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IF YOU DROP A KNIFE, A MAN IS COMING.
IF YOU DROP A FORK, A WOMAN IS COMING.
IF YOU DROP A SPOON, A CHILD IS COMING.
IF YOU DROP A DISHRAG, SOME SLOP IS COMING.
Submitter comment:
HEARD WHEN YOUNG IN THE EARLY 1900S. INFORMANT'S DAUGHTER
ALSO REMEMBERS HEARING THIS WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG IN THE LATE 30S.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.860 |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
BIRTHS AND BAPTISM
WHEN A BABY WAS BORN IN THE HOME, THE MOTHER COULD
NOT LEAVE THE HOUSE, WITH OR WITHOUT THE CHILD, UNTIL
IT WAS TIME FOR THE CHILD TO BE BAPTIZED. THEN THE
MOTHER AND THE CHILD WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE CHURCH
TOGETHER, IN THE DAYTIME, TO BE BAPTIZED.
Submitter comment:
THE ABOVE WAS BELIEVED AND PRACTICED BY THE INFORMANT'S
PARENTS. (1910-1920).
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Baptism Naming rite |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
DO NOT GO BAREFOOT ON SUNDAY UNTIL AFTER SIX O'CLOCK.
Submitter comment:
WHEN INFORMANT WAS A CHILD, SHE FOLLOWED THIS PRACTICE
BECAUSE HER MOTHER TOLD HER TO DO SO. ALL DURING
THE WEEK THE CHILDREN WOULD BE ALLOWED TO GO
BAREFOOT, BUT ON SUNDAY UNTIL SIX, IT WAS
FORBIDDEN. IT WAS IMPLIED THAT TO DO SO, WOULD
BE A SIN.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
IT IS FATAL TO WALK OVER A FRESH GRAVE, AND BAD LUCK
TO WALK OVER ANY GRAVE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HER MOTHER (1920S) WHO
ACTUALLY BELIEVED IT. INFORMANT DOES NOT BELIEVE
IT, BUT USUALLY AVOIDS WALKING OVER GRAVES.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
THE CASKET IS NEVER LOWERED INTO THE GRAVE WHILE THE
MOURNERS ARE PRESENT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HAS OBSERVED THIS PRACTICE AT FUNERALS SINCE
THE 1950S. UPON INQUIRING, INFORMANT WAS TOLD BY
FAMILY THAT THE CASKET WAS LOWERED AFTER EVERYONE IN
MOURNING PARTY HAS LEFT THE CEMETERY. THIS PRACTICE
IS SUPPOSED TO SPARE THE MOURNERS THE "TERRIBLE"
THOUGHT OF THEIR LOVED ONE BEING PLACED UNDERGROUND.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
BEFORE THE BASKET IS CLOSED TO TRANSPORT THE CORPSE
TO CHURCH, MEMBERS OF THE DECEASED'S FAMILY AND
FRIENDS KISS THE CORPSE AS A FINAL SIGN OF AFFECTION.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HAS SEEN THIS DONE AND HAS PARTICIPATED
IN IT AT FUNERALS (ANCESTRY BACKGROUND-HUNGARIAN,
CROATION, SLAVIC) IN THE 1960S AND 70S.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
NEVER TAKE FLOWERS FROM THE FUNERAL BASKETS LEFT AROUND
THE GRAVE, OR THE DEAD PERSON WILL HAUNT YOU.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS WHEN YOUNG FROM HER MOTHER
(1920S) WHO ACTUALLY BELIEVED IT. INFORMANT DOES
NOT BELIEVE IT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
ALWAYS HAVE YOUR SUGAR BOWL FULL AND YOU WILL NEVER BE POOR.
Submitter comment:
MY AUNT HAS ALWAYS BELIEVED THIS TO BE TRUE. WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER,
AN UNCLE OF HERS TOLD HER THIS. WHENEVER SHE VISITS US, SHE ALWAYS
FILLS OUR SUGAR BOWLS. SHE IS NOW 78 YEARS OLD AND HAS NEVER BEEN
POOR. SOMEHOW SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO HAVE EXPENSIVE
ITEMS AND BEEN ABLE TO TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD.
FULLNESS
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Date learned: 11-24-1977
PROVERB
A CROWING HEN ALWAYS COMES TO SOME BAD END.
Submitter comment: THIS PROVERB WAS NOT EXPLAINED TO ME.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
BELIEF
NEVER THANK PEOPLE FOR ANY FLOWERS THAT THEY MAY GIVE YOU
OR THE FLOWERS WILL NEVER GROW.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS WHEN A YOUNG GIRL, 1915,
BUT DOES NOT BELIEVE IT NOW.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
BRASS BUTTON BLUE COAT, CAN'T CATCH A NANNY GOAT
Submitter comment:
THIS TERM WAS USED BY CHILDREN AT PLAY IN PITTSBURG PA IN THE YEAR
1925
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; PITTSBURGH ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 10-04-1972
HER TEETH ARE LIKE THE STARS, THEY COME OUT AT NIGHT
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; PITTSBURGH ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): INSULT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-05-1972
Content filter on this entry.
RIDDLE QUESTION: WHAT WAS THE MOST SLIPPERY DAY IN EGYPT?
