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PREGNANCY BELIEF

INFORMANT HAS HEARD REPEATEDLY FROM HER PATIENTS, POOR BLACK
WOMEN, THAT A PREGNANT WOMAN MUST NOT RAISE HER HANDS ABOVE HER
HEAD OR SHE WILL STRANGLE HER UNBORN BABY.

Submitter comment:

THERE IS, OF COURSE, NO MEDICAL TRUTH IN THIS, BUT IT IS WIDELY
BELIEVED.
INFORMANT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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BIRTH BELIEF

IF A WOMAN CARRIES A BABY OUT FRONT IN HER STOMACH, IT IS A BOY.

Submitter comment:

THIS WAS RELATED TO HER BY HER MOTHER WHO EXPERIENCED MANY CASES
THAT HAS PROVEN THIS BELIEF.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; SEX DETERMINATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 02-20-1971

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BIRTH BELIEF

IF A WOMAN CARRIES A BABY IN HER HIP, IT IS A GIRL.

Submitter comment:

THIS IS A BELIEF THAT WAS TOLD HER BY HER GRANDMOTHER.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; SEX DETERMINATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 02-20-1971

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PREGNANCY BELIEF

SOME ITALIAN WOMEN BELIEVE THEY CAN TELL THE SEX OF A PREGNANT
WOMAN -IF THE STOMACH IS HIGH, THE CHILD WILL BE A BOY, IF LOW
A GIRL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; SEX DETERMINATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 02-27-1971

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PREGNANCY BELIEF

IF A PREGNANT WOMAN LIFTS HER ARMS ABOVE HER HEAD, SHE WILL LOSE
HER BABY.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM ONE OF HER FRIENDS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 840
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 03-01-1971

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PREGNANCY BELIEF

IT IS BAD LUCK FOR A PREGNANT WOMAN TO RAISE HER ARMS ABOVE HER
HEAD. SHE WILL WRAP THE CORD AROUND THE BABY:S NECK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 03-01-1972

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PREGNANCY BELIEF

IF A WOMAN WHO IS ABOUT TO HAVE A BABY IS NARROW
IN THE BACK, AND IS PROTRUDING OUT IN FRONT, MORE
THAN USUAL, SHE WILL HAVE A BOY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Spirit / Mind / Body
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 04-00-1972

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PREGNANCY BELIEF

WHEN A WOMAN IS PREGNANT SHE SHOULD NOT STRETCH OR REACH UP
OR HANG CLOTHES BECAUSE DOING THESE THINGS WILL STRANGLE
THE BABY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth

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PREGNANCY BELIEF

IF THE EXPECTANT MOTHER'S STOMACH COMES TO A POINT, SHE WILL
HAVE A BOY.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; SEX DETERMINATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 09-22-1969

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PREGNANCY BELIEF

IF THE EXPECTANT MOTHER SLEEPS ON HER LEFT SIDE EVERY NIGHT
HER CHILD WILL BE A BOY.
IF SHE SLEEPS ON HER RIGHT SIDE, SHE WILL HAVE A DAUGHTER.
IF SHE IS NOT CONSISTENT, SHE WILL PROBABLY HAVE TWINS, A BOY
AND A GIRL.

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 686 Seconds / Twice / Two
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 09-26-1969

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PREGNANCY BELIEF

MANY FEMALE PATIENTS EXPLAIN THEIR BAD TEETH AS BEING THE
RESULT OF CHILD BEARING. MANY MORE ASK THEIR DENTISTS IF HAVING
CHILDREN WILL CAUSE THEIR TEETH TO FALL OUT.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS A DENTIST WHO HEARD THE MATTER FROM HIS PATIENTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 10-22-1965

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PROVERB

EAST IS LEAST;
WEST IS BEST.

Submitter comment: WHEN A PILOT HEARS THIS, HE KNOWS THAT HE MUST FOLLOW THE LAWS OF
THE SKY AND WHEN FLYING TO THE EAST, FLY AT AN ODD THOUSAND PLUS 500
FEET - TO THE WEST TAKE THE EVEN THOUSAND PLUS 500 FEET.
ALTITUDE RULE. ODD IS LEAST BECAUSE THE RULE APPLIES AT AND ABOVE
3000 FEET. 3000 FEET IS THE LEAST OF ALL THE OTHER ALTITUDES WHERE
THIS RULE APPLIES.

