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PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM
ONE WHO IS AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS IS AFRAID TO LEARN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 09-25-1967
PROVERBIAL SIMILE
ITS RAINING LIKE A COW PISSING ON A FLAT ROCK.
Submitter comment:
THIS LITTLE SAYING WAS TOLD TO ME BY A MAN WHO HAD LIVED FOR
MANY YEARS IN THE THUMB AREA. HE HAD HEARD THIS WHEN HE WORKED FOR
A LUMBER COMPANY IN THAT AREA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
RIDDLE
Q: A STONE UPON STONE AND A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE?
A: CHIMNEY
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): HARDWARE (A) ; NATURAL PHENOMENON (Q) ; STATE OF BEING (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 10-06-1968
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SAYING
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL AND PEOPLE WOULD GIVE THINGS AND TAKE THEM
BACK, THE CHILDREN WOULD SAY,
DON'T BE AN INDIAN GIVER.
Submitter comment:
I LEARNED THIS SAYING IN ABOUT 1950, IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): DEROGATORY TERM ; FUNCTION ; RACISM
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Blason Populaire PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 05-12-1965
COUGH
TO CURE VERY BAD COUGHS, YOU TAKE SUGAR AND PUT IT IN A JAR, YOU THEN
CHOP UP ONIONS INTO THE JAR. YOU THEN CLOSE UP THE JAR TIGHT AND
LEAVE IT OVERNIGHT. IN THE MORNING, THERE WILL BE JUICE IN THE JAR.
TAKE A TEASPOON OF THIS JUICE WHENEVER THIS COUGHING IS HEAVY.
INFORMANT'S MOTHER IS OF FLEMISH BACKGROUND AND HAS USED THIS TREAT-
MENT FOR ALL OF HER CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. IT CURED INFORMANT'S
SON WHEN ALL OTHER MEDICINES FAILED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 02-08-1972
HICCUPS
HOLD YOUR BREATH AND SAY YOUR BOYFRIEND'S NAME 10 TIMES.
DRINK A GLASS OF WATER UPSIDE DOWN.
IF SOMEONE HAS THE HICCUPS SCARE THEM AND THE HICCUPS WILL GO AWAY.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED THESE THINGS WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG ABOUT 1950.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): FEAR
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname 686 First / Once / One / Newness BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
IF YOU SNEEZE WHILE YOU ARE TALKING, THEN YOU ARE TELLING THE TRUTH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: CA00001965
MARRIAGE CUSTOM
IN IRAQ, A LAMB IS KILLED AFTER A PERSON HAS JUST BEEN MARRIED.
Submitter comment: THIS IS FOR GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: CA00001965
AS A CAR OF PASSENGERS LEAVES THE HOUSE ON A TRIP, A BUCKET OF WATER
IS SPILLED AFTER THEM. THIS MEANS THEY WILL HAVE A SAFE TRIP.
