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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IN THE INFORMANT'S TOWN THEY TELL THIS STORY. ST. PETER
AND CHRIST WERE WALKING AND CHRIST DESTROYED AN ENTIRE
TOWN BECAUSE OF A FEW EVIL MEN. PETER KEPT ASKING CHRIST
WHY HE DESTROYED ALL OF THE TOWN, BUT CHRIST WOULD NOT
ANSWER. LATER THAT DAY A SWARM OF BEES ATTACKED PETER
AND PETER SWATTED SEVERAL BEES WHEN ONE OF THEM STUNG
HIM. CHRIST THEN ASKED PETER, "WHY DID YOU KILL ALL
THOSE BEES, ONLY ONE STUNG YOU!"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Insect |
Date learned: 03-12-1967
ST. PATRICK LEGEND
ONE DAY, ST. PATRICK STUCK HIS STAFF INTO THE GROUND AND
IT GREW INTO A TREE. (PROBABLY A BLACK THORN TREE.)
HE ALSO CHASED ALL THE SNAKES OUT OF IRELAND AND TO THIS
DAY THERE AREN'T ANY SNAKES IN THE WHOLE OF IRELAND.
Submitter comment:
MRS. MC CLOSKEY HEARD THIS WHEN SHE LIVED IN BELFAST,
IRELAND, ABOUT 1910.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; IRELAND ; BELFAST
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Plant Life PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal |
Date learned: 01-13-1964 ; 00-00-1910
Entry filtered.
JOKE ABOUT RALEIGH COUPONS AND THE CRUCIFIXION
A CENTURION, JUST GETTING OFF OF WORK, NOTICED A LOT
OF COMMOTION UP ON MT. CALVARY, SO HE DECIDED TO SEE
WHAT WAS HAPPENING. WHEN HE GOT TO THE TOP OF THE
HILL, HE SAW CHRIST UP ON THE CROSS AND STOPPED TO
HAVE A CIGARETTE. HE REACHED INTO HIS POCKET TO FIND
HE WAS ALL OUT OF CIGARETTES, SO HE ASKED CHRIST FOR
ONE. CHRIST REACHED INTO HIS SIDE AND THREW A PACK OF
CIGARETTES DOWN. THE CENTURION SAID THANKS AND,
"HEY, YOU SMOKE RALEIGHS, TOO." CHRIST REPLIED: "SURE,
WHERE DO YOU THINK I GOT THIS SWELL CROSS."
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS IN DETROIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 10-17-1967
HOW THE HUNGARIAN SCISSORBILL BIRD RECEIVED ITS NAME
THIS BIRD RECEIVED ITS NAME BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT, WHEN CHRIST
WAS CRUCIFIED, THIS BIRD WAS ALLEGED TO HAVE TRIED TO PULL THE
NAILS OUT AND THUS RECEIVED ITS TWISTED BILL.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED FROM HER GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
TINY TOM
TINY TOM WAS SENT TO A CHILDLESS COUPLE WHO LIVED IN A SMALL TOWN
IN ITALY. THE CHILD WAS SENT BECAUSE THE MAMA PRAYED TO THE
VIRGIN FOR A CHILD. HE CAME IN A PEA POD.
TOM NEVER GREW BIGGER THAN A THUMBNAIL, EVEN AFTER HE WAS SEVEN
YEARS OLD. ONE DAY HIS MAMA WAS BAKING AND TOM WAS SITTING ON
THE WINDOW SILL. HIS FATHER'S COW WAS SITTING OUTSIDE THE WINDOW.
HIS MAMA SNEEZED AND BLEW TOM OUT THE WINDOW AND HE FELL ON THE
COW'S TONGUE. TINY TOM SLIPPED DOWN THE TONGUE AND INTO THE COW'S
STOMACH.
IT WAS DARK INSIDE AND TOM WAS FRIGHTENED. HE CALLED OUT TO HIS
MAMA BUT SHE DID NOT HEAR HIM. WHEN HIS PAPA CAME HOME FOR DINNER
FROM THE FIELDS, TOM'S MAMA DISCOVERED THAT TOM WAS NOWHERE TO BE
FOUND. THEY FRANTICALLY SEARCHED EVERYWHERE, BUT TOM COULD NOT BE
FOUND ANYWHERE.
FOR TWO DAYS TOM'S PAPA AND MAMA LOOKED EVERYWHERE. THEY WERE
JUST TOO WORRIED OVER TOM TO WORK. THEY HAD NOT EVEN MILKED THEIR
COW WHO GROANED IN PAIN. BUT AFTER THAT MUCH TIME, PAPA AND MAMA
WERE READY TO GIVE UP.
