THE ITALIAN GESTURE EQUIVALENT TO THE AMERICAN
"FINGER" (THE CENTER FINGER OF THE LEFT HAND POINTED
UPWARD) WHICH MEANS "FUCK YOU" IS TO STRIKE THE LEFT
ARM JUST ABOVE THE ELBOW WITH THE FIST OF THE
RIGHT HAND. THE FOREARM (LEFT) SWINGS UPWARD.

Where learned: ITALY

Keyword(s): DEROGATORY TERM ; INTERCOURSE

Subject headings:

SPEECH -- Derision Scorn
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Date learned: 00001969 FALL

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ONE HAND IN THE CROOK OF THE OTHER RAISED (CLENCHED
FIST) ARM MEANS "FUCK YOU" IN ITALIAN.

Submitter comment: PARDON MY "FRENCH"

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): FRENCH, IN THIS CASE, MEANS BAD LANGUAGE. ; INTERCOURSE

Subject headings:

SPEECH -- Derision Scorn
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Date learned: 12-00-1971

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PEACE WITH A LITTLE
PIECE ON SIDE.

Data entry tech comment: DIAGRAM OF HAND GESTURE ON 5 X 8 CARD: THUMB AND RING

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): INTERCOURSE=PIECE ; SLANG

Subject headings:

SPEECH -- Derision Scorn
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Date learned: 11-02-1971

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A PARTICULARLY OBSCENE GESTURE OF ITALIAN ORIGIN IS
USED WHEN ONE WISHES TO TELL A PERSON TO "GO GET
SCREWED!" THIS IS DONE BY HITTING THE BICEP
OF YOUR RIGHT ARM WITH THE PALM OF YOUR LEFT
HAND AND AT THE SAME TIME RAISING YOUR RIGHT
FOREARM UPWARDS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; FAMILY DINING ROOM

Keyword(s): SCREWED=SLANG FOR INTERCOURSE

Subject headings:

SPEECH -- Derision Scorn
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Date learned: 10-15-1967

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WHEN A FLEMISH WOMAN PUTS THE FINGER NEXT TO HER
THUMB (INDEX FINGER) IN THE PALM OF A GUY'S HAND,
SHE WANTS TO GO TO BED WITH HIM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; DORM ROOM

Keyword(s): INTERCOURSE

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage
SPEECH -- Wishes Wants Desires Predictions

Date learned: 11-13-1969

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An Unpleasant Surprise

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

There was a young engaged couple from a small town who had come home from a date one night. Nobody was home and the house was dark. On the table there was a note for the girl which said to close the basement windows. Seeing that noone was around, the young couple stripped down naked. The girl got on the boy's shoulders piggy-back and they started down the stairs. As they reached the last step all the lights went on - it was surprise bridal shower for the girl!

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original Boggs number [B600] has been crossed out and replaced with B646

Where learned: DURING A VISIT

Keyword(s): ALLUSION TO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE ; Engagement ; HUMOR ; JOKES ; MARRIAGE ; Modesty ; Moral ; PARTY ; Prank ; SEX ; SURPRISE ; YOUTH

Subject headings:

PROSE NARRATIVE -- Romantic Realistic
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Ethnic Joke: French

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

There was this couple engaged to be married. He was a Frenchman, while she was American. Her father gives her advice about her fiance: "Daughter, don't marry a frenchman!" But father, I love this man very much, I'm sure he will be fine. Her father repeats his warning: "Don't marry a Frenchman, because in six months, he'll ask you to "Change ends!" Don't worry father, everything will be ok. So, they got married.

What do you know, but six months later, while they are in bed, the Frenchman says "Honey, would you mind changing ends, just for tonight?" The girl gets a little angry and says "I should have listened to my father, he was right about you Frenchmen!" The frenchman replied, "But honey, Don't you want to have any children?"

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs and BN added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Submission card was located in a pile marked To Be Classified.

