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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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SUPERSTITION

DO NOT SWEEP FLOORS AFTER THE LIGHTS ARE LIT IN THE HOME.
THIS WOULD MEAN SWEEPING HEALTH AND WEALTH FOR THE FAMILY OUT.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; WESTCHESTER

Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; Domesticity ; Housekeeping ; Lights ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION ; Sweep

James Callow Keyword(s): BROOM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Home
BELIEF -- P87O
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 10-26-1968

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BELIEF

GET UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF BED, YOU WILL HAVE A BAD DAY.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT OBTAINED FROM AN IRISH FRIEND.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PLYMOUTH

Keyword(s): ATTITUDE ; Awaken ; Bed ; BELIEF ; Mood ; Rise ; Side ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Home
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 10-00-1965

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ENTERING AND LEAVING A HOUSE

MANY SLAVIC PEOPLE TODAY BELIEVE THAT IF A PERSON
DOES NOT LEAVE SOMEONES HOUSE BY THE SAME DOOR THAT THEY CAME IN,
THEN THEY WILL BRING BAD LUCK TO THEMSELVES AND THE PEOPLE OF THAT
PARTICULAR HOME.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Entrance ; Exit ; fortune ; Guests ; HOSPITALITY ; House ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION

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

Date learned: 09-14-1969

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BELIEF CONCERNING A TRIP

IF YOU LEAVE YOUR HOME TO GO ON A TRIP, AND
DISCOVER THAT YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING, IT IS BAD
LUCK TO GO BACK AND GET IT. IT IS BEST TO DO WITHOUT IT.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Return ; SUPERSTITION ; TRIP

James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION

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

Date learned: 01-30-1971

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BELIEF

IF A PERSON ENTERS ONE DOOR, HE SHOULD LEAVE BY THE SAME TO
AVOID BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment:

THIS INFORMANTS GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS MADE SURE THIS WAS DONE IN
HER HOUSE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Door ; Entrance ; Exit ; Huse ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION

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

Date learned: 09-22-1970

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BASEBALL SUPERSTITION

BASEBALL PLAYERS WILL NOT STEP ON THE BASE LINE WHEN GOING
OUT TO THEIR FIELD POSITION. TO DO SO IS BAD LUCK.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector share the same surname.
 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 01-22-1968

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BASEBALL BELIEF

PITCHERS NEVER CROSS THE FIRST OR THIRD BASE LINE BECAUSE IT
MEANS BAD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBER ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 686 686.1
686 686.1
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 03-04-1971

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EXPECTANT MOTHERS

JEWISH MOTHERS BELIEVE IT IS BAD LUCK TO GIVE A BABY SHOWER BEFORE
THE BABY IS BORN.
IT IS JUST AS BAD TO BRING GIFTS TO THE MOTHER IN THE
HOSPITAL BEFORE THE BABY HAS ARRIVED.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT RELATED HOW HER FATHER WAITED TILL HER SISTER WAS BORN
BEFORE HE BROUGHT THE BABY'S DIAPERS AND CLOTHES TO THE HOSPITAL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; COLUMBIA REALTY OFFICE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 02-12-1971

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Rugby Omen

To thump a glass of beer on the table and not drink the entire contents of the glass on a single draw is bad luck.

 

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.
Informant was born and raised in Pensacola, Florida, where he probably learned this.

 

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; FLORIDA ; NASHVILLE ; PENSACOLA

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck

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Omen

During the first week of a show in live theatre, costumes are not washed unless there is something deliberately done to it on stage, such as stage blood put on it. To wash the costume otherwise brings bad luck.

 

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.
Informant was born and raised in Pensacola, Florida, where he probably learned this.

 

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; FLORIDA ; NASHVILLE ; PENSACOLA

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck

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Personal Charm

During the Vanderbilt basketball season, I wore a hat to every game except three in the regular season. We lost those three games. Also, during the same period of time I constantly wore the hat when playing bridge and won two duplicate tournaments and consistently won at contract because I got cards more than I should have. Then just before the mideast regional I washed the hat and we did poorly in the tournament and I haven't gotten cards since then, duplicate hasn't changed however.

 

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.
Informant was born and raised in Pensacola, Florida, where he probably learned this.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; FLORIDA ; NASHVILLE ; PENSACOLA

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color
BELIEF -- Good luck
BELIEF -- Bad luck

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Superstition

On New Year's Day in the north of England, the first person to come to your house brings coal, salt and bread. If the person has red hair it means bad luck, but if he has black hair it is good luck and any other color is alright.

 

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
BELIEF -- Good luck
BELIEF -- Bad luck

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Cut hair when there is a full moon and burn it don't let it lay around or you will have bad luck.

 

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

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

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If a bird flies in your window or sits on a window ledge it's a sign of bad news.

 

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector share the same surname.

 

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Bad luck

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WEDDING BELIEF

IN SMALL ITALIAN CITIES IT IS CONSIDERED
GOOD LUCK TO HAVE RAIN ON YOUR WEDDING DAY. IN LARGER ITALIAN CITIES IT IS CONSIDERED BAD LUCK WHEN IT RAINS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Superstition about good weather
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew
BELIEF -- Good luck
BELIEF -- Bad luck
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7

Date learned: 09-00-1969

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TREE SUPERSTITION

A "LONE TREE" THAT IS FOUND IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIELD WITHOUT ANY OTHER TREES AROUND IS CONSIDERED SACRED. NOBODY WOULD RISK CUTTING IT DOWN FOR FEAR OF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BISHOP BORGESS HIGH SCHOOL

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 11-00-1970

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SUPERSTITON

AN ENGLISH IVY PLANT IN THE HOUSE WILL BRING BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT STRONGLY BELIEVES THIS. SHE CLAIMS THAT WHENEVER SHE HAD SUCH A PLANT IN THE HOUSE, THE RESULT WAS NOTHING BUT BAD LUCK UNTIL SHE DISPOSED OF THE PLANT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES ; TOLD AT INFORMANT'S HOME

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance
BELIEF -- Bad luck
BELIEF -- Bad luck Plants

Date learned: 02-27-1971

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THORNBERRY BUSH BELIEF

IN IRELAND, NO ONE SHOULD EVER DIG UP A THORNBERRY BUSH OR ELSE HE WILL HAVE A TRAGIC DEATH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; NORTH QUAD

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 03-01-1971

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BLACK TABOO

IF YOU EAT BLACK GRAPES OR BLACK FIGS THEN SOME SORT OF BAD LUCK WILL FOLLOW, SUCH AS BAD NEWS, OR YOU'LL DO SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL FEEL SORRY ABOUT LATER. HOWEVER, RED, WHITE, GREEN, AND BLUE GRAPES/FIGS ARE OK TO EAT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; KALAMAZOO ; TOLD AT INFORMANT'S HOME ; 5583 South 4th St.

Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC, COLOR

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit
BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Color
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 02-18-1971

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