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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for SUPERSTITION returned 465 results.
IF YOU EAT BREAD CRUSTS YOU WILL HAVE BLACK CURLY HAIR.
Submitter comment:
IN AN ATTEMPT TO CURE MY BLOND HAIR,
MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD TELL ME THIS AS A CHILD.
BLACK HAIR IS CONSIDERED THE LOVELIEST FEATURE
A ROMANIAN WOMAN CAN HAVE AND HAS BEEN CONSIDERED SO FOR GENERATIONS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BREAD ; ETHNIC SUPERSTITION ; HAIR COLOR ; ROMANIAN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak |
Date learned: 11-26-1971
LIGHTNING
IF YOU LIGHT CHARCOAL BEFORE A STORM
YOU WILL NEVER GET HIT BY LIGHTING.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): PREVENTION ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00001950'S
CHRISTMAS
ON CHRISTMAS EVE, THE MOTHER OF THE HOUSEHOLD PLACES A FEW GRAINS
OF VARIOUS SEEDS, AND VARIOUS SILVER COINS INTO A LINEN NAPKIN,
PUTS THE BUNDLE ON THE TABLE, COVERS IT WITH SOME HAY, AND THEN
COVERS ALL WITH A TABLECLOTH (THIS PREVENTS STARVATION AND POORNESS
ALL YEAR).
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM PARENTS.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FOOD ; MONEY ; SUPERSTITION ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.2 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Christmas CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Straw |
Date learned: 11-19-1967
CHRISTMAS
WHEN SITTING DOWN TO THE LAST SUPPER, IT IS CUSTOMARY TO BLOW AT
THE CHAIR FIRST (IN UKRAINE) TO WARD OFF SPIRITS AND THUS NOT SIT
ON THEM.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM PARENTS IN UKRAINE.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | 686 686.1 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.4 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Christmas |
Date learned: 11-19-1967
PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM
ONE WHO LAYS A HAND ON HIS PARENTS LOSES THAT HAND
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
JAPANESE SEA-HORSE
PREGNANT JAPANESE WOMEN WILL WEAR A DRIED SEA HORSE.
IT IS A CHARM FOR SAFE CHILD BIRTH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GOOD LUCK CHARM ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
BIRTH MARKS
IF AN EXPECTANT MOTHER CRAVES STAWBERRIES AND DOESN'T GET THEM,
THE CHILD WILL BE BORN WITH "STRAWBERRY MARKS."
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): EATING SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- P244 P244.6 BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 03-00-1970
EXPECTANT MOTHERS
PREGNANT WOMEN ARE NOT TO WALK OVER A HOSE (GARDEN HOSE, ETC.)
AS THIS WILL STRANGLE THE UNBORN CHILD
Submitter comment: INFORMANT ASSURED ME THIS WAS ACTUALLY TRUE.
Keyword(s): THREAT SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMESOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 02-26-1971
BELIEF
IF DURING PREGNANCY A WOMAN HAS HEARTBURN CONSTANTLY, THEN THE BABY
WILL BE BORN WITH A LOT OF HAIR. IF THE WOMAN EXPERIENCES NO
HEARTBURN THEN THE BABY WILL BE BORN BALD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT INFORMANTS HOME
Keyword(s): PREDICTION SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
NINE BROTHERS
NINE BROTHERS WERE TRAVELING TO A TOWN AND IN THE EVENING THEY
CAME UP TO A FARMHOUSE AND ASKED TO STAY OVER. IN THE MORNING, WHEN
THEY WERE READY TO LEAVE, THE OLD LADY (SUPPOSEDLY A WITCH) TOLD THE
THAT THEY CAN'T GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT HER PERMISSION. WHEN THEY
REVOLTED, SHE TOLD THEM THAT FROM THAT MOMENT ON THEY WILL BE CROWS-
AND THEY WILL REMAIN CROWS TILL SOMEONE OF THEIR FAMILY WILL BREAK
THE SPELL.
IN THE MEANTIME, THEIR SISTER ALL ALONE AT HOME, WAS STARTING
TO WORRY AND SO SHE SET OUT TO LOOK FOR THEM. BUT TO NO AVAIL.
THEN SHE WENT TO A VERY OLD MAN, WHO WAS BELIEVED TO BE THE WISEST
PERSON AROUND. SHE ASKED HIM HOW SHE COULD HELP HER BROTHERS AND HE
TOLD HER THAT SHE WAS TO SPIN THREAD OUT OF FLAX, ENOUGH TO WEAVE A
LONG PIECE OF LINEN. AND FROM THE LINEN, SHE WAS TO SEW A SHIRT FOR
EVERY BROTHER WITH HER OWN HANDS.
