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PEACE IS A TREE OF WHICH LOVE IS THE FRUIT

Submitter comment: THIS IS AN OLD JEWISH SAYING

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PLANT VEGETATION ; SYMBOL

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 12-00-1968

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CUSTOM DEATH

PUSHING UP DAISIES
SOMETIMES YOU REFER TO DYING AS PUSHING UP DAISIES.

Where learned: SCHOOL ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT CAMPUS, ASSUMED

James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM ; PLANT ; SYMBOL

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 03-05-1968

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THE CHRISTMAS TREE

ALL THE CHRISTMAS TREES IN POLAND ARE DECORATED WITH ORNAMENTS
MADE BY THE PEOPLE OF THE HOUSE. THESE ARE USED FROM
YEAR TO YEAR. SOMETIMES NUTS AND CRANBERRIES ARE
STRUNG TOGETHER AND THE GARLAND HUNG ON THE BRANCHES OF THE TREE.
THE LIGHTS ARE USUALLY SMALL CANDLES LIT CAREFULLY BY THE LADY
OF THE HOUSE. THE TREE IS ALWAYS DECORATED ON CHRISTMAS EVE,
LONG AFTER THE LITTLE ONES HAVE GONE TO BED.

Submitter comment: RECEIVED BY LETTER FROM POLAND SEVERAL YEARS AGO

Where learned: POLAND ; KRAKOW

James Callow Keyword(s): PLANTS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20
Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit
Food Drink -- Plant food Nut

Date learned: 12-01-1975

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CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

IT IS A WIDESPREAD AND WELL-KNOWN CUSTOM THAT A PIECE OF MISTLETOE
IS HUNG FROM DOORWAYS, CHANDELIERS, CEILINGS, ETC. AS A CHRISTMAS
DECORATION. IF A MAN AND WOMAN SHOULD BOTH HAPPEN TO BE STANDING
UNDER THE MISTLETOE, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO KISS. IF ONE OF THEM IS
UNDER THE MISTLETOE ALONE, THE OTHER MAY COME UP TO KISS THEM.

Submitter comment: THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST WIDESPREAD OF CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS.
PEOPLE PROBABLY FOLLOW IT BECAUSE IT IS FUN AND FITS IN WITH THE
FESTIVE HOLIDAY MOOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PLANT PARASITIC

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Mistletoe and other greenery
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: CA00001966

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PLANTING CUSTOM

SOW SEEDS IN TRAYS IN HOT BEDS ON VALENTINE'S DAY, FEBRUARY 14TH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

Keyword(s): PLANTING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- February 14 Valentine's Day

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SUPERSTITION (MOST NATIONALITIES)

FARMERS WOULD NEVER PLANT THEIR CROPS EXCEPT WHEN THERE WAS A
NEW MOON.

Where learned: NOT INCLUDED

Keyword(s): PLANTING, MOON

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business
BELIEF -- Moon

Date learned: 09-25-1968

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CROPS

IF YOU WANT GOOD VEGETABLE CROPS, PLANT BEFORE THE SUN RISES. THIS
IS A POLISH CUSTOM

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): PLANTING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business
BELIEF -- Sun

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BELIEF (CUSTOM)

WHEN PLANTING CORN, PLACE A FISH IN EACH HOLE AND PLANT BY THE
LIGHT OF THE HALF MOON. YOU WILL, THEREFORE, REAP A BIGGER CROP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME

Keyword(s): PLANTING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business
BELIEF -- Fish
BELIEF -- Moon

Date learned: 10-23-1968

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CHOP UP AN ASPIRIN AND PUT IT IN THE GROUND WITH THE SEED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ;

Keyword(s): PLANTING CUSTOM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business

Date learned: 11-02-1971

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GROUND

A FARMER TESTS HIS GROUND FOR PLANTING POTATOES BY PULLING DOWN
HIS PANTS AND SITTING ON HIS FRESHLY PLOWED GROUND. IF THE GROUND
IS COLD, PLANTING IS NOT POSSIBLE. IF THE GROUND IS WARM, GOOD
RESULTS WILL FOLLOW.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; 1971 MORRELL ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): PLANTING CUSTOM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F476
BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming

Date learned: 10-00-1971

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PLANTING BELIEF

WHEN YOU WANT TO PLANT A ROSE BUSH FROM ONE OF ITS STEMS, CUT THE
STEM WITH FIVE LEAVES SHOWING; THEN PLANT THE STEM WITH ONLY TWO OF
THE LEAVES ABOVE GROUND AND THE ROSE BUSH WILL TAKE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): NUMBER ; PLANTING CUSTOM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 04-04-1972

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PLANTING RULE

IT IS A CUSTOM IN THE VILLAGE OF WENGEN, SWITZERLAND THAT YOU NEVER
PLANT BEANS WHILE THE MOON IS GROWING (THE PHASE FROM A NEW
MOON TO A FULL MOON). IF THIS RULE IS VIOLATED, THE BEANS
"JUST DON'T GROW."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; COLLECTORS HOME

Keyword(s): PLANTING CUSTOM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming

Date learned: 10-28-1970

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LIGHT TREE

WHAT TREE CAN YOU HOLD IN YOUR HAND?
A PALM TREE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOES NOT REMEMBER WHERE HE LEARNED THIS

Where learned: WASHINGTON DC

Keyword(s): BODY PART PLANT STRENGTH ; CONUNDRUM

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 09-12-1967

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RIDDLE

WHAT IS ORANGE AND WRITES?
A BALL POINT CARROT.

Where learned: DETROIT

Keyword(s): COLOR ; PLANT VEGETABLE

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 10-26-1967

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HARDER TO BEND A TREE WHEN THE TRUNK IS BIG AND OLD

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY INFORMANT

Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS ; OLD AGE? ; PLANT METAPHOR

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 12-04-1965

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CASPERILLA TEA IN THE SPRING WILL THIN THE BLOOD.

Data entry tech comment: BURDOCK ROOT TEA
SASSAFRAS TEA
OTHER REFERENCES IN ARCHIVE RECOMMEND THE USE OF

Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): PLANT CURE ; PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE ; SARSAPARILLA TEA

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 09-00-1968

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UNDERTAKER (COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; ROSES ARE RED, AND OTHER SUCH ASSOCIATIONS (CLASSIFIER'S TITLE)

ROSES ARE RED/ VIOLETS ARE BLUE
MY FATHER IS AN UNDERTAKER/ AND HE'LL GET YOU.

Where learned: SCRAPBOOK

Keyword(s): PARODY ; PLANTS FLOWERS ; QUATRAIN DEATH ; RHYME: ABCB

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Roses are red and other such associations

Date learned: 06-00-1965

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The Ant and the Grasshopper

All day long all through the warm days of summer, a green
grasshopper went happily about. Whenever the grasshopper was
thirsty, he would sip nectar from any plant he saw. One
afternoon, as the grasshopper was leaping from flower to flower,
he saw beneath him a little black ant struggling to carry a fat
leaf bigger than himself. "Little friend," said the grasshopper,
"What are you doing down there?" "Why, I am carrying this leaf
off to my nest. I must fill my nest with food to last through
winter." "Winter?" said the grasshopper. "Who cares about
winter? Why don't you climb up to this flower and enjoy its
sweet nectar? Winter will take care of itself." "That isn't the
way things work in this world," said the ant. "Winter will be
here soon. The flowers will be gone, and there will be nothing
to eat." "Well, suit yourself," said the grasshopper. And off
he went, singing happily and having no cares at all. The ant
returned to carry each leaf, but he did not mind. He knew he
would have enough to last the winter. Soon the cold weather
came. The ant was snug in his
nest with plenty of food to eat. The grasshopper? He had
nothing to eat and soon was no more. A WISE PERSON KNOWS THAT
SUMMER DOES NOT LAST FOREVER.

Submitter comment: My informant remembers reading this fable in Aesop.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

Keyword(s): Nectar = A sweet liquid secreted by plants

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale
BELIEF -- Measure of time Winter

Date learned: 11-00-1991

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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.

Where learned: OHIO ; CANTON

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

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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.

Where learned: OHIO ; CANTON

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

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