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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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Your search for EVIL returned 90 results.

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ITALIAN GESTURE AGAINST EVIL

A GESTURE TO RETURN EVIL TO ANOTHER IS TO PLACE THE
THUMB BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND FINGERS OF THE
SAME HAND.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; EVIL ; EVIL EYE ; Eye ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Prevent ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse

Date learned: 12-00-1969

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WHEN YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE WITH SOMEONE WHO WILL GIVE
YOU THE EVIL EYE, HOLD OUT YOUR FOREFINGER AND BABY
FINGER, HOLD THIS UNTIL THE PERSON LEAVES.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT SAW HIS BROTHER DO THIS WHEN IN CALABRIA,
ITALY, AND BELIEVED IT WARDED OFF THE EVIL EYE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ITALY ; OAK PARK ; CALABRIA

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; EVIL ; EVIL EYE ; Eye ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Prevent ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse
SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.12

Date learned: 01-24-1972

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WHEN ONE SEES A LOVELY CHILD, ONE MUST SPIT ON THE
GROUND TO WARD OFF THE EVIL EYE, TO PREVENT SICKNESS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): BABY ; BEAUTY ; BELIEF ; CHILD ; CUSTOM ; EVIL ; EVIL EYE ; Eye ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Prevent ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.12

Date learned: 11-19-1971

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IF A PERSON LOOKS AT YOU WITH THE EVIL EYE YOU CAN
RETURN IT BY PLACING YOUR INDEX AND BABY FINGERS
APREAD OUT AND POINTED DOWN. THIS WILL MAKE
YOU SAFE FROM IT.

Submitter comment:

THIS IS DONE IN SICILY BY ALL THE PEOPLE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SICILY

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; EVIL ; EVIL EYE ; Eye ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Prevent ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye
BELIEF -- Curse
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22
SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.12

Date learned: 10-06-1970

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WHEN YOU ARE SUDDENLY STARTLED, SPITTING WILL AVOID
ANY HARM FROM COMING TO YOU.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; EVIL EYE ; PREVENTION ; Spitting ; Startle ; SUPERSTITION ; SURPRISE ; Ward

Subject headings: BELIEF -- P670 P670.88

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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WHEN SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING PEJORATIVE ABOUT ANOTHER,
SPIT THREE TIMES ON THE BACK OF THE FIRST TWO FINGERS
OF THE RIGHT HAND TO WARD OFF THE INTENDED EVIL.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BEHAVIOR ; BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; EVIL EYE ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; INSULT ; SPIT ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse
BELIEF -- P670 P670.88

Date learned: 03-02-1972

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TO SPIT ON A NEW-BORN BABY

WHENEVER A WOMAN LOOKS AT ANOTHER'S NEW-BORN BABY, THEY
MUST HAVE A LITTLE SALIVA FALL UPON THE CHILD. IF
NOT, THE EVIL EYE IS CAST UPON THE BABY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BABY ; BEHAVIOR ; BELIEF ; CHILD ; CUSTOM ; EVIL ; EVIL EYE ; Eye ; GESTURE ; PREVENTION ; SPIT ; SUPERSTITION ; Ward ; Woman

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curse
BELIEF -- Dreams P841.61 P542
SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.12

Date learned: 11-02-1969

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THE PLACING OF THE HANDS OVER THE EYES, OR EARS, OR
MOUTH. USUALLY SIGNIFIES THE THREE LITTLE MONKEYS--
HEAR NO EVIL, SEE NO EVIL AND SPEAK NO EVIL.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; GESTURE ; Hear ; Hear No Evil ; See ; See No Evil ; Speak ; Speak No Evil ; Ward

Subject headings: BELIEF -- P670 P670.88
BELIEF -- Emblem
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 09-26-1968

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BELIEF

A DIMPLE IN YOUR CHEEK --
YOU ARE GENTLE AND MEEK
A DIMPLE IN YOUR CHIN --
THE DEVIL IS WITHIN

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: HOME ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): Cheek ; Demeanor ; DEVIL ; Dimple ; PREDICTION ; RHYME ; SONG

James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF ; QUATRAIN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Use of Object P860.438

Date learned: 02-03-1970

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Entry filtered.

IN THE EARLY 1900'S BLACK WOMEN WHO CARRIED CLOTHES ON THEIR
HEADS WERE THOUGHT TO BE BEWITCHED WITH EVIL SPIRITS AND WERE
CALLED CUNGERS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Keyword(s): Black ; Evil Spirits ; Witch ; WITCHES ; Woman ; WOMEN

James Callow Keyword(s): CONJURERS?

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Witch Shaman
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

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