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MENSTRUAL CUSTOM

AS A YOUNG GIRL I WAS TOLD THAT WHILE HAVING MY PERIOD
I SHOULDN'T WASH MY HAIR OR TAKE A SHOWER.

Submitter comment:

THIS CAME FROM A GIRLFRIEND OF MINE WHOSE NAME
I DON'T REMEMBER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; 10410 SOMERSET ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): MENSTRUAL TABU

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

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THE LEGEND OF STRASBURG STREET

ONE DAY ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO, A GIRL RIDING A
BICYCLE WAS KILLED BY A HIT AND RUN DRIVER WHILE ON
STRASBURG STREET, ON DETROIT'S EAST SIDE. THE MAN WAS
CAUGHT AND TILL THIS DAY YOU CAN HEAR A THUMPING NOISE
ON THAT STREET--PEOPLE SAY IT IS THE DEAD GIRL.

Submitter comment: VICKY LIVES IN THE AREA AND IS A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE STORY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 17137 GIRTRE ; 48205

James Callow Keyword(s): KNOCK-KNOCK STREET

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal

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LUKE THE SPOOK

LATE ONE NIGHT ON A COUNTRY ROAD NEAR ANCHORVILLE, A CHILD
WAS KILLED BY A HIT AND RUN DRIVER. NOW, AT NIGHT, YOU
CAN SEE A SWAYING LANTERN LIGHT ON THAT ROAD. THE GHOST IS
CALLED LUKE THE SPOOK.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT, AS A YOUNG TEENAGER, WENT WITH SOME FRIENDS
TO SEE THE GHOST BUT GOT SCARED AND WENT HOME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; 9562 SHORTCUT RD ; ANCHORVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): MYSTERIOUS LIGHT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

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EPITAPHS TO BAD DRIVERS

"MEAT HEAD," "FAT HEAD," "DUMMY," "DIMBULB," "HALF-WIT"

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT UTTERED THESE ON THE ROAD WHEN FEELING THREATENED
BY OTHER DRIVERS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; 10410 SOMERSET ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): INSULTS EPITHETS

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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A BOTTLE OF INK

INK, /INK, A BOTTLE OF INK
THE CORK FELL OUT
AND YOU STINK.

Submitter comment: REPLY GIVEN BY A CHILD TO A PERSON HE IS ANGRY WITH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 19793 GOULBURN

James Callow Keyword(s): RETORT INSULT BODY ODOR

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse

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SUPERSTITION

POLISH PEOPLE NEVER PUT SHOES ON BED - BAD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): LOCATION POSITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.1

Date learned: 11-30-1972

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SUPERSTITION

POLISH PEOPLE DON'T KISS IN DOORWAYS - BAD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): LOCATION POSITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.2
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 11-30-1972

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TRADITION

IRELAND - GOOD FRIDAY - CALLED BLACK FAST - FAST FROM
DAIRY PRODUCTS AND EGGS, BESIDES MEAT - COULD EAT FISH AND
POTATOES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): FASTING ON GOOD FRIDAY

Subject headings: 663 Good Friday
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals

Date learned: 11-30-1972

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PRANKS - PENNSYLVANNIA

PUSH OUTHOUSES FOR HALLOWEEN PRANK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SCATOLOGICAL

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion

Date learned: 11-30-1972

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NO BUILDING CAN BE BUILT HIGHER THAN WILLIAM PENN'S HAT ON
TOP OF CITY HALL.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PHILADELPHIA

James Callow Keyword(s): HEIGHT OF BUILDING ; STATUE OF WILLIAM PENN

Subject headings: Favorites
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Architecture
BELIEF -- Secular hero

Date learned: 11-30-1972

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NEW YEARS'S CUSTOM

ON NEW YEAR'S A BUNCH OF KIDS KNOCKED ON THE DOOR SHOUTING LET THE
NEW YEAR IN. RUN AROUND THE TABLE THREE TIMES SHOUTING LET THE NEW
YEAR IN AND GET MONEY ON WAY OUT - GO TO THE NEXT HOUSE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): VISITING AND GIFT-GIVING ON NEW YEAR'S.

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's

Date learned: 11-30-1972

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JOKE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

QUESTION: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN SWALLOWED BY AN ELEPHANT?
ANSWER: YOU RUN AROUND TIL YOU GET POOPED OUT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): SCATOLOGICAL BOWEL MOVEMENT

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 11-30-1972

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Proverb

TIME AND TIDE WAIT FOR NO MAN

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT HEARD THIS MANY TIMES ON THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED
STATES IN THE 1940S

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

James Callow Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ASSONANCE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 09-14-1972

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IT IS NICE TO BE IMPORTANT BUT IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO BE NICE

Submitter comment: INFORMANT REPORTS THAT THIS PHRASE IS IN COMMON USE AMONG THE
EXECUTIVES OF THE S. S. KRESGE CO.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): CHIASMUS

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 09-25-1972

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HER TEETH ARE LIKE THE STARS, THEY COME OUT AT NIGHT

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; PITTSBURGH ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): INSULT

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 10-05-1972

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LAUGH BEFORE BREAKFAST AND YOU WILL CRY BEFORE SUPPER

Submitter comment: INFORMANT REMEMBERS HER MOTHER TELLING HER THIS IN DETROIT DURING THE
EARLY 1930S

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST ; INEVITABILITY OF CHANGE

Subject headings: Observation

Date learned: 09-19-1972

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A HOOT AND A HOLLER AND AROUND THE BEND

Submitter comment: AN EXPRESSION USED BY THE INFORMANT'S FATHER IN 1928

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): DISTANCE

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 10-05-1972

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DREAM OF THE DEAD AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM THE LIVING

Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S MOTHER TOLD HER OF THIS PROBABLY IN THE YEAR 1928

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS

Subject headings: 841 Dreams about the dead and sick
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Dreams Dreams about the dead and sick

Date learned: 10-16-1972

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TO BELIEVE IS ONE THING, TO ACT IS ANOTHER

Submitter comment: INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS BY HER FATHER WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 09-26-1972

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EASY COME, EASY GO

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS REMARK IN THE U. S. ARMY IN 1946

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS BREVITY

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 10-04-1972

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