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Bury a statue of St. Joseph upside down in your garden, if
your house is for sale it will sell immediately.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Religious hero |
MISTLETOE
DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, MISTLETOE IS HUNG FROM
CHANDELIERS, ARCHWAYS, ETC. WHEN A PERSON STANDS
UNDER THIS MISTLETOE, THE FIRST PERSON OF THE
OPPOSITE SEX TO COME UP TO SUCH PERSON, IS TO KISS
HIM OR HER.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM PARENTS WHEN VERY YOUNG.
Keyword(s): PARASITE ; poison ; POISONOUS PLANT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Mistletoe and other greenery |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
MISTLETOE
DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, MISTLETOE IS HUNG FROM
CHANDELIERS, ARCHWAYS, ETC. WHEN A PERSON STANDS
UNDER THIS MISTLETOE, THE FIRST PERSON OF THE
OPPOSITE SEX TO COME UP TO SUCH PERSON, IS TO KISS
HIM OR HER.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM PARENTS WHEN VERY YOUNG.
Keyword(s): PARASITE ; poison ; POISONOUS PLANT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Mistletoe and other greenery |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
CHUGGING CONTESTS
A FAVORITE PASTIME AT PARTIES IS FOR EVERYONE TO GET
A MUG FULL OF BEER AND SEE WHO CAN CHUG IT DOWN THE
FASTEST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHUG=SWALLOW, WITHOUT STOPPING.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity |
Date learned: 03-29-1968
STATUE
ONE PERSON WOULD BECOME THE CUSTOMER AND WOULD HAVE
TO LEAVE TILL THE SIGNAL WAS GIVEN. THEN A SECOND
PERSON, AS THE STORE OWNER, WOULD TWIRL THE OTHERS
AROUND AND IN WHATEVER POSITION THEY ENDED, THEY
WOULD HAVE TO REMAIN. THEN THE CUSTOMER WOULD RETURN
AND CHOOSE ONE. THE 'STORE OWNER' WOULD 'TURN ON'
THE STATUE AND WHOEVER WAS CHOSEN HAD TO DO SOMETHING
AND AT THE COMMAND 'STOP' WOULD REMAIN IN THE POSITION
LAST ATTAINED. THE CUSTOMER WOULD THEN HAVE TO GUESS
WHAT IT WAS. THE FIRST ONE HE GUESSED RIGHT BECAME THE
NEXT CUSTOMER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
UNDER THE SHEETS
A PERSON IS ASKED TO NAME HIS FAVORITE SONGS, BUT
TO ADD TO THEM THE PHRASE "UNDER THE SHEETS,"
THUS CREATING A DIFFERENT MEANING TO THE TITLE,
AND THEREFORE PROVIDING HUMOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON
James Callow Keyword(s): NAMING GAME ; TITLES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Mental Activity |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
GEOGRAPHY
ONE PERSON STARTS OFF THE GAME BY NAMING A CITY,
STATE, COUNTRY OR OTHER TYPE OF GEOGRAPHICAL
LOCATION. THE NEXT PERSON MUST THEN NAME A DIFFERENT
LOCATION THAT STARTS WITH THE LETTER THAT THE FIRST
ONE ENDED IN. THIS KEEPS ON GOING UNTIL ONE CANNOT
THINK OF ANYMORE PLACES OR THE PARTICIPANTS GET TIRED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ALLITERATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Knowledge |
Date learned: 11-18-1970
GAME TAUNT
YOU, USUALLY A BOY, HOLLARS OUT THE WINDOW AT
SOME GIRLS, "HEY, PICK A NUMBER FROM ONE TO TEN."
SHE PICKS A NUMBER. YOU COME BACK WITH "YOU LOSE,
TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NUDITY ; TRICK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing |
Date learned: 00001961-1963
NEW YORK
YOU WOULD CHOOSE SIDES AND DECIDE WHAT THE OTHER SIDE
SHOULD DO. ONE SIDE WOULD SAY: HERE WE COME.
THE OTHER WOULD ASK: WHERE FROM? ANSWER: NEW YORK.
QUESTION: WHAT'S YOUR TRADE? ANSWER: ICE CREAM AND
LEMONADE. QUESTION: GIVE ME YOUR INITIAL AND SET
TO WORK.
THEN THE OPPOSING SIDE WOULD GIVE THE INITIALS OF THE
TASK THEY HAD CHOSEN FOR THE OTHER SIDE TO DO; FOR
EXAMPLE, "SSFSS" FOR "SEWING SOCKS FOR SEVEN SISTERS."
THEN THEY WOULD PANTOMIME THE ACTION AND THAT
OPPOSING SIDE WOULD HAVE TO GUESS WHAT IT WAS. WHEN
THEY GUESSED IT RIGHT, THE PANTOMIMING TEAM WOULD ALL
RUN; WHOEVER WAS CAUGHT WOULD HAVE TO GO OVER TO THE
OTHER SIDE.