Submitter comment: THIS IS DONE IN IRAQ.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Date learned: CA00001965
FOLKLORE OF OBJECTS
IF ONE SHOE FALLS ON TOP OF THE OTHER BY COINCIDENCE WHILE YOU ARE
TAKING THEM OFF, THIS MEANS YOU WILL GO ON A TRIP IN THE NEAR FUTURE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: CA00001965
IF A GLASS OR PLATE BREAKS ON THE TABLE THEN YOU WILL HAVE GOOD
LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: CA00001965
KRAKOWIAK (POLISH DANCE)
LIKE THE AMERICAN SQUARE DANCE.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; NOT GIVEN ; HOME ; PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; LETTER ; OHIO ; NEW JERSEY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; AUTOGRAPH BOOK ; GROSSE POINTE ; HARPER WOODS ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; WARREN ; JAPAN ; RUSSIA ; GRAND RAPIDS ; SHIPLE HALL ; GARDEN CITY ; ROYAL OAK ; TOLEDO ; TRENTON ; FARMINGTON ; KALAMAZOO ; CANADA ; ONTARIO ; MARYGROVE COLLEGE ; DETROIT ; MAIL ; INDIANA ; DETROIT, ASSUMED ; TOLD AT HOME ; FERNDALE ; SOUTHFIELD ; TENNESSEE ; MACKENZIE HIGH SCHOOL ; HAMTRAMCK ; DEARBORN ; MINNESOTA ; ILLINOIS ; NEW YORK ; FLORIDA ; KOREA ; WISCONSIN ; NEW HAMPSHIRE ; STUDENT UNION ; READING ; AUSTRALIA ; Sylvania ; Sterling Heights ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; OAK PARK ; SOUTHGATE ; STURGEON LAKE ; REDFORD ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA ; ROSEVILLE ; LINCOLN PARK ; TRAVERSE CITY ; HUNTINGTON WOODS ; PONTIAC ; TROY ; PORT CHESTER ; SOUTH AMERICA ; BROOKVILLE ; MONTREAL ; SEOUL ; NORTH OLMSTED ; EASTOWN THEATER ; ERIE ; University of Notre Dame ; FRANKLINVILLE ; TORONTO ; TOLD AT ; TOLD BY ; TOLD IN ; SCRANTON ; MONROE ; GLENVIEW ; MOSCOW ; GULLEY ; FINLAND ; HARBOR BEACH ; HOUGHTON LAKE ; Hudson Lake ; 1962 ; INDIANAPOLIS ; JONESBORO ; KANSASVILLE ; LEXINGTON ; MASSILLON ; MAUCH CHUNK ; MELVINDALE ; MILFORD ; NEW ROCHELLE ; NIAGARA FALLS ; PANAMA CITY ; PATAGONIA ; ARGENTINA ; RESIDENCE HALL ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES ; TOLD AT HONORS HOUSE ; AMERICAN HISTORY CLASS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dance |
HOW TO REMEMBER SOMETHING YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN
IF YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING COME BACK IN THE HOUSE AND COUNT
TO TEN OR ELSE GO THROUGH THE ALPHABET SLOWLY. YOU WILL ALMOST
ALWAYS REMEMBER WHAT IT IS YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS FROM MY MOTHER ABOUT 1950.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): SPEED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Number P686.3.10 |
Date learned: 05-12-1965
ENGAGEMENT RING
IF A BOY GIVES YOU AN ENGAGEMENT RING ON A SPECIAL DAY LIKE YOUR
BIRTHDAY, CHRISTMAS, EASTER, ETC., IT CAN BE REGARDED AS A GIFT
AND NEED NOT BE RETURNED. YOU MUST RETURN IT IF HE GIVES IT TO
YOU ON AN ORDINARY DAY.
Submitter comment:
I LEARNED THIS INFORMATION FROM MY GIRL FRIEND, MARGIE SMITH,
ABOUT 1960.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Date learned: 05-12-1965
BIRTHDAY CANDLES
IF YOU CAN BLOW OUT THE CANDLES ON YOUR BIRTHDAY CAKE WITH ONE
BLOW, YOUR WISH WILL COME TRUE. YOU MUST NOT TELL ANYONE YOUR
WISH OR IT WILL NOT COME TRUE.
Submitter comment:
I LEARNED THIS INFORMATION FROM MY PARENTS WHEN I WAS A YOUNG
CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- P647 BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 05-12-1965
HAUNTED HOUSE
THE HOUSE IN WHICH DAISY, HER SISTERS AND BROTHERS, HER MOTHER
AND FATHER LIVED WAS A TEN ROOM HOUSE WITH SIXTEEN WINDOWS. IT
WAS BUILT BY A RICH OLD MAN WHO WAS THOUGHT BY THE FAMILY TO HAVE
LEFT SOME MONEY SOMEWHERE IN THE HOUSE. THE OLD MAN DIED, LEAVING
HIS MONEY, WHICH HE WANTED FOR POOR PEOPLE.
