WHEN SETTING THE TABLE FOR CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER, AN EXTRA PLATE IS
ALWAYS PUT OUT FOR THE "UNINVITED GUEST." THIS IS DONE BECAUSE OF THE
BELIEF THAT CHRIST MIGHT COME TO THE HOME IN THE FORM OF A NEEDY
INDIVIDUAL SEEKING FOOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CHARITY ; POLISH CUSTOM

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20
Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Food container
Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration Implement to handle food
BELIEF -- Religious hero

Date learned: 10-00-1975

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EASTER DAY

THE FOOD THAT WAS BLESSED ON SATURDAY MUST BE EATEN FOR BREAKFAST.
IT MUST INCLUDE HORSERADISH TO REPRESENT THE BURNING LIQUID GIVEN
CHRIST WHILE HE HUNG ON THE CROSS. THE REMAINING FOOD SHOULD BE
SHARED WITH THE DAY'S VISITORS SO THAT IT IS FINISHED ON SUNDAY.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE

Keyword(s): CHARITY, HOSPITALITY ; FAMILY UNITY ; FOOD CUSTOM ; SWIECZONKA ; SYMBOL

Subject headings:

663 Holy Saturday
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals

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PROVERB

HE WHO GIVES PROMPTLY, GIVES TWICE AS MUCH.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): CHARITY

Subject headings:

PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 11-02-1969

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HE WHO GIVES

HE WHO TAKES BUT NEVER GIVES MAY LAST FOR YEARS BUT NEVER LIVES.

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): LACK OF CHARITY OR GENEROSITY

Subject headings:

Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb

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IRISH LEGEND

IN IRELAND, MY GRANDMOTHER REMEMBERED THIS STORY AS TOLD TO HER
FROM THE PULPIT BY THE PARISH PRIEST. MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO TELL
SUCH STORIES TO ME AND MY BROTHERS WHEN WE WERE SMALL CHILDREN AND
WE SLEPT WITH HER. A YOUNG BOY WAS WALKING DOWN THE ROAD ON A COLD
WINTER DAY. AT A CROSSROAD HE MET ANOTHER BOY, A BIT YOUNGER, WHO
LOOKED VERY POOR, HE HAD NO COAT TO PROTECT HIM FROM THE WIND
OR RAIN. THE FIRST BOY FELT SORRY FOR THE LITTLE ONE AND GAVE HIM
HIS NICE WARM COAT. UPON RETURNING HOME THE OLDER BOY WAS SCOLDED
BY HIS MOTHER AND PUNISHED FOR GIVING AWAY HIS COAT. BESIDES
HE BECAME ILL BECAUSE HE WAS ALL WET AND COLD. YEARS LATER THE
OLDER BOY BECAME A PRIEST. HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS WITNESSED HIS
FIRST MASS. AS HE LOOKED UP TO HEAVEN DURING THE MASS THERE WAS
A STRANGE LIGHT ABOVE THE ALTAR. THERE IN VIEW OF EVERY-BODY
APPEARED THE CHILD JESUS AND HE WAS SMILING AND WEARING THE SAME
LITTLE COAT WHICH THE PRIEST HAD GIVEN AWAY YEARS BEFORE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHARITY ; VISION OF JESUS

Subject headings:

Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero

Date learned: 00-00-1937

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Entry filtered.

Ethnic Joke: The Height of Ingratitude

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

A poor decrepit Irishman, with a large family, was out of work and broke. He needed $50 very badly. He applied to his priest who advised him to search for work and pray, and he would find it. A week went by without results so the Irishman decided to appeal to the Lord directly. He wrote a stirring tearful letter asking for $50. he addresses the letter to the Lord God in care of Heaven, and mailed it, but did not put a stamp on it.

The postman, thinking it was only a child's letter, opened it and after reading same [sic] was deeply touched by the appeal. That night he took the letter with him to the Masonic Lodge meeting and brought it to the attention of the lodge in session. They promptly voted him $25, and they sent it to the Irishman.

A few days later the postman found another letter similar to the one addressed without a stamp. He opened it and read: Dear God, Thanks for the money, but please - next time send it by way of the Knights of Columbus because the goddamned Masons stole half of it.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs and BN added by TRD

James Callow comment:

The word IRISH is written in the top left corner of the submission.

Submission card located in a pile marked To Be Classified.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHARITY ; GIFT MONEY ; HUMOR ; INGRATITUDE ; Irish ; IRISHMEN ; Knights of Columbus ; Masons ; MONEY ; POVERTY ; Stereotype ; STUPIDITY