Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for S670.4 returned 9 results.
IF YOU SAY SOMETHING THE SAME TIME AS SOMEONE ELSE, CROSS
YOUR FINGERS, AND SAY, "NEEDLES AND PINS, WHEN A GIRL
MARRIES, TROUBLES BEGIN." MAKE A WISH, AND THE WISH
WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; TANNER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Prayer SPEECH -- Magical Crossing fingers |
IF YOU CROSS YOUR FINGERS OR TOES OR TWO PIECES OF
HAIR, ETC., IT MEANS WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ISN'T
THE TRUTH, BUT IT'S ALL RIGHT TO LIE ABOUT IT.
Submitter comment:
SHE SAID THAT SHE LEARNED IT FROM FRIENDS WHEN
SHE WAS YOUNG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Date learned: 02-08-1967
WHEN TELLING A LIE, CROSS THE FINGERS OF YOUR LEFT HAND
AND YOU WON'T BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LIE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A BELIEF COMMON IN THE OSWALD FAMILY AS WELL
AS IN MY OWN GRADE SCHOOL DAYS CIRCA 1960.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: 09-20-1967
IF A PERSON IS TELLING THE OTHER PERSON SOMETHING AND
THE OTHER PERSON HAS ASKED FOR THE TRUTH, AND THE
PERSON TELLING THE STORY CROSSES HIS FINGERS, WHEN HE
DOES SO, THEN HE IS TELLING THE PERSON AN UNTRUTH AND
IT IS BELIEVED NOT TO HAVE THE CONSEQUENCES O A LIE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU TELL A LIE WITH YOUR FINGERS CROSSED, IT IS NOT
A LIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
Date learned: 03-10-1970
WHEN YOU'RE TELLING A LIE, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CROSS
YOUR FINGERS OR YOUR FEET.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SAINT RITAS CONVENT
Date learned: 03-01-1970
A NEGATING GESTURE
WHEN ONE IS MAKING A PROMISE THAT HE DOESN'T
WANT TO KEEP, HE SIMPLY CROSSES HIS FINGERS WHILE MAKING
THE PROMISE. BY CROSSING HIS FINGERS, HE NEGATES HIS
PROMISE AND HE ISN'T HELD RESPONSIBLE.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Magical Crossing fingers |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU'RE TELLING A LIE, CROSS YOUR FINGERS BEFORE YOU
SAY IT AND IT WON'T BE A LIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Date learned: 11-29-1969
IN ORDER TO RELIEVE ONE'S GUILT WHEN TELLING A LIE,
ONE CROSSES THE INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGERS OF ONE HAND.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Date learned: 10-02-1967