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"INCHY PINCHY"
This practical joke begins when one person convinces
another (usually a younger/naive) person that they are
going to be initiated into a special group. The "initiate"
is taken into a darkened room, with perhaps only a candle
for a light, and seated on the floor. Others come into the
room (quietly and reverentially) and seat themselves in
a circle, in which the "initiate" is included. (Everyone
but the person who is the target of the joke is a co-conspirator.)
After everyone is seated in a circle, the
leader (seated next to the victim) announces that the
ceremony is about to begin. He instructs the "initiate"
to copy his motions exactly, doing to his neighbor what
is done to him. The leader, then, reaches out and grabs
the victim's cheek and gently pulls on it, saying
solemnly, "Inchy Pinchy." This should be intoned slowly--
"In...chy Pin...chy." The victim pulls the cheek of
the person next to him and does likewise, and the motion is
passed around the circle. Again the leader reaches out
and grabs another part of the victim's face, perhaps the
forehead or nose, and says "Inchy Pinchy." Again the
motion is passed around the circle. This continues as
many times as the leader wants. When the "ritual" is
over, the victim is instructed to look in the mirror to
verify how the ceremony has transformed him. When he
does so, he realizes that each time the leader touched
his face, that he had been smeared with lipstick (or any
other substance that can be concealed in the hand). At the
moment of realization everyone shouts "INCHY PINCHY!"
Submitter comment:
This was a joke I learned at a slumber party when I was
in seventh grade. My older brother and I successfully
played it on my younger brother, Greg, who reminded me
of it when I asked for any possible folklore items,
especially children's songs/games. A copy of a story he
wrote about this experience has been submitted as
supplementary material.
Where learned: OHIO ; COLUMBUS
Keyword(s): Humor, trick, mock rite-of-passage
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: 00001965CA
" Miss Susie had a tugboat, the tugboat had a bell,
Miss Susie went to heaven, the tugboat went to
Hello operator, please ring me number nine,
And if you disconnect me, I'll kick you right behind
The 'frigerator, 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 all of this,
The day before she died."
Where learned: NEW YORK ; Kenmore
James Callow Keyword(s): ASS ; HELL ; REFRIGERATOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Song |
This was an autograph in my mother's yearbook:
"2-4-6-8, Don't make love by the garden gate,
Love is blind, but the neighbors ain't."
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; Wilkes Barre
James Callow Keyword(s): Assonantal rhyme
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 06001958 ca.
Miss Susie had a steamboat. The steamboat had a bell.
Miss Susie went to heaven. The steamboat went to hell(o)
Operator connect me number nine, and if you disconnect me,
I'll kick you right behind the fridgerator, there laid a
piece of glass. Miss Susie fell upon it and broke her
little ass(k) me no more questions. Tell me no more lies.
Miss Susie told me all of this the day before she died
her hair all purple. She died her hair all pink. She died
her hair all polka dots, and washed it down the sink me
in the ocean, sink me in the sea, sink me in the toilet,
but please don't pee on me.
Submitter comment:
Sometimes this song is sung just by school aged children,
and at other times two girls will do an alternating, hand
clapping rhythm with each other.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HEMLOCK
James Callow Keyword(s): Hello Hell Ass Ask Dyed ; PEE=URINATE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 00001980S
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
It is my belief that the way a school day begins determines how
the rest of the school day will proceed. For instance if I go to
school one day and in my first hour I receive a corrected test back
with an "F" on it any other test I take or get back that day I will
fail also, regardless of how hard I've studied. This is also true for
days when something good happens to me in school. This belief does
not, however, extend out of school to my social life.
Submitter comment:
I believe this because I've experienced it many times in the
past.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
Keyword(s): pilot class
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 00001986ca
Why we say "His name is Mud"
The doctor who treated John Wilkes Booth was Dr. Mud. This is
where the saying "his name is Mud" originated. This saying is
widespread and frequently used. An ancestor of Dr. Mud is currently
trying to clear the family name.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND BLANC
James Callow Keyword(s): Lincoln assassination
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate SPEECH -- FamilyGroup |
Date learned: 01-00-1991
IN OBERAMERGAUE, GERMANY DURING CHRISTMAS TIME, THEY
HOLD A PASSION PLAY, DEPICTING THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; GERMANY ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BIRTH OF OUR LORD=CHRISTMAS. ; SOME CONTRADICTION HERE--PASSION PLAY=CRUCIFIXION.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Christmas Season See F645.2 for Advent Season. |
Date learned: 12-00-1967
IN OBERAMERGAUE, GERMANY DURING CHRISTMAS TIME, THEY
HOLD A PASSION PLAY, DEPICTING THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; GERMANY ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BIRTH OF OUR LORD=CHRISTMAS. ; SOME CONTRADICTION HERE--PASSION PLAY=CRUCIFIXION.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Christmas Season See F645.2 for Advent Season. |
Date learned: 12-00-1967
IF A DONKEY'S EARS ARE UP, IT WON'T RAIN.
IF A DONKEY'S EARS ARE OUT, IT WILL BE CLOUDY.
IF A DONKEY'S EARS ARE DOWN, IT WILL POUR DOWN.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): ASS
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SAYING
AS RED AS A PREGNANT NUN IN CHURCH.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): EMBARRASSMENT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 03-00-1972
IF A TREE OF ANY KIND IS SPLIT AND A WEAKLY CHILD IS
DRAWN THROUGH IT, WHEN THE TREE IS BOUND TOGETHER AGAIN,
THE CHILD WILL ACQUIRE STRENGTH.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; GADSDEN
James Callow Keyword(s): PASSING THROUGH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 10-01-1973
RIDDLE
WHAT KIND OF GLASS CAN'T YOU DRINK OUT OF?
