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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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Your search for POSITION DIRECTION returned 526 results.

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SHOES

LEAVING SHOES IN THE WRONG ORDER BRINGS BAD LUCK.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ;

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: CA1963-1975

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HORSESHOE

THROW A HORSESHOE OVER YOUR SHOULDER FOR GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: HOME ; SCHOOL ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.12

Date learned: CA1963-1975

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WAITRESS BELIEF ABOUT SILVERWARE

NEVER PUT SILVERWARE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF A CUSTOMER
OR YOU WON'T GET A TIP.

Submitter comment: THIS HAS A LOT TO DO WITH A RIGHTHANDED CUSTOMER
HAVING TO REACH OVER FOR HIS SILVERWARE.

Where learned: HOME ; SCHOOL ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; RIGHTHANDEDNESS ; TIPPING

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food

Date learned: CA1963-1975

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BODY PART BELIEF

IF YOUR RIGHT HAND ITCHES, YOU WILL LOSE MONEY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Spirit / Mind / Body
BELIEF -- Body part Senses

Date learned: 02-19-1972

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EYES JUMPING

IF YOUR LEFT EYE JUMPS CONSTANTLY, YOU ARE GOING TO GET MAD. IF
YOUR RIGHT EYE JUMPS, YOU ARE GOING TO BE GLAD ABOUT SOMETHING.

Submitter comment: THIS HAS TOLD TO HAVE ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO INFORMANT.

Where learned: WINSTON SALEM

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Spirit / Mind / Body
BELIEF -- Body part Senses

Date learned: 00-00-1969

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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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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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RIDDLE

Q: IF YOU HAVE A DUCK BEFORE 2 DUCKS AND A DUCK BEHIND 2 DUCKS,
AND A DUCK IN THE MIDDLE , HOW MANY DUCKS DO YOU HAVE?
A: 3 DUCKS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Keyword(s): ANIMAL (A) ; ANIMAL (Q) ; LITERAL NONOPPOSITIONAL ; PUZZLE

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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RIDDLE

Q: IF YOU LIVED IN A HOUSE, ALL FOUR SIDES OF WHICH HAD A SOUTHERN
EXPOSURE. WHAT COLOR WOULD BE THE BEAR WHICH WALKED BY?
A: WHITE - HE WOULD BE A POLAR BEAR AT THE NORTH POLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL (A) ; ANIMAL AND BUILDING (Q) ; ANTITHETICAL OPPOSITONAL

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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THOUGHT TEASER

Q: IF YOU ARE IN A ONE ROOM HOUSE WHICH HAS ONE WINDOW ON EACH
WALL AND EACH WINDOW HAS A SOUTHERN EXPOSURE. AS YOU LOOK OUT ONE
OF THE WINDOWS AND SEE A BEAR OUTSIDE, WHAT COLOR IS THE BEAR?
A: IT IS WHITE! IT'S A POLAR BEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BATTLE CREEK

Keyword(s): ANIMAL (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): BUILDING (Q) ; HARD WARE (Q) ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 00-00-1964

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RIDDLE

Q: THEY'RE BOTH STANDING ON THE ROAD, BUT NEITHER ONE CAN SEE THE
OTHER.
A: EYES.

Submitter comment: TRANSLATED FROM LITHUANIAN

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; PARTICULAR AREAS (Q) ; PARTS OF THE ; PERSONS (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): PARALLELISM? ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 02-17-1971

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SUPERSTITION

THERE IS A RIGHT AND WRONG WAY TO SWEEP YOUR FLOOR. YOU ARE SUPPOSED
TO SWEEP TOWARD THE BACK DOOR AND NOT THE FRONT DOOR.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

James Callow Keyword(s): INTERNAL RHYME ; OPPOSITES ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Daily Life

Date learned: 11-10-1970

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HOME BELIEF

IF SOMEONE ENTERS YOUR FRONT DOOR, IT IS BAD LUCK FOR THEM
TO EXIT YOUR BACK DOOR.

Submitter comment: LEARNED IN CHILDHOOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

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

Date learned: 04-00-1972

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BELIEF

ONE MUST NEVER SWEEP TOWARD A DOOR.
YOU MUST SWEEP TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM TO PREVENT YOURSELF
FROM SWEEPING MONEY OUT THE DOOR.

Submitter comment: A BELIEF PASSED DOWN FROM GRANDFATHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): BROOM ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Home

Date learned: 09-20-1967

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HOUSEHOLD SUPERSTITON

IN MEXICO, WHEN PASSING SALT TO SOMEONE AT THE TABLE, PUT IT
ON THE TABLE, IF YOU HAND IT TO THE ASKER, YOU WILL FIGHT

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Home
BELIEF -- P86O
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 02-04-1968

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USE OF AN OBJECT BELIEF

IF YOU WANT COMPANY TO LEAVE, THAT HAVE OVERSTAYED THEIR
WELCOME, STAND YOUR BROOM UPSIDE DOWN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

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

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ENTERING AND LEAVING A HOUSE

MANY SLAVIC PEOPLE TODAY BELIEVE THAT IF A PERSON
DOES NOT LEAVE SOMEONE'S HOUSE BY THE SAME DOOR THAT THEY CAME IN,
THEN THEY WILL BRING BAD LUCK TO THEMSELVES AND THE PEOPLE OF THAT
PARTICULAR HOME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

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

Date learned: 09-14-1969

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HOUSE BELIEF

IF A GUEST COMES INTO THE HOUSE BY THE FRONT DOOR
THEY SHOULD LEAVE THE SAME WAY. OTHERWISE, YOU WILL HAVE MORE
COMPANY

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

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

Date learned: 12-00-1969

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BELIEF

A CHILD MUST NEVER PASS BEHIND HIS UNCLE
OTHERWISE THE UNCLE WILL SUFFER FROM CHRONIC DIZZINESS.

Submitter comment: PROPER TO THE BATOORO TRIBE OF UGANDA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

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

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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