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CANDLE LIGHT

IN THE WOMEN'S DORMS AT STATE, WHENEVER A GIRL BECOMES
ENGAGED OR PINNED SHE TELLS ONLY THE RESIDENT ADVISER
ON HER FLOOR WHO THEN POSTS AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT
THERE WILL BE A "CANDLE-LIGHT." THE GIRLS MEET AND
EACH HOLD A LIGHTED CANDLE. THEY SIT IN A CIRCLE AND
RECITE A POEM, EACH SAYING ONE WORD (THIS IS USUALLY
A FAMILIAR LOVE POEM, SOMETIMES ONE WRITTEN ESPECIALLY
FOR THE OCCASION). WHEN IT IS THE TURN OF THE GIRL
WHO IS ENGAGED, SHE THEN BLOWS OUT HER CANDLE. THEN
ANNOUNCES SHE IS THE ONE.

Submitter comment: A POSSIBLE VARIATION OF THIS I HAVE HEARD IN PASSING,
ONE LIT CANDLE AROUND UNTIL THE ENGAGED GIRL BLOWS IT
OUT. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED BACK ON, SHE SHOWS
EVERYONE HER RING OR PIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN STATE STUDENT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; EAST LANSING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Engagement

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IF YOU SEE A SPIDER IN THE MORNING,
IT IS A WARNING.
IF YOU SEE A SPIDER AT NOON,
IT IS BRINGING YOU GOOD NEWS.
IF YOU SEE A SPIDER AT NIGHT,
IT WILL BRING YOU JOY AND DELIGHT.

Submitter comment: FROM FRIEND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST LANSING

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music
BELIEF -- Insect
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour

Date learned: 10-03-1967

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SWIRLIE

THIS IS A GAME PLAYED BY DORM STUDENTS. WHEN ONE
DORMIE GETS TOO FAR OUT OF LINE, HIS FELLOW DORMIES
GRAB HIM BY THE ARMS AND LEGS AND TURN HIM UPSIDE-
DOWN. THEY THEN LOWER HIS HEAD INTO THE TOILET
UNTIL THE CHIN IS EVEN WITH THE SEAT AND FLUSH THE
TOILET.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS FELLOW DORMIES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ; EAST LANSING

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

Date learned: 10-16-1967

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TELEPHONE PRANK

A PERSON CALLS UP SOMEONE HE GENERALLY DISLIKES,
DISGUISES HIS VOICE AND SAYS: "HELLO, IS (NAME)
THERE?" IF THE PERSON REPLIES "SPEAKING,"
THE CALLER STICKS THE PHONE DOWN THE TOILET AND
FLUSHES. IF HE IS NOT THERE AND THE PERSON ASKS IF
A MESSAGE CAN BE TAKEN, THE SAME PROCEDURE IS
FOLLOWED.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM A SCHOOLMATE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ; EAST LANSING

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

Date learned: 10-16-1967

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PRACTICAL JOKE (PIMP)

THE GIRLS FLOOR GETS TOGETHER AND GOES OVER TO THE GUYS FLOOR AND
KIDNAPS ONE OF THE GUYS ON THE FLOOR. THEY LEAVE A RANSOM NOTE
THAT SAYS: RANSOM IS SET AT ONE KEG OF BEER. THEN A PARTY IS HELD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ; EAST LANSING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School

Date learned: 00-00-1973

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PRACTICAL JOKE (PIMP)

MAKE A PAPER CUP AND PUT SHAVING CREAM IN IT. STICK THE TOP END
UNDER A DOOR AND STEP ON THE CUP. THE SHAVING CREAM WILL
GO SQUIRTING INTO THE ROOM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ; EAST LANSING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion

Date learned: 00-00-1973

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PRACTICAL JOKE (PIMP)

WHEN SOMEONE IS TAKING A SHOWER, TWO PEOPLE GET A TRASHCAN OF COLD
WATER AND THROW IT OVER THE TOP OF THE SHOWER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ; EAST LANSING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion

Date learned: 00-00-1973

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PRACTICAL JOKE (PIMP)

TO PENNY A DOOR, YOU FIX IT SO THAT THE PERSON INSIDE CANNOT GET OUT.
TO DO THIS, YOU NEED ONE PERSON TO LEAN ON THE CLOSED DOOR AND AN-
OTHER PERSON TO STICK AS MANY PENNIES AS NEEDED, ONE ON TOP OF THE
OTHER, TO FILL THE GAP BETWEEN THE DOOR AND DOORWAY. WHAT IT DOES,
IS CREATES PRESSURE ON THE DOOR LATCH, SO THE DOORKNOB CANNOT BE
TURNED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ; EAST LANSING

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTIONAL SHIFT: NOUN AS VERB: TO PENNY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion

Date learned: 00-00-1973

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PRACTICAL JOKE (PIMP)

PUT CELLOPHANE WRAP UNDER THE TOILET SEAT AND OVER THE TOILET BOWL
IN A GIRL'S BATHROOM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ; EAST LANSING

James Callow Keyword(s): SARAN WRAP (CLEAR, PLASTIC FOOD-WRAP)

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion

Date learned: 00-00-1973

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PRACTICAL JOKE (PIMP)

SEW UP THE HOLE IN A GUYS UNDERWEAR, AND PANTS TOO. ALSO SEW UP THE
SLEEVES IN HIS UNDERSHIRTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ; EAST LANSING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion

Date learned: 00-00-1973

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PRACTICAL JOKE (PIMP)

REMOVE THE MATTRESS ON A BED. REPLACE WITH STACKS OF NEWSPAPERS.
THEN MAKE THE BED AGAIN, AS IF NOTHING WAS WRONG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ; EAST LANSING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion

Date learned: 00-00-1973

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PRACTICAL JOKE (PIMP)

TURN EVERYTHING UPSIDEDOWN IN THE ROOM. EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE
STUFF ON THE SHELVES, DESKS, THINGS ON THE BULLETIN BOARDS, ETC.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ; EAST LANSING

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion

Date learned: 00-00-1973

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PRACTICAL JOKE (PIMP)

AT NIGHT, GO OUTSIDE A PERSONS ROOM AND PAINT THE WINDOWS BLACK. IF
THEY HAVE SCREENS, PAINT SOME NEWSPAPER BLACK AND TAPE IT UP TO THE
SCREENS. WHEN THE PERSON WAKES UP IT WILL STILL BE NIGHTTIME TO
THEM, BECAUSE THE SUN IS NOT SHINING THROUGH THEIR WINDOWS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ; EAST LANSING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion

Date learned: 00-00-1973

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TAKING SIDES

WHEN A WOMAN IS PREGNANT, IF SHE SLEEPS ON HER RIGHT SIDE, THE
CHILD WILL BE A BOY. IF SHE LEANS TO THE LEFT, IT WILL BE A GIRL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ; EAST LANSING

James Callow Keyword(s): SEX DETERMINATION

Subject headings: 840
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 11-05-1969

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Bathroom Wall Rime of Mockery

People who write on shithouse walls,
Roll their shit in little balls,
People who read these words of wit,
Eat those little balls of shit!

 

Submitter comment:

Read in Michigan State University bathroom.

 

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ; RESTROOM WALL ; EAST LANSING

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture

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showing 15 items

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