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Chest Cold Cure
The following is done to cure a chest cold: An 8 oz. glass is
used and the rim is warmed over a open flame (as on a gas or wood
burning stove). While the glass is still very warm, almost hot,
the glass is placed directly on the chest, starting at either the
right or left side and held in place until it cools. This
procedure is repeated until the entire chest has been covered. If
a more severe condition exists, as in bronchitis, first a small
incision is made with a sharp instrument (knife) to allow bleeding,
then the heated glass is placed over the portion of the chest where
the incision has been made. Again this procedure is repeated until
the entire chest area has been covered.
Submitter comment:
This procedure for healing chest colds and bronchitis was
widely used in Poland. I questioned my mother as to whether or not
this actually worked and she maintains that it did. She did tell
me that this procedure left red rings on the chest and it was
actually quite painful since the glass had to be quite hot and the
incisions that were made occasionally left some scars.
James Callow comment:
See Puckett, Ohio No. 8526: "For a bad cold in the chest, heat
the inside of a small whiskey glass and put the mouth of the glass
on the person's chest. The skin will puff slightly and the cold
will be cured."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
James Callow Keyword(s): Cupping on the sternum.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
IF, WHEN YOU ARE PREGNANT, YOU SEE A MOUSE, CAT, OR DOG OR
OTHER FURRY ANIMAL AND TOUCH YOUR BODY ANYWHERE (EX. ARM,
LEG, FACE) THE BABY WILL HAVE A FUZZY OR FURRY PATCH
IN THAT EXACT SAME PLACE. MM
IF, WHEN YOU ARE PREGNANT, YOU SEE A FIRE AND YOU TOUCH YOUR
YOUR BODY ANYWHERE (EX. FACE, ARMS, ETC.) THE BABY WILL HAVE
A RED MARK IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE ON HIS OR HER BODY.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS COLLECTOR'S UNCLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-12-1970
WHEN YOU ARE PREGNANT YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO REACH UP WITH
YOUR ARMS, BECAUSE THE UMBILICAL CORD WILL STRANGLE THE
BABY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-12-1970
ANGEL BREAD
ANGEL BREAD IS A PASTRY MADE FOR ANY TYPE OF SPECIAL
OCCASION BY THE POLISH. THE HOST TAKES THE ANGEL
BREAD AND OFFERS IT TO HIS GUESTS ONE BY ONE.
EACH GUEST BREAKS OFF A LITTLE PIECE AND MAKES A
WISH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern |
Date learned: 03-29-1971
THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE TWENTIES
AN OLD UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT CUSTOM AMONG THE TWENTY-ONE
YEAR OLD SET IS THAT EVERYONE, FOR SOME REASON, MEETS
AT A BAR ACROSS THE STREET FROM CAMPUS EACH AND EVERY
THURSDAY NIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
CRACK THE WHIP
THIS GAME WAS PLAYED WITH ROLLERSKATES, AND THERE WAS NO LIMIT TO
THE PLAYERS. IT BEGAN WITH THE LEADER WHO SKATED ALONG, AND THEN
SOMEONE GRABBED ONTO HIS HAND, AND THIS CONTINUED UNTIL A CHAIN OF
PEOPLE FORMED. BUT IN ANY TIME OF THE GAME, THE LEADER MADE A
QUICK HALF MOON TURN, WHICH CAUSED A WHIP THAT USUALLY THREW THE
LAST PERSON OUT OF LINE AND WITH A GOOD BRUISE.
Submitter comment:
MY DAD LEARNED THIS GAME IN HAMTRAMCK AS A YOUNG BOY. HE ENJOYED
PLAYING IT THEN, BUT NOW THOUGHT IT WAS KIND OF ROUGH WHEN THE LAST
PERSON ON THE WHIP SCRAPED HIS LEGS BAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1940
FREEZE
THIS GAME, A VERSION OF TAG AND HIDE AND SEEK, INVOLVED AS MANY
PLAYERS AS ONE WANTED. IN IT SOMEONE WAS CHOSEN TO COUNT TO TEN
WHILE SUPPOSEDLY CLOSING HIS EYES. DURING THIS TIME, CHILDREN
HID. THE OBJECT OF THIS GAME WAS FOR THE PLAYERS TO REACH A HOME
BASE, WHICH IN THIS CASE WAS A LAUNDRY POLE, BEFORE THE ONE PERSON
COULD TAG SOMEONE.
