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ALABAMA SUPERSTITION

"THE ONLY WAY TO CATCH A BIRD WAS TO PUT SALT ON ITS TAIL,
AND IF YOU CAUGHT A BIRD, IT WOULD BRING YOU GOOD LUCK FOR A YEAR".

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS ITEM AS A CHILD IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
FROM HIS MOTHER, CIRCA 1928. SHE LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER
IN ALABAMA CIRCA 1900.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALABAMA ; DETROIT ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 11-22-1980 ; 00-00-1928 ; 00-00-1900

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IN DETERMINING THE SEX OF A CHILD, THE GREEKS SPRINKLE SALT ON THE
BACK OF A WOMAN'S HEAD, IF SHE SCRATCHES THE LEFT SIDE, THEN SHE
WILL HAVE A GIRL. IF SHE SCRATCHES THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER HEAD,
THEN SHE WILL HAVE A BOY.

Submitter comment: I WAS ENTHRALLED BY THIS TECHNIQUE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 00-00-1980

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GREEK MEDICINE

HANDKERCHIEFS ARE FILLED WITH SALT AND THE TIPS ARE DIPPED IN OIL.
THEY ARE THEN LIT AND A GLASS IS PLACED OVER IT ON THE BACK. IT IS
USED FOR RELIEVING CONGESTION.

Submitter comment: I FOUND THIS REMEDY VERY EXCITING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 00-00-1980

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IF PEARLS ARE NOT YOUR BIRTHSTONE DO NOT BUY THEM. PEARLS MEAN TEARS
AND THEY WILL BRING YOU BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: I NEVER KNEW PEARLS MEAN TEARS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 00-00-1980 ; 00-00-1950

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IF YOU SPILL SALT, YOU MUST TOSS SOME SALT OVER
YOUR LEFT SHOULDER, OTHERWISE YOU WILL HAVE BAD
LUCK.

Submitter comment: MISS MAYER LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD.

Where learned: HOME

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Conversions

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WEREWOLF

THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN KILL A REAL WEREWOLF IS WITH SILVER BULLETS.

Where learned: HOME

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 11-29-1967

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GOOD LUCK

THROW SALT OVER YOUR SHOULDER FOR GOOD LUCK OR TO ERASE SOME
EVIL EFFECTS OF A MISTAKE SUCH AS WALKING UNDER A LADDER.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): CONVERSION

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Conversions

Date learned: NONE GIVEN

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ITALIAN CUSTOM FOR GOOD LUCK

IT IS AN OLD ITALIAN CUSTOM TO PUT SALT IN A HOUSE A FEW DAYS
BEFORE MOVING IN AND THIS WILL BRING THE OCCUPANT GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; SUPERNATURAL: SALT AS LUCKY CHARM

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.17

Date learned: 01-16-1968

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BAD LUCK PREVENTION: (ITALIAN)-SALT

TO PREVENT BAD LUCK FROM ENTERING A HOUSE, PLACE SALT IN LITTLE
BAGS AND PUT THE BAGS IN THE CORNERS OF THE ROOMS WHERE NO ONE SEES
THEM. IT IS ESPECIALLY GOOD TO DO THIS WHEN A NEW BABY ARRIVES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; SUPERNATURAL: SALT AS LUCKY CHARM

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.17

Date learned: 12-00-1969

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ALBATROSS

IT IS BAD LUCK FOR AN ALBATROSS TO FOLLOW A SHIP. IF SHE DOES,
SHE MUST BE SHOT WITH A GUN ARMED WITH SILVER BULLETS.

Where learned: ROUTE 2 ; W JEFFERSON RD

Keyword(s): BIRDS: ALBATROSS ; CONVERSION ; TRAVEL: SHIPS

James Callow Keyword(s): CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: KILLING AN ALBATROSS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- P 88 P 88.33
BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.33

Date learned: 03-09-1970

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BAD LUCK OMEN

IF YOU SPILL SALT, THERE WILL BE A FIGHT BETWEEN YOU AND ANOTHER
PERSON. IF YOU SPILL PEPPER, MONEY WILL COME TO YOU THAT DAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth

Date learned: 00-00-1946

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GOOD LUCK

A STONE IS PLACED IN YOUR FRONT YARD AND BLOOD FROM ANY ANIMAL YOU
KILL TO EAT, IS SPRINKLED ON THIS STONE. THIS HAS THE DEVIL STOPPING
AT THE STONE FOR BLOOD INSTEAD OF COMING INTO YOUR HOUSE FOR IT.

