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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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IF A LADYBUG LANDS ON YOU SHE WILL BRING YOU GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL BEETLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.33

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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SIGN OF GOOD LUCK

HAVING A LADYBUG LAND ON YOU IS A SIGN OF GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL BEETLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.33

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IT IS BAD LUCK TO KILL A CRICKET, ESPECIALLY ON SUNDAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.33

Date learned: 03-03-1970

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BELIEF OR PREDICTION

YOU CAN DETERMINE THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE BY COUNTING THE NUMBER
OF TIMES A CRICKET RUBS HIS FOOT IN A MINUTE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT ; WHICH RUBBING PRODUCES CHIRPING SOUND.

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.3

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SEWING BUGS

NEVER GET TOO NEAR A SEWING BUG (DRAGON FLY), BECAUSE THEY WILL
SEW YOUR EYELIDS SHUT.

Submitter comment: I REALLY BELIEVED IN THIS WHEN I WAS LITTLE, AND I WAS TERRIFIED
OF SEWING BUGS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye
BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.11

Date learned: 11-17-1968

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FISH (REPTILE)

IF YOU PICK UP A TOAD, AND IN DOING SO, TOUCHED ITS BACK, SAID
PERSON WOULD RECEIVE WARTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL AMPHIBIAN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fish
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.35

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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THE DEAD MAN IN A CRAB

THERE IS A CERTAIN PART OF A CRAB NEAR THE END OF THE SHELL, WHICH
IS BELIEVED BY SOME TO BE A DEAD MAN. ANYONE WHO ATE THIS WOULD
IMMEDIATELY DIE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT AND HIS FRIENDS BELIEVED THIS ABSOLUTELY WHILE CHILDREN IN TIDEWATER, VIRGINIA IN THE 1930S.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL CRUSTACEAN ; BELIEF

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fish
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance P880.34

Date learned: 02-18-1970

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PEOPLE USED TO BELIEVE THAT IF YOU PUT YOUR FINGER INSIDE THE SHELL
OF A TERRAPIN, IT WOULD NOT OPEN UP UNTIL IT THUNDERED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK

James Callow Keyword(s): TURTLE REPTILE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fish

Date learned: 02-07-1972

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PURPOSE OF CON (OF FISH)SUMPTION

FISH IS BRAINFOOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): MENTAL NOURISHMENT AND HEALTH

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Fish
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 03-05-1970

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LEPRECHAUNS

IF YOU ARE POOR, HONEST AND GOOD, THE LITTLE PEOPLE WILL COME
AND HELP YOU.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE

James Callow Keyword(s): POVERTY VIRTUE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome

Date learned: 01-20-1970

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SHOES

ONE MUST NOT LEAVE HIS SHOES ON THE FLOOR AT THE END OF ONES BED,
AS THE LEPRACHAUNS WILL COME AND DANCE IN THEM AT NIGHT.

Submitter comment:

THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY HIS GRANDFATHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION PLACEMENT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome
BELIEF -- Use of Object Human beings and their activities

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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FAIRY BELIEF

IN IRELAND,
THE FAIRIES WERE BAD TOO. THEY WOULD COME BY THE NIGHT AND MILK THE
COWS AND HAVE A PICNIC AND WHEN YOU CHURNED THE MILK YOU WOULD HAVE
NO BUTTER. THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD SHOOT THEM WAS TO PUT A SILVER
COIN IN THE GUN, ALONG WITH THE AMMUNITION. AT TWELVE MIDNIGHT,
THEY COULD TAKE YOU FOR A VERY LONG WALK AND KEEP YOU WALKING UNTIL
THE COCKS WOULD CROW AT 4 A.M. BUT YOU COULD FOOL THEM IF YOU
TURNED YOUR COAT INSIDE OUT AND BLESSED YOURSELF WITH THE SIGN OF
THE CROSS.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 03-11-1972

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FAIRY BELIEF

PALLICKS FARTH WAS A HALF MILE FROM MY HOME, A DRUMBLIN OR
RIDGE OF DIRT 8010 FEET HIGH, SHAPED LIKE A BIG BOWL. EVERY NIGHT
AFTER SUNDOWN THE LEPRECHAUNS WOULD COME AND DANCE UNTIL THE COCKS
WOULD CROW IN THE MORNING AND BY SOME MYSTERIOUS POWER,
THEY WOULD PULL UP A BOWLEN, THAT IS WHAT WE CALL THE GOLDEN ROD.
THEY COULD TURN IT INTO A HORSE AND RIDE OFF UNTIL THE NEXT EVENING.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER

James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFORMATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome

Date learned: 03-11-1972

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SUPERSTITION

IT IS BELIEVED IN EL SALVADOR THAT THE DEVIL TAKES THE FORM OF A
DOG OR A FOX AND WEARS A CAPE. HE LIVES IN OLD HOUSES, AND WARM
CHIMNEY CORNERS OR WHEREVER IT IS DARK. HE PESTERS PEOPLE, MOVES
THINGS, LOSES AND MISPLACES THINGS. HE IS INVISIBLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMALS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon

Date learned: 02-04-1968

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SUPERSTITION

IF YOU LOOK INTO A MIRROR, YOU WILL SEE THE DEVIL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CONJURATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon

Date learned: 10-25-1969

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POLISH SUPERSTITION

IF YOU GO TO A DANCE DURING LENT, YOU WILL DANCE WITH THE DEVIL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime
BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.8

Date learned: 10-25-1969

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BELIEF, DEVIL

THE LORD'S PRAYER SAID BACKWARDS IS A PRAYER TO SATAN. IF ONE
FIRMLY BELIEVES IN WHAT HE IS SAYING, THE DEVIL WILL APPEAR
IN SOME FORM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS

James Callow Keyword(s): CONJURATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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DEVIL WORKING

IF THE SUN COMES OUT WHILE IT IS RAINING, IT MEANS THE DEVIL IS
BEATING HIS WIFE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PUNISHMENT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Sun
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew
BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Observation of galactic or celestial bodies
BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon

Date learned: 11-17-1969

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BELIEF

IF YOU SPILL SALT, BE SURE TO PICK SOME OF IT UP BETWEEN THUMB
AND FIRST FINGER AND THROW IT ACROSS THE RIGHT SHOULDER. IT GOES
IN THE DEVIL'S EYES. HE WILL NOT TEMPT YOU TO DO ANYTHING WRONG.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Mineral

Date learned: 03-11-1972

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DANCING DEVIL

THERE IS A BELIEF AMONG SOME PEOPLE THAT IF YOU SING AT THE DINNER
TABLE, THE DEVIL IS DANCING OVER YOUR HEAD.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER SAYS THIS BELIEF REFLECTED THE GENERAL BELIEF IN HER
CONSERVATIVE LUTHERAN FAMILY THAT GRACE AND DINNER SHOULD BE QUIET
AND DIGNIFIED. THE DEVIL WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BEHIND SINGING AT
THE TABLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.8

Date learned: 04-04-1970

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