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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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BURIAL CUSTOMS

IN PROTESTANT CEMETERIES, PEOPLE ARE BURIED WITH THEIR FEET
FACING TOWARDS THE EAST. WHEN GOD COMES ON RESURRECTION DAY
FROM THE EAST, YOU CAN RISE UP AND BE FACING HIM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK

James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION: EAST

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 10-03-1972

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DON'T TURN YOUR HAT BIBB BACKWARD. THIS IS UNLUCKY.

Submitter comment: BIBB= BRIM.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION OR POSITION: BACKWARDS ; WEARING CLOTHES: HAT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 10-00-1972

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SLEEPING BELIEF

DON'T SLEEP WITH YOUR HEAD TO THE SOUTH. THIS RESULTS IN A HEAD
ACHE.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION--SOUTH ; HEADACHE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
BELIEF -- Plant P754.86

Date learned: 09-08-1972

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WHEN YOU TRAVEL IF ONCE STARTED AND YOU DISCOVER YOU'VE FORGOTTEN
SOMETHING DON'T TURN BACK TO GET IT . YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.2

Date learned: 09-08-72

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IF YOU STUMP YOU TOE TURN COMPLETELY AROUND. FOR THIS IS A SIGN
OF BAD LUCK TO COME AND THIS IS A WAY TO AVOID THAT.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION AND MOTION--CIRCLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Bad luck
BELIEF -- Conversions

Date learned: 09-00-1972

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CLOTHES

NEVER HANG CLOTHES BACKWARDS OR SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN TO THEM.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Custom

Date learned: CA1963-1975

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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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PICTURES AND THE DEVIL

IF A PICTURE IN A ROOM IS CROOKED, THE DEVIL DID IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon

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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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LEBANESE PROVERB

A CROOKED ROW COMES FROM THE BULL.

Submitter comment: THIS PROVERB IS ASSOCIATED WITH PLOWING. IT SEEMS TO MEAN THAT THE
OLDER AND MORE EXPERIENCED SET THE EXAMPLE, WHETHER GOOD OR BAD.

Data entry tech comment: LEBANESE TEXT GIVEN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL

James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION?

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 00-00-1968

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