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CHRISTMAS EVE SUPERSTITION

CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER WAS A SEVEN, NINE, OR ELEVEN COURSE MEAL. IN
NO CASE MUST THERE BE AN ODD NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT THE TABLE. OTHER-
WISE, SOME OF THE FEASTERS WOULD NOT LIVE TO SEE ANOTHER CHRISTMAS.

Submitter comment: MY GRANDMOTHER WASN'T A VERY FOND BELIEVER OF SUPERSTITIONS, BUT
SHE SAW TO IT THAT AN EVEN NUMBER OF GUESTS WERE PRESENT.

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO

Subject headings: 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several
686 Ninths / Nine
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Number P686.1.11
BELIEF -- Number Even number (not specific)
BELIEF -- Number Odd number (not specific)

Date learned: 00-00-1940

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SUPERSTITION

IF A PAINTING FALLS IN SOMEONE'S HOME, A DEATH WILL OCCUR.

Submitter comment: IT WAS WHEN A COUSIN OF MY GRANDMOTHER HAD DIED THAT A SMALL PICTURE
IN MY GRANDPARENTS' HOME FELL.

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 00-00-1940

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IT IS BAD LUCK TO COUNT THE CARS IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION BECAUSE YOU
COUNT SOMEONE OUT OF YOUR FAMILY

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 11-22-1980

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EVERYTIME MY GRANDMOTHER SNEEZES WITH FOOD IN HER MOUTH, SOMEONE
IN OUR FAMILY DIES.

Submitter comment: I WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE SHE WAS 7. SHE IS 80
YEARS OLD NOW

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
Favorites
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 11-14-1980 ; 00-00-1900

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DREAMS

IF A PERSON DREAMS OF A MARRIAGE THEN HE IS DREAMING OF HIS DEATH.
MY FREIND'S GRANDFATHER EXPERIENCED THIS AND HE DIED TWO WEEKS LATER.

Submitter comment: I WAS RATHER SURPRISED WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT MY NEIGHBOR EXPERIENCED
THIS. I WAS FASCINATED BY IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Dreams

Date learned: 00-00-1980

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CEMETERY BELIEFS OF THE BLACK CULTURE

THERE IS A GENERAL REFUSAL AMONG BLACKS TO ENTER A CEMETERY.
OFTEN RELATIVES OF THE DECEASED WILL NOT EVEN ENTER THE
CEMETERY FOR THE FUNERAL CEREMONIES.

Submitter comment: THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT CAME TO ME UPON HEARING THIS
BELIEF IS HOW THE BLACKS TAKE A FEAR FELT BY PEOPLE OF ALMOST ALL
ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS, ONE STEP FURTHER. IT WOULD BE INTRIGUING TO
INVESTIGATE WHERE THE ROOTS OF THIS BELIEF LIE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Cemetery
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

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MACEDONIAN GREEK ORTHODOX FUNERAL

THE FUNERAL CEREMONY OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX IS MUCH LIKE ANY
OTHER RELIGION ITSELF, BUT MANY SYMBOLS ARE USED. THE PALLBEARERS
MUST WEAR WHITE GLOVES SO THEY DO NOT
STAIN THE SOUL OF THE DEAD PERSON
WHEN THE PROCESSION GETS TO THE CEMETERY EVERYONE IS GIVEN A CANDLE,
THE SYMBOL OF ETERNAL LIFE. THE PALLBEARERS ARE GIVEN THREE
REMEMBRANCES OF THE DECEASED LIKE A PAIR
OF SOCKS, A PITCHER, AND A TOWEL
ALSO AT THE CEMETERY THEY EAT BREAD AND
DRINK WINE. THE BROTHERS OF THE
DECEASED CAN NOT SHAVE FOR SIX WEEKS AFTER
THE DEATH BECAUSE THE SHAVINGS
WILL FALL IN THE EYES OF THE DEAD PERSON
AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEE
THE GATES OF HEAVEN.
THE PALLBEARERS AND FAMILY MUST MEET AT THE
CEMETARY THREE, SIX, NINE, AND
TWELVE MONTHS AFTER THE DEATH OF THE PERSON.
AND THEN EACH YEAR AFTER
AS LONG AS THE MOTHER WANTS. AT EACH
MEETING THE PALLBEARERS ARE AGAIN GIVEN
SOME ARTICLES IN REMEMBRANCE AND BREAD AND WINE IS HAD. ALSO
EACH PERSON IS GIVEN A CANDLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS

Subject headings: 686 Seconds / Twice / Two
686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
686 Sixths / Six
686 Ninths / Nine
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Color

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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IF YOU COUNT THE NUMBER OF CARS IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION YOU WILL HAVE
THAT MANY YEARS TO LIVE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Number

Date learned: CA00001975

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SAYING

EVERY TIME A NEW BORN BABY CRIES, SOMEONE DIES.

