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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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BELIEF

IF A CHICKEN SINGS LIKE A ROOSTER, SOMEONE WILL DIE

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID THAT HER MOTHER AND FATHER BELIEVE THIS SAYING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MONROE

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 10-07-1972

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LUCK

IF A DOVE FLIES OVER YOUR RIGHT SHOULDER, YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.32

Date learned: 09-14-1972

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BURN YOUR HAIR OR BIRDS WILL BUILD NEST WITH IT CAUSING YOUR HEAD TO
ACHE. THIS IS PRACTICED BY MANY SOUTHERNERS.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT MEANS THIS TO BE HAIRS THAT YOU LOST THROUGH COMBING OR
BRUSHING.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC ; HEADACHE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 09-08-1972

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PREDICTION OR BELIEF

WHENEVER A BLACK HEN COMES INTO A HOUSE, IT IS SAID TO BE GOOD LUCK.
THE PEOPLE TRY TO KEEP IT IN THE HOUSE FOR A TIME AND MAKE WISHES
THAT THE MERE PRESENCE OF THE HEN WILL FULFILL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA

James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Color
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.32

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CHICKENS DRINKING WATER

CHICKENS USUALLY PECK AT THE WATER AND THEN LOWER THEIR HEADS BACK
TO SWALLOW, BUT THE REAL REASON THAT THEY PUT THEIR HEADS BACK IS
BECAUSE THEY ARE THANKING GOD.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT MADE THIS OBSERVATION SEVERAL TIMES ON THEIR FARM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CALUMET

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Prayer
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 04-00-1970

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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: MICHIGAN ; ALMA

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.32

Date learned: 03-09-1970

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OMENS OF SPRING

IF YOU SEE A RED CARDINAL BUILDING A NEST IN A TREE, THAT MEANS THAT
SPRING IS ONLY A MONTH AWAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALMA

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Measure of time Winter
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control

Date learned: 03-09-1970

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RAVENS

LONDONERS BELIEVE THAT WHEN ALL RAVENS LEAVE THEIR CITY, DISASTER
WILL FOLLOW.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): BRITISH?

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.32

Date learned: 11-00-1971

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PUT APPLE CIDER VINEGAR IN THE DRINKING WATER OF CHICKENS, AND THEIR
FEATHERS WILL GROW QUICKER, AND SOONER WITHIN A SHORT WHILE, AND
THEY WILL GROW BIGGER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird

Date learned: 03-10-1971

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OWL

IF AN OWL SITS ON YOUR HOUSE AND HOOTS, IT MEANS A SIGN OF DEATH.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED FROM CHILDHOOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

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NEVER GIVE CHICKENS EGG SHELLS TO EAT, BECAUSE IF THEY EAT THEM,
THEY WILL EAT THEIR OWN EGGS.

Submitter comment: MY FATHER HAS SEEN THIS HAPPEN MANY TIMES IN POLAND AND THE USA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird

Date learned: 11-06-1971

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WISH BONE

AFTER YOU HAVE TURKEY OR CHICKEN, TAKE OUT THE WISH BONE. LET IT
DRY. THEN HAVE TWO PEOPLE TAKE HOLD OF EACH END. THE PERSON WHO
GETS THE SIDE WITH THE HUMO, GETS HIS WISH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 03-16-1971

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GOOD LUCK GESTURE

WHEN YOU SEE YOUR FIRST ROBIN OF THE SEASON, LICK YOUR THUMB,
TOUCH IT TO YOUR PALM OF YOUR HAND, AND THEN POUND THAT PALM WITH
YOUR FIST FOR GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting
BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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NEVER BOUNCE A BALL IN THE HOUSE. EACH TIME YOU DO A CHICKEN DIES.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID THAT SHE ORIGINALLY HEARD THIS FROM HER MOTHER WHEN
SHE WAS A CHILD. IN ROMANIA, CHILDREN WILL NEVER BOUNCE A BALL IN
THE HOUSE FOR FEAR THEY WILL KILL THEIR PRIZE CHICKEN

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

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IT IS AN OLD BELIEF AMONG FARMERS THAT IT IS BENEFICIAL TO LET
BARN-SWALLOWS BUILD NESTS IN YOUR BARN, BECAUSE LIGHTNING WILL
NEVER STRIKE A BARN WHERE BARN-SWALLOWS LIVE.

Where learned: OHIO ; AMHERST

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder

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SUPERSTITION

ONE OF THE MOST COMMON KNOWLEDGE SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT BAD LUCK IS
THAT CONCERNING A BIRD THAT ENTERS THE HOUSE UNINVITED. SUCH A SIGN
MEANS ONLY ONE THING, SICKNESS, DEATH, DESPAIR. IT COULD BE ANY
SORT OF BIRD AND THERE IS NO WAY TO REMEDY THE EVIL. ONCE THE BIRD
HAS ENTERED IT DOESNT MATTER IF HE IS KILLED, CAUGHT, OR SET FREE.
EVIL WILL FOLLOW. IT COULD TAKE A FEW MINUTES, OR A FEW DAYS.
EITHER WAY, BAD LUCK WILL VISIT THE INHABITANTS OR THE BUILDING
ITSELF.

Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND

James Callow Keyword(s): UNINVITED GUEST

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.32

Date learned: 10-00-1965

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IF A LITTLE BIRD FALLS FROM A NEST AND IS TOUCHED BY HUMAN HANDS, THE
MOTHER BIRD WILL NOT TAKE IT BACK TO THE NEST.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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BIRDS

IF YOU HEAR A BIRD SINGING IN THE RAIN, IT MEANS THAT THE RAIN WILL
STOP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew

Date learned: 04-05-1970

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ROBIN CATCHING

THE WAY TO CATCH A ROBIN IS TO SNEAK UP BEHIND IT AND PUT SALT
ON ITS TAIL. THEN IT IS YOURS FOR THE TAKING.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD TO ME AS A LITTLE CHILD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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WEATHER BELIEF

ROBINS ARE REGARDED BY MANY AS A SIGN OF SPRING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Measure of time Spring

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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