ANSWER: WHEN CHRIST WENT THROUGH ON HIS ASS
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS WHEN HE WAS A CHILD IN PITTSBURG, PA IN THE LATE
1928S
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; PITTSBURGH ; TOLD IN
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question Filter - Mature Content |
Date learned: 09-28-1972
THE MYSTERY
NEAR PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, THERE WAS AN OLD STRIP MINE THAT
HAD BEEN BURIED OVER AND LEFT BY A MINING COMPANY. TWO LITTLE
KIDS WANDERED NEAR THIS OLD STRIP MINE AND DISAPPEARED. A SEARCH
PARTY SET OUT TO FIND THE TWO KIDS AND HEADED TOWARD THIS ONE
PARTICULAR STRIP MINE WHERE THE KIDS WERE LAST SEEN. NEAR THIS
OLD STRIP MINE WAS AN OLD BARN. WHEN THE SEARCH PARTY ARRIVED AT
THE MINE, THERE WAS NO TRACE OF THE TWO KIDS OR THE OLD BARN.
THEY ALL JUST DISAPPEARED.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-07-1968
THE BRIDGE TO NOWHERE
LATE IN THE 1950'S, CONSTRUCTION BEGAN ON A BRIDGE ACROSS THE
ALLEGHANY RIVER LINKING DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH WITH THE CITY'S
NORTHSIDE. THE BRIDGE WAS BUILT AT GREAT EXPENSE, OR IT SHOULD
BE SAID THAT IT WAS ALMOST BUILT. ABOUT TWO YEARS AFTER CONSTRUC-
TION BEGAN, IT ENDED, SOME 40 FEET SHORT OF THE OPPOSITE BANK.
NOT ONLY WASN'T THERE ANY ROAD ON THE OTHER SIDE TO CONNECT THE
BRIDGE TO, BUT RIGHTS-OF-WAY HAD NOT YET EVEN BEEN PURCHASED.
THE BRIDGE REMAINED UNCOMPLETED FOR 14 YEARS, AND QUICKLY ASSUMED
THE NAME OF THE "BRIDGE TO NOWHERE." THE BRIDGE BECAME A SYMBOL
FOR INEFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT AND THE TARGET FOR NUMEROUS JOKES.
MANY STORIES ARE TOLD ABOUT PEOPLE DRIVING OFF THE END OF IT
(SOME ACTUALLY DOCUMENTED). THE BRIDGE WAS FINALLY COMPLETED IN
1970 AND OFFICIALLY NAMED THE FORT DUQUESNE BRIDGE, BUT PITTSBURGH
RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO REFER TO IT AS THE BRIDGE TO NOWHERE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Plan, design, color, building material, and technic ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Bridge |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
YOUR MOTHER AND MY MOTHER WERE HANGING CLOTHES.
MY MOTHER PUNCHED YOUR MOTHER RIGHT IN THE NOSE.
WHAT COLOR WAS HER BLOOD?
PERSON TOUCHED PICKS A COLOR AND THE COLOR IS SPELLED OUT,
LETTER BY LETTER.
(BLANK) SPELLS (COLOR PICKED) AND YOU ARE OUT!
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
IT'S NOT THE COUGH
THAT CARRIES YOU OFF.
IT'S THE COFFIN
THEY CARRY YOU OFF IN.
Submitter comment: HEARD AND SAID WHEN YOUNG, 1915-1920.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): DEATH ; HUMOR TANGLETALK PUN ; IAMBIC-DACTYLIC, FEMININE RHYME, WORD PLAY, REPETITION ; OBSERVATION, TONGUETWISTER ; QUATRAIN SURPRISE ENDING CONTRAST ; RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
WHISTLING
GIRLS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO WHISTLE BECAUSE THE BLESSED MOTHER
WOULD TURN HER HEAD AND CRY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT TOLD BY HER MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG (1920'S).
SHE PRACTICED THIS
WHEN YOUNG, BUT DOES NOT BELIEVE IN THE TRUTH OF IT NOW.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH ; Golatz, Mary Rose ; 1579 Anderson Road,
Keyword(s): Blessed Mother ; BLESSED VIRGIN ; Cry ; Female ; Feminine ; Girls ; Holy Mother ; Ladylike ; Whistle
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
WHISTLING
GIRLS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WHISTLE BECAUSE THE BLESSED MOTHER
WOULD TURN HER HEAD AND CRY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS BY HER MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG.
SHE PRACTICED THIS WHEN YOUNG, BUT DOES NOT BELIEVE IN THE
TRUTH OF IT NOW. (1920s).
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH ; informant's home
Keyword(s): Blessed Mother ; BLESSED VIRGIN ; Cry ; Female ; Feminine ; Girls ; Holy Mother ; Ladylike ; Whistle
James Callow Keyword(s): VANITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Extra Corporal Means of Communication |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
WHISTLING
GIRLS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO WHISTLE BECAUSE THE BLESSED VIRGIN
WILL TURN HER HEAD AND CRY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT TOLD BY MOTHER IN THE 1920'S. SHE PRACTICED
WHEN YOUNG, BUT DOESN'T BELIEVE NOW.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
James Callow Keyword(s): VANITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero SPEECH -- Extra Corporal Means of Communication |
Date learned: 10-02-1971