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Your search for FRANCE returned 17 results.
French Nativity Scene
The Nativity Scene used in the French culture are called
Santons. The santons are clay figures made by artisans. Some are
colorfully painted, while others are left in the natural clay
state. French families collect these Santons and display them
during the Christmas Season. The central figures represent the
nativity scene including, the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, shepherd,
the three Kings, and the traditional animals such as sheep, cows
and camels. In addition, many other figures represent the typical
townspeople and their occupations as they were in the nineteenth
century in Southern France.
Submitter comment:
The first time Cynthia went to France, it was to study at the
University of Nice. This is where she discovered the custom of
the Santon. Since she teaches a French class at Western Michigan
University, she passes this French tradition on to the students
showing off her collection. Each time she returns to Nice, she
buys another figurine in order to expand her collection. At the
present time, she has about sixty figures in her collection.
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Clay ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Finished Product |
FOOD BELIEF
IT IS A CUSTOM IN SOUTHERN FRANCE TO PEAL THE SKIN OFF PEACHES SO
THAT THEY DO NOT STICK TO THE INSIDE OF YOUR STOMACH IF YOU EAT
IT.
Where learned: SOUTHERN FRANCE
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
FOOD BELIEF
IT IS A CUSTOM IN SOUTHERN FRANCE TO PEEL THE SKIN OFF PEACHES SO THAT THEY DON'T STICK TO THE INSIDE OF YOUR STOMACH IF YOU EAT IT.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: SOUTHERN FRANCE
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
KISS SOMEONE THREE TIMES STARTING ON THEIR LEFT CHEEK, MEANS THEY
ARE LOVED AND WELCOMED INTO THE FAMILY.
Submitter comment: THIS PROCESS MOVES FROM LEFT CHEEK, TO RIGHT, BACK TO LEFT.
Where learned: FRANCE
Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 07-00-1977
The Ravens
There is a story in France about how that every time that
ravens appeared during the reign of the Hapsburgs that it
was to spell doom for the family. It started when a count
in the eleventh century was attacked by vultures but
saved by ravens and the count gave them sanctuary. Soon the
ravens became a nuisance and a century after the count's
death, the birds were destroyed and the curse started.
Each time they appeared it was a bad omen; they
appeared at Marie Antoinette's execution, Napoleon's defeat
in Russia, foretold of Maximilian's death in Mexico and
the final prophecy of the death of Archduke Franz
Ferdinand and his wife Sophia, thus ending the curse and
the house of the Hapsburgs.
Submitter comment: Learned this on a guided tour in France
Where learned: FRANCE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird |
IN PARTS OF FRANCE, THE DEATH OF A PERSON IS NOT
ALWAYS DIRECTLY IMPLIED, IT MAY BE SAID THAT "HIS
HEAD'S COOKED" OR HE'S EMPTIED HIS CELLAR.
Submitter comment: MY MOTHER TOLD ME THIS.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 08-00-1967
IN FRANCE ON A COUPLE'S WEDDING NIGHT, IT IS TRADITIONAL
THAT RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF THE COUPLE DISTURB THEM
THROUGH THE NIGHT BY PULLING PRANKS AND THROWING
ROCKS AT THEIR WINDOWS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS ; FRANCE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage F545.1341 |
Date learned: 03-24-1971
NOT GIVEN
FOLLOWING THE DEFEAT OF THE GERMAN ARMIES, THE ALLIES AIRDROPPED
SOME FOOD PARCELS MARKED "GIFT" TO THE STARVING CIVILIANS. THE
PEOPLE DID NOT TOUCH IT, FOR "GIFT" IN GERMAN MEANS "POISON."
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS WHILE IN FRANCE, 1945.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY ; FRANCE ; 6738 ELIZABETH
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Occupation War |
Date learned: 11-25-1971
NOT GIVEN
FOLLOWING THE DEFEAT OF THE GERMAN ARMIES, THE ALLIES AIRDROPPED
SOME FOOD PARCELS MARKED "GIFT" TO THE STARVING CIVILIANS. THE
PEOPLE DID NOT TOUCH IT, FOR "GIFT" IN GERMAN MEANS "POISON."
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS WHILE IN FRANCE, 1945.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY ; FRANCE ; 6738 ELIZABETH
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Occupation War |
Date learned: 11-25-1971 ; 00001945 CA
THERE IS A GESTURE IN FRANCE WHICH WHEN PERFORMED WARDS
OFF BAD LUCK OR VOIDS A BAD-EYE LOOK GIVEN TO YOU BY
SOMEONE ELSE. THE GESTURE IS TO MAKE A FIST PUTTING
YOUR THUMB IN BETWEEN YOUR MIDDLE AND THE FINGER NEXT
TO YOUR LITTLE FINGER.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID SOME OF HER RELATIVES IN FRANCE ACTIVELY
USED TO PRACTICE THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; KALAMAZOO ; FRANCE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.22 SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.12 ZZ |
Date learned: 02-18-1971
Proverb
...as slow as molasses in January.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Dup of WPP
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; Mattingly, Frances A ; TRAVERSE CITY ; 240 WASHINGTON ST
Keyword(s): Cold ; January ; Molasses ; Month ; SIMILE ; Slow ; SPEED ; TIME
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Content filter on this entry.
Proverbial Comparison
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
...as shiny as a nigger's heel.
Data entry tech comment:
added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The word as is underlined.
Dup of WPP
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; Mattingly, Frances A ; TRAVERSE CITY ; 240 WASHINGTON ST
Keyword(s): Foot ; Heel ; Offensive ; RACISM ; Racist ; SIMILE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison Filter - Mature Content |
Retort
Oh, you have more troubles (or anything could be substituted for troubles...excuses, pains, etc.) than Carter has Little Liver Pills.
Submitter comment:
This informant would use this quip when belittling the complaints of her children.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Meehan, Frances A
Keyword(s): COMEBACK ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
"A tee-hee's egg in a ha-ha's nest."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BNs [S200, S500, S560, V700, V600] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
"Polite" taunt? A kidding remark?
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; Mattingly, Frances A ; TRAVERSE CITY ; 240 WASHINGTON ST
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
NUNS PRAY TO ST. PATRICK
WHEN NUNS ARE DRIVING IN A CAR AND WANT TO GET SOMEWHERE IN
A HURRY, THEY PRAY TO ST. PATRICK SO THAT HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CHANGE
ALL THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS GREEN
Submitter comment:
THIS IS PRACTICED BY THE INFORMANT'S DAUGHTER, WHO IS A NUN,
AND SAID THIS IS A COMMON PRACTICE AMONG NUNS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 20000 BARLOW ; Sheridan, Frances
Keyword(s): Nuns ; Patron ; Saint ; Saint Patrick ; Saint Patrick ; Traffic
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
LAKE SUPERIOR BELIEF
LAKE SUPERIOR IS KNOWN AS THE LAKE THAT DOES NOT GIVE UP ITS
DEAD. THE REASON FOR THIS IS THAT BECAUSE THE LAKE IS SO COLD,
THE BODIES DON'T DECOMPOSE AND RISE TO THE SURFACE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; Przybylski, Frances
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Dead ; Decompose ; Lake ; Lake Superior ; Nickname ; Origin ; TEMPERATURE ; WATER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Still water Small body. BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SHARP ITEM
NEVER GIVE A SHARP OR POINTED ITEM TO A FRIEND IT WILL
SEVER YOUR FRIENDSHIP. MAKE YOUR FRIEND PAY FOR IT, EVEN IF
IT IS ONLY A PENNY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Willcoxson, Frances
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; GIFT ; MONEY ; Relationship ; Sever ; Sharp ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 11-02-1969