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TO KEEP FROM SNEEZING, THINK OF A COW AND YOU
WILL NOT SNEEZE.
Submitter comment: THIS REMEDY REALLY WORKS
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-00-1987
"HAIR OF THE DOG"
MR. MOOR SAYS THAT THE BEST CURE FOR A
HANGOVER IS TO DRINK MORE OF WHAT GAVE THE HANGOVER.
Submitter comment: MR. MOOR SWEARS BY THIS REMEDY.
Where learned: MISSOURI ; DEXTER
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- P760B |
Date learned: 00001978 ca
On February 16, 1970 a baby girl was born,
bringing tremendous joy to her parents, Charlie
and Rosemary. They named her Stephanie. The
Millers typified the perfect family. They lived
in a small ranch house in Dearborn, close to the
Allen Park and Melvindale borders. This home was
the picture of gaiety and happiness, abundant with
plenty of flowers in the garden, and the sound of
a baby's laughter. "It was a family right out of
a storybook, all they needed was a white picket
fence...," reminisced Rosemary's sister Claire.
Every story must have an ending, though, and
this one happened to be tragic instead of happy.
On September 3, 1972, Rosemary died, and Charlie's
life was shattered. "If it had not been for
Stephanie, he would have fell off the deep end
right then," commented Claire. It was a horrible
tragedy for everyone concerned.
Charles dedicated all his energy and love on
Stephanie after Rosemary's death, really spoiled
her, and never let her out of his sight. He
even called her Rosie sometimes. In this way,
Stephanie became her father's entire world.
Nearly three years had passed after Rosemary's
death, when yet another tragedy took place as told
by Claire:
It was a real foggy and rainy day, just like
in those late night movies, and Charles and
Stephanie were playing inside. Well, as far
as I figured it, something happened that made
him (Charles) mad at Stephanie. Anyhow, he
yelled at her, which he rarely did, and she
ran outside, right into the street. There
was this big truck coming, one of those
dump trucks. Anyhow, Stephanie ran right
in front of it. It weren't his (the truck
driver's) fault. He slammed on his brakes,
but the road being wet and all... well she
was hit and killed right away.
Stephanie's death not only altered Charles' life,
but Charles himself. According to Claire, he ceased to
speak of anything coherently, and just sat around
rambling on and on about his lost daughter. "Then
one day, he got up, got dressed, and announced he
was going shopping," related Claire.
When he returned from his excursion, he had
purchased a plastic life-sized doll, which from then
on became his daughter Stephanie. Charles set the doll
in front of the picture window to show everyone that
she was still alive. "He was insane with guilt; he
just reverted to a fantasy world, because he could
not deal with the reality," explained Claire.
Charles formed a daily ritual of dressing, feeding
and playing with his substitute for Stephanie, and
has kept this up religiously for over nine years.
But, there is yet another twist to this sad story:
He (Charles) claims that every rainy day at 5 p.m.,
the time of Stephanie's death, you can actually hear
the tires of the truck screeching and squealing.
He runs to the window with the doll to make sure she
stays inside. But what gets me, is that others that
are in the area at that time have claimed that
they heard sounds also...
The flower gardens are now barren, and the house
seems dead in itself. The only visible sign of life
is a motionless child in the window, and the faint
sounds of tires screeching in the distance, believe
it or not.
Submitter comment:
I was able to speak with "Charles" himself, but his
sister-in-law who has lived with him since his wife's
death, helped fill me in on the details of this
story. I was also asked to leave out the actual
names of the people involved for discretion's sake.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT AREA
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
ONCE THERE WERE TWO COYOTES. ONE WAS FROM MONTANA
AND THE OTHER WAS FROM NORTH DAKOTA. ONE DAY THE
NORTH DAKOTA COYOTE GOT HIS PAW CAUGHT IN A
TRAP. THE MONTANA COYOTE HAPPENED TO BE WANDERING
BY, SO THE NORTH DAKOTA COYOTE ASKED THE
MONTANA COYOTE HOW TO GET OUT OF THE TRAP.
THE MONTANA COYOTE REPLIED, "YOU WILL HAVE TO
CHEW OFF YOUR PAW," AND THEN WENT ABOUT HIS
BUSINESS. A FEW DAYS LATER THE MONTANA COYOTE
HAPPENED TO BE PASSING BY THE SAME SPOT AND
SAW THE NORTH DAKOTA COYOTE STILL CAUGHT IN THE
TRAP. HE ASKED THE NORTH DAKOTA COYOTE WHY HE
HAD NOT ESCAPED. THE NORTH DAKOTA COYOTE
REPLIED, "I HAVE CHEWED OFF THREE OF MY PAWS
AND I STILL CANNOT GET OUT OF THIS TRAP!"
Submitter comment:
IN MONTANA THE BRUNT OF MOST JOKES ARE PEOPLE
FROM NORTH DAKOTA. NORTH DAKOTANS ARE THE
"POLLACKS" OF THE NORTHWEST.
Where learned: MONTANA ; FROMBERG
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMALS
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman Food Drink -- NORT |
Date learned: 01-00-1980
BLOODY KNUCKLES
THIS IS A GAME OF PAIN TOLERANCE. THE OPPONENTS FACE
EACH OTHER WITH THEIR HANDS, FISTS CURLED, TOUCHING.
THE PERSON WHO WINS A TOSS OF THE COIN HAS HIS HANDS
SLIGHTLY ON TOP. THE OBJECT FOR THE PERSON WITH
HIS HANDS ON TOP IS TO BRING HIS KNUCKLES
DOWN VERY HARD ON THE OTHER PERSON'S HAND.
THE PERSON WHOSE HANDS ARE ON THE BOTTOM HAS TO
TRY TO ANTICIPATE THE MOVEMENT AND MOVE HIS HANDS, CAUSING
THE PERSON TRYING TO HIT TO MISS. THE PERSON ON TOP
CONTINUES TO TRY TO HIT UNTIL HE MISSES, AT THIS TIME THE
TWO HAND POSITIONS ARE CHANGED. THE LOSER IS THE ONE WHO
SAYS HE HAS HAD ENOUGH FIRST.
Submitter comment:
ANOTHER VERSION OF THIS GAME IS PLAYED WITH OPEN PALMS
AND IS CALLED SLAP.
BLOODY KNUCKLE PUNISHMENT IS OFTEN USED AS PUNISHMENT
FOR LOSING IN GAMES SUCH AS PAPER, SCISSORS, ROCK.
Where learned: MONTANA ; FROMBERG
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
This is a game that was first introduced to me as
a child, by my father. It is played while going
for a long ride in the car. Two or more people
are needed in order to play. The object of the
game is to be the first person to go through the
entire alphabet (letter by letter, starting with 'A')
finding objects that begin with each letter. These
objects can be words on a sign, buildings, people,
sayings on a passing car, or any other things that a
person sees while driving in a car.
For example, a billboard on the side of the road has
an advertisement for an "Apple orchard" that is in
the area. The player who spots the word "apple" on the
billboard yells "Apple" while pointing to it, so
other players can verify his claim. Once it is
verified, this person is now able to look for
something that begins with a 'B', while the other
players must still find something that begins with an
'A'. The game continues in this fashion until all 26
letters are exhausted. The winner is the person who,
after finding the first 25, spots and yells out
something that begins with a 'Z'. Since there is no
repeating what another player has already used, the
game can be quite lengthy. But a good way to keep
kids occupied while going on vacation, as my father
would say.
Submitter comment: The hardest letters to find are Q, X, Y, and Z.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): TRAVEL
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 00001970S
When I was a little girl our family used to sit
together on Friday nights and tell stories. One of
these stories was told in my family to at least 3 or
4 generations. It was a true story. My great, great
grandparents lived in a house that was moved from a
cemetery to its current spot. Unexplained noises and
voices could be heard coming from the attic and
therefore no one would go up to the attic because it
was strongly believed that there were ghosts up there.
Submitter comment:
Informant still believes that this is a true story.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CEMETERY ; HAUNTED ; House
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001940S
If a woman or girl sings at the table, she
will marry a crazy man.
Submitter comment:
Informant said this happened to a friend of hers who
used to listen to the radio and sing while she was
eating. When she grew up she married a man who was
crazy.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EATING ; FUNCTION ; Meals ; TABLE MANNERS
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Date learned: 00001940S
LUMINARI
LUMINARI IS FROM A SPANISH WORD MEANING LIGHT, AND
IS THE CUSTOM OF LIGHTING STREETS OF A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH
CANDLELIGHT TO SYMBOLIZE THE BONFIRES THE SHEPHERDS BUILT
TO LIGHT THEIR WAY TO THE MANGER IN BETHLEHEM ON THE
FIRST CHRISTMAS EVE. FOR THE MODERN DAY YOUNG-AT-HEARTS,
IT IS ALSO BE DESCRIBED AS LIGHTING THE WAY FOR SANTA.
WHEN DONE WITH UNANIMOUS COOPERATION, THE EFFECT IS
MOST IMPRESSIVE AND HEARTWARMING IN THIS SEASON OF
"GOOD WILL TOWARDS ALL MEN."
THE PROCEDURE INVOLVED IS RELATIVELY SIMPLE AND SAFE.
PLACE 2 INCHES OF SAND IN THE BOTTOM OF A BROWN PAPER
LUNCH BAG. THEN PLACE THE CANDLE IN THE BAG. KEEP THE
CANDLES IN A DRY AND WARM PLACE UNTIL CHRISTMAS EVE.