Submitter comment: PLAYED WHEN SHE WAS A GIRL IN GLOUCESTER, OHIO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OHIO ; DETROIT ; GLOUCESTER
James Callow Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; DIALOGUE ; RHYME: AABCCD
Date learned: 05-11-1965
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PRETENDED OBSCENE RIDDLE
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
Q: WHAT GOES IN HARD AND COMES OUT SOFT, STICKY, AND WET?
A: GUM.
Data entry tech comment:
ANOTHER VARIANT IN U OF D FOLKLORE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; LITERAL ; STATES OF BEING (Q)
James Callow Keyword(s): PENIS ; SEXUAL INTERCOURSE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle Filter - Mature Content |
Date learned: 09-00-1971
SALT
AN IRISH SUPERSTITION: WHEN EATING AT A TABLE AND SOMEONE ASKS FOR THE SALT, YOU MUST FIRST SET IT DOWN NEXT TO THE PERSON AND LET HIM PICK IT UP. IF YOU SHOULD PASS IT TO HIM, IT IS SAID THAT THE TWO WILL GET INTO A FIGHT.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: informant's home
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE
Date learned: 10-05-1972
THE HILL
THERE IS A HILL IN THE ROSEDALE PARK CEMETERY. WHENEVER ANYONE PARKED THEIR CAR IN FRONT OF THE HILL, THE CAR WOULD BEGIN ROLLING UP THE HILL.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS A STORY WHICH CIRCULATED AROUND MY HIGH SCHOOL. I HAD "HEARD" IT ACTUALLY HAPPENNED TO SOMEONE, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW ANYONE WHO ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED IT.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Learned in late 1960s.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): ANTI-GRAVITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Formation |
Date learned: 00001960S LATE
HILL LEGEND
THERE IS A CERTAIN HILL IN NORTH CAROLINA, AROUND WINSTON-SALEM, WHERE A CAR WILL ROLL UP A HILL WITH THE DRIVER'S FOOT OFF THE GAS.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 18054 PELKEY ; collector's home
James Callow Keyword(s): ANTI-GRAVITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Creation and Order of Universe BELIEF -- Formation |
Date learned: 04-00-1970
MYSTERY SPOT-GRAVITY
THIS IS A PARK AT ST. IGNACE, MICHIGAN, IN THE U.P. WHERE, BECAUSE OF A GHOST HAUNTING IT, THE GRAVITY IS EXTRA-STRONG, AND YOU CAN STAND ON THE WALL OF A CABIN AND NOT FALL BECAUSE OF THIS
GRAVITATIONAL FORCE.
Data entry tech comment:
"U.P." IS MICHIGAN'S UPPER PENINSULA
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 16860 FREELAND ; informant's home
James Callow Keyword(s): ANTI-GRAVITY ; UPPER PENINSULA = U.P.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Creation and Order of Universe BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Earth BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.13 |
Date learned: 03-08-1970
Custom
Pounding a preacher is a Methodist custom of welcoming a new preacher by having a fellowship supper and at the end surprising him with the homemade gifts each person has brought.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: Harwell, H Q
Keyword(s): Covered ; CUSTOM ; Dish ; Fellowship ; FOOD ; Gathering ; GIFTS ; Homemade ; Potluck ; Pounding ; Preacher ; RITUAL ; Supper ; SURPRISE ; tradition
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church |
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WEATHER BELIEF
IT'S A COMMON BELIEF THAT ON ANY JEWISH HOLIDAY IT'S GOING TO RAIN, EVEN IF THE DAY STARTS OUT AS SUNNY AND BRIGHT.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: NOT RECORDED
James Callow Keyword(s): ANTI-SEMITISM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F000 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7 |
Date learned: 11-15-1969
Custom
Fellowship Supper is a custom that Methodists have of a covered dish supper.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: Harwell, H Q
Keyword(s): Community ; Covered ; CUSTOM ; Dish ; Fellowship ; FOOD ; Gathering ; Methodist ; Potluck ; RELIGION ; RITUAL ; Supper
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church |
Superstition: Animals
Eating the chicken gizzard will make you beautiful.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: Harwell, Martha
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; Beautiful ; BIRD ; Chicken ; Eat ; FOOD ; FOWL ; Gizzard ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Custom |
Wedding Custom
To find out the last initial of the man you'll marry, say the letters of the alphabet as you turn the stem of the apple. (one letter for each turn). The letter it breaks on is the initial.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): ALPHABET ; Apple ; CUSTOM ; Groom ; Initial ; Man ; MARRIAGE ; Marry ; Stem ; WEDDING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Autograph Verse
Round went the album, hither it came
for me to write in so here is my name.
Submitter comment:
Found in autograph book from the 1880's
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Album ; AUTOGRAPH ; Language ; NAME ; RHYME ; Signature ; VERSE ; Write
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |