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GOOD FRIDAYS

MY MOTHER, ON GOOD FRIDAY, USED TO TAKE HER BROOM
AND SWISH IT AROUND THE HOUSE TO RID IT OF EVIL SPIRITS.
SHE EVEN SHOOK THE BROOM IN THE CLOSETS. SHE USED TO MUTTER
SOMETHING IN SICILIAN AS SHE DID IT, A CURSE; THE LAST WORD
OF WHICH WAS A SWEAR WORD.

Submitter comment: INFORMANTS MOTHER IMMIGRATED FROM SICILY AS A YOUNG GIRL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEWOOD MANOR ; ROSEVILLE

Subject headings: 663 Good Friday
Favorites
BELIEF -- Devil Demon

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WHEN IT IS THUNDERING AND LIGHTENING AND RAINING AT THE SAME TIME
THIS MEANS THE DEVIL IS BEATING HIS WIFE.

Where learned: DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Spiritual beings, things, or places
BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon

Date learned: 12-00-1972

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WEATHER BELIEF

IF IT'S RAINING OUT AND THE SUN IS SHINING, THE DEVIL IS BEATING HIS
WIFE BEHIND THE DOOR. INFORMANT SAID HER PARENTS WOULD TELL HER
THIS ANY TIME SHE ASKED THEM WHY THE SUN WOULD SHINE EVEN THOUGH IT
WAS RAINING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

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

Date learned: 11-06-1972

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LOVE

A DANISH SUPERSTITION SAYS THAT LOVE FOR ONE'S WIFE SHOULD NOT
BE TOLD SO THE DEVIL CAN'T HEAR ABOUT IT AND DO HER HARM.

Submitter comment: THIS IS THE REASON WHY HUSBANDS CALL WIVES "MY OLD LADY" ECT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Love
BELIEF -- Devil Demon

Date learned: 10-25-1972

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IT IS A CUSTOM TO SAY "GOD BLESS YOU" IMMEDIATELY AFTER SOMEONE
SNEEZES. THIS "BLESSING" CATCHES THE DEVIL (WHO CAME OUT WITH
THE SNEEZE) BEFORE HE HAS A CHANCE TO GET BACK INTO THE BODY OF THE
PERSON.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 00001965-1966 CA

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SPIRIT IN HER SHOES

THEODORA HAYNES WAS MARYLOU'S ROOMMATE AT WESTERN MICHIGAN
UNIVERSITY
BEFORE GOING TO BED, SHE WOULD PLACE HER SHOES UNDER THE BED SO
NO SPIRIT COULD COME DURING THE NIGHT TO COMMAND HER SOUL,
HER. {SIC} /THEODORA WAS 18, A BLACK-AMERICAN AND SINGLE

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): MAGICAL OBJECT AMULET ; NEGRO

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color

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HORSESHOES

NEVER HANG A HORSESHOE UPSIDE DOWN BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS THE
DEVIL'S HORNS.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ;

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION ; SYMBOL

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms

Date learned: CA1963-1975

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DEVIL'S NIGHT

ON DEVIL'S NIGHT RING DOORBELLS AND SOAP WINDOWS
TO SHOW YOUR RESPECT FOR THE DEVIL'S POWER.

Where learned: HOME ; SCHOOL ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F103
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- September 23 equinox to December 20 Also used for Advent.
BELIEF -- Devil Demon

Date learned: CA1963-1975

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BELIEF

A PRAYING MANTIS IS AN AGENT OF THE DEVIL. IT MAY SPIT IN YOUR
EYE AND BLIND YOU IF ANNOYED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.11

Date learned: 02-02-1970

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BANSHEE

IRISH: WHENEVER A BANSHEE (DEVIL) APPEARED THIS BECAME AN OMEN OF A
DEATH OF A FRIEND OR RELATIVE. THE BANSHEE IS USUALLY A BEAUTIFUL 6 INCH WOMAN.

James Callow comment: BANSHEES ARE NOT USUALLY EQUALLED WITH DEVILS

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome
BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.4
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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SUPERSTITION

IT IS BELIEVED IN EL SALVADOR THAT THE DEVIL TAKES THE FORM OF A
DOG OR A FOX AND WEARS A CAPE. HE LIVES IN OLD HOUSES, AND WARM
CHIMNEY CORNERS OR WHEREVER IT IS DARK. HE PESTERS PEOPLE, MOVES
THINGS, LOSES AND MISPLACES THINGS. HE IS INVISIBLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMALS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon

Date learned: 02-04-1968

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DEVIL BELIEF

IN HAITI, AT NIGHT, ONE MUST BE GOOD TO THE DEVIL, AND EVEN TALK
TO HIM, SO AS TO AVOID THE DEVILS WRATH, WHICH USUALLY IS
STRANGULATION OF THE PERSON BY THE DEVIL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon

Date learned: 00-00-1969

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SUPERSTITION

IF YOU LOOK INTO A MIRROR, YOU WILL SEE THE DEVIL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CONJURATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon

Date learned: 10-25-1969

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POLISH SUPERSTITION

IF YOU GO TO A DANCE DURING LENT, YOU WILL DANCE WITH THE DEVIL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime
BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.8

Date learned: 10-25-1969

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BELIEF, DEVIL

THE LORD'S PRAYER SAID BACKWARDS IS A PRAYER TO SATAN. IF ONE
FIRMLY BELIEVES IN WHAT HE IS SAYING, THE DEVIL WILL APPEAR
IN SOME FORM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS

James Callow Keyword(s): CONJURATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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DEVIL WORKING

IF THE SUN COMES OUT WHILE IT IS RAINING, IT MEANS THE DEVIL IS
BEATING HIS WIFE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PUNISHMENT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Sun
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew
BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Observation of galactic or celestial bodies
BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon

Date learned: 11-17-1969

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BELIEF

IF YOU STEP ON A CRACK IN THE SIDEWALK, YOU BREAK THE DEVIL'S
DISHES.

Submitter comment: HEARD IN NEW YORK AS A BOY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime
BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 09-22-1970

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CUSTOM PROTECTING AGAINST DEVIL

WHEN YOU SNEEZE, THE DEVIL CAN ENTER YOUR MOUTH IF SOMEONE DOES
NOT SAY GOD BLESS YOU.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

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

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MIRROR

WHEN YOU LOOK IN A MIRROR IN CHURCH, YOU WILL SEE THE DEVIL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon

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DEVIL BELIEF

WHISTLING IN THE HOUSE BRINGS OUT THE DEVIL.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.8

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