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Your search for MAGIC returned 149 results.
BELIEF
IF SOMEONE STEPS OVER YOU AS AN INFANT, YOU WILL BE SHORT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001920S ; 02-16-1980
ON NEW YEAR'S EVE AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT, WE THROW WATER OUT THE
WINDOWS BY THE BUCKETS TO SEND AWAY ALL BAD THINGS THAT CAME DURING
THE YEAR
Submitter comment: THEY DO THIS IN SAN JUAN.
Where learned: PUERTO RICO ; SAN JUAN
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC ; PURIFICATION OF THE YEAR.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F123 BELIEF -- Measure of time Year |
Date learned: CA00001950
SIAMESE TWINS
SIAMESE TWINS WHO WERE JOINED AT THE ARM WERE SEPARATED AND LIVED
IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. WHEN LATER IN LIFE ONE DIED
IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT THE OTHER DIED SUDDENLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON
HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY.
Submitter comment: TOLD TO ME AS A TRUE STORY WHICH BEV HAD READ ABOUT SOME YEARS (AGO).
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC
James Callow Keyword(s): SIMULTANEOUS DEATH OF TWINS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
MEDICINE
WHEN A MAN BREAKS HIS LEG, HE GOES TO A HERBALIST. THE HERBALIST
BREAKS THE SAME LEG OF A CHICKEN AND TREATS THE CHICKEN'S LEG. THE
HEALING THAT THE CHICKEN EXPERIENCES IS THE SAME THAT YOUR LEG WILL
EXPERIENCE.
Submitter comment: THIS IS DONE IN NIGERIA
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
BAD LUCK
DO NOT EAT MONKEY BECAUSE OF ITS RESEMBLANCE TO MAN.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN NIGERIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Meat Wild animal BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-00-1981
NEW YEAR'S EVE
A CHINESE CUSTOM ON THE EVE OF THE NEW YEAR IS TO BURN
FACSIMILE MONEY IN THE HOPE THAT IT WILL ATTRACT REAL MONEY
TO THAT PERSON DURING THE YEAR.
Submitter comment: ORALLY TRANSMITTED
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
CREOLE BELIEF
DO NOT PUT A BABY'S SHOE HIGHER THAN THE BABY'S HEAD OR IT WILL NOT
GROW ANY TALLER.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; BREAUX BRIDGE ; LOS ANGELES
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1935
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU PUT A PERSONAL ITEM TAKEN FROM SOMEONE YOU LOVE
AND PUT IT UNDER YOUR PILLOW AT NIGHT, THEN DREAM ABOUT
THAT PERSON HE/SHE WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU.
Submitter comment:
I TRIED THIS WHEN I WAS THIRTEEN AND IT DIDN'T WORK.
I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD FROM A FRIEND'S MOTHER WHO
WAS FROM NEW ORLEANS AND SHE BELIEVED IN WITHCRAFT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color BELIEF -- Dreams BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 04-00-1983
AFRO-AMERICAN BELIEFS
TO TALK WITH THE DEAD WAIT UNTIL MIDNIGHT, WRITE THE NAME
OF THE PERSON YOU WISH TO CONVERSE WITH, COVER A GLASS
OF WATER WITH THE NAME WRITTEN ON A SHEET OF PAPER, AND
STAND BEFORE A MIRROR WITH LIGHTED CANDLE. THE FIGURE OF
THE PERSON WILL APPEAR IN THE MIRROR. MM
IF A PERSON SWEEPS ACROSS YOUR FEET WITH THE BROOM YOU
MUST SPIT UPON IT OR YOU WILL GO TO JAIL. MM
PICKING A MARRIAGE PARTNER:
A WOMAN WHOSE SECOND TOE IS LONGER THAN THE FIRST IS A
POOR CHOICE FOR A WIFE IN THAT SHE WILL MAKE HER
HUSBAND MISERABLE BY DOMINATION OR HER ATTEMPTS AT DOING
SO. MM
ANOTHER IS THAT A PREGNANT WOMAN SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED
TO PREPARE FOOD BECAUSE SHE IS UNCLEAN. MM
IF A MAN'S WIFE
CLIMBS ACROSS HIM TO GET OUT OF BED HE WILL BEAR THE
LABOR PAINS.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC ; TRANSFER
Date learned: 07-00-1967
SOME "FOSSOYEUR", IN ORDER TO MAKE SOME MONEY, SELL DIRT FROM
CEMETERIES, WATER FROM TOMBS, AND ALSO SKULLS TO "QUIMBOISEURS".