Submitter comment: THIS IS BELIEVED IN NIGERIA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Mineral

Date learned: 10-00-1981

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TO CLEAR MUDDY WATER, THROW A FEW DRIED PEACH KERNELS, SLIGHTLY
CRACKED, INTO A BARREL OF WATER. IT WILL BE PERFECTLY CLEAR IN AN
HOUR OR TWO.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD IN INDIANA BUT DOESN'T
REMEMBER EVER USING IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home
BELIEF -- Mineral

Date learned: 03-04-1982

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SELLING SALT AT NIGHT BRINGS ILL LUCK TO THE SHOPKEEPER. THIS BELIEF
IS SO DEEP-ROOTED THAT ONE WILL NEVER SUCCEED IN PERSUADING A SHOP-
KEEPER TO GIVE SALT AT ANY TIME DURING THE NIGHT.

Where learned: TANZANIA ; EAST AFRICA

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Bad luck Food and drink

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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UKRAINIAN GREETING FOR A BISHOP

THE GREETING OF A BISHOP, ARCHBISHOP OR CARDINAL BY THE
UKRAINIANS FOLLOWS CERTAIN CUSTOMS. WHEN THE DIGNITARY
ARRIVES AT THE CHURCH DOOR, HE IS MET BY THE PASTOR, AN
ELDERLY PARISHONER OR CHURCH PIONEER AND A LITTLE GIRL.
THE PIONEER HOLDS A TRAY ON WHICH AN EMBROIDERED CLOTH
HAS BEEN PLACED. A ROUND BREAD WITH A CANDLE IN THE CENTER
IS PLACED ON THE TRAY TOGETHER WITH A CONTAINER OF SALT.
SOMETIMES A SYMBOLIC KEY IS ALSO ON THE TRAY. THE ELDERLY
PARISHONER EXTENDS THE TRAY TO THE CHURCH DIGNITARY FOR
A BLESSING. THE GIRL, OFTEN DRESSED IN A FULL UKRAINIAN
COSTUME OF BOOTS, SKIRT, BLOUSE, VEST AND HEADPIECE, THEN
PRESENTS A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS TO THE DIGNITARY. THE TWO
PEOPLE MAKING THE PRESENTATIONS EXTEND A FEW WORDS OF
WELCOME ON BEHALF OF THE PARISH. THEN THE PASTOR LEADS
THE DIGNITARY DOWN THE AISLE AT WHICH TIME HE BLESSES
THE CONGREGATION.

Submitter comment: THIS FORMAL WELCOME WOULD BE EXTENDED ON AN OFFICIAL
VISIT SUCH AS A PARISH VISITATION.

Where learned: CANADA ; ALBERTA ; MUNDARE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church
BELIEF -- Mineral

Date learned: 00001940S

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BELIEF SAYS THAT IF YOU LOOK UP AT THE MOUNTAINS, YOU WILL SEE AN
ENORMOUS RED STONE WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE A GIANT RUBY.
PEOPLE OF THAT REGION SAY THEY HAVE SEEN THE RED STONE AND HAVE GONE
SEARCHING FOR IT.

Submitter comment: PROFESSOR GRAVELLE LEARNED THE BELIEF IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF
NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE
I COLLECTED THEM FROM HER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Where learned: NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Formation
BELIEF -- Mineral

Date learned: 00001970S

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REMEDY FOR EARACHE

TO CURE AN EARACHE, FILL A STOCKING WITH WARM SALT, TUCK IT UNDER
YOUR CHIN, AND TIE IT ON TOP OF YOUR HEAD SO THE SOCK IS COVERING
YOUR EARS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Mineral

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IF SOMEONE VISITS AND YOU DONT WANT THEM TO COME BACK THROW
SALT AFTER THEM AS THEY LEAVE.

Where learned: DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 00001950S

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MY GRANDMOTHER BELIEVES IT IS GOOD LUCK
FOR YOU AND YOUR NEW CAR TO POUR SALT(TABLE) ON IT.

Where learned: EAST DETROIT

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 11-00-1983

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IF A YOUNG GIRL'S FOOD IS SALTY, IT IS SAID THAT SHE IS IN LOVE.

Where learned: GUADELOUPE

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Marriage

Date learned: 00001970S

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