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CANOPY BED CUSTOM FROM POLAND

IN 1844, DAVE CAMERON'S GREAT-GREAT GRANDMOTHER ARRIVED IN NEW YORK
FROM POLAND WITH HER HUSBAND AND CAME IN CONTACT WITH
HER FIRST CANOPY BED. SHE IMMEDIATELY STARTED THE FAMILY TRADITION
OF PLACING TWO SHEETS ABOVE THE BED TO HANG DOWN AND FORM A CAGE-
LIKE SLEEPING AREA. THE CUSTOM WAS PASSED DOWN THROUGH TO CAMERON'S
MOTHER WHO CEASED THE CUSTOM AFTER CANOPY BEDS WENT OUT OF FASHION.

Submitter comment: CANOPY BED CUSTOM WAS COLLECTED ON THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT CAMPUS
BUT IT WAS LEARNED IN ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN.

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

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Custom

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"HI, BOB" DRINKING GAME

A DRINKING GAME CALLED "HI BOB" INVOLVES A GROUP WATCHING RE-RUNS
OF A BOB NEWHART SHOW. EVERY TIME SOMEONE SAYS "HI" ON THE SHOW,
EVERYONE MUST TAKE A SIP OF BEER. EVERY TIME SOMEONE SAYS "HI BOB",
THE ENTIRE CAN MUST BE FINISHED. THE PERSON LEFT STANDING AFTER
THE HALF-HOUR SHOW IS OVER IS DECLARED THE WINNER.

Submitter comment: "HI, BOB" WAS COLLECTED ON THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT CAMPUS, BUT
IT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE ORIGINATED ON CALIFORNIA CAMPUSES.

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

Subject headings: Favorites
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Wit
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement

Date learned: CA00001970S

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ANCIENT GREEK MYTH

ONE DAY, APOLLO'S SON, AGAINST HIS FATHER'S WISHES, TOOK THE GREAT
SUN CHARIOT OUT BY HIMSELF AND BROUGHT IT SO CLOSE TO THE GROUND
HE ALMOST CRASHED. THE PEOPLE HE PASSED OVER IN THE SUN CHARIOT
WERE CHARRED AND THEY BECAME THE BLACK RACE.

Submitter comment:

GREEK MYTH WAS COLLECTED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT CAMPUS
BUT THE MYTH WAS LEARNED IN HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN.

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

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Human Life

Date learned: CA00001960S

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INDIAN MYTH

AN OLD INDIAN MYTH SAYS THAT WHEN GOD WISHED TO GIVE DIFFERENT
COLORS TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE EARTH, HE ASKED THEM ALL TO MEET
HIM IN A SPECIAL PLACE AT ELEVEN O'CLOCK ONE MORNING. ALL THE
PEOPLE SHOWED UP AND WERE GIVEN COLORS EXCEPT FOR ONE GROUP WHO
WERE TOO SNOBBISH AND SELF-CENTERED TO COME. THEY WERE NOT GIVEN
ANY COLOR AND THEY BECAME THE WHITE RACE.

Submitter comment:

THE INDIAN MYTH WAS COLLECTED ON THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT CAMPUS
ALTHOUGH IT WAS LEARNED IN HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN

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

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Human Life

Date learned: CA00001960S

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ENGAGEMENT CEREMONY

FAMILY GATHERS, IN EITHER HOME OF THE COUPLE THAT IS GETTING MARRIED.
THE CLOSEST FRIENDS AND RELATIVES ARE INVITED. PRIEST BLESSES
THE RINGS AND THEY ARE EXCHANGED. CELEBRATION PROCEDES WITH DRINKING,
AND LAUGHTER.

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

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Engagement

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NEVER EAT RICE ON SUNDAY BECAUSE IT IS DISRESPECTFUL TO GOD.

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

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food Cereal
BELIEF -- Creator
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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FRUITS DECAY AS SOON AS THEY RIPEN
LOVE AND KISSES SOON GROW OLD
YOUNG MEN'S VOWS ARE SOON FORGOTTEN
LOOK OUT! DON'T GET SOLD.

