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The James T. Callow Computerized Folkore Archive | University of Detroit Mercy Libraries Back to Top
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IF YOU GET A PIECE OF BREAD WITH A HOLE IN IT, YOU'LL
GET A RING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ENGAGEMENT? ; HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: Observation
Food Drink -- Food
BELIEF -- Use of Object Dress, buttons, jewelry

Date learned: 01-00-1970

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BELIEF

SIVIETA URSZULA PERTY ROZSUWA.
ST. URSULA DISTRIBUTES PEARLS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Dylza, Helen

Keyword(s): BLESSING ; GEMS ; Pearls ; Saint ; Saint Ursula

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Religious hero

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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PROVERB

IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED TRY, TRY AGAIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DISCOURAGEMENT

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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It is unlucky for someone who is not a Scorpio to
wear an opal.

Submitter comment: Elinor's great aunt was a Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21),
and owned a lovely opal ring. Her daughter, Nettie, wanted
the ring, but her mother cautioned her against wearing it,
as it would bring bad luck. Nettie wore the ring anyway. The
first time she wore it, she was almost hit by a car. The
second time that she wore the opal, she had a mishap,
mangling the ring beyond repair, and losing the opal. After
that, Nettie believed what her mother had told her.
Nettie told this to Elinor as a warning, because they are both
Sagittarius. Elinor also was told by one of her students,
Molly, that she had a terrible string of bad luck for a
whole week, until she gave away her opal ring.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRASER

Keyword(s): Horoscope, proscription, advice, astrology, gems, jewelry

Subject headings: Favorites
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Metal Stone Bone Precious stone Gem
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Bad luck Jewelry (gems, rings, etc.)
BELIEF -- Bad luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event

Date learned: 00001960S

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Wearing opals when you are not a Scorpio is only bad
luck if you are single; if you are married they won't
harm you.

Submitter comment: Jane, a friend of Elinor's, states that wearing an opal if
you are not supposed to interferes in the finding of
a husband. She then told Elinor that she could wear
an opal if she wanted to, since she was married.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Keyword(s): horoscope, astrology, spinster, advice, reassurance, gems

James Callow Keyword(s): JEWELRY

Subject headings: Favorites
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Metal Stone Bone Precious stone Gem
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Bad luck Jewelry (gems, rings, etc.)
BELIEF -- Bad luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event

Date learned: 00001987ca

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If you are going to wear jewelry with opals, it is
better luck to wear an odd number of opals than an
even number.

Submitter comment: Elinor's friend, Jane, states that the ring (or other piece
of jewelry) will be stronger this way.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Keyword(s): Advice, gems

Subject headings: Favorites
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Metal Stone Bone Precious stone Gem
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Number Even number (not specific)
BELIEF -- Number Odd number (not specific)
BELIEF -- Good luck Numbers
BELIEF -- Bad luck Jewelry (gems, rings, etc.)
BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers
BELIEF -- Bad luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event
BELIEF -- Conversions Jewelry (gems, rings, etc.)

Date learned: 00001980S

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An opal will shine more brightly for someone who
is supposed to wear it, but will look dull, or will crack,
if the wrong person wears it. If you have Scorpio rising
in your astrological sign, that is as good as being born
under Scorpio.

Submitter comment: Annie, an acquaintance of Elinor's, complimented Elinor
on the beauty of her opal ring. When Elinor related her
misgivings about wearing the ring, Annie reassured her
that it was safe, since Scorpio was her rising sign. She
also warned her not to let anyone wear it, as the ring
might crack if that person was not born under the proper
sign.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Keyword(s): Advice, gems

Subject headings: Favorites
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Metal Stone Bone Precious stone Gem
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Bad luck Jewelry (gems, rings, etc.)
BELIEF -- Bad luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event
BELIEF -- Conversions Jewelry (gems, rings, etc.)
BELIEF -- Conversions Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event

Date learned: 00001980S

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PLANT CUCUMBERS WHEN THE SIGNS ARE IN THE TWINS

Where learned: KENTUCKY ; FULTON

James Callow Keyword(s): GEMINI

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color

Date learned: 06-20-1970

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TWIN DAYS IS A GOOD TIME TO PLANT CUCUMBERS AND FLOWERS.

Where learned: PARIS ; TENNESSEE

Keyword(s): GEMINI ASTROLOGY ZODIAC

Subject headings: 686 Seconds / Twice / Two
BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming

Date learned: 06-20-1970

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PLANT CUCUMBER SEEDS ON TWIN DAYS IN MAY.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): GEMINI ZODIAC ALMANAC

Subject headings: 686 Seconds / Twice / Two
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- May
BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming

Date learned: 07-03-1970

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OPALS ARE VERY BAD LUCK.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): GEMS GEMSTONE GEM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck Jewelry (gems, rings, etc.)

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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WHEN THE SIGN IS IN THE ARM, PLANT COTTON.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): GEMINI ; ZODIAC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Animal Husbandry Farming Ranching

Date learned: 09-23-1973

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An Unpleasant Surprise

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

There was a young engaged couple from a small town who had come home from a date one night. Nobody was home and the house was dark. On the table there was a note for the girl which said to close the basement windows. Seeing that noone was around, the young couple stripped down naked. The girl got on the boy's shoulders piggy-back and they started down the stairs. As they reached the last step all the lights went on - it was surprise bridal shower for the girl!

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original Boggs number [B600] has been crossed out and replaced with B646

Where learned: DURING A VISIT ; Decaussin, Terrence

Keyword(s): ALLUSION TO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE ; Engagement ; HUMOR ; JOKES ; MARRIAGE ; Modesty ; Moral ; PARTY ; Prank ; SEX ; SURPRISE ; YOUTH

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Romantic Realistic
Filter - Mature Content

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Custom

Wedding Custom:

When a woman in her family is engaged to be married, the aunts on her fahter's side give a shower gift to her which is a pure white negligee. This is a sign that the perspective groom has been accepted as a member of the family.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: HOME ; NEW YORK ; Sullivan, Virginia ; ROCHESTER

Keyword(s): Engagement ; FAMILY ; GIFT ; Shower ; WEDDING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage

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Ethnic: Yugoslavian

Engagement:

In Yugoslavia, parents still arrange any marriages. Thus, whenever a horn is heard blowing, everyone knows that an engagement has been decided. Often, the young people involved may be the last ones to know.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [F533] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; 935 FIDELITY DR ; Marcischak, Mrs Helen ; PITTSBURGH

Keyword(s): Arranged Marriages ; COURTSHIP ; DATING ; Engagement ; ETHNIC ; Horn ; MARRIAGE ; Weddings ; Yugoslavia

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage

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Proverb

Out of the mouths of babes comes gems.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Cinnamain, Sandra

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Babe ; Babes ; GEMS ; Maxim ; Mouth ; PROVERB ; VERSE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

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AN OPAL LOSES BRILLIANCE WHEN THE WEARER IS ILL.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Lipford, Allena

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Brilliance ; Gem ; ILLNESS ; Opal

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure

Date learned: 10-13-1973

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NEVER GIV E A GOOD FRIEND PEARLS, PEARLS MEAN TEARS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS ; Kowalczyk, Mrs.

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; Friend ; FRIENDSHIP ; Gem ; JEWELRY ; Pearl ; SYMBOL ; TEARS

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

Date learned: 10-01-1968

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showing 19 items

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