The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Putting your hat on the bed meant you would bring yourself
bad luck.

James Callow comment: See Puckett, Ohio, nos. 3368 ("the boggyman will spank you"),
13928 ("you will be an old maid"), 18283, 18284 ("bad luck to the
owner of the hat"), 18285, 18288 ("new hat"), 18289 ("man's
hat"), 18291 ("bring a house bad luck"), 18292 ("on a friend's
bed"), 18295 ("and the police will be involved"), 18296 ("spit in
it three times before setting it down"), 18297 ("Never put your
hat on the bed upside down"), 18298 (the hat "should always be
placed upside down"), 27634 ("after a funeral"). Puckett has
many more items on this topic; I have selected only those items
which come from Africa

Where learned: GEORGIA ; ATHENS

Date learned: 01001960 CA