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PREDICTION

CUT YOUR NAILS ON MONDAY, CUT THEM FOR NEWS.
CUT YOUR NAILS ON TUESDAY, A NEW PAIR OF SHOES.
CUT YOUR NAILS ON WEDNESDAY, CUT THEM FOR HEALTH.
CUT YOUR NAILS ON THURSDAY, CUT THEM FOR WEALTH.
CUT YOUR NAILS ON FRIDAY, CUT THEM FOR WOE.
CUT YOUR NAILS ON SATURDAY, A JOURNEY TO GO.
CUT YOUR NAILS ON SUNDAY, CUT THEM FOR EVIL,
FOR ALL THE NEXT WEEK YOU'LL BE RULED BY THE DEVIL.

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Subject headings: Observation
Favorites
BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour

Date learned: 04-11-1967

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THUNDER AND LIGHTNING

IF IT'S THUNDERING AND LIGHTNING WHILE THE SUN IS SHINING, THE
DEVIL IS BEATING HIS WIFE WITH A HAM OF MEAT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7

Date learned: 02-27-1972

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Belief: Children's Song

STEP ON A CRACK, BREAK THE DEVIL'S BACK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated on 12-01-2010 / Motifs and Keywords added by TRD

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): AA ; Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; DEVIL ; GAME ; MOTHER ; RELIGION ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief
BELIEF -- Devil Demon

Date learned: 11-19-1969

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IF YOU SAY THE " OUR FATHER " BACKWARDS YOUR CALLING ON THE DEVIL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DEVIL

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon

Date learned: 11-02-1971

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BELIEF

IF YOU DREAM OR HAVE A NIGHTMARE ABOUT THE DEVIL, BLESS YOURSELF
WHEN YOU AWAKE TO CALM YOUR FEARS AND HELP KEEP THE DEVIL AWAY.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD TO MY MOTHER BY HER MOTHER ABOUT 50 YEARS AGO.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
BELIEF -- Dreams Dreams about the supernatural
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 11-00-1977 ; 00-00-1930

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NURSERY RHYME

ST. DUNSTAN AS THE STORY GOES, ONCE PULLED THE DEVIL BY HIS NOSE
WITH RED HOT TONGS THAT MADE HIM ROAR, THAT COULD BE HEARD TEN
MILES OR MORE.

Where learned: IRELAND

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.432
BELIEF -- Devil Demon

Date learned: 00-00-1977

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DEVIL

DON'T TURN A CHAIR ON ONE LEG, THE DEVIL WILL GET YOU.

Where learned: GEORGIA ; MILLEDGEVILLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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SIGNS OF THE DEVIL

IF LEAVES DANCE IN A CIRCLE WHILE THE WIND IS BLOWING THEM,
IT IS A SIGN OF THE DEVIL.

Where learned: GEORGIA ; MILLEDGEVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Wind Whirlwind Hurricane Cyclone Tornado
BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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TO REMOVE EVIL SPIRITS FROM THE BODY, LET THE BLOOD, BY CUTTING A
SLIT AT THE BASE OF THE SKULL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Remedy

Date learned: 02-00-1979

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SUPERSTITION

IF YOU BUY LIFE INSURANCE, YOU'RE SELLING YOUR SOUL TO THE DEVIL.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 03-00-1979

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SUPERSTITION

WEAR WHITE UNDERWEAR ON THE FIRST OF THE YEAR TO BE
PROTECTED FROM EVIL SPIRITS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

Submitter comment: WHITE, AS THE SIGN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS CAN NOT BE
TOLERATED BY EVIL SPIRITS, ACCORDING TO THE INFORMANT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; LOUNGE

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Overall body coverUpper body and arms
BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Color

Date learned: 02-22-1979

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SUPERSTITION

CUTTING NAILS ON SUNDAY RESULTS IN BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT VIEWS CUTTING THE NAILS AS A WAY TO WARD OFF SPIRITS,
PRIMARILY EVIL SPIRITS. CUTTING THE NAILS ON SUNDAY, THE DAY
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, IS TO WARD OFF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; LUNCHROOM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Gods
BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 02-14-1979

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SUPERSTITION

NEVER TURN AROUND IN CHURCH BECAUSE THE DEVIL WILL RECORD
YOUR NAME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HUNTINGTON WOODS

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church
BELIEF -- Devil Demon

Date learned: 02-11-1979

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SUPERSTITION

NO MATTER HOW I DID IN A COMPETITIVE SPORT, I STILL WANT
EVERYTHING WASHED. THINGS LIKE T-SHIRTS, SOCKS, UNDERWEAR
AND SOMETIMES THE WHOLE UNIFORM, MUST BE WASHED. MOST PEOPLE
WILL NOT WASH CERTAIN THINGS FOR FEAR THAT THEY WILL WASH
OUT THE GOOD SPIRITS. I WANT TO KEEP THOSE SPIRITS HAPPY
BY LOOKING GOOD ALL THE TIME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK

James Callow Keyword(s): WASHING OF CLOTHES

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion

Date learned: CA00001972

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A LITTLE CLOTH CONTAINING SALT AND TIED WITH RED RIBBON IS GIVEN TO
MOTHERS OF BABIES. THIS IS PLACED IN A BABY'S CRIB OR BUGGY.

