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FOLKLORE OF DEATH

IF A PICTURE FALLS OFF THE WALL, SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: CA00001915

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CATNIP MIXED WITH PURE ALCOHOL WILL CURE A STOMACH ACHE.

Submitter comment: HIS MOTHER USED TO GIVE THIS TO HIM WHEN HE WAS SICK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant

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JUMP ROPE RHYME

ENGINE ENGINE NUMBER NINE
GOING DOWN CHICAGO LINE
ONE WENT EAST AND ONE WENT WEST
AND ONE WENT UNDER THE TEACHER'S DRESS.

Submitter comment: HE LEARNED THIS FROM A CHILD OF HIS WIFE'S FRIEND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

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

Date learned: CA00001960

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SANTA CLAUS COMES WITH A SWITCH AND GIVES A FEW PLAYFUL WHACKS TO
THE CHILDREN BEFORE PASSING OUT PRESENTS ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

Submitter comment: HE LEARNED THIS WHILE LIVING IN GERMANY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

James Callow Keyword(s): RITUAL WHIPPING.

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below.

Date learned: 00-00-1950

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AT WEDDINGS, THE BRIDE OFFERS A GIFT OF FLOWERS TO THE BLESSED
MOTHER.

Submitter comment: THEY BEGAN DOING THIS AT THEIR FIRST DAUGHTER'S WEDDING.
THEY DID THIS WHILE IN THE CHURCH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Religious hero

Date learned: 00-00-1977

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IN GERMANY MY MOM AND DAD SHOPPED AT A LOCAL BUTCHER. LATER MY MOM
FOUND OUT HE GOT SOME OF HIS MEAT FROM HUMANS. MY MOM WOULD NOT
EAT MEAT FOR A LONG TIME AFTER THAT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

James Callow Keyword(s): CANNIBALISM

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business
Food Drink -- Meat
BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business

Date learned: 00-00-1950

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WORMS

A TALL GLASS OF WATER IS PLACED IN FRONT OF THE PERSON TO BE CURED.
THEN A PIECE OF REGULAR SEWING THREAD IS USED TO MEASURE THE PERSON
FROM HEAD TO TOE THREE TIMES.
THEN THE PERSON SUSPENDS HIS HANDS IN THE SHAPE OF A CROSS
AND IS MEASURED FROM FINGERTIP TO FINGERTIP WITH THE SAME THREAD
THREE TIMES.
THEN THE LENGTH OF THREAD IS FOLDED IN HALF,
THEN FOLDED ONCE AGAIN IN HALF AND SO ON
UNTIL THE THREAD'S FORM HAS A LENGTH OF ABOUT 6 INCHES.
THE THREAD IS THEN HELD LENGTHWISE ABOVE THE GLASS OF WATER
AND SLOWLY CUT IN LITTLE PIECES
ABOUT AN INCH LONG.
AS THE THREAD FALLS INTO WATER SOME THREAD WILL STAY AT TOP
OR REST IN THE MIDDLE OR FALL TO THE BOTTOM.
DEPENDING ON WHERE THE THREAD RESTS, THE PERSON
PERFORMING THE CURE CAN TELL WHERE THE WORMS ARE IN THE BODY.
THIS CEREMONY IS CARRIED OUT FOR 3 DAYS IN A ROW.
AND ON THE THIRD DAY THE PERSON IS CURED
AND FEELING MUCH BETTER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 5205 FARMBROOK ; COLLECTORS HOME

Subject headings: 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 09-21-1969

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AT WEDDINGS, THE BRIDE GETS TO KEEP ALL THE BILLS (MONEY) THAT
IS PINNED ON HER DRESS BY THE MEN THAT DANCE WITH HER.

Submitter comment: HE LEARNED THIS WHILE IN GERMANY

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

James Callow Keyword(s): GIFT-GIVING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage

Date learned: 00-00-1950

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ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, A MALE ENTERS THE FRONT DOOR FIRST BRINGING
GOOD LUCK FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's

Date learned: 00-00-1958

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EGYPTIAN ENGAGEMENT CUSTOM

THE BRIDE TO BE WEARS BOTH HER ENGAGEMENT AND WEDDING RING ON HER
RIGHT FINGER, AND THEN AT THE WEDDING CEREMONY BOTH RINGS ARE PUT ON
HER LEFT FINGER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

James Callow Keyword(s): LEFT, RIGHT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage

Date learned: CA00001980

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CUSTOM

IT IS BELIEVED BY POLISH FAMILIES IN AMERICA BUT ESPECIALLY
IN POLAND THAT ONE MUST PUT HAY UNDER ATROCIOUS DESIGNS OF THE
SILVERWARE IN ORDER TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS PROPERLY AND IN ORDER
TO HAVE A GOOD AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. IF ONE FAILED TO DO THIS, THEN
ONE WOULD HAVE SEVERAL YEARS OF EVIL SURROUNDING THE FAMILY AND
ONESELF AND THE DEVIL HIMSELF WOULD BE WAITING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY T
TAKE THE PERSON TO HELL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve
BELIEF -- P 42
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- P887

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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SUPERSTITION

ON HOLMES STREET IN HAMTRAMCK, MICHIGAN, IT IS BELIEVED BY A FAMILY
OF BAKERS THAT IF YOU FOUND A DEAD OVEN BIRD WHILE YOU WERE UNDER
THE AGE OF THIRTY, YOU WOULD DEFINITELY BECOME A BAKER IN LIFE.

