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RAILROAD CROSSING

WHEN YOU CROSS A RAILROAD CROSSING IN A CAR TOUCH THE ROOF OF
THE CAR WITH YOUR PALMS SO YOU WON'T HAVE BAD LUCK.

Where learned: 13557 ROSEMONT

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; TRAVEL

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

Date learned: 11-17-1968

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SUPERSTITION

THE MAIN WEAPON OF THE GURKA INDIANS, MANY OF WHOM FOUGHT FOR
THE UNITED STATES DURING WORLD WAR 2, IS A LARGE KNIFE WHICH THEY
ALWAYS CARRIED WITH THEM. THEY WOULD NOT DRAW THIS KNIFE UNLESS
IT WOULD COME IN CONTACT WITH BLOOD, AS THEY BELIEVED THAT THE
FAILURE TO DO THIS WOULD BRING THEM BAD LUCK. THEY SO BELIEVED IN
THIS SUPERSTITION THAT IF THE KNIFE WAS EVER USED AND DID NOT
DRAW THE BLOOD OF SOMEONE ELSE, THEY WOULD CUT THEMSELVES BEFORE
PUTTING IT AWAY.

Where learned: 20144 STOTTER AVE

Keyword(s): CONVERSION

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Occupation War
BELIEF -- War
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
BELIEF -- Conversions

Date learned: 10-27-1969

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GOOD LUCK

THROW SALT OVER YOUR SHOULDER FOR GOOD LUCK OR TO ERASE SOME
EVIL EFFECTS OF A MISTAKE SUCH AS WALKING UNDER A LADDER.

Where learned: HOME ; 12096 ENGLESIDE

Keyword(s): CONVERSION

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Conversions

Date learned: NONE GIVEN

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BAD LUCK PREVENTION: (ITALIAN)-SALT

TO PREVENT BAD LUCK FROM ENTERING A HOUSE, PLACE SALT IN LITTLE
BAGS AND PUT THE BAGS IN THE CORNERS OF THE ROOMS WHERE NO ONE SEES
THEM. IT IS ESPECIALLY GOOD TO DO THIS WHEN A NEW BABY ARRIVES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; SUPERNATURAL: SALT AS LUCKY CHARM

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.17

Date learned: 12-00-1969

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SUPERSTITION CONCERNING BAD LUCK

IF SOMEONE GIVES YOU SOMETHING SHARP, LIKE A PIN OR KNIFE, YOU
MUST GIVE THEM A PENNY OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER COLLECTED THIS SUPERSTITION FROM A WOMAN WITH WHOM SHE WORKED. MRS. HAIRSTON LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER
AND GRANDMOTHER.

Where learned: NATIONAL BANK OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; MONEY ; SOCIAL RELATIONS

James Callow Keyword(s): GIFTGIVING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.18

Date learned: 02-00-1967

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SUPERSTITION

IF YOU LEAVE HOME AND DISCOVER THAT YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING,
YOU MUST SIT STILL A MOMENT BEFORE RETURNING FOR IT, OR YOU WILL
HAVE BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: THIS OLD SUPERSTITION WAS TOLD TO ME BY MY AUNT WHEN SHE VISITED
HERE FROM JAMESTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, IN OCTOBER OF 1963.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; TRAVEL: RETURNING HOME FOR FORGOTTEN OBJECT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.2

Date learned: 10-00-1963

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COUNT TO TEN

IF YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING WHEN LEAVING YOUR HOUSE AND HAVE
TO GO BACK FOR IT, BE SURE TO SIT DOWN AND COUNT TO TEN BEFORE
YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE AGAIN, OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; NUMBERS: TEN ; SUPERNATURAL: COUNTING TO TEN ; TRAVEL: RETURNING HOME FOR FORGOTTEN OBJECT

Subject headings: 686 First / Once / One / Newness
BELIEF -- BELIEF
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Number P686.3.10
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.2

Date learned: 00001965 SUMMER

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KNOCK ON WOOD

YOU SAY SOMETHING THEN KNOCK 3 TIMES SO THAT NO BAD LUCK
WILL HAPPEN TO YOU.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; SOCIAL RELATIONS ; SUPERNATURAL: KNOCKING ON WOOD

