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Belief: Animal

How to catch a Monkey:

The way to catch a monkey is to take a cocnut and druill a hole with a one inch diameter into it. Hollow out the coconut and fill it with nuts, and place it in a tree. A monkey will come and stick his hand in the hold to grab the nuts because of his greed. In fact, even when the monkey is caught, the coconut will have to be cracked from around the monkey's hand.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [B600] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; Bait ; CATCH ; Coconut ; FOOD ; Monkey ; NUTS ; Primate ; Trap ; TRICK

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal

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Superstition: Animals

If you have a snake in a can with you while a magician  is doing his tricks, none of his tricks will work since the snake breaks the magician's spell.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; CAN ; Expose ; MAGIC ; Magician ; Serpent ; Snake ; Tricks

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Animal
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

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Proverb

You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Submitter comment:

You can't always teach an old person the enw way certain things are done.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AGE ; ANIMAL ; DOG ; METAPHOR ; New ; Old ; Tricks ; YOUTH

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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Toast

An Irish Toast:

On St. Patrick's Day, the Irish drink to the snakes being driven out of Ireland.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DRINKING ; ETHNIC ; holiday ; Irish ; SNAKES ; Social ; St. Patrick ; TOAST

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech
SPEECH -- Formula

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Proverb

You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Adapt ; AGE ; Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Change ; DOG ; Maxim ; New ; Old ; PROVERB ; TRICK ; Tricks ; VERSE ; Young

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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IF A PERSON IS SERIOUSLY ILL AND NOT EXPECTED TO RECOVER,
GO BUILD A COFFIN AND SET IT IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. SO
WHEN DEATH COMES TO TAKE AWAY THAT PERSON, HE WILL SEE
THE COFFIN AND THINK THAT ANOTHER DEATH HAS ALREADY
GOTTEN HIM. DEATH WILL GO AND THE PERSON WILL RECOVER.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; MCKENZIE

James Callow Keyword(s): Coffin ; DEATH ; Fool ; ILLNESS ; Reaper ; TRICK

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 10-14-1973

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"WOODS' KIDS"

WHEN CERTAIN UNFAVORABLE HAPPENINGS OCCUR WITHIN THE
ROSSER HOME, THE WOODS' KIDS ALWAYS TAKE THE BLAME. THESE
SMALL CREATURES INHABIT THE WOODS BEHIND THE HOUSE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; DAYTON

Keyword(s): Blame ; FAMILY ; Fanciful ; Invisible ; Legend ; Tale ; TRICKSTER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Legend

Date learned: 02-00-1972

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Riddle - Question

If you had oly one match, and enered a room in which there was a kerosene lamp, an oil heater, and a wood burning stove, which would you light first?

 

Answer: The match

Data entry tech comment:

Entered by TRD

Keyword(s): GAME ; RIDDLE ; Trick Question

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

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Riddle - Question

A farmer had 17 sheep. All but nine died. How many were left?

Answer: Nine.

Data entry tech comment:

Entered by TRD

Keyword(s): RIDDLE ; SHEEP ; Trick Question

Subject headings:

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Riddle - Question

Some months have thirty days some have thirty one. HOw many months have twenty eight?

Answer: all of them.

Data entry tech comment:

Entered by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): CALENDAR ; Dates ; Month ; PUZZLE ; RIDDLE ; Trick Question

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

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Riddle - Question

How many animals of each species did Moses take on the ark with him?

Answer: Moses didn't build the ark, Noah did.

Data entry tech comment:

Entered by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; Ark ; Moses ; Noah ; QUESTION ; RELIGION ; RIDDLE ; Trick Question

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

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ST. PAT

THE MOST POPULAR AND WIDE-SPREAD STORY ABOUT SAINT PATRICK IS
THAT THANKS TO HIM, IRELAND HAS ABSOLUTELY NO SNAKES. IT IS BELIEVED
THAT ST. PAT REMOVED THE SNAKES IN THE "PIED PIPER" FASHION.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO

Keyword(s): IRELAND ; Irish ; Legend ; Lore ; Saint Patrick ; SNAKES

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Religious hero

Date learned: 00-00-1960

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NUNS PRAY TO ST. PATRICK

WHEN NUNS ARE DRIVING IN A CAR AND WANT TO GET SOMEWHERE IN
A HURRY, THEY PRAY TO ST. PATRICK SO THAT HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CHANGE
ALL THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS GREEN

Submitter comment:

THIS IS PRACTICED BY THE INFORMANT'S DAUGHTER, WHO IS A NUN,
AND SAID THIS IS A COMMON PRACTICE AMONG NUNS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Nuns ; Patron ; Saint ; Saint Patrick ; Saint Patrick ; Traffic

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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CROAGH PATRICK

IT IS BELIEVED THAT ST. PATRICK IS BURIED AT THE TOP OF
CROAGH PATRICK MOUNTAIN. PEOPLE FOR PENANCE GO ON THEIR KNEES
UP THE MOUNTAIN AND CELEBRATE MASS.