Submitter comment:
THIS WASN'T A BAD GAME ACCORDING TO MY FATHER, BUT IT JUST LOST ITS
APPEAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Hiding Searching Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C531 |
Date learned: 00-00-1930
HALLOWEEN PRANK
A GOOD PRANK MY FRIEND WOULD DO NEAR HALLOWEEN WAS BORROW SOME OLD
CLOTHES AND STUFF THEM WITH HAY. HE WOULD THEN GET SOME DUCK'S
BLOOD FROM THE GROCER AND SPLASH IT OVER THE BODY, AND THEN LEAVE IT
ON SOMEONE'S PORCH.
Submitter comment:
THIS HALLOWEEN GAG STOPPED WHEN THE DEPRESSION CAME AND CLOTHES
WERE NOT MISUSED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00-00-1920
PRANK
AS A YOUNG BOY, I WOULD FOOL THE OLD MAILMAN OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD WITH
AN OLD WALLET. I TIED A THIN PIECE OF LIGHT STRING TO IT, AND WHEN-
EVER HE SAW IT AND TRIED TO PICK IT UP, I PULLED IT QUICKLY AWAY
AND RAN.
Submitter comment:
THE DAY MY FATHER STOPPED THIS PRANK WAS WHEN THE MAILMAN CAUGHT
HIM BEHIND THE BUSH WITH HIS STRING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00-00-1920
ST. STEPHEN'S DAY
ON DEC. 26, MIDDLEAGED PEOPLE THREW WALNUTS AT THEIR FRIENDS OR
FAMILIES. PROBABLY USED AS A REMINDER TO GET RID OF OLD YEAR
AND PREPARE FOR NEW ONE.
Submitter comment:
THE OBSERVANCE OF THIS DAY IN HAMTRAMCK WAS PRACTICED BY PARENTS WHO
AWOKE THEIR CHILDREN BY TOSSING A WALNUT TO THEIR NOSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 26 Boxing Day St. Stephen's Day Food Drink -- Plant food Nut |
Date learned: 00-00-1920
FOLK TALE
IN OUR LADY QUEEN OF APOSTLES CHURCH IN HAMTRAMCK, MICHIGAN, THERE
IS A BELIEF THAT THE
CHURCH WAS ONCE INHABITED BY GHOSTS OF THE FORMER
PASTOR WHO BUILT THE HUGE CHURCH. IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE
WHO CAME TO WORSHIP THERE AND ALSO TO KEEP THE CHURCH
FREE FROM THE DESTRUCTIVE INFECTION OF SIN, THE NEW PASTOR PUT
UP GARGOYLES AROUND THE MAIN ALTAR.
