The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

LIFT FOR STRENGTH

WHEN MY BROTHERS AND SISTER WERE CHILDREN, WE WOULD RUN
TO LIFT SOME HEAVY OBJECT--TABLE, CHAIR, BUCKET OF COAL--
WHENEVER WE HEARD THE FIRST THUNDER OF THE YEAR. WE
WERE INITIATED INTO THIS PRACTICE BY MY MOTHER AND
DAD WHO BELIEVED THAT IF YOU LIFTED SOMETHING HEAVY AT
THE SOUND OF THUNDER FOR THE FIRST TIME, DURING THE
YEAR, WE WOULD ALL BE HEALTHY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY,
STRONG, DURING THE COMING YEAR.

Submitter comment: DURING A RECENT CONVERSATION WITH MY MOTHER, SHE
REMINDED ME OF THIS PRACTICE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 05-15-1965