Submitter comment: IT IS STRANGE FOR I FOUND AN OVEN BIRD AND I HAVE NO INTENTION OF
BECOMING A BAKER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Bird
PROVERB -- Blason Populaire

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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CUSTOM

AT SUGDEN LAKE IN MICHIGAN, NOBODY TAKES THE FIRST SWIM OF
THE YEAR UNTIL ST. JOSEPH BLESSES THE WATER, OTHERWISE IT IS BELIEVE
YOU WILL HAVE GREAT FAILURE DURING THE SUMMER AND EITHER A MEMBER
OF YOUR FAMILY OR EVEN YOU YOURSELF COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED
IN THE WATER AND YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE ANY SUITABLE
MEDICAL HELP IN TIME TO SAVE YOU FROM DEATH OR PARALYSIS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 19 Feast of St. Joseph
BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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FOLK TALE

IN MY HOME PARISH OF ST. LADISLAUS
CATHOLICS GET THEIR THROATS BLESSED
ON THE FEAST OF ST. BLASE, BISHOP
AND MARTYR. THE PRIEST TELLS THEM
TO BE SORRY FOR THEIR SINS AND TO ASK GOD'S HEALING AND SAVING POWER
TO MAKE ITSELF PRESENT IN THEIR LIVES.
SOME STUDENTS CARRIED THIS BELIEF
TOO FAR AND ONE POOR GIRL EVEN CLAIMED
IT CURED HER OF VENEREAL DISEASE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church
BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Remedy

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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LEGEND

IN OWENS MARINA IN ST. CLAIR MICHIGAN, IT IS KNOWN THAT A DOG WHO
ONCE HAD HIS BODY COMPLETELY CHOPPED UP IN
A PROPELLER OF A MAFIA GANGSTER
WAS REINCARNATED INTO A SEA MONSTER.
THE STORY WARNED BOAT OWNERS WHO
WERE CARELESS WITH THEIR DOGS THAT IF
THEY DID NOT KEEP A CONSTANT EYE
ON THEIR BELOVED PETS WHILE ON THE BOAT, THE SEA MONSTER WOULD ATTAC
AND KILL NOT ONLY THEIR PETS, BUT ALSO THE WHOLE FAMILY. SOME EVEN
BELIEVED THAT THE BOAT ITSELF WOULD BE CONSUMED AND WOULD NEVER
BE FOUND AGAIN. FURTHERMORE, THE SEA MONSTER WOULD DO HIS DIRTY WOR
WITHOUT EVEN LEAVING A TRACE OF SUSPECT AND EVEN THE COAST GUARD WAS
KNOWN TO FEAR HIM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Animal

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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COAL BOAGIES

IN PENNSYLVANIAN TOWNS, COAL MINING WAS THE PROMINENT EMPLOYMENT
MENT. MANY MEN DIED IN THE COAL MINES. THE CHILDREN OF
THESE PEOPLE WERE KEPT AWAY FROM THE MINES BY THREATS
OF THE "COAL BOAGIES" (GHOSTS OF MEN WHO DIED). IT WAS
SAID THAT IF ONE FOUND YOU, YOU WOULD BE DRAGGED IN THE
MINE AND NEVER SEEN AGAIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 04-00-1979

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PYSANKY

UKRANIAN WOMEN DEVELOPED A LANGUAGE OF THEIR OWN REGION
BY SYMBOLICALLY DECORATING EGGS. DIFFERENT PICTURES
MEANT DIFFERENT THINGS. THEY USED THESE EGGS AS GIFTS,
GREETINGS, AND RELIGIOUS OBJECTS. EXAMPLES: A REINDEER= PROSPERITY,
A HORSE=WEALTH, FISH=CHRIST, HENS AND ROOSTERS=
FERTILITY, AND A SUN=GOOD FORTUNE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F 64 F 64.2

Date learned: 04-00-1979

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ENGAGEMENT

IN SOUTHERN GREEK TOWNS WHERE FISHING IS A WAY OF LIFE,
WHEN A MAN WISHES TO MARRY, HE PRESENTS THE GIRL'S FATHER
WITH A FISH. THE FISH IS THE GREEK EQUILVALENT OF AN
ENGAGEMENT RING. IT IS SYMBOLIC OF HIS ABILITY TO SUPPORT HER
AND HER FAMILY, IF NECESSARY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Symbols of engagement
BELIEF -- Fish

Date learned: 04-00-1979

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PREGNANT WIVES

IN THE UKRAINE, DURING WW 1, MANY MEN LEFT THEIR WIVES AND
WENT TO AMERICA. THE WIVES WOULD BE SENT FOR WHEN THEY
COULD BE SUPPORTED. OCCASIONALLY, ONE OF THESE WIVES WOULD
GET PREGNANT. WHEN THE HUSBAND, WHOM MAY HAVE BEEN GONE
FOR SEVERAL YEARS, OFTEN FOUND HE ALSO HAD A FAMILY, THE
WOMEN DEVELOPED A STORY TO EXPLAIN THIS HAPPENING. THEY SAID
THAT AS A STORM TOOK PLACE, THE WIND BLEW UP UNDER HER DRESS
AND THEY BECAME PREGNANT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

James Callow Keyword(s): WORLD WAR ONE

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 04-00-1979

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ARMY ESKIMO RHYME

"I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD, ESKIMO GIRLS ARE
MIGHTY COLD"... U. S. SERVICEMEN IN ALASKA DURING THE FIFTIES
DEVELOPED THIS LITTLE RHYME TO EXPLAIN HOW THINGS WERE
IN FAIRBANKS, ALASKA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY

Subject headings: 730 Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- War cries
PROVERB -- Blason Populaire

Date learned: 04-00-1979

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