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WHEN A PERSON HAS TRENCH MOUTH CALL THE PREACHER. HE BLOWS INTO
THE PERSON'S MOUTH AND THE TRENCH MOUTH IS CURED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN

James Callow Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC ; VINCENT'S ANGINA

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Curer

Date learned: 10-05-1972

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WARTS

WHEN A PERSON HAS WARTS COUNT THE NUMBER OFWARTS AND GO TO THE
DRAIN-SPOUT WHERE THE RAIN WATER RUNS OUT AND PICK UP THESAME
NUMBER OF SMALL PEBBLES. PUT THE PEBBLES INA PRETTY
HANDKERCHIEF AND TIE THEM IN A KNOT INSIDE IT. TAKE THE
HANDKERCHIEF WITH THE PEBBLES INSIDE IT TO A FORK IN THE ROAD
DROP IT, THE FIRST PERSON TO PICK IT UP WILL GET YOUR WARTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN

James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs
BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 10-05-1972

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According to my Grandfather, men from town would occasionally
dare each other to swim across the channel as one of the
car ferries was coming into port. No one ever got hurt and
he claims to have done it himself.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Ludington

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Water Ice Snow
BELIEF -- Secular hero

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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TALE OF KISSING ELBO.

IF YOU KISS YOUR ELBO,
YOU WILL TURN INTO THE OPPOSITE SEX.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM ; TOLD IN

Keyword(s): ELBOW

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color

Date learned: 01-26-1972

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CHING, CHANG CHINAMAN, SITTING ON A FENCE/ TRYING TO MAKE A DOLLAR
OUT OF FIFTEEN CENTS.
HE MISSED, HE MISSED, HE MISSED LIKE THIS, 1, 2,

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM ; TOLD IN

Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; ENDURANCE ; Jump

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

Date learned: 11-02-1970

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JUMP ROPE RHYME

LITTLE MISS MACK
DRESSED IN BLACK...

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT SAID AS A CHILD SHE USED TO RECITE THIS
RHYME FREQUENTLY, HOWEVER SHE WAS UNABLE TO REMEMBER THE END OF IT NOW.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM

Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP ; SPEED-JUMP

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

Date learned: 03-12-1970

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OMEN

IF A BIRD FLIES INTO A HOUSE THROUGH AN OPEN WINDOW, IT MEANS A
VERY BAD OMEN HAS BEEN GIVEN AND SOMEONE LIVING IN THE HOUSE WILL
DIE WITHIN THE YEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 09-26-1972

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LUCK

IT IS BAD LUCK FOR A WOMAN TO SWEEP OUT ANY PART OF HER HOUSE
WHILE SHE HAS ANY COMPANY VISITING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Bad luck
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.21

Date learned: 09-26-1972

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MARRIAGE CUSTOM

BRIDES SHOULD ALWAYS HIDE A PAIR OF SCISSORS ON THEMSELVES SO
THEY CAN "CUT" AWAY ANY EVIL THAT MAY BE WISHED UPON THEM

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage

Date learned: 09-26-1972

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WISHING

IF YOU MAKE A WISH AS SOON AS YOU SEE A ROBIN , THEN IT WILL COME
TRUE

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: 09-26-1972

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RIDDLE

WHAT IS IT THAT SITS UPON A SHELF, AND LIVES AS LONG AS IT EATS
ITSELF. A: A CANDLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 09-26-1972

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LUCK/OMEN

IF SEVEN PEOPLE EAT A SEVEN COURSE MEAL TOGETHER, THEN THEY WILL
HAVE GOOD LUCK B/UT IF THIRTEEN PEOPLE EAT TOGER AT ALL, ONE OF TH
THE THIRTEEN WILL DIE WITHIN THE YEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN

Subject headings: 686 Specific number by specific number being described
686 Seven / Sevenths / Several
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.2
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.2

Date learned: 09-26-1972

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NAME

HEAD: } THIS IS THE NAME GIVEN BY THE SEAGOING SERVICES FOR A }
BATHROOM.
ROOM. IT IS IN SUCH COMMON USE, THAT MANY MILITARY MEN USE THIS
TERM EVEN WHEN OFF DUTY IN A CIVILIAN SITUATION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Trade & commerce

Date learned: 09-27-1972

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LUCK

IF YOU SEE A PIN ON THE GROUND AND DON'T PICK IT UP, YOU WILL LOSE A
FRIEND AND END UP CRYING BEFORE THE DAY IS OUT. BUT IF YOU PICK IT
UP YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK THE REST OF THE DAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.18

Date learned: 09-26-1972

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RIDDLE

THIRTY-TWO WHITE CALVES STANDING IN A STALL, ALONG
COMES A RED
COW AD LICKS THEM ALL. A: N TEETH AND TONGUE

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL (Q) ; BODY PARTS (A)

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

Date learned: 09-26-1972

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CHILDREN'S SONG

MY BOYFRIEND GAVE ME PEACHES
MY BOYFRIEND GAVE ME PEARS
MY BOYFRIEND GAVE ME FIFTY CENTS
AND KICKED ME DOWN THE STAIRS.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT TOLD ME THAT MANY OF HER FRIENDS AND HER SISTERS USED
TO SING THIS WITH HER WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG. SHE ALSO TOLD ME THAT
THIS CAN ALSO BE USED WITH A CLAPPING BEAT OF WHATEVER THE SINGER
THINKS WILL GO WITH THE SONG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): FRUIT AS GIFTS ; INITIAL ITERATION MEDIAL ITERATION ; RHYME: ABCB

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

Date learned: 09-25-1972

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Content filter on this entry.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS JOKE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

Q: WHAT DID CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS SAY WHEN HE SAW A NEGRO FOR THE
FIRST TIME.
A: GOD BLESS MY HEART, GOD BLESS MY SOUL. I SAW A WALKING
TOOTSIE ROLL.

Submitter comment:

THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (A) ; ACTIONS (Q) ; EATABLES (A) ; PERSONS (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): CANDY ; RACISM

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle C890.400
RIDDLE -- Riddle Question
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 08-00-1964

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MARRY IN HASTE, REPENT IN LEISURE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT RECALLS THIS FROM CHILDHOOD DAYS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROUTE 1 ; SHELBY ; BOX 324

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 10-17-1970

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CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

THE GERMANS HANG A WREATH OUTSIDE THE DOOR AND HANG MISTLETOE
OVER THE DOOR ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSE DURING THE CHRISTMAS
SEASON.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Mistletoe and other greenery

Date learned: 11-14-1968

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GERMAN CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS

GERMAN FAMILIES ALWAYS HAVE A REAL CHRISTMAS TREE WITH DIFFERENT
COLORED BULBS AND LIGHTS. THEY ALSO HAVE A CRIB SCENE AND VERY OFTEN
HANG THEIR CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS ON THE DOOR OR FIREPLACE OR SOME OTHER
APPROPRIATE PLACE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Christmas Decorations
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Manger scenes
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Christmas tree
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Stockings and shoes

Date learned: 10-03-1968

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