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NEW YEAR'S DAY FOOD TRADITION

ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, A POOR BOY'S MEAL IS HAD CONSISTING OF BOILED
CABBAGE, BOILED POTATOES, HAM HOCKS AND CORN BREAD.

Submitter comment: ITEM WAS LEARNED IN WEST VIRGINIA ALTHOUGH COLLECTED IN DETROIT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BOTSFORD GRADE SCHOOL ; CLARENCEVILLE DISTRICT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals

Date learned: 11-00-1982

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CLEANING BELIEF

ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, THE HOUSE MUST BE CLEAN, BUT YOU CAN NEVER SWEEP
THE DIRT OUTSIDE.

Submitter comment: ITEM WAS LEARNED IN WEST VIRGINIA ALTHOUGH COLLECTED IN DETROIT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BOTSFORD GRADE SCHOOL ; CLARENCEVILLE DISTRICT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Routine activity

Date learned: 11-00-1982

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BROOM SUPERSTITION

WHEN YOU MOVE FROM ONE RESIDENCE TO ANOTHER, NEVER TAKE YOUR BROOM.

Submitter comment: ITEM WAS LEARNED IN WEST VIRGINIA ALTHOUGH COLLECTED IN DETROIT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BOTSFORD GRADE SCHOOL ; CLARENCEVILLE DISTRICT

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

Date learned: 11-00-1982

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Entry filtered.

WHY DID THE MORON BURY HIS MOTHER UNDER THE STEPS?
HE WANTED A STEPMOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRCH RUN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MORO

Date learned: 00-00-1970

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Entry filtered.

WHY DID THE MORON TAKE HIS LADDER TO CHURCH?
HE WANTED TO GO TO A HIGH MASS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRCH RUN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MORO

Date learned: 00-00-1970

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Rope-Jumping Rhymes

DOWN IN THE VALLEY WHERE THE GREEN GRASS GROWS; THERE STOOD ___(NAME)___ AS SWEET AS A ROSE.
ALONG CAME A BOY AND KISSED HER ON THE CHEEK.
HOW MANY KISSES DID SHE RECEIVE?

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; KEATING SCHOOL

Keyword(s): ENDURANCE JUMP

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

Date learned: 10-00-1967

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Ethnic: Irish/Scottish Superstition

Good Luck:

No man would ever leave Irelannd or Scotland without a bit of heather and a small bag of soil. Without these life in the new wold would be bitter.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN's [P880, F533, p880] crossed out and replaced with F533.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; DIVINATION ; Earth ; ETHNIC ; Heather ; Herbal ; Irish ; LUCK ; NATURE ; New World ; SCOTTISH ; Soil ; SUPERSTITION ; TRAVEL

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

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(PROSE NARRATIVE: REPETITIOUS HOAX)

TALE THAT IS BEGUN EVERY OTHER SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE
CAMPFIRE. IT USUALLY STARTS OUT WITH THE CAMP
DIRECTOR LEAVING HIS CABIN AT ABOUT 1:00 A.M. TO
INVESTIGATE A STRANGE NOISE, FROM THERE IT GOES ON
TO ANYONE WHO FEELS LIKE ADDING TO IT.
EVENTUALLY ALL THE COUNSELORS GET INTO IT. IT
HELPS TIRE THE BOYS OUT SO THAT THEY WILL BE
EASIER TO GET TO SLEEP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MEMPHIS ; SAINT MARYS CAMP

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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Jump Rhyme

Joe, Joe broke his toe,
Riding on a buffalo,
When he came back,
He broke his back,
Sliding on a railroad track.

 

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 13027 Klinger

Keyword(s): PLAIN JUMP

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

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ITCHY PALM

SUPERSTITION MY MOTHER HAS THAT AN ITCHY LEFT PALM MEANS
SHE WILL BE LUCKY IN GAMES AND ESPECIALLY THOSE
INVOLVING MONEY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; GATHERED AT HOME

Subject headings: Observation

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.

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NEW YEAR'S DAY

ON NEW YEAR'S EAT GOURMET FOOD.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT'S FAMILY ALWAYS EATS FRENCH FOODS ON NEW YEAR'S BECAUSE
THEY FEEL THAT IF THEY EAT WELL ON NEW YEAR'S THEN THEY WILL EAT
WELL ALL THROUGH THE YEAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; informant's home

Keyword(s): BLASON POPULAIRE ; FOOD PREDICTION ; FRENCH FOOD

Subject headings: 870
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Fixed DateFor specific dates, use the following system: F640.0101
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
PROVERB -- Blason Populaire

Date learned: 03-05-1971

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EATING CUSTOM

ALWAYS HAVE OYSTER STEW ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; FOOD ; holiday ; Oyster ; Stew ; tradition

Subject headings: 122 Christmas

Date learned: 09-24-1969

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RIDDLE

HOW FAR IN CAN YOU GO INTO A FOREST?
-- HALF WAY. THEN YOU START GOING OUT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME ; TOLD IN

Keyword(s): DISTANCE MEASURMENT

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 00-00-1964

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A BELIEF

ON NEW YEARS DAY THE FIRST PERSON THAT SHOULD ENTER YOUR HOUSE
IS A MAN (IF YOU ARE A WOMAN). IF A WOMAN ENTERS FIRST YOU WILL HAVE
BAD LUCK ALL YEAR.

Submitter comment: HIS MOTHER WILL NOT LET ANY WOMAN IN HER
HOUSE ON NEW YEARS DAY FIRST AND WILL GET
MAD IF A WOMAN SHOWS UP FIRST.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTED AT HOME

Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING ; SEXIST

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 10-10-1971

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TOM SWIFTY

"SOMEBODY STOLE MY PINEAPPLES," HE SAID DOLEFULLY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; HOLDEN HALL 203 ;

Keyword(s): FOOD

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Wellerism Quotation

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT SITS IN A CORNER IN NICE WEATHER AND GOES OUTSIDE IN RAINY
WEATHER?
A: AN UMBRELLA

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; HOUSEHOLD ITEMS (A) ; NATURAL PHENOMENON (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 03-04-1970

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT IS BLIND AND DUMB, HAS NO TONGUE,
BUT SPEAKS SEVERAL LANGUAGES?
A: A PEN

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATED MATTER. (Q) ; PART OF THE BODY (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

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BASKETBALL PLAYER'S SUPERSTITION

DURING WARMUP SHOTS, IF THE FIRST GUY MAKES HIS
SHOT, THEN THEY'LL WIN FOR SURE. BUT IF THE FIRST
GUY DOESN'T MAKE HIS BASKET, THIS IS A VERY BAD
OMEN AND BOTHERS THE TEAM A LOT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTED AT HOME

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
Observation
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion

Date learned: 11-02-1969

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LUCK OF THE FAMILY.
WHEN VISITING A HOUSE IN IRELAND ONE MUST ALWAYS LEAVE BY THE
SAME DOOR YOU CAME IN, OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE STEALING THE GOOD
LUCK FROM THAT FAMILY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cultural ; CUSTOM ; GOOD LUCK ; Guest ; HOSPITALITY ; IRELAND ; Irish ; LUCK

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

Date learned: 11-00-1970

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SUPERSTITION

WALKING UNDER A LADDER RESULTS IN BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: THIS BELIEF WAS CONTRIBUTED BY A NUMBER OF INFORMANTS, HOWEVER, NONE
WERE ABLE TO GIVE REASON FOR ITS SUPPORT OR TO EXPLAIN THE
ORIGIN OF THE BELIEF.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 02-12-1979

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