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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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BELIEF

AT CHRISTMAS TIME IF YOU GO TO BED EARLY, SANTA WILL COME THERE
FIRST AND YOU WILL HAVE A BETTER SELECTION OF PRESENTS.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus

Date learned: 03-00-1971

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WISHBONE

WHEN TWO MAKE A WISH ON A WISHBONE,
THE ONE WHO GETS THE BIGGER END WILL GET MARRIED FIRST.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS A FRIEND'S MOTHER, AND SHE
REMEMBERS THIS FROM HER CHILDHOOD IN ALABAMA.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: 00-00-1971

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A NUMBER SUPERSTITION

YOUR FATHERS PEOPLE BELIEVED THAT IF THIRTEEN PEOPLE SAT AT A TABLE
BAD LUCK WOULD COME TO ONE OF THEM.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER HUSBAND AND HIS RELATIVES

Where learned: HOME ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: 686 Specific number by specific number being described

Date learned: 03-10-1967

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THERE'S MANY A SLIP 'TWIXT THE CUP AND THE LIP.

Where learned: HOME ; DETROIT ; ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): GOSSIP

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

Date learned: 02-15-1970

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PROVERB

IF YOU DANCE, YOU HAVE TO PAY THE FIDDLER.

Submitter comment: NONE

Data entry tech comment: YOU CAN'T GET ANYTHING FOR FREE, SO YOU PAY FOR EVERYTHING.

Where learned: HOME ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): COMPENSATION ; OBSERVATION

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 02-20-1970

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WISHING

WHEN YOU HAVE AN APPLE WITH A STEM IN IT,
T0IST THE STEM AND &-R EACH C-MPLETE TURN C-UNT
UNTIL THE STEM C-MES -UT. THE LAST NUMBER Y-U
SAY IS THE AMOUNT OF WISHES YOU CAN MAKE.
VARIATIONS OF THIS IS THAT THE LAST NUMBER
THAT Y-U SAY IS H-0 MANY CHILDREN Y-U ARE G-ING
TO HAVE OR HOW MANY WIVES OR HUSBANDS YOU WILL HAVE.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: 10-05-1971

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GOD BLESS THE MOON AND GOD BLESS ME.
GOD BLESS THE SOMEBODY I WANT TO SEE.
GOD BLESS THE MOON AND GOD BLESS ME.
AND GOD BLESS THE SOMEBODY I WANT TO SEE.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): INITIAL ITERATION ; PRAYER ; RHYME: AAAA

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

Date learned: 03-08-1970

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SEWING: PRICKING FINGER

IF YOU PRICK YOUR FINGER WHILE SEWING, YOU WILL GET A KISS
WHILE WEARING THAT GARMENT.

Submitter comment: TOLD WITHOUT EVER REMEMBERING IT EVER HAPPENING THAT WAY.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; JACKSON ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: Observation

Date learned: 10-25-1970

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CUSTOM-BELIEF

CATHOLICS BELIEVE THAT IF YOU GO TO CHURCH NINE FIRST FRIDAYS IN A
ROW THEN THERE
WILL BE A PRIEST WITH YOU WHEN YOU DIE.

Data entry tech comment: THERE IS ONE SIMILAR ITEM IN THIS SECTION OF THE ARCHIVE

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; NORTH QUAD ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): RELIGION

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
686 Ninths / Nine
BELIEF -- Church
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour

Date learned: 03-03-1971

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WISHING

TAKE THE END OF A BANANA AND CUT IT
SLIGHTLY INTO A Y SHAPE WHICH STANDS FOR YES
AND YOUR WISH WILL COME THROUGH.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS SUPERSTITION IN THAILAND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; 4001 W MCNICHOLS ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: 02-12-1971

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PROVERB

BE PREPARED TO MEET THOSE PEOPLE WHO,
IN THEIR SILENCE WILL CONVERT YOU.

