THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE, OR FROM
THE HOUSE TO THE FRONT GATE BECAUSE YOU WILL BE SWEEPING YOUR LUCK
AWAY FROM YOU

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.21

Date learned: 11-05-1973

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BAD LUCK BY A CAN

OPEN ANY CAN UPRIGHT NOT UPSIDE DOWN OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.21

Date learned: 11-05-1973

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POLISH JOKE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

THERE WERE TWO POLLACKS BUILDING A HOUSE. ONE WAS NAILING THE BOARDS
UP WHILE THE OTHER ONE CUT THEM. THE ONE WHO WAS NAILING KEPT CURSING
AND THROWING NAILS AWAY. THE SECOND POLLACK BECAME CURIOUS AND ASKED
HIM WHAT HE WAS DOING. HE SAID THAT SOME OF THE NAILS HAD THE HEAD
ON THE WRONG END AND HE COULDN'T USE THEM SO HE THREW THEM AWAY. THE
OTHER POLLACK REPRIMANDED HIM FOR THROWING THEM AWAY AND TOLD HIM
THAT HE SHOULD SAVE THEM SINCE THEY COULD BE USED ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE HOUSE.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SAINT CLAIR

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman
BELIEF -- Poli

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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LUCKY CROSSING

IF YOU LIFT YOUR FEET OFF THE FLOOR OF YOUR CAR WHILE CROSSING A
BRIDGE OVER WATER YOU WILL ALWAYS REACH THE OTHER SIDE SAFELY.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS A MORE COMMON BELIEF IN THE EARLY 1900S WHEN PEOPLE WERE A
LITTLE MORE WARY ABOUT DRIVING CARS OVER BRIDGES.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SAINT CLAIR

James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; MAGIC

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 00001960S

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THE GIRL WHO LOST HER VIRGINITY AND HER LIFE.

THIS GUY FINALLY TALKED HIS GIRL INTO SPENDING THE NIGHT WITH HIM
AT A MOTEL AFTER THEIR SENIOR PROM. SHE WAS A VIRGIN BEFORE THAT
NIGHT. DRIVING HER HOME AFTER THEY HAD HAD INTERCOURSE THEY WERE
INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND SHE WAS KILLED. SHE WENT TO HELL
FOR ETERNITY AND AT NIGHT HER GHOST COMES BACK TO HAUNT THE MOTEL
ROOM AND ITS OCCUPANTS. HER BOYFRIEND WAS ALSO HAUNTED BY HER AND
KILLED HIMSELF BY DRIVING OFF A CLIFF WITH HIS CAR.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SAINT CLAIR

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; SUICIDE

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 00001960S

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THE GORDON NAGEL TRAIL

THERE WAS A GIRL AND A GUY PARKING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ALONG THE
GORDON NAGEL TRAIL. THE GUY GOT PISSED BECAUSE THE GIRL WOULDN'T PUT
OUT SO HE KICKED HER OUT OF THE CAR AND TOOK OFF. SHE WAS NEVER HEARD
FROM AGAIN. IT IS SAID THAT SHE DIED IN THE WOODS BY THE ROAD AND NOW
HER GHOST LIVES THERE. AT MIDNIGHT EACH NIGHT SHE COMES BACK TO THE
PLACE HER BOYFRIEND LEFT HER AND SEARCHES FOR HIM. IT IS SAID THAT IF
YOU DRIVE BY THAT PLACE AT MIDNIGHT YOUR CAR WILL STALL AND WILL NOT
START UNTIL SHE HAS SEARCHED YOUR CAR FOR HER BOYFRIEND.

Submitter comment: THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL REPORTS OF CARS STALLING ON THIS ROAD LATE AT
NIGHT. IT IS AN ISOLATED ROAD BETWEEN TWO TOWNS. IT HAS BEEN SAID
THAT THE HIGH VOLTAGE POWER LINES THAT RUN ALONG THE ROAD CAUSE THE
CARS TO STALL BUT THIS HAS NEVER BEEN PROVEN.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; POTTSVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): PARKING

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 00-00-1968

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JUMP-ROPE RHYME

SHALL I TELL YOU A STORY
ABOUT JACK AND HIS GLORY?
SHALL I BEGIN IT?
THAT'S ALL THAT'S IN IT.

SHALL I TELL YOU ANOTHER
ABOUT JACK AND HIS BROTHER?
SHALL I BEGIN IT?
THAT'S ALL THAT'S IN IT.