-- AN EYEGLASS.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): GLASSES SPECTACLES
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-10-1971
After a funeral the best friend of the deceased is given a bowl of boiled wheat, a glass, and silverware. This little ceremony transfers the worldly goods of the deceased to the living.
Submitter comment:
Informant noted that this custom is not as popular as it used to be but it is still practiced.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD.
Where learned: HOME ; 10438 BONITA ; Zurawski, Anna
Keyword(s): DEATH ; Deceased ; FRIENDSHIP ; GLASS ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; RITUAL ; Silverware ; SYMBOL ; Symbolic ; SYMBOLISM ; UTENSILS ; Wheat
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
The Clever Chef
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
There once was a king who demanded that his chef prepare him a different type of meat for each principle meal. when the chef ran out of meats it would mean his death.
Quite naturally, the king soon ran out of chefs and volunteers for the job were few and far between. in fact, things got so bad that the king had to draft his subjects into the job. One of these peasants got drafted and day after day he prepared a different type of meat. However, as time went by, he began to run out of choices. Finally the day arrived when he had none. In desperation, he went to the palace barn at milking time and collected the cow manure as it was being expelled. That night he served it to the king. Upon tasting it, the king called for the chef in order that he might compliment him on the most delicious meat of all. When asked where it came from, the chef replied "it is that which hasn't fallen, your majesty."
Submitter comment:
This is translated from Polish and I feel it has lost its humor in translation.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
A grammatical correction was made to the Collector's spelling: Changing it's to its.
Original Boggs Number [B665] has been crossed out and B646 is written next to it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Janik, Josephine
Keyword(s): Class ; COOKING ; Deception ; FECES ; Fool ; IGNORANCE ; King ; Peasant ; ROYALTY ; Scat ; SCATOLOGICAL ; Scatological Humor ; Social Class ; Trickery ; Wit
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Romantic Realistic |
Confucius Says:
He who lives in glass house dresses downstairs.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Submission Card located in pile marked To Be Classified.
Where learned: Singer, Mary
Keyword(s): CONFUCIAN PARODY ; Confucius ; GLASS ; HUMOR ; Jest, Anecdote, Pun, Joke, Irony ; JOKE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Content filter on this entry.
Parody on a Proper Name
Sister Edith Kathleen was discussing current novels one day in our English class when she asked "Have you heard the latest book, 'Catch Her in the Raw? (A parody on the book Cathcher in the Rye)
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [S580] crossed out. Nothing written in place.
Submission card located in pile labeled To Be Classified.
Where learned: Sister Edith Kathleen ; CLASS
Keyword(s): BOOK TITLE ; Classroom ; CLASSROOM HUMOR ; EDUCATION ; LITERATURE ; PARODY ; PUN ; WORDPLAY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Translations, plays on words, symbol writing Filter - Mature Content |
Custom
Greetings:
Offering salt and bread and flowers is a way of greeting a person who has arrived from a long trip. This custom is one which was performed commonly in S.E. Poland and in Ukraine many years ago (prior to WWI) at that time it was used to greet any traveler regardless of his social position. Now recently it is used only in greeting people like priests, bishops, government officials, etc.
Submitter comment:
Although informant mentioned that this custom is carried out in Europe, I myself have observed this several months ago when people in a Ukrainian church greeted a bishop which had just been released from prison by the Russians.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; 26516 PENNIE ; Holubka, Julia ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; FLOWERS ; GREETING ; POLAND ; Salt, Bread ; Social Class ; Ukraine
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Ethnic: Native American
To Offer the Pipe:
After the pipe is filled it is offered silently in the four directions, skyward and earthward by pointing the stem away from the body while holding the bowl in the right hand. Nowone is prepared to hold the Pipe in two hands in any way that is comfortable or meaningful to the individual. Or else it is held in the right hand and the left is extended above the head palm outward. This ritual is a powerful sign with which to surroung an invocation or prayer just like the ceremonies of the Mass are signs surrounding the words of consecration. One can fell [sic] as comfortable performing the Pipe Ritual as he does the ceremonies of the Mass.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: CANADA ; Tekakwitha Conference ; Steinmetz SJ, Paul B ; WINNIPEG ; MANITOBA
Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; Mass ; Native American ; PRAYER ; RELIGION ; RITUAL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Ethnic: Native American
To Fill the Sacred Pipe:
Offer a pinch of tobacco in the four directions starting with any direction that you wish but always moving in a clockwise direction. After each pinch of tobacco is offered it is out into the bowl of the Pipe The starting point varies from man to man according to his individual vision or insight. The usual strating points are the west, north or east. I habe never run across anyone starting in the south. The following is an example of one starting with the west. Offering northward contains a prayer for the strength since this is where te cold winds and the flying snow comes from. Offering tobacco eastward contains a prayer for the light and understanding and southward a plea for new life since it is the source of warm winds and green grass. One does not pray aloud but rather silently. The tobacco is offerd skyward since this reminds us that we are walking in the Prescence of God towards Mother Earth to fill us with graditude for all the gifts we receive through creation. Symbolically one gathers the entire universe into his prayers. For one Indian the west was the place of the setting sun, the north the buffalo, the east the morning star, and the south the white swan.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: CANADA ; Tekakwitha Conference ; Steinmetz SJ, Paul B ; WINNIPEG ; MANITOBA
Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; Compass Point ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; Native American ; Pipe ; PRAYER ; RELIGION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |