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LEAVEN BREAD

IT IS AN OLD POLISH CUSTOM TO SHARE WAFERS OF
LEAVEN BREAD ON CHRISTMAS DAY TO REPRESENT THE
MULTIPLICATION OF THE LOAVES BY CHRIST.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.82

Date learned: 07-00-1964

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CUSTOMS

POLISH CUSTOM OF BREAKING BREAD TOGETHER ON CHRISTMAS.
THIS BREAD IS A TYPE OF A WAFER.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector share the same surname.
 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS ; TOLD AT INFORMANT'S HOME

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.82

Date learned: 02-24-1970

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CHRISTMAS CUSTOM - FOOD

ON CHRISTMAS, THE ENTIRE FAMILY IS SERVED AN
UNLEAVENED PIECE OF BREAD WITH THE DINNER. ON IT
IS INSCRIBED A HOLY SCENE, GENERALLY THE NATIVITY.
EACH MEMBER BREAKS OFF A PIECE AND SHARES IT
WITH ANOTHER. THE FINAL PIECE IS THEN CONSUMED
BY THE ORIGINAL PERSON.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.82

Date learned: 01-17-1968

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CHRISTMAS FOOD CUSTOM

BEFORE CHRISTMAS OR EASTER DINNER, A WAFER
IS BROKEN AND PASSED AROUND THE FAMILY TO
INSURE UNITY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.82

Date learned: 12-01-1967

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POLISH CUSTOM

BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS MEAL EACH
PARTAKER TAKES A PIECE OF EACH OTHER'S
CHRISTMAS WAFER AND WISHES HIM
GOOD LUCK.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector share the same surname.

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.82

Date learned: 12-01-1967

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POLISH CHRISTMAS CUSTOM - BREAKING OF "OPLATEK" (ANGEL BREAD)

BREAKING OF THIS OPLATEK WITH FRIENDS AND RELATIVES
AT CHRISTMAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF WISHING EACH
OTHER GOOD TIDINGS AND BLESSINGS FOR THE NEW YEAR.
EACH ONE SAYS TO THE OTHER "WESOLI SWIAT
BOZEGO NARODZENIA I SCZELIWEGO NOWEGO ROKU."

Where learned: OHIO ; Sylvania

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.82

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.

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CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

IT IS CUSTOMARY IN POLISH FAMILIES ON
CHRISTMAS TO OBTAIN A CHRISTMAS WAFER - OPLATKI (OPWATKEY)
AND AT THE DINNER TABLE IT HAS A PIECE BROKEN OFF BY
EACH PERSON AT THE TABLE. IT IS THEN EATEN AS A WISH FOR
A HOLY AND HAPPY HOLIDAY. IT SYMBOLIZES THE COMMUNION
WAFER IN THE CHURCH AS CHRIST'S BODY.

Where learned: TOLD AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.82

Date learned: 11-21-1969

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CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

A WAFER IS BROKEN AND EATEN BY THE ENTIRE
FAMILY ON CHRISTMAS TO SYMBOLIZE SHARING IN
THE BODY OF CHRIST.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.82

Date learned: 11-18-1967

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AVOIDING AN ILLNESS

PEOPLE WHO SOAK THEIR FEET IN SALT WATER NEVER GET ATHLETES FOOT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

James Callow Keyword(s): ATHLETE'S FOOT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 00-00-1975

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JOKE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

WHAT IS POLISH SURF AND TURF?
KEILBASA AND CARP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): FISH FOOD

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Poli

Date learned: 00-00-1973

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CAMPSONG BOTTLE POP

ONE BOTTLE POP, TWO BOTTLE POP, THREE BOTTLE POP, FOUR BOTTLE POP,
FIVE BOTTLE POP, SIX BOTTLE POP, SEVEN BOTTLE POP POP.
FISH AND CHIPS AND VINEGAR, VINEGAR, VINEGAR,
FISH AND CHIPS AND VINEGAR, PEPPER PEPPER PEPPER POP.
DON'T PUT YOUR DUST IN MY DUST PAN, MY DUST PAN, MY DUST PAN,
DON'T PUT YOUR DUST IN MY DUST PAN, MY DUST PAN'S FULL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens

James Callow Keyword(s): CHAIN ; FOOD AND DRINK

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Daily Life
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Social reunion

Date learned: 04-00-1979

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WHEN YOU GROW OLD AND YOUR BALLS GROW COLD AND THE HEAD OF YOUR
DICK TURNS BLUE, AND WHEN YOU TRY TO DIDDLE AND IT BENDS IN THE
MIDDLE, THEN YOU KNOW GODDAMIT YOU,RE THROUGH.

