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CHRISTMAS RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

THE MORAVIANS CELEBRATE WHAT IS CALLED A
"LOVE FEAST" AT CHRISTMAS TIME. RIGHT INSIDE
THEIR CHURCH EACH PERSON RECEIVES A CANDLE, SWEET
ROLL, AND CUP OF COFFEE.

Where learned: TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Menus
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Church

Date learned: 04-00-1970

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CHRISTMAS - CUSTOM

THE POLISH EACH YEAR AT XMAS TAKE A BASKET
OF FOOD TO BE BLESSED BY THE PRIEST.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector share the same surname.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Christmas Season See F645.2 for Advent Season.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Church

Date learned: 04-00-1970

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SHERLOCK HOLMES RIDDLE

SHERLOCK HOLMES DIES AND GOES TO HEAVEN AND SAINT PETER
WANTS TO FIND OUT IF THIS GUY WAS REALLY THE FAMOUS SHERLOCK
HOLMES. SO HE LINES UP EVERYONE IN HEAVEN (THEY ARE ALL NUDE)
AND ASKS HIM TO PICK OUT ADAM AND EVE. SHERLOCK SAYS, "THOSE
TWO". HOW DID HE KNOW?
-- ADAM AND EVE DID NOT HAVE ANY NAVELS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): BELLY BUTTON

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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ARTHRITIS

IN ORDER TO GET RID OF ARTHRITIS, WEAR A CHARM BRACELET.

Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED THIS FROM A FRIEND OF HERS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; COLLECTORS HOME

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 11-22-1963

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WORMS

TAKE TINY LEAVES OF PEPPERMINT, WASH THEM, THEN MASH THEM UP WITH A
LIITLE VINEGAR. THEN ADD TWO CLOVES GARLIC, MASH, STIR AND COVER.
THEN SET ON A WINDOW LEDGE IN THE MOONLIGHT OVERNIGHT.
IT FERMENTS AND EVERYTHING
SETTLES TO THE BOTTOM. TAKE A TEASPOONFUL OF TOP MIXTURE ON AN EMPTY
STOMACH 3 TIMES DURING THE DAY, ONCE BEFORE EACH MEAL, AND IT WILL
CURE THE WORMS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME

Keyword(s): MOON

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 09-21-1969

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MARRIAGE

IF YOU'RE SINGLE AND YOU WHISTLE AT THE SUPPER TABLE,
YOU'LL MARRY A CRAZY MAN OR WOMAN.

Where learned: TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME

Subject headings: Observation

Date learned: 03-10-1970

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CHRISTMAS BELIEF

IF A MAN DOES NOT ENTER THE HOUSE FIRST ON CHRISTMAS
MORNING, THE HOUSE WILL BE PLAGUED WITH SICKNESS AND BAD
LUCK DURING THE COMING YEAR. (THE STRONGER THE MAN THE
BETTER THE GOOD LUCK). THIS CUSTOM IS PRACTICED BY POLISH-AMERICANS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME ; SOUTHFIELD

Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING ; SEXIST

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below.
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
BELIEF -- Good luck
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 10-25-1970

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MURPHY'S LAWS ( TWO EXAMPLES )

1) IF ANYTHING AT ALL CAN GO WRONG, IT WILL; IE, A CHAIN IS ONLY AS
STRONG AS ITS WEAKEST LINK.
2) WHEN BUILDING TRANSISTOR CIRCUITS, A TRANSISTOR OFTEN BECOMES
QUITE USEFUL FOR PROTECTING THE FUSE WHEN THERE IS AN ERROR IN THE
CIRCUIT. ( THE FUSE IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THE CIRCUIT UNDER TEST)

Where learned: TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME

Keyword(s): SCIENCE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 10-00-1968

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ANIMAL BELIEF

IF YOU GET STUNG BY A BEE, MUD WILL TAKE THE STING OUT.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS HE WAS TOLD THIS BY A COMPLETE STRANGER,
WHEN HE WAS STUNG BY A BEE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Remedy

Date learned: 04-10-1972

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THE HUNCHBACK

AN IRISH WOMAN WAS BAKING BREAD. HER HUSBAND CAME HOME ON NIGHT
AND STATED THAT SHE WOULDN'T FINISH HER TASK BY 12 MIDNIGHT. SHE
SAID, IF THE DEVIL COMES AND STANDS IN THIS DOOR, I'M GOING TO
FINISH THIS BREAD TONIGHT} WHILE SHE WAS BAKING, A LOG FROM THE
FIREPLACE FLEW OUT AND HIT HER ON HER BACK. THAT IS HOW THE
HUNCHED BACK CAME TO BE.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed
Food Drink -- Manner of preparation Process
BELIEF -- Devil Demon

Date learned: 03-15-1970

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IN LOVE, THERE IS ALWAYS ONE WHO KISSES AND ONE WHO OFFERS THE CHEEK

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM ; COLLECTORS HOME

Keyword(s): METAPHOR ; OBSERVATION ; REPETITION

James Callow Keyword(s): LEADING AND FOLLOWING AMONG LOVERS

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 04-05-1971

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COW FIGHT CUSTOM

IN THE SPRING OF THE YEAR, IN SOME SWISS STATES, A
COW FIGHT IS HAD. THIS IS A BIG AFFAIR, SOMEWHAT
LIKE A SPECIAL HORSE RACE IN OUR COUNTRY. (BETS
ARE EVEN MADE ON THE OUTCOME.) THIS FIGHT IS TO
DETERMINE WHICH COW, THE STRONGEST, CAN WEAR THE
BIGGEST BELL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; COLLECTORS HOME

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting F663.9

Date learned: 10-28-1970

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LIAR, LIAR

LIAR, LIAR, YOUR PANTS ARE ON FIRE.
YOUR NOSE IS LONGER THAN A TELEPHONE WIRE.

