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CASE OF EVIL EYE CAUSING DEATH

AFTER COMING TO THIS COUNTRY, THE INFORMANT'S MOTHER
LOST A BABY GIRL NAMED CATHERINE BECAUSE SOME FRIEND OF THEIRS
(A MAN) PRAISED THE LITTLE BABY AND IT CAME UNDER A SPELL.
THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYONE IN THE U.S. WHO COULD BREAK THE SPELL
(THERE WERE PEOPLE GOOD AT THIS IN THE OLD COUNTRY).
THE BABY JUST WANED AWAY AND DIED. AND IN LATER YEARS
WHEN ANOTHER RELATIVE WAS GIVEN THE NAME OF CATHERINE SHE GOT
BAD LUCK TO GO WITH IT FROM THE OLD SPELL
AND THAT IS WHY SHE NEVER HAS ANY DATES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ATTACHED TO NAME

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

Date learned: 10-26-1969

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CONVERSION; SPIT (CLASSIFIER,S TITLE)

IF SOMEONE SWEEPS YOUR FEET WITH A BROOM
YOU MUST SPIT ON THE BROOM TO KEEP YOU FROM HAVING BAD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Keyword(s): PREVENTION OF BAD LUCK

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Conversions P883.2

Date learned: 11-18-1971

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BAD LUCK

IT IS A BELIEF IN PUERTO RICO THAT IF YOU WALK BACKWARDS
INTO ANY OCEAN, THAT IT WILL TAKE AWAY ALL OF YOUR BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: HER GRANDFATHER TOLD HER THIS

Where learned: PUERTO RICO

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Still water Large body.
BELIEF -- Conversions

Date learned: 00-00-1970 ; 11-00-1987

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Tale of Kate Elshender

A woman in the highlands, Named Kate Elshender, went to
a quarry hole to wash her clothes. As she passed the
village shop, she went in and bought a half pound of
soap and proceeded to wash; the soap slipped from her
hands, and she went back and bought another half pound.
The shopkeeper warned her to be careful, remembering the
old superstition...(when soap slips from your hand it
means death)...It slipped from her hands once again and
she returned for a third half pound of soap. This time
the shopkeeper was thoroughly frightened and begged her
not to go back again, but Kate went. Shortly after the
shopkeeper went to the quarry to find no one there. She
gave the alarm, and Kate Elshender was discovered drowned
at the bottom of the quarry hole.

Where learned: ENGLAND ; LONDON

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK

Subject headings: Observation
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Still water Small body. Lake, pond....
BELIEF -- P447
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Measure of time Working

Date learned: 00-00-1991

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Superstition: Baseball

Never mention a shutout or a perspective no-hitter to a pitcher or anyone in a Major-League dugout during the feat or it will be lost to fate.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

The original BN [P880] is crossed out and replaced with P536.

The words Bad Luck are also crossed out from the top left-hand corner of the card.

Where learned: NBC TELEVISION ; RADIO PROGRAM ; Garagiola, Joe

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

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Superstition: Baseball

WHEN THE PITCHER HAS A NO-HITTER GOING IN A BASEBALL GAME IT IS BAD
LUCK TO MENTION THIS FACT UNTIL THE GAME IS OVER. IF YOU DO MENTION
IT THE PITCHER WILL LOSE HIS NO-HITTER. DURING THE 1979 DETROIT
TIGERS BASEBALL SEASON DAVE ROZEMA HAD A NO-HITTER GOING IN THE
SEVENTH INNING AND THE UN-BASEBALL-WISE CHANNEL FOUR TV ANNOUNCER
MIKE BARRY ANNOUNCED THIS AND SURE ENOUGH THE NEXT BATTER GOT A
HOMERUN. THE OTHER TV ANNOUNCERS, FORMER BASEBALL PLAYERS AL KALINE
AND GEORGE SWELL, ALMOST THREW BARRY OUT OF THEIR THIRD-DECK BOOTH.
ANYBODY THAT KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT BASEBALL KNOWS YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSE
TO MENTION A NO-HITTER AND BARRY SAID IT IN FRONT OF A QUARTER
MILLION PERSON TV AUDIENCE.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): SPEAKING TABU

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 11-23-1979

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Superstition: Baseball

IF YOU'RE PLAYING BASEBALL AND YOUR PITCHER IS PITCHING
A NO-HITTER, IT'S BAD LUCK TO TALK ABOUT IT AND SAY
ANYTHING ABOUT IT TO HIM. JUST PRETEND LIKE YOU
KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT.

Submitter comment:

THIS IS AN OLD CUSTOM IN BASEBALL THAT I LEARNED FROM
PLAYING IT VERY EARLY IN LIFE.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS ; ASSUMED

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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Superstition: Baseball

NO ONE SHOULD MENTION TO A PITCHER BETWEEN INNINGS THAT
HE HAS A SHUTOUT OR NO-HITTER GOING.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

Date learned: 09-24-1969

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Superstition: Baseball

NEVER MENTION A NO-HITTER TO A PITCHER DURING THE GAME.

