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CUSTOM

ON CANDLEMAS DAY, MOTHERS SINGE A SMALL PIECE OF THEIR CHILDREN'S
HAIR WITH THE CANDLE THAT WAS BLESSED IN CHURCH THAT DAY TO
PREVENT THEM FROM BEING SCARED OF STORMS AND LIGHTNING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CURE FOR FRIGHT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- February 2 Candlemas Groundhog Day
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder

Date learned: 02-07-1971

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BELIEF CURE

IF A CHILD IS SCARED OF AN ANIMAL, ANY PARTICULAR ANIMAL, YOU ARE TO
GET SOME HAIR FROM THAT ANIMAL AND BURN IT.
WHILE THE HAIR FROM THE ANIMAL IS BURNING, THE CHILD IS
SUPPOSED TO INHALE THE SMOKE FROM THE FIRE. IF HE OR SHE DOES THIS
THEY WILL BE CURED OF BEING SCARED OF THE ANIMAL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS ; 6741 WHITEFIELD

Keyword(s): FRIGHT ; FUMAGATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Remedy

Date learned: 11-12-1968

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326 Youth Who Wanted to Learn What Fear Is

There once was a little girl that claimed she was very
brave, and wasn't afraid of anything. So one day her
brothers dared her to go to the grave yard to steal a
tombstone and bring it back to show them. The little girl
did indeed go to the graveyard to get that tombstone but
never returned. What everyone says that happened was that as
she was putting her dress over the stone to carry it out the
stone fell on her dress and pulled her down. Of course the
little girl thought that the spirit of the grave was tugging
on her dress, and she was so scared that she died right there
on the spot.

Where learned: IOWA ; Des Moines

James Callow Keyword(s): dying of fright ; FEAR TEST

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Magic

Date learned: 00-00-1910

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AFTER AN OLD LADY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD DIED, THE BOYS WHO HAD
HATED HER WHILE SHE WAS LIVING, TOLD ONE OF THE LITTLE GIRLS
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY WOULD GIVE HER $25.00 IF SHE
WOULD GO STICK A FORK IN THIS LADY'S GRAVE. ONE NIGHT AS SHE
WENT TO GET HER $25.00, SHE TOOK THE FORK WITH HER AND
QUICKLY STABBED IT IN HER GRAVE. HOWEVER, AS SHE TURNED
TO RUN AWAY, SHE FELT A TUG AT HER SKIRT. NOT REALIZING THAT
THE FORK HAD CAUGHT SOME OF HER SKIRT, SHE THOUGHT IT WAS THE
LADY GRABBING HER AND SHE DIED OF A HEART ATTACK ON THE GROVE.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): DEATH FROM FRIGHT

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 07-01-1970

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TWO SISTERS WERE HOME ALONE FOR THE NIGHT AND HAD
RETIRED TO BED. THEY HEARD A STRANGE NOISE DOWNSTAIRS
AND THE BRAVE ONE DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE. SHE
RETURNED SHORTLY, AND GOT INTO BED. WHEN HER SISTER
QUESTIONED HER, SHE MADE NO SOUNDS THE OTHER SISTER
GOT OUT OF BED TO SEE WHAT WAS THE MATTER WITH HER
AND FOUND HER SISTER LYING IN BED, HAIR TURNED WHITE
AND BODY COLD AS ICE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): HAIR TURNED WHITE FROM FRIGHT.

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 12-06-1967

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GHOST STORY

IN A SMALL VILLAGE IN GREECE, AN OLD MAN DIED AND IT
WAS FOUND THAT HIS GHOST WAS ROAMING THE COUNTRYSIDE.
TO DISPEL THE GHOST, A BRAVE YOUNG MAN NAMED
KAFMAN TOLD THE VILLAGERS THAT HE WOULD STAY
BY THE OLD MAN'S GRAVE TO SEE IF THE GHOST WOULD
APPEAR. KAFMAN WORE A LONG, HOODED CAPE WHICH TOUCHED
THE GROUND, AND WHEN HE KNELT, THE CAPE SPREAD AROUND
HIM. BY AND BY, HE STARTED TO IMAGINE THINGS AND
HE STABBED AT THE DARKNESS WITH HIS DAGGER AND IT
STUCK INTO THE GROUND PIERCING THE CAPE. AS KAFMAN
STARTED TO LEAVE, HE FELT THE JERK OF THE CAPE
PINNED TO THE GROUND AND DIED OF A HEART ATTACK.