THE COW KEPT MAKING SO MUCH NOISE THAT MAMA REALIZED SHE HAD NOT
BEEN MILKED. SO PAPA MILKED THE COW. WHILE HE WAS MILKING THE
COW, PAPA HEARD, "HELP! MAMA, PAPA! HELP!"
PAPA, HEARING THIS, LOOKED DOWN AND BY GOLLY, THERE WAS TOM
FLOATING ON A LEAF THAT HAD FALLEN INTO THE BUCKET OF MILK.
TOM'S PAPA SWOOPED HIM UP AND CARRIED HIM LOVINGLY TO THE HOUSE.
WHEN MAMA SAW TOM, SHE ALMOST CRIED.
ALL THREE HAD A PARTY THAT NIGHT AND FROM THEN ON, WHENEVER TOM
SAT ON THE WINDOW SILL, HIS MAMA TIED A THREAD AROUND HIM AND
ANCHORED HIM DOWN SO THAT IF HE FELL HE COULD CLIMB BACK UP THE
THREAD. FROM THEN ON TINY TOM, HIS MAMA, AND PAPA LIVED HAPPILY
EVER AFTER.
Submitter comment:
HE HEARD THIS FROM HIS MOTHER AND SHE LEARNED THE STORY FROM
ITALY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Abnormal in size PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
Date learned: 10-25-1967
NOT GIVEN
THERE WAS A SHRINE TO THE BLESSED MOTHER ON THIS MOUNTAIN IN
ITALY. IT WAS A VERY SACRED PLACE. THERE THE STATUE WAS ENCASED
IN GLASS. ONE DAY SOME BOYS WERE PLAYING "BOTCHES" (LIKE BOWLING)
AND ONE OF THE BALLS ROLLED NEAR THE GLASS CASE, THE NEXT ONE
ROLLED AND BROKE THE GLASS AT THE FEET OF THE STATUE. THE FEET
OF THE STATUE STARTED BLEEDING.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS COLLECTOR'S MOTHER.
Data entry tech comment: "BOTCHES" = BOCCI BALL?
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 10-14-1965
THE LEGEND OF THE LESZEKS AND POPIELS
AFTER THE DEATH OF WANDA, THE LEGENDARY HEROINE AND RULER OF
CRACOW, THERE RULED A GROUP OF TWELVE PALATINES. THEY FEARED
THAT SOME ENEMY WAS APPROACHING FROM RUMORS THAT WERE GOING AROUND
IN THE COUNTRYSIDE. THE ENEMY WAS SCARED OFF BY THE FORESIGHT
AND INGENUITY OF A YOUNG GOLDSMITH, LESZEK.
ON THE BUSHES AND TREES HE HUNG UP THE SHIELDS, SHINY ONES, AND
HELMETS OF THE ARMY. WHEN THE ENEMY SAW THE MULTITUDE OF THESE
SHIELDS AND HELMETS FROM FAR OFF, THEY QUICKLY LEFT, AFRAID OF
THE "LARGE ARMY" THAT AWAITED THEM. ABOUT 760 A.D. LESZEK BEGAN
HIS REIGN. HE IS ALSO KNOWN AS PRZEMYSTAIN, "AN INGENIOUS
PERSON."
WHEN LESZEK DIED, HE LEFT NO SON. THE KINGDOM, THEREFORE, HELD
A HORSE RACE TO SEE WHO WOULD BE THE NEXT RULER. THERE WERE
FIFTEEN OR SO BRAVE VOLUNTEERS. ONE SCHEMING PARTICIPANT COVERED
THE ROAD OF THE RACE WITH NAILS THE NIGHT BEFORE THE RACE. HE
DREW HIMSELF A PATH IN THE SAND SO THAT HE COULD FOLLOW WITHOUT
HURTING HIS OWN HORSE. ANOTHER PARTICIPANT DISCOVERED THE TRICK
AND PUT IRON HORSE SHOES ON HIS OWN HORSE. HE WON THE RACE AND
BECAME LESZEK II.
AFTER SEVERAL RULERS CAME POPIEL I WHO TRANSFERRED THE CAPITOL
OF POLAND FROM CRACOW TO GNIEZNO, FROM WHICH THE KINGDOM ORIGINA-
TED. HE THEN TRANSFERRED, IT IS SAID, TO THE CITY OF KRUSZWICZ
NEAR THE LAKE OF GOPLO. IT WAS HIS SON, POPIEL II, WHO WAS A
VERY GLUTTONOUS AND WEAK CHARACTER. IT IS SAID THAT HE WAS BALD
AND HAD A THICK BEARD CALLED "CHWOSTEK." HE HAD A GERMAN WIFE
WHO WAS SAID TO BE WICKED AND CRUEL, AND WHO TEMPTED HER HUSBAND
OFTEN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SITUATIONS AND DO WRONG.
