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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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BLACK CAT

IF A BLACK CAT CROSSES YOUR PATH YOU WILL
HAVE BAD LUCK FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY.

Submitter comment: LEARNED IN CHILDHOOD IN DETROIT WHERE
PLAYMATES AVOIDED BLACK CATS.

Where learned: HOME

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Color
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

Date learned: 00-00-1949

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THE OLD GRAY MARE?

IN THE FALL OF 1961, MY HUSBAND AND I TOOK A FRIEND
OF OURS TO THE RACE TRACK. OUR FRIEND, JIMMY, IS NOW
74 YEARS OLD, AND IS BLIND (HAS BEEN FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS).
JIMMY COMES FROM ENGLAND AND HE HAD A FONDNESS FOR HORSE RACING
WHEN HE WAS SIGHTED.
WHEN WE TOOK HIM TO THE TRACK, WE HAD TO BE HIS "EYES",
SO I WOULD READ THE RACING SHEET ENTRIES TO HIM.
BEFORE EACH BET, HE WOULD ASK, "WHAT COLOR IS THE HORSE"?
UNLESS IT WERE GRAY, HE WOULD NOT BET ON IT BY HIMSELF:
HE WOULD, HOWEVER, SPLIT THE BET WITH US.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAZEL PARK RACEWAY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Color

Date learned: 05-00-1965

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COLOR BELIEF

A BLACK CAT IN YOUR HOUSE, AS A PET, WILL BRING GOOD LUCK.

Submitter comment: MISS ZITZEWITZ LEARNED THIS BELIEF AS A CHILD IN PANAMA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Color
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

Date learned: 10-02-1963

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CURE FOR WARTS

IF YOU CARRY A DEAD CAT TO THE GRAVE AT MIDNIGHT,
YOUR WARTS WILL DISAPPEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): TRANSFERENCE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal

Date learned: 12-00-1969

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DOG HOWLING IN THE FULL MOON - BELIEF

IT IS SAID THAT IF A DOG HOWLS IN THE LIGHT OF THE
FULL MOON THAT SOMEBODY WILL DIE. AND IT IS VERY LIKELY
THAT THIS WILL COME IN MUTIPLES OF THREE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

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

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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Superstition: Pregnancy

IF A HARE PASSES IN FRONT OF A PREGNANT WOMAN, HER CHILD WILL BE BORN
WITH A HARELIP UNLESS SHE MAKES A TEAR IN HER SLIP.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added and information updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; informant's home

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; CURSE ; Deformity ; Hare ; Offspring ; PREGNANCY ; Rabbit ; SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): IMITATIVE MAGIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue
BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 01-22-1970

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JEWISH BELIEF

JEWS CANNOT EAT PORK BECAUSE THEY BELEIVE IT IS UNCLEAN.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Consumption ; Culture ; FOOD ; Pork ; RELIGION ; Semitic

Subject headings: Custom
BELIEF -- Mammal

Date learned: 02-28-1971

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WHEN CATS HAVE KITTENS AND THERE ARE TOO MANY, SOME OF THE KITTENS
ARE PUT INTO A BOX, THE BOX IS TIED UP TO A STONE AND THROWN INTO
THE RIVER. THEN, THE CHILDREN MUST SING A SONG TO KEEP THE KITTENS
FROM COMING BACK AND HAUNTING THEM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- P346
BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Remedy

Date learned: 11-27-1971

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OMEN

ANY CAT IS A BAD SIGN TO SEE BEFORE YOU DO SOMETHING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Mammal

Date learned: 11-27-1971

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RACCOONS BREED THROUGH THEIR NOSE.

Submitter comment: DETROIT FREE PRESS COLUMN

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): OPOSSUM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal

Date learned: 09-16-1968

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DEATH

IF A DOG HOWLS AT NIGHT YOU SHOULD TURN YOUR SHOES UPSIDE DOWN.
OTHERWISE SOMEONE ON THE STREET WILL DIE

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 10-00-1977

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OMENS

AFTER MIDNIGHT IF YOU TALK TO A BLACK CAT THE CAT COULD TALK BACK
BECAUSE SOME BLACK CATS CARRY THE SOULS OF FAIRIES

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome
BELIEF -- Mammal

Date learned: 10-00-1977

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LOOKING AT A DOG ROLLING ON ITS BACK IS A SIGN OF BAD LUCK. ITS
MEANING IS DEATH. SOMEONE YOU KNOW OR MAY HAVE HEARD OF WILL DIE.

Submitter comment: A BELIEF PASSED DOWN IN THE PITTS FAMILY. STARTED DATE EARLY 1920'S

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.31
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.41

Date learned: 10-02-1977

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SUPERSTITION

WHEN A DOG HOWLS DOWN FOR NO REASON, SOMEONE WILL DIE.

Submitter comment: HOWLING DOWN MEANS THE DOG'S MUZZLE IS TURNED DOWNWARD. WHEN A DOG HOWLS UP FOR NO REASON, THERE WILL BE A FIRE.
HOWLING UP MEANS THE DOG'S MUZZLE IS TURNED UPWARDS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 10-07-1977

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SUPERSTITION

WHEN A CAT WASHES ITSELF, IT WILL RAIN.

Submitter comment: THIS SUPERSTITION HAS NO KNOWN BACKGROUND. PROBABLY SOMEONE'S
CAT WAS WASHING ITSELF AND IT BEGAN TO RAIN. (POST HOC ERGO
PROPTER HOC).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew

Date learned: 10-07-1977

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REMEDY

THE NATURAL REMEDY FOR DOGS WITH A STOMACH ACHE IS GRASS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PONTIAC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 00-00-1974

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TUNE

"OLD HOGAN'S GOAT" - OLD HOGAN'S GOAT WAS FEELING FINE. HE ATE THREE
RED SHIRTS RIGHT OFF THE LINE. I TOOK A STICK AND BROKE HIS BACK
AND TIED HIM TO THE RAILROAD TRACK. A SPEEDING TRAIN, DOWN OLD
NUMBER NINE, HOGAN'S GOAT WAS DOOMED TO DIE... COUGHED UP THOSE
RED SHIRTS AND FLAGGED THE TRAIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C230
BELIEF -- Mammal

Date learned: 00-00-1970

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SUPERSTITION

IF A CAT JUMPS ON A PREGNANT WOMAN'S LAP,
THE CHILD WILL BE MARKED BY THE CAT.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER TOLD ME THIS IS WHY I HAVE A KITTEN AS A BIRTHMARK.

Where learned: DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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PROVERB

IF THE GOAT WOULD NOT JUMP,
HE WOULD NOT BREAK HIS LEG. (TRANS)

Submitter comment: ZEIBY KOZKU NIE SKAKOTO TOBY
NOSZKI NIE ZTOMALA

Where learned: HOME

James Callow Keyword(s): AMBITION DARING FOOLHARDINESS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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PREDICTION

WHEN YOU HEAR A DOG HOWL, SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU WILL DIE. IF,
AFTER THE DOG HAS HOWLED, YOU LOOK BETWEEN ITS EARS, YOU WILL SEE
THE IMAGE OF THE PERSON THAT WILL DIE.

Submitter comment: ALTHOUGH HE NEVER WITNESSED IT, THIS PHENOMENON SCARED THE INFORMANT
WHEN HE WAS A CHILD. AS AN ADULT THE INFORMANT, LIKE MYSELF,
DISREGARDS THIS SUPERSTITION. THE INFORMANT WAS FIRST INTRO-
DUCED TO THIS PREDICTION BY HIS FATHER IN DETROIT.

Where learned: DETROIT

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals

Date learned: CA00001930 ; 01-13-1980

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