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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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WHEN WE GO GOLFING AND ONE OF THE GOLFERS IN OUR GROUP
HITS A SHOT IN THE WATER, HE MUST SHOOT HIS NEXT SHOT
WITH HIS PANTS DOWN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement

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Wishing

When eating Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, cut out the
wishbone carefully without breaking it. Let the bone dry
overnight so it will snap easily. When the bone is dry, two
people take ahold of opposite ends of the wishbone. Then you
count to three, "one, two, three, go..." and each person pulls on
the bone at the same time until the bone breaks. Whoever gets the
larger segment of the bone has their wish granted. To cheat place
your thumb on the bone which connects the two bones together and
you push forward while they pull. This snaps the bone below the
connecting piece, making the other person's bone shorter.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Frankenmuth

Subject headings: Favorites
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Autumn Fall Harvest Thanksgiving
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Good luck

Date learned: 00-00-1976

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PICTURE MAGIC

IF THE PERSON YOU LIKE IS STRAYING AWAY TAKE HIS PICTURE AND PUT IT
IN SOME WATER FACE DOWN. THIS WILL MAKE HIM STAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color

Date learned: 09-00-1172

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SWEATS, SWEATING

IF YOU SWEAT AT NIGHT, PAT VINEGAR ON THE SURFACE OF YOUR BODY
WITH THE PALM OF YOUR HAND
AND YOU WILL PREVENT NIGHT SWEATS.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): PREVENTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 03-10-1971

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AN OLD IRISH BLESSING

GOD GRANT YOU THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT WHAT YOU
CAN NOT CHANGE, THE COURAGE TO CHANGE WHAT YOU CAN,
AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Expression of Fixed Form

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TAKE A HANDFUL OF ANY KIND OF METAL (GOLD, SILVER, IRON)
AND PUT IT UNDER YOUR PILLOW,
THE NEXT DAY THERE WILL BE A LARGE SUM OF MONEY THERE.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER TOLD ME THIS WHEN SHE SAID SHE HAD TO GET SOME MONEY
TO PAY OUR BILLS. SHE THEN WENT ON TO SAY THAT SHE
SHOULD DO THIS AND SEE IF IT WORKED.

Where learned: HOME ; DETROIT, ASSUMED ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

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

Date learned: 11-21-1969

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POLISH PROVERB

THAT KIND OF CHICKEN, THAT KIND OF SKIN (LITERALLY),
OR : ONCE A THIEF, ALWAYS A THIEF.
JAKA KURA TAKA SKORA (SKOORA)

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): TRANSLATED BY MRS. K. J. UNIECHOWSKI

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb C880.700

Date learned: 10-01-1967

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PLANT CUREALLS

FOR CONTINUED WELL BEING ALWAYS EAT PLENTY OF LEAFY SALADS

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): PREVENTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 03-13-1971

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WHAT WEIGHS FOUR THOUSAND POUNDS AND SINGS?
HARRY ELEFONTE. (PUN ON SINGER, HARRY BELEFONTE).

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 11-20-1967

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WHEN IT RAINS ON A WEDDING DAY, BAD LUCK WILL FOLLOW.
(TRANSLATED FROM THE POLISH).

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; DEARBORN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage Superstition about good weather
BELIEF -- Bad luck Crucial moment of life

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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PROVERB

ONE MAN'S POISON IS ANOTHER MAN'S MEAT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE

James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 00001964 (SUMMER)

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ANOTHER HARASSING TECHNIQUE USED WITHIN THE NAVY IS THE
ONE IN WHICH THE UNSUSPECTING "BOOT" IS SENT FOR
A GALLON OF "PROP WASH," SOMETHING WHICH DOES NOT
EXIST.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALMA

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing

Date learned: 03-09-1970

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DON'T UPSET THE APPLE CART.
TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM CHANGING PRESENT OR FAVORABLE
CONDITIONS, THE ABOVE CAN BE SAID.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT RECALLS THIS FROM CHILDHOOD DAYS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROUTE 1 ; SHELBY

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 10-17-1970

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DURING A BRIDAL SHOWER, IF THE FUTURE BRIDE BREAKS ANY
RIBBONS, THE PERSON WHO BOUGHT THE PRESENT WILL HAVE
A BABY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SHELBY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage

Date learned: 11-07-1970

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IF YOU HAVE A TOOTHACHE THAT WILL NOT GO AWAY YOU
SHOULD CHEW ON A WET TEA BAG AND IT WILL SOOTHE
THE PAIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 03-20-1990

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SEWING: PRICKING FINGER

IF YOU PRICK YOUR FINGER WHILE SEWING, YOU WILL GET A KISS
WHILE WEARING THAT GARMENT.

Submitter comment: TOLD WITHOUT EVER REMEMBERING IT EVER HAPPENING THAT WAY.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; JACKSON ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: Observation

Date learned: 10-25-1970

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RELATIVES

IF YOUR NOSE ITCHES, RELATIVES ARE COMING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation

Date learned: 10-30-1968

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Entry filtered.

LIMERICK

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

THERE ONCE WAS A GIRL FROM NORWAY,
WHO HUNG BY HER HEELS FROM THE DOORWAY.
SHE SAID TO HER MAN,
GET OFF THE DIVAN,
I THINK I'VE DISCOVERED ONE MORE WAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; NEW YORK ; ALBANY ; CAMPUS

James Callow Keyword(s): ALLUSION TO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

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

Date learned: 12-00-1973

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Entry filtered.

LIMERICK

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

THERE ONCE WAS A COUPLE NAMED KELLY,
WHO LOVED TO DANCE BELLY TO BELLY.
BECAUSE IN THEIR HASTE,
THEY USED LIBRARY PASTE,
INSTEAD OF PETROLEUM JELLY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; NEW YORK ; ALBANY ; CAMPUS

James Callow Keyword(s): ALLUSION TO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

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

Date learned: 12-00-1973

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