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Language: Rhyme

Ridicule Rhyme:

Tattle Tale, Tattle Tale
Hang your britches on a nail,
Hang them high, hang them low,
Hang them in a picture show.
Hang them 'till your fanny shows.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): BRITCHES ; Entertainment ; Fanny ; Hang ; High ; Language ; Low ; Nail ; Picture Show ; rat ; RHYME ; RIDICULE ; Tattle Tale

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

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Poem

Feeling that the Indians had been seriously mistreated Longfellow wrote in 1854, that he had found a plan for a poem on the American Indians that was fitting to their beautiful traditions. The poem did not totally portray the indians totally accurately.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added By TRD

Where learned: New York Folklore Quarterly ; The Making of Hiawatha

Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; INDIAN ; Language ; LONGFELLOW ; poem ; Traditions

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend

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Saying

Out of Cite [sic]

This saying, used by young people, means that something is enjoyable, pleasing, or otherwise good. It can be paralleled with such jargon as "cool," "bad," or "mellow."

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

Keyword(s): Bad ; Cite ; Cool ; Era ; Jargon ; Language ; Mellow ; Nickname ; SLANG

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Taunt

Poet;

When somebody says something that rhymes, you say to them:

"You're a poet and don't know it, but your feet show it, because they are Longfellows."

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added By TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C730.329] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): LONGFELLOW ; POET ; RETORT ; RHYME ; SLANG ; TAUNT

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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IF THE UNBORN CHILD IS CARRIED HIGH, IT WILL BE A GIRL;
IF CARRIED LOW, IT WILL BE A BOY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BELZONI

Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; Boy ; Carriage ; CARRY ; CHILD ; Fetus ; gender ; Girl ; High ; Low ; PREGNANCY ; STOMACH ; Unborn

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 09-00-1973

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ROSES ARE RED,
VIOLETS ARE BLUE,
YOUR NOSE LOOKS LIKE A B-52.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; TROTWOOD

Keyword(s): Autograph Rhyme ; B-52 ; Blue ; COLOR ; FLOWERS ; NOSE ; poem ; Red ; RHYME ; Roses ; Signature ; Violets

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music

Date learned: 04-00-1972

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BLOW OUT---MEANS TO PROCESS OR GET AN AFRO HAIRSTYLE.

Data entry tech comment:

SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT AND FORM ADDED AND CORRECTED BY
EDITOR.

Updated by TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; DAYTON

Keyword(s): Afro ; Blow Out ; EUPHEMISM ; Hairstyle ; Nickname ; SLANG

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group

Date learned: 06-00-1971

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FRESH GRAVES

NEVER STEAL FLOWERS OFF A FRESH GRAVE AS THE SPIRIT WILL RETURN
AND TAKE THEM BACK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BURIAL ; FLOWERS ; GHOST ; Grave ; Haunt ; Steal

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 02-15-1970

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PILLOW WREATHS

WHEN THE WITCHES WEAVE A WREATH IN YOUR PILLOW (THEY ARE
ACTUALLY PERFECTLY FORMED LITTLE WREATHS. THE INFORMANT HAS
SEEN THEM) IF THE WREATH GETS COMPLETED, THE PERSON DIES.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT BELIEVES IN THIS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): GIFT ; Legend ; OMEN ; Pillow ; WITCHES ; Wreath

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Witch Shaman

Date learned: 09-21-1968

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Symbol

THE LILY IS A SIGN OF DEATH.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN P680; C346 crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Keyword(s): DEATH ; FLOWER ; Lily ; Portent ; SIGN ; Signifier

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 03-14-1970

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BLEEDING HEART

IF YOU TAKE APART A BLEEDING HEART BLOSSOM IN FULL BLOOM
YOU WILL GET 2 RABBITS, 2 SLIPPERS, 2 EARRINGS, AND A BOTTLE.

