Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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EASTER BELIEF
THE REASON WHY WE HAVE BUNNIES ON EASTER IS BECAUSE A LITTLE
RABBIT IS THE FIRST THING THAT JESUS SAW WHEN HE CAME OUT OF THE
TOMB.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT FIRST HEARD THIS IN 1976. ANOTHER POSSIBLE REASON
IS THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN RABBITS, EASTER AND SPRING. FERTILITY
AND PURIFICATION ARE INHERENT TO ALL THREE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Measure of time Spring |
Date learned: 10-00-1980 ; 09-00-1976
EASTER BREAKFAST CUSTOM
THE DECORATED HARD-BOILED EGGS, WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN HIDDEN,
WERE EATEN. THE BREAKFAST ALSO CONSISTED OF BAKED HAM, KIELBASA,
AND NUTBREAD, MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER'S RECIPE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
FESTIVAL AFTER EASTER
ON DYNGUS DAY, WHICH WAS THE FOLLOWING DAY AFTER EASTER SUNDAY,
BOYS WOULD SURPRISE GIRLS BY WHIPPING THEM ON THE LEGS WITH THIN
BRANCHES. THIS WAS DONE TO REPRESENT THE SCOURGING JESUS ENDURED.
Submitter comment:
MY MOTHER TOLD ME THAT SHE ALWAYS HID ON DYNGUS DAY, BUT HER COUSINS
ALWAYS MANAGED TO FIND HER AND WHIP HER.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Monday Dyngus |
Date learned: 00-00-1930
DYNGUS DAY
THE MONDAY AFTER EASTER BOYS SPRINKLED CHEAP PERFUME ON THE GIRLS
WHICH REPRESENTED THE SPITTLE JESUS RECEIVED FROM THE ROMANS.
Submitter comment:
THIS VERSION OF DYNGUS DAY WAS PARTICULARLY FRUSTRATING, ESPECIALLY
SINCE GIRLS TRIED TO KEEP THEIR HAIR NICE.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Monday Dyngus |
Date learned: 00-00-1930
DAY AFTER DYNGUS DAY
ON TUESDAY, THE GIRLS ARE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO DO SOME WHIPPING
WHENEVER THEY SEE BOYS.
Submitter comment:
SOME GIRLS IN MY MOTHER'S NEIGHBORHOOD OF CHESTNUT ST. AND MILWAUKEE
AVE. DID WHIP SOME BOYS, BUT SHE NEVER DID.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Monday Dyngus CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Tuesday Revenge Day |
Date learned: 00-00-1930
EASTER DAY
WE CELEBRATED JESUS' RISING BY HAVING A MEAL OF SMOKED HAM, HOME-
MADE SAUSAGE, AND HARD-BOILED EGGS. WE ALSO HAD SALT BREAD WITH
BUTTER, SMALL CHEESE CAKES AND A LAMB WHICH WAS CARVED OUT OF
BUTTER. WHEN OUR FRIENDS CAME OVER, WE GAVE THEM A QUARTER PIECE OF
EGG, AND THEN MY FATHER EXPRESSED GOOD WISHES TO THE FAMILY.
Submitter comment:
THE BLESSED FOODS OF HOMEMADE SAUSAGE AND HAM WERE ESPECIALLY
DELICIOUS ON EASTER.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: 00-00-1940
EASTER EGG CRACK
A TRADITION OF THE GREEKS AT EASTER IS THE EGG CRACK. EVERYONE GETS
A RED EGG WHICH THEY HIT AGAINST ANOTHER. IF ONE CRACKS, HE IS OUT
AND THE ONE THAT REMAINS WHOLE IS KEPT FOR SEVEN YEARS, AND
THEN IT CAN BE BROKEN. IT MUST BE A RED EGG BECAUSE RED REPRESENTS
CHRIST'S BLOOD AND THE CRACK REPRESENTS COMING OUT OF SORROW OF HIS
DEATH AND THE JOY OF HIS RISING. THIS TRADITION GOES BACK TO THE DAYS
OF CHRIST.
Submitter comment:
WHEN MY NEIGHBOR TOLD ME THIS STORY, I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A TERRIFIC
ONE. IT HAD SO MUCH MEANING TO IT. SHE REMEMBERED DOING IT WHEN SHE
WAS A CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOLS
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday BELIEF -- P681 P681.1 BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
IF YOU TAKE AN EGG LAID ON GOOD FRIDAY AND YOU PUT IT UNDER YOUR
ARM UNTIL SUNDAY, A SEVEN HEADED MONSTER WILL COME OUT. HE SHOULD
CALL YOU "MASTER". IF NOT, YOU START SMASHING HIS HEADS UNTIL HE
CALLS YOU MASTER. THEN YOU CAN ASK HIM WHATEVER YOU WANT. TO GET
RID OF HIM, YOU THROW HIM IN THE SEA WITHOUT LOOKING.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
James Callow Keyword(s): GENIE
| Subject headings: | 663 Good Friday 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday Food Drink -- Animal product Egg BELIEF -- Abnormal in size |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
IF IT RAINS ON EASTER SUNDAY, IT WILL RAIN ON SEVEN CONSECUTIVE
SUNDAYS AFTERWARDS.
Submitter comment:
THIS FOLK BELIEF WAS COMMUNICATED TO BRIAN BY HIS MOTHER WHEN
BRIAN WAS A CHILD AND GROWING UP IN RURAL OHIO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 11-02-1984 ; 00001960S
IF IT RAINS ON EASTER SUNDAY, IT WILL RAIN THE NEXT SIX SUNDAYS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Ortonville
| Subject headings: | 686 Sixths / Six CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 10-00-1987 ; 00001930S CA.
