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WHEN A PERSON MAKES A SMALL JOB SEEM BIGGER THAN IT ACTUALLY
IS, HE IS SAID TO BE "MAKING A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
James Callow Keyword(s): ALLITERATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 00001980CA
ICE COLD BEER MAKES YOU WANNA CHEER,
ICE COLD GIN MAKES YOU WANNA WIN,
ICE COLD DUCK (CLAP THREE TIMES)
MAKES YOU WANNA SCORE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; BASKETBALL GAME
James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC DRINKS ; INITIAL ITERATION ; INTERNAL RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival Custom Festival |
Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.
If I'm lying may a lizard eat my gizzard.
Submitter comment: Child version of swearing to tell the truth.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HEMLOCK
James Callow Keyword(s): Asseveration ; FEMININE RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 00001970S
A FRIEND OF MINE USES "GREETINGS AND HALLUCINATIONS" AS A
GREETING INSTEAD OF "GREETING AND SALUTATIONS."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): DELIBERATE MALAPROPISM
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
WHEN MY MOTHER'S OLDER BROTHER WAS ASKED TO SAY THE PRAYER
OVER DINNER, HE WOULD SAY, "GOOD BREAD, GOOD MEAT, GOOD GOD, LET'S
EAT!" THIS BLESSING WAS NOT RECEIVED FAVORABLY WITH HIS CHURCH OF
CHRIST PARENTS!
Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI
Keyword(s): GRACE
James Callow Keyword(s): INITIAL ITERATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 00001940S
Miss Susie had an engine
The engine had a bell.
Miss Susie went to heaven
The Engine went to ...
Hello operator, give me number nine
If you disconnect me
I'll kick you right behind...
The refrigerator, there was a piece of glass
Miss Susie fell upon it and broke her little ...
Ask me no more questions, I'll tell you no more lies.
Miss Susie told me this the day before
She dyed her hair in purple,
She dyed her hair in pink,
She dyed her hair in polka dots
And washed it down the sink.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): REFRIGERATOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
When I was younger my mother always used to tell me to never
go outside with a wet head in the winter because my head would
freeze and I would catch a cold.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
James Callow Keyword(s): TEMPERATURE
Date learned: 00-00-1977
Hands Up to 85
To play this game there should be at least 3 or more players.
(The more players the more interesting a game!) The players stand
in a circle clapping each others hands throughout the entire game.
This game is usually played by young girls.
Object: To name something different about the subject your group
has chosen.
Rules: No one can repeat anything already named.
Players must not hesitate or demonstate.
Players must keep on the beat of the clap.
The rhyme: Hands up to 85,
Gonna get,
Names of,
(Name the subject) e.g., boy names
No hesitation,
No demonstration,
So let's go,
Starting with,
(Name the player to begin).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): hesitate or demonstrate ?
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 01-00-1992
St. Nicholas
My grandmother told me how the St. Nicholas legend began after
I told her I no longer believed in Santa. She said that moms and
dads aren't really lying to their children about Santa, that if you
have love in your heart you are Santa and that's what moms and dads
do. Originally, many, many years ago there was a kindly, wealthy
old gent, Nicholas. He had much wealth, but no children to whom to
distribute it. In his small village there were many poor families.
When he heard of a very lovely girl who could not marry her young
man because her parents had no dowry for her, he decided to help.
On the eve of Christ's birth, he approached the maiden's home.
Finding the window open, he tossed a bag full of coins into the
home. When the young maiden and her family discovered the small
bag, they used it as the girl's dowry. He saw what pleasure it had
brought the couple and the family and continued to help the poor
each Christmas Eve.
The townspeople found out who was doing such kind deeds and called
him Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) from that day forward. Moms and
dads everywhere from then on assumed the role of Santa Claus with
their children.
Submitter comment:
She told me this story in such a loving way, that I was
prompted to tell my children the same story when they asked about
the "reality" of Santa Claus.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): RATIONALIZATION
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 00001960S
GRAY DUCK
CIRCLE FORMATION. THE CHILD WHO IS "IT" WALKS
AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCLE. THE CHILDREN HE
TAPS (TO THEM) HE SAYS "DUCK, DUCK, GRAY DUCK."
WHEN HE TOUCHES THE CHILD AND SAYS "GRAY DUCK" HE
STARTS TO RUN AND THE CHILD TAGGED FOLLOWS, TRYING
TO CATCH HIM. IF THE CAUGHT CHILD DOES NOT GET
BACK TO HIS SPOT IN THE CIRCLE IN TIME, HE MUST
SQUAT LIKE A DUCK IN THE CENTER OF THE CIRCLE AND
THE GAME CONTINUES TILL ALL THE DUCKS ARE SQUATTING.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM KINDERGARDEN CHILDREN.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR: GRAY ; CONFIGURATION: CIRCLE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting SPEECH -- Onomatopoeia |
Date learned: 12-05-1966
DUCK, DUCK, GRAY DUCK
ALL CHILDREN (SQUAT POSITION) ARE IN A CIRCLE. ONE
PERSON WALKS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCLE AND TAPS
EACH ONE ON THE HEAD, SAYING, "DUCK" ON EACH ONE.
