Hmmm... This is very strange. All references that I have been able to track down to "Fling Flang Flu" or "Fling Flang Floo" returned by a Google search resolve to people from the Youngstown, Ohio area - except for one author from Italy, Andrea Camilleri, who includes the phrase in his book The Paper Moon.

Assuming the ritual originated in Italy and was introduced to the US I am still befuddled.

I believe that the Youngstown area has a significant Italian presence but I have to believe that there are other large pockets of Italian influence in the US - how is it that Fling Flang Flu appears to be isolated to the Youngstown area?