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A BROOM

BUY A BROOM IN MAY,
AND SWEEP THE FAMILY AWAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): SUPERSTITION ; WEATHER PROVERB

James Callow Keyword(s): CLEANLINESS ; IRONY (EXCEEDING CLEANLINESS CREATES ; RHYME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- May
BELIEF -- Measure of time Month
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 03-01-1968

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A PECK OF DIRT IN YOUR LIFE

EVERY PERSON EATS A PECK OF DIRT IN HIS LIFETIME.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT REMEMBERS THIS FROM CHILDHOOD.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): INEVITABILITY ; OBSERVATION ; UNCLEANLINESS

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 10-16-1967

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PROVERB

EVERYONE MUST EAT A BUSHEL OF DIRT BEFORE HE DIES.

Submitter comment: SEE DORSON: BUYING THE WIND NO. 351
PAGE 138
EACH ONE MUST EAT SEVEN POUNDS OF DIRT AND A HANK OF TOW PER YEAR.
I HAVE HEARD THIS PROVERB FROM MY MOTHER AND OTHER PEOPLE SINCE
DHILDHOOD.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): INEVITABILITY ; OBSERVATION ; UNCLEANLINESS

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 08-00-1964

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PROVERBIAL METAPHOR

NEVER SOIL YOUR OWN NEST

Submitter comment: FROM UNCERTAIN

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE

Keyword(s): SCATOLOGICAL

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; CLEANLINESS ; DEFICATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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BELIEF ABOUT CLEFT IN CHIN

IF YOU HAVE A CLEFT IN YOUR CHIN-
YOU ARE HONEST, CLEAN CUT, AND ALL AMERICAN.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): AMERICAN ; CLEAN CUT ; HONESTY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Ears, noise in ear

Date learned: 02-20-1972

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A SIGN OF BAD LUCK

IT IS BAD LUCK IN THE JAPANESE CULTURE TO CLEAN THE HOUSE ON THE
FIRST DAY OF THE YEAR. THE HOUSE IS CLEANED THOROUGHLY THE DAY BEFORE
THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HOUSECLEANING

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 11-11-1969

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POLISH JOKE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

WHO DISCOVERED POLAND? THE ROTO ROOTER MAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

James Callow Keyword(s): ROTO ROOTER IS A SEWER CLEANING COMPANY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Poli

Date learned: 02-00-1980

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A POLITICAL JOKE

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE AJAX WHITE KNIGHT RODE THROUGH
TEXAS?
THEY ELECTED HIM GOVERNOR.

Submitter comment:

HEARD ON U. OF D.'S CAMPUS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): REFERENCE TO AJAX CLEANING PRODUCTS TELEVISION COMMERCIAL

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman

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COMET. IT MAKES YOUR BREATH SO CLEAN.
COMET. IT TASTES LIKE KEROSENE.
COMET. IT MAKES YOU VOMIT,
SO BUY SOME COMET AND VOMIT TODAY!

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): COMET IS A BATHROOM CLEANSER.

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music

Date learned: 00-00-1975

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A FAMILY HAD A BABY WITH ONLY ONE LEG. WHAT DID
THEY CALL HER. ILENE!

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

James Callow Keyword(s): I LEAN ; PUN ; SICK JOKE

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote

Date learned: 10-00-1983

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SONG

COMET, IT MAKES YOUR TEETH TURN GREEN.
COMET, IT TASTES LIKE LISTERINE.
COMET, WILL MAKE YOUR VOMIT.
SO GET SOME COMET
AND VOMIT TODAY.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS SONG FROM A FRIEND IN SCHOOL. A FRIEND
OF HERS IS THE ONE WHO WROTE IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): COMET IS A BATHROOM CLEANSER

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest

Date learned: 00001978CA

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IF YOU CLEAN OUT YOUR PLATE THE SUN WILL SHINE THE
NEXT DAY.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID HE (SIC) PARENTS TOLD HER THIS DURING
HER CHILDHOOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK

James Callow Keyword(s): CLEAN OUT MEANS CLEAN UP.

Subject headings: Prediction / Divination
BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Eating
BELIEF -- Control Prevention Provocation Protection P892.28

Date learned: 09-24-1970

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Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

I HAD OBSERVED THAT THE PUERTO RICAN PEASANTRY (JIBAROS) WERE
VERY (UNDERLINED) CLEAN PEOPLE. THEIR SHACKS, WHILE
REFLECTING AN EXTREME LEVEL OF POVERTY, WERE SPOTLESS. THE
CHILDREN WERE DRESSED IN CLOTHES WHICH SHOWED THAT SOMEBODY
CARED. THEY WERE STARCHED AND IRONED WITH GREAT CARE. THE
BOYS INVARIABLY WORE LITTLE SPORT SHIRTS WHICH LOOKED NEW, AND
MUST HAVE COST A LARGE PORTION OF THE FAMILY'S INCOME. KNOWING
HOW THESE PEOPLE VALUED THEIR MALE CHILDREN, I COULDN'T HELP
WONDERING WHY THE LITTLE BOYS (UNDER FOUR) ALWAYS RAN AROUND
IN THEIR IMMACULATE SHIRTS--ONLY. NEVER DID THEY WEAR ANY
GARMENT ON THE LOWER PART OF THE BODY. WHY--IF THEY COULD
AFFORD SHIRTS, WHY NOT PANTS?
IT IS THE BELIEF THAT A BOY WILL BE MACHO (VIRILE) IF THE
SUN IS ALLOWED TO SHINE ON HIS GENITALIA AS MUCH OF THE TIME
AS POSSIBLE WHILE HE IS LITTLE. LITTLE GIRLS ARE ALWAYS
COVERED UP.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: PUERTO RICO ; SANTURCE

