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CRYING ON ONE'S WEDDING DAY

IF A PERSON CRYS ON THEIR WEDDING DAY THEN THEY WILL CRY AT LEAST
A LITTLE EVERY DAY OF THEIR MARRIED LIFE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; 32872 COLUMBUS DR

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Legend

Date learned: 01-24-1967

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DEATHS IN THREE

MR. LEHR'S FAMILY BELIEVES THAT WHEN ONE PERSON DIES IN A FAMILY
THEN THERE WILL BE TWO MORE DEATHS WITHIN SHORT SUCCESSION, IN
THE SAME RELATION. DEATH ALWAYS TRAVELS IN THREE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; 32872 COLUMBUS DR

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Legend

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A SHOWING SLIP

IF A GIRL'S SLIP SHOWS, THEN SHE IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A BOYFRIEND.
(MY BELIEF WOULD BE IF A GIRL LEFT HER SLIP SHOW, THEN SHE WAS
LOOKING FOR A BOYFRIEND.)

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; 32872 COLUMBUS DR

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Custom

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FORETELLING VISITORS

IF A PERSON DROPS A KNIFE, THEN A MALE VISITOR IS COMING. IF ONE
DROPS A FORK, THEN A WOMAN IS COMING, AND IF A SPOON IS DROPPED,
THEN A CHILD IS COMING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; 32872 COLUMBUS DR

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Legend

Date learned: 01-24-1967

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PLANT CUREALLS

MR. LEHR WAS OUT HUNTING ON HARSEN'S ISLAND. HE MET AN INDIAN WHO
TOLD HIM ABOUT A WONDERFUL CURE FOR ALL TYPES OF DISEASES, PARALYSIS,
ETC. THE INDIAN GAVE HIM SOME SMALL CLEAR CAPSULES. THE CAPSULES
SMELLED LIKE THE SAP FROM BALSAM TREES. BOTH HE AND I TOOK A CAPSULE
AND WE BOTH BURPED BALSAM TREE SMELL FOR TWO DAYS. NEEDLESS TO SAY
THE REST OF THE PILLS STILL REMAIN IN HIS DRESSER DRAWER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; 32872 COLUMBUS DR

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote
BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 01-24-1967

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THIS WOMAN BELIEVES THAT IF A DOVE
TAPS ON A WINDOW IN A HOUSE, THEN
SOMEONE IN THAT HOUSE IS GOING TO DIE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; 32872 COLUMBUS DR

Subject headings: Observation

Date learned: 02-20-1967

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IF YOU SEE A NEW MOON OVER YOUR RIGHT SHOULDER YOU WILL HAVE
GOOD LUCK; IF YOU SEE IT OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER YOU ARE
IN TROUBLE.

Where learned: IOWA ; COLUMBUS JUNCTION

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Moon
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 02-23-1969

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IF SOMEONE LEAVES A DIAPER AT A HOUSE, A BABY WILL COME.

Where learned: IOWA ; COLUMBUS JUNCTION

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Birth

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NOT GIVEN

ON HALLOWE'EN NIGHT BETWEEN ELEVEN AND MIDNIGHT IF A GIRL SITS
BEFORE A MIRROR WITH A CANDLE, EATING AN APPLE AND COMBING HER
HAIR, SHE WILL SEE THE MAN SHE WILL MARRY IN THE MIRROR. BUT
IF SHE TURNS AROUND TO LOOK, HE WILL DISAPPEAR.

Where learned: OHIO ; COLUMBUS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Air Weather Fire

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SUPERSTITIONS AND CONTAGIOUS MAGIC

A PACKET CONTAINING NAIL PARINGS, A LOCK OF HAIR AND
THREE DROPS OF BODY FLUID, USUALLY BLOOD, PLACED UNDER THE
BOTTOM STEP OF A LOVE OBJECT WILL ENSURE THAT THE LOVED (ONE)
WILL LOVE NO OTHER. MM
A MIXTURE OF ROOSTER BLOOD, CORN WHISKEY, AND A SMALL
AMOUNT OF DRIED BULL DUNG WILL ENSURE POTENNENCE AND MALE
OFFSPRING. CC POTENCY MM
A WOMAN WHO HANDLES ANY ANIMALS DURING HER PREGNANCY
"MARK" HER BABY WITH EITHER ANIMALISTIC FEATURES OR
BEHAVIOR. CC MARKS? MM
IF YOU ALLOW AN ALBINO PERSON TO TOUCH YOU YOU WILL BE
BLINDED OR ONE LEG WILL BECOME SHORTER THAN THE OTHER
BY THE NEXT FULL MOON FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT.

Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; COLUMBUS

Subject headings: Prediction / Divination
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body)
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Curse
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

Date learned: 00-00-1918

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AT MISSISSIPPI STATE COLLEGE FOR WOMEN AN
OLD TREE STANDS NEAR THE ENTRANCE GATE.
IT IS SAID, FOR EACH LEAF THAT FALLS FROM
THE TREE IN THE SPRING, A MSCW GIRL
MARRIES A MISSISSIPPI STATE BOY.

Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; COLUMBUS ; MSCW

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant

Date learned: 03-20-1969

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AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A PINNING ENGAGEMENT IN THE DELTA
TAU DELTA FRATERNITY, THE FRATERNITY MEN WOULD SERENADE THE
GIRL. AFTER THE SERENADE THE ENGAGED COUPLE WOULD B PICKED
UP AND CARRIED BACK TO THE DELTA'S HOUSE WHERE IN (ON) THE
FRONT LAWN AWAITED A BATHTUB FILLED WITH WATER. THE COUPLE
WOULD BE DROPPED INTO THE WATER.

Where learned: OHIO ; COLUMBUS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage

Date learned: 09-16-1973

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DURING FINALS WEEK, ALL THE CURTAINS ARE PULLED IN THE HOUSE.

Where learned: OHIO ; COLUMBUS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School

Date learned: 09-16-1973

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"INCHY PINCHY"

This practical joke begins when one person convinces
another (usually a younger/naive) person that they are
going to be initiated into a special group. The "initiate"
is taken into a darkened room, with perhaps only a candle
for a light, and seated on the floor. Others come into the
room (quietly and reverentially) and seat themselves in
a circle, in which the "initiate" is included. (Everyone
but the person who is the target of the joke is a co-conspirator.)
After everyone is seated in a circle, the
leader (seated next to the victim) announces that the
ceremony is about to begin. He instructs the "initiate"
to copy his motions exactly, doing to his neighbor what
is done to him. The leader, then, reaches out and grabs
the victim's cheek and gently pulls on it, saying
solemnly, "Inchy Pinchy." This should be intoned slowly--
"In...chy Pin...chy." The victim pulls the cheek of
the person next to him and does likewise, and the motion is
passed around the circle. Again the leader reaches out
and grabs another part of the victim's face, perhaps the
forehead or nose, and says "Inchy Pinchy." Again the
motion is passed around the circle. This continues as
many times as the leader wants. When the "ritual" is
over, the victim is instructed to look in the mirror to
verify how the ceremony has transformed him. When he
does so, he realizes that each time the leader touched
his face, that he had been smeared with lipstick (or any
other substance that can be concealed in the hand). At the
moment of realization everyone shouts "INCHY PINCHY!"

Submitter comment: This was a joke I learned at a slumber party when I was
in seventh grade. My older brother and I successfully
played it on my younger brother, Greg, who reminded me
of it when I asked for any possible folklore items,
especially children's songs/games. A copy of a story he
wrote about this experience has been submitted as
supplementary material.

Where learned: OHIO ; COLUMBUS

Keyword(s): Humor, trick, mock rite-of-passage

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing

Date learned: 00001965CA

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PARODY RHYME

CHINKA, CHINKA, CHINAMEN SITT IN ON A FENCE
CHINA MAKES A DOLLAR ON A FIFTY-FIVE CENTS.
SHE MISS, SHE MISS, SHE MISS LIKE THIS.

Submitter comment: THIS IS USED WHEN DETERMINING WHO GOES FIRST IN A GAME.

Where learned: OHIO ; COLUMBUS

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

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PROVERB: NATURE-RAINBOW

RAINBOW IN THE MORNING, SAILORS TAKE WARNING;
RAINBOW AT NIGHT, SAILORS DELIGHT.

Where learned: IOWA ; COLUMBUS JUNCTION

Keyword(s): PINK SKY RED SKY

Subject headings: Prediction / Divination
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 02-15-1969

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HOLES IN SKULLS

MR. LEHR READ SOMEWHERE THAT EXPLORERS FOUND SOME SKULLS WHICH
WERE BELIEVED TO BE ABOUT 1000 YEARS OLD. THESE SKULLS WERE
FOUND IN SOUTH AMERICA. EACH SKULL HAD A PERFECTLY ROUND HOLE
IN IT.
THIS RELATES TO A PIECE IN "THE WORLD BOOK" ABOUT A TREPHINING.
THIS IS A INSTRUMENT WHICH CUTS A PERFECTLY ROUND HOLE IN A
SKULL. IT HAS EXISTED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND IS BELIEVED
TO HAVE BEEN USED TO LET OUT THE EVIL SPIRITS IN A PERSON.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; 32872 COLUMBUS DR

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Custom

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PIMPLE ON A PERSON'S TONGUE

IF A PERSON HAS A PIMPLE ON HIS TONGUE, THEY THEY HAVE JUST TOLD
A LIE. IF THE PERSON STARTS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PIMPLE, THEN
HE REALLY WANTS TO SET HIS LIE STRAIGHT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; 32872 COLUMBUS DR

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Custom

Date learned: 01-24-1967

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showing 18 items

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