#ON CHRISTMAS EVE#
1. TAKE THE BAGS OUTSIDE PRIOR TO THE LIGHTING TIME AND
PLACE THEM IN A LINE ALONG THE STREET, SPACING THEM
ABOUT NINE (9) FEET APART. USE THE EXTRA BAGS TO LINE
YOUR DRIVEWAY.
2. PLACE EACH BAG WITH A SLIGHT TAMPING ACTION TO MAKE
SURE THE SAND IS EVENLY DISTRIBUTED IN THE BOTTOM OF
THE BAG. ALSO ENSURE THAT EACH BAG IS STANDING UP
ERECTLY AND THE TOP IS OPENED.
3. MAKE SURE THE CANDLE IS SET IN THE APPROXIMATE CENTER
OF THE BAG. IF THE DIRECTIONS ARE CARRIED OUT, THE
FLAME OF THE CANDLE WILL NOT TOUCH THE SIDE OF THE
BAG AND BURN SAFELY.
4. CANDLES ARE TO BE LIGHTED AT 5:30 P.M. SHARP ON
CHRISTMAS EVE.
5. IN THE EVENT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER ON CHRISTMAS EVE,
THE LIGHTING OF THE "LUMINARI" WILL BE POSTPONED
UNTIL CHRISTMAS NIGHT.
Submitter comment:
THIS TRADITION HAS BEEN GOING ON IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD
SINCE WE MOVED THERE IN 1975. IT LOOKS IN THE DARK
WHEN DRIVING THROUGH THE SUBDIVISION LIKE AN
AIRPORT RUNWAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Lights and candles CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE
LOWER PENINSULA HOLD UP THEIR RIGHT OR LEFT HAND
LIKE A MITTEN AND POINT TO THE PLACE ON THEIR HAND
WHICH SHOWS THE LOCATION OF THE CITY IN WHICH
THEY LIVE.(POINT TO THE PALM ON THE RIGHT HAND OR
BACKHAND OF THE LEFT.)
Submitter comment:
THE LOWER PENINSULA OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN LOOKS
LIKE A MITTEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
James Callow Keyword(s): GEOGRAPHY OF A STATE
| Subject headings: | Favorites SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970S
OLE PETE BATEESE
OLE PETE BATEESE GOT CHASE ONE NIGHT
BY WOLF UP BY THE SOO.
DESE WOLF DEY T'REE, FOUR IN DE PACK
AND DEY SCARE HIM TRU AND TRU.
PRETTY SOON OLE PETE CLIMB UP A TREE;
HE T'INK HE STAY AWHILE.
DESE WOLF DEY SIT DOWN IN DE SNOW
AND LICK DERE CHOPS AND SMILE.
PETE QUICK TWO WOLF GO TROT AWAY;
PETE T'INK DE REST SOON GO.
PRETTY QUICK DESE WOLF COME RIGHT STRAIGHT BACK;
PETE'S SPIRITS DEY SINK LOW.
FOR W'AT YOU T'INK DESE WOLF DEY GOT?
BIG BEAVER- ONE? NO- TWO!
DEY SET DEM DOWN BESIDE DAT TREE
AND SAY, "BY GAR, NOW CHEW."
DOSE BEAVER START IN CHEW DAT TREE;
DEY CHEW LIKE BEAT DE BAND.
PETE T'INK HE SOON BE ON DE GROUN'
UNLESS HE TAKE A HAND.
SO PETE PULL OUT HIS ONE-QUART HOOCH
AND LET IT RUN OUT SLOW.
IT TRICKLE DOWN DE TRUNK TO WHERE
DOSE BEAVER CHEW BELOW.
DOSE BEAVER DEY GOT DRUNK, BY GAR.
DEY DON'T SEE NONE TOO GOOD.
DEY MAKE MISTAKE AND CHEW DE WOLF
INSTEAD OF CHEW DE TREE.
DOSE WOLF RUN 'WAY, AND PETE CLIMB DOWN
AND SIT DOWN IN DE SNOW.
AND CRY AND CRY TO T'INK FOR WHERE
HIS ONE-QUART HOOCH SHE GO.
Submitter comment:
THIS POEM IS RECITED ON WEEKEND PARTIES BY
CHEERS FROM THE LOGGING CREWS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
James Callow Keyword(s): FRENCH DIALECT
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
WHEN YOU HAVE A BOTHERSOME ITCH THAT WON'T GO AWAY, BATHE
IN OATMEAL TO RELIEVE YOURSELF FROM THE ITCH.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS TRUE. THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE OATMEAL THAT
STOPS THE ITCH BUT YOU HAVE TO RINSE THOROUGHLY OR IT
WILL CAUSE YOU TO ITCH.
