CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

WHEN I WAS YOUNG WE CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS WITH MY GRANDMOTHER ON MY
FATHER'S SIDE. SINCE THEY WERE LUTHERAN THEY CELEBRATED IT ON
CHRISTMAS EVE. SHE WOULD SERVE TRADITIONAL SWEDISH FOODS LIKE
LUTEFISK IN CREAM SAUCE WHICH WAS A KIND OF CURED COD. I REMEMBER
IT WOULD TURN THE SILVERWARE BLACK. THERE WAS PULT, A HOT SAUSAGE
MADE WITH SOME KIND OF BLOOD WITH FLOUR TO THICKEN IT. SHE SERVED
KORV WHICH WAS A POTATO SAUSAGE MADE WITH BEEF, PORK, AND RAW POTATO
IN A CASING. SHE MADE SYLTA, A PRESSED MEAT BY COOKING THE MEAT TILL
IT CAME OFF THE BONES. THE JUICE WOULD BE FULL OF GELATIN AND SHE
WOULD WRAP ALL OF IT IN CHEESECLOTH AND PRESS IT TOGETHER. THERE
WERE PICKLED PIG'S FEET IN A SALT BRINE AND SWEDISH RYE BREAD AND
SWEDISH MEATBALLS. THERE WERE A FEW SWEDISH COOKIES BUT NOT MANY.
THERE WOULD BE A LONG TABLE SPREAD WITH ALL THIS FOOD. RIGHT AFTER
MIDNIGHT WE WOULD HEAR BELLS AND SANTA CLAUS WOULD COME AND PASS OUT
GIFTS. THEN WE WOULD GO HOME AND SANTA CLAUS WOULD COME AGAIN DURING
THE NIGHT AND WE WOULD CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AT HOME THE NEXT DAY.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS IN THIS WAY WHEN SHE WAS A SMALL CHILD
IN DULUTH, MINNESOTA. HER GRANDMOTHER WAS NAMED IDA NEWMAN. IDA WAS
BORN IN SWEDEN AND CAME TO THE UNITED STATES WHEN SHE WAS 15 OR 16.
HER HUSBAND HAD LIVED HERE SINCE HE WAS 2 OR 3. WHEN MY MOTHER WAS
OLDER THEY JUST CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS AT HOME. MY MOTHER DOES NOT
KNOW HOW TO PREPARE ANY OF THESE FOODS EXCEPT FOR SWEDISH RYE BREAD.
SHE USES A DIFFERENT RECIPE THOUGH BECAUSE HER GRANDMOTHER NEVER GAVE
AWAY HER RECIPES. I HAD NEVER EVEN HEARD OF SOME OF THESE FOODS
BEFORE THIS. MY MOTHER'S SISTER IN CALIFORNIA DOES MAKE POTATO
SAUSAGE BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S IDA NEWMAN'S RECIPE.

Where learned: OHIO ; SOLON

Date learned: CA00001929

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HIGH SCHOOL TRADITION

EVERY SPRING AT MY HIGH SCHOOL (LUMEN CORDIUM IN BEDFORD, OHIO) WE
HELD STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICER ELECTIONS. AFTER THE VOTES WERE
TALLIED THE GIRLS CONCERNED WERE CALLED TO THE CHAPEL. THE GIRLS SAT
IN THE PEWS SEPARATED INTO CLASSES AND THE OFFICES THEY WERE RUNNING
FOR, LEAVING THE FIRST PEW EMPTY. THE PRESENT STUDENT COUNCIL
OFFICERS READ APPROPRIATE POETRY OR PROSE SELECTIONS AND THE GIRLS
PRAYED TOGETHER. INSTEAD OF ANNOUNCING WHO WON THE ELECTION THE
TEACHER-MODERATOR AND THE STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT PLACED THEIR
HANDS ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE GIRLS WHO WON. THESE GIRLS THEN SAT
TOGETHER IN THE FIRST PEW. LATER THE RESULTS OF THE VOTE WERE
ANNOUNCED TO THE STUDENT BODY AS A WHOLE.

