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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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WEDDING DRESS OMEN

A GIRL SHOULD NEVER WEAR A WEDDING DRESS BEFORE HER TIME OR SHE WILL
REMAIN A WIDOW.

Submitter comment:

A BELIEF FROM SABINAS, MEXICO. PROBABLY COMMON IN MANY COUNTRIES. IN
FORMANT EXPRESSED LITTLE BELIEF IN IT HERSELF.
BY WIDOW THE INFORMANT MEANS SPINSTER MAIDEN.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BELIEF ; DEATH ; DRESS ; LUCK ; OMEN ; SUPERSTITION ; WEDDING

Subject headings: Observation
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 11-00-1981

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BIRTH BELIEF

AFTER THE BABY IS BORN THE MOTHER IS TO HOLD THE BABY IN HER
ARM AND WALK OVER WHEAT THAT HAS BEEN STREWN OVER THE FLOOR OR
GROUND, TO INSURE THE GOOD LIFE TO COME.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT'S MOTHER DID THIS WITH EACH OF HER CHILDREN SOON AFTER
BIRTH, ALSO DONE IN EGYPT.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): BABY ; BIRTH ; CHILD ; CUSTOM ; Good ; LUCK ; MOTHER ; Practice ; RITUAL ; Wheat

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 03-23-1971

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SUPERSTITION

ON YOUR WEDDING DAY YOU MUST HAVE A PAIR OF PENNY LOAFERS
WITH A PENNY IN THEM, WITH THE DATE OF YOUR BIRTH ON IT.
THIS WILL BRING GOOD LUCK ON THE HONEYMOON

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Keyword(s): GOOD LUCK ; MARRIAGE ; OMEN ; Penny ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL ; WEDDING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage Penny in shoe
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.41

Date learned: 02-00-1979

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CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

IF THE FIRST PERSON TO COME THROUGH THE DOOR OF YOUR HOUSE ON
CHRISTMAS EVE IS A DARK HAIRED MAN YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK IN THE
YEAR TO COME.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CHRISTMAS ; COLOR ; GOOD LUCK ; HAIR ; holiday ; LUCK ; Man ; OMEN ; SYMBOL

James Callow Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.42

Date learned: 00001930S

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Good Luck

If you put a penny in a purse and give the purse as a gift, the person receiving the gift will become rich.

Data entry tech comment:

Input by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; GIFT ; GOOD LUCK ; LUCK ; MONEY

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

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LUCK OF THE FAMILY.
WHEN VISITING A HOUSE IN IRELAND ONE MUST ALWAYS LEAVE BY THE
SAME DOOR YOU CAME IN, OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE STEALING THE GOOD
LUCK FROM THAT FAMILY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cultural ; CUSTOM ; GOOD LUCK ; Guest ; HOSPITALITY ; IRELAND ; Irish ; LUCK

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

Date learned: 11-00-1970

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WHEN DRESSING, TO AVOID BAD LUCK, ALWAYS DRESS
YOURSELF FROM THE LEFT TO THE RIGHT SIDE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CLOTHING ; DIRECTION ; LEFT ; LUCK ; RIGHT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)

Date learned: 01-00-1968

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YOU SHOULD NEVER BE MARRIED WITH THE HANDS OF THE
CLOCK POINTING DOWN. IT MEANS BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment:

HAS ALWAYS HEARD THIS, BUT DOESN'T RECALL WHERE
SHE FIRST LEARNED IT.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CLOCK ; LUCK ; MARRIAGE ; Old Wives Tale ; OMEN ; TIME

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Bad luck Crucial moment of life

Date learned: 05-10-1965

View just this record

Entry filtered.

WE GOT MARRIED ON A FRIDAY AND MY MOTHER NEARLY
HAD A FIT. THAT MEANT BAD LUCK. BUT THE PRIEST
WHO MARRIED US, FATHER CLARK FROM NEW YORK, SAID
THAT ONLY NIGGERS GOT MARRIED ON SATURDAY AND HE
WOULDN'T MARRY US ON THAT DAY.

