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THE MIDDLE FINGER EXTENDED FROM A CLOSED FIST
MEANING "FUCK YOU."

Submitter comment: COMMONLY ACCEPTED MEANING OF GESTURE.

Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Derision Scorn
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 10-05-1967

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O.K. GESTURE--TIP OF THUMB AND TIP OF INDEX FINGER OF
SAME HAND TOUCHING, FORMING A CIRCLE.

Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms
SPEECH -- All right O.K.

Date learned: 10-06-1967

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ADMIRATION GESTURE -- BRUSHING OF PALMS OF EXTENDED RIGHT
HAND WITH RIGHT HAND OF ANOTHER.

Submitter comment: OBSERVED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: 602 Body Parts
SPEECH -- Greetings Salutations
SPEECH -- Congratulations Appreciation

Date learned: 11-15-1967

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PROVEREB

A WISE MAN ADAPTS HIMSELF TO CIRCUMSTANCES AS WATER SHAPES ITSELF
TO THE VESSEL THAT CONTAINS IT.

Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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PROVERB: A BAD END

A WHISTLING GIRL AND A CROWING HEN ALWAYS COME TO A BAD END.

Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 10-30-1967

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SUPERSTITION

A WART IS CAUSED BY CONTACT WITH THE URINE OF A FROG.

Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.8

Date learned: 11-10-1967

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THUMPER

THIS GAME YOU PLAY WITH BEER. EVERYONE IS GIVEN A
SIGN. EXAMPLE, I PINCH MY NOSE. EVERYONE CLAPS
THEIR KNEES WITH THEIR HANDS TWICE, CLAPS THEIR
HANDS TWICE. THEN THE PERSON (ANYONE) STARTS BY
GIVING HIS SIGN AND THE SIGN OF ANYONE ELSE'S
IN THE GROUP. THE PERSON WHOSE SIGN HE GAVE, GIVES HIS
OWN SIGN AND SOMEONE ELSE'S. EACH TIME SOMEONE MISSES
EITHER THE CLAPPING OR A SIGN HE MUST CHUG A BEER.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, PEOPLE LOOK PRETTY FUNNY AFTER AN
HOUR.

Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport

Date learned: 00-00-1960

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IF YOU ARE PRESENT AT A HANGING, AND YOU ACTUALLY
WATCH IT, YOU WILL EVENTUALLY COMMIT A CRIME OF
SOME SORT.

Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: UNKNOWN

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WHEN WALKING THROUGH A CEMETERY, IT IS DISRESPECTFUL TO
THE DEAD TO WALK OVER THEIR GRAVES.

Submitter comment: TAUGHT TO ME AT A YOUNG AGE--DETAILS VAGUE.

Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: CHILDHOOD

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LEGAL SAYING

LET THE BUYER BEWARE.

Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT HAS MANY ANSWERS BUT ASKS NO QUESTIONS.
A: A DOORBELL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATED MATTER (Q) ; HARDWARE (A)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY,
COME AGAIN SOME OTHER DAY,
LITTLE CHILDREN WANT TO PLAY.

Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS FROM MY MOTHER WHEN I WAS A CHILD.

Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.646

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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THE BIG FAMILY WASH IS ALWAYS DONE ON A MONDAY.

Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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PROVERB

WOMEN MUST BE PRAISED, WHETHER TRULY OR FALSELY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM ; 898 ARLINGTON

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 03-24-1971

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TEA BELIEF

IF YOU PICK UP THE BUBBLES IN A CUP OF TEA BEFORE YOU
DRINK IT, YOU WILL GET RICH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Brew of leaf, bark, root
BELIEF -- Home
BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 01-30-1968

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DETERMINING SEX OF UNBORN CHILD

IF THE HEARTBEAT OF THE UNBORN CHILD IS FAST, IT
IS SAID TO BE A BOY; IF THE HEARTBEAT IS SLOW, IT
IS SAID TO BE A GIRL.

Submitter comment: SOURCE NOT REMEMBERED.

Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 11-10-1967

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FORMULA SPEECH

WHEN TWO PEOPLE SAY THE SAME THING AT THE SAME TIME,
ONE PERSON CAN COUNT TO TEN AND IF THE OTHER PERSON
DOESN'T STOP HIM, HE OWES HIM A COKE. (COCA-COLA.)

Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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DRUNK JOKE

TWO WOMEN WERE WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND SAW A DRUNK AND A PIG IN THE GUTTER. ONE LADY SAYS TO THE OTHER: "YOU CAN TELL A MAN WHO BOOZES BY THE COMPANY HE CHOOSES." SO THE PIG GOT UP AND SLOWLY WALKED AWAY.

Submitter comment: UNDERLINE, SLOWLY.

Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman

Date learned: 10-16-1967

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SEX LIFE AND ITS RAMIFICATIONS

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

WHEN MAN WAS FIRST MADE HE WAS GIVEN ONLY 20 YEARS OF NORMAL SEX
LIFE. NATURALLY HE WAS HORRIFIED -- ONLY 20 YEARS?
THE MONKEY TOO, WAS GIVEN ONLY 20 YEARS BUT HE REPLIED
"TEN YEARS WAS ENOUGH", SO MAN ASKED FOR THE OTHER TEN YEARS AND
IT WAS GIVEN TO HIM. THE LION WAS ALSO GIVEN 20 YEARS BUT HE TOO
SAID TEN YEARS WAS ENOUGH. AGAIN MAN ASKED FOR THE OTHER TEN YEARS
AND THE LION SAID "OF COURSE". THEN CAME THE DONKEY, HE ALSO WAS
GIVEN 20 YEARS BUT LIKE THE OTHERS TEN YEARS WAS ENOUGH. AND MAN,
AGAIN ASKED FOR THE OTHER TEN YEARS AND IT WAS GIVEN TO HIM. MM
THIS EXPLAINS WHY MAN TODAY HAS 20 YEARS OF NORMAL SEX LIFE,
10 YEARS OF MONKEYING AROUND, 10 YEARS OF LION ABOUT IT, AND 10
YEARS OF MAKING AN ASS OF HIMSELF.

Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; HUMOR ; MYTH ; SEX ; SURPRISE ENDING ; WORD PLAY

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Human Life

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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JESUS MET THE WOMAN

JESUS MET THE WOMAN AT THE WELL (3 TIMES)
AND HE TOLD HER EVERYTHING SHE'D EVER DONE.

HE SAID, "WOMAN, WOMAN, WHERE IS YOUR HUSBAND? (3 TIMES)
I KNOW EVERYTHING YOU'VE EVER DONE."

AND SHE SAID, "JESUS, JESUS, I AIN'T GOT NO HUSBAND. (3 TIMES)
AND YOU DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING I'VE EVER DONE."

HE SAID, "WOMAN, WOMAN, YOU'VE GOT FIVE HUSBANDS. (3 TIMES)
AND THE ONE YOU'VE GOT NOW HE AIN'T YOUR OWN."

SHE SAID, "THIS MAN, THIS MAN, MUST BE A PROPHET. (3 TIMES)
HE DONE TOLD ME EVERYTHING I'VE EVER DONE."

JESUS MET THE WOMAN AT THE WELL (3 TIMES)
AND HE TOLD HER EVERYTHING SHE'D EVER DONE.

Data entry tech comment: (LIKE THE MAID + THE PALMER" -
CHILD 21)
CHILD BALLAD 21)

Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: Favorites
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad Epic
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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