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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P578.4 returned 162 results.
If by accident you find the back tooth of a horse,
carry it along with you as long as you live and
you will never want money; but it must be by chance
that you found it.
Submitter comment: Irish superstition
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Date learned: 00001950S
When visitors come to Rome they traditionally throw coins into
the Trevi Fountain before they leave so they will have the
luck to return to the city someday.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1989
WHEN THE WAGERS FAMILY ARRIVED FROM FRANCE IN THE LATE
1700'S, THE TWO BROTHERS WHO IMMIGRATED BOUGHT LAND IN CENTRAL
KENTUCKY. THEY BUILT TWIN PLANTATION HOUSES. DURING THE CIVIL
WAR, A WARFORD DESCENDANT ALLEGEDLY FILLED A HUNTING HORN WITH
MONEY AND HID IT SOMEWHERE ON THE FAMILY'S LAND. NO ONE HAS YET
FOUND THE LEGENDARY MONEY HORN. THE LAND IS NO LONGER HELD BY THE
FAMILY.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER LEARNED OF THIS LEGEND THIS YEAR FROM HER ELDERLY
AUNTS AND AN UNCLE. WHEN SHE AND HER RELATIVES WENT TO VISIT THE
REMAINING HOUSE (THE OTHER BURNED DOWN), THEY WERE GREETED BY THE
CURRENT OWNER WITH "Y'ALL MUST BE WARFORDS!" WHEN MY MOTHER TOLD
ME OF THIS LEGEND SHE ADDED A COMMENT THAT "KNOWING THE LUCK OUR
FAMILY HAS, IF THERE REALLY IS A MONEY HORN, IT'S PROBABLY FILLED
WITH CONFEDERATE MONEY!"
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; IRVINE
Keyword(s): TREASURE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Never give an empty purse or wallet for a gift; fill it with
coins and dollars so it will never be empty.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GIFT
Date learned: 00001980S
At Oakland Sanctified Church no wedding rings are allowed to be
given during the ceremony; wedding watches take the place of the
rings.
Submitter comment:
Leah says this is to prevent the competition of big diamonds
amongst the church members.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Measure of time BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Date learned: 00001980S
A penny in your shoe,
And wearing something blue.
Will keep your marriage true.
Submitter comment:
The informant can recall the exact date she learned this because
it is the day of her marriage to Willis Muckle. Her mother gave her
the penny and a blue flower for her hair. The marriage lasted more
than thirty-five years.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): LOVE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Color |
On January first, Greeks celebrate what is known as St. Basil's
Day. It is the equivalent of Christmas here. It begins at twelve
o'clock midnight on December 31. "Vasilopita" - St Basil's Bread - is
served. Baked in the sweet bread is a single gold coin. The person to
receive the slice of sweet bread with the coin is said to have good
luck for the duration of the year. Presents are distributed. Then
snacks and drinks are served to all because in Greece there is no
certain age that must be attained before one is allowed to drink
alcohol.
Submitter comment: St. Basil is the equivalent of Santa Claus.
Where learned: GREECE
Keyword(s): holiday
James Callow Keyword(s): drinking age
Date learned: 00001945CA
Wishing
When eating Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, cut out the
wishbone carefully without breaking it. Let the bone dry
overnight so it will snap easily. When the bone is dry, two
people take ahold of opposite ends of the wishbone. Then you
count to three, "one, two, three, go..." and each person pulls on
the bone at the same time until the bone breaks. Whoever gets the
larger segment of the bone has their wish granted. To cheat place
your thumb on the bone which connects the two bones together and
you push forward while they pull. This snaps the bone below the
connecting piece, making the other person's bone shorter.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Frankenmuth
Date learned: 00-00-1976
Tips
A waitress I had been working with told me to use my first tip
received each night to buy someone else a drink. This would act as a
"lucky omen," and cause me to receive more tips.
Submitter comment:
I have been waitressing for nearly two years, have practiced this
tradition, and have always received excellent tips.
Where learned: Saginaw Country Club
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. Favorites BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1990
Money on the inside of your door on New Year's Eve will bring
you money all the year long.
Submitter comment: Gladys learned this from her mother and passed it down to me.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Wall Partition Door Window BELIEF -- Maturity P544.2 BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Date learned: 00001960S
If you put a piece of copper in between your teeth, you will
never have to worry about evil spirits invading your body.
Submitter comment:
Grandma always told all of us kids to put a penny in between
our teeth and we would never have to be scared of any evil
spirits or of things that go bump in the night.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Date learned: 00-00-1940
If you want to make sure that you have money throughout the
whole year, you must bring in the new year with money in your
possession.
Submitter comment:
I always try to believe that this folklore has some
validity.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Date learned: 00-00-1985
If you want money to spend on pleasurable wants and needs
never put your new purse on the floor because you will never have
any money to spend.
Submitter comment:
I went to see my great grandmother in the south one summer
when I was nine year old. A few days before I was going to leave
for home she took me shopping. While at the shopping center my
grandmother purchased me a new purse. When we returned home I
placed the shopping bags on the floor. She quickly picked up the
shopping bags and sat them on the sofa and said, "Sweetheart,
never place a new purse on the floor; you will never have any
money."
Where learned: ALABAMA ; Linden
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
Keep garlic in your purse so you will always have money.
Submitter comment:
This folklore always seemed to work as my sister always had
some money.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POST HOC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
Baby Belief
A baby born with a dimple in the chin will be wealthy.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
Date learned: 03-00-1992
My mother always told me that when your hand itches it means
you will receive some money soon.
Submitter comment:
This was a hopeful superstition but not a very believable
one.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Louise
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
Putting your purse or your wallet on the floor makes your
money stay low.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
If you put water under your bed with a dime in it, you will
have clearer dreams.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Dreams |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
When your right hand itch, it means that you will be getting
some money.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
James Callow Keyword(s): RIGHT LEFT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching hands and feet |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
Luck
Two things you should always eat on New Year's Day: Greens
and Black-Eye Peas. Greens for money and Black-Eye Peas for
luck.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): Homeopathic Magic -- green
Date learned: 00-00-1931