Submitter comment: THIS LITTLE SAYING WAS TOLD TO ME BY A MAN WHO HAD LIVED FOR
MANY YEARS IN THE THUMB AREA. HE HAD HEARD THIS WHEN HE WORKED FOR
A LUMBER COMPANY IN THAT AREA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

James Callow Keyword(s): AGING ; SLANG: DICK FOR PENIS

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 00-00-1977

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"CONFUCIUS SAY:"

MAN WHO FARTS IN CHURCH WILL SIT IN HIS OWN PEW.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SLANG: PEW FOR STENCH

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Wellerism Quotation

Date learned: CA00001972

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JOKE (SENTENCE PUN)

A BOY WAS ASKED BY HIS TEACHER TO USE THE FOLLOWING WORDS IN A
SENTENCE: DEFEAT, DEDUCT, DEFENCE, AND DETAIL. HIS REPLY: "DE FEET
OF DE DUCK WENT OVER DE FENCE BEFORE DE TAIL."

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DE USED FOR THE

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale
SPEECH -- Phonology Phonetics

Date learned: CA00001966

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JUMP-ROPE RHYME

MISS LUCY HAD A TUGBOAT. THE TUGBOAT HAD A BELL.
THE TUGBOAT WENT TO HEAVEN AND MISS LUCY WENT TO HELLO,
OPERATOR, I'LL TELL YOU NO MORE LIES. MISS LUCY TOLD ME
ALL OF THIS THE NIGHT BEFORE SHE DIED.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM: HELLO FOR HELL

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

Date learned: CA00001960S

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PRAYER, VERSE CRUCIAL MOMENT OF LIFE.

THANK THE LORD FOR A GIRL SO FINE,
YOU GAVE TO ME TO CALL HER MINE,.
NOW SHE'S GONE, SHE'S NEAR HER THRONE,
AND SHE'LL WAIT TILL I COME HOME.
CHORUS: LORD I LOVE HER, LORD I CRY,
LORD I MISS HER, TILL THE DAY I DIE.
ON THIS EARTH I'LL WORK AND PRAY
TILL GOD COMES AND TAKES ME AWAY,
UP TO HEAVEN HIGH IN THE SKY,
THE PLACE THAT YOU RESERVE FOR YOU AND I } }
CHORUS: LORD I LOVE HER, LORD I CRY,
LORD I MISS HER, TILL THE DAY I DIE.

Submitter comment: THIS HAS TO DO WITH MANY CRUCIAL MOMENTS OF LIFE FROM BIRTH TO DEATH
I FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY MOVING AND BEATIFUL VERSE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE

James Callow Keyword(s): RYME PROMPTS WRONG CASE: FOR YOU AND I

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival C840.546
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief
BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: 04-00-1979

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SUPERSTITION

OWLS ARE BAD LUCK. IF YOU SEE ONE, OR IF ONE FLIES OVER YOU, YOU'LL
GET BAD LUCK FOR A WEEK. IF YOU'RE WALKING, YOU'LL FALL. IF YOU'RE
WRITING, YOU'LL MAKE MISTAKE; IF YOU DRIVE CAR, YOU'LL MAKE ACCIDENT.

Submitter comment: HE LEARNED THIS SUPERSTITION FROM HIS FAMILY AND BELIEVES IN IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME

James Callow Keyword(s): PALESTINIAN INFORMANT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour
BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 02-00-1979

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CUSTOM

WHEN SOMEONE IN OUR FAMILY DIES, WE BURN A CANDLE IN A SPECIAL, SMALL
GLASS JAR FOR A WEEK. WE'RE BURNING IT FOR THE DEAD PERSON'S SPIRIT,
TO FEED THE SPIRIT. THEN ON EACH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH WE BURN
THE SAME CANDLE FOR A WEEK. THIS IS SO THE DEAD PERSON'S SOUL
KNOWS YOU HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN HIM.