THE MOSES FAMILY MOVED INTO THIS HOUSE TO SHARE CROP THE FARM. THE
OLD MAN, AFTER HE DIED, TRIED TO COME BACK AND TELL THEM WHERE THE
MONEY WAS. HE FIRST ATTEMPTED TO FRIGHTEN THEM AWAY. AFTER HE
COULDN'T SUCCEED, HE CAME BACK IN MANY FORMS. THE FIRST WAS AS A
BABY CRYING. AND, EVERY TIME THE MOON WOULD CHANGE, HE WOULD COME
IN DIFFERENT FORMS: MULE AND WAGON AND A HORSE AND BUGGY WOULD
APPEAR TO COME ACROSS THE CEILING OF THE HOUSE. STILL, HE
COULDN'T FRIGHTEN THEM AWAY. BUT WHEN THE SOUND OF A BABY CRYING
CAME FROM UNDER THE PORCH AND CARRIED ON FOR THREE WEEKS, THE
MOSES FAMILY FINALLY LEFT.
DAISY SAID THE OLD MAN DIDN'T WANT PEOPLE TO FIND THE MONEY, AND
SINCE THEY WOULD IF THEY LIVED THERE, HE NEVER LET PEOPLE LIVE
THERE LONG BECAUSE OF HIS FRIGHTENING WAYS. THREE FAMILIES HAVE
ATTEMPTED TO LIVE THERE SINCE THE MOSES FAMILY.
Submitter comment: ORIGIN: CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
THE DEAD GIRL
THERE WAS A MOTHER AND SHE WAS SO SICK. HER LITTLE GIRL HAD JUST
DIED. SHE SAID TO HER HUSBAND: "I JUST HAVE TO HAVE A DOCTOR."
NO SOONER HAD SHE SAID THIS THAN THE DOOR OPENED AND IN CAME THE
DOCTOR. THE FATHER SAID TO HIM: "WE DIDN'T CALL YOU. HOW DID
YOU KNOW TO COME HERE?" THE DOCTOR SAID: "WHY, YOUR LITTLE GIRL
CAME AND GOT ME AND TOLD ME TO HURRY OVER." THIS LITTLE GIRL WAS
DEAD, YOU KNOW, SO THE FATHER THOUGHT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A
MISTAKE. HE WAS GLAD THE DOCTOR WAS THERE THOUGH. HE WENT TO
THE CLOSET TO HANG UP THE DOCTOR'S COAT. AS HE WAS HANGING IT UP,
HE NOTICED HIS LITTLE GIRL'S COAT THAT HAD BEEN HANGING THERE EVER
SINCE SHE DIED, AND IT WAS ALL WET.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT DOES NOT REMEMBER WHERE SHE HEARD THIS STORY, BUT
KNOWS THAT IT WAS ABOUT 1920.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 05-12-1965
RUTA (COMMON NAME FOR GIRLS AMONG LITHUANIANS)
A LONG, LONG TIME AGO, WHEN UNPASSABLE FORESTS STILL EXISTED,
THERE WAS A DUKE THAT GOVERNED LITHUANIA. ALL THE OTHER DUKES
WERE AFRAID OF KARIBUTAS AND BOWED THEIR HEADS TO HIM. KARIBUTAS
WAS BRAVE AND POWERFUL. HE LIVED BETWEEN TWO FORESTS IN HIS
STRONG CASTLE. HE WAS VERY HAPPY WITH HIS WEALTH, RESPECT, BUT
HIS GREATEST JOY WAS HIS ONLY DAUGHTER WHOM HE LOVED VERY MUCH.
THEY CALLED HER RUTA.
RUTA HAPPILY RAN THROUGH THE CASTLE, SINGING LITHUANIAN SONGS.
