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To find water that is hidden below ground, hold two willow
branches (or two coat hangers which have been straightened
and then bent into an "L" shape) loosely in your hands. As
you pass over water, the sticks/wires will cross over one
another. When you move past the water, the sticks/wires will
uncross.

Submitter comment: Elaine swears that her father has been able to discover
water by this method many times. She herself, being skeptical,
tried it and the procedure worked. Elaine has so much faith
in her father's ability, that she plans to have him locate a
new spot to drill a second well on her northern Michigan
property, since the well she has now is sluggish.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Keyword(s): DIVINATION ; dowsing ; PREDICTION ; WATER WITCHING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Water
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 00001972CA

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FATHER BAKER'S MIRACLE

THIS IS A TRUE STORY ABOUT FATHER BAKER'S MIRACLE. FATHER BAKER HAD A
LITTLE CHURCH IN BUFFALO NEW YORK. HE WANTED TO BUILD A NEW CHURCH,
BUT THERE WAS NO MONEY. ONE DAY AFTER CELEBRATING MASS HE TOLD THE
ALTAR BOYS TO FOLLOW THEM. STILL DRESSED IN THE GARB OF THE CHURCH
FATHER BAKER POINTED TO A PLACE IN AN EMPTY FIELD AND SAID "DRILL
HERE FOR OIL," BUT EVERYONE KNEW THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE AREA. ON HIS
INSISTANCE THEY DRILLED, FOUND OIL LESS THAN FIFTY FEET DOWN,
AND THUS FINANCED THE CHURCH.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT WAS A MEMBER OF FATHER BAKER'S PARISH WHERE THE STORY
IS TOLD.

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

James Callow Keyword(s): PRIEST AS OIL WITCH ; WATER WITCH: OIL WITCH

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal

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PALM SUNDAY GREETING

FOR UKRAINIANS, THE PUSSY WILLOWS REPLACE THE PALM AND THE
DAY IS CALLED FLOWERY SUNDAY. AFTER THE BLESSING AND THE
DISTRIBUTION OF THE PUSSY WILLOWS, THE PEOPLE GENTLY TAP
ONE ANOTHER WITH THE PUSSY WILLOW. THEY SAY THIS VERY
TRADITIONAL PHRASE. I AM NOT HITTING YOU, THE PUSSY WILLOW
IS HITTING YOU, A WEEK FROM TODAY IS EASTER.
THE PUSSY WILLOWS ARE THEN TAKEN HOME. THEY ARE USED AS A
SACRAMENTAL AND PLACED BEHIND HOLY PICTURES ON A WALL OR
ARRANGED IN A VASE ON A TABLE OR DRESSER.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER

Keyword(s): SWITCHING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Ash Wednesday
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 00001950S

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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

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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

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THERE IS A TRIBE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF NIGERIA CALLED FULANI.
IF A YOUNG MAN FROM THIS TRIBE WANTS TO MARRY, A CERTAIN RITUAL
WILL BE PERFORMED FOR HIM WHICH THE WHOLE VILLAGE WILL WITNESS.
THE YOUNG MAN WHO WANTS TO MARRY WILL PULL OFF HIS CLOTHES EXCEPT
HIS SHORT PANTS, AND HE WILL BE GIVEN SEVERAL LASHES OF CANE AT THE
BACK. IF HE CRIES, HE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO MARRY, BECAUSE IT IS
ASSUMED THAT HE IS NOT MATURED TO MARRY. BUT IF HE DOES NOT CRY
THE ELDERS OF THE VILLAGE WILL GLADLY GIVE HIM THE BRIDE TO WED.

Where learned: NIGERIA

James Callow Keyword(s): SWITCHING WHIPPING

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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BLACK AMERICAN

PLAIT YOUR HORSE:S MANE WITH CORN-
SHUCKS TO PREVENT WITCHES FROM
RIDING HIM. INFORMANT HEARD FROM
GRANDFATHER.

Where learned: MISSISSIPPI

Keyword(s): WITCHES

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Witch Shaman
BELIEF -- Plant

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BLACK-AMERICAN BELIEF

A NEGRO WITH A RABBIT FOOT, MOUNTED ON A
WHITE HORSE, IN THE DARK OF THE MOON
IN A CEMETARY, WILL BREAK A WITCH SPELL.
INFORMANT HEARD FROM GRANDFATHER, WHEN
A SMALL CHILD.

