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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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NO-SPILL-SALT

IF YOU SPILL SALT YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK UNLESS YOU DO THIS,
TAKE A HAND FULL OF SALT AND THROW IT OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER.
THIS WILL REVERSE THE BAD LUCK AND GIVE YOU GOOD LUCK.

Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED THIS FOLKLORE FROM HER CHILDHOOD DAYS OF HER HOME TOWN.
THIS SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEF IS SYMPATHETIC MAGIC BECAUSE THERE IS A
PRIMITIVE CONNECTION BETWEEN SPILLING AND THE THROWING THE SALT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; RIGHT LEFT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.17

Date learned: 00001930'S

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FRONT DOOR---PLEASE

IF YOU COME IN THE FRONT DOOR THEN YOU MUST LEAVE BY THE FRONT DOOR.
IF NOT THEN YOU WILL CAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE HOUSE
BAD LUCK FOR SURE.

Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED THIS FROM HER HOME TOWN DURING HER ADOLESCENT STAGE.
THIS SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEF IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HOME. THIS
PRACTICE KEEPS THE HOME SAFE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ENTERING LEAVING ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 00001930'S

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HOW TO KEEP A BELLY-BUTTON FROM GROWING OUTWARD

IF YOU TAPE A SILVER DOLLAR TO A YOUNG NEWBORN'S NAVEL IT WILL
PREVENT THE NAVEL FROM GROWING OUTWARD.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT DIDN'T BELIEVE IT WORKED EVEN THOUGH HER MOTHER TOLD HER
IT DID.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS

James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-00-1973

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REVERSING A BABY'S SLEEP CYCLE

IF YOU WANT TO REVERSE A BABY'S SLEEP CYCLE YOU TURN IT HEAD OVER
HEELS AND THE SLEEP CYCLE WILL REVERSE.

Submitter comment: SAID HE DIDN'T REALLY BELIEVE IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS

James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION POSITION ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Remedy

Date learned: 10-00-1973

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LIMERICK

THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY FROM YETTA/ WHO FANCIED HERSELF IN A SWETTA/
THREE REASONS SHE HAD/ TO KEEP WARM WAS NOT BAD/ BUT THE OTHER TWO
REASONS WERE BETTA

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS

James Callow Keyword(s): INDIRECTION FOR BREASTS ; SWEATER

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse

Date learned: 00-00-1969

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CHAIN LETTERS

WHEN YOU RECEIVE A CHAIN LETTER YOU SHOULD PUT IT BACK INTO THE
ENVELOPE, BURN IT ON ALL FOUR CORNERS, AND RETURN IT TO THE SENDER.

Submitter comment: I USED BOTH OF THESE METHODS AND NO BAD LUCK CAME TO ME.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Word Letter

Date learned: CA11001973

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NEVER WEAR CLOTHES ON THE WRONG SIDE ESPECIALLY UNDERGARMENTS BECAUSE
PEOPLE WILL LIE TO YOU.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): LYING ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: CA11001973

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DEATH

NEVER WALK BACKWARDS OR IT WILL CAUSE YOUR MOTHER TO DIE.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: CA11001973

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LUCK

NEVER SIT A BABY ON THE EDGE OF A TABLE TO FEED HIM BECAUSE IT
WILL CAUSE HIM TO TEETH HARD.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: CA11001973

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LUCK

LEFT HANDED PEOPLE HAVE A TENDENCY TO BE CRAZY BECAUSE THEY DO
THINGS BACKWARDS.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; UNICE

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed
BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed

Date learned: CA11001973

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LUCK

IF YOU SPILL SALT YOU SHOULD THROW SOME SALT OVER YOUR LEFT
SHOULDER TO WARD OFF BAD LUCK.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.17

Date learned: CA11001973

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LUCK

ALWAYS LAY BREAD UPRIGHT OR YOU WILL CAUSE SOMEONE TO TURN OVER IN
THEIR GRAVE.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: CA11001973

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WATCH YOUR STEP

NEVER STEP OVER A PERSON, ESPECIALLY A BABY BECAUSE YOU WILL STOP
THE PERSON FROM GROWING.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: CA11001973

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SHOES AND SLEEPING

NEVER SLEEP WITH YOUR SHOES UNDER THE BED, IT WILL CAUSE YOU TO
HAVE BAD DREAMS.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Spirit / Mind / Body
BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping

Date learned: CA11001973

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SHOES

NEVER PUT YOUR SHOES OVER YOUR HEAD ON A SHELF OR YOU WILL ALWAYS
HAVE A HEADACHE.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: CA11001973

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BROOM AND BAD LUCK

NEVER STAND A BROOM UPSIDE DOWN IN A HOUSE. IT IS A SIGN OF BAD
LUCK. ALSO: IF YOU STAND A BROOM UPSIDE DOWN IN A CORNER WITH A
FORK STUCK IN IT, YOU CAN MAKE AN UNWANTED VISITOR LEAVE.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.1
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.21

Date learned: 11-05-1973

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BAD LUCK BY A BROOM

DO NOT WALK OVER A BROOM OR NO ONE WILL COME TO VISIT YOU

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 11-05-1973

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BAD LUCK BY A BROOM

NEVER SWEEP DIRT FROM THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE, OR FROM
THE HOUSE TO THE FRONT GATE BECAUSE YOU WILL BE SWEEPING YOUR LUCK
AWAY FROM YOU

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.21

Date learned: 11-05-1973

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BAD LUCK BY A CAN

OPEN ANY CAN UPRIGHT NOT UPSIDE DOWN OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.21

Date learned: 11-05-1973

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