Submitter comment: THIS INFORMANT'S SISTER WAS GIVEN ONE OF THESE CLOTHS WHEN ONE
OF HER CHILDREN WAS BORN. SHE DID NOT USE THE CLOTH BECAUSE SHE
FELT THE CROSS SHE HAD IN THE BABY'S ROOM WAS THERE TO PROTECT
THE CHILD.
AMULET

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
BELIEF -- Color

Date learned: 02-26-1979

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RELIGIOUS

ON JANUARY 6TH (THREE KINGS DAY) PRIESTS GO FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE AND
WRITE THE INITIALS OF THE 3 KINGS WITH BLESSED WHITE CHALK ABOVE
THE DOORS OF THE HOMES. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BRING HAPPINESS AND
HEALTH AND KEEP AWAY THE THE EVIL SPIRITS. PEOPLE IN TOWN GIVE
CONTRIBUTIONS.

Submitter comment: THIS TRADITION IS FOLLOWED IN POLAND. AT ONE TIME IT WAS POPULAR
IN DETROIT AND ITS SUBURBS.

Where learned: DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany
BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Word Letter
BELIEF -- Color

Date learned: 04-15-1979

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KNOCK ON WOOD.

Submitter comment: KEEPS AWAY EVIL SPIRITS OF WHAT YOU HAPPEN TO BE TALKING ABOUT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 01-00-1979

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BAQUINE

WHEN A CHILD DIES HE IS DRESSED IN WHITE AND ADORNED WITH FLOWERS.
THEN IN THE WAKE HE IS SUNG LULLABIES AND OTHER COMFORTING SONGS.
SOME OF THESE ARE QUITE SCARY AND WILL DEAL WITH THE DEVIL OR A
SPECIAL GNOME WHO STEALS CHILDREN.

Submitter comment: THIS IS DONE ONLY BY THE PEASANTS IN THE CENTER OF THE ISLAND.
BAQUINE IS AN INDIAN WORD FOR THIS KIND OF CEREMONY

Where learned: PUERTO RICO

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Cradle song Lullaby
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome
BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Color

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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AMULET AGAINST EVIL EYE.

A FIGURE IS CARVED IN BLACK ROCK AND USED ON NECKLACE AND BRACELETS
TO GUARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS. IT IS USED VERY OFTEN ON BABIES.

Where learned: PUERTO RICO

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Body part Senses

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST'S NIGHT.

ON THE EVE OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST'S DAY EVERYBODY GOES TO THE
BEACHES TO SPEND THE NIGHT THERE. THERE ARE CERTAIN RITUALS DONE ON
THAT NIGHT THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BRING GOOD LUCK THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
FOR EXAMPLE: AT MIDNIGHT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO THROW YOURSELF THREE
TIMES BACKWARDS IN THE SEA FOR GOOD HEALTH. A YOUNG GIRL SHOULD PUT
TWO NEEDLES IN A GLASS OF WATER,SYMBOLIZING HERSELF AND HER BOYFRIEND
IF THE NEXT DAY THE NEEDLES ARE TOGETHER SHE WILL MARRY THAT MAN.
ALSO SHE SHOULD PUT THREE BEANS UNDER HER PILLOW THAT NIGHT. ONE
SHOULD HAVE THE SKIN ON WHICH MEANS SHE WILL MARRY A RICH MAN. THE
SECOND ONE SHOULD BE HALF PEELED SIMBOLIZING MIDDLE CLASS WEALTH AND
THE THIRD ONE SHOULD BE COMPLETELY PEELED MEANING POVERTY. IN THE
MORNING SHE SHOULD PUT HER HAND UNDER THE PILLOW WITHOUT LOOKING,
AND TAKE ONE BEAN. THIS WILL DETERMINE HER ECONOMICAL STATUS IN HER
MARRIAGE. PUT A GLASS OF WATER UNDER YOUR BED TO KEEP THE EVIL SPIRIT
AWAY THE REST OF THE YEAR.

Where learned: PUERTO RICO

Subject headings: 686 Seconds / Twice / Two
686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June 23
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour
BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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