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IT IS BELIEVED THAT OPENING AN UMBRELLA IN THE
HOUSE WILL BRING BAD LUCK. IF YOU ARE AN UNMARRIED
GIRL, IT ESPECIALLY MEANS THAT YOU WILL REMAIN
AN OLD MAID FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SPINSTER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship
BELIEF -- Bad luck Umbrella

Date learned: 10-27-1969

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IF A GIRL TAKES THE LAST PORTION FROM A SERVING BOWL
OR PLATTER, SHE WILL BE AN OLD MAID.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; SPINSTER ; TABLE MANNERS

Subject headings: Observation
Favorites
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.
BELIEF -- Number Last events: the last person to the table...

Date learned: 10-25-1968

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IF YOU EVER SIT ON A TABLE, YOU'LL ALWAYS BE AN OLD MAID.

Submitter comment: THIS OLD SAYING WAS CLEARLY TO KEEP ME OFF THE FURNITURE
AND ENCOURAGE ME TO BE MORE LADYLIKE.

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

James Callow Keyword(s): SPINSTER

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.2

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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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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WHEN SOMEBODY IS SWEEPING THE FLOOR, AND THEY SWEEP
AROUND A GIRL, SHE WILL GROW UP TO BE AN OLD MAID.

Submitter comment: HER MOTHER, RAISED IN KENTUCKY, TOLD HER THIS WHEN
THE INFORMANT WAS TEN YEARS OLD.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Keyword(s): SPINSTER

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Measure of time Working

Date learned: 04-18-1965

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IF A GIRL IS NOT MARRIED BY THE TIME SHE IS TWENTY-ONE,
SHE WILL END UP AN OLD MAID.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT, WHO IS THE COLLECTOR'S GRANDMOTHER,
SAID THAT HER MOTHER TOLD HER THE TALE.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Keyword(s): SPINSTER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Number P686.1.21

Date learned: 02-27-1965

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IF SOMEONE SWEEPS ACROSS YOUR FEET WITH A BROOM, YOU
WILL BE AN OLD MAID.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S MOTHER HAD ALWAYS TOLD HER THIS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): SPINSTER

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship

Date learned: 10-13-1971

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IF YOU SWEEP ON A YOUNG GIRL'S FEET, SHE WON'T GET
MARRIED.

Submitter comment: FROM MY MOTHER--COLLECTOR.

Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK

Keyword(s): SPINSTER

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship

Date learned: CHILDHOOD

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IF YOU SWEEP UNDER A GIRL'S FEET, SHE'LL NEVER GET
MARRIED.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS A FRIEND'S MOTHER, AND SHE REMEMBERS THIS
FROM HER CHILDHOOD IN ALABAMA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALABAMA ; FERNDALE

Keyword(s): SPINSTER

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship

Date learned: 00001971 SPRING

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IF YOU TAKE THE LAST PIECE OF CANDY, COOKIE, PIECE OF
MEAT, ETC., IT MEANS YOU WILL BE AN OLD MAID.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): SPINSTER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship
BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero

Date learned: 10-18-1971

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IF YOU TAKE THE LAST PIECE OF FOOD ON THE PLATE, YOU'LL
BE AN OLD MAID.

Submitter comment: TOLD TO HER BY HER GRANDMOTHER. NEVER SAID IN REFERENCE
TO MEN BEING BACHELORS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON

Keyword(s): SPINSTER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship
BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero

Date learned: 10-25-1970

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IF YOU TAKE THE LAST COOKY ON A PLATE, YOU WILL BE
AN OLD MAID.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): SPINSTER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship
BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero

Date learned: 09-24-1969

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NEVER TAKE THE LAST PIECE OF ANYTHING ON A PLATE
OR YOU WILL BE AN OLD MAID.

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Keyword(s): SPINSTER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship
BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero

Date learned: 10-00-1968

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YOU ARE ENGAGED. THE THIRD PERSON WHO TRIES ON YOUR
ENGAGEMENT RING IS A LOSER. THEY WON'T GET A HUSBAND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): SPINSTER

Subject headings: 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
BELIEF -- Marriage P545.015

Date learned: 01-25-1968

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IF YOU EAT THE LAST COOKIE ON THE PLATE, YOU WILL
BE AN OLD MAID.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SPINSTER

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert
BELIEF -- Use of Object Food

Date learned: 10-04-1967

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IF SOMETHING IS BEING PASSED AROUND AND OFFERED TO A
GROUP OF PEOPLE AND YOU TAKE THE LAST ONE, YOU'LL BE
AN OLD MAID.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): SPINSTER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Number Last events: the last person to the table...

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showing 16 items

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