IT WAS A CUSTOM AMONG THE SLAVS TO NAME THEIR SONS AFTER THEIR
SEVENTH BIRTHDAY. HIS HAIR WAS THEN CUT FOR THE FIRST TIME
AND A BIG FEAST WAS HELD WITH FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. POPIEL II
HELD SUCH A FEAST FOR HIS SON. MANY PEOPLE WERE INVITED.
AT THIS SAME TIME, TWO PILGRIMS CAME TO HIS CASTLE ASKING FOR
REFUGE, BUT POPIEL AND HIS WIFE ANGRILY CHASED THEM OUT. IN THE
EYES OF THE POLISH AND THE SLAVS IN GENERAL, SUCH BREAKING OF THE
LAWS OF HOSPITALITY WAS A SERIOUS CRIME. POPIEL SOON PAID FOR
IT.
IT IS SAID THAT THE TWO PILGRIMS WERE REALLY TWO ANGELS. OTHERS
SAY THEY WERE THE SAINTS CYRIL AND METHODIUS ON A MISSION. BUT
THIS INCIDENT DID NOT CHANGE POPIEL. HE CONTINUED IN HIS DRUNKEN
REVELRIES AND CRIMES ONLY TO ESCAPE THE PANGS OF HIS GUILTY CON-
SCIENCE.
FINALLY, WITH COUNSEL OF HIS WIFE, HE HELD A FEAST FOR ALL HIS
RELATIVES IN ORDER TO "MAKE UP" FOR THE TIMES HE DID THEM WRONG.
HE REALLY BELIEVED THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE THE CAUSE OF HIS GUILTY
FEELINGS. AT THIS FEAST, HE POISONED EVERYONE.
IMMEDIATELY HIS PUNISHMENT FOLLOWED. FROM THE BODIES OF THE DEAD
CAME OUT HUNDREDS OF MICE. THESE MICE CHASED POPIEL AND HIS WIFE.
THEY TRIED TO HIDE IN A TOWER, BUT DID NOT SUCCEED AND WERE EATEN
UP BY THE MICE AS WELL AS WERE HIS PEOPLE. THIS TOWER, CALLED
"MICE TOWER" OR "THE TOWER OF POPIEL," STANDS IN THE CITY OF
KRUSZIVICA, POLAND.
Submitter comment:
THESE LEGENDS I'VE KNOWN SINCE CHILDHOOD DAYS FROM MY PARENTS AS
WELL AS FROM MY LESSONS IN POLISH HISTORY I TOOK FROM MRS. HELEN
CHMIELEWSKI OF DETROIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
CHRIST JOKE
DO YOU KNOW HOW CHRIST RECEIVED HIS NAME? WELL, WAY BACK WHEN,
THESE THREE GUYS CAME TO VISIT THE BABE WHO, AS YOU KNOW, WAS
BORN IN THIS OLD CAVE. NOW THIS CAVE WAS VERY, VERY LOW AND ONE
OF THESE THREE GUYS WAS EXTREMELY TALL. AFTER KNEELING FOR A
LONG TIME BEFORE THE BABE, THE TALL ONE, FORGETTING THE KIND OF
PLACE HE WAS IN, ROSE QUICKLY AND BANGED HIS HEAD. "JESUS
CHRIST!" SHOUTS HE. AND MARY TURNS TO JOSEPH, UPON HEARING THIS,
AND SAYS, "GEE, JOSEPH, THAT WOULD BE A BETTER NAME THAN
ARCHIBALD."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Baptism Naming rite |
Date learned: 01-06-1967
LEGEND OF THE POINSETTIA
AT THE TIME OF THE BIRTH OF THE CHRIST CHILD, A YOUNG SHEPHERD BOY
WANTED TO VISIT THE CHILD BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO BRING HIM.
