Back to Top
Top Nav content Site Footer
University Home
James T. Callow Computerized Folklore Archive
search for

Offensive content Filter is ON

Your search for MI returned 23829 results.

prev | items
| next

ANCIENT RIDDLE

WHAT DOES A V-SIGN WITH YOUR FINGERS MEAN IN A BAR?
A ROMAN ORDERING FIVE BEERS.

Submitter comment: HEARD THIS IN MY SCHOOL CAFETERIA WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRANKLIN VILLAGE

Subject headings: Favorites
SPEECH -- Gesture
RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 04-00-1974

View just this record

ONE HUNGARIAN BURIAL CUSTOM IS FOR EACH MEMBER OF THE
IMMEDIATE FAMILY OF THE DECEASED TO PLACE SOME SMALL
PERSONAL TRINKET IN THE CASKET.

Submitter comment: DIANE'S RELATIVES ON HER MOTHER'S SIDE ARE HUNGARIAN
AND SHE HAS SEEN THIS CUSTOM OBSERVED SEVERAL TIMES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 00-00-1967

View just this record

IF A MOUNTAIN CLIMBER HAS BEEN KILLED, THE ROCCTHAT
KILLED HIM IS PUT ON HIS GRAVE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 12-00-1967

View just this record

FIFTEENTH BIRTHDAY-MEXICO

IN MEXICO, INSTEAD OF A SWEET SIXTEEN BIRTHDAY PARTY,
THERE IS A FIFTEENTH BIRTHDAY PARTY. THE GIRLS PLAY
GAMES AND THE PARTY IS VERY SIMILAR TO AN AMERICAN
BIRTHDAY PARTY, BUT NO BOYS ARE INVITED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 10-20-1971

View just this record

IN THE DORMS, IT IS TRADITIONAL TO GET THROWN IN THE
SHOWERS ON YOUR BIRTHDAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; ILLINOIS ; GLENVIEW ; ASSUMED

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 11-15-1970

View just this record

PARODY

ROSES ARE REDDISH
VIOLETS ARE BLUISH
IF JESUS CHRIST WASN'T BORN,
WE WOULD ALL BE JEWISH!

Submitter comment: LIKE THAT ONE, DR. CALLOW?

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRANKLIN VILLAGE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse

View just this record

POLISH PROVERB

WHEN THEY'RE CATCHING THE BIRD,
THEY SING TO HIM.
BUT WHEN THEY CATCH HIM,
THEN THEY PLUCK HIM.
JAK PTASZKA LAPAJA,
TO MU SPIEWAJA.
A JAK GO ZLAPAJA,
TO GO SKUBAJA.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT USED TO SAY THIS PROVERB TO HER DAUGHTERS WHEN THEY WERE
BEING COURTED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 5678 TARNOW ST ; 48210

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb

Date learned: 02-07-1971

View just this record

FIXED DATE BELIEF

PUT A DIME IN YOUR BIRTHDAY CAKE AND THE PERSON WHO GETS
IT WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK (AND GET TO KEEP THE DIME).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 09-28-1970

View just this record

ORIENTAL CUSTOM

ORIENTALS CELEBRATE THEIR BIRTHDAYS ON THE TET
FEAST DAY; EVERYBODY AGES ON THE SAME DAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 11-25-1969

View just this record

NUMBER JOKE OR MATH JOKE FORMULA

DO THIS: 1. PICK A NUMBER, ANY NUMBER;
2. MULTIPLY THAT NUMBER BY FOUR; 3. TO THAT ANSWER,
ADD TEN; 4. DIVIDE THAT ANSWER BY TWO; 5. SUBTRACT
FIVE FROM THAT ANSWER; 6. DIVIDE THAT ANSWER BY TWO;
7. SUBTRACT THE NUMBER YOU STARTED WITH FROM THAT ANSWER.
YOUR ANSWER SHOULD BE ZERO.
E.G. USE THE NUMBER FOUR. 4, 4X4=16, 16+10=26,
26/2=13, 13-5=8, 8/2=4, 4-4=0

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRANKLIN VILLAGE

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

View just this record

HER MOTHER PUTS NEW PENNIES INTO THE BATTER IN MAKING A
BIRTHDAY CAKE. THOSE WHO RECEIVE PENNIES IN THEIR PIECE
OF CAKE WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 09-00-1967

View just this record

THE PERSON WHOSE BIRTHDAY IT IS GETS TO PICK THE MENU,
THE DRINKS AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE NIGHT. THE
BIRTHDAY GIFTS ARE GIVEN DURING THE MEAL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 10-22-1968

View just this record

ON YOUR BIRTHDAY, WHEN YOU BLOW OUT THE CANDLES ON
THE BIRTHDAY CAKE, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE A WISH;
IF YOU DO NOT TELL ANYBODY YOUR WISH, IT WILL COME TRUE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 10-22-1968

View just this record

BIRTHDAY MEAL

IT IS THE CHINESE CUSTOM TO EAT NOODLES ON ONE'S
BIRTHDAY. THE LONG NOODLES SIGNIFY A LONG LIFE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 11-00-1968

View just this record

KILL A SPIDER AND IT WILL RAIN.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT RECALLS THIS FROM CHILDHOOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SHELBY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Insect

Date learned: 10-17-1970

View just this record

MEXICAN BIRTHDAY

AT A MEXICAN BIRTHDAY PARTY, ONE CAN ALWAYS FIND A
PINATA. THIS IS AN ANIMAL-SHAPED CONTAINER THAT IS
FILLED WITH CANDY AND COINS. IT IS USUALLY MADE OF
BRIGHTLY COLORED PAPER. THE MAIN FIGURES USED ARE
THE BULL AND HORSE. A PINATA CAN EITHER BE MADE IN
THE HOME OR ONE CAN BUY IT IN A LOCAL STORE. IT IS
HUNG FROM THE CEILING AND EACH CHILD AT THE PARTY
RECEIVES A TURN TO TRY TO BREAK THE PINATA. THE CHILD IS
BLINDFOLDED AND USES A STICK FOR HIS FEAT. ONCE THE
PINATA IS OPENED THE CANDY AND COINS FALL TO THE FLOOR
AND THE CHILDREN GET ON THEIR KNEES, TRYING TO GET
AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 10-10-1971

View just this record

BELIEF

MERMAIDS CAME TO THE HOMESICK SAILORS DURING LONG VOYAGES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; MICHIGAN HEIGHTS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 10-29-1968

View just this record

EVERYTIME THERE IS A BIRTHDAY IN THEIR FAMILY, THEY
PUT EACH PRESENT OVER THE PERSON'S HEAD WHOSE BIRTHDAY
IT IS SAYING, "HEAVY, HEAVY HANG OVER YOUR HEAD, WHAT
ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT?" THE PERSON THEN GUESSES
ASKING, "EAT IT, DRINK IT, PLAY WITH IT, WEAR IT?"
AFTER GUESSING THEY OPEN THE PRESENT. IT DOESN'T
REALLY MATTER IF THEIR GUESSES WERE APPROPRIATE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: 09-00-1967

View just this record

THAI CUSTOM

DO NOT SAY THE NAMES OF THE DEAD BECAUSE IT WILL
STOP THOSE THAT ARE STILL ALIVE FROM BEING
CHANGED TO ANOTHER STATE OR FORM OF BEING.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN THAILAND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 03-01-1971

View just this record

NEVER EAT BREAD WHEN A FUNERAL PASSES BY, BECAUSE
YOUR TEETH WILL FALL OUT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 10-23-1970

View just this record

prev | items
| next

Back to Top