Submitter comment: I LEARNED OF THIS TRADITION AS A JUNIOR OR SENIOR FROM OTHER GIRLS
WHO HAD RUN FOR OFFICES ON STUDENT COUNCIL. ALSO I WITNESSED PART
OF ONE SUCH CEREMONY FROM THE SECOND FLOOR BALCONIES WHICH OPENED
ONTO THE CHAPEL. THIS TRADITION WAS FOLLOWED FOR THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
NOT FOR HOMEROOM REPRESENTATIVES. I'M NOT SURE WHEN THIS BEGAN BUT
THINK IT EXISTED AT LEAST SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE I WENT THERE. LUMEN
CORDIUM IS A PRIVATE, CATHOLIC GIRLS' SCHOOL RUN BY THE VINCENTIAN
SISTERS OF CHARITY

Where learned: OHIO ; SOLON

Date learned: 00-00-1975

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COURTSHIP CUSTOM

BEFORE EATING A PIECE OF FRUIT, HOLD IT BY THE STEM AND TURN THE
FRUIT WHILE RECITING THE ALPHABET. THE LETTER THAT YOU'RE SAYING
WHEN THE STEM COMES OFF IS THE INITIAL OF THE FIRST NAME OF THE MAN
YOU WILL MARRY.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS PRACTICED BY MYSELF AND LEARNED FROM MY FRIENDS IN HIGH
SCHOOL. IT WAS DONE MOSTLY OUT OF FUN AND WE USUALLY TRIED TO END
WITH THE INITIAL OF OUR CURRENT BOYFRIEND.

Where learned: OHIO ; SOLON

Date learned: 00-00-1975

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SUPERSTITION

WHEN GIVING KNIVES TO SOMEONE, ALWAYS PUT A PENNY IN WITH THEM OR
YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: I WAS STRUCK BY THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THIS AND A SIMILAR SUPERSTITION
WHICH I COLLECTED FROM JULIE SCHMOKE (753306-1). JULIE'S GRANDMOTHER
THOUGHT IT WAS BAD LUCK UNLESS THE PERSON RECEIVING THE KNIVES GAVE
HER MONEY WHEREAS HERE THE MONEY IS GIVEN BY THE GIVER OF THE GIFT.
MY MOTHER DOES NOT BELIEVE OR PRACTICE THIS.

Where learned: OHIO ; SOLON

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THANKSGIVING CUSTOM

EVERY THANKSGIVING MY MOTHER SERVED TWO TRADITIONAL FOODS. SHE
ALWAYS HAD SALTED ALMONDS AND MAPLE MOUSSE. I NEVER REMEMBER HAVING
PUMPKIN PIE THOUGH.

Submitter comment: MY GRANDMOTHER'S NAME IS DOROTHY NEWMAN. ALTHOUGH MY MOTHER
REMEMBERS SALTED ALMONDS AND MAPLE MOUSSE EVERY THANKSGIVING SHE
NEVER KNEW ANY REASON WHY HER MOTHER SERVED THEM. THIS TRADITION
WAS NOT CARRIED DOWN INTO MY GENERATION. INSTEAD OF SALTED ALMONDS
AND MAPLE MOUSSE, WE HAVE NUTS IN THEIR SHELLS AND PUMPKIN PIE.

Where learned: OHIO ; SOLON

Date learned: CA00001929

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SUPERSTITION

DON'T EAT A LOT OF RAISINS AND THEN DRINK WATER. IF YOU DO THE
RAISINS WILL SWELL UP INSIDE YOU.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER. SHE DOESN'T REALLY BELIEVE
IT AND ISN'T SURE WHETHER HER MOTHER DID. SHE SUSPECTS THAT HER
MOTHER TOLD IT TO HER SO THAT SHE WOULDN'T EAT ALL OF THE RAISINS.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HEARD IT.
FUNCTION

Where learned: OHIO ; SOLON

Date learned: CA00001929

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ENDLESS TALE

IT WAS A COLD AND STORMY NIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH OF
SEPTOBER. A BAND OF INDIANS SAT AROUND THE CAMPFIRE. THE CHIEF
AROSE AND TOLD THE FOLLOWING STORY: IT WAS A COLD AND STORMY NIGHT
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH OF SEPTOBER . . .