SHE SPUN AND WOVE AND SEWED AND WHEN SHE WAS FINISHED, SHE WENT
BACK TO THE OLD MAN. HE TOLD HER THAT SHE WAS TO WALK FOR THREE DAY
TILL SHE CAME TO HIGH MOUNTAINS. AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAINS, SHE
WILL FIND A PLACE WHERE THE RULER OF THE WINDS LIVES. SHE WAS TO
STOP OVER AND ASK HIM IF HE SAW HER BROTHERS, NINE CROWS FLYING
AROUND SOMEWHERE.
THE RULER TOLD HER THAT NOT FAR FROM THE PLACE WHERE THEY WERE,
THERE WAS A CAVE WHERE THE NINE CROWS ALWAYS FLY TO AT NIGHT, SPEND
THE NIGHT AND THEN IN THE MORNING FLY OUT AGAIN.
THE SISTER WALKED ALL DAY AND THEN STARTED LOOKING FOR THE CAVE.
SHE LOOKED IN SEVERAL CAVES BUT DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING. FINALLY, IN
ONE CAVE SHE SAW THAT THERE WAS A TABLE IN THE CENTER WITH NINE
CHAIRS AROUND IT. AND AROUND THE CAVE AGAINST THE WALLS, THERE WERE
NINE BEDS. AND THE YOUNGER BROTHER'S BED STOOD RIGHT BY THE DOOR.
ON THE TABLE THERE WAS SOME BREAD AND OTHER KINDS OF FOOD FOR EACH
BROTHER. THE SISTER WAS VERY HUNGRY AND FROM EVERY BROTHER'S PIECE
OF BREAD, SHE BROKE OFF A PIECE FOR HERSELF AND HAD A COUPLE OF
SPOONFULS OF SOUP.
SHE WASN'T FINISHED EATING YET WHEN SHE HEARD A GREAT NOISE OF
WING FLAPPING. SHE WAS SO FRIGHTENED, THAT SHE RAN AND HID IN THE
CORNER UNDER ONE OF HER BROTHER'S BEDS.
THE BROTHERS FLEW IN, TURNED INTO HUMANS AND IMMEDIATELY SAT DOWN
TO EAT FOR THEY WERE VERY HUNGRY. THEY ALL WERE SURPRISED WHEN THEY
NOTICED THAT THEIR FOOD WAS TOUCHED. THEY WERE VERY UNHAPPY ABOUT
THAT AND AFTER EATING, THEY FELL ASLEEP.
IN THE MORNING, THEY DRESSED AND AS SOON AS THEY STEPPED OUT OF
THE CAVE, THEY AGAIN TURNED INTO CROWS. AND THEIR SISTER SAW ALL
THIS. THE SISTER IMMEDIATELY SAW THAT THEIR BEDS WEREN'T MADE, THE
CAVE WASN'T SWEPT. SHE SWEPT THE CAVE AND AGAIN ATE SOME OF THEIR
FOOD. SHE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH COURAGE YET TO SHOW HERSELF TO HER
BROTHERS, SO WHEN SHE HEARD THEM FLYING IN, AGAIN SHE HID UNDER A
BED.
THE BROTHERS AGAIN SAW THAT THEIR FOOD WAS TOUCHED, WHILE EATING,
THE YOUNGER BROTHER NOTICED THAT THE CAVE WAS SWEPT, THEIR BEDS WERE
MADE AND THEY COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHO WOULD COME IN TO FIX THEIR
CAVE. AGAIN THEY WENT TO BED DISCUSSING WHO IT COULD BE, BUT NO ONE
MENTIONED IT THAT IT COULD BE THEIR SISTER WHO CAME.
THE THIRD DAY, THE SISTER FIXED UP THEIR CAVE, ATE SOME OF THEIR
FOOD, BUT THIS TIME LEFT A SHIRT ON EACH BROTHER'S MADE BED.
IN THE EVENING, WHEN THE BROTHER'S FLEW IN, THEY NOTICED THAT
THEIR FOOD WAS EATEN, THEIR BEDS WERE MADE AND THEY ALSO NOTICED THE
SHIRTS. THEN THEY WERE HAPPY AND CERTAIN THAT SOMEONE HAS BEEN
ENTERING THEIR CAVE AND THAT MAYBE THEY WERE HIDING IN IT NOW.
THE SISTER WAS LISTENING TO HER BROTHERS AND DECIDED TO CRAWL OUT
FROM UNDER THE BED AND SHOW HERSELF TO THEM. THE BROTHERS WERE VERY
HAPPY, BUT THEY TOLD HER THAT BEING CROWS TILL NINE YEARS WAS LEFT
ONLY A LITTLE TIME, AND NOW THEY WILL HAVE TO BE CROWS FOR ANOTHER
NINE YEARS. BUT SHE TOLD THEM THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE, BECAUSE
SHE BROUGHT THEM SHIRTS THAT WHEN THEY WEAR THE SHIRT OUTSIDE THE
CAVE, THEY WILL REMAIN HUMANS. SO THEY ALL STAYED UP THAT NIGHT
WAITING FOR THE DAWN, TO FIND OUT IF IT WAS TRUE. WHEN DAWN CAME,
THE OLDEST BROTHER STEPPED OUT BUT REMAINED HUMAN. THEN THE REST PU
ON THEIR SHIRTS AND THEY ALL WENT HOME HAPPILY.
