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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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LUCK

IF YOU STEP ON A CRACK YOU WILL CAUSE YOUR MOTHER TO BREAK HER BACK.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: CA11001973

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LUCK

ALWAYS LAY BREAD UPRIGHT OR YOU WILL CAUSE SOMEONE TO TURN OVER IN
THEIR GRAVE.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: CA11001973

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DEATH

NEVER WASTE COFFEE GROUNDS ON THE FLOOR. IT MEANS THAT SOMEONE
WILL DIE

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): SPILL

Subject headings: Observation
Food Drink -- Non-alcoholic fruit beverage Coffee
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: CA11001973

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LUCK

NEVER WASTE PEANUT SHEELS ON THE GROUND, IT CAUSES FUSS.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): ARGUMENT QUARRELING DISCORD

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food
BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: CA11001973

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LUCK

IF YOU SPILL SALT YOU SHOULD THROW SOME SALT OVER YOUR LEFT
SHOULDER TO WARD OFF BAD LUCK.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.17

Date learned: CA11001973

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LUCK

NEVER SIT A BABY ON THE EDGE OF A TABLE TO FEED HIM BECAUSE IT
WILL CAUSE HIM TO TEETH HARD.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: CA11001973

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LUCK

IF A PREGNANT WOMAN IS FRIGHTENED BY AN INSECT THE CHILD WILL HAVE
A BIRTH MARK THAT RESEMBLES THE INSECT.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Specific distinguishing characteristic Dimple, wart, mole, scar, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, bruise, spot (on any part of body)
BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: CA11001973

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ORACLE

NEVER GO TO A WAKE OR FUNERAL WHEN PREGNANT AND LOOK AT THE BODY
BECAUSE YOUR CHILD WILL ALWAYS HAVE A FEAR OF DEAD PEOPLE.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: CA11001973

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CHAIR

NEVER WALK A CHAIR IN THE HOUSE. IT CAUSES A CHILD TO BE
BORN CRIPPLE.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): CARRY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: CA11001973

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CHAIR

NEVER ROCK A ROCKING CHAIR UNLESS SOME ONE IS IN IT BECAUSE YOU
WILL HAVE A DREAM ABOUT A DEAD PERSON.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

Subject headings: Spirit / Mind / Body
Favorites
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero

Date learned: CA11001973

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DEATH

NEVER WALK BACKWARDS OR IT WILL CAUSE YOUR MOTHER TO DIE.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

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

Date learned: CA11001973

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NEVER WEAR CLOTHES ON THE WRONG SIDE ESPECIALLY UNDERGARMENTS BECAUSE
PEOPLE WILL LIE TO YOU.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): LYING ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: CA11001973

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LUCK

IF YOU LIE A BUMP WILL GROW ON YOUR TONGUE OR YOU WILL ACCIDENTALLY
BITE YOUR TONGUE.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): LYING ; SYMBOL

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: CA11001973

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RHYME

CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO DIE
IF I SHOULD EVER TELL A LIE

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

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

Date learned: CA11001973

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ANIMAL

IF A BLACK CAT CROSS YOUR PATH IT IS BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: THIS SUPERSTITION AND OTHERS ABOUT CATS ORIGINATE FROM THE TIME WHEN
CATS WERE THOUGHT OF AS BEING THE DEVIL IN DISGUISE.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Mammal

Date learned: CA11001973

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SIGN OF CROSS

NEVER GO BACK IF YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING UNLESS YOU MAKE THE
SIGN OF THE CROSS WITH YOUR FOOT.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: CA11001973

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DEATH

NEVER HAVE TWO CLOCKS IN THE SAME ROOM KEEPING TIME BECAUSE IN A
TWO CAR ACCIDENT MEMBERS IN BOTH CARS WILL DIE.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): SIMULTANEITY

Subject headings: 686 Seconds / Twice / Two
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: CA11001973

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POINTING

IF YOU POINT AT THE SKY YOU SHOULD BITE YOUR FINGER BECAUSE YOU
ARE POINTING AT GOD.

Submitter comment: THIS SAYING WAS TOLD TO STOP CHILDREN FROM POINTING.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Creator
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: CA11001973

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POINTING

YOU SHOULD NEVER POINT AN ACCUSING FINGER AT A PERSON BECAUSE IF
YOU LOOK AT YOUR HAND, THREE OF YOUR FINGERS ARE POINTING AT YOU.

Submitter comment: TOLD TO BREAK CHILDREN OUT OF HABIT OF POINTING AT PEOPLE.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: CA11001973

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CURSE TO KEEP PEOPLE AWAKE

FIRST WRITE A LETTER TO A DEAD PERSON TELLING HIM ABOUT THIS PERSON
YOU WANT TO KEEP AWAKE AT NIGHT TO THINK ABOUT HIS WRONG DOINGS. YOU
THEN SEAL THE LETTER AND PLACE IT UNDER YOUR BED. YOU ALSO PUT A
GLASS OF WATER ON TOP OF THE LETTER. WHEN THE WATER EVAPORATES THE
SPELL IS WORKING.

Submitter comment: THIS CURSE WAS USED ON A MALE FRIEND OF THE INFORMANT AND IT WAS
SUCCESSFUL. IT WAS USED IN FLORIDA.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; FLORIDA ; New Orleans

James Callow Keyword(s): INSOMNIA ; SYMBOL

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping
BELIEF -- Curse
SPEECH -- To Be Seen

Date learned: CA11001973

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