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BELIEF CONCERNING HAIR

IF A GIRL GETS HER HAIR BLUNTLY CUT WITH A MACHETE WHEN THE MOON IS
FULL, HER HAIR WILL GROW BACK VERY, VERY LONG.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HER MEXICAN MOTHER WHO IS IN HER MID 40'S

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak
BELIEF -- Moon
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 02-05-1980

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ON NEW YEAR'S EVE AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT, WE THROW WATER OUT THE
WINDOWS BY THE BUCKETS TO SEND AWAY ALL BAD THINGS THAT CAME DURING
THE YEAR

Submitter comment: THEY DO THIS IN SAN JUAN.

Where learned: PUERTO RICO ; SAN JUAN

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC ; PURIFICATION OF THE YEAR.

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F123
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year

Date learned: CA00001950

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IT IS BAD LUCK FOR YOU TO COMB YOUR HAIR AND FLUSH IT DOWN THE TOILET
BECAUSE YOUR MIND WILL START TO FLOAT

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Bad luck

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LUCK

A SEA SHELL (SEASHELL) PLACED AT THE FRONT DOOR INVITES LUCK
TO ENTER THE HOUSE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT CAN'T REMEMBER WHEN OR WHERE HE LEARNED

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; SALTWATER MOLLUSKS

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Wall Partition Door Window
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 11-25-1967

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ITALIAN CUSTOM FOR GOOD LUCK

IT IS AN OLD ITALIAN CUSTOM TO PUT SALT IN A HOUSE A FEW DAYS
BEFORE MOVING IN AND THIS WILL BRING THE OCCUPANT GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; SUPERNATURAL: SALT AS LUCKY CHARM

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.17

Date learned: 01-16-1968

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BAD LUCK PREVENTION: (ITALIAN)-SALT

TO PREVENT BAD LUCK FROM ENTERING A HOUSE, PLACE SALT IN LITTLE
BAGS AND PUT THE BAGS IN THE CORNERS OF THE ROOMS WHERE NO ONE SEES
THEM. IT IS ESPECIALLY GOOD TO DO THIS WHEN A NEW BABY ARRIVES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; SUPERNATURAL: SALT AS LUCKY CHARM

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.17

Date learned: 12-00-1969

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SUPERSTITION

IF YOU LEAVE HOME AND DISCOVER THAT YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING,
YOU MUST SIT STILL A MOMENT BEFORE RETURNING FOR IT, OR YOU WILL
HAVE BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: THIS OLD SUPERSTITION WAS TOLD TO ME BY MY AUNT WHEN SHE VISITED
HERE FROM JAMESTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, IN OCTOBER OF 1963.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; TRAVEL: RETURNING HOME FOR FORGOTTEN OBJECT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.2

Date learned: 10-00-1963

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COUNT TO TEN

IF YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING WHEN LEAVING YOUR HOUSE AND HAVE
TO GO BACK FOR IT, BE SURE TO SIT DOWN AND COUNT TO TEN BEFORE
YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE AGAIN, OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; NUMBERS: TEN ; SUPERNATURAL: COUNTING TO TEN ; TRAVEL: RETURNING HOME FOR FORGOTTEN OBJECT

Subject headings: 686 First / Once / One / Newness
BELIEF -- BELIEF
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Number P686.3.10
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.2

Date learned: 00001965 SUMMER

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BELIEF

IF SOMEONE COMES IN THE FRONT DOOR AND LEAVES BY THE BACK DOOR IN
IRELAND IT WILL BRING BAD LUCK TO THE HOUSE, BECAUSE THE PERSON
TOOK ALL THE GOOD LUCK OUT WITH HIM.

Submitter comment: THE POLICE USED TO DO THIS ALL THE TIME IN IRELAND JUST
TO DISTURB THE WOMEN.

Where learned: LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; IRISH BELIEF

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.2

Date learned: 11-15-1968

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SUPERSTITION

WHEN YOU ENTER A HOUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME EXIT THROUGH THE SAME
DOOR YOU ENTERED, OTHERWISE YOU HAVE BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HIS MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.21

Date learned: 03-25-1967

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INSIDE OUT

IF YOU PUT SOMETHING ON INSIDE OUT DON'T CHANGE IT OR YOU WILL HAVE
BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT ACTUALLY SAID THIS ON SUCH AN OCCASION.

Keyword(s): CLOTHING ; CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS

James Callow Keyword(s): DRESSING ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22

Date learned: NONE GIVEN

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WHEN YOU SEE A CHIMNEY SWEEP, QUICKLY PULL OFF A BUTTON FROM YOUR
CLOTHING TO PREVENT BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT FOUND THIS AMUSING BUT IMPRACTICAL.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; OCCUPATIONS: CHIMNEY SWEEPING

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22

Date learned: 10-08-1971

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BAD LUCK

IF, IN PLAYING CARDS, YOU HAVE BAD LUCK, A WALK AROUND THE CHAIR
WILL BRING GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; GAMES: CARDS ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.6

Date learned: 11-01-1967

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WHY DOESN'T SWEDEN EXPORT CATTLE?
BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO KEEP HER STOCKHOLM}

Where learned: OHIO ; Sylvania

Keyword(s): ANIMALS: CATTLE ; CONUNDRUM

James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON STOCK HOME

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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AGRICULTURAL SUPERSTITION

WHEN THE MOON IS WANING IN ITS CYCLE, YOU PLANT ROOT VEGETABLES SUCH
AS POTATOES, WHEN THE MOON IS GROWING IN ITS CYCLE YOU PLANT
VEGETABLES WHICH GROW ABOVE THE GROUND SUCH AS TOMATOES.

Submitter comment: THIS IS TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Moon
BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming

Date learned: 00-00-1935

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BAD LUCK OMEN

WHEN GIVING A SHARP ITEM (SUCH AS KNIVES OR RAZORS), GIVE THE
PERSON A PENNY FOR EACH ITEM.

Submitter comment: THIS WILL ENSURE THAT THE BOND ( FRIENDSHIP, KINSHIP,ETC.) WILL
NOT BE BROKEN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Daily Life

Date learned: 00-00-1946

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MEDICINE

WHEN A MAN BREAKS HIS LEG, HE GOES TO A HERBALIST. THE HERBALIST
BREAKS THE SAME LEG OF A CHICKEN AND TREATS THE CHICKEN'S LEG. THE
HEALING THAT THE CHICKEN EXPERIENCES IS THE SAME THAT YOUR LEG WILL
EXPERIENCE.

Submitter comment: THIS IS DONE IN NIGERIA

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Animal

Date learned: 10-00-1981

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BAD LUCK

DO NOT EAT MONKEY BECAUSE OF ITS RESEMBLANCE TO MAN.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN NIGERIA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Meat Wild animal
BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 10-00-1981

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NEW YEAR'S EVE

A CHINESE CUSTOM ON THE EVE OF THE NEW YEAR IS TO BURN
FACSIMILE MONEY IN THE HOPE THAT IT WILL ATTRACT REAL MONEY
TO THAT PERSON DURING THE YEAR.

Submitter comment: ORALLY TRANSMITTED

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, WE ALWAYS EAT BLACK-EYED PEAS AND GREENS,
BECAUSE BLACK-EYED PEAS BRING LUCK AND GREENS BRING MONEY.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT TOLD ME SHE LEARNED THIS FROM HER HUSBAND WHO IS
FROM THE SOUTH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
BELIEF -- Color
BELIEF -- Good luck Food and drink

Date learned: 02-00-1982

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