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CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF YOUR PATRON SAINT. MAKE A CAKE FOR THE PERSON
WHOSE SAINT DAY IT IS.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS ORIGINALLY LEARNED IN WATERTOWN, NEW YORK

Where learned: NEW YORK ; WATERTOWN

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert
BELIEF -- Religious hero

Date learned: 00-00-1959

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PUT A CONTRIBUTION ON THE STATUE OF A SAINT DURING A PROCESSION
AND THAT SAINT WILL PRAY FOR YOU.

Submitter comment: THE STATUES ARE DRESSED IN CLOAKS AND VEILS. THE MONEY IS PINNED ON
THE CLOAKS AND VEILS.
THIS WAS ORIGINALLY LEARNED IN WATERTOWN, NEW YORK

Where learned: NEW YORK ; WATERTOWN

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church
BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: 00-00-1937

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ST. LUCIA DAY--DECEMBER 13

EATING, THE WATER IN WHICH THE WHEAT WAS COOLED WAS RUBBED ON EACH
FAMILY MEMBER'S EYES. IT SIGNIFIED THAT SAINT LUCY WOULD SAVE
THEIR EYES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F121
BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Mineral

Date learned: 10-00-1982

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DAYS OF THE WEEK

THE BYZANTINE UKRAINIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES A DIFFERENT
GROUP OR PERSON EACH DAY OF THE WEEK. MONDAY IS DEDICATED
TO THE HOLY ANGELS. TUESDAY IS ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST DAY.
WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY ARE DEDICATED TO THE LORD'S CROSS.
ST. NICHOLAS AND THE APOSTLES ARE HONORED ON THURSDAY.
SATURDAY IS IN HONOR OF ALL THE SAINTS. SUNDAY IS IN HONOR
OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. THE VARIOUS MASS PARTS
CHANGE TO HONOR THE VARYING GROUPS EACH DAY.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour
BELIEF -- Religious hero

Date learned: 00001950S

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RELIGIOUS BELIEF

BEFORE YOUR WEDDING HAVE A STATUE OF MARY, THE BLESSED MOTHER,
LOOKING OUT YOUR WINDOW AND PRAY TO HER FOR GOOD WEATHER ON YOUR
WEDDIND DAY.

Submitter comment: THIS ITEM CAME FROM A RELATIVE IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage F545.083
BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control
BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: 00-00-1976

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RELIGIOUS BELIEF

FOR A WOMAN TO FIND A GOOD HUSBAND, SHE SHOULD PRAY TO SAINT JOSEPH
WHO IS THE PERFECT HUSBAND AND HE WILL HELP HER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: 00001970S

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MY MOTHER HAD AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT PREGNANCY WITH MY
SISTER. SHE PROMISED ST. JUDE THAT SHE WOULD NAME THE
BABY AFTER HIM (THE PATRON SAINT OF HOPELESS CASES) IF
THE BABY WAS BORN HEALTHY. MY SISTER'S NAME IS JUDITH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Person / Nickname
BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 00-00-1947

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WHENEVER YOU TAKE A TEST ONE
SHOULD PLACE IN THE LEFT HAND
CORNER, IN SMALL LETTER, J.M.J.
THIS STANDS FOR JESUS, MARY AND
JOSEPH.

Submitter comment: THE NUNS TAUGHT MICHAEL THIS, IT
IS SUPPOSED TO BRING GOOD LUCK TO
THE TEST TAKER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- School
BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Word Letter
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 00001970S

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EVERY YEAR ON THE FIRST OF THE NEW YEAR, WE GIVE PRESENTS
TO EACH MEMBER OF MY FAMILY. THIS IS DONE BECAUSE IN GREECE, IT
IS SAINT BASIL'S DAY. SAINT BASIL IS THE GREEK SAINT OF
CHILDREN. HE BRINGS PRESENTS TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN GOOD THE
PREVIOUS YEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights ; WHERE I LEARNED THIS

James Callow Keyword(s): GIFT-GIVING

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
BELIEF -- Religious hero

Date learned: 01-00-1972

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IF YOU LOSE SOMETHING, STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING IMMEDIATELY;
SAY A PRAYER TO ST. ANTHONY AND YOU WILL SOON FIND WHAT
YOU HAD LOST.

Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Prayer

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ON THE FEAST OF ST. BLAZE, CATHOLICS GET THEIR THROATS
BLESSED IN ORDER TO BE PROTECTED FROM CHOKING OR RECEIVING
ANY INJURY TO THEIR THROAT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CANDLES ; ST. BLAISE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Religious hero

Date learned: 11-08-1985

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IT IS SAID THAT WHEN A HEAVY RAINSTORM COMES, IT IS ST. PETER
CRYING AT HEAVEN'S GATE. IF YOU WANT THE RAIN TO STOP, YOU
MUST WALK OUT INTO THE RAIN, HOLD OUT YOUR ARMS IN SUPPLICATION,
AND ASK ST. PETER TO STOP THE RAIN.

Submitter comment: I WAS IN THE GARAGE WITH MY GRANDFATHER AND TWO OF HIS
FRIENDS WHEN IT STARTED TO THUNDERSTORM. ONE OF HIS FRIENDS
TOLD ME THE ABOVE STORY. I TRIED IT, BUT IT FAILED TO WORK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NORTH BRANCH

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 00-00-1975

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On the feast of St. Barbara (Dec.4), artillerymen wear
red socks.

Submitter comment: Ray was not sure how this custom came into being, but says
that St. Barbara is the patron saint of artillerymen. Perhaps
because she is the saint to be prayed to for protection from
lightening and fire, the artillerymen feel that she has an
affinity with the explosive power of their weapons.

Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI

Keyword(s): Military, soldiers

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern
BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business

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If you are having trouble selling your house, bury a
statue of St. Joseph, head-down and facing the rear of
the house, until your house is sold. Afterwards you
dig the statue up and permanently display it in a place
of honor in your new home.

Submitter comment: This belief was heard from Maryann's sister, Leda, who
was having trouble selling her condominium. Leda's real
estate agent suggested that she try this. Within the
month Leda's condo was sold, and now the statue of St.
Joseph is on the mantlepiece of her new home. This
superstition is, evidently, very widely held by Italians.

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; Rogers Park

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business
BELIEF -- Good luck Objects
BELIEF -- Conversions

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If you say a prayer to St. Anthony when you lose something,
he will help you to find it.

Submitter comment: Mrs. Leisner really believes this to be true. Many times
as a young girl I witnessed my mother performing this
ritual, and even now we always know when she has lost
something when we hear her say "St. Anthony help me!"

Where learned: KENTUCKY ; LEXINGTON

Keyword(s): intercession

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Conversions

Date learned: 00001930S

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If someone wants to sell a house and aren't getting
too many offers, bury a statue of St. Joseph in the
backyard. The house will be sold. My boyfriend's
mother did this and their house was sold in a week.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

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On the day of an outside party, hang a rosary on
a tree. This will be a token of good luck so that
it doesn't rain. My friend's mother did on the
day of her daughter's graduation party--it did not rain.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern
BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew
BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 11-16-1990

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On Christmas Eve, we always open our gifts that were brought
by the Christ Child, not Santa.

Submitter comment: This has been a tradition and a belief in our family.

Where learned: HUNGARY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Gifts, gift giving at Christmas
BELIEF -- Religious hero

Date learned: 00001940S

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St. Nicholas Day

The night before December 6th, polish your shoes and put them
in front of your bedroom door. St. Nicholas will come and put
cookies, walnuts, oranges, chocolate, sticks, and coal in your
shoes. The coal is given if you are a bad person or did something
bad.

Submitter comment: My mother learned this from her parents in the 40s, and now
it's a custom in our family.

Where learned: HUNGARY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas
BELIEF -- Religious hero

Date learned: 00001940S

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On January first, Greeks celebrate what is known as St. Basil's
Day. It is the equivalent of Christmas here. It begins at twelve
o'clock midnight on December 31. "Vasilopita" - St Basil's Bread - is
served. Baked in the sweet bread is a single gold coin. The person to
receive the slice of sweet bread with the coin is said to have good
luck for the duration of the year. Presents are distributed. Then
snacks and drinks are served to all because in Greece there is no
certain age that must be attained before one is allowed to drink
alcohol.

Submitter comment: St. Basil is the equivalent of Santa Claus.

Where learned: GREECE

Keyword(s): holiday

James Callow Keyword(s): drinking age

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 00001945CA

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