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AN INCUBUS IS A MALE DEMON THAT SUPPOSEDLY SLEEPS
WITH SLEEPING WOMEN, SOMETIMES IMPREGNATING THEM. THE
WOMAN IT HAS SLEPT WITH WILL AWAKEN FEELING VERY WEAK,
AND MAY HAVE TO SPEND SEVERAL DAYS IN BED TO REGAIN
HER STRENGTH.
A SUCCUBUS IS A FEMALE DEMON THAT SLEEPS WITH SLEEPING
MEN. THE MAN THAT THE DEMON SLEPT WITH WILL AWAKEN
FEELING VERY NAUSEOUS, BUT NOT NECESSARILY WEAK. THIS
IS DUE TO THE KISS OF THE SUCCUBUS DRAINING THE LIFE
ENERGY OF THE MALE FROM HIM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NORTH BRANCH

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon

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A DEMON HAS TWO FORMS, A SPIRITUAL LIFEFORCE, AND A
MATERIAL FORM, THE ONE THAT IS VISIBLE TO HUMANS. THERE
ARE TWO WAYS THAT A DEMON CAN BE DESTROYED WHILE IT IS
NOT IN HELL.
THE FIRST WAY IS TO DESTROY ITS MATERIAL FORM. THIS
CAN BE DONE WITH ANY AVAILABLE WEAPONS. ONCE THE MATERIAL
FORM IS UNABLE TO FUNCTION, THE DEMON'S LIFEFORCE RETURNS TO
HELL. A MINOR DEMON WILL SUFFER TORMENT FOR NINE YEARS
BEFORE RETURNING TO ITS ORIGINAL STATUS. A GREATER DEMON
WILL BE CONFINED TO A CERTAIN PLACE IN HELL FOR NINE YEARS
AND FURY IN HELL IS UNMATCHED DURING THAT PERIOD.
THE SECOND WAY TO DESTROY A DEMON IS TO DESTROY IT
PERMANENTLY, BOTH MATERIAL FORM AND LIFEFORCE. THIS
CAN BE DONE BY PLUNGING A SWORD OF IRON OR SILVER INTO
THE ENERGY CENTER OF THE DEMON'S BODY. THIS DESTROYS
THE DEMON PERMANENTLY, SHATTERING ITS LIFEFORCE INTO
NONEXISTENCE. THE ENERGY CENTER OF THE BODY IS
LOCATED JUST BELOW THE STERNUM.
A CRUCIFIX WILL WARD OFF A DEMON UNTIL IT RECOVERS
FROM THE INITIAL SHOCK OF SEEING IT. HOLY WATER
CAUSES SEVERE BURNS, AND DISABLES THE DEMON TEMPORARILY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NORTH BRANCH

Subject headings: 686 Ninths / Nine
BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications

Date learned: 10-00-1987 ; 11-00-1987

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PLACING A RED RIBBON ON A NEWLY BORN BABY'S CRIB WILL WARD OFF
EVIL SPIRITS.

Submitter comment: LEARNED AT A SUMMER ETHNIC CAMP
A LIST OF ITEMS COMPILED BY THE CAMP DIRECTOR BUT LOST BY THE
INFORMANT

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Color

Date learned: 07-00-1975

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WEAR A BULB OF GARLIC AROUND YOUR NECK TO WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS.

Submitter comment: LEARNED AT A SUMMER ETHNIC CAMP
A LIST OF ITEMS COMPILED BY THE CAMP DIRECTOR BUT LOST BY
THE INFORMANT

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 07-00-1975

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WHEN THE SUN IS OUT AND IT'S RAINING AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S SAID
THAT THE DEVIL IS BEATING HIS WIFE.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control

Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

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IF IT'S RAINING AND THE SUN IS SHINING THE DEVIL IS ABUSING HIS
WIFE AND IF YOU WANT TO HEAR IT PUT A HAIRPEN AND STICK IT
IN THE GROUND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): HAIRPIN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control

Date learned: 11-00-1987

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When it is raining, stick a needle in the ground and put your
ear to it. You can hear the devil beating his wife.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration
BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew

Date learned: 00-00-1951

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When it is raining and the sun is shining at the same time,
it's only the devil beating his wife.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Sun
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control

Date learned: 00-00-1951

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IF YOU WEAR GARLIC, YOU WILL HAVE GOOD HEALTH AND WARD OFF
EVIL SPIRITS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

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TO WARD OFF EVIL OR THE DEVIL IN ARABIC COUNTRIES THE WINDOWS
ARE PAINTED EITHER GREEN OR BLUE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Color

Date learned: 06-00-1987

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HOLD YOUR BREATH WHILE DRIVING BY THE CEMETERY

Submitter comment: SO THE DEVIL WON'T TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY
OR TAKE YOUR SOUL OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

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

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COVER MOUTH WHEN SNEEZING SO YOUR SOUL DOESN'T
GET OUT TO THE DEVIL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

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IN ORDER TO MAKE MEDICINES DISTASTEFUL TO THE DEMONS
OCCUPYING A SICK PERSON'S BODY, ANCIENT EGYPTIAN
PHYSICIANS USED DUNG AND BLOOD AS INGREDIENTS OF THEIR
PRESCRIPTIONS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Animal

Date learned: 10-01-1988

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IF YOU SEE A PERSON WHO WAS BORN WITH RED HAIR, IT MEANS
THAT THEIR PARENTS MADE A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL SOMETIME
THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Color

Date learned: 04-01-1990

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Balinese Custom

In Bali, one month after birth a baby's head is shaved
completely to chase all evil spirits away.

Where learned: Bali ; Indonesia

Keyword(s): PURIFICATION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth
BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak
BELIEF -- Measure of time Month

Date learned: 00-00-1955

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To keep bad spirits away, make a necklace out of garlic
and onions and keep it on your pillow.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 01-00-1978

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When I was a child, I always looked under the bed and in
the closet before going to bed to show the bad spirits that
they could not come in and scare me in the middle of the
night.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon

Date learned: 01-00-1974

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If you sleep restlessly or are awakened in the middle of the
night, a spirit is trying to take away your soul. To get rid
of the spirit, turn your bedroom light on and off three times
and you will sleep sound the rest of the night.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Haunting ; LIGHT ; REMEDY ; SPIRIT ; SUPERNATURAL ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping

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Never rock an empty rocking chair because it invites
an evil spirit into it.

Where learned: ALABAMA

Keyword(s): Furniture

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero

Date learned: 00001950S

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You should always keep a clove of garlic
hanging in your house to keep evil away.

Submitter comment: His family strongly believes in this and
always keeps a clove of garlic hanging in
the kitchen, usually around the window.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Allegan

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 00001970S

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