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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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IF IT TOUCHES YOUR LIPS, IT GOES ON YOUR HIPS.

Submitter comment: THIS MEANS IF YOU EAT SOMETHING "FATTENING," YOU'LL GAIN
WEIGHT IN YOUR HIP AREA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DIET ; METONYMY

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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SUPERSTITION

IF A BOY EATS A LOT OF SPINACH, HE WILL DEVELOP A HAIRY
CHEST.

Submitter comment: MY GRANDPA WOULD TELL THIS TO MY FATHER WHO DIDN'T LIKE
SPINACH BUT GREATLY ADMIRED HIS FATHER'S HAIRY CHEST.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Plant

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SUPERSTITION

IF A GIRL DEVELOPS HAIRY ARMS, SOMEDAY SHE'LL MARRY A
RICH MAN.

Submitter comment: MY DAD WOULD TELL THIS TO ME EVERY TIME I COMPLAINED
ABOUT HAVING HAIRY ARMS. I CERTAINLY WOULD FEEL BETTER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth

Date learned: 00-00-1940

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SUPERSTITION

IF YOU HAVE CURLY HAIR AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT, YOU WILL
NEVER GO BALD.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER WOULD TELL ME THIS BECAUSE SHE AND I BOTH HAVE
CURLY HAIR. SHE ALWAYS SAYS THIS BECAUSE HER FATHER HAD
VERY CURLY HAIR AND DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A RECEDING HAIRLINE
WHEN HE DIED. WE BOTH BELIEVE IN THIS SUPERSTITION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 00-00-1978

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SUPERSTITION

IF YOU EAT THE CRUST OF THE BREAD, IT WILL MAKE YOUR
HAIR CURLY.

Submitter comment: MY FATHER WAS ALWAYS TOLD THIS BY HIS MOTHER. HE THINKS THAT
HE WAS TOLD THIS SO HE WOULD NOT WASTE BREAD, BUT ALSO
CONTENDS THAT THE WAVE AT HIS HAIRLINE COMES FROM FOL-
LOWING THIS.

Where learned: SOUTH DAKOTA ; YANKTON

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses

Date learned: 00-00-1945

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SAYINGS

A PREGNANT WOMAN SHOULD NOT ATTEND FUNERALS BECAUSE HER CHILD WILL
RESEMBLE THE DEAD.

Submitter comment: I WAS PREGNANT AND ATTENDED MY GRANDFATHER'S FUNERAL AND MY SON
LOOKS LIKE HIM AND WALKS LIKE HIM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 00-00-1973

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SAYINGS

A PERSON SHOULD NEVER PIERCE EARS UNLESS THERE IS A FULL MOON
BECAUSE IT WILL CAUSE COMPLICATIONS.

Submitter comment: SHE SAID PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO GET SEVERE INFECTIONS.

Where learned: ALABAMA ; MOBILE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Moon
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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A FRIEND TOLD ME HE KNEW A LADY, HIS MOTHER'S FRIEND,
WHO HUNG SEVERAL EARS OF CORN ON HER PORCH JUST
ABOVE HER DOOR. HE SAID THIS WAS DONE TO KEEP OUT
EVIL SPIRITS. THIS WAS SOME SIGN THAT SHE BELIEVED
IN VOODOO.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Bad luck

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NEVER RAISE YOUR HAND TO YOUR MOTHER
IN ANGER, FOR IF YOU DO YOUR HAND WILL
NEVER GO DOWN AND WHEN YOU DIE YOUR
HAND WILL HAVE TO BE WHIPPED DOWN.

Submitter comment: TOLD TO MICHAEL SO HE WOULDN'T
DISOBEY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION

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

Date learned: 00001970S

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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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AN ANCIENT ZULU BURIAL RITUAL IS TO BREAK ALL OF THE BONES
IN THE DECEASED'S BODY TO INSURE THAT THE BODY RESTS PROPERLY
IN THE GRAVE. IT WAS ALSO BELIEVED THAT THIS PRACTICE WOULD
STOP THE BODY FROM DECOMPOSING, PROVIDED THAT THE CORPSE WAS
NEVER DISTURBED WHILE IN THE GRAVE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Body part Senses

Date learned: 11-13-1987

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AN ITCHY LEFT HAND MEANS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE BAD LUCK.
AN ITCHY RIGHT HAND MEANS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET MONEY.

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses

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THEY LOOK WITH THEIR HANDS IN BACUP.

Submitter comment: THIS EXPRESSION IS USED TO MOCK SOMEONE WHO IS EITHER POINTING OR
GESTURING WHILE LOOKING FOR A LOST POSSESSION. BACUP IS A SMALL
MINING TOWN IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND THAT IS INFAMOUS FOR INBREEDING,
AND IT IS THOUGHT THAT SOME OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE EYES IN THE PALMS
OF THEIR HANDS. COMPARING SOMEONE TO A BACUPIAN IS A MILD INSULT,
USUALLY USED AS A JOKE.

Where learned: NORTH OF ENGLAND ; MANCHESTER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
SPEECH -- Formula
SPEECH -- Gesture
PROVERB -- Blason Populaire

Date learned: 00-00-1985 ; 00-00-1986

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IF STRANDS OF LONG HAIR SEPARATE WHILE BRUSHING, SOMEONE CLOSE
TO YOU WILL DEPART (DIE).

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: Observation
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 07-00-1975

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EATING BATTER GIVES YOU BIGGER BOOBS.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD TO ME BY MY GRANDMOTHER WHEN I WAS MAKING PANCAKES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NEW BUFFALO

James Callow Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; BOOBS = BREASTS (ASSUMED)

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses

Date learned: 00-00-1981 ; 10-14-1987

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NONE

IF YOU HAVE BROKEN A BONE IN YOUR BODY, WHENEVER IT'S ABOUT TO RAIN
THAT PART OF YOUR BODY WILL VIBRATE BEFORE IT STARTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew

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IT IS CONSIDERED BAD LUCK TO CUT A YOUNG BLACK CHILD'S HAIR.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

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NEVER THROW YOUR HAIR AWAY BECAUSE SOMEONE CAN GET IT AND SET A CURSE
OR WITCHCRAFT ON YOU.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: 11-18-1987

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IF YOU DROP YOUR HAIR ON THE GROUND, A BIRD WILL COME AND PECK YOU
TO DEATH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 11-00-1987

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DURING NEW HOGIMANAY, IT IS BAD LUCK TO ENTER A HOUSE AND
NOT BE GREETED BY A PERSON WITH BLACK HAIR.

Where learned: SCOTLAND

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Color
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 07-00-1975 ; 11-00-1987

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