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"BLOCKHEAD"
IF SOMEONE CALLS YOU A BLOCKHEAD, BACK IN COLONIAL AMERICA,
PEOPLE WHO WORE WIGS
WORE WIGS KEPT THEM ON WOODEN BLOCKS (SHAPED THE SAME AS THEIR HEAD
IF THEY WERE RICH ENOUGH), AND CALLING SOMEONE A BLOCKHEAD IS
COMPARING HIS HEAD TO ONE OF THOSE BLOCKS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Date learned: 11-00-1974
CUSTOM
IT IS A CUSTOM IN OUR FAMILY TO GIVE THE FIR'ST SON HIS FATHERS
NAME AS A MIDDLE NAME, SUCH AS JOHN--EDWARD JOHN--KEITH EDWARD.
Submitter comment:
I AM NOT SURE WHEN THIS CUSTOM ORIGINATED, BUT I CAN TRACE IT BACK
TO 1900.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: CA00001960
FIBS
PINOCCHIO NOSE IS A NAME CHILDREN ARE TOLD THEY WILL BE CALLED IF
THEY TELL FIBS. THIS IS TAKEN FROM THE STORY ABOUT THE BOY WHOSE
NOSE GREW EVERY TIME HE TOLD A LIE.
Submitter comment: MY MOTHER TOLD ME MY NOSE WOULD BE JUST LIKE PINOCCHIO'S.
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Body part Senses Nose SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001955-00001958
NAMES
IN SICILY, THE FIRSTBORN SON MUST BE NAMED AFTER THE PATERNAL
GRANDFATHER AND THE FIRSTBORN DAUGHTER MUST BE NAMED AFTER THE
PATERNAL GRANDMOTHER.
NOT TO COMPLY WITH THIS MEANT DISGRACE AND EVEN EXILE BY
THE FAMILY FOR THE PARENTS OF THE CHILD. IT IS CONSIDERED
AN INSULT TO
THE PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS NOT TO.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT, MY FATHER, HAD TO NAME ME MARY AFTER HIS MOTHER AND MY
OLDER BROTHER BENEDICT AFTER HIS FATHER. I ALSO HAVE FIVE COUSINS
NAMED MARY AND EIGHT COUSINS NAMED BENEDICT.
Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 09-14-1972
"BARGE-BOTTOM"
ONE SUMMMER OUR FAMILY RENTED A CABIN WITH A BOAT. ONCE, MY
SISTER AND I GOT IN THE BOAT AND IT STARTED ROCKING.
WE BOTH SAT DOWN, CAUSING EVEN MORE MOTION. MY DAD CALLED
US BARGE-BOTTOMS BECAUSE OUR WEIGHT HAD CAUSED THE BOAT TO
SHIFT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; 10410 SOMERSET ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
QUEEN OF SHEBA
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS EXPRESSION IN THE YEAR 1938 FROM HIS FATHER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: 09-12-1972
NAME
PECKER CHECKER: } THIS IS THE NAME USED BY THE SEA SERVICES GIVEN
TO A HOSPITAL CORPSMAN. THIS IS DUE TO THE PRACTICE ON MANY SHIPS
OF THE CORPSMAN HAVING TO CHECK THE MEMBERS OF THE CREW FOR V.D.
UPON THE RETURN FROM A EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME ON LIBERTY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 |
Date learned: 09-27-1972
NAME
LIFER: } A NAME GIVEN BY ALL MILITARY MEN ON THEIR ENLISTMENT
TO REFER OFTEN CONTEMPTUOUSLY TO THE INDIVIDUALS MAKING THE MILITARY
A CAREER.
Submitter comment:
I AM SERIOUS IN MY USE OF THIS TERM SINCE IT IS USED FREQUENTLY IN
THE NORMAL COURSE OF A CONVERSATION.
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: 09-27-1972
DANCE ALL DAY ON A WHITE OAK LEAF. DESCRIBES A VERY SKINNY PERSON.