WHEN HE HITS A HEAD AND SAYS "GRAY DUCK" THAT PERSON
MUST CHASE THE TAPPER. THE TAPPER MUST GET TO THE
OTHER CHILD'S POSITION IN THE CIRCLE AND SQUAT
BEFORE HE IS CAUGHT. IF HE IS CAUGHT, HE NOW TAKES
THE PLACE OF THE ONE OUTSIDE THE CIRCLE AND THE GAME
CONTINUES.
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR: GRAY ; CONFIGURATION: CIRCLE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00001964-1965
DRINKING GAME
THUMPER: A GAME PLAYED BY FOUR OR MORE AT A PARTY.
EVERYONE FORMS A CIRCLE, EACH PLAYER PICKS SOME
KIND OF A MANUAL SIGNAL TO BE HIS OWN. STARTER BEGINS
GAME BY CLLING OUT, "WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE GAME?"
THE REST ANSWER, "THUMPER!" EVERYONE IS ALSO BEATING
ON THE FLOOR WITH THEIR HANDS. THE STARTER THEN GIVES
HIS SIGNAL FOLLOWED BY THAT OF ANOTHER PLAYER. THE
OTHER PLAYER MUST CATCH HIS SIGNAL, DO IT, AND THEN
GIVE SOMEONE ELSE'S. THE FIRST TO MISS MUST CHUG
A BEER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CONFIGURATION: CIRCLE ; DIALOGUE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Memory |
Date learned: 03-00-1970
BUZZ
BUZZ IS A COUNTING GAME. THE PEOPLE PLAYING SIT IN
A CIRCLE AND COUNT OFF. THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO
LARGE NUMBERS AND THE PLAING STOPS ONLY WHEN
SOMEONE MISSES. SEVEN AND MULTIPLES OF SEVEN ARE
REPLACED BY THE WORD BUZZ. EXAMPLE: ONE, TWO, THREE,
FOUR, FIVE, SIX, BUZZ, EIGHT, NINE, TEN, ETC.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CONFIGURATION: CIRCLE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Memory |
Date learned: 01-23-1971
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
HOT AND COLD
THIS IS A GAME FOR TWO PEOPLE THAT CAN BE PLAYED
ANYWHERE, ANYTIME. ONE PERSON MERELY PICKS AN
OBJECT. THE OTHER TRIES TO GUESS WHAT IT IS.
IF THE GUESSER IS WAY OFF, THE OTHER PERSON TELLS HIM
HE IS "COLD." IF THE GUESSER GETS CLOSE, THEN THE
OTHER PERSON TELLS HIM HE IS GETTING "WARM." OTHER
DEGREES SUCH AS "COLDER, LUKEWARM, FREEZING, AND
BURNING" ARE ALSO USED. WHEN THE PERSON HITS ON THE
CORRECT OBJECT, THEN IT IS HIS TURN TO THINK OF ONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): TEMPERATURE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing |
Date learned: 12-00-1963
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
WHEN A PREGNANT WOMAN IS NOT LOOKING, SPRINKLE SOME
SALT IN HER HAIR. IT WILL CAUSE HER TO ITCH HER CHIN OR
NOSE. IF SHE ITCHES HER CHIN, THE BABY WILL BE A GIRL.
IF SHE ITCHES HER NOSE, THE BABY WILL BE A BOY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THIS WAS A FAVORITE SYRIAN BELIEF IN
PREDICTING THE SEX OF AN UNBORN CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
Keyword(s): SCRATCH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Use of object for determining number of children or sex of unborn P863.1 |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
AT A BABY SHOWER, IF THE BRIDE-TO-BE BREAKS A BOW ON A
GIFT, SHE WILL HAVE ONE BABY. IF SHE BREAKS TWO BOWS,
SHE WILL HAVE TWO BABIES; ETC.
Keyword(s): WEDDING OR BRIDAL SHOWER, I RATHER THINK.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
YOU CAN'T SEW A GARMENT THAT IS ON YOUR BODY UNLESS YOU CHEW
SOMETHING TO SHOW YOU ARE ALIVE, SINCE THE ONLY TIME CLOTHES
SEWED ON YOUR BODY IS WHEN YOU ARE DEAD.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): FUNERAL PREPARATION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Daily Life BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 04-22-1969
WHISKEY HILL
IN AND NEAR THE TOWN OF DUBOIS (WYOMING?) THERE IS A
MOUNTAIN, CALLED BY THE TOWNSPEOPLE "WHISKEY HILL."
THE NAME COMES FROM THE LEGEND THAT IN THE EARLY DAYS
OF TIMBER CUTTING IN THAT AREA, THE LUMBERJACKS WOULD
GET EXTREMELY COLD IN THE THIRTY-BELOW WEATHER PREVALENT
IN THAT AREA. SO IN THE SUMMER MONTHS, THEY WOULD BUY
WHISKEY AND STASH IT IN PLACES KNOWN ONLY TO THEMSELVES
ON THE MOUNTAIN. THEN, IN THE WINTER, THEY WOULD BE
ABLE TO WARM THEMSELVES. NO TOWNSPEOPLE EVER FOUND
ANY OF THE STASHED (HIDDEN) WHISKEY SO NO ONE KNEW
IF IT WAS A TRUE STORY.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): CACHE ; TEMPERATURE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 00-00-1964