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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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"WOODS' KIDS"

WHEN CERTAIN UNFAVORABLE HAPPENINGS OCCUR WITHIN THE
ROSSER HOME, THE WOODS' KIDS ALWAYS TAKE THE BLAME. THESE
SMALL CREATURES INHABIT THE WOODS BEHIND THE HOUSE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; DAYTON ; Rosser, Alan

Keyword(s): Blame ; FAMILY ; Fanciful ; Invisible ; Legend ; Tale ; TRICKSTER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Legend

Date learned: 02-00-1972

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showing 11 items

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