Submitter comment: THIS IS RECITED IN TWO PARTS AS SHOWN BY THE BREAK I PUT IN BETWEEN.
THE FIRST JUMPER ENTERS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST PART AND EXITS
AT THE END OF IT. THE SECOND JUMPER DOES THE SAME THING FOR THE
SECOND PART.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SAINT CLAIR

James Callow Keyword(s): JACK-A-NORY ; NUTSHELL NARRATIVE IN VERSE

Subject headings: Favorites
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.560 BB C82

Date learned: 00001960S

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FOOTBALL CHEER

FROM ALL THE TEAMS AROUND THE WORLD, THE ---- ARE ON THE TOP.
FROM NORTH TO SOUTH TO EAST TO WEST, THE ---- ARE ON THE TOP.
GIVE A CHEER. GIVE A CHEER. THE ----- ARE ON THE TOP

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): REFRAIN

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival Custom Festival

Date learned: 11-00-1973

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AUTOGRAPH

MAY YOUR LIFE BE A SUCCESSION OF SUCCESSIVE SUCCESSES.

Submitter comment: FROM AUTOGRAPH BOOK KEPT IN DETROIT, 1960

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): INITIAL ITERATION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Good wishes (sincere)
Z210

Date learned: 11-00-1973

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AUTOGRAPH

ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE.
I HAVE A BULLDOG THAT LOOKS JUST LIKE YOU.

Submitter comment: FROM AUTOGRAPH BOOK KEPT IN DETROIT, 1960.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Roses are red and other such associations
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults

Date learned: 11-00-1973

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AUTOGRAPH

REMEMBER ME EARLY, REMEMBER ME LATE,
REMEMBER THE GIRL WHO COULDN'T WRITE STRAIGHT.

Submitter comment: FROM AUTOGRAPH BOOK KEPT IN DETROIT, 1964

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): TYPOGRAPHICAL

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Forget me not

Date learned: 11-00-1973

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AUTOGRAPH

BY HOOK OR BY CROOK

Submitter comment: FROM AUTOGRAPH BOOK KEPT IN DETROIT, 1960

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION

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

Date learned: 11-00-1973

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AUTOGRAPH

Y, S YOU ARE. Y, S YOU BE.
I C U R 2 Y, S FOR ME.

Submitter comment: FROM AUTOGRAPH BOOK KEPT IN DETROIT, 1963

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DIGITAL SPELLING ; WISE=Y'S, C=SEE, U=YOU, R=ARE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults

Date learned: 11-00-1973

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ETHNIC JOKE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

POLISH PEOPLE SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL TO LEARN WHERE TO PUT
TREES. THEY GO BETWEEN TWOS AND FOURS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ETHNIC PRONUNCIATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Poli
SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group

Date learned: 10-00-1973

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LULLABY

NOW THE MOON SLEEPS AND THE STARS ARE SLEEPING. THEY TIRED
MY LITTLE DOLL. CLOSE YOUR LITTLE EYES AND LAY DOWN YOUR
LITTLE HEAD AND I WILL TELL YOU A TALE. THERE WAS A KING,
THERE WAS A "PAZ" , AND THERE WAS ALSO A QUEEN.
THEY LIVED IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROSE GARDEN, DID NOT KNOW STORMY
WEATHER, AND EVERYONE KNEW ABOUT IT.
THEN A TERRIBLE LOSS, A SUDDEN DEATH, CAME UPON THEM.
THE KING WAS EATEN BY THE DOG, THE "PAZ" WAS
EATEN BY THE CAT, THE QUEEN, THE MOUSE HAD EATEN. BUT SO THAT
YOU WILL NOT BE SAD MY DEAREST LITTLE DOLL, FROM SUGAR WAS MADE
THE KING, FROM CHOCOLATE THE "PAZ", AND THE QUEEN
"Z MARCEPANA."

Submitter comment: "Z MARCEPANA" IS A TYPE OF CAKE WHICH THE
QUEEN WAS MADE OF.
THE INFORMANT DID NOT KNOW WHAT KIND IT EXACTLY WAS.
THIS IS A TRANSLATION OF THE LULLABY LEARNED IN POLAND.
THIS IS TRANSLATED FROM POLISH

James Callow comment: MARZIPAN IS A CONFECTION MADE FROM ALMOND PASTE AND
CK[ EGG WHITE AND SUGAR. PAC

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; POLAND ; Sterling Heights ; GOWARCZOW

James Callow Keyword(s): EGG WHITE AND SUGAR. PAC

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Cradle song Lullaby

Date learned: 11-00-1973

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