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SUPERSTITION ABOUT SCISSORS (POLISH)

POLISH BELIEF. YOU MUST NEVER HAND A PAIR OF SCISSORS OR A KNIFE
TO A PERSON. BECAUSE THIS WILL SEVER THE FRIENDSHIP. YOU LAY
THEM DOWN ON A TABLE AND LET THE OTHER PERSON PICK THEM UP.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

Keyword(s): BEHAVIOR ; BELIEF ; m Friendship ; Relationship ; Sever ; Sharp ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; HOSTILITY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 01-00-1970

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NEVER GIVE OR ACCEPT ANYTHING SHARP OR POINTED TO A FRIEND
BECAUSE IT WILL SEVER THE RELATIONS WITH THAT PERSON.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; FRIENDSHIP ; Object ; Relationship ; Sever ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL

James Callow Keyword(s): FRIENDSHIP ; HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 10-25-1969

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BELIEF

THE RECIPIENT OF A KNIFE AS A GIFT MUST PAY SOME
TOKEN AMOUNT FOR IT, OR IT WILL CUT THE FRIENDSHIP.

Submitter comment:

SYLVIA COLLECTED THIS FROM HER SISTER WHO IN TURN
LEARNED IT AT THE NURSES LOUNGE AT BEAUMONT HOSPITAL.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

James Callow comment:

Beaumont Hospital is located in Royal Oak, MI

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cut ; FRIENDSHIP ; KNIFE ; Payment ; Relationship ; Sever ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL ; Token

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 09-23-1967

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BELIEF

YOU CAN NOT GIVE ANY SHARP OBJECT TO A FRIEND
WITHOUT A MINIMAL PAYMENT BECAUSE IT WILL BREAK UP
THE FRIENDSHIP.

Submitter comment:

ALISON HEARD THIS FROM HER NEIGHBOR, THE NEIGHBOR MADE
INFORMANTS MOTHER PAY 2 CENTS FOR A PAIR OF SCISSORS. SHE
FIRMLY BELIEVED THIS

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; FRIENDSHIP ; GIFT ; Payment ; Sharp ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 11-19-1971

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DATING SUPERSTITION

INFORMANT'S FATHER ALWAYS TOLD HER WHEN YOUR BOY FRIEND LETS YOU
WALK ON THE OUTSIDE PART OF THE WALK, HE DOESN'T WANT YOU
ANY MORE, AND ANYONE CAN TAKE YOU. HE HAS ALWAYS KIDDED
HER ABOUT THIS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CHIVALRY ; Relationship ; SIDEWALK ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL

James Callow Keyword(s): CHIVALRY ; DIRECTION ; POSITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 10-08-1971

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MONEY BELIEF

PUT A PENNY IN A PURSE WHEN YOU GIVE IT AS A GIFT AND
IT WILL BRING PROSPERITY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; GIFT ; MONEY ; PROSPERITY ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL ; WEALTH

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 11-26-1970

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IF YOU VISIT PEOPLE IN A NEW HOME, BRING BREAD AND SALT
AS A GIFT, AND THE PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS HAVE PLENTY TO EAT.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY ; UTICA

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; BREAD ; Eat ; FOOD ; GIFT ; Housewarming ; Salt ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 10-31-1969

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LE GNOMME ROUGE

THE CITY OF DETROIT HAS A FRENCH ORIGIN. BOTH CADILLAC AND
FATHER RICHARD GREATLY AIDED THE CITIES FOUNDING. BOTH OF
THESE MEN WERE ADVISED BY 'LE GNOMME ROUGE.' THIS LITTLE
MAN HELPED IN MAKING IMPORTANT DECISIONS . MANY OF THE CITIZENS
SAW HIM FROM TIME TO TIME. HE WAS LAST SEEN IN 1806 DURING THE
DETROIT FIRE AND IN 1943 DURING THE RACE RIOTS. AT THAT TIME,
SOME CITIZENS SAW HIM, OPENLY SOBBING, WALKING THE STREETS
OF DOWNTOWN. BILL GORMAN HEARD THIS, I WOULD THINK, FROM TRADITIONAL
SOURCES.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Keyword(s): Cadillac ; Detroit ; ETYMOLOGY ; FESTIVAL ; FRENCH ; Gnomme Rouge ; Legend ; Nain Rouge ; Origin ; RACE ; Riots