Submitter comment: FROM FRIENDS.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 11-08-1967

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IF YOU TOUCH THE DEAD, THEY WILL HAUNT YOU.

Submitter comment: MRS. COLEMAN LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; GROSSE POINTE PARK

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

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CEMETERY BIRD

WHEN MR. LEHR WAS A KID, THEY BELIEVED THAT IF A
CEMETERY BIRD LANDED ON ANYTHING WHICH BELONGED
TO SOMEONE, THEN THAT SOMEONE WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 01-24-1967

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A BELIEF ABOUT TEETHING

THIS IS WHAT MY AUNT BETTY TOLD ME WHEN MY SON WAS
FIRST TEETHING:
I'M SO RELIEVED THAT PAUL'S LOWER TEETH CAME IN
FIRST, BECAUSE IF THE UPPERS START FIRST, THAT CHILD
WON'T LIVE LONG.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT TOLD ME THIS WHEN I WAS VISITING HER HOME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 00-00-1963

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IF YOU COUNT THE CARS IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION, IT
WILL BRING DEATH.

Submitter comment: MRS. COLEMAN LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD IN HER
NEIGHBORHOOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-13-1963

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ANGELS

"WHEN LITTLE CHILDREN DIE, THEY GO TO HEAVEN TO HELP
GOD TAKE CARE OF THE OLD PEOPLE. THAT'S WHAT
GRANDMA WITTKOP ALWAYS USED TO SAY."

Submitter comment: NORA C. FRIEDERICHS IS MY MOTHER, GRANDMA WITTKOP
MY GRANDMOTHER.
AT THE FUNERAL OF MY DAUGHTER, MARY, 1/5/67.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

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WHEN PEOPLE WERE BURIED FROM HOME, A WREATH WAS PLACED
ON THE FRONT DOOR. IF YOU COUNTED THE MARKS WHERE
THE WREATH WAS HUNG FROM, YOU WOULD EITHER HAVE
BAD LUCK OR THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER DEATH.

Submitter comment: MRS. MUGGLETON LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD.

Where learned: TELEPHONE

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 11-02-1963

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DEATH IN THREES

FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, MY MOTHER, HER MOTHER
AND VARIOUS RELATIVES BELIEVED THAT (IF) SOMEONE DIED,
THERE WOULD BE TWO MORE DEATHS IN THE IMMEDIATE
FAMILY WITHIN THE SAME YEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Number Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually

Date learned: 05-11-1965

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IF YOU HEAR A DOG HOWLING AT NIGHT, IT MEANS A DEATH
WILL SOON OCCUR IN YOUR FAMILY.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER WAS THE INFORMANT FOR THIS SUPERSTITION.
SHE BELIEVES IT MAY BE SCOTTISH, BUT DOES NOT RECALL
WHERE SHE FIRST HEARD IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 01-00-1964

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HOOTING OWLS

WHEN A HOOTING OWL STAYS IN ONE PLACE FOR THREE DAYS,
AND HOOTS AROUND THE HOMES, THERE WILL BE A DEATH
IN ONE OF THE HOMES SOON.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER SAYS THAT THIS IDEA WAS BELIEVED IN VERY
STRONGLY IN HER HOMETOWN OF DONORA, PENNSYLVANIA.
AND I TEND TO THINK THAT IF OWLS WERE PRESENT IN
HER NEIGHBORHOOD TODAY, SHE'D BELIEVE THE SAME
THING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
Observation
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 05-11-1965

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OPEN AN UMBRELLA IN THE HOUSE, AND THERE WILL BE A
DEATH. MM
IF THERE IS ONE DEATH IN THE FAMILY, TWO MORE WILL
FOLLOW WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD.

Submitter comment: MRS. COLEMAN LEARNED THIS IN CHILDHOOD.

Where learned: HOME

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

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IF A DOG HOWLS BENEATH A WINDOW, THERE SOON WILL BE
A DEATH IN THE FAMILY LIVING IN THAT HOUSE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT REMEMBERS HEARING THIS FROM HER MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

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