Submitter comment: THIS IS A JEWISH CUSTOM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME

James Callow Keyword(s): FOOD

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- P647

Date learned: 02-00-1979

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O'LEARY'S BAR

TWAS A COLD WINTER'S EVENING, THE GUESTS WERE ALL LEAVING,
O'LEARY WAS CLOSING THE BAR. WHEN HE TURNED AND HE SAID TO THE
LADY IN RED, "GET OUT YOU CAN'T STAY ANY MORE".
SHE WEPT A SAD TEAR IN HER BUCKET OF BEER, AS SHE THOUGHT OF THE
COLD NIGHT AHEAD, WHEN A DAPPER PHI KAPPER STEPPED OUT OF THE
CRAPPER, AND THESE ARE THE WORDS THAT HE SAID, " YOUR MOTHER
NEVER TOLD YOU, THE THINGS A YOUNG GIRL SHOULD KNOW,
ABOUT THE WAYS OF COLLEGE MEN AND HOW THEY COME AND GO...MOSTLY GO.
NOW AGE HAS TAKEN YOUR BEAUTY, AND SIN HAS LEFT ITS SAD SCAR,
SO REMEMBER YOUR MOTHER'S WORDS AND NEVER SLEEP UNDER THE BAR,
NEXT TO THE GIN, IN SOUTHERN COMFORT, WITH HIRAM WALKER"...
AND THERE WAS GRANNY, SWINGING ON THE OUTHOUSE DOOR, WITHOUT
HER NIGHTIE, AND GRANDPA YELLING "MORE, MORE, MORE"
SHE WORE PAJAMAS...
DRINK, DRINK, DRINK, DRINK, DRUNK LAST NIGHT, DRUNK THE NIGHT
BEFORE, GONNA GET DRUNK TONIGHT LIKE I'VE NEVER BEEN DRUNK BEFORE,
FOR WHEN I'M DRUNK I'M AS HAPPY AS CAN BE,
FOR I AM A MEMBER OF THE SOUSED FAMILY, OH THE SOUSED
FAMILY IS THE BEST FAMILY, TO EVER COME OVER FROM
OLD GERMANY, THERE'S THE HIGHLAND DUTCH AND THE LOW LAND DUTCH,
AND THE RODDER DAMN DUTCH AND THE OTHER DAMNED DUTCH,
SINGING GLORIOUS, GLORIOUS, ONE KEG OF BEER FOR THE FOUR OF US,
SINGING GLORY BE TO GOD THAT THERE AIN'T NO MORE OF US,
FOR ONE OF US CAN DRINK IT ALL ALONE, DAMN NEAR.
(SPOKEN) NOW GOD MADE MEN AND GOD MADE THE DUTCH, BUT WHEN GOD
MADE MEN HE DIDN'T MAKE MUCH.
SINGING GLORIOUS, GLORIOUS, ONE KEG OF BEER FOR THE FOUR OF US,
SINGING GLORY BE TO GOD THAT THERE AIN'T NO MORE MORE OF US,
FOR ONE OF US CAN DRINK IT ALL ALONE, DAMN NEAR.
REPEAT (NOW WHEN GOD MADE ...) FILLING IN DIFFERENT NAMES
TO REPLACE THE WORD MEN.

Submitter comment: THIS IS A FRATERNITY AND SORORITY SONG SUNG AT PARTIES.
THE INTERESTING PART OF THE SONG IS THAT THE TUNE CHANGES
FOUR TIMES DURING THE COURSE OF THE SONG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM: OTHER FOR GOD

Subject headings: Favorites
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest

Date learned: 00-00-1976

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THE CANDY BAR SITUATION

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

ONE DAY MR. GOODBAR THOUGHT HE WOULD LIKE A BIT OF HONEY,
SO HE WENT DOWN TO FIFTH AVENUE AND PICKED UP MISS HERSHEY.
THEY WENT BEHIND THE POWERHOUSEE.
MR. GOODBAR SAID, "LET'S PRODUCE 3 MUSKETEERS".
MR. GOODBAR STARTED FEELING HER MOUNDS,
WHICH TO HIM WAS PURE ALMOND JOY.
HE SNICKERED UP HER MILKY WAY.
THEN SHE FELT HIS BUTTERNUTS AND CRIED, "OH HENRY, I AM
FOREVER YOURS".
THE RESULTS, BABY RUTH

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HUNTINGTON WOODS

James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISMS FOR BREASTS, VAGINA, AND GONADS ; PUNS ON NAMES OF CANDY BARS ; SEX

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: CA00001977

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