Where learned: DETROIT, ASSUMED ; EASTOWN THEATER ; TOLD AT

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; RHYME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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CUSTOM

IF YOU BURN PALM IN THE HOUSE DURING A STORM
IT WILL PROTECT HOUSE AND THOSE INSIDE.

Submitter comment: HEARD BY INFORANT FROM AN OLD AUNT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT ; STUDIO

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color

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LIMERICK

THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN FROM JAPAN
WHOSE POETRY NEVER WOULD SCAN.
THEY TOLD HIM THE THING
DOESN'T GO WITH A SWING.
THAT'S BECAUSE I TRY TO GET ALL THE WORDS IN THE LAST LINE THAT
I POSSIBLY CAN.

Submitter comment: (MRS. CASE HEARD THIS IN HIGH SCHOOL)

Where learned: HOME ; LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): ALEXANDRINE ; RHYME: AABBA

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

Date learned: 10-15-1972

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BELIEF (COLLECTOR,S TITLE) ; CONVERSION; NAILS (CLASSIFIER,S TITLE)

SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT WHEN CONSTRUCTING A BUILDING, IF YOU HAMMER
A NAIL AND IT COMES BACK BENT, YOU MUST REMOVE THE NAIL AND THROW IT
OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER. THIS IS FOR GOOD LUCK. IF YOU USE THE BENT
NAIL, IT IS BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HAS SEEN THIS PRACTICE DONE, BUT DOES NOT BELIEVE IT,S TRUE

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): LEFT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Conversions P883.2

Date learned: 02-23-1972

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MIDNIGHT X-MAS BABY MEANS SHORT LIFE

A PERSON BORN ON DECEMBER 25TH DIRECTLY AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT
WILL NOT LIVE LONG.

Submitter comment: LINDA'S GRANDFATHER WAS BORN ON DECEMBER 25TH AND DIED YOUNG IN
LIFE. WHETHER OR NOT HE WAS BORN ON THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT LINDA
DOESN'T KNOW.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; NORTH QUAD ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Predictions

Date learned: 03-24-1970

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FORMULA SPEECH

IN REFERRING TO A POWERFUL BLOW: A HAYMAKER

Where learned: SCHOOL APARTMENT ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): METAPHOR

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Common Word

Date learned: 09-15-1969

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NAME

WHAT YOU CALL A FAT PERSON - FATTYBUTCH

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: Person / Nickname

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CUSTOM

WHEN A BABY IS JUST BORN, CUT A SMALL PIECE OF THE UMBILICAL CORD
AND SAVE THIS, THIS WILL BRING THE BABY GOOD LUCK.

Submitter comment: THIS IS DONE A GREAT DEAL IN LEBANON.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; TV STUDIO ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): CHARMS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 09-24-1970

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BELIEF

SEVEN PEOPLE EATING TOGETHER
BRING GOOD LUCK - IF THIRTEEN
EATING TOGETHER, ONE WILL
DIE BEFORE THE YEAR IS UP.

Where learned: HOME ; LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): PREDICTION

Subject headings: 686 Specific number by specific number being described
686 Seven / Sevenths / Several
Observation
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 10-23-1968

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SPRING CUSTOM __ PALM SUNDAY

THE UKRANIAN PEOPLE USED TO BLESS PUSSY WILLOWS INSTEAD OF PALMS
AFTER THE PUSSY WILLOWS WERE BLESSED AT CHURCH THEY WOULD BE TAKEN
HOME BY EACH FAMILY. IN THE HOME THEY WERE PLACED ABOVE A HOLY
PICTURE. AT THE END OF THE DAY ALL THE OLD PUSSY WILLOWS WERE
BURNED. THIS DAY WAS SOMETIMES CALLED WILLOW SUNDAY. WILLOWS
WERE USED BECAUSE PALMS WERE COSTLY.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT KNEW OF THIS PRACTICE THROUGH A FRIEND AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF MICHIGAN. HIS NAME IS SMENA RAKOVSKEY.

Where learned: HOME ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM ; WILLOW

Subject headings: 663 Palm Sunday
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Tuesday

Date learned: 10-25-1971

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