THE "QUIMBOISEURS" USED TO PAY IN A CERTAIN WAY SO THAT THEY DO
NOT GET BAD LUCK OR MISFORTUNE. FOR INSTANCE, THE DIRT AND THE
WATER WERE SOLD IN GLASS CONTAINERS, AND THEY PAY FOR THEM WITH
WHITE ROCKS OR SILVER JEWELRY, AND ON THE OTHER HAND, THE SKULL
WAS PAID FOR WITH GOLD.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
Keyword(s): "FOSSOYEURS" ARE GRAVEDIGGERS ; "QUIMBOISEURS" ARE PEOPLE THAT ; PRACTICE WITCHCRAFT AND ALSO WHITE MAGIC.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Curer |
Date learned: 00-00-1973
IN ORDER TO CURE SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN SICK, THE "QUIMBOISEUR" WILL
GIVE THE PERSON A BATH USING THE SAME WATER THAT SEVEN DOGS HAD
BEEN BATHED IN.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
Keyword(s): "QUIMBOISEUR" IS SOMEONE THAT PRACTICES WITCHCRAFT AND WHITE MAGIC.
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
IF YOU HAVE A DOG AND YOU WANT HIM NEVER TO GET LOST, YOU TAKE
SOME HAIR FROM HIS TAIL AND YOU BURY THEM UNDER THE FIRST STEP
OF THE STAIRS OF YOUR HOUSE.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC ; HOMEUPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
YOU SHOULD ONLY CUT YOUR HAIR WHEN THERE'S A FULL MOON
BECAUSE THEN YOUR HAIR WILL GROW BACK THICKER AND LONGER.
Submitter comment:
WHEN MY INFORMANT WAS YOUNGER, HER MOTHER ONLY CUT HER HAIR
WHEN THERE WAS A FULL MOON BECAUSE SHE WANTED HER TO HAVE
LONG, THICK HAIR. TODAY, MY INFORMANT HAS LONG HAIR.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Moon |
It is very unlucky to purchase Tarot Cards; they must be
given to you. Once someone gives them to you, you must wrap
them in silk and then place them in a satin bag for storage.
If you do not store them in this manner, they will bring you bad luck. You may only give the Tarot cards to someone who
really wants them.
Submitter comment:
Elinor found out about these proscriptions regarding Tarot
cards when she casually mentioned to an acquaintance that she
was interested in buying some. The woman became alarmed that
Elinor might bring bad luck upon herself, and so gave her
the set which she owned, and instructed her in the proper
(safe) way to store them. Elinor was careful to follow the
instructions.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRASER
Keyword(s): occult, magic, precaution
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object BELIEF -- Bad luck Objects |
Date learned: 00001960S
"Certain people have the power to give the evil eye.
Some would give it to you to make you sick, bring you
bad luck, etc. or they would say not to look in their
eyes so you would not get the evil eye (they could not
help themselves from giving the evil eye --- it was
beyond their control). Mr. DiSantis had the power. He
told my Dad and others about it when he was young,
(maybe age seven)."
Submitter comment:
This is a verbatim account from Maryann Leisner detailing
a story told many times by her Italian father, Mr. Phillip
Melone. Mr. Melone believes this to be true.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
Keyword(s): Curse, magic, harm
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Bad luck Body parts and functions |
Date learned: 00001930S
If you sleep with a picture under your pillow, you will
dream about the person in the picture.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping BELIEF -- Dreams |
Date learned: 00-00-1966
In the old days beggars used to stand outside the churches
after services and ask for money from the worshippers. If
someone didn't give, he was cursed by the beggar. It is
believed that even today beggars have the power to curse
people.
Where learned: ENGLAND ; LONDON
Keyword(s): MAGIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00-00-1991
My mother told me that when any of my teeth came out I should
put them under my pillow so that the tooth fairy would leave me
some money. My mother also said I had to be a good boy in order to
receive any money.
Submitter comment: My mother sounded very convincing.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Louise
Keyword(s): Little magical people
James Callow Keyword(s): Fairy
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
Luck
Two things you should always eat on New Year's Day: Greens
and Black-Eye Peas. Greens for money and Black-Eye Peas for
luck.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): Homeopathic Magic -- green
Date learned: 00-00-1931
IF A BABY CRIES AT NIGHT AND SLEEPS IN THE DAY,
THEN TURN HIM IN A SUMMERSAULT TO REVERSE HIS
SCHEDULE--HE IS CONFUSED AS TO THE NIGHT AND THE
DAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 10-28-1970