We have a family tradition. Christmas Eve dinner is the same each year. There is no meat served at that meal, going back to the Catholic observance of Christmas Eve as a day of abstinence. THe foods served are spaghetti with anchovi sauce, Baccala ( Cod fish with almonds and spices), fillet of sole, fried shrimp.

Data entry tech comment:

Input by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; SPRINGFIELD

Keyword(s): ABSTINENCE ; Catholic ; Dinner ; ETHNIC ; FISH ; FOOD ; holiday ; Italian ; meat ; RELIGION ; tradition

Subject headings:

Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals

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A POLISH SONG: IN A CELLAR MADE OF BRICK

IN A CELLAR MADE OF BRICK
OUTLAWS DANCED WITH NIMBLE FEET.
"PLAY YOUR BEST THERE} " THEY CALLED OUT.
"WATCH OUR FEET", THEY CALLED WITH PRIDE.
HEY, HA}
I WOULD DANCE TOO, IF I COULD
IF MY LEGS WEREN,T BADLY BOWED.
BUT ALAS} MY LEGS ARE BOWED
WHEN I LEAP THEY BEND TOO MUCH.
HEY, HA}
HEY THERE LEADER, OUR LEADER
YOU HAVE GOT SOME GOOD BOYS HERE
YOU,D HAVE EVEN BETTER ONES
IF YOU,D GIVE THEM SOME CHEESE ONCE.
UHA}

Submitter comment:

SEE ORIGINAL 5 X 8 INCH CARD
THE TRANSLATION IS OF HARRIET PAWLAWSKA WITH EXCEPTION OF THE LAST
VERSE WHICH OUR FAMILY KNOWS. THE MUSIC IS TRANSCRIBED BY GRACE
ENGEL EXCEPT FOR THE LAST NOTE. THIS IS A MOUNTAINEER SONG.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Scan of music in process.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Keyword(s): ETHNIC ; Lyrics ; POLAND ; POLISH ; RHYME ; SONG ; Tune ; VERSE

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Joy Happiness

Date learned: 00-00-1967

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A POLISH SONG: STEEL TIPPED DANCE SHOES, FLASH AND SPARKLE

STEEL_TIPPED DANCE SHOES, FLASH AND SPARKLE
FOR THIS GIRL'S A WORTHY PARTNER
BE SHE WORTHY OR NOT WORTHY
STEEL_TIPPED DANCE SHOES FLASH AND SPARKLE.
POLISH TEXT AND MUSIC NOT KEYPUNCHED.

Submitter comment:

THE FIRST VERSE IS TRANSLATED BY HARRIET PAWLAWSKA AND MUSIC IS
TRANSCRIBED BY GRACE ENGEL. FOR THE SECOND VERSE I HAVE NO MUSIC
TRANSCRIBED SO I JUST PRESENT THE WORDS AS I KNOW THEM.

Data entry tech comment:

THE INFORMANT STATES THAT THERE IS A SECOND VERSE BUT IT IS NOT
LOCATED ON THE FILE CARD.

Updated by TRD

Scanning of music card in progress

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Keyword(s): DANCE ; ETHNIC ; Lyrics ; MUSIC ; POLAND ; POLISH ; RHYME ; SONG ; VERSE

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Joy Happiness

Date learned: 00-00-1967

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IRISH SONG

ERIN THE TEAR AND THE SMILE IN THINE EYES,
BLEND LIKE THE RAINBOW'S LIGHT THAT SHINES IN THE SKIES.
SHINING THROUGH SORROWS STREAMS,
GLADDENING THROUGH PLEASURE BEAMS,
THY SUNS WITH DOUBTFUL GLEAM WEEP WHILE THEY RISE.

ERIN THY SILENT TEAR, NEVER SHALL CEASE,
ERIN, THY LANGUID SMILE NE'ER SHALL INCREASE,
TILL LIKE THE RAINBOW,S LIGHTS,
THY VARIOUS TINTS UNITE
AND FORM IN HEAVEN,S SIGHT ONE ARCH OF PEACE.

