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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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IF A FISHERMAN WENT OUT TO THE OCEAN TO FISH AND SAW A PERSON
HE DID NOT LIKE OR THAT DISLIKED HIM, IT IS SAID THAT
HE SHOULD GO BACK TO SHORE, BECAUSE HE WILL NOT
CATCH ANY MORE FISH THAT DAY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CATCH ; Fisherman ; OMEN ; Relationship ; SIGN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business

Date learned: 03-00-1971

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IT IS VERY IMPORANT TO A JEWISH STORE-OWNER THAT THE FIRST
CUSTOMER ON A MONDAY MORNING MUST BUY SOMETHING, REGARDLESS
OF THE PRICE. IF AND WHEN THE CUSTOMER DOES BUY SOMETHING, IT
MEANS GOOD LUCK AND GOOD SELLING THE REST OF THE WEEK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Buy ; CUSTOM ; Customer ; Jewish ; Merchant ; Monday ; OMEN ; Purchase ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business

Date learned: 10-00-1969

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PUTTING UP A RAILFENCE DURING THE FLOWERDAYS

THE BOTTOM LOG OF A RAILFENCE (A FENCE MADE OF INTERLOCKING
LOGS WILL ROT AWAY WITHIN THREE YEARS IF THE BOTTOM LOGS ARE
LAID DURING THE CERTAIN TIME OF THE MOON. OTHERWISE THE BOTTOM
LOG WILL LAST MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. THAT IS WHY THE BOTTOM LOGS ARE
ALL LAID AT ONCE SO AS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RIGHT TIME OF
THE MOON.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Construction ; Fence ; Logs ; MOON ; Rot ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business

Date learned: 10-30-1968

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MOON TIME

IF A PLANK IS LAID ON THE GRASS DURING A CERTAIN TIME OF THE
MOON THE GRASS UNDERNEATH THE PLANK WILL DIE IN TWO
WEEKS TIME. IF A PLANK IS LAID ON A DIFFERENT TIME OF THE
MOON THE GRASS BENEATH THE PLANK WILL STILL BE GREEN AFTER TWO WEEKS
TIME.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Grass ; MOON ; Plank ; WOOD

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business

Date learned: 11-08-1968

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BELIEF

HARD WORK WILL PUT HAIR ON YOUR ARMS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Arms ; BELIEF ; GROWTH ; HAIR ; SUPERSTITION ; WORK

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business

Date learned: 03-29-1968

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CHIPEWYAN ESKIMO

THEY DO NOT KILL WOLVES OR WOLVERINES BECAUSE THEY ARE
POWERFUL SPIRITS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MARQUETTE

Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; BELIEF ; Chipewyan ; Cultural ; Eskimo ; Inuit ; Kill ; Native Indian ; Wolverines ; Wolves

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business

Date learned: 03-00-1968

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SEWING ON SUNDAY

IF YOU SEW ON SUNDAY YOU WILL HAVE TO REMOVE ALL THE
STITCHES WITH YOUR NOSE WHEN YOU DIE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; NOSE ; PUNISHMENT ; Sew ; SEWING ; Stitches ; Sunday ; SUPERSTITION ; WORK

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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EXPLANATION OF NAME, "MURDER HILL"

THERE IS A STRETCH OF NARROW, WINDING ROAD ON THE SIDE OF A HILL
JUST OUTSIDE OF LITTLE VALLEY, NEW YORK. SIGNS AT EACH END OF THIS
LONG ROAD CALL IT "MURDER HILL."
ONE EXPLANATION OF THE NAME IS THE FACT THAT A FATAL ACCIDENT
COULD EASILY HAPPEN THERE.
ANOTHER EXPLANATION IS A LEGEND THAT A MAN KILLED HIS WIFE AND
THEN HIMSELF IN A HOUSE NOT FAR FROM THE ROAD.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: NEW YORK ; FRANKLINVILLE

Keyword(s): Murder Hill ; Origin of Name ; Tale ; Urban Legend

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
SPEECH -- S478

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EXPLANATION OF NAME, "MURDER HILL"

THERE IS A STRETCH OF NARROW, WINDING ROAD ON THE SIDE OF A HILL
JUST OUTSIDE OF LITTLE VALLEY, NEW YORK. SIGNS AT EACH END OF THIS
LONG ROAD CALL IT "MURDER HILL."
ONE EXPLANATION OF THE NAME IS THE FACT THAT A FATAL ACCIDENT
COULD EASILY HAPPEN THERE.
ANOTHER EXPLANATION IS A LEGEND THAT A MAN KILLED HIS WIFE AND
THEN HIMSELF IN A HOUSE NOT FAR FROM THE ROAD.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: NEW YORK ; FRANKLINVILLE