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name

Date learned: 07-08-1964

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Japanese custom

Otoso, known as a sweet sake or rice wine, is to be drunk in
the morning of New Year's Day to welcome the new year.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: JAPAN

Keyword(s): Celebration ; CUSTOM ; FESTIVAL ; holiday ; Japan ; Japanese ; New Year ; Otoso ; Rice ; Rice Wine ; Sake ; Wine

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Festival
Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Fermented

Date learned: 00-00-1925

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SAINT PATRICK'S DAY FESTIVAL AND BELIEFS

SAINT PATRICK DERTA GEROGADE E FRANC OR ALBAN. THAT MEANS SAINT
PATRICK CAME FROM FRANCE OR ENGLAND. WE WERE TAUGHT THAT EXPRESSION
AS CHILDREN. HE WAS SENT BY POPE CELESTINE TO BRING THE CATHOLIC
FAITH TO IRELAND. HE KILLED ALL THE SNAKES IN IRELAND BY SQUASHING
THEM WITH HIS STAFF. HE DIDN'T REALLY EXIST THOUGH. WE WOULD
CELEBRATE SAINT PATRICK'S DAY IN ENGLAND BY WEARING ALL GREEN.
 

Submitter comment:

"SPELLMAN, BURKE, AND I WOULD GO OUT FOR A WALK IN THE COUNTRY BECAUSE
WE HAD NO MONEY AND WE DIDN'T WANT THOSE DAMN ENGLISH TO THINK WE
WERE STAYING HOME ON SAINT PATRICK'S DAY."

MY MOTHER, WHO IS FROM IRELAND, WENT TO NURSING SCHOOL IN ENGLAND IN
1947. SHE CAME FROM A POOR FAMILY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Celebrate ; Green ; holiday ; IRELAND ; Irish ; Legend ; Lore ; Origin ; Saint Patrick's Day ; Tale

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Religious hero

Date learned: 00-00-1947 ; 11-22-1979

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ON DECEMBER 6, ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS WOULD DRESS
UP AS SAINT NICHOLAS IN OLD CLOTHES AND WOULD
DISTRIBUTE BAGS OF FRUIT, ESPECIALLY APPLES, NUTS,
AND CANDY TO ALL THE CHILDREN. THEY ALSO
CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CANDY ; Celebrate ; Consumption ; CUSTOM ; Feast ; FESTIVAL ; FOOD ; holiday ; Nicholas ; Nick ; Saint ; ST. NICHOLAS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas

Date learned: 03-31-1971

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ON ST. NICHOLAS DAY (DECEMBER 6) IT IS A TRADITION AMONG
POLES IN CHICAGO TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN PUT SHOES
OUT ON THE FRONT PORCH; DURING THE NIGHT THE SHOES
ARE FILLED WITH TANGERINES, A FAVORITE FRUIT
AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL

Keyword(s): Celebration ; CUSTOM ; CUSTOM ; FESTIVAL ; GAME ; holiday ; Nicholas ; Nick ; Saint ; ST. NICHOLAS ; tradition

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas

Date learned: 10-27-1971

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ON ST. NICHOLAS DAY, DECEMBER 6, PARENTS GIVE THEIR
CHILDREN ONE GIFT.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; GLENVIEW

Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; GIFT ; holiday ; Nick ; Saint ; ST. NICHOLAS ; tradition

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas

Date learned: 11-29-1970

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EVERY ST. NICHOLAS FEAST DAY CHILDREN WOULD RECEIVE GIFTS
AS THOUGH IT WERE CHRISTMAS. HOWEVER, THE CHILDREN ALSO
RECEIVED GIFTS AGAIN AT CHRISTMAS.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT'S GRANDPARENTS OBSERVED THIS CUSTOM IN
GERMANY. HIS PARENTS CONTINUED THIS PRACTICE IN THE
U.S. WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GERMANY ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Celebration ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Nick ; Saint ; ST. NICHOLAS ; tradition