Submitter comment:

This is a chanted jump rope rhyme.

 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME ; SOUTHFIELD

Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP

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

Date learned: 10-23-1970

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MATH JOKE

THERE WAS ONCE A ZOOKEEPER WHO ACQUIRED A PAIR OF
ADDERS (SNAKES). SINCE THE LIFE OF A SNAKE IS
RELATIVELY SHORT, HE WANTED THESE SNAKES TO REPRODUCE.
HE SOON TRIED EVERY POSSIBLE METHOD, BUT THE SNAKES
REFUSED TO MATE. ONE DAY, AN ENGINEER HAPPENED TO
BUMP INTO THE ZOOKEEPER, AND SOON LEARNED OF THE
ZOOKEEPER'S PROBLEM. HE TOLD THE ZOOKEEPER, "THE
ONLY WAY YOU WILL GET RESULTS, IS TO GO INTO THE WOODS,
CHOP DOWN SOME SMALL TREES, AND BUILD A TABLE WITH THEM.
THEN PUT THE ADDERS ON THIS TABLE." THE ZOOKEEPER
DID AS HE WAS TOLD, AND SURE ENOUGH! THE ADDERS WENT
WILD! THE NEXT TIME THE ZOOKEEPER SAW THE ENGINEER
HE ASKED HIM THE SECRET BEHIND MAKING THESE ADDERS
REPRODUCE. "SIMPLE," REPLIED THE ENGINEER. "IF
YOU WANT TO MAKE ADDERS MULTIPLY, BUILT THEM A TABLE
OF LOGS!"

Where learned: COLLECTORS HOME ; SOCIAL VISIT

Subject headings: 6677 Formula Tale

Date learned: 04-07-1971

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MATH JOKE

THERE WAS ONCE A ZOOKEEPER WHO ACQUIRED A PAIR OF
ADDERS (SNAKES). SINCE THE LIFE OF A SNAKE IS
RELATIVELY SHORT, HE WANTED THESE SNAKES TO REPRODUCE.
HE SOON TRIED EVERY POSSIBLE METHOD, BUT THE SNAKES
REFUSED TO MATE. ONE DAY, AN ENGINEER HAPPENED TO
BUMP INTO THE ZOOKEEPER, AND SOON LEARNED OF THE
ZOOKEEPER'S PROBLEM. HE TOLD THE ZOOKEEPER, "THE
ONLY WAY YOU WILL GET RESULTS, IS TO GO INTO THE WOODS,
CHOP DOWN SOME SMALL TREES, AND BUILD A TABLE WITH THEM.
THEN PUT THE ADDERS ON THIS TABLE." THE ZOOKEEPER
DID AS HE WAS TOLD, AND SURE ENOUGH! THE ADDERS WENT
WILD! THE NEXT TIME THE ZOOKEEPER SAW THE ENGINEER
HE ASKED HIM THE SECRET BEHIND MAKING THESE ADDERS
REPRODUCE. "SIMPLE," REPLIED THE ENGINEER. "IF
YOU WANT TO MAKE ADDERS MULTIPLY, BUILT THEM A TABLE
OF LOGS!"

Where learned: COLLECTORS HOME ; SOCIAL VISIT

Subject headings: 6677 Formula Tale

Date learned: 04-07-1971

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EACH YEAR IN THE SPRING, MY MOTHER'S GRANDFATHER WOULD LINE UP
ALL THE SMALL CHILDREN AND HAVE THEM EACH LICK SOME POWDER(WHITE)
CALLED CALAMEL OFF HIS PEN KNIFE IN ORDER TO CLEAN OUT
THEIR BLOOD FOR SUMMER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME

Keyword(s): BLOOD ; PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral

Date learned: 04-00-1970

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RIDDLE

WHAT BIRD IS THAT WHOSE NAME REPRESENTS NOTHING,
TWICE YOURSELF AND FIFTY?
-- AN OWL.

Submitter comment: NEW ENGLAND FALKLAE
B.A. BATKINS
CROWN PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK, NEW YORK.

Where learned: TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME ; NEW YORK ; MILFORD

Keyword(s): ANIMAL

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 09-00-1967

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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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BELIEF (CUSTOM)

WHEN PLANTING CORN, PLACE A FISH IN EACH HOLE AND PLANT BY THE
LIGHT OF THE HALF MOON. YOU WILL, THEREFORE, REAP A BIGGER CROP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME

Keyword(s): PLANTING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business
BELIEF -- Fish
BELIEF -- Moon

Date learned: 10-23-1968

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RIDDLE

NO MAN WANTS ME, BUT ONCE HE'S GOT ME NO MAN WANTS
TO LOSE ME. WHAT AM I?
-- A BALD HEAD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME

Keyword(s): HEAD

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 00-00-0000

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