Submitter comment: THIS WOMAN, WHO WISHES TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, PERMITTED
ME TO COLLECT THESE VERSES FROM HER AUTOGRAPH BOOK.
THE VERSES WERE ENTERED BY HER HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATES
IN 1939.

Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; WYANDOTTE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Cynical insight

Date learned: 00-00-1939

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A PREGNANT WOMAN SHOULD NOT LOOK AT ANYONE WHO IS MASQUERADING
OR HER CHILD WILL TURN OUT TO LOOK LIKE THAT PERSON.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SAID THAT "MASQUERADING" IS WHEN THE PEOPLE OF THE TOWN
GET DRESSED UP TO PARTICIPATE IN A PARADE, OR IF THEY DRESS IN
COSTUMES AT A PARTY OR ON A HOLIDAY.

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

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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IF YOU WHISTLE AT NIGHT, YOU ARE INVITING SNAKES INTO YOUR HOME.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT TOLD ME THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE SNAKES IN YOUR
HOME IN AFRICA BECAUSE MANY ARE POISONOUS.

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

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Animal
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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WHEN EATING LAMB OR GOAT'S MEAT, ONLY THE MEN ARE ALLOWED TO EAT THE
ANIMAL HEAD; THE WOMEN CAN ONLY EAT THE LOWER JAW BONE.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A TREAT TO EAT AN ANIMAL'S
HEAD, AND THAT EATING LAMB AND GOAT IS COMMON IN AFRICA.

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

James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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IF YOUR LEFT EYE BEGINS TO TWITCH, IT MEANS YOU WILL RECEIVE
GOOD NEWS.

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

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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IF A NNUNU BIRD FLIES BY YOUR HOUSE, IT MEANS THAT SOMEONE IS
GOING TO DIE.

Submitter comment: A NNUNU BIRD IS NOT A COMMON BIRD IN AFRICA.

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

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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AT FUNERAL BURIALS, THROW MONEY ON TOP OF THE CASKET AND THE GHOST
OF THE PERSON WILL NOT COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU BECAUSE HE WILL
BE SATISFIED WITH THE GIFT.

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

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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JUMP ROPE RHYME

FUDGE FUDGE FUDGE
BOOM BOOM BOOM
WE ARE CALLING ON THE JUDGE
BOOM BOOM BOOM
MAMMA HAD A NEWBORN BABY
NOT A GIRL, BOOM
NOT A BOY, BOOM
JUST AN ORDINARY BABY, BOOM
WRAP HIM UP IN TISSUE
SEND HIM DOWN THE ESCALATOR
FIRST FLOOR SPLITS, BOOM BOOM BOOM
SECOND FLOOR SPLITS, BOOM BOOM BOOM
THIRD FLOOR SPLITS, BOOM BOOM BOOM
FORTH FLOOR SPLITS, BOOM BOOM BOOM, ETC.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT TOLD ME THAT SHE USED TO SING THIS ON THE STREETS OF
PHILADELPHIA WHEN SHE WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD.

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

James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING

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

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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DO NOT SEW OR CUT ON SUNDAY BECAUSE IT IS THE SABBATH.

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

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Measure of time Working

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, ALL THE RELATIVES VISIT. THE KIDS SHOOT OFF
FIRECRACKERS AND EACH CHILD GETS A PRETZEL ON A STICK FOR GOOD LUCK.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT DID THIS AS A CHILD IN GERMANY.

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

James Callow Keyword(s): GIFT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Good luck Food and drink

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, THE FIRST TO STEP ACROSS THE PORCH MUST BE A
MALE OR YOU WILL HAVE BAD LUCK ALL YEAR LONG.

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

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Bad luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, DO ONLY THOSE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO HAPPEN THE
REST OF THE YEAR. DO NOT PAY BILLS OR YOU WILL BE PAYING BILLS
ALL YEAR. DO NOT DO ANY HARD WORK OR YOU WILL END UP WORKING HARD
ALL YEAR LONG.

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

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

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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MAY YOUR DAY BE BRIGHT
MAY YOUR LIFE BE IN CLOVER
MAY EVERYTHING TURN OUT RIGHT
AND MAY YOUR TOILET NEVER RUN OVER.

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

James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST ; HUMOR

Subject headings: 730 Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief

Date learned: 03-00-1982

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