Submitter comment:

MRS. MC CLOSKEY HEARD THIS IN BELFAST, IRELAND IN 1916.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ETHNIC ; Gaelic ; IRELAND ; Irish ; Lyrics ; MUSIC ; RHYME ; SONG ; Tune ; VERSE

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Sorrow Unhappiness

Date learned: 01-13-1964

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MING TOY LOVED A BOY, HAPPY LITTLE JAPANESE;
OOO LONG WAS HIS NAME, SET HER HEART AFLAME;
ONE DAY HE SAY SOON I GOTTA GO AWAY,
WHEN HE LEAVE MING TOY GRIEVE; EVERYBODY HEARD HER SAY_HAY_HAY;
SO LONG, OOO ONG, HOW LONG YOU GONNA BE GONE;
SO DON,T BE TOO LONG, OOO LONG, HURRY BACK HOME;
OH YOU LITTLE JAPANESE. I'LL BE WAITING UNDERNEATH THE BAMBOO TREE;
PLEASE DON,T BE TOO LONG, OOO LONG, HURRY BACK HOME.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK

Keyword(s): ; Asian ; Chinese ; ETHNIC ; HUMOROUS INTERNAL RHYME ; Japanese ; MUSIC ; RHYME ; SONG ; Tune

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Sorrow Unhappiness

Date learned: 02-02-1972

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POLISH SONG: WHY DEAR MAIDEN

WHY DO YOU, DEAR MAIDEN
BY THE OAK STAND LONELY?
IS IT FROM RAIN, MAIDEN,
OR THE HOT SUN ONLY?

CHORUS

NO, IT,S NOT THE HOT SUN,
NOR EVEN A SHOWER,
BUT A VERY DEAR ONE,
I WAIT IN THIS BOWER}

CHORUS
HOP CIUK, CIUK, TRA LA LA LA LA,
HOP CIUK, CIUK, TRA LA LA LA LA,
HOP CIUK, CIUK, TRA LA LA LA LA,
HOP CIUK, CIUK, BEC.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: DETROIT

Keyword(s): ETHNIC ; Lyrics ; MUSIC ; POLAND ; POLISH ; RHYME ; SONG ; SONG ; VERSE

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Sorrow Unhappiness

Date learned: 10-18-1971

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SLICE OF BREAD

AT THE BEGINNING OF A POLISH, CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER, EVERYONE
IS GIVEN ONE PIECE OF BREAD. THIS ONE SLICE MUST LAST THEM
FOR THE ENTIRE MEAL.
IT IS BAD LUCK TO CONSUME THE BREAD BEFORE THE MEAL HAS BEEN
COMPLETED; YOU WILL GO HUNGARY (HUNGRY) OR NOT FULFILL SOME
DESIRE DURING THE COMING YEAR.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ETHNIC ; FOOD CUSTOM ; holiday ; LUCK ; POLISH ; tradition

Subject headings:

122 Christmas
686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.2

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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BLOOD SAUSAGE

IN RURAL BULGARIA, AFTER A LOG HAS BEEN PLACED IN THE LARGE FIREPLACE
THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS THE MAKING OF BLOOD SAUSAGE IS BEGUN. A
PIG IS SLAUGHTERED AND SAUSAGE IS MADE FROM ITS BLOOD NO LATER
THAN 12:00 MIDNIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS DAY. THE SAUSAGE CANNOT
BE EATEN BEFORE MIDNIGHT, BUT AFTER THIS EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE
FEASTS.

Submitter comment:

THE INFORMANT REMEMBERS PARTICIPATING IN THIS CUSTOM IN BULGARIA.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: HENDRICKSONS PHARMACY ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BLOOD ; Bulgaria ; CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; FOOD ; holiday ; Pig ; Sausage ; tradition