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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Ethnic: Polish

IN POLAND, AND IN MANY POLISH-AMERICAN HOMES, THE VIGIL OF
CHRISTMAS IS A VERY SOLEMN OCCASION. A VARIETY OF FOOD IS SERVED,
TWELVE DISHES IN ALL, TO REPRESENT THE TWELVE APOSTLES. NO DAIRY
PRODUCTS ARE ALLOWED. IT ALSO CONSISTS OF SPECIAL WAFERS CALLED
OPTATKI, WHICH THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD DISTRIBUTES TO EACH
MEMBER OF THE FAMILY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated / 02-24-2011 / TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Keyword(s): ABSTINENCE ; CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; DAIRY ; Dinner ; ETHNIC ; FAMILY ; Feast ; FOOD ; holiday ; POLAND ; POLISH ; SYMBOL ; Symbolic ; Vigil

Subject headings:

122 Christmas
686 Seconds / Twice / Two
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.82

Date learned: 10-27-1968

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Ethnic: Italian

IT IS AN OLD ITALIAN CUSTOM THAT DURING LENT NOTHING MADE FROM EGGS
ARE ( IS ) EATEN UNTIL HOLY SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

Submitter comment:

THIS CUSTOM WAS PASSED TO THE INFORMANT FROM HER MOTHER AND
ORIGINALLY CAME FROM SOUTHERN ITALY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated / 02-24-2011 / TRD

Where learned: NEW YORK ; PORT CHESTER

Keyword(s): ABSTINENCE ; CUSTOM ; Eggs ; ETHNIC ; FOOD ; holiday ; Italian ; Lent ; RELIGIOUS ; SELF-SACRIFICE

Subject headings:

663 Holy Saturday
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Christian Chronology

Date learned: 11-28-1970

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Custom: Holiday

"NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHO ENJOYED THE FIRST APRIL FOOL'S
DAY GUFFAWS. SOME SAY THE DAY OF BUFFOONERY BEGAN IN
FRANCE IN 1564, WHEN NEW YEAR'S DAY WAS CARRIED BACK
TO JANUARY 1 INSTEAD OF BEING CELEBRATED ON MARCH 25.
THOSE PEOPLE WHO OBJECTED TO THE TIME JUGGLE WERE
GIVEN MOCK NEW YEAR'S GIFTS ON APRIL 1, WHICH USED TO
BE THE FINAL DAY OF MERRYMAKING. THE PRACTICAL JOKE
CUSTOM POPPED UP IN BRITAIN BY THE 18TH CENTURY, AND
THE BRITISH EXPORTED THE ZANY PRACTICE TO NORTH
AMERICA."

Data entry tech comment:

Updated and Motifs added / 02-28-2011 / TRD

Keyword(s): APRIL FOOL'S DAY ; Britain ; CUSTOM ; France ; holiday ; JOKE ; New Years ; Origin ; PRACTICAL JOKE ; Prank

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- April 1 April Fools
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- April 1 April Fools
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 21 equinox to June 20

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Custom: Holiday

ON CHRISTMAS EVE EACH MEMBER OF THE FAMILY LIGHTS A BAYBERRY
CANDLE AND THEN MAKES A WISH. IF THE CANDLES ARE ALLOWED TO
BURN TO THE ENDS THEN THE WISH WILL COME TRUE.

Submitter comment:

THIS IS A CUSTOM CARRIED OUT IN THE INFORMANT'S FAMILY FOR
SEVERAL GENERATIONS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated and Motifs added / 02-28-2011 / TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE

Keyword(s): Bayberry ; Candle ; CUSTOM ; FAMILY ; Herb ; holiday ; PLANT ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; SYMBOL ; WISH

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.2
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Lights and candles

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CUSTOM

ON THE DAY AFTER EASTER, THE FIRST GIRL A BOY SAW, HE WOULD SPRINKLE
HER WITH WATER. HOWEVER BOYS ARE BOYS WHEREVER YOU GO AND THEY
USUALLY USED A WHOLE BUCKET OF WATER ON EVERY GIRL THEY MET. THEIR
GIRL FRIENDS THEY SPRINKLED WITH PERFUME OR COLOGNE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated and Motifs Added / 02-28-2011 / TRD
Informant and collector share same surname.

Where learned: TAYLOR ; Michigan Consolidated Gas Company ; informant's home

Keyword(s): Boy ; Cologne ; COURTSHIP ; CUSTOM ; DYNGUS DAY ; Female ; Flirt ; Flirtation ; Girl ; holiday ; Male ; Perfume ; RITUAL ; Scent ; WATER

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Monday Dyngus

Date learned: 11-27-1967

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Joke

Easter Joke:

"Easter will be a little late this year, they found the body."

Submitter comment:

Sign on the desk of a room in Payne Hall, Peabody College.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: Myself

Keyword(s): BODY ; Easter ; holiday ; JOKE ; RELIGION ; Resurrection

Subject headings:

PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote

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Custom; Agriculture

Plant beans on Good Friday

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; Beans ; FARMING ; Good Friday ; holiday ; PLANT ; Religious Holiday

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour

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Superstition

The fisherman have two kinds of folk belief: magic and empirical. Magic have no rational explanation-porpoises bring good luck. Empirical can be explained or have a rational line of thought - Circle around moon means bad weather. There is a rational connection between moon, ring, and bad weather.

Beneath the instrumental function of beliefs (to explain something) there is a phycological [sic] function (to ease the dangers of their hazardous occupation.)

Black suitcase is a very bad taboo object. Going out (in boat) on Friday - bad luck. The word alligator - bad luck. Throw change overboard - good luck.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: The Function of Magic Among Texas Coastal Fisherman ; Journal of American Folklore

Keyword(s): Alligator ; BELIEF ; Boat ; Change ; Empirical ; Fisherman ; Friday ; LUCK ; MAGIC ; MONEY ; MOON ; Ocean ; Porpoise ; Sail ; Sailor ; SEA ; Ship ; Suitcase ; SUPERSTITION ; WEATHER

Subject headings:

BELIEF -- Still water Large body.
BELIEF -- Bad luck

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Custom

Grammaw's Average Day:

"...go milk the cow and put the milk in the springhouse...churn sum buttermilk 'n make the butter...'n make a batch of hominy...rest a little whilst shelling peas...hoe and weed the garden 'n carry sum vegetables back to the cabin...take sic Mandy Lou sum soup on the next farm 'n gather sum herbs to doctor wid later on...shell sum butterbeans...gather sum pears 'n make sum preserves...git the aigs outta the nests 'n get the goat outta the garden...cook three meals a day."

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Boiling and Baking ; Booger Hollow

Keyword(s): ; Average ; Beans ; Chores ; CUSTOM ; Day ; Domestic ; Excerpt ; FARMING ; GARDEN ; Goat ; Grandma ; Narrative ; Peas ; Prose ; Shell ; Story ; VEGETABLE ; WORK

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Routine activity

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