Data entry tech comment:

SPELLING CORRECTED BY KEY PUNCHER

Updated by TRD

Where learned: OHIO

Keyword(s): BURIAL ; Legend ; MOUNTAIN ; Saint ; Saint Patrick

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: 12-01-1969

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BELIEF

YOU PUT NAIL POLISH IN THE ICE BOX. IT KEEPS THE POLISH FROM
GETTING THICK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Keyword(s): BEAUTY ; BELIEF ; Cold ; CUSTOM ; Makeup ; Nail ; POLISH ; TRICK

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE ; FUNCTION ; Positive

Subject headings: Custom

Date learned: 01-20-1971

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STAIN REMOVER

USE A PEELED POTATO TO REMOVE ANY STUBBORN INK STAINS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): Domestic ; Domesticity ; Household ; Ink ; POTATO ; Stain ; Stain Remover ; Tip ; TRICK

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE ; Positive

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption
BELIEF -- Home

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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HOME STAIN REMOVER

USE CORN STARCH ON A FRESH STAIN TO REMOVE THE STAIN
 

Submitter comment:

I've seen corn starch remove a red wine stain from a white carpet.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): Corn Starch ; Domesticity ; Household ; Stain ; Stain Remover ; Tip ; TRICK

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food
Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Fermented
BELIEF -- Home

Date learned: 00-00-1967

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FOLK DEODORANT

USE BAKING SODA AS A DEODORANT FOR UNDERARMS
AND FEET. USE BAKING SODA ON VOMIT TO ELIMINATE THE
UNPLEASANT ODOR.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): Baking Soda ; Deodorant ; Domesticity ; Household ; HYGIENE ; Odor ; REMEDY ; Smell ; Tip ; TRICK ; Vomit

James Callow Keyword(s): SODIUM BICARBONATE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Home

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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DEATH
YOU CAN TELL IF SOMEONE IS DEAD BY PUTTING A MIRROR UNDER THEIR NOSE,
AND LOOK FOR MOISTURE DUE TO BREATHING TO SETTLE ON THE MIRROR.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; NORTH QUAD 201

Keyword(s): BREATH ; DEATH ; LIFE ; MEDICAL ; Mirror ; SIGN ; Signal ; TRICK

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 11-27-1971

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SAINT PATRICK'S DAY FESTIVAL AND BELIEFS

SAINT PATRICK DERTA GEROGADE E FRANC OR ALBAN. THAT MEANS SAINT
PATRICK CAME FROM FRANCE OR ENGLAND. WE WERE TAUGHT THAT EXPRESSION
AS CHILDREN. HE WAS SENT BY POPE CELESTINE TO BRING THE CATHOLIC
FAITH TO IRELAND. HE KILLED ALL THE SNAKES IN IRELAND BY SQUASHING
THEM WITH HIS STAFF. HE DIDN'T REALLY EXIST THOUGH. WE WOULD
CELEBRATE SAINT PATRICK'S DAY IN ENGLAND BY WEARING ALL GREEN.
 

Submitter comment:

"SPELLMAN, BURKE, AND I WOULD GO OUT FOR A WALK IN THE COUNTRY BECAUSE
WE HAD NO MONEY AND WE DIDN'T WANT THOSE DAMN ENGLISH TO THINK WE
WERE STAYING HOME ON SAINT PATRICK'S DAY."

MY MOTHER, WHO IS FROM IRELAND, WENT TO NURSING SCHOOL IN ENGLAND IN
1947. SHE CAME FROM A POOR FAMILY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Celebrate ; Green ; holiday ; IRELAND ; Irish ; Legend ; Lore ; Origin ; Saint Patrick's Day ; Tale

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Religious hero

Date learned: 00-00-1947 ; 11-22-1979

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