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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P882 returned 579 results.
Bad Luck. Anyone who is in possession of a yellow lighter will
have bad luck and misfortune. It does not matter whether the
lighter is found, purchased or received as a gift, the owner of the
lighter will have bad luck. The only way to rid yourself of the
bad luck is to destroy the lighter by blowing it up!
Submitter comment:
The informant claims not to believe this story to be true, but
laughingly stated that she will never own, or even use, a yellow
lighter just in case it has some validity.
Where learned: DETROIT AREA ; stranger in a night club
Keyword(s): Cigarette Lighters
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001990s
Brooms
It is bad luck to walk over a broom. If you do, you should
step backwards over the broom to undo the damage.
Where learned: Arkansas ; PINE BLUFF
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Conversions |
DON'T SWEEP A PERSON'S FEET, WITH A BROOM, OR THEY WILL GO TO
JAIL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time Working BELIEF -- Bad luck |
DON'T PUT A HAT ON THE TABLE, IT BRINGS BAD LUCK TO YOUR
HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Head BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Don't let a cat cross the street in front of you, especially
crossing from right to left. This was a sign of bad luck.
James Callow comment:
Cf. Hand, North Carolina, no. 3808; Puckett, Ohio, nos. 7581,
21242 ("good luck"), 21249.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): POSITION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Putting your hat on the bed meant you would bring yourself
bad luck.
James Callow comment:
See Puckett, Ohio, nos. 3368 ("the boggyman will spank you"),
13928 ("you will be an old maid"), 18283, 18284 ("bad luck to the
owner of the hat"), 18285, 18288 ("new hat"), 18289 ("man's
hat"), 18291 ("bring a house bad luck"), 18292 ("on a friend's
bed"), 18295 ("and the police will be involved"), 18296 ("spit in
it three times before setting it down"), 18297 ("Never put your
hat on the bed upside down"), 18298 (the hat "should always be
placed upside down"), 27634 ("after a funeral"). Puckett has
many more items on this topic; I have selected only those items
which come from Africa
Where learned: GEORGIA ; ATHENS
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 01001960 CA
Never sweep the feet of a person with a broom. It's bad
luck.
Where learned: GEORGIA ; ATLANTA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-10-1992
Never put new or used shoes on the kitchen table; to do so
will bring about bad luck in the household.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet BELIEF -- Home BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 03-02-1992
Superstition
My birthday is September 13 and any time it fell on a Friday I
would be really paranoid. This past year it fell on a Friday and
I decided to deal with this head on. I went out to dinner, then to
Belle Isle to relax and I had a beautiful time.
Submitter comment: Superstition could very well just be mind over matter.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- 13th Day of the Month CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- September 13 BELIEF -- Bad luck |
YOU MUST NOT TAKE A BABY OUT OF THE HOUSE BEFORE
IT HAS BEEN BAPTIZED. IF YOU DO, SOME TERRIBLE
DISASTER WILL OCCUR TO THE BABY.
Where learned: OHIO ; NORTH OLMSTED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
EATING THE FIRST SLICE OF YOUR BIRTHDAY CAKE WILL BRING
YOU GOOD LUCK AND MAKE YOUR WISH COME TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 04-03-1970
THE FIRST PERSON IN THE HOUSE AFTER MIDNIGHT ON NEW
YEAR'S EVE HAS TO BE A RED HAIRED PERSON TO INSURE
GOOD LUCK FOR THE HOUSE FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
A BLACK HAIRED PERSON WILL BRING BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S FAMILY ALWAYS MAKES SURE EITHER THE
RED HAIRED BROTHERS OR SISTERS ARE THE FIRST ONES
IN THE HOUSE NEW YEAR'S EVE.
Where learned: NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
WHEN RECEIVING KNIVES FOR A GIFT, YOU SHOULD GIVE THE
GIVER OF THE GIFT A PENNY FOR EVERY KNIFE, SO THAT
YOU MAY HAVE GOOD LUCK, INSTEAD OF BAD. THIS IS
ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN GIVING A GIFT TO A BRIDE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAZEL PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Bridal shower BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PUT A COIN, HEADS UP, BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE BUILDING
IS LAID OR AT THE FOUNDING RITE. IF YOU DO NOT, THE
OWNER OF THE BUILDING WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT BELIEVES THIS IS ACTUALLY TRUE AND CITED
SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE WHEN THIS WAS NOT DONE, THE OWNER
OF THE BUILDING SOON HAD BAD LUCK. SHE ADDED, HOWEVER,
THAT THE PEOPLE SHE KNOWS JUST DO IT OUT OF CUSTOM.
COIN IS JUST THROWN IN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Foundation rite Laying of cornerstone BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 11-08-1971
HAM SHOULD BE EATEN ON NEW YEAR'S DAY INSTEAD OF CHICKEN
BECAUSE A CHICKEN SCRATCHES BACKWARDS FOR HIS FOOD, AND WILL
THUS BRING BAD LUCK, WHILE A PIG PUSHES HIS SNOUT FORWARD
IN SEARCH OF FOOD AND WILL THEN BRING GOOD LUCK FOR THE
COMING YEAR. THE IDEA OF THE PIG PUSHING FORWARD MEANS
THAT THE HAM-EATER WILL PROGRESS. THE CHICKEN-EATER WILL
NOT PROGRESS BUT WILL GO BACKWARDS (IN MONETARY GAINS,
JOB PROMOTION, ETC.)
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS WHEN A CHILD (1920S) AND STILL
PRACTICES IT NOW.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-02-1971 ; 00001920S
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, GREEKS AND ARMENIANS BAKE A LOAF OF
BREAD WITH A COIN IN IT. AT DINNER, THE LOAF IS CUT
IN AS MANY PIECES AS THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE FAMILY
AND WHOEVER GETS THE COIN WILL BE LUCKY FOR THE COMING
YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Date learned: 02-26-1971
THIS FAMILY SERVES A MEAL OF SAUERKRAUT AND GOOSE ON
NEW YEAR'S EVE TO OBTAIN LUCK IN THE COMING YEAR.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM SOME FRIENDS.
Where learned: HOME
Date learned: 11-00-1967
IF YOU DON'T EAT PORK ON NEW YEAR'S DAY IT MEANS
YOU'LL HAVE BAD LUCK THE REST OF THE YEAR.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
Date learned: 10-00-1971
IF YOU WANT TO HAVE GOOD LUCK FOR THE NEW YEAR, YOU HAVE
TO HAVE SOME HERRING IN A CREAM (USUALLY SOUR CREAM)
SAUCE. IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOME ON NEW YEAR'S EVE OR DAY
YOU'RE BOUND TO HAVE BAD LUCK FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
Submitter comment:
THE TRADITION HAS BEEN IN THE INFORMANT'S FAMILY
AS FAR BACK AS HE CAN REMEMBER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 12-25-1960
GERMAN CUSTOM
A TRADITIONAL NEW YEAR'S EVE SUPPPER IN THIS GERMAN FAMILY
IS HERRINGS AND ROE. ANYONE WHO HAPPENS TO DROP IN ON
THAT EVENING HAS TO PARTAKE OF THESE DISHES OR THEY WILL
HAVE BAD LUCK FOR THE NEXT YEAR. THE PLATTER IS PASSED
AROUND AND WHILE THE OLDER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY TAKE
GENEROUS PORTIONS, THE YOUNGER ONES MERELY TAKE ENOUGH
TO PARTAKE IN THE TRADITION, WHICH IS SAID TO GUARANTEE
GOOD LUCK AND PARTICULARLY PROSPERITY FOR THE COMING YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
Date learned: 00-00-1967