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WHAT TIME WILL YOU BE HOME?
WHAT TIME WILL YOU BE HOME? PLENTY AFTER 12:00. (IF SAID QUICKLY
IT SOUNDS LIKE 20 AFTER 12:00. MAUREEN'S INFORMANTS WERE HER PARENTS
EDWARD OF IRISH AND FRENCH DESCENT AND PATRICIA OF IRISH AND BOHEMIAN
DESCENT
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CATCH TRICK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-08-1972
CUSTOM FESTIVAL, MEMORIES OF HOMELAND GERMANY
HAREKIN IS A HOLIDAY THAT IS CELEBRATED EVERY YEAR ON NOVEMBER 11TH.
BEYOND BEING JUST A SINGLE DAY ACTIVITY, IT KIND OF BEGINS WHAT
THE GERMANS CALL A FIFTH SEASON NARREN WHICH MEANS CRAZY. THERE ARE
BIG PARADES AND FLOATS. UNUSUAL AS THIS MAY BE, THE DAY OFFICIALLY
BEGINS ON NOVEMBER 11TH, AT 11 MINUTES AFTER 11 O'CLOCK.
THE ORIGINATOR WAS COUNT TILL EULENSPEIGAL MANY YEARS AGO. THIS
IS DESCRIBED AS A CELEBRATION FOR CELEBRATION'S SAKE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): TRICKSTER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F111 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Festival BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: NO DATE INDICATED.
IT WAS ABOUT A MAN WHO WON A GOOSE AND HE WAS VERY SELFISH, BUT
SINCE IT WAS THANKSGIVING HE HAD ALL HIS FRIENDS OVER FOR
A GREAT BIG FEAST. HE HAD THEM ALL SITTING AROUND THE TABLE - AND HE
TOLD THEM (SHOWING THE GOOSE) WHOEVER ATE THE MOST POTATOES WOULD
EAT THE MOST GOOSE. SO EVERYBODY WAS HELPING THEMSELVES TO POTATOES
AND THEY ATE MORE AND MORE. FINALLY, WHEN THE GOOSE WAS BROUGHT OUT,
HE SAID "OK, WHO WANTS SOME GOOSE NOW?", AND THEY WERE ALL TOO FULL
FROM EATING THE POTATOES- SO HE GOT TO EAT THE GOOSE HIMSELF.
Submitter comment:
ELAINE SAID HER GRANDMA ALWAYS TOLD THIS STORY EVERY THANKSGIVING
AND IT WAS A TRADITIONAL CUSTOM AT HER HOUSE. SHE SAID ONCE SHE
HAS HER OWN FAMILY, SHE WILL CARRY IT ON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): TRICKSTER
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
FOOL ME ONCE SHAME ON YOU, FOOL ME TWICE SHAME ON ME.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST ; TRICKSTER
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Seconds / Twice / Two PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
MULTIPLYING TECHNIQUE
THERE IS A WAY OF MULTIPLYING BY NINES ON YOUR HANDS.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HOLD UP YOUR TEN FINGERS AND PICK THE NUMBER
THAT YOU WANT TO MULTIPLY NINE BY AND THEN YOU PUSH DOWN THAT FINGER.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU WANT TO MULTIPLY NINE BY THREE YOU WOULD PUT
DOWN YOUR THIRD FINGER.
ON ONE SIDE OF THIS THIRD FINGER YOU WOULD HAVE TWO FINGERS HELD
UP, ON THE OTHER SIDE YOU WOULD HAVE SEVEN FINGERS HELD UP,
THEREFORE YOUR ANSWER WOULD BE TWENTY-SEVEN.
Data entry tech comment:
Uodated by TRD on 10.11.13
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HUNTINGTON WOODS
Keyword(s): Arithmetic, Mathematics, Multiplication, Trick, Memory, Aid, Learning, Tool, Fingers,
James Callow Keyword(s): MULTIPLICATION ON FINGERS
| Subject headings: | 686 686.1.9 Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Number P686.3.9 SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 02-22-1979
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POLISH JOKE
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
THERE WAS A BLACK MAN JUMPING UP AND DOWN ON A MANHOLE COVER
SAYING, "49, 49, 49,..." WHEN A POLACK WAS WALKING BY.
THE POLACK SAID "WHY YOU DO THAT?" THE BLACK THEN REPLIED
"HERE, YOU TRY." THE POLACK DID AND WHILE HE WAS JUMPING, THE
BLACK PULLED THE COVER AWAY AND THE POLACK FELL INTO THE SEWER.
THE BLACK MAN THEN REPLACED IT AND BEGAN JUMPING ON IT AGAIN
SAYING "50, 50, 50,..."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): NEGRO TRICKSTER
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- NEGR BELIEF -- Poli |
Date learned: 02-00-1980
KNOCK-KNOCK JOKE
KNOCK KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
CAPTAIN
CAPTAIN WHO?
CAPTAIN CRUNCH (THEN STEP ON THE PERSON'S FOOT)
Data entry tech comment: CAPTAIN CRUNCH IS A BREAKFAST CEREAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): TRICK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 03-24-1970
ITALIAN JOKE
AN ITALIAN PUT AN ADVERTISEMENT IN THE PAPERS THAT HE HAD DISCOVERED
A METHOD OF WRITING WITHOUT PEN AND INK, AND THAT HE WOULD GIVE THE
SECRET FOR A SMALL FEE. IN A FEW DAYS HE WAS FLOODED WITH REQUESTS
FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, TO WHICH HE REPLIED: "WRITE WITH PENCIL."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
James Callow Keyword(s): TRICKSTER, ITALIAN
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote ITAL |
Date learned: 02-25-1982
LITTLE JAKE SELIGMAN
LITTLE JAKE SELIGMAN WAS FIVE FEET TALL, MAYBE LESS. HE WAS
A BANKER AND MERCHANT IN SAGINAW DURING THE 1880S. HE WOULD OFFER
LUMBERJACKS A BARGAIN. ONE OF THEM WOULD GET A FREE SUIT IF HE
COULD CATCH A VEST THAT LITTLE JAKE WOULD THROW INTO THE CROWD.