Submitter comment:

HAPPENED IN GLOUCESTER, OHIO

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; SOUTHFIELD ; SOUTHFIELD DOWNS TRAILER CAMP ; GLOUCESTER

Keyword(s): Day ; LUCK ; MARRIAGE ; RACISM ; Saturday

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Bad luck Crucial moment of life

Date learned: 05-19-1965

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SUPERSTITION FOR GOOD LUCK

IN ORDER TO ENSURE GOOD LUCK FOR THE COMING YEAR YOU SHOULD EAT
CABBAGE FOR DINNER ON NEW YEAR'S DAY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): Cabbage ; Consume ; CUSTOM ; FOOD ; LUCK ; Meal ; New Years ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
BELIEF -- Good luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event

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A male being the first person to enter your house on New
Year's Day would mean that you and your home would be blessed
with good fortune all year.

James Callow comment:

See Hand, North Carolina, nos. 3886, 3889-3890.

Where learned: GEORGIA

Keyword(s): BLESSING ; Guest ; Home ; Host ; LUCK ; Male ; Man ; New Year ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's

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IF YOU SEE A PAPER CLIP AND CONTINUOUSLY KEEP PICKING
IT UP ALL DAY YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): GOOD LUCK ; LUCK ; Paperclip ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck Objects

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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FOLKLORE OF GOOD LUCK

IN JAPAN, BAMBOO IS HUNG IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE HOUSE TO GIVE ITS
STRENGTH TO WARD OFF SICKNESS AND TO BE ABLE TO KEEP WORKING.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Keyword(s): Holistic ; Japan ; LUCK ; PLANT ; SYMBOL

James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: CA00001935

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FIND A PENNY, PICK IT UP.
ALL DAY LONG YOU'LL HAVE GOOD LUCK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; LUCK ; Penny ; RHYME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.881
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Good luck Money

Date learned: 00001960S

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WHEN MY GRANDFATHER WANTED THE HIGHEST CARD IN A CUT,
HE WOULD KNOCK ON THE DECK OF CARDS THREE TIMES.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CARDS ; CUSTOM ; Cut ; GAMES ; Knock ; LUCK ; NUMBER ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22

Date learned: 10-23-1970

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TO BRING GOOD LUCK TO AN ITALIAN (SICILIAN MOSTLY)
CARDPLAYER, YOU TAKE YOUR THUMB, STICK IT STRAIGHT
UP ON HIS HEAD, THEN LET IT FALL, WITH A LITTLE
FORCE AND SAY "NASPOLA!!" THIS BRINGS GOOD LUCK
SUPPOSEDLY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; BLESSING ; Card ; CUSTOM ; GAME ; GESTURE ; Italian ; LUCK ; Naspolta ; SUPERSTITION ; Thumb

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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CROSSING OF ANY TWO FINGERS IS A WISH FOR GOOD LUCK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TELEPHONE

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Crossing ; CUSTOM ; Finger ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22

Date learned: 02-23-1971

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IF YOU CROSS YOUR FINGERS, IT'S GOOD LUCK, BUT IF
YOU CROSS THE FINGERS OF BOTH HANDS IT'S BAD LUCK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cross ; Crossing ; CUSTOM ; Finger ; Fingers ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.22

Date learned: 10-30-1971

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IN ORDER TO EXPRESS HOPE, ONE CROSSES THE INDEX AND
MIDDLE FINGERS OF BOTH HANDS. TO GAIN ADDED
EMPHASIS, CROSS THE END TWO FINGERS ALSO.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Communication ; Cross ; Crossing ; CUSTOM ; Finger ; Fingers ; Hope ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22

Date learned: 10-02-1967

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BEFORE A BASKETBALL GAME ALL THE PLAYERS ON SACRED
HEART SEMINARY'S TEAM WOULD GATHER AROUND THE COACH
AND PLACE THEIR HANDS ON TOP OF HIS AND PRAY A
HAIL MARY, AND THEN "QUEEN OF VICTORY, PRAY FOR
US." THIS WAS DONE FOR LUCK IN WINNING THE GAME.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Basketball ; BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; GAME ; hail Mary ; LUCK ; Pray ; PRAYER ; Sacred Heart ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION ; Victory

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22

Date learned: 10-00-1971

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