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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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IT IS BAD LUCK TO SIT AT THE CORNER OF A TABLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.
BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities

Date learned: 02-15-1971

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A HOUSEWIFE CANNOT CUT DRESS MATERIAL ON A FRIDAY.
THIS WILL BRING BAD LUCK WHEN THE DRESS IS WORN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MILFORD

James Callow Keyword(s): SEWING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Measure of time Working
BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities
BELIEF -- Bad luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event

Date learned: 09-22-1968

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IT IS BAD LUCK TO MEET AN OLD WOMAN OR A LONG
HAIRED DOG WHEN YOU START ON A JOURNEY. IT IS
GOOD LUCK TO MEET A MAN WHO HAS A WOODEN LEG, OR
WHO SMOKES A PIPE.

Submitter comment: MY GRANDFATHER HEARD THIS IN BOSTON WHEN HE
WORKED AT THE NABIS
COMPANY IN THE 1920S.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM

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

Date learned: 00001920S

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IF THE FIRST PERSON YOU MEET IN THE MORNING IS A MAN
THEN THIS IS CONSIDERED GOOD LUCK; WHEREAS, IF THE
FIRST PERSON YOU MEET IS A WOMAN, THEN THIS IS
CONSIDERED TO FORECAST BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT RELATED A STORY CONCERNING HER COUSIN
WHO WAS QUITE UPSET UPON MEETING A WOMAN ONE MORNING
AS HER FIRST PERSON--AND LATER FELL AND BRUISED
HER LEG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; KALAMAZOO

James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.2
BELIEF -- Good luck Sex
BELIEF -- Bad luck Sex
BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities

Date learned: 02-18-1971

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IN UKRAINE, IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF A PERSON GETS
OUT OF BED ON HIS LEFT FOOT, HE WILL HAVE BAD
LUCK FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION PASSED ON
BY GRANDPARENTS IN UKRAINE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails
BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping
BELIEF -- Bad luck Bodily characteristics
BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities

Date learned: 10-01-1967

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IF YOU UNFOLD A TABLECLOTH AND THERE IS A DIAMOND
SHAPE IN IT (FROM THE CREASES) THAT'S CONSIDERED
BAD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ANGULAR SHAPE: DIAMOND, TRIANGLE.

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Angular forms
BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities

Date learned: 03-01-1972

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IF YOU ARE WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND STOMP YOUR
TOE, THAT IS A SIGN OF BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IN CHILDHOOD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): STUB

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails
BELIEF -- Bad luck Body parts and functions

Date learned: 03-06-1971

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NO WOMEN ARE ALLOWED IN THE COAL MINES FOR IT IS
BELIEVED THAT THERE WOULD BE A MAJOR CATASTROPHE IF
ANY WOMEN WERE THERE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Bad luck Sex

Date learned: 11-17-1969

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IN THE OLD DAYS OF SAIL, IT WAS DEEMED UNLUCKY BY
THE SAILORS TO HAVE ANY WOMAN ABOARD SHIP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

James Callow Keyword(s): MARITIME ; SEXISM

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Bad luck Sex

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IT IS UNLUCKY TO SPILL SALT--COMES FROM THE TIME WHEN
JUDAS UPSET SALT WITH HIS HAND AT THE LAST SUPPER
WHEN GETTING UP TO LEAVE TO BETRAY CHRIST.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): APOCRYPHAL BIBLE INCIDENT ; ISCARIOT ; JESUS

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Bad luck Food and drink

Date learned: 04-03-1967

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A LOAF OF BREAD THAT IS UPSIDE-DOWN ON A TABLE IS
SUPPOSED TO MEAN BAD LUCK FOR WHOEVER PUT IT THAT
WAY.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food Cereal
BELIEF -- Bad luck Food and drink

Date learned: 11-00-1970

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IT IS AN OMEN OF BAD LUCK TO LAY A LOAF OF BREAD
UPSIDE-DOWN.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY HER MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Observation
Food Drink -- Plant food Cereal
BELIEF -- Bad luck Food and drink

Date learned: 05-18-1965

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IT IS BELIEVED THAT OPENING AN UMBRELLA IN THE
HOUSE WILL BRING BAD LUCK. IF YOU ARE AN UNMARRIED
GIRL, IT ESPECIALLY MEANS THAT YOU WILL REMAIN
AN OLD MAID FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SPINSTER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship
BELIEF -- Bad luck Umbrella

Date learned: 10-27-1969

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PUTTING THE LEFT SHOE ON FIRST IN THE MORNING WILL
BRING BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID WHEN HIS HAPPENS TO HIS MOTHER,
SHE STAYS CLOSE TO HOME ALL DAY AND IS AFRAID
TO RECEIVE ANY PHONE CALLS. HE SAID THAT WHENEVER
HIS MOTHER DOES THIS, HE REALLY GETS ANGRY AND CANNOT
STAND TO BE AROUND ALL DAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Bad luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.)

Date learned: 12-01-1971

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