Submitter comment: JAMES LEARNED THIS FROM HIS FATHER.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN ; MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DEATH FROM FRIGHT ; FEAR TEST

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman

Date learned: 10-10-1967

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TWO SISTERS WERE HOME ALONE FOR THE NIGHT AND HAD
RETIRED TO BED. THEY HEARD A STRANGE NOISE DOWNSTAIRS
AND THE BRAVE ONE DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE. SHE
RETURNED SHORTLY, AND GOT INTO BED. WHEN HER SISTER
QUESTIONED HER, SHE MADE NO SOUNDS THE OTHER SISTER
GOT OUT OF BED TO SEE WHAT WAS THE MATTER WITH HER
AND FOUND HER SISTER LYING IN BED, HAIR TURNED WHITE
AND BODY COLD AS ICE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): HAIR TURNED WHITE FROM FRIGHT.

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 12-06-1967

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GHOST STORY

IN A SMALL VILLAGE IN GREECE, AN OLD MAN DIED AND IT
WAS FOUND THAT HIS GHOST WAS ROAMING THE COUNTRYSIDE.
TO DISPEL THE GHOST, A BRAVE YOUNG MAN NAMED
KAFMAN TOLD THE VILLAGERS THAT HE WOULD STAY
BY THE OLD MAN'S GRAVE TO SEE IF THE GHOST WOULD
APPEAR. KAFMAN WORE A LONG, HOODED CAPE WHICH TOUCHED
THE GROUND, AND WHEN HE KNELT, THE CAPE SPREAD AROUND
HIM. BY AND BY, HE STARTED TO IMAGINE THINGS AND
HE STABBED AT THE DARKNESS WITH HIS DAGGER AND IT
STUCK INTO THE GROUND PIERCING THE CAPE. AS KAFMAN
STARTED TO LEAVE, HE FELT THE JERK OF THE CAPE
PINNED TO THE GROUND AND DIED OF A HEART ATTACK.

Submitter comment: JAMES LEARNED THIS FROM HIS FATHER.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN ; MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): FEAR TEST DEATH FROM FRIGHT

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman

Date learned: 10-10-1967

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RIDDLE

A MAN WENT INTO A BAR AND ASKED THE BARTENDER FOR A GLASS
OF WATER. THE BARTENDER PULLED A GUN ON HIM. WHY?
-- THE MAN HAD THE HICCUPS SO HE WANTED TO SCARE HIM IN
ORDER TO GET RID OF THEM.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): FRIGHT CURE

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 02-23-1972

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Superstition

Belief:

If a pregnant woman gets frightened and touches some part of her body, her child will be born with a birthmark on the same part of its body. The birthmark will be the same shape as the thing which frightened the mother.

Data entry tech comment:

motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Reference

Original BN [P438] crossed out and replaced with current classification

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Brukwinski, Anna

Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; CHILD ; FRIGHT ; Offspring ; Old Wives Tale ; PREGNANCY ; Scare ; SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): Reference

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth

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Superstition: Pregnancy

Remedy:

If a woman is frightened during her pregnancy, the child will have a birth mark.

Submitter comment:

Learned at home on the farm.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Loomis, Mrs Otto

Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; Birth Mark ; CHILD ; CURSE ; FEAR ; Frightened ; Offspring ; PREGNANCY ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Remedy

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BIRTHMARKS ARE DUE TO MOTHER WITNESSING UNPLEASANT OR
FRIGHTNING SIGHTS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Lipford, Allena

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Birthmark ; Frighten ; Witness

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body)
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-13-1973

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showing 12 items

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