Keyword(s): ETYMOLOGY ; Murder Hill ; Origin ; Urban Legend

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
SPEECH -- S478

Date learned: 06-00-1968

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EXPLANATION OF NAME, "MURDER HILL"

THERE IS A STRETCH OF NARROW, WINDING ROAD ON THE SIDE OF A HILL
JUST OUTSIDE OF LITTLE VALLEY, NEW YORK. SIGNS AT EACH END OF THIS
LONG ROAD CALL IT "MURDER HILL."
ONE EXPLANATION OF THE NAME IS THE FACT THAT A FATAL ACCIDENT
COULD EASILY HAPPEN THERE.
ANOTHER EXPLANATION IS A LEGEND THAT A MAN KILLED HIS WIFE AND
THEN HIMSELF IN A HOUSE NOT FAR FROM THE ROAD.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: NEW YORK ; FRANKLINVILLE

Keyword(s): ETYMOLOGY ; Murder Hill ; Origin ; Urban Legend

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
SPEECH -- S478

Date learned: 06-00-1968

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PREGNANCY EFFECTS

IF A PREGNANT WOMAN SLEEPS A LOT OR SPENDS TOO MUCH TIME LYING
ON HER BACK, THE BABY WILL STICK TO HER BACK.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; BIRTH ; MOTHER ; PREGNANCY ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 03-31-1967

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PREGNANCY EFFECTS

WHAT A PREGNANT WOMAN THINKS ABOUT WILL HARM THE BABY IF IT IS
A BAD THOUGHT AND WILL HELP THE BABY IF IT IS A GOOD THOUGHT.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; BIRTH ; MOTHER ; PREGNANCY ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 03-20-1967

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Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

THE INFORMANT HEARD FROM FRIENDS AT SCHOOL THAT A GIRL
COULD NOT BECOME PREGNANT THE FIRST TIME SHE HAD
SEXUAL INTERCOURSE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; INTERCOURSE ; PREGNANCY ; Sexuality

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Crucial Moment of Life Life Cycle
BELIEF -- Number Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually

Date learned: 00001980CA

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THE BRIDE SHOULD WEAR "SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW,
SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLUE" FOR GOOD LUCK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; NEW BREMEN

Keyword(s): Blue ; Borrowed ; Bride ; CUSTOM ; MARRIAGE ; New ; Old ; RHYME ; tradition

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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SUPERSTITION FOR GOOD LUCK

IN ORDER TO ENSURE GOOD LUCK FOR THE COMING YEAR YOU SHOULD EAT
CABBAGE FOR DINNER ON NEW YEAR'S DAY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): Cabbage ; Consume ; CUSTOM ; FOOD ; LUCK ; Meal ; New Years ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
BELIEF -- Good luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event

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A male being the first person to enter your house on New
Year's Day would mean that you and your home would be blessed
with good fortune all year.

James Callow comment:

See Hand, North Carolina, nos. 3886, 3889-3890.

Where learned: GEORGIA

Keyword(s): BLESSING ; Guest ; Home ; Host ; LUCK ; Male ; Man ; New Year ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's

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IF YOU SEE A PAPER CLIP AND CONTINUOUSLY KEEP PICKING
IT UP ALL DAY YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): GOOD LUCK ; LUCK ; Paperclip ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck Objects

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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FOLKLORE OF GOOD LUCK

IN JAPAN, BAMBOO IS HUNG IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE HOUSE TO GIVE ITS
STRENGTH TO WARD OFF SICKNESS AND TO BE ABLE TO KEEP WORKING.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Keyword(s): Holistic ; Japan ; LUCK ; PLANT ; SYMBOL

James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: CA00001935

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BELIEF

EATING A LARGE MEAL BEFORE BED CAUSES NIGHTMARES.

Submitter comment:

THERE MANY OTHER EXAMPLES OF HOW FOOD IS SUPPOSED TO AFFECT YOUR
SLEEP LIFE. THESE WOULD DWELL MORE ON SPECIFIC FOODS HOWEVER.
I SUSPECT THEY WERE PROBABLY STARTED BY SOMEBODY'S PARENTS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MILFORD

Keyword(s): BODY ; DREAMS ; FOOD ; FUNCTION ; Nightmares ; SLEEP

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.
BELIEF -- Dreams

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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FIND A PENNY, PICK IT UP.
ALL DAY LONG YOU'LL HAVE GOOD LUCK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; LUCK ; Penny ; RHYME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.881
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Good luck Money

Date learned: 00001960S

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