Where learned: RENO HALL ; DORM ROOM

Keyword(s): ETHNIC JOKE ; FRENCH ; HOMOSEXUALITY ; Innuendo ; MARRIAGE ; REFERENCE TO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE ; SEXUAL EUPHEMISM ; Stereotype

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C566

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Confucius Says:

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

He who lives in glass house makes love in closet.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs and BN added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Submission Card located in pile marked To Be Classified

Keyword(s): ALLUSION TO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE ; Confucius ; Jest, Anecdote, Pun, Joke, Irony ; JOKE ; WISDOM

Subject headings:

PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim
PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase
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Fun

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

Fun, Fun, Fun.

Fun, Fun, Fun

Worry, Worry, Worry

(The absence of period after final "fun" is the crux of the joke.)

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs and BN [S682] submitted by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [W200] crossed out. V300? written at bottom of card.

Submission card located in pile marked To Be Classified.

Where learned: Myself

Keyword(s): ALLUSION TO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE ; JOKE ; PREGNANCY ; WORDPLAY

Subject headings:

SPEECH -- Games Riddles Jokes
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim
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Ethnic: Polish

A POLISH, CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER CALLS FOR EACH SERVING TO BE
SERVED SEPARATELY. THE NEXT SERVING IS NOT BROUGHT ON UNTIL THE
PREVIOUS ONE HAS BEEN CONSUMED BY ALL THAT WANT IT. GENERALLY,
THE SERVINGS ARE OF VEGETABLES. THERE IS NO MEAT EATEN. NOTHING
IS DRANK DURING THE MEAL.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated 02-23-2011 / TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ABSTINENCE ; CHRISTMAS ; Course ; CUSTOM ; Dinner ; DRINK ; ETHNIC ; Feast ; FOOD ; holiday ; meat ; POLISH ; Serve ; tradition

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Christmas

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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PROVERB

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

BIG CATS ARE DANGEROUS, BUT A LITTLE PUSSY NEVER HURT ANYONE.

Submitter comment:

PUSSY IS A SLANG EXPRESSION FOR THE ACT OF LOVE-MAKING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; SEMANTICS ; SEX

James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION ; OBSERVATION ; PUN ; REFERENCE TO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

Subject headings:

PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor
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Date learned: 00-00-1971

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POLISH CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

THE DINNER CONSISTS OF THIRTEEN COURSES, ALL OF WHICH ARE MEATLESS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

James Callow comment:

Christmas Day?

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION BUILDING

Keyword(s): ABSTINENCE FROM MEAT ; CHRISTMAS ; Course ; CUSTOM ; Dinner ; FOOD CUSTOM ; holiday ; Ingredients ; Meal ; Vegetarian

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Menus

Date learned: 11-25-1969

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CHRISTMAS FOOD

IT IS A SLOVAK CUSTOM TO EAT CHRISTMAS FOOD IN THIS ORDER:
FIRST, UNLEAVENED BREAD DIPPED IN HONEY; SECOND, SOUR MUSHROOM AND
THIRD; HOME-MADE BREAD BALLS MIXED WITH POPPY-SEED, MILK AND HONEY.
THIS IS TO SYMBOLIZE THE SOUR AND SWEET IN LIFE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ; CHRISTMAS ; Course ; CUSTOM ; Dish ; FOOD ; FOOD CUSTOM ; holiday ; RECIPE ; Slovak

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Menus

Date learned: 03-00-1970

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Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

WHILE DATING IN HIGH SCHOOL, IT WAS
SAID THAT YOU COULD GO TO BELLE ISLE
TO "WATCH THE SUBMARINE RACES," WHICH
WAS ACTUALLY AN EXCUSE TO GO PARKING
AND KISS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Belle Isle ; DATE ; DATING ; EUPHEMISM ; INTERCOURSE ; PARKING ; Relationship ; SEX ; Submarine ; Teenager