Submitter comment: I HEARD THIS THROUGHOUT MY CHILDHOOD FROM MY FATHER. HE LEARNED IT
WHILE HE WAS GROWING UP FROM HIS FATHER. MY GRANDFATHER WAS FRENCH
CANADIAN AND RAISED HIS FAMILY IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.
PORTMANTEAU WORD
WORD BLEND

Where learned: OHIO ; SOLON

Date learned: CA00001966

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REPEATING VERSE

THE FIRST VERSE IS THE WORST
THE FLY STOOD ON THE WALL
THE SECOND VERSE, SAME AS THE FIRST
THE FLY STOOD ON THE WALL
THE THIRD VERSE, SAME AS THE FIRST
THE FLY STOOD ON THE WALL
THE FOURTH VERSE . . .

Submitter comment: MY FATHER DOESN'T REMEMBER WHERE HE LEARNED THIS BUT MY MOTHER WHO
ALSO GREW UP IN DULUTH, MINNESOTA ALSO KNOWS IT.
CHAIN TALE

Where learned: OHIO ; SOLON

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JUMP-ROPE RHYME

MY NAME IS A(NNA)
MY HUSBAND'S NAME IS A(LAN)
I SELL A(PPLES)
AND I COME FROM A(LABAMA)
MY NAME IS B------
MY HUSBAND'S NAME IS B------
I SELL B--------
AND I COME FROM B-------

Submitter comment: YOU JUMP ROPE TO THE RHYME, THINKING OF WORDS BEGINNING WITH AN A TO
END EACH LINE OF THE RHYME. NEXT YOU REPEAT THE RHYME WITH TWO
NAMES, SOMETHING TO BE SOLD, AND A PLACE BEGINNING WITH B. YOU TRY
TO SEE HOW FAR YOU CAN GO THROUGH THE ALPHABET WITHOUT MISSING A JUMP
OR HESITATING TO COMPLETE A LINE. RUTH LEARNED THIS IN CHICAGO,
ILLINOIS OR IN ENDWELL, NEW YORK.
ALPHABET
ALLITERATION

Where learned: OHIO ; SOLON

Date learned: CA00001964

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GAME WITH RHYME

YOU WOULD PLAY THIS GAME BY STANDING IN A CIRCLE, FACING THE MIDDLE.
ONE PERSON WOULD WALK AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCLE CARRYING A
HANKY AND WOULD SAY:
A TISKET, A TASKET
A GREEN AND YELLOW BASKET
SENT A LETTER TO MY LOVE
AND ON THE WAY I DROPPED IT
THEN YOU WOULD DROP THE HANKY BEHIND SOMEONE AND THEY WOULD CHASE YOU
AROUND THE CIRCLE. YOU TRY TO GO ALL THE WAY AROUND THE CIRCLE AND
JUMP INTO THE EMPTY SPOT BEFORE THAT PERSON TAGS YOU. IF YOU DO,
HE'S IT AND IF HE TAGS YOU, YOU'RE STILL IT.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER PLAYED THIS GAME WHEN SHE WAS LITTLE. I NEVER DID. I
REMEMBER KNOWING THE FIRST TWO LINES OF THE RHYME BUT THE LAST TWO
ARE UNFAMILIAR. I NEVER EVEN KNEW THAT THE RHYME WAS PART OF A GAME.
MY MOTHER WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT I DIDN'T KNOW IT.

Where learned: OHIO ; SOLON

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