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WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL WE HAD A CUSTOM OF
DECORATING A GIRL'S LOCKER IF IT WAS HER
BIRTHDAY. IN ADDITION WE WOULD MAKE AN
ADORNMENT OF SOME KIND OF CANDY AND GUM FOR
HER TO WEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Art Craft

Date learned: 12-00-1983

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"MY PARENTS WERE GIVEN AN ANNIVERSARY CHALICE ON THEIR WEDDING
DAY. EVERY YEAR ON THEIR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY THE CHALICE IS FILLED
WITH WINE AND EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY DRINKS FROM IT."

Submitter comment: INFORMANT ENJOYS THIS AND WANTS TO RECEIVE AN ANNIVERSARY CHALICE
FOR HER WEDDING TOO.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER

Keyword(s): ANNIVERSARY CHALICE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 00001965CA

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Each year it is a known tradition that all freshmen must
be "laked" on their birthday. Laking includes a group of
around twenty guys that first smear shaving cream on the
birthday boy. He is then led down to St. Mary's Lake
where he receives his birthday swim. The tradition ends
with a goodnight song to the girls in Lewis Hall, and a
mass mooning from all the guys involved in the laking
event.

Where learned: INDIANA ; University of Notre Dame ; South Bend

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

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It is a scottish tradition in Keith's family to drink out of a
special shot-type glass when an adult has a birthday. The
person having the birthday is the only one who may drink
from the glass. The print on the glass is red and green plaid.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 01-00-1978

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EVERY BIRTHDAY ONE PRESENT IS NOT GIVEN UNTIL YOUR SIXTEENTH
BIRTHDAY. ON YOUR SIXTEENTH BIRTHDAY YOUR ARE GIVEN THE
ACCUMULATION OF THE GIFTS, SOMETIMES IT'S JUST ONE EXPENSIVE
GIFT.

Submitter comment: MY INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM RELATIVES IN MAINE.

Where learned: MAINE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Maturity
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary
BELIEF -- Number P686.1.16

Date learned: 00001960S

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ON YOUR BIRTHDAY FOR HOW MANY YEARS OLD YOU ARE YOU ARE TO BE
SMACKED LIGHTLY ON THE BACKSIDE. THIS MAY SOUND CRUEL BUT IT IS
SUPPOSED TO BRING GOOD FORTUNE IN THE YEAR TO COME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PORT HURON

James Callow Keyword(s): SPANKING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary
BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs

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Birthday Celebration Festivities

At each birthday celebration in their family there are four
variations of "Happy Birthday" sung. The first of these songs is
the traditional "Happy Birthday" song. "Happy birthday to you /
Happy birthday to you / Happy birthday dear (insert name) / Happy
birthday to you." The second of these versions inserts "May the
dear Lord bless you" into the verse of the song. The third
version is sung "Happy birthday to you, you live in a zoo / You
look like a monkey, and you smell like one too." And the final
song which is sung is the Polish "Stolat." This is the Polish
"Happy Birthday" song. Patti can sing the words to the song, but
she does not know exactly how to spell them since she learned the
song through oral tradition from her Polish grandmother.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Crucial Moment of Life Life Cycle
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Birth
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 00-00-1974

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Cake candles resisting "blow out" are years until wish comes
true.

Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND

James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs

Date learned: 00-00-1991

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Happy Birthday to you.
You belong in a zoo.
You look like a monkey.
You smell like one too.

Submitter comment: This is sung to the tune of Happy Birthday.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK

James Callow Keyword(s): theriomorphism

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Birth
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 00-00-1990

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Polish Birthday Celebration

It was the custom in Poland, and in some families still exists,
that a birth day is not celebrated. The celebration is for the
feast day of the saint after whom the person was named. For
example, if a boy is named Joseph, he would celebrate St. Joseph's
feast day.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary
BELIEF -- Religious hero

Date learned: 03-00-1992

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BIRTHDAY SONG

STO LAT (100 YEARS):
ONE HUNDRED YEARS, ONE HUNDRED YEARS
LIVE FOR US A HUNDRED YEARS;
ONE MORE TIME, ONE MORE TIME,
LIVE FOR US A HUNDRED YEARS.
THIS IS A POLISH SONG WHICH IS SUNG TO THE CELEBRANT ON
EVERY BIRTHDAY HE HAS AT THE DINNER TABLE; IT IS A
SORT OF POLISH COUNTERPART TO OUR OWN "HAPPY BIRTHDAY
TO YOU." THIS CUSTOM HAS BEEN IN MY INFORMANT'S
LIFE FOR AS LONG AS HE CAN REMEMBER.

Where learned: PHONE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Social reunion
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 11-02-1971

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A GIRLS' BIRTHDAYS, HER FRIENDS ALWAYS GET TOGETHER
AND BUY HER A CORSAGE, WHICH SHE WEARS PROUDLY ALL DAY
LONG. FOR A BOY'S BIRTHDAY, ALL THE GIRLS GET TOGETHER
AND BUY HIM A CARNATION, WHICH HE WEARS ON HIS SHIRT
OR COAT ALL DAY. THIS IS A SIGN OF POPULARITY, FOR
ONE CAN GET MORE THAN ONE SET OF FLOWERS FROM VARIOUS
FRIENDS, AND THE MORE FLOWERS ONE GETS, THE MORE
POPULAR THE PERSON IS.

Where learned: SAINT ANDREWS SCHOOL

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 01-28-1971

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INFORMANT HAS A POLISH AUNT FROM BUFFALO, NEW YORK, WHO
GIVES EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY A LOTTERY TICKET FOR
HIS BIRTHDAY FROM AGE SIXTEEN ON.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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WHEN IT'S SOMEONE'S BIRTHDAY AT MY HOUSE, HE GETS
TO DECIDE WHAT HIS BIRTHDAY MENU WILL CONSIST OF
AND WHO WILL BE INVITED TO DINNER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 03-31-1971

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ON THE DAY BEFORE ONE'S BIRTHDAY, THAT PERSON IS GIVEN
A 'PINCH TO GROW AN INCH.'

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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AT ALL BIRTHDAYS THE VERSE "STO LAST, STO LAST, NIECH
RZYJE RZYJE NAM!" IS SUNG TO THE BIRTHDAY GIRL OR BOY.
IT MEANS "MAY YOU LIVE A HUNDRED YEARS.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S FAMILY SINGS THIS AT EACH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 02-15-1971

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BIRTHDAY CUSTOM

SNEAK UP ON THE PERSON, GREASE HIS NOSE, AND ROLL
HIM UNDER THE BED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 04-00-1970

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AT A PHILIPPINE ISLANDS BIRTHDAY PARTY, A THIN PAPER
BALL IS HUNG FROM THE CEILING CONTAINING SMALL GIFTS.
THE CHILDREN AT THE PARTY HIT THE BALL WITH STICKS
TO TRY TO GET THE GIFTS OUT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 10-02-1967

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THE NUMBER OF CANDLES ON THE CAKE INDICATE THE PERSON'S
AGE. THE BIRTHDAY CHILD GETS A SPANK FOR EVERY YEAR
AND A PINCH TO GROW AN INCH.
THE CHILD MAKES A WISH AND IF HE CAN BLOW OUT ALL OF
THE CANDLES AT ONCE, HIS WISH WILL COME TRUE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 02-08-1970

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IN ORDER TO HAVE A BIRTHDAY WISH COME TRUE, THE PERSON
MUST EAT A PIECE OF BIRTHDAY CAKE COMPLETELY WITHOUT
LAUGHING.

Submitter comment: LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 12-05-1967

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