THIS WAS SAID TO BE THE ONLY THING
THAT COULD DRIVE OUT THE MEMORY
OF THE PREVIOUS EVIL PASTOR AND THE BAD
FORCES THAT WERE KNOWN TO ENTER THE BUILDING
WHERE HE LIVED. IT WAS SAID
THAT THE HOUSE OF SATAN COULD ONCE AGAIN BECOME THE HOUSE OF GOD
HIMSELF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
MY GREAT AUNT BELIEVED THAT A PERSON COULD NOT ENTER HEAVEN IF THEY
COMMITTED SUICIDE. SHE SAID THAT THEY
MAY BE ALLOWED TO ENTER LIMBO IF
THEY WERE NOT CATHOLIC. BUT, THOSE WHO WERE CATHOLIC BECAUSE THEY HA
KNOWLEDGE OF THE ONE TRUE FAITH, COULD NOT EVEN ENTER LIMBO IF THEY
COMMITTED SUICIDE. THUS, MY AUNT WARNED
IT WAS BETTER FOR A PERSON TO
HAVE LIVED IN TOTAL MISERY THAN TO JUSTIFY A SUICIDE, FOR THIS MEANT
ETERNAL DAMNATION AND NOTHING COULD EVER SAVE A CATHOLIC WHO HAD
COMMITTED SUICIDE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
IN MY GRADE SCHOOL, OUR LADY QUEEN OF APOSTLES, THE STUDENTS BELIEVE
THAT A BELL RUNG BY THE SISTER SUPERIOR INDICATED THAT THE SCHOOL WA SAFE
TO ENTER. THE BELL WAS RUNG AT FIRE DRILLS, AFTER RECESS AND AT MANY OTHER
TIMES. STUDENTS DID NOT HEED THE BELL IF IT WAS NOT RUNG BY THE SISTER
SUPERIOR. THE BELIEF PERSISTED EVEN TO MY BROTHER'S TIME AND THOUGH A
DIFFERENT BELL IS RUNG THESE DAYS BY A DIFFERENT SISTER SUPERIOR, IT IS
NEVERTHELESS THE SAME BELIEF. STUDENTS ONLY LISTEN T A CERTAIN BELL RUNG
BY A CERTAIN PERSON. SOME STUDENTS WENT SO FAR AS TO CLAIM THAT THE BELL
HAD MIRACULOUS POWERS IN AND OF ITSELF. THEY BELIEVED THAT THE MERE PRESENCE
OF THE BELL CONNOTED SAFETY AND THAT IT COULD BE USED TO WARD OFF EVIL. HENCE,
IT WAS SAID THAT THE SISTER SUPERIOR HAD LIVED FOR ONE HUNDRED YEARS MERELY
BECAUSE SHE KEPT THAT BELL WITH HER ALL HER LIFE. SOME EVEN SAID THAT IT WAS
ON THE DAY THAT SHE DIED, THAT THE BELL WAS FOUND MISSING. IT IS BELIEVED THAT
SHE TOOK THE BELL WITH HER TO THE GRAVE TO PROTECT HERSELF FROM THE DEVIL AND
TO TRAVEL SAFELY TO THE OTHER WORLD WHERE SHE WOULD EMBRACE ETERNAL LIFE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- School |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
LEGEND
THERE IS A LEGEND THAT HIDDEN IN THE CATAFALQUE, WHICH IS A GOOD
LOOKING FAKE CASKET USED IN FUNERAL
MEMORIAL MASSES YEARS AGO, THERE WAS
A REAL DEAD PERSON WHO HAD NO PLACE TO BE BURIED BECAUSE HE AND HIS
FAMILY WERE TOO POOR TO BUY A COFFIN OR A BURIAL PLACE AND SO IT WAS
LEFT TO THE CHURCH TO KEEP HIS CASKET
AND HONOR HIM WITH MASS UPON MASS
UNTIL THE CASKET COULD BE GIVEN A DECENT BURIAL.
IT TURNS OUT THAT THE CASKET WAS NEVER GIVEN A DECENT BURIAL AND THA
IT WAS USED IN THE CHURCH FOR ALMOST
FORTY FIVE YEARS BEFORE
SOMEONE FINALLY STOLE IT.
Submitter comment:
THE CASKET, IN REAL LIFE WAS NOT REALLY STOLEN, BUT NO LONGER
USED BECAUSE THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL CHANGED THE LITURGY FOR THE
DEAD. NOR WAS THERE EVER A DEAD BODY IN IT. IN FACT, ONCE THE PRIES
OPENED IT UP SO WE COULD SEE AND IT WAS WITNESSED BY A GROUP OF US
TO BE COMPLETELY EMPTY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
FOLK TALE
IT WAS TOLD AT OUR LADY QUEEN OF APOSTLES
SCHOOL THAT IF ONE EVER DRANK THE
WINE THAT WAS TO BE USED AT MASS , ONE WOULD DIE OF POISONING
IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THIS WAS A TERRIBLE SIN. LIKEWISE, IF ONE
DRANK FROM THE GOLD CHALICES USED AT
MASS, ONE WOULD HAVE A FATAL HEART
ATTACK FROM WHICH ONE COULD NEVER RECOVER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
FOLK TALE
IT WAS TOLD TO THE ALTAR BOYS AT OUR LADY QUEEN OF APOSTLES
CATHOLIC CHURCH THAT IF THEY WORE THE CHASUBLE USED AT MASS THEY
WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO GET IT OFF. THE NUNS TOLD THE STORY OF ONE
SUCH ALTAR BOY WHO TO THIS DAY WAS STILL WEARING THAT CHASUBLE AND
WAS LOCKED AWAY IN A HOSPITAL SO NOBODY COULD SEE HIM. SOME NUNS SAI
IT WAS A MORTAL SIN WHICH COULD NEVER BE FORGIVEN.