Submitter comment:
TRANSLATED FROM LITHUANIAN BY RAMUNE STONYS WHILE STORY WAS BEING
TOLD.
Where learned: DINNER TABLE
Keyword(s): SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
BELIEF
SOME PEOPLE IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS BELIEVE THAT WHEN A PERSON
SNEEZES HIS SOUL HAS ESCAPED. TO GET THE SOUL BACK, THEY SHOUT VERY
LOUDLY, "SOUL, COME BACK HERE."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS BELEF SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-02-1967
IF YOUR NOSE ITCHES, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A FIGHT.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HIS MOTHER, ELIZABETH ZDROJESKI WHEN
HE WAS GROWING UP. ELIZABETH HEARD IT FROM HER MOTHER, MRS. RICE,
AROUND 1910.
Where learned: NEW JERSEY ; JERSEY CITY
Keyword(s): HUMANS SENSUAL EXPERIENCES SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Dreams P841.72 PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: CA00001968 ; 00-00-1910
COMING INTO MONEY
IF YOUR PALM ITCHES, YOU'RE GOING TO COME INTO MONEY SOON.
Submitter comment: HEARD IT FROM A FRIEND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; YPSILANTI
Keyword(s): ADVICE ; SUPERSTITION ; WEALTH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb C880.700 |
Date learned: 10-13-1967
PROVERB
WAMMER FLUCHT IHERM FISCHE, FANGT MER NIX.
Submitter comment:
IF YOU SWEAR WHILE FISHING, YOU WILL NOT CATCH ANY FISH.
TRADITION OF PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): ADVICE ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-00-1965
DAYS OF THE WEEK
VARIOUS BELIEFS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DAYS OF THE WEEK.
MONDAY IS CONSIDERED A WORK DAY. THEREFORE, IF NEW YEAR'S
DAY FALLS ON A MONDAY, THE ENTIRE YEAR WILL BE HARD.
TUESDAY IS CONSIDERED A HAPPY DAY. WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY
ARE FAST DAYS COMMEMORATING GOOD FRIDAY AND THE WEDNESDAYS
OF LENT. THURSDAY IS ASSOCIATED WITH GOOD LUCK AND IS THE
DAY ASSOCIATED WITH MATCHMAKING. IF YOU ARE BORN ON THIS
DAY YOU WILL BE RICH. SATURDAY IS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF
THE DEAD.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
Keyword(s): SUPERSTITION
Date learned: 00001950S
MY FATHER BROUGHT BACK A QUITE UNUSUAL GIFT FROM HIS
BUSINESS TRIP-- AN OSTRICH'S TOENAIL KEY CHAIN. THIS
KEYCHAIN IS POLISHED QUITE NICELY, IT IS SAID TO BRING
GOOD LUCK TO THOSE WHO HAVE IT.
Submitter comment:
THEY SAY THAT AN OSTRICH'S TOENAIL CAN KILL SOMEONE
IF THEY ARE STUCK BY THE OSTRICH'S FOOT.
PURCHASED AT BUSH GARDENS, FLORIDA
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
Keyword(s): ART ; GOOD LUCK CHARM ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 02-00-1978
It is extremely bad luck for a bride-to-be to sew
even one stitch in her own wedding dress.
Submitter comment:
Elaine first heard this warning as a young woman, when her
friend was sewing her own wedding gown. The bride's relatives
(Polish) warned her not to, as it would surely bring trouble.
They dismissed it as an "old-wives tale." Later, however,
her best friend died an unexpected and premature death.
She now believes this to be true.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): Superstition, advice, tabu
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Overall body coverUpper body and arms BELIEF -- Bad luck Crucial moment of life |
Date learned: 00001950S
If you thank someone who gives you a plant, it will
not grow.
Submitter comment:
Elinor really believes this saying to be true, and states
that she is very careful to avoid thanking someone for a
plant.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRASER
Keyword(s): superstition, vegetation, curse
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- P535 BELIEF -- Bad luck Plants |
Date learned: 00001950S
When you clear the table you should never put
the crumbs on the floor so that you won't go
hungry. You should never sweep the dirt and
crumbs from the floor directly out the door;
you should always use a dustpan.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: KANSAS ; Manhattan
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; Domesticity ; Housekeeping ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Date learned: 00001920S
THERE IS AN OLD WIVES' TALE THAT SAYS THAT WHEN A WOMAN IS
IN THE PROCESS OF GIVING BIRTH TO A CHILD THE ANGEL OF
DEATH CIRCLES HER BED NINE TIMES. ONCE FOR EVERY MONTH OF
HER PREGNANCY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
Keyword(s): PREGNANCY SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | 686 Ninths / Nine Favorites BELIEF -- Angel BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001950CA