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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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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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NEW YEAR'S EVE

IF A STRANGER ENTERS YOUR HOUSE THROUGH THE
BACK DOOR ON NEW YEAR'S EVE YOU'LL HAVE BAD LUCK ALL YEAR.

Submitter comment:

NOT BELIEVED

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector share the same surname.

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; FIRST FOOTING ; LOCATION ; POSITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Fixed DateFor specific dates, use the following system: F640.0101
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.42

Date learned: 00-00-1968

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REMEDY

TO CURE WARTS, CUT AN IRISH POTATO IN HALF, RUB IT ON THE WART,
THROW IT OVER YOUR SHOULDER AND DON'T LOOK BACK.

Submitter comment: WHEN JUDY VISITED IRELAND SHE FOUND THE IRISH TO BE SOMEWHAT
SUPERSTITIOUS. THEY ALSO HAD REMEDIES FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

Where learned: IRELAND

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION ; TRANSFER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant

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PRODUCT OR ACTIVITY OF MAN

DON'T WALK OVER SOMEONE OR THEY WON'T GROW

Submitter comment: THIS IS A STUPID BELIEF. WE WOULD HAVE TO WALK BACK OVER THAT PERSOM.
THIS WAY THE PERSON WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO GROW.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; BROOKLYN ; GRANDMOTHERS HOME

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

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PRODUCT OR ACTIVITY OF MAN

AT A GREEK MEAL IT IS AN INSULT IF YOU TURN YOUR GLASS UPSIDEDOWN,
THIS MEANS THAT YOU DO NOT LIKE THE MEAL.

Submitter comment: I FIND THIS VERY STRANGE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT IS TRUE. WHY WOULD
ANYONE WANT TO TURN THEIR GLASS UPSIDEDOWN ANYWAY ?

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHGATE

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION, DIRECTION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 01-00-1979

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GOOD LUCK

WHEN OPENING A NEW PACK OF CIGARETTES, TAKE THE FIRST ONE OUT, TURN
IT UPSIDEDOWN, AND THEN PUT IT BACK IN, AND SAVE IT FOR LAST. THE
LAST CIGARETTE SMOKED WILL BE UPSIDEDOWN. WHILE SMOKING THE LAST
CIGARETTE, WHILE TAKING THE LAST PUFF, MAKE A WISH } }

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVERVIEW

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Number Last events: the last person to the table...

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CUSTOM

WHEN MY FATHER DIED MY BROTHERS AND I HAD OUR TIES CUT BY THE RABBI.
THIS IS THE ONLY CUSTOM CONNECTED WITH ANY OF THE CHILDREN--ONLY THE
SONS. I THINK IT IS SUPPOSED TO SYMBOLIZE THE BREAKING OF THE FATHER
AND SON RELATIONSHIP, OR A SEPARATION OF A FATHERS' DEATH FROM HIS
SON'S LIVES. AFTERWARDS, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO KEEP WHAT'S LEFT OF YOUR
TIE AND WEAR IT PINNED INSIDE OF YOUR SHIRT ON THE LEFT SIDE FOR A
YEAR.

Submitter comment: THIS IS A JEWISH CUSTOM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME

James Callow Keyword(s): NECKTIES ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Year
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Overall body coverUpper body and arms

Date learned: 02-00-1979

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SUPERSTITION

IN ONE DOOR AND OUT ANOTHER CAUSES BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: THIS BELIEF WAS EXPLAINED THROUGH WHAT IS SEEN AS "NORMAL". IF YOU
ENTER THROUGH ONE DOOR IT IS "NORMAL" TO EXIT THROUGH THE SAME
DOOR. EXITING THROUGH ANOTHER DOOR IS SEEN AS DEVIATION, AND
DEVIATION FROM THE NORM RESULTS IN BAD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK ; FRIENDS HOME

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: 02-10-1979

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SUPERSTITION

IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY PUT ON A PIECE OF CLOTHING BACKWARDS WHEN
YOU GET DRESSED, YOU VILL HAVE GOOD LUCK THE REST OF THE DAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.21

Date learned: CA00001970

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SUPERSTITION

WHEN PUTTING ON MY SOCKS TO PLAY IN A SPORT, THE SOCK
WITH THE LABELLING GOES ON THE RIGHT FOOT. IF THE LA-
BELLING HAS FADED AWAY, THE BETTER CONDITIONED SOCK
GOES ON THE RIGHT FOOT. I'M RIGHT-HANDED AND I BELIEVE
THIS WILL BRING ME GOOD LUCK. RECENTLY, I HAVE STARTED
THIS TREND IN MY EVERYDAY MANNERISMS.

Submitter comment: I SEE THIS AS BRINGING ME GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK

James Callow Keyword(s): DRESSING ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: CA00001973

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IT IS BAD LUCK TO PUT BREAD UPSIDE DOWN ON THE TABLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 01-28-1979

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KISS SOMEONE THREE TIMES STARTING ON THEIR LEFT CHEEK, MEANS THEY
ARE LOVED AND WELCOMED INTO THE FAMILY.

Submitter comment: THIS PROCESS MOVES FROM LEFT CHEEK, TO RIGHT, BACK TO LEFT.

Where learned: FRANCE

Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 07-00-1977

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SUPERSTITION

THROW SALT OVER LEFT SHOULDER TO KEEP BAD LUCK AWAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS

Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 01-00-1979

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PREDICTION OF LOVE

IF YOU LIGHT A CIGARETTE SIDEWAYS YOU'RE IN LOVE.

Where learned: PUERTO RICO

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Observation

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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GOOD LUCK OMEN

THE FIGURE OF AN ELEPHANT WITH HIS TRUNK UP IN THE AIR SHOULD BE
PLACED WITH HIS BACK FACING THE ROOM FOR GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: PUERTO RICO

James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET TALISMAN STATUE ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck P881.1
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.31

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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TYPOGRAPHICAL DISPLAY

YOU'LL FIND THIS PRINTED IN INFINTISIMALLY ( INFINITESIMALLY ) SMALL
PRINT ON THE BACK OF AN ENVELOPE: "PEOPLE SURE ARE NOSEY".

Submitter comment: I RECEIVED A LETTER LIKE THIS WHILE I WAS AT A BOARDING SCHOOL WHERE
ALL OUR MAIL WAS CHECKED. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE NUN WHO CHECKED THIS
PARTICULAR PIECE WAS A BIT INSULTED BY THE IMPLICATION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: SPEECH -- To Be Seen

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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BELIEF

IF YOU PUT A STAMP ON AN ENVELOPE UPSIDE DOWN IT IS A SIGN YOU LOVE
THE PERSON YOU ARE SENDING IT TO.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Observation
SPEECH -- To Be Seen

Date learned: 09-00-1969

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MAILING PROCEDURES

WHEN YOU PLACE THE STAMP UPSIDE DOWN ON AN ENVELOP WHEN MAILING IT,
THIS MEANS "I LOVE YOU" TO THE RECIPIENT OF THE LETTER FROM THE
SENDER.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): ENVELOPE

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: SPEECH -- To Be Seen

Date learned: 11-13-1965

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SUPERSTITION

A LEFT HANDED PERSON IS THE CHILD OF THE DEVIL AND HAS THE EVIL EYE.

Submitter comment: MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER USE TO ALWAYS TELL ME THIS AND TRY TO GET MY
MOTHER TO FORCE ME TO USE MY RIGHT HAND.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; LEFTHANDEDNESS ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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SUPERSTITION

IF YOUR LEFT HAND ITCHES YOU'LL GET SOME MONEY.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching hands and feet

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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