Submitter comment:

PARTS OF THE FLOWER RESEMBLE THESE THINGS
SAYS COLLECTOR

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Keyword(s): Botany ; Bottle ; Earring ; FLOWER ; Items ; Lore ; Rabbit ; Represent ; Slipper ; SYMBOL

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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DOGWOOD BELIEF

THE RED MARKS ON EACH OF THE FOUR PETALS OF THE DOGWOOD FLOWER
ARE CALLED BLOODSPOTS BECAUSE THEY REPRESENT THE PASSION MARKS
OF CHRIST.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Keyword(s): Christ ; Dogwood ; FLOWER ; Passion ; Passion of the Christ ; RELIGION ; Represent ; SYMBOL

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 11-12-1969

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FRUIT BELIEF

IF YOU SWALLOW A GRAPEFRUIT OR ORANGE SEED, IT WILL GROW IN YOUR
STOMACH.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; FRUIT ; Lore ; Seed ; SUPERSTITION ; Swallow

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 10-00-1968

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CEMETERY BELIEF

IF YOU ARE OUT IN THE EARLY EVENING AT MT. ELIOT CEMETERY
AT 6 MILE ROAD, AND YOU FACE THE WEST SIDE OF IT, YOU WILL SEE
A GLOWING RED TOMBSTONE, WHY THIS PARTICULAR TOMBSTONE GLOWS,
NO ONE KNOWS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: NOT RECORDED

Keyword(s): CEMETERY ; Detroit ; Glow ; HAUNTED ; Haunting ; Legend ; Mt. Eliot Cemetery ; Tombstone

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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ORIGIN OF THE JACK O LANTERN

A BOY NAMED JACK WANTED TO GO TO HEAVEN, BUT HIS CONSCIENCE
WOULD NOT LET HIM. SO JACK WANTED TO GET INTO HELL, BUT SINCE
HE PLAYED TRICKS AND JOKES, THE DEVIL WOULD NOT LET HIM IN.
SO JACK HAD TO ROAM THE EARTH FOR ALL TIME, CARRYING
A LANTERN. THEREFORE PEOPLE HAVE CALLED HIM, JACK O LANTERN.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALPENA

Keyword(s): ETYMOLOGY ; HALLOWEEN ; HELL ; Jack O lantern" Heaven ; Lantern ; Origin ; Pumpkin

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Explanation of a name

Date learned: 10-04-1970

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BELIEF

NEVER THANK PEOPLE FOR ANY FLOWERS THAT THEY MAY GIVE YOU
OR THE FLOWERS WILL NEVER GROW.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT HEARD THIS WHEN A YOUNG GIRL,1915, BUT
BUT DOES NOT BELIEVE IT NOW.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; FLOWERS ; GIFT ; GROWTH ; MANNERS ; SUPERSTITION ; Thanks

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

Date learned: 10-02-1971

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WHEN AN UNFAMILIAR GUEST ENTERS YOUR HOME, YOU
MUST HAVE FRESH FLOWERS IN THE HOUSE. THIS CUSTOM
ENSURED A HAPPY VISIT FOR BOTH PARTIES.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: CANADA ; COLLECTED BY MAIL ; MONTREAL

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; FLOWERS ; Guest ; HOSPITALITY ; SUPERSTITION ; tradition

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 00-00-1970

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Chinese custom

Howson (a Chinese mourning period) lasts for 49 days. A white
flower made of yarn is worn by the daughters in their hair and
a black band is worn by the sons around the arm during this
period.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: CHINA

Keyword(s): China ; Chinese ; CUSTOM ; FLOWER ; Mourning ; SYMBOL ; White

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Color
BELIEF -- Number P686.1.49

Date learned: 00-00-1955

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FLOWERDAYS AND BEANS

YOU ARE NOT TO PLANT BEANS DURING THE FLOWERDAYS. ( AGAIN
MY FATHER COULD NOT REMEMBER THE SPECIFIC TIME). MY GRANDFATHER
PLANTED A ROW OF BEANS DURING THE FLOWERDAYS AND ANOTHER AFTER THE
DAYS WERE PAST. THE ROW PLANTED DURING THE DAYS GREW WITH AN
ABUNDANCE OF BLOSSOMS BUT VERY FEW BEANS. THE ROW PLANTED AFTER
THE FLOWERDAYS GREW WITH FEW BLOSSOMS BUT WITH AN ABUNDANCE
OF BEANS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens

Keyword(s): Beans ; BELIEF ; FARMING ; Flowerdays ; GARDENING ; HARVEST ; Horticulture

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business

Date learned: 10-30-1968

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HOLDING DICE IN YOUR HAND AND BLOWING ON THEM IS
SUPPOSED TO BRING YOU GOOD LUCK IN A DICE GAME.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Blow ; BREATH ; Breathe ; CUSTOM ; DICE ; GAMBLING ; GAME ; Gaming ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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