(SHE) REJOICED AT THE FLOWERS, BIRDS' SINGING, HUNDRED-YEAR-OLD
OAKS' RUSTLING. SHE OFTEN SAT UNDER THE OLD TREES AND LISTENED
TO THEIR RUSTLING. THE DUKE'S DAUGHTER LISTENED TO THE OLD OAKS'
STORIES, AS OLD AS THEMSELVES--AS WELL AS SECRETIVE. SHE DIDN'T
EVEN NOTICE HOW HER JOYFUL DAYS OF YOUTH RAN BY.
WHEN SHE BECAME OF AGE, IMMEDIATELY FROM ALL OVER, RICH YOUNG
PRINCES AND DUKES STARTED COMING AND ASKING HER HAND IN MARRIAGE.
AND RUTA WAS SO BEAUTIFUL THAT ANYONE WHO LOOKED AT HER PROMISED
THAT HE WOULD EVEN GIVE HIS LIFE FOR HER. BUT RUTA WASN'T READY
TO GET MARRIED, SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GET MARRIED, AND THEREFORE,
DIDN'T PROMISE ANYONE.
BUT THE DUKE GOT TIRED OF LIVING ALONE AND DECIDED TO FIND HIMSELF
A SON-IN-LAW. HE FELT THAT HIS STRENGTH WAS WEAKENING, OLD AGE
WAS SETTING IN. HE CALLED RUTA TO HIS SIDE ONE TIME AND TOLD HER
THAT HE WANTS TO HAVE A SON-IN-LAW AND FOR HER, A HUSBAND. HE
SAID THAT SHE SHOULD FORGET ALL HER CHILDISH IDEAS AND THOUGHTS
AND HELP HIM TO FIND HER A HUSBAND. IF SHE DIDN'T FIND ONE IN
SIX MONTHS, THEN HE'LL HAVE TO APPOINT A HUSBAND FOR HER.
RUTA BECAME VERY SAD AFTER HEARING HER FATHER'S PLANS AND ORDERS.
SHE FELL AT HIS FEET AND BEGGED HIM, WITH TEARS IN HER EYES, TO
HAVE PITY ON HER AND NOT TO THROW HER TO A HUSBAND. BUT HER
FATHER TOLD HER THAT SHE MUST DO WHAT SHE IS TOLD.
BUT RUTA CRIED TILL WEAKENED, SHE FELL AT MILDO'S FEET (THE GODDESS
OF PURITY) AND VOWED THAT SHE WOULD KEEP HER VIRGINITY AND BECOME A
PRIESTESS. SHE KNEW THAT HER FATHER WOULD NOT LET HER DO THIS, SO
SHE DECIDED TO RUN AWAY TO ONE OF THE ROMUVAS (HOLY PLACE WHERE AN
ETERNAL FIRE BURNED TO ONE OR TWO OF THE GODS).
ON A WINDING FOREST TRAIL HURRIED A WHITE DRESSED GIRL. HER GOLDEN
HAIR, BEING MUSSED BY A GENTLE BREEZE, FELL ON HER SHOULDERS. THIS
WAS THE PRINCESS RUTA. THROUGH THE FORESTS SHE CAME ALONE TO
ROMUVA AND KNOCKED ON THE GATES. SHE WAITED A LONG TIME, WHEN ONE
OF THE PRIESTS CAME AND RECOGNIZED HER AND WELCOMED HER.
EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, THE SAME PRIEST TOOK RUTA TO THE HIGH
PRIEST. GOD'S SERVANT LISTENED TO HER, HER REASONS THAT BROUGHT
HER TO THIS HOLY PLACE. RUTA TOLD THE STORY OF HER LIFE, HER
FATHER'S DECISION AND FALLING TO HER KNEES, BEGGED THE HIGH PRIEST
TO ACCEPT HER AS A PRIESTESS.