On Easter Sunday morning, the old folks would say the sun would
shout.
Where learned: Arkansas ; LITTLE ROCK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday BELIEF -- Sun |
Date learned: 00-00-1920
BLESSED FOOD
ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, THE DAY BEFORE
EASTER, MY MOTHER WOULD PREPARE A BASKET
OF FOOD THAT WE WOULD TAKE TO CHURCH TO
HAVE BLESSED. THERE WERE CERTAIN ITEMS
THAT WERE ALWAYS INCLUDED IN THE BASKET:
SEVERAL SLICES OF THE EASTER HAM (HOT
OUT OF THE OVEN), A SMALL, ROUND LOAF
OF PUMPERNICKEL BREAD (MADE SPECIAL
FOR THE BASKET), A RING OF FRESH KIELBASA
(FRESH, NOT SMOKED), SIX HARD BOILED EGGS
(WITH THE SHELLS REMOVED), BUTTER (MADE IN
THE FORM OF A LAMB) AND SALT AND PEPPER
(MIXED TOGETHER IN A SPECIAL SALT SHAKER
THAT WAS ONLY USED FOR THIS OCCASION--
N-E-V-E-R AT ANY OTHER TIME DURING THE YEAR.
THE WICKER BASKET AND SPECIAL COVERING TOWEL
(THAT MY MOTHER HAD EMBROIDERED MANY YEARS
BEFORE WERE USED TO CARRY THE FOOD TO CHURCH.
THIS FOOD WAS EATEN ON EASTER MORNING WHEN WE
RETURNED HOME FROM CHURCH (ALONG WITH MORE FOOD
SINCE THE BLESSED FOOD WAS ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT
FOR OUR FAMILY). EVERY BIT OF THE BLESSED FOOD
HAD TO BE EATEN AT THE BREAKFAST--NOT A CRUMB
COULD BE THROWN AWAY.
Submitter comment:
GOING INTO OUR POLISH CHURCH ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON
WAS WONDERFUL. THE SMELL OF HAM AND KIELBASA WOULD
FILL THE CHURCH. THE PEOPLE WOULD SET THEIR
BASKETS IN THE AISLE AT THE END OF THEIR PEW AND
THE PRIEST WOULD WALK UP AND DOWN THE AISLE
SPRINKLING HOLY WATER. EVERYONE WOULD BE HUNGRY
FOR THE FOOD, BUT WE COULD NOT EAT MEAT ON THAT
DAY!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Saturday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
WHEN TWO PEOPLE HAVE EASTER EGGS,
THEY SHOULD CRACK THE EGGS AGAINST
EACH OTHER'S AND MAKE A WISH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1920
When I was a child our family used to prepare for the
Easter holy days with six weeks of sincere fasting
and denying ourselves simple pleasures. When Easter
Sunday arrived we celebrated the Resurrection of
Christ with an abundance of food. On the Saturday
afternoon before this holy day we took our baskets of
food to the church and had them blessed by the priest.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Lent
James Callow Keyword(s): Holy Saturday
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting F663.2 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Holy Saturday |
Date learned: 00001930S
On Easter, in Saint Thomas, they celebrate by going to the
beaches and watching the sun rise Sunday morning.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): Sunrise vigil
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday |
Date learned: 03-00-1991
On Good Saturday a Greek family would go to church around 10 PM,
leaving the grandmothers at home. At 12 AM Jesus is symbolically
resurrected from the dead. The people leave church and go home around
1 AM. Meanwhile, the grandmothers were at work preparing a soup known
as "Mayiritza" which contains pieces of lamb, vegetables, eggs, and
lemon in a sheep broth. The family comes home and all eat the soup
and talk. Then red eggs are distributed and cracked while the people
say "Hristos anesti, alithos anesti", which means "Christ is risen,
truly risen."
Where learned: GREECE
Our Easter Sunday dinner tradition begins on Holy Saturday,
with the blessing of our Easter baskets. The dinner basket
contains samplings of the Easter feast, such as ham, kielbasa,
bread, butter lamb, decorated eggs, salt, and pepper. Then the
children always brought along their Easter baskets filled with
candy to be blessed. We are Catholic, I am unsure if this is just
a Catholic tradition, but this is one that we have always
followed.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Saturday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: 00-00-1930
DURING THE LENTEN SEASON, CATHOLICS ARE SUPPOSED TO
FAST. MY FAMILY GATHERS TOGETHER ON EASTER
MORNING, 12:00 MIDNIGHT, AND HAS A BIG MEAL
AFTER FASTING FOR SIX WEEKS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 663 Lent CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday |
Date learned: 03-05-1971
BEFORE EASTER SUNDAY EVERYONE WOULD GATHER THE FOOD
WHICH WOULD BE EATEN FOR THE EASTER DINNER AND PUT THEM
IN A BASKET. THIS BASKET WOULD BE LINED WITH A VERY
DELICATE LACE CLOTH. THEY WOULD CARRY THE BASKETS OF
FOOD TO CHURCH AND PUT THEM IN THE AISLES. THE
PRIEST WOULD COME AROUND AND BLESS THE FOOD.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID THIS WAS AN OLD POLISH CUSTOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Date learned: 02-20-1972
SLOVAK EASTER CUSTOM
ON SATURDAY OF HOLY WEEK, THE WOMEN BAKED BREAD AND
PREPARED HAM AND KOLBASI. THESE WERE PACKED INTO A
BASKET AND TAKEN TO CHURCH ON EASTER SUNDAY AND WERE
BLESSED. THEN THE FAMILY CAME HOME AND EVERYONE
ATE OF THE BLESSED FOOD, INCLUDING ANYONE WHO VISITED
THEM.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Saturday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: 00001967 FALL