Where learned: MISSISSIPPI

Keyword(s): WITCHES

Subject headings: Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration
BELIEF -- Witch Shaman
BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Color

Date learned: 09-15-1985

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Content filter on this entry.

IN THE EARLY 1900'S BLACK WOMEN WHO CARRIED CLOTHES ON THEIR
HEADS WERE THOUGHT TO BE BEWITCHED WITH EVIL SPIRITS AND WERE
CALLED CUNGERS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Keyword(s): Black ; Evil Spirits ; Witch ; WITCHES ; Woman ; WOMEN

James Callow Keyword(s): CONJURERS?

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Witch Shaman
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

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WELL WITCHING

WHEN I WANTED MY WELL DUG, I KNEW JUST EXACTLY WHERE TO PUT
IT. I HAD WITCHED FOR IT WITH A FORKED PEACH TREE LIMB.
ALL YOU DO IS HOLD IT STEADY RIGHT OUT IN FRONT OF YOU AND
WALK ABOUT. WHEN IT BENDS, THAT IS WHERE WATER IS, AND
SURE ENOUGH IT WAS THERE. I'VE GOT A GOOD WELL FULL OF
GOOD CLEAR WATER AND I FOUND IT BY WITCHING FOR IT.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CANEY SPRINGS

Keyword(s): WATER WITCHING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Still water Man made container.
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 02-23-1969

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I HEARD MY FATHER SAY IF YOU TAKE A FORKED PLUM BRANCH, IT
WILL LEAD YOU TO WATER.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): WATER WITCHING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Use of Object Plant

Date learned: 07-25-1968

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A FORKED TWIG MADE FROM ANY KIND OF SOFT WOOD WILL HELP
LOCATE A SOURCE OF WATER.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): WATER WITCHING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Water
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 04-03-1972

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IT MEANS BAD LUCK IF YOUR LEFT EYE IS SHAKING (BLINKING).

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; JAVA ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): TWITCHING?

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye
BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Eye twitch
BELIEF -- Bad luck Body parts and functions

Date learned: 07-25-1968

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THE APEX OF A WISHBONE SHAPED STICK IS MAGNETICALLY PULLED
TOWARD THE GROUND WHEN IT'S ABOVE WATER.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): WATER WITCHING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Water

Date learned: 11-19-1977

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Proverb

Change Horses:

Don't change horses in the middle of a stream.

Submitter comment:

Read this in High School

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects.

Keyword(s): Change ; DIRECTION ; HORSE ; Stream ; Switch

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Proverb

Don't change horses in the middle of the stream.

Submitter comment:

When you start something, finish it before jumping to something else.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 2154 DICKERSON ; Verheye, Patricia

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Change ; HORSE ; Maxim ; METAPHOR ; PROVERB ; Stream ; Switch ; VERSE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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WHEN THE COWS GO DRY, THERE'S A WITCH IN THE VILLAGE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CORNERSVILLE ; Horton, Janette

Keyword(s): Cows ; Dry ; SIGN ; Witch

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Witch Shaman
BELIEF -- Mammal

Date learned: 00001972-00001973 (ASSUMED)

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IF THERE'S A WITCH IN THE VILLAGE, THE MILK WILL TURN
SOUR.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CORNERSVILLE ; Horton, Janette

Keyword(s): Milk ; OMEN ; SIGN ; Sour ; Village ; Witch

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Witch Shaman

Date learned: 00001972-00001973 (ASSUMED)

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IF ONE IS GOOD, THE WITCH LEAVES CANDY, BUT IF ONE IS
BAD SHE WILL LEAVE ASHES AND SWITCHES.
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM-ITALIAN

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Hopkins, Lula

Keyword(s): Ashes ; CANDY ; CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Italian ; Switches ; Witch

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern

Date learned: 04-00-1972

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SIGNS OF GHOSTS

IF A BLACK CAT WALKS ACROSS YOUR PATH IT IS EITHER A WITCH
OR A GHOST AND CAN PUT A SPELL ON YOU.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Uffner, Judy ; 11321 Wormer

Keyword(s): Black ; CAT ; COLOR ; GHOST ; SIGN ; SPIRIT ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL ; Witch

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 09-25-1969

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