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas

Date learned: 02-19-1970

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TRADITIONALLY OUR FAMILY OBSERVES ST. NICHOLAS' FEAST
DAY BY PUTTING THE CHILDREN'S SHOES IN FRONT OF THE
FIREPLACE. AFTER THE CHILDREN HAVE GONE TO BED, THE
PARENTS FILL THE SHOES WITH GIFTS AND CANDY.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT EXPERIENCED THIS CUSTOM IN APPLETON,
WISCONSIN. INFORMANT'S GRANDPARENTS WERE IMMIGRANTS
FROM HOLLAND AND THIS CUSTOM IS ARDENTLY OBSERVED THERE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; HOLLAND ; WISCONSIN ; APPLETON

Keyword(s): Celebration ; holiday ; Nick ; Saint ; ST. NICHOLAS ; tradition

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas

Date learned: 12-02-1967

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FINDING A BOWL OF NUTS AND FRUIT ON THE MORNING OF
ST. NICHOLAS DAY (DECEMBER 6) (IS A CUSTOM).

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Celebration ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Nick ; Saint ; ST. NICHOLAS ; tradition

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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GERMAN CUSTOM

ON DECEMBER 6 THE GERMANS PUT THEIR STOCKINGS OUT,
AND THIS IS IN THE OLD CHRISTMAS TRADITION. IF
THE CHILD IS GOOD, HE RECEIVES ALL KINDS OF GOOD
THINGS, BUT IF HE IS A BAD CHILD, HE RECEIVES TWO
LUMPS OF COAL.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Celebrate ; CUSTOM ; GERMAN ; holiday ; Nicholas ; Saint ; St. Nick ; tradition

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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ON DECEMBER 6 ALL THE CHILDREN HANG UP THEIR STOCKING AND
ST. NICHOLAS COMES (EQUIPPED WITH BISHOPS HAT AND
A LONG WHIP). HE FILLS THE GOOD CHILDREN'S STOCKINGS
WITH FRUIT AND NUTS, THE BAD CHILDREN GET COAL.

Submitter comment:

THIS IS AN ACTUAL PRACTICE IN NEW HAMBURG, MISSOURI
(OR WAS WHEN THE INFORMANT WAS YOUNG) SHE SAYS SHE
HEARD OF A NEIGHBOR BOY WHO RECEIVED COAL.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MISSOURI ; DETROIT ; NEW HAMBURG

Keyword(s): Celebrate ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Nicholas ; Saint ; St. Nick ; tradition

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas

Date learned: 09-20-1968

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HUNGARIAN CUSTOM

ON ST. NICHOLAS DAY A FELLOW CALLED "KRUMPUS" WOULD
COME THROUGH THE TOWN. HE WORE A LONG BELT FASHIONED
FROM CHAIN. HE CARRIED A WOODEN SWITCH AND A BAG OF
WALNUTS.
KRUMPUS WOULD WALK THROUGH THE TOWN AND STOP AT EACH
HOUSE. IF WELL-BEHAVED CHILDREN LIVED IN THE HOUSE,
HE WOULD THROW WALNUTS IN THE DOOR. IF BAD CHILDREN
LIVED IN THE HOUSE, HE WOULD STAND IN THE DOORWAY,
RATTLE HIS CHAIN AND SHAKE HIS SWITCH AT THEM.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; WINDSOR

Keyword(s): Celebrate ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; HUNGARIAN ; Nicholas ; Saint ; St. Nick ; tradition

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas

Date learned: 11-17-1968

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IN BELGIUM ON ST. NICHOLAS DAY, DECEMBER 6, THE CHILDREN
ALL PLACE THEIR SHOES ON THE WINDOW SILL IN THE HOPES
THAT ST. NICHOLAS WILL LEAVE THEM A TREAT AS HE PASSES
BY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; BELGIUM ; PITTSBURGH

Keyword(s): Belgium ; Celebration ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Nicholas ; Saint ; St. Nick ; tradition

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas

Date learned: 11-01-1970

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