Where learned: DETROIT

Keyword(s): FUNCTION

James Callow Keyword(s): AVIATION AIRPLANE ; DIRECTION ; OBSERVATION

Subject headings: Favorites
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb

Date learned: 11-00-1971

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CROCODILE SONG

THEY SAILED A WAY A SUNNY SUMMER DAY
ON THE BACK OF A CROCODILE.
" YOU SEE, " SAID SHE, " HE'S AS TAME AS HE CAN BE
I'LL FLOAT HIM DOWN THE NILE. "
THE CROCK WINKED HIS EYE AS SHE WAVED THEM ALL GOOD-BYE
WEARING A HAPPY SMILE.
AT THE END OF THE RIDE, THE LADY WAS INSIDE AND THE
SMILE ON THE CROCODILE.

Submitter comment: SONG WHICH IS SUNG BY MANY SMALL CHILDREN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM, INDIRECTION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.

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BELIEF

TURN A BURNT HAND TOWARDS THE EAST TO REDUCE THE STING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): COMPASS POINT - EAST ; DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 10-23-1968

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LIMERICK

THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN FROM THE CITY,
WHO SAW A NICE BLACK AND WHITE KITTY
SAYING, "MICE LITTLE CAT,"
HE GAVE IT A PAT.
THEY BURIED HIS CLOTHES OUT OF PITY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; EUPHEMISM: CAT FOR SKUNK ; FEMININE RHYME ; HUMOR ; INDIRECTION ; RHYME: AABBA ; SMELLY CLOTHERS

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.

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PREGNANCY BELIEF

IF A PREGNANT WOMAN LIFTS HER ARMS ABOVE HER HEAD SHE WILL LOSE
HER BABY.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM ONE OF HER FRIENDS.

Data entry tech comment:

THERE ARE SEVERAL LIKE THIS IN THE ARCHIVE

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 840
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 03-01-1971

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VERSE

OOEY GOOEY WAS A WORM,
A MIGHTY WORM WAS HE.
HE CRAWLED UPON THE RAILROAD TRACKS.
A TRAIN HE DID NOT SEE.
OOEY GOOEY}

Submitter comment: HE GAVE THIS TO ME WHILE WALKING ON A RAINY NIGHT.
I MENTIONED THAT THE NIGHTCRAWLERS WERE OUT ON THE SIDEWALK.
RECITED, NOT SUNG

Where learned: WALKING

Keyword(s): INDIRECTION EUPHEMISM ; MOCK EPIC

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse

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OOGIE GOOIE

HE SAT UPON A RAILROAD TRACK, A TRAIN HE DID NOT SEE.
OOGIE GOOIE}

Submitter comment: NOT SUNG, BUT SING - SONGEY VERSE

Where learned: TOLD IN ; MONROE

Keyword(s): INDIRECTION EUPHEMISM ; RHYME: AAA

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse

Date learned: 02-00-1972

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MULE IN THE BARNYARD TIRED AND SICK
BOY WITH A PIN ON THE END OF A STICK
BOY JABS MULE, MULE GIVES A LURCH
SERVICES MONDAY AT THE CORNER CHURCH.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS THIS IS A FAVORITE POEM RIDDLE OF HIS MOTHER'S.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SAINT FRANCIS CLUB

Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS ; INDIRECTION EUPHEMISM ; MISTREATMENT OF ANIMALS, PUNISHMENT FOR ; POETIC VUSTICE ; RHYME: AABB

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse

Date learned: 03-20-1972

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CHILDHOOD DITTY

OOEY GOOEY WAS A WORM,
A MIGHTY WORM WAS HE.
HE SAT UPON A RAILROAD TRACK,
THE TRAIN HE DID NOT SEE.
OOOEY GOOOEY}

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA

Keyword(s): INDIRECTION EUPHEMISM ; INTERNAL RHYME ; MOCK EPIC ; RHYME: ABCBB

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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