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- P5754 |
Date learned: 00001980S
WHEN YOU ARE HOT ON A HOT SUMMER DAY AND THERE ISN'T A
POOL AROUND, YOU CAN SOAK YOUR FEET IN COLD WATER AND IT
WILL COOL YOUR BODY.
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 00001980S
A guide at the geology center in Chelsea told us
the legend of the discovery of maple syrup.
An Indian on the Eastern coast, I think it was Iroquois,
had stored his hatchet in the side of a maple tree.
Sometime in late winter or early spring, he removed his
hatchet to go hunting. At the base of the tree, there was
a birch bark basket, which happened to catch the maple
water that ran out of the tree when the hatchet was
removed. The Indian's wife needed the birch bark basket
to cook the moose meat in, and so she decided to also use
the water that was already in it. She proceeded to boil
the meat in the maple water all day, and in turn, discovered
that the water made maple syrup (and also tasty moose meat).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CHELSEA
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant |
Date learned: 03-00-1990
Bloody Mary
At slumber parties we always used to hear from at least
one person a story about Bloody Mary. Bloody Mary was
supposed to be seen by a person who stood in front of
a mirror, in the dark. The designated person would
stand in front of a mirror anywhere in the house and say
bad things about Bloody Mary. The person would call her
name and say things like "Show yourself Bloody Mary,
or are you too scared?" The person would also call her
names or even swear at her. If the person got Bloody
Mary angry enough, she would appear in the mirror and
cause an injury to the person who had called her.
Submitter comment:
A few people that I knew had enough nerve to do this.
Even though two of the people that did were unaffected,
three of the people I know who tried this came out with
severe scratches on both of her arms, and one also
had severe scratches on her throat.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 00-00-1980
Miss Lucy
A popular game that was played in grade school was a
game called "Miss Lucy". This game was played by the
girls on the playground at lunch time or at recess.
This is a hand clapping game that can be played by two
or four people. This is probably one of the simplest
hand clapping games played. When playing,
the two people would stand opposite each other.
To begin, each person would first clap
their own hands together. Then each person would clap
her right hand with the other person's right hand.
This would be followed by each one clapping their own
hands again. Then they would clap left hands. This
was again followed by clapping their own hands.
Then they would clap their left hand with the other
person's right hand and at the same time clap their
right hand with the other person's left hand. Then
this would be followed by them clapping their own hands
together again. Then they would begin the whole process
all over again. For this game, this song would be
sung in rhythm to the clapping.
Miss Lucy had a baby,
She named him Tiny Tim.
She put him in the bathtub,
To see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water,
He ate up all the soap.
He tried to eat the bathtub,
But it wouldn't fit down his throat.
Miss Lucy called the doctor.
The doctor called the nurse.
The nurse called the lady with the alligator purse.
In came the doctor.
In came the nurse.
In came the lady with the alligator purse.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR ; Ravenous ; Voracious
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 00001970S
Five Tappers
In grade school we used to play a game during
lunch when we had to stay inside due to bad weather.
The game was played by everyone in the class. The
supervisor of the class would pick five people at
random to be the tappers. The rest of the class stayed
at their desks. The students at their desks had to put
their heads down on the desk and cover their eyes so
they couldn't see. Then once everyone was all set, the
five tappers would go through the room and each would
tap one person. Once a person was tapped, they
put one hand on top of their head so the tappers would
know who was already tapped, and nobody got tapped more
than once. When each tapper tapped a person they went
to the front of the room; then the class lifted their
heads. The ones who had been tapped stood up next to
their desk and tried to guess who was the one who had
tapped them. If the person guessed correctly, the
one who tapped them had to go to their desk and the one
who guessed right took their place as the next tapper.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing |
Date learned: 00001970S
My father likes to tell riddles and trick people.
Here is one of his favorites.
If eggs are twelve cents a dozen how much are a
hundred eggs?
The answer may be obvious to you, but, if it is said
quickly it will easily confuse the listener.
The answer is one dollar.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
My father used this riddle on many people. How
many pieces of string does it take to reach the moon?
Answer, one if it's long enough.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
When my mother was growing up she lived with her
parents and her grandparents. Her grandparents
had come from Malta and still kept close ties to
the country. Hundreds of years ago the Turks
attacked Malta and destroyed almost everything.
When it rained out my mother would often see her
grandparents looking out the window. If the sun
happened to be out while it was raining they
would say, very negatively, "another Turk." In
this way she was taught that for every time it
rained while the sun was out, a Turkish child was
born and therefore it was a bad day. Because this
happens more rarely, they could be happy that there
were less Turks in the world.
Submitter comment:
This is usually said as a derogatory statement,
usually in disgust. My grandmother and mother
never say this because they believe that it is
unfair to hold this grudge today.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Birth PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: 00001950S