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Japan-Status

In Japan, everyone has name cards with their title on them. These
cards let everyone you come in contact with (usually in a business
setting) learn what status you have achieved. This exchange of cards
lets the exchangers know who is subordinate to the other. The
subordinate person (in Japanese, this person is subservient) must bow
lower than the other.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of space: distance, height, depth
SPEECH -- Gesture
SPEECH -- To Be Seen

Date learned: 01-00-1990

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My sister and I went to a youth rally when we were in high
school. At the rally we were taught that to grow psychologically
a person needs eight hugs a day plus many other facts that I now
cannot recall. When we came home our parents asked us at the
dinner table what we had learned; we told them about the eight hugs
needed to grow. My dad told us that he could do better than that,
so he has given us twelve hugs plus three for good luck. My
parents live up north and we often communicate by phone or by
letter; on the phone we count to twelve, then to three to give our
hugs to each other. In written communication, we write 12+3 to
give our hugs. This is a tradition that our whole family now
practices to give each other hugs and emotional support.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HOUGHTON LAKE

Keyword(s): Family folklore

Subject headings: 686 Seconds / Twice / Two
686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
686 Eighths / Eight
Favorites
BELIEF -- Good luck
SPEECH -- Gesture
SPEECH -- To Be Seen

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A POSTAGE STAMP PUT ON A LETTER UPSIDE DOWN MEANS THAT THE
WRITER LOVES THE PERSON TO WHOM HE IS SENDING THE LETTER. IT
IS READ AS "I LOVE YOU."

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CHATTANOOGA

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Word Letter
SPEECH -- To Be Seen

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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WHEN WRITING OR PRINTING, IF YOU CIRCLE YOUR "I'S"
IT MEANS SOME SORT OF AFFECTION, USUALLY "I LOVE YOU."

IF YOU PUT A STAMP UPSIDE DOWN ON AN ENVELOPE,
IT MEANS, "I LOVE YOU."

Where learned: SCHOOL

James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL

Subject headings: SPEECH -- To Be Seen

Date learned: 03-05-1968

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Content filter on this entry.

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

I WAS TOLD THIS BY AN OLD-MAID TEACHER IN HIGH SCHOOL:
"GOOD GIRLS DON'T WEAR HAIR CLIPS IN PUBLIC, AND
I THINK YOU ALL KNOW WHY." THE USUAL REASON WAS THAT
HAIR CLIPS REMIND BOYS OF THE BEDROOM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SEX

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Head
SPEECH -- To Be Seen

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SIGN TO BE LEFT IN ANGER

THANKS FOR TAKING TWO PARKING SPACES. I HAD TO PARK
IN THE NEXT BLOCK, YOU SELFISH, IDIOTIC MORON!!
YOU HAVE VIOLATED SECTION 368 D.A.M.I.T.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACRONYM ; ANGER ; Note ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN ; SIGN

James Callow Keyword(s): ABBREVIATION ; IRONY

Subject headings: SPEECH -- To Be Seen

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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A TRADITIONAL ABBREVIATION FOR A BACON, LETTUCE,
AND TOMATO SANDWICH IS BLT.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ABBREVIATION ; ACRONYM ; Bacon ; BLT ; FOOD ; LETTUCE ; Sandwich ; Tomato

James Callow Keyword(s): ACRONYM

Subject headings: SPEECH -- To Be Seen

Date learned: 03-02-1970

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ROTC=ROTTEN OLD TIN CANS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): ACRONYM ; JOKE ; MILITARY ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN

James Callow Keyword(s): ACRONYM ; ROTC:MILITARY TRAINING UNIT. ; SATIRE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School
BELIEF -- P535
SPEECH -- To Be Seen

Date learned: 02-15-1970

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WHEN ONE PUTS A STAMP ON A LETTER UPSIDE DOWN, IT
MEANS YOU LOVE THE PERSON THE LETTER IS WRITTEN TO.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: SPEECH -- To Be Seen

Date learned: 11-04-1969

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DURING THE LATE 1950S, YOUNG GIRLS OFTEN WORE SADDLE
OXFORDS {SHOES} WITH BUCKLES ON THE HEELS. IF
THE BUCKLES WERE FASTENED THE GIRL WAS SHOWING THAT
SHE WAS GOING STEADY. IF THE BUCKLES WERE UNFASTENED,
THE GIRL WAS AVAILABLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Signs of availability
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Dating, courtship mechanics
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet
SPEECH -- To Be Seen

Date learned: 00001950S LATE

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IN THE LATE 1950S AND EARLY 1960S, GIRLS HAD THEIR
FRIENDS TIE A PIECE OF THREAD ON THEIR RING
FINGER. THIS THREAD WAS NEVER TO BE TAKEN OFF
UNTIL THE GIRL'S TRUE LOVE HAPPENED ALONG TO UNDO
IT, SIGNIFYING THEIR ENGAGEMENT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Signs of availability
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Symbols of engagement
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet
SPEECH -- To Be Seen

Date learned: 00001960S EARLY

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IN NEW YORK CITY WHEN YOU ASK YOUR DOORMAN TO GET A
CAB, HE GOES OUT NEAR A BUSY STREET AND WAVES A
FLASHLIGHT UP AND DOWN. IN SOME PLACES THE DOORMAN
TURNS ON A RED LIGHT ON THE CORNER OF THE BUILDING
WHICH BRINGS A CAB.

Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Instructions Directions
SPEECH -- To Be Seen

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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SIGNIFICANCE OF DIFFERENT FLOWERS:
ROSEMARYS--FOR REMEMBRANCE
LILY--PURITY
VIOLET--SHY

Submitter comment:

MY INFORMANT LEARNED THESE FROM HER MOTHER IN KENTUCKY IN HER YOUTH. SHE SAID THERE WERE MANY MORE BUT SHE COULDN'T REMEMBER THE REST.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
SPEECH -- To Be Seen

Date learned: 00-00-1968

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MUSTARD SEED BELIEF

A GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED IS A SYMBOL OF GOOD LUCK AND HOPE.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector share the same surname.

 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PLANT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
SPEECH -- To Be Seen

Date learned: 11-05-1969

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RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOUR LOVER AND YOU.

IF YOUR SWEETHEART SENDS YOU YELLOW ROSES, IT IS A SIGN THAT LOVE IS FADING.

IF YOUR SWEETHEART SENDS YOU RED ROSES, IT IS A SIGN OF HIS STRONG LOVE FOR YOU.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): COLORS ; PLANTS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Color
SPEECH -- To Be Seen

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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