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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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A PERSON CANNOT WALK AROUND THE HOUSE WITH ONE SHOE
ON AND ONE OFF.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Use of Object Dress, buttons, jewelry

Date learned: 09-26-1967

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OMEN

WHEN A PICTURE FALLS OFF THE WALL,
THERE IS GOING TO BE A DEATH IN THE FAMILY.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HIS MOTHER.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation

Date learned: 11-02-1967

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TO STOP AN ANNOYING PERSON FROM ENTERING YOUR HOUSE,
PLACE A BROOM UPSIDE DOWN BEHIND YOUR FRONT DOOR.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER AND THEY
STILL PRACTICE IT TODAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Use of Object Domestic object, wax, needle, dishware

Date learned: 10-02-1963

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IF YOU PUT A DANDELION UNDER A PERSON'S CHIN, AND IT
REFLECTS YELLOW, IT MEANS THAT THE PERSON LIKES
BUTTER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Animal product Butter
BELIEF -- Use of Object Plant

Date learned: 10-00-1967

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SUPERSTITION

IF YOU GET WET WHILE WASHING CLOTHES,
YOUR HUSBAND WILL BE A DRUNKARD.

Where learned: RESIDENCE ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.

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PUT A DROP OF COFFEE IN A CUP, HOLD IT OVER A FIRE
UNTIL IT DRIES; THEN READ YOUR FUTURE IN THE
FIGURES IT FORMS IN THE BOTTOM OF YOUR CUP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Use of Object Plant

Date learned: 03-31-1968

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OMENS

IF A BIRD FLYS AGAINST THE WINDOW, IT MEANS
A DEATH IN THE FAMILY.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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AFTER DRINKING TURKISH COFFEE, AN ARMENIAN LADY WILL
TURN THE COFFEE CUP UPSIDE DOWN LETTING THE GRINDS
SLIDE AND FORMING IMAGES. THE LADY WILL THEN TALK
ABOUT WHAT SHE SEES IN THESE IMAGES.

Submitter comment: TOLD BY MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Non-alcoholic fruit beverage Coffee
BELIEF -- Use of Object Food

Date learned: 09-00-1967

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AFTER THE LADIES IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC HAVE
FINISHED DRINKING THEIR COFFEE, THEY TURN THE CUP
UPSIDE DOWN AND LET THE GRINDS SLIDE FORMING
IMAGES. THEY THEN INTERPRET THESE IMAGES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Non-alcoholic fruit beverage Coffee
BELIEF -- Use of Object Food

Date learned: 09-00-1967

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TAKE TWO MATCHBOOKS AND PUT THEM ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.
MAKE SURE THEY ARE OPENED AND IF ONE FALLS, YOU HAVE A
LOW SEX LIFE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM ONE OF HER FRIENDS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 02-20-1971

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IN HER FAMILY, A WEDDING CAKE HAS A RING IN IT AND THE
FIRST ONE TO GET THE RING ON THEIR PLATE WILL BE
MARRIED NEXT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage Wedding cake
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 03-00-1971

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I THOUGHT OF A GUY NAMED TOM, WHO I HAD NOT SEEN
IN A LONG TIME. NEXT DAY, I SAW HIM IN THE BOOK
STORE, WORKING THERE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Spirit / Mind / Body

Date learned: 11-06-1971

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BELIEF

IF A BIRD DROPS WASTE ON YOU, YOU ARE
GOING TO PRISON.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.

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STRIKE THREE AND YOU'RE OUT.

Submitter comment: SAYING DERIVED FROM BASEBALL.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RESIDENCE HALLS

Keyword(s): FAILURE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 10-15-1967

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HAD A DREAM ABOUT GIVING FLOWERS TO A TEACHER AS A
PEACE OFFERING AND SOMEONE GAVE ME FLOWERS THE
NEXT DAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Spirit / Mind / Body

Date learned: 11-02-1971

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IRISH FOLK BELIEF

ONE DAY, A POPE WILL GO ON A SAILING VOYAGE AND WHEN
HE STEPS ONTO LAND AFTER THAT TRIP, THE WORLD WILL
END. (TOLD BY MELCHISADOR).

Submitter comment: MELCHISADOR IS AN IRISH PROHET OF THE PAST. HE HAS
MUCH RESPECT AMONG THEM. HIS PROPHECIES ARE VAGUE
ENOUGH TO NOT BE DISPROVEN. SINCE HE PREDICTED IN
AN ERA WHEN POPES FAILED TO TRAVEL, HIS PROPHECY WAS
ALWAYS A FUTURE POSSIBILITY AND HAS BEEN KEPT IN
MEMORY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer

Date learned: 10-20-1970

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IF YOU CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SAY,
THEN IT MUST BE A LIE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Prediction / Divination
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 04-01-1970

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TO GET SOFT HAIR, WASH IT IN EGGS AND FOLLOW WITH
A SALAD DRESSING RINSE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Remedy

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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NAME TABU

DON'T CALL A BABY'S TEETH "TEETH," BECAUSE IF YOU DO,
THE BABY MIGHT NOT GET ANY MORE TEETH. CALL THEM
RICE GRAINS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): TABU

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
SPEECH -- Common Word

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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EAT CARROTS FOR GOOD EYES; EAT FISH FOR BRAINS.

Submitter comment: THIS IS A BELIEF COMMON IN THE OSWALD FAMILY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fish
BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
BELIEF -- Animal
BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 09-20-1967

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