MAUREEN'S INFORMANT WAS HER GRANDMOTHER EVA HARMON 82 OF
FRENCH DESCENT CURRENTLY RESIDING IN ALGONAC, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-08-1972
PROVERB
DON'T BE CHOOSY KATHY,
SO YOU WON'T OVER CHOOSE;
SO YOU WON'T GET A SPARROW
INSTEAD OF A CANARY. (TRANSLATION)
NIE PRZEBIERAJ KASIU,
ZEBYS NIE PRZEBRALA;
ZEBYS ZA KANARKA
WROBLA NIE DOSTALA. (POLISH)
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT USED TO REMIND HER DAUGHTERS OF THIS PROVERB WHEN
THEY WERE DATING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BIRD
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; PERSONAL PROVERB ; RHYME (IN THE ORIGINAL)
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse in Other Group of Folklore C800.200 Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 02-07-1971
KNOCK KNOCK JOKE
KNOCK KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
CHESTER
CHESTER WHO?
CHESTER MINUTE AND I'LL SEE.
Where learned: LIVING ROOM
Keyword(s): PERSONAL NAME
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 12-03-1967
SUPERSTITION
IF A PERSON IS DEADLY SICK ONE SHOULD GO TO THE RABBI
AND HAVE HIM GIVE A NEW NAME TO THE ILL PERSON.
THE NEW NAME WILL EXTEND HER LIFE.
Submitter comment:
HER MOTHER TAUGHT HER THIS BUT SHE DOES NOT BELIEVE IT.
WHEN HER FATHER WAS DYING HER SISTER SENT A TELEGRAM
TO THEIR OLD RABBI ASKING FOR A NEW NAME. HE GAVE
HER ONE BUT THE FATHER STILL DIED.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname Favorites BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 04-00-1965
HICCUPS
HOLD YOUR BREATH AND SAY YOUR BOYFRIEND'S NAME 10 TIMES.
DRINK A GLASS OF WATER UPSIDE DOWN.
IF SOMEONE HAS THE HICCUPS SCARE THEM AND THE HICCUPS WILL GO AWAY.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED THESE THINGS WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG ABOUT 1950.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): FEAR
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname 686 First / Once / One / Newness BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
POLISH GIRLS AT BIRTH ARE NOT GIVEN MIDDLE NAMES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 12-00-1977
PROVERBIAL PHRASE
WIKCIA SPIEPSZEM,
MEANING,
VICKY WITH PEPPER.
Submitter comment:
STELLA KRZYZANOWSKI LEARNED THIS POLISH PROVERB FROM HER MOTHER
JULIA WASIELEWSKI. VICKY WITH PEPPER IS USUALLY SAID BY A PERSON
WHO OBSERVES SOMEONE RUSHING, YET NOT GETTING ANYTHING
ACCOMPLISHED. THE REASON FOR THE NAME "VICKY" IS NOT KNOWN.
THE USE OF PEPPER IN THE SAYING REFERS TO HOW UPSET A PERSON GETS
WHEN TASTING PEPPER ALONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
SPEECH
GLUCHA MATYLDA,
MEANING,
DEAF MATILDA.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A POLISH COMMENT MADE WHEN THE SPEAKER REPEATS HIMSELF
A NUMBER OF TIMES AND THE LISTENER STILL DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS
SAID, THE SPEAKER COMMENTS, "GLUCHA MATILDA".
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-20-1977
PERSON NICKNAME
BLOOD
Submitter comment: WHAT ERIC CALLS HIS BROTHERS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
Date learned: 07-00-1978
POLISH NAMING CUSTOM
IT'S A CUSTOM AMONG POLISH PEOPLE TO NAME THEIR CHILDREN AFTER
THE SAINT WHOSE FEAST DAY IS CLOSEST TO THE BIRTH DATE OF THE
CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
REGIONAL NAME FOR TOURISTS
IN ST. IGNACE, MICHIGAN, TOURISTS VISITING NEARBY MACKINAC ISLAND
ARE CALLED "FUDGIES" BY THE LOCAL RESIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE
FUDGE SOLD ON THE ISLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT IGNACE
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname SPEECH -- FamilyGroup PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
NEW BORN CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS NAMED AFTER A DEAD RELATIVE, NEVER ONE
THAT IS LIVING. THERE ARE NO JUNIORS OR SENIORS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 01-06-1972