Submitter comment:
THE REASON THIS WAS SPREAD WAS BECAUSE THE CHASUBLES IN THOSE
DAYS WERE QUITE EXPENSIVE AND THE PRIESTS AND SISTERS DID NOT
WANT ALTAR BOYS PLAYING WITH THEM AS IF THEY WERE NOT SACRED AT ALL
AND TURNING THEM INTO COSTUMES LIKE THOSE USED ON HALLOWEEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
CAT BURIAL JOKE
A WOMAN BROUGHT HER DEAD CAT TO THE LOCAL CATHOLIC CHURCH AND
ASKED THE PRIEST TO HAVE A BURIAL SERVICE FOR HIM. THE PRIEST
SAID, "WE DO NOT BURY CATS. YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE HIM TO ANOTHER
CHURCH." SHE SAID, "I WAS GOING TO SPEND $35,000 ON THE
FUNERAL." THE PRIEST SAID, "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOUR CAT WAS
CATHOLIC."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
Keyword(s): CAT ; CATHOLIC CHURCH ; FUNERAL PREPARATION ; HUMOR ; PRIEST ; RELIGION ; SURPRISE ENDING
James Callow Keyword(s): SATIRE OF MERCENARY CATHOLIC PRIESTS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 10-09-1971
POLISH EASTER BREAKFAST
THE POLISH EASTER BREAKFAST ALWAYS CONSISTS OF BLESSED FOOD.
THE EASTER BASKET ALWAYS CONTAINS: PUMPERNICKLE BREAD, HAM,
SAUSAGE, HORSERADISH, A SMALL BUTTER LAMB, ALL SEASONINGS USED BY
THE FAMILY, HARD BOILED EGGS, CANDY AND COOKIES. THERE ARE
ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS OF EACH ITEM (ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE TO GET HIS
FILL) BECAUSE ALL OF THE BLESSED FOOD MUST BE EATEN. NONE OF IT
CAN BE THROWN AWAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
Date learned: 12-01-1975
OPLATEK
BEFORE THE EVENING MEAL ON CHRISTMAS EVE, OPLATEK IS SERVED TO
EVERYONE PRESENT.
OPLATEK IS A THIN UNLEVEN(ED) WAFER SIMILAR TO THE HOST IN A CATHOLIC
CHURCH. EACH PERSON BREAKS OFF A SMALL PIECE OF ANOTHER'S
WAFER, WISHING HIM GOOD LUCK FOR THE COMING YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
POLISH LULLABY
SPIJ LALECZKO SPIJ, DEZKA ZAMNOZ JUZ, JUTRO WSTONISZ ZNOW, SPIJ
LALECZKO SPIJ. JA PROZY TOBIE BIDE, I KOLYSOC BEDE, DCZKA ZAMROZ
JUZ, JUTRA WSTONISZ SNOW. TRANSLATION: SLEEP LITTLE DOLLY, SLEEP
CLOSE YOUR LITTLE EYES. TOMORROW YOU WILL RISE AGAIN SLEEP
LITTLE DOLLY, SLEEP. I WILL SIT BESIDE YOU AND I WILL ROCK YOU.
TOMORROW YOU WILL RISE AGAIN, SLEEP, LITTLE DOLLY, SLEEP
Submitter comment:
SUNG BY INFORMANT'S MOTHER AND BY INFORMANT TO HER CHILDREN.
SPELLING AND TRANSLATION CAME FROM INFORMANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Cradle song Lullaby |
Date learned: 11-07-1974