Submitter comment:

HEARD IT ON T.V.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD 12.2.2010

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; ASSUMED

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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Superstition: Baseball

BASEBALL PITCHER IS PITCHING A NO-HITTER, NO ONE SPEAKS
OF IT.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

Date learned: 10-16-1967

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Superstition: Baseball

I LEARNED THE FOLLOWING WHILE PLAYING BABE RUTH BASEBALL IN PORT
HURON. "DURING A GAME WHEN A PITCHER IS PITCHING A NO HITTER, IT
IS BAD LUCK TO TELL HIM HOW MANY STRIKE-OUTS HE HAS OR HOW MANY
INNINGS HE HAS YET TO PITCH."

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PORT HURON

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.6

Date learned: 10-30-1972

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Superstition: Baseball

IT IS BAD LUCK TO MENTION THAT A PITCHER HAS A NO-
HITTER GOING WHILE THE GAME IS IN PROGRESS.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance
BELIEF -- Bad luck Games Pastimes Sports

Date learned: 10-22-1969

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Superstition: Baseball

THERE HAS BEEN A PREVAILING BELIEF AMONG THE VARIOUS
BASEBALL BROADCASTERS THAT I HAVE HEARD OVER THE
YEARS, IN THE BAD LUCK OF MENTIONING THE FACT THAT A
PITCHER IS WORKING ON A NO HIT GAME. IF ONE MENTIONS
THE IMPENDING NO-HITTER, THE SUPERSTITION GOES, THE
NO-HITTER WILL NOT CONTINUE FOR THE PITCHER WILL HAVE
BEEN JINXED BY THE MENTIONING OF HIS NEARLY COMPLETE
ACHIEVEMENT.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.2
SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport S555.522

Date learned: 11-23-1970

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Superstition

Don't say it, it might happen:

It is a superstition not to mention a possibility of a bad event to occur for fear that to say so would thus cause the feared event to occur. [sic]

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P880] crossed out and replaced with P477

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Myself ; BATTLE CREEK

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BELIEF ; jinx ; LUCK ; SPEAKING TABU ; SUPERSTITION ; TABU

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

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Superstition

Superstition: Bad Luck:

A howling dog means someone will die shortly.

Submitter comment:

[Informant] learned from her grandmother.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P880] crossed out and replaced with P870

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Smith, Mrs ; J L HUDSONS COMPANY

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BELIEF ; DOG ; Howling ; OMEN ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: Observation

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IF YOU STEP OVER A LONG HANDLED TOOL, BROOM, RAKE, HOE,
YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK UNLESS YOU STEP OVER IT BACKWARDS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated on 09-01-11

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; GALLATIN ; McQuarters, Leonia ; 714 DeMass

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BROOM ; Handle ; Hoe ; LUCK ; Step ; Tool

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck
BELIEF -- Conversions

Date learned: 08-20-1973

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IF YOU STEP OVER SOMEONE'S OUT STRETCHED LEGS, HE WILL
HAVE BAD LUCK UNLESS YOU STEP OVER THEM BACKWARDS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated on 09-01-11

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; GALLATIN ; McQuarters, Leonia ; 714 DeMass

Keyword(s): Backwards ; BAD LUCK ; BODY ; LEGS ; Limb ; LUCK ; Step

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities
BELIEF -- Conversions Activities

Date learned: 08-20-1973

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TO FIX A MOUSE EATEN HOLE IN A GARMENT BRINGS BAD LUCK
TO THE MENDER.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated on 09-01-11

Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BELZONI ; Terrell, Mattie ; 701 Central Ave

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; Fix ; Garment ; Hole ; LUCK ; Mend ; Mouse ; Sew

James Callow Keyword(s): MENDING SEWING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities

Date learned: 06-06-1973

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OPENING AN UMBRELLA IN THE HOUSE BRINGS BAD LUCK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated on 09-01-11

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; GALLATIN ; McQuarters, Leonia ; 714 DeMass

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; House ; Indoors ; LUCK ; OMEN ; UMBRELLA

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck Umbrella

Date learned: 08-20-1973

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IF A GIRL CATCHES A BUTTERLY AND BITES OFF HIS HEAD IN
THE TAIL OF HER DRESS, SHE WILL GET A NEW ONE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated on 09-01-11

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; GALLATIN ; McQuarters, Leonia ; 714 DeMass

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; Bite ; Butterfly ; Dismember ; DRESS ; GOOD LUCK ; HEAD ; LUCK ; New ; OMEN ; Tail

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect

Date learned: 08-20-1973

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showing 29 items

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