THERE WAS A RED FLOWER BY HIM, SO HE PICKED IT AND SAID THAT THIS
WOULD BE HIS GIFT TO THE CHRIST CHILD. WHEN HE PRESENTED IT TO
THE CHILD, HE SMILED JOYFULLY AT THE BOY. MANY YEARS LATER THIS
SAME BOY, NOW A MAN, WAS STANDING BY THE CROSS ON WHICH CHRIST WAS
HANGING. WHEN THE BLOOD FLOWED OUT OF THE SPEAR WOUND OF CHRIST
AND HIT THE GROUND, A RED FLOWER EXACTLY LIKE THAT GIVEN BY THE
SHEPHERD BOY SPRUNG UP. RIGHT THEN THE MAN KNEW THAT THIS WAS THE
SAME PERSON TO WHOM HE HAD ONCE GIVEN THE RED FLOWER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant SPEECH -- Folk Name for Plant |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE CRYING JESUS
IN BAVARIA (BRAVARIA?) THERE IS A CHURCH NAMED ST. DENISE WHERE
IN THE 1400'S A GROUP OF VILLAGERS MADE A CROSS WITH CHRIST ON IT,
BUT THE CHRIST WAS SO UGLY AND WHEN USED THE PEOPLE WERE ALWAYS
HORRIFIED. SO IT WAS DECIDED TO GET A NEW ONE MADE--THE OLD CHRIST
WAS STORED IN A BARN AND FORGOTTEN. YEARS LATER A PEASANT WOMAN
FOUND IT AND BROUGHT IT HOME, WHERE TEARS STREAMED FROM THE EYES.
SHE TOOK IT TO THE PARISH PRIEST WHO CLAIMED A MIRACLE AND HE
BUILT A CHURCH IN THE CRYING JESUS'S IMAGE AND MEMORY. THE CROSS
IS STILL IN THE CENTER OF THE CHURCH.
PEOPLE TRULY BLIEVE IN THE MIRACLE.
Where learned: GERMANY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: 10-02-1970
INSPIRATION?
ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, A GIRL FROM ALASKA ENTERED THE CONVENT.
AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEKS, SHE CLAIMED THAT SHE WAS HAVING VISIONS
OF CHRIST, WHO, SHE CLAIMED, HAD MADE HER A SPECIAL DISCIPLE.
AT THIS POINT, SHE WAS DISMISSED AND LATER ENTERED THE STRICT
CARMEL.
Submitter comment: I HEARD THIS STORY FROM THE INFORMANT ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO.
Where learned: WISCONSIN ; WAUWATOSA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious |
Date learned: 09-00-1962
I REMEMBER THE ONE, THERE WAS A MAN WHO WENT TO COMMUNION AND
HE DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT IT WAS REALLY GOD. SO WHEN THE PRIEST
GAVE HIM THE HOST, HE HURRIED UP AND TOOK IT OUT OF HIS
MOUTH AND PUT IT IN A HANDKERCHIEF, WRAPPED IT UP AND PUT
IT IN HIS POCKET. AND WHEN HE GOT HOME, HE WENT IN HIS
ROOM AND CLOSED THE DOOR, TOOK A HAMMER AND A NAIL, AND HE
NAILED THE HOST TO THE WALL, AND IT BEGAN TO BLEED. HE
DROWN {DROWNED} IN THE BLOOD.
Where learned: HARPER WOODS ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-00-1970
HARVEST
SIVIETA ZOFIJA, COKTOSY ROZEFIJA.
Translated: Saint Sophia helps to ripen the grain.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; FARMING ; Grain ; Grain ; HARVEST ; Patron ; Saint ; Saint Sophia
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Autumn Fall Harvest Thanksgiving BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
HAZELWOOD TREE LEGEND
THERE IS A LEGEND ABOUT THE HAZELWOOD TREE. WHEN MARY AND JOSEPH AND JESUS WERE FLEEING TO EGYPT THEY CAME TO A POPLAR TREE THAT WAS BIG AND TALL AND STRAIGHT. MARY ASKED THE POPLAR TREE TO COVER HER UP AND PROTECT HER FROM THE RAIN. THE POPLAR TREE WOULD NOT. MARY SAID,"MAY YOU NEVER HAVE YOUR LIMBS DOWN AND MAY YOUR LEAVES NEVER REST." THIS IS WHY THE POPLAR TREE IS ALWAYS TREMBLING WHETHER THERE IS ANY WIND OR NOT. THE NEXT TREE MARY CAME TO WAS THE HAZLEWOOD TREE. THEY DO NOT GROW VERY HIGH, ARE SQUATTY AND ALWAYS HAVE A LOT OF BRANCHES ON THEM. MARY ASKED THE HAZELWOOD TREE TO COVER HER AND IT DID. SHE BLESSED THE TREE IN RETURN SAYING, "MAY YOU BE BLESSED FOR ETERNITY BECAUSE YOU HAD SHELTERED ME. MAY YOUR LEAVES BE A MEDICINE TO PEOPLE THAT NEED YOU. HEAL THEM OF THEIR DISEASES. AND MAY YOU BEAR FRUIT FOR MANKIND AND BEASTS." SINCE THEN THE HAZLEWOOD TREE HAS PRODUCED LOTS OF NUTS CALLED FILBERTS.
James Callow comment:
Poplar branches reach up, as if arms extended in prayer.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PLANT ANIMAL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero Food Drink -- Plant food Nut BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 02-04-1972