THE HIGH PRIEST LISTENED TO HER COMPLAINTS. HIS WISE FOREHEAD
WRINKLED, HIS FACE CLOUDED OVER, BUT THE PRINCESS'S TEARS SOFTENED
HIS HEART AND WITHOUT THINKING OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN LATER, (HE)
ACCEPTED HER AS A PRIESTESS.
THE DUKE KARIBUTAS WAS SADDENED DEEPLY WHEN HE FOUND OUT THAT HIS
DAUGHTER HAD DISAPPEARED. HE BLINDLY WALKED THROUGH HIS CASTLE,
AS IF HE HAD LOST HIS WEALTH AND PRIDE. THE UNHAPPY FATHER CRIED,
JUST LIKE A MOTHER CRIES THAT HAS LOST HER LAST CHILD. HE ORDERED
EVERYONE TO LOOK FOR HER EVERYWHERE, JUST SO THAT THEY WOULD FIND
HER. THE ONE WHO FINDS HER, HE PROMISED, WOULD RECEIVE GREAT
REWARDS.
THEY SEARCHED FOR HER EVERYWHERE--THE PRINCES' AND DUKES' CASTLES,
THE ORDINARY HUTS, AND EVEN THE ROMUVAS.
ONCE, WHEN THE PRINCESS WAS MINDING THE HOLY FLAME, ONE OF THE
PRIESTS CAME AND TOLD HER THAT SOME OF HER FATHER'S MESSENGERS
HAD COME TO SEARCH FOR HER. RUTA PALED AS MUCH AS FRESHLY WOVEN
LINEN WHEN SHE HEARD THIS, AND RAN OUT INTO THE SACRED FOREST.
THERE SHE FELL UNDER AN OAK TREE AND BITTERLY STARTED TO CRY,
BEGGING THE GODS TO HAVE PITY ON HER AND NOT TO HAND HER OVER TO
HER FATHER.
THE MIGHTY GODS HEARD HER PLEAS AND PITIED HER. BUT THEY DIDN'T
WANT HER TO DEPART FROM THE EARTH WITHOUT LEAVING SOME SORT OF
SIGN, SO THEY TURNED HER INTO A SWEET SMELLING FLOWER.
THE MESSENGERS, LOOKING FOR THE PRINCESS, FOUND THE MAGICAL FLOWER
WHICH SMELLED SWEETLY IN THE WHOLE LAND. THEN THEY UNDERSTOOD
WHAT HAPPENED. IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE PRINCESS, THEY NAMED THAT
FLOWER HER NAME--RUTA.
Submitter comment:
TRANSLATED FROM LITHUANIAN BY RAMUNI STONYS. IN OLD LITHUANIA,
THE PEOPLE WORSHIPPED ANYTHING THAT WAS ALIVE--NOT GOD HIMSELF
DIRECTLY. FOR EXAMPLE, LIGHTNING, THUNDER, WIND, SUN, MOON,
TREES, ETC.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious BELIEF -- Marriage |
BALL OF FIRE
A MAN WAS FOUND DEAD IN HIS BEDROOM WITH HIS THROAT CUT AND HIS
WRISTS CUT. NO ONE WOULD EVER SLEEP IN THE ROOM WHERE THE MAN
DIED BECAUSE A BALL OF FIRE APPEARED UNDER THE BED. IT WOULD
COME OUT FROM UNDER THE BED AND HIT THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE ROOM
AND THEN RETURN TO ITS RESTING PLACE.
THEY THOUGHT THAT THE MAN HAD BEEN MURDERED, BUT THEY WERE NEVER
ABLE TO FIND THE MURDERER.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS STORY FROM HER MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS A
CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate PROSE NARRATIVE -- Air Weather Fire PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 08-11-1964
IF YOU PUT YOUR DRESS ON AND THE HEM STAYS TURNED UP
THAT IS A SIGN OF GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS
A YOUNG GIRL ABOUT 1915.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.) |
Date learned: 05-12-1965 ; 00-00-1915