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IF SOMEONE SWEEPS YOUR FEET SPIT ON THE BROOM AND SAY YOUR NAME.
IT WILL KEEP YOU FROM GOING TO JAIL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): MAGICAL PROPERTIES OF SPIT ; NAME MAGIC ; PREVENTIVE MAGIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Custom

Date learned: 10-00-1974

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TURQUOISE

WEARING TURQUOISE BRINGS GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ;

James Callow Keyword(s): JEWELRY ORNAMENT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Color
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.1

Date learned: CA1963-1975

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LIMERICK

THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON IN TOWN
WHOSE FACE WAS ADORNED WITH A FROWN
WHEN HE OPENED THE DOOR,
FOR A MINUTE OR MORE,
HE ALARMED ALL THE PEOPLE IN TOWN.

Submitter comment: THESE LIMERICKS WERE LEARNED OF IN A SIXTH GRADE ENGLISH CLASS
AT SAINT HEDWIG GRADE SCHOOL. THE BOOK THEY WERE TAKED FROM
IS NOT KNOWN BY ME BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD BY THE TEACHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): RHYME: AABBA

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse

Date learned: 00001960S

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LIMERICK

THERE WAS A YOUNG ROSE OF TRALEE
WHO LET HERSELF GO ON A SPREE.
NOW SHE WRITES TO THE PAPERS,
CONDEMING SUCH CAPERS,
AND SIGNS HERSELF MOTHER OF THREE.

Submitter comment: THESE LIMERICKS WERE LEARNED OF IN A SIXTH GRADE ENGLISH CLASS
AT SAINT HEDWIG GRADE SCHOOL. THE BOOK THEY WERE TAKED FROM
IS NOT KNOWN BY ME BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD BY THE TEACHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): METAPHOR: FLOWER (ROSE) FOR GIRL ; PERSONALITY CHANGE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse

Date learned: 00001960S

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LIMERICK

A LIVELY YOUNG FELLOW NAMED KELLY,
GOT AN AWFUL SAD ACHE IN HIS DIGESTION.
HIS WIFE IN HER HASTE,
HAD SERVED HIM UP PASTE
INSTEAD OF THE TOAST AND THE JELLY.

Submitter comment: THESE LIMERICKS WERE LEARNED OF IN A SIXTH GRADE ENGLISH CLASS
AT SAINT HEDWIG GRADE SCHOOL. THE BOOK THEY WERE TAKED FROM
IS NOT KNOWN BY ME BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD BY THE TEACHER.

James Callow Keyword(s): DISTORTION OF RHYME SCHEME ; EUPHEMISM: DIGESTION FOR BELLY

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse

Date learned: 00001960S

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FRIENDSHIP

IF A PERSON IS GIVEN A CUTTING TOOL, HE MUST GIVE A COIN IN RETURN
SO THE TOOL WILL NOT CUT THEIR FRIENDSHIP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC

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

Date learned: 02-28-1970

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PURPOSE OF CON (OF FISH)SUMPTION

FISH IS BRAINFOOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): MENTAL NOURISHMENT AND HEALTH

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Fish
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 03-05-1970

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SHOES

ONE MUST NOT LEAVE HIS SHOES ON THE FLOOR AT THE END OF ONES BED,
AS THE LEPRACHAUNS WILL COME AND DANCE IN THEM AT NIGHT.

Submitter comment:

THIS WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT BY HIS GRANDFATHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION PLACEMENT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome
BELIEF -- Use of Object Human beings and their activities

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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DEVIL WORKING

IF THE SUN COMES OUT WHILE IT IS RAINING, IT MEANS THE DEVIL IS
BEATING HIS WIFE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PUNISHMENT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Devil Demon
BELIEF -- Sun
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew
BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Observation of galactic or celestial bodies
BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon

Date learned: 11-17-1969

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Q: WHY ARE A COWARD AND A LEAKY FAUCET THE SAME?
A: THEY BOTH RUN.

Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER VARIANT IN U OF D FOLKLORE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; HARDWARE (Q) ; METAPHORICAL NONOPPOSITIONAL

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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TRUE RIDDLE

Q: JOHN IS IN THE OTHER ROOM SLEEPING. MARY IS ON THE FLOOR DEAD.
THERE IS WATER ON THE FLOOR NEAR MARY. THERE IS ALSO BROKEN GLASS
ON THE FLOOR NEAR MARY. MARY DID NOT DIE OF ANY WOUNDS.
HOW DID MARY DIE?
A: JOHN IS A CAT. MARY IS A FISH. JOHN KNOCKED THE FISH BOWL OFF
THE STAND AND IT BROKE AND MARY DIED OF SUFFICATION (SUFFOCATION).

Submitter comment:

YES AND NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RIDDLE ARE ASKED OF THE RIDDLER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMALS (A)

James Callow Keyword(s): HOUSEHOLD ITEM (Q) ; NAMES FOR

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Proper Name
RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 09-26-1969

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TRUE RIDDLE

Q: IT IS BLACK AND WHITE AND RED ALL OVER.
A: AN EMBARRASSED ZEBRA.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL LOBBY

Keyword(s): ANIMAL (A) ; LITERAL ; NATURAL PHENOMENON (Q) COLOR

James Callow Keyword(s): NEWSPAPER RIDDLE, VARIAN OF ; SPELLING: RED FOR READ

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 10-01-1968

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT IS BLACK AND WHITE AND RED ALL OVER?
A: A ZEBRA WITH A SUNBURN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL (A) ; METAPHORICAL ; STATE OF BEING - COLOR (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 11-00-1971

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FINNISH RIDDLE

Q: KUMU KULLATTU, SEINAT SELKEAT, VINAPUTELI KIRSTUSSA.
A: VASTAUS? KIRKKO TRANSLATION:
Q: GOLDEN DOME/ PLAIN WALLS/ BATTLE OF SPIRITS/ IN THE CASKET.
A: A CHURCH.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; FINLAND

Keyword(s): BUILDING (A) ; METAPHORICAL ; PARTICULAR AREA (Q) CHURCH

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 10-00-1968

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RIDDLE

Q: IT IS NOT A SHIRT, YET IT IS SEWED;
IT IS NOT A TREE, YET IT IS FULL OF LEAVES;
IT IS NOT A PERSON, YET IT TALKS SENSIBLE.
A: A BOOK.

Submitter comment: ORIGIN: HARVEY GOLDMAN, 12YR. OLD CAMPER AT LAKE GEORGE, NEW YORK (9)

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENON (Q) ; WEARABLE (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 07-25-1964

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT IS BLACK AND WHITE AND RED ALL OVER?
A: NEWSPAPER.

Data entry tech comment: 7 OTHER EXAMPLES IN THE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA

Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM (PLAY ON WORDS) ; NATURAL PHENOMENON (Q) COLOR

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 09-12-1965

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT HAS ONE LEG AND HIS HEART IN HIS HEAD?
A: A STUFFED CABBAGE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Keyword(s): EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; METAPHORICAL ; PART OF THE BODY (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): VEGETABLE

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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RIDDLE

Q: WHY IS A TIGHT BOOT LIKE AN OAK TREE?
A: BECAUSE THEY BOTH GIVE CORNS.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): EATABLES AND DRINKS ; NATURAL PHENOMENON (Q) ; WEARABLE (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 10-23-1968

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MIZSLE - LITHUANIAN RIDDLE

Q: PRAMUSI LEDAZ, RASE SIDABIG; PRANUISE SIDABIG, RASIAUKSG.
Q: BREAK ICE, FIND SILVER; BREAK SILVER, FIND GOLD.
A: KIAUSINIS - AN EGG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): EATABLES AND DRINKS ; MONETARY (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENON (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 03-08-1968

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Entry filtered.

RIDDLE

Q: WHAT IS IT THAT WHEN YOU TEAR OFF IT'S COVERINGS IT'S MADE BARE
AND YOU CAN CHEW IT?
A: CHEWING GUM.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LIVES IN JAPAN AND LEARNED ABOVE FROM HIS CHILDREN.

Where learned: LETTER ; JAPAN

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; METAPHORICAL

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 07-28-1964

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