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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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WHEN A PERSON SAYS SOMETHING TO ANOTHER PERSON AND
THE OTHER PERSON DOESN'T LIKE IT, AFTER THE PERSON
WHO SAID IT TURNS AND WALKS AWAY, THE PERSON WHO IT
WAS SAID TO STICKS HIS TONGUE OUT AT THE
PERSON WHO SAID IT. THIS INDICATES A DISLIKE
ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE PERSON WHO SAID IT.

Where learned: PORT CHESTER ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Derision Scorn

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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WHEN PEOPLE ARE MAD, SOMETIMES ITALIANS, THEY SHAKE
THEIR CLENCHED FIST AT THE PERSON THEY ARE MAD AT.

Where learned: PORT CHESTER ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Derision Scorn

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING BAD AS A CHILD, THE OTHER
CHILDREN RUB THE FOREFINGER OF THE RIGHT HAND
AGAINST THE FOREFINGER OF THE LEFT HAND AND SAY
"SHAME, SHAME ON (NAME)."

Submitter comment: INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS AND SAW THIS IN 1956 IN NEW YORK.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; PORT CHESTER

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula
SPEECH -- Shame

Date learned: 00-00-1956

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THERE IS A WAY TO REMEMBER HOW MANY DAYS THERE ARE
IN A PARTICULAR MONTH. THE RHYME IS AS FOLLOWS:
THIRTY DAYS HAS SEPTEMBER,
APRIL, JUNE, AND NOVEMBER,
ALL THE REST HAVE THIRTY-ONE,
SAVE FEBRUARY WITH TWENTY-EIGHT,
ADD ONE MORE WHEN LEAP YEAR COME.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; PORT CHESTER

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MNEM

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IF A PERSON, WHO CROSSES HIS ARMS OR HANDS IN THE FORM
OF A CROSS, WHEN A VAMPIRE COMES, HE WILL DRIVE IT
AWAY.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; PORT CHESTER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IF A PERSON WEARS A CROSS IT KEEPS THE DEVIL AND
VAMPIRES AWAY FROM HIM.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; PORT CHESTER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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LENTEN CUSTOM

ON HOLY SATURDAY, THERE IS A POLISH FAMILY TRADITION
WHERE THEY THANK GOD FOR HIS BLESSINGS BY BRINGING
A BASKET WITH HAM (A PIECE), A RING OF KIELBASA,
BEETS, HARD BOILED EGGS, SALT AND PEPPER, BREAD AND
A BUTTER LAMB, AND CHOCOLATE EGGS TO THE CHURCH AND
THE PRIEST BLESSES THE BASKETS. IT SYMBOLIZES THAT
YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE FOOD TO EAT ALL YEAR AND THE
BASKET IS NOT EATEN UNTIL AFTER MIDNIGHT MASS.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; PORT CHESTER

Subject headings: 663 Holy Saturday
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IT IS AN ITALIAN CUSTOM FOR THE WOMEN OF THE FAMILY
TO GET TOGETHER AT THE COUPLE'S HOME ON THE
THURSDAY BEFORE THE WEDDING AND MAKE THE BED OF THE
BRIDE AND GROOM AND SOMETIMES PUT MONEY UNDER THE
MATTRESS FOR GOOD LUCK FOR THE COUPLE.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; PORT CHESTER

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Before wedding

Date learned: 11-28-1970

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THERE IS AN ITALIAN CUSTOM, THAT IF A MEMBER OF
A FAMILY DIES, THEN THE MEMBERS OF THE IMMEDIATE
FAMILY WEAR BLACK AS A SIGN OF MOURNING FOR 3 TO
6 MONTHS.

Submitter comment: I WAS TOLD THIS BY MY PARENTS ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; PORT CHESTER

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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COMMON LAW

IF SOMETHING IS FOUND AND THERE IS NO SIGN OF THE
OWNER, ON OR NEAR THE THING, OR OBJECT, THERE IS A
LAW THAT SAYS, "FINDERS KEEPERS, LOSERS WEEPERS."

Submitter comment: I WAS TOLD THIS ABOUT 12-14 YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS
IN GRAMMAR SCHOOL IN NEW YORK.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; PORT CHESTER

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Common law

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IF I WALKED UNDER A LEANING LADDER, I WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE
BAD LUCK.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; SIGNET BOOK ; THE NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck Ladder (angles, pyramid, etc.)

Date learned: 00-00-1945

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WHENEVER I MADE URINE, I SHOULD SPIT INTO IT FOR GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; SIGNET BOOK ; THE NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY ; PAGE 81

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Good luck Body parts and functions

Date learned: 00-00-1945

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IF YOU SPAT ON EACH GRAIN OF CORN THAT WAS PLANTED, THE CORN
WOULD GROW TALL AND BEAR WELL.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; SIGNET BOOK ; THE NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY ; PAGE 82

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 00-00-1945

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IF I COVERED A MIRROR WHEN A STORM WAS RAGING, THE LIGHTNING
WOULD NOT STRIKE ME.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; SIGNET BOOK ; THE NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY ; PAGE 82

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder
BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color

Date learned: 00-00-1945

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JUMP-ROPE RIME

SALT, PEPPER, VINEGAR, SPICE.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; WILSON

Keyword(s): SPEED-JUMP

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

Date learned: 03-12-1972

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SPIRIT OF THE HOUSE

IT IS AN ITALIAN BELIEF THAT EVERY HOUSEHOLD HAS A GOOD
SPIRIT THAT REMAINS WITH IT, AND CAN SOMETIMES BE SEEN.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: NEW YORK ; AUBURN

Keyword(s): GHOST ; Haunt ; HAUNTED HOUSE ; Home ; House ; Italian ; SPIRIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 12-00-1971

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Entry filtered.

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

SHE WAS A CALENDAR MODEL--UNTIL SHE MISSED A
COUPLE OF MONTHS.

Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK ; JOKE COLLECTION

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman

Date learned: 10-05-1971

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Entry filtered.

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

TWO OLD LADIES WERE SITTING AND ROCKING ON THE FRONT
PORCH OF THE OLD LADIES' HOME. ONE SAID TO THE
OTHER, "DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S A CASE OF
SYPHILIS IN THE HOUSE?" "GOOD," SAID THE OTHER,
"I'M TIRED OF ROOTBEER ANYWAY."

Data entry tech comment:

THIS GUY HAS A ONE-TRACK MIND!

Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK ; JOKE COLLECTION

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman

Date learned: 10-05-1971

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"'WILL HE OR WILL HE NOT?' HE ASKED HIMSELF. HE TOOK A COIN
FROM HIS POCKET AND SPUN IT UPON THE FLOOR. 'HEADS, HE SEES
HER; TAILS, HE DOES NOT.'"

Where learned: NEW YORK ; COLLIER BOOKS ; PAGE 94

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Use of Object P860.16

Date learned: 00-00-1969

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