LITTLE JAKE WOULD THROW THE VEST AND THE LUMBERJACKS WOULD FIGHT
OVER THE VEST. THEY WOULD FIGHT SO MUCH THAT ALL THEIR CLOTHES
WOULD BE IN TATTERS. ONE GUY WOULD COME UP IN POSSESSION OF THE
VEST, THE OTHERS WOULD NEED NEW CLOTHES, WHICH THEY WOULD BUY
AT JAKE'S STORE.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS AN EXAMPLE OF WISE MERCHANDISING IF I EVER SAW ONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): TRICKSTER
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 04-02-1982
"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
GAME TAUNT
YOU, USUALLY A BOY, HOLLARS OUT THE WINDOW AT
SOME GIRLS, "HEY, PICK A NUMBER FROM ONE TO TEN."
SHE PICKS A NUMBER. YOU COME BACK WITH "YOU LOSE,
TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NUDITY ; TRICK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing |
Date learned: 00001961-1963
COLOR, THIMBLE GAME
THE ONE WHO'S IT THINKS OF A COLOR. EACH PERSON
HAS TO GUESS A COLOR WHEN THE ONE WHO'S IT STANDS
IN FRONT OF HIM. THE ONE WHO'S IT HAS A
THIMBLE OF WATER. THE PLAYER WHO GUESSES THE RIGHT
COLOR GETS THE THIMBLE OF WATER THROWN AT HIM AND
IS THE NEXT ONE TO BE IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): TRICK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing |
Date learned: 09-00-1970
SAILING UNDER FALSE COLORS
Keyword(s): TRICKERY DECEIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
Goblin Story
A few years ago, in the main plant of Valente's Men's Formal Wear, the general manager, Marty Rapp, and David Palm were cleaning out the drainage wells beside the 50 pound washers down in the laundry. These wells are about 3 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep. Marty, being general manager, directed, while Dave did the cleaning. All of a sudden, Dave found himself being pulled into the well. He was waist deep in the murky water before Marty pulled him out by the arm. Maybe it was well that Marty was there directing, far Max, a vile, loathsome creature that lives in the sewers under Valente's had tried to pull Dave down into his submarine lair. For what purpose, no one knows, but it is certain it wouldn't have been pleasant. From then on, people are cautioned not to walkalone in the laundry in the dark.
Submitter comment:
For us at Valente's, Max is something to blame accidents on. Dave didn't really get pulled into the well, Marty pushed him in. Though, if you ask anyone there about Dave falling into the well, you will probably get the version with Max in it, then the real one.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; VALENTES MENS FORMALWEAR ; Palm, David
Keyword(s): FANTASY ; Goblin ; Lore ; Mischief ; OMEN ; SEWER ; Submarine ; SUPERNATURAL ; TRICKSTER ; WATER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
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 |
Trick
Trick:
A trickster points at your tie or shirt and asks, "what's that?"
When you look down at your tie to see what's there he raises his finger and drags his finger up over your face.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME ; Verhelst, Henry
Keyword(s): JOKE ; Prank ; Tease ; TRICK ; TRICKSTER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Trick
Trick:
A tricky person will point at a button on your clothing and ask "Do you want that?" If you say "yes," then he rips it off and gives it to you. If you are unfortunate enough to say "no," he rips it off and throws it away.
Submitter comment:
Be careful who you pull this trick on. He should not be Dick the Bruiser.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME ; Bachar, Joanne
Keyword(s): BULLY ; Button ; CLOTHING ; JOKE ; Prank ; Tease ; TRICK ; TRICKSTER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Trick
Cooties:
You used to put an "X" on your hand or something. That was your cootie shot. One girl was designated as having cooties and if she touched you, you passed it on to somebody else. Or else if you didn't have the "X" you'd get it."
Submitter comment:
Informant recalls this as being practices often while attending grade school.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME ; Ranks, Richard
Keyword(s): GAME ; gender ; Prank ; SCHOOL ; Tease ; TRICK ; TRICKSTER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Trick
Game:
A guy will tell a girl that he is a handwriting expert and will ask her for a sample of her handwriting. He will say that all he needs is something short, like her name. This is a sneaky way for him to get her name.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C500] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TRENTON ; Toepp, William ; Ray Ridge Chevrolet
Keyword(s): ; COURTSHIP ; DATING ; GAME ; Graphology ; Handwriting ; Pick-up Line ; TRICK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Dating Courtship |
Superstition
How Many Children?
Thread a needle and hold it at the top, next to your left wrist. If you keep watching for awhile, the needle and thread will move all by itself. If it moves in circles, for example, three times, that means you will have three daughters someday. If it sways back and forth, that means you will have the respective number of sons. If the needle and thread don't move at all, you will be childless.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P542, P860] crossed out. Replaced with current Classification
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Liskovec, Lucille
Keyword(s): BIRTH ; Childbirth, divination ; CHILDREN ; FUTURE ; GAME ; gender ; NUMBER ; Offspring ; Ordaining ; SUPERSTITION ; TRICK
James Callow Keyword(s): Reference
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |