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BLESSING

SOMETIME IN MAY (A MOVEABLE DATE, SINCE IT IS A CERTAIN NUMBER OF
DAYS AFTER EASTER) FOR THREE DAYS THE PRIEST GOES AROUND WITH THE
PEOPLE IN PROCESSION PLACING WOODEN CROSSES EVERY SO OFTEN AND
BLESSING THE SURROUNDING AREA. THE PEOPLE ARE THEN SUPPOSE(D) TO
SAY 3 OUR FATHERS AND 3 HAIL MARYS.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector share the same surname.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; KALAMAZOO ; informant's home

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting After all

Date learned: 02-18-1971

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EASTER EGG TRADITION

THERE IS A CUSTOM WITH THE POLISH PEOPLE OF PASSING AROUND THE
DINNER TABLE ONE BLESSED HARD-BOILED EASTER EGG. THE OLDEST MALE
MEMBER OF THE FAMILY BEGINS TO BREAK THE SLICES OF THE EGG WITH
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY. USUALLY A WISH IS MADE BETWEEN THE
TWO AND THEN SEALED WITH A KISS. HOWEVER, IF THE EGG DROPS, ONE OF
THE TWO WILL NOT LIVE TO SEE THE NEXT EASTER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; informant's home

Keyword(s): FAMILY UNITY ; FOOD CUSTOM

Subject headings: 870
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 03-27-1970

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AFTER EASTER SERVICES ALL GREET EACH OTHER WITH COLORED EGGS. EACH
PERSON TRIES TO BREAK THE OTHER'S EGG BY TAPPING THE TOP OF THE EGG.
THE PERSON WHO BREAKS THE EGG GETS TO KEEP BOTH EGGS.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT SAID THAT THIS IS A POPULAR ROMANIAN EASTER CHILDREN'S
GAME ALTHOUGH ADULTS ARE KNOWN TO PLAY IT. INFORMANT SAID SHE
ACTUALLY LOOKS FORWARD TO PLAYING IT EACH EASTER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home

Keyword(s): GAME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday

Date learned: 10-20-1971

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Luck

If you find a spinning safety pin, pick it up and say 1,2,3 good luck for me, make a wish while pinning it on you then leave it on the item until the wish comes true.

 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; informant's home ; St. Clair Shores

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Prayer

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SHOOTING STAR

WHEN YOU SEE A SHOOTING STAR (FALLING STAR) MAKE A WISH
AND IT WILL COME TRUE.

Where learned: WINSTON SALEM ; NORTH CAROLINA ; informant's home ; 2108 E. 25th St.

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Comet
BELIEF -- Prayer

Date learned: 09-08-1971

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HOME STORM PROTECTION

DURING A STORM, YOU SHOULD LIGHT BLESSED CANDLES. THIS WILL
PROTECT THE HOUSE FROM LIGHTNING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7

Date learned: 01-30-1971

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STORM BELIEF

WHEN IT THUNDERS AND LIGHTENS, GOD IS ANGRY WITH HIS PEOPLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home

James Callow Keyword(s): LIGHTNING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Creator
BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7

Date learned: 07-10-1969

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STORM BELIEF

PRAY WHEN IT THUNDERS AND IT WILL NOT HARM YOU.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7

Date learned: 01-22-1970

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NEW YEAR'S CUSTOMS AND CELEBRATIONS

SWEEP SILVER DOLLARS OVER DOOR SILLS FROM OUTSIDE INTO HOUSE FOR
WEALTH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES ; informant's home

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20

Date learned: 02-17-1970

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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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Song for Crucial Moment of Life

At weddings or funerals the Lebanese elders chant a song something like a dirge and always to the same tune. However they make up the words to fit the occasion and the person or people involved. It can be either iin praise for the couple getting married, or a eulogy for the dead person.

Submitter comment:

Attitude: Trusting

Where learned: informant's home

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Crucial Moment of Life Life Cycle

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Song of Troubadors

In the public house to die
Is my resolution;
Let wine to my lips be nigh
At life's dissolution;
That will make the angel's cry
With glad elocution;
Grant this toper, God on high,
Grace and absolution.

 

Submitter comment:

Informant told me this one night we were watching a movie about knights.

 

Where learned: informant's home

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

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Good Morning Shining Faces

Good morning, good morning, we're all in our places with sunshining faces.

 

Submitter comment:

Informant learned song first day of school (Shrine of the Little Flower Grade School) in first grade.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; informant's home ; Berkley

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

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Children Song

Oh, the boll weevil and the little black bug comes from Mexico they say,
Come all the way to Texas just a look'n for a place to stay,
Just a look'n for a home.
Just a look'n for a home.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector share the same surname.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home

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

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Children Song -- Miss Lulu

Miss Lulu had a baby
She named him Tiny Tim,
She put him in the bath tub,
To see if he could swim.

He drank up all the water,
He ate up all the soap,
Miss Lulu called the doctor
And the doctor called the nurse,
And the nurse called the lady with the alligator purse.

He didn't want the doctor
He didn't want the nurse
He didn't want the lady with the alligator purse.




 

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home ; 1148 Junction

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

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What a Friend

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. O what peace we often forfeit, o what needless pain we bear all because we did not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptationi? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness. Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious savior still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer. In his arms he'll take and shield thee, thou will find a solace there.

 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home

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

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Down at the Cross

Down at the cross where my savior died, down where for cleansing from sin I cried, there to my heart was the blood applied; Glory to his name.

I am so wondrously saved from sin, Jesus so quietly abides within, there at the cross where he took in; Glory to his name.

O precious fountain that saves from sin, I am so glad I have entered in, there Jesus saves me and keeps me clean; Glory to his name.

Come to this fountain so rich and sweet, cast thy poor soul at the Savior's feet, plunge in today and be made complete; Glory to his name.

 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home

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

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Silent Night, Holy Night

Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright, round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace. Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night. Son of God, love's pure light, radiant beams from thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus, Lord, at they birth, Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

 

 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home

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

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Am I a Soldier of the Cross?

Am I a soldier of the cross, a follower of the lamb? And shall I fear to own his cause, or blush to speak his name?

Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood? Is this vile world a friend to grace to help me on to God?

Sure I must fight, if I would reign; increase my courage, Lord. I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, supported by thy word.

 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home

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

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Red Ring Around Your Nose

There's a red ring around your nose,
And every day it grows and grows.

(Sung to a tune nearly identical to the first two lines of the refrain of "The Billboard March."

 

Submitter comment:

Informant learned somewhere between 1965 and 1968.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector share the same surname.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM ; informant's home

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Serious condemnation Scorn

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