Keyword(s): Genitalia ; Machismo ; MASCULINITY ; Peasants ; Poor ; Puerto Rico ; Sunshine

James Callow Keyword(s): CLEANLINESS ; SEX

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Lower body and legs
BELIEF -- P566

Date learned: 00001963 ca.

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PROVERB: GLEANING

ONE MAN GATHERS WHAT ANOTHER SPILLS.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): GLEANING

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 04-06-1972

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CASINO WORKERS USE GESTURES: FINGERTIPS TOUCHING
TABLE MEANS "THERE'S A CHISLER HERE;" A FINGER BEHIND
THE EAR IS A DISTRESS CALL FOR THE HEAD MAN; CROSSED
INDEX AND THIRD FINGER MEANS "PLEASE TAKE OVER;"
PALM AND FINGERS EXTENDED DOWNWARD MEANS "THEY ARE
CLEANED OUT."

Where learned: BOOK

Keyword(s): SLANG: CLEANED OUT: OUT OF MONEY.

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business
SPEECH -- Underworld
SPEECH -- Instructions Directions

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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Play on Words

Sermon Using Names of Soaps and Detergents

Are you SOFT SOAPING God? DUZ you DRIFT along with the TIDE? VEL now is the time to CHEER up. If you want real JOY, the TREND is to BREEZE to church regularly on Sunday mornings. But too many WOODBURY their heads in a pillow and remain in bed or work in their yard to make it sparkle, forgetting that the Lord's Day is made for LESTOIL.

 

 

But where the Lord is given foremost consideration a DOVE will never have to send an S.O.S.. Don't trust LUX chances by neglecting our worship together.

Maybe we ought to DIAL you and remind you of those IVORY palaces up yonder. This is not just silly BAB-O. Worship is intended to add to your LIFEBOUY, so why not be faithful and WISK yourself out of bed early Sunday. Dress up SPIC'N'SPAN, DASH like a COMET to God's house of prayer. DRAISE to God, you'll get a wonderful KLENZER for your soul. PLEDGE yourself and PRIDE of conscience will be yours. Life will be full of ZEST.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [B644, B667] crossed out and replaced with S570.

Original title [STORY Using Names of Soaps and Detergents] is modified to read SERMON Using Names of Soaps and Detergents.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 7625 WESTWOOD ; St Peter Gdula ; Sister M

Keyword(s): ADVERTISING ; Anecdote ; Cleanser ; Consumerism ; Domesticity ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; HOUSECLEANING ; PARODY ; Sermon ; Soap

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Custom

Lenten Customs:

About two weeks before the Lenten fasting begins, the people of New Orleans celebrate the festival of "Mardi Gras."

Actually, "Mardi Gras" means "Fat Tuesday," and this is the day before Ash Wednesday. But the people celebrate for a couple weeks beforehand, much the same way as most people celebrate Christmas.

Mardi Gras is characterized by its magnificaent parades. Various groups spend enormous amounts of time, effort and money to make their floats as beautiful as possible. throughout the parade, people sit on the floats and throw trinkets, beads and other cheap toys to the crowds who clamor to see who can catch the most. Many of these articles are virtually worthless, but I have seen expensive beads, gold pieces and even $20.00 bills being thrown too.

Besides this, each parade has its own particular name (eg- the Rex Parade) and throws off "dubloons" with the name of the parade and that year stamped on it. A "dubloon" is a silver-dollar sized plastic coin, always in purple, gold or green. Long after Mardi Gras is over, people continue to trade dubloons-to try to get a dubloon of each color from each parade. This collection of worthless plastic coins can be quite valuable.

So the parades, dubloons, balls and parties make Mardi Gras the most festive time of the whole year in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; Isbell, Laura ; New Orleans

Keyword(s): Beads ; Celebration ; CUSTOM ; Float ; Mardi Gras ; New Orleans ; Parade ; PARTY ; Trinkets

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting

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Proverb

New brooms sweep clean.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: Whiting, Susan

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; BROOM ; Clean ; Maxim ; METAPHOR ; PROVERB ; Sweep ; VERSE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Proverb

New brooms sweep clean.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

`

Where learned: Whiting, Susan

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; BROOM ; Clean ; Maxim ; METAPHOR ; PROVERB ; Sweep ; VERSE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Proverb

A new broom always sweeps clean.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: HOME ; Rogosky, Leonie ; Rogosky, A

Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; BROOM ; Clean ; Maxim ; New ; PROVERB ; Sweep ; VERSE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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