Subject headings: 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.2
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 03-31-1968

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SUPERSTITION

WHEN YOU ENTER A HOUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME EXIT THROUGH THE SAME
DOOR YOU ENTERED, OTHERWISE YOU HAVE BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HIS MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.21

Date learned: 03-25-1967

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LEAVING THE SERVICE

WHEN LEAVING THE SERVICE, A SAILOR WILL NEVER CARRY HIS OWN
LUGGAGE. TO DO SO IS BAD LUCK. HE USUALLY ALLOWS ONE OF HIS BEST
FRIENDS TO HELP HIM, BRINGING ABOUT GOOD LUCK FOR
HIS HELPFUL FRIEND.

Where learned: ROUTE 2 ; INFORMANTS HOME ; W JEFFERSON RD

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; TRAVEL: RETURN FROM NAVY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- P535
BELIEF -- War
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.2

Date learned: 03-09-1970

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BELIEF

IN UKRAINE, IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF A PERSON SPEAKS OF HIS OWN GOOD
FORTUNE, HE SHOULD AFTERWARDS KNOCK THREE TIMES ON SOME RAW,
UNFINISHED WOOD SO HIS LUCK WON'T CHANGE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT COLLECTED INFORMATION PASSED ON BY GRANDPARENTS IN UKRAINE

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; SUPERNATURAL: KNOCKING ON WOOD ; UKRAINIAN BELIEF

Subject headings: 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 10-01-1967

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BELIEF

MANY SPANISH PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT AFTER SEEING A PRIEST CLOTHED IN
BLACK, THEY SHOULD TOUCH SOMETHING MADE OF WOOD TO AVOID BAD LUCK.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; SPANISH BELIEF ; SUPERNATURAL: TOUCHING WOOD

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Color
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22
SPEECH -- Gesture
PROVERB -- Blason Populaire

Date learned: 02-17-1970

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INSIDE OUT

IF YOU PUT SOMETHING ON INSIDE OUT DON'T CHANGE IT OR YOU WILL HAVE
BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT ACTUALLY SAID THIS ON SUCH AN OCCASION.

Where learned: 20102 BEECH ROAD

Keyword(s): CLOTHING ; CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS

James Callow Keyword(s): DRESSING ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22

Date learned: NONE GIVEN

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WHEN YOU SEE A CHIMNEY SWEEP, QUICKLY PULL OFF A BUTTON FROM YOUR
CLOTHING TO PREVENT BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT FOUND THIS AMUSING BUT IMPRACTICAL.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; OCCUPATIONS: CHIMNEY SWEEPING

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22

Date learned: 10-08-1971

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ALBATROSS

IT IS BAD LUCK FOR AN ALBATROSS TO FOLLOW A SHIP. IF SHE DOES,
SHE MUST BE SHOT WITH A GUN ARMED WITH SILVER BULLETS.

Where learned: ROUTE 2 ; W JEFFERSON RD

Keyword(s): BIRDS: ALBATROSS ; CONVERSION ; TRAVEL: SHIPS

James Callow Keyword(s): CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: KILLING AN ALBATROSS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- P 88 P 88.33
BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.33

Date learned: 03-09-1970

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BAD LUCK

IF, IN PLAYING CARDS, YOU HAVE BAD LUCK, A WALK AROUND THE CHAIR
WILL BRING GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; GAMES: CARDS ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.6

Date learned: 11-01-1967

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When passing a funeral home, you were told not to point at it,
because if you did you would die. You would have to bite your
finger and then put it under your foot to keep death away. It
would reverse the curse of death.

Where learned: Rome, Georgia

James Callow Keyword(s): CONVERSION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 00-00-1955

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If someone sweeps your feet with a broom you have to spit on

the broom; if not the person's foot that you swept will have bad
luck.

Where learned: Rome, Georgia

James Callow Keyword(s): CONVERSION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails
BELIEF -- Bad luck
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 00-00-1955

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showing 18 items

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