A woman was in church praying to the Blessed Mother. Suddenly she heard a voice say, "My name is Jesus." The woman did not answer, but only prayed harder. Again the voice sounded. The woman turned around, looked, and continued praying. Again in happened. The woman was then very angry and said "Keep Quiet! Can't you see I am talking to your mother?"

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs entered by TRD

Where learned: SCHOOL ; Myself

Keyword(s): Catholic ; CATHOLICISM ; Family Relationships ; HUMOR ; MOTHER ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; Religious Humor ; Respect for Elders ; VIRGIN MARY

Subject headings:

PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious

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Data entry tech comment:

Motifs entered by TRD

Where learned: SCHOOL ; Myself

Keyword(s): Catholic ; Catholocism ; Family Relationships ; HUMOR ; MOTHER ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; Religious Humor ; Respect for Elders ; VIRGIN MARY

Subject headings:

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Goats Feet

There was a girl who liked to dance and socialize very often. Her parents objected so she used to sneak out of the house. One day her mother caught her and put a curse on her. If she went out of the house to go dancing again her feet would turn to goat's ffet. She didn't believe her mother. Next time she went out her beau picked her up and off they went. When she went to get out of the car, she looked down and her feet had turned to goat's feet. The moral is: listen to your parents.

Submitter comment:

Polish Tale (Written across the top of the card)

Co - Feet of girl turned into feet of goat when/after she is cursed by her mother for dancing. (written on an attached card that listed motifs. Signed by M. Butzen

Data entry tech comment:

Non-numbered motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original Boggs Number [B600] crossed out and B642 written nest to it.

Collector's note of Polish Tale is crossed out.

Why Polish is written at the bottom of the card, then crossed out and followed by: B. Fagan says this is a Polish FolkTale.

A separate card is attached with motif numbers listed. Bottom of card is signed by an M. Butzen.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Dancing ; DATING ; Fable ; FAMILY ; FEET ; Goat ; Moral ; PARENTAL RESPECT ; PARENTS ; POLISH ; SOCIAL RELATIONS ; Teenager ; YOUTH

James Callow Keyword(s): POLISH

Subject headings:

PROSE NARRATIVE -- Magic

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The Blacksmiths Son

Long ago in a small village there lived a blacksmith. Now although blacksmiths were poor, they were, nevertheless, held in respect because they were the strongest men in the village.

People used to go to the blacksmith for advice and help. This particular balcksmithhad one son, and the blacksmith wanted his son to be a blacksmith also. But the son was lazy and did not like to work. One day he told his father: "father, I have a very brilliant idea. I'm going to learn your trade in an easy way. Here's my plan: Put me in a large basket above yuor workshop and I will watch everything you do. And by watching you constantly, I will earn your trade."

So the son was put in the basket and watched his father fort several months. Then the son said to his father: "Father, I think I'm ready." And so the father gave the son tools, and a large piece of iron, and said to his son: "now son, what are you going to make?"

"Father," the son said, "I think I'll make a hammer."

"Son," the father said, "If you can make a hammer, you will be a better blacksmith than I, because it took me five years to learn how to make a hammer." And the son worked feverishly for several days but to no avail. So the son went to his father and said: "Father, I think I'll make a horseshoe instead."

The father said; "Son, if you can make a horseshoe, you will be a better blacksmith than I, because it took me three years to learn how to make a horseshoe." The son again went out, pounding and forming, but to no avail. He said to the fahter: "Father, I think I will make a nail instead of a horseshoe."

The fahter said: "Son, if you can make a nail, you will be a better blacksmith than I, because it took me two years to learn how to make a nail." The son worked for several hours, but to no avail. He said to his father: "Father, I will make something you never made. I will make a needle."

"Son," said the father, "if you make a needle, you will be a better blacksmith than I, for no smith has made a needle. " And so, the son worked and worked until finally there was nothing left. but he did not give up. He said: "Father, I will make something with no iron at all."

"Son, if you can make something without iron, it will indeed make you a great blacksmith," the father replied.

The son said: "Come watch, Father." He took a pair of tongs and heated them red hot, and suddenly plunged them into a barrel of water, and said: "Father, I did it. I made a pss."

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original Boggs Number [ B665] crossed out and B646 is written next to it.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK

Keyword(s): Blacksmith ; FAMILY ; Father ; Hammer ; HORSESHOE ; HUMOR ; IRON ; Learn ; Lesson ; Needle ; Outsmart ; Skill ; Son ; TRADE ; Wise ; Wisecrack

Subject headings:

PROSE NARRATIVE -- Romantic Realistic

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Ethnic: Belgium

Solemn Communion:

In Belgium, at the age of 12, there would be a Solemn Communion. Although they had made their First Communion at the age of 7, at this time, the children would assemble in Church to renew their Baptismal vows. there were weeklong preparations for the event. Girls wore white gowns, much in the manner of a bridal outfit. There would be a three day celebration. On the first day, the parents and godparents gathered at the child's home. The second day saw the cousins and other immediate relatives there. And on the third day, the neighbors and friends joined in the activities.

Submitter comment:

Ethnic:Polish

Naming:

It is a custom in Poland, that a child is not given the name of a living grandparent, for fear that either the grandparent or the child will die within seven years.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: CANADA ; WINNIPEG ; MANITOBA

Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; Cultural ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; FAMILY ; Naming ; POLAND

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Baptism Naming rite

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Custom

Wedding Custom:

When a woman in her family is engaged to be married, the aunts on her fahter's side give a shower gift to her which is a pure white negligee. This is a sign that the perspective groom has been accepted as a member of the family.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: HOME ; NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER

Keyword(s): Engagement ; FAMILY ; GIFT ; Shower ; WEDDING

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage

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Ethnic: Hungarian

Hungarian Wedding:

The informant recalls that on her wedding day, when she returned to her new mother-in-law's home, she was greeted by the mother and asked to recite the "Our Father." When she came to the part "Give us this day our daily bread..." the mother handed her a loaf of bread saying "no matter how poor you may become, always remember that you will still have a loaf of bread." This is a common Hungarian Custom.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [S570] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH

Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; FAMILY ; FOOD ; HUNGARIAN ; MARRIAGE ; POVERTY ; PRAYER ; WEDDING

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage

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Ethnic: Ukraine

Wedding Custom:

Before setting out for the church wedding ceremony, the Ukranian couple approach the two sets of parents and ask them for the parent's blessing. They then kneel before the parents, on a specially embroidered cloth "rushyk." The parents make the sign of the cross over them with a holyicon, then with a loaf of bread- touch each on the forehead. They wish them luck, health and many happy and prosperous years.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; Myself

Keyword(s): BLESSING ; Cloth ; CUSTOMS ; ETHNIC ; FAMILY ; MARRIAGE ; Ukraine ; WEDDING

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage

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