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ANYONE ENTERING THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR AND LEAVING BY THE SIDE DOOR
MEANS MORE COMPANY WILL BE COMING AND THERE WILL BE GOOD TIDINGS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BERKELEY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 00-00-1950

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ANYONE ENTERING THROUGH THE BACK DOOR AND LEAVING THROUGH THE FRONT
DOOR MEANS A DEATH IN THE FAMILY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BERKELEY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 00-00-1950

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WHEN YOU DROP A FORK ON THE FLOOR IT MEANS A WOMAN IS COMING TO VISI
YOU. WHEN YOU DROP A KNIFE ON THE FLOOR IT MEANS A MALE WILL BE
COMING TO VISIT YOU.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BERKELEY

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 00-00-1950

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IF A MALE IS THE FIRST VISITOR AFTER TWELVE MIDNIGHT, NEW YEARS DAY,
IT MEANS GOOD LUCK WILL BE WITH YOU FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. IF THE
FIRST VISITOR IS A FEMALE, IT MEANS YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK FOR THE
REST OF THE YEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BERKELEY

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Good luck
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 00-00-1950

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IN A POLISH PARISH, IT IS GOOD LUCK IF THE FAMILY CAN GET TOGETHER
FOR ANY OF THE CHURCH HOLIDAYS, ESPECIALLY ON CORPUS CHRISTI.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BERKELEY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Church
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 00-00-1950

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IF YOU DROP A FORK DURING DINNER YOU WILL HAVE COMPANY.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS THAT THE KIND OF SILVERWARE DROPPED, EITHER FORK,
SPOON, OR KNIFE WILL DETERMINE WHAT SEX YOUR COMPANY WILL BE.
SHE IS NOT SURE WHICH PIECE OF SILVER DOES WHAT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

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NO WOMEN ARE ALLOWED ON A SHIP BECAUSE THEY BRING BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS A PRACTICED CUSTOM WHEN INFORMANT WAS IN THE NAVY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- P535
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 02-17-1980

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IT IS BAD LUCK TO HAVE THIRTEEN AT THE DINNER TABLE AND IF YOU DO,
THE NEXT TIME THAT GROUP MEETS, ONE OF THEM WILL BE MISSING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Subject headings: 686 Specific number by specific number being described
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Bad luck

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PREDICTION

IF YOU DROP A FORK, THEN YOU CAN EXPECT COMPANY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: CA00001960

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IF A PERSON LEAVES HIS FAMILY ON A JOURNEY OF ANY LENGTH, HE IS
GIVEN A FROG SO IT WILL INSURE HIS RETURN TO HIS HOME.

Submitter comment: THIS IS DONE IN JAPAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: CA00001935

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IF YOU STEP ON THE "M" ON CENTRAL CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
MICHIGAN BEFORE YOUR FIRST EXAM, YOU WILL FAIL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: CA00001979

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AS A CAR OF PASSENGERS LEAVES THE HOUSE ON A TRIP, A BUCKET OF WATER
IS SPILLED AFTER THEM. THIS MEANS THEY WILL HAVE A SAFE TRIP.

Submitter comment: THIS IS DONE IN IRAQ.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: CA00001965

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FOLKLORE OF OBJECTS

IF ONE SHOE FALLS ON TOP OF THE OTHER BY COINCIDENCE WHILE YOU ARE
TAKING THEM OFF, THIS MEANS YOU WILL GO ON A TRIP IN THE NEAR FUTURE

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: CA00001965

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FOLKLORE OF OMENS

FIND A HAIRPIN, PICK IT UP AND YOU WILL MAKE A NEW FRIEND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: CA00001915

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IF YOU DROP A PEICE OF SILVERWARE, YOU WILL HAVE VISITORS IN THE
NEAR FUTURE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: CA00001915

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AN INDUSTRIOUS WIFE IS THE BEST SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER FATHER.

Where learned: INDIANA ; VEEDERSBURG

Keyword(s): MARRIAGE ; OBSERVATION

James Callow Keyword(s): BANKING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Marriage
PROVERB -- Blason Populaire

Date learned: 11-23-1967

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I KNOW HOW MUCH I PAID FOR MY GRANDMOTHER BEFORE SHE WAS SOLD.

Submitter comment: TOLD BY MY MOTHER THIS SUMMER INTERPRETATION, (I CAN GIVE YOU MORE
ADVICE BECAUSE I'VE LIVED LONGER.)

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; HOLDEN HALL

Keyword(s): ADVISING

James Callow Keyword(s): WISDOM ASSUMED TO RESULT FROM AGE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 09-00-1967

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AFRICAN PROVERB

I KNOW HOW MUCH YOUR GRANDMOTHER WAS BOUGHT FOR.

Submitter comment: I'VE BEEN LIVING LONGER THAN YOU HAVE.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): ADVISING

James Callow Keyword(s): WISDOM ASSUMED TO RESULT FROM AGE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 00001967 (FALL)

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PASTIME

WHENEVER DANDELIONS WERE IN SEASON, THE CHILDREN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
WOULD PINCH UNDER THE TOP OF THE FLOWER, CAUSING IT TO BREAK OFF THE
STEM. THE FLOWER WOULD THEN FLY THROUGH THE AIR. AT THE SAME
TIME, THE FOLLOWING WAS CHANTED: MM
MAMA HAD A BABY
AND ITS HEAD POPPED OFF.

Submitter comment: THE COLLECTOR FIRST HEARD OF THIS DANDELION PASTIME AS A CHILD IN
TAYLOR, MICH. IN 1970 AND CONTINUED PLAYING IT UPON MOVING TO
SOUTHGATE, MICH. AN ANALOGY IS MADE BETWEEN A MOTHER'S BABY AND
A DANDELION FLOWER. WHEN PLAYED AS DESCRIBED, NO COMPETITION IS
INVOLVED. HOWEVER, WITH TWO OR MORE CHILDREN, THE ELEMENT OF
DISTANCE IS PRESENT AND THE WINNER IS THE ONE WHO POPS THE FLOWER
THE FARTHEST. THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE BEHEADING OF A FLOWER AS
IT RELATES AS A SYMBOL OF A BABY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; USA ; SOUTHGATE

James Callow Keyword(s): BEHEADING OF FLOWER (BABY)

Subject headings: Favorites
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse
BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: 00-00-1970

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COURTSHIP CUSTOM

THE OLDEST DAUGHTER PUTS THE DOG OUTSIDE. HER FUTURE BOYFRIEND
WILL COME FROM THE DIRECTION THE DOG RUNS.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT FIRST HEARD THIS IN POLAND AROUND 1910. THIS IS A
COURTSHIP CUSTOM AND SUPERSTITION WITH ELEMENTS OF PREDICTION
INVOLVED. IT SEEMS TO IMPLY THAT THE DOG HAS SOME TYPE OF POWER
SINCE HE IS THE INSTRUMENT USED TO FORETELL THE FUTURE.
THIS IS A POSITION DIRECTION INDICATOR OF THE FUTURE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; CA00001910

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