Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P432 returned 183 results.
CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF YOUR PATRON SAINT. MAKE A CAKE FOR THE PERSON
WHOSE SAINT DAY IT IS.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS ORIGINALLY LEARNED IN WATERTOWN, NEW YORK
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WATERTOWN
Date learned: 00-00-1959
PUT A CONTRIBUTION ON THE STATUE OF A SAINT DURING A PROCESSION
AND THAT SAINT WILL PRAY FOR YOU.
Submitter comment:
THE STATUES ARE DRESSED IN CLOAKS AND VEILS. THE MONEY IS PINNED ON
THE CLOAKS AND VEILS.
THIS WAS ORIGINALLY LEARNED IN WATERTOWN, NEW YORK
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WATERTOWN
Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1937
ST. LUCIA DAY--DECEMBER 13
EATING, THE WATER IN WHICH THE WHEAT WAS COOLED WAS RUBBED ON EACH
FAMILY MEMBER'S EYES. IT SIGNIFIED THAT SAINT LUCY WOULD SAVE
THEIR EYES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F121 BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 10-00-1982
DAYS OF THE WEEK
THE BYZANTINE UKRAINIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES A DIFFERENT
GROUP OR PERSON EACH DAY OF THE WEEK. MONDAY IS DEDICATED
TO THE HOLY ANGELS. TUESDAY IS ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST DAY.
WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY ARE DEDICATED TO THE LORD'S CROSS.
ST. NICHOLAS AND THE APOSTLES ARE HONORED ON THURSDAY.
SATURDAY IS IN HONOR OF ALL THE SAINTS. SUNDAY IS IN HONOR
OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. THE VARIOUS MASS PARTS
CHANGE TO HONOR THE VARYING GROUPS EACH DAY.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 00001950S
RELIGIOUS BELIEF
BEFORE YOUR WEDDING HAVE A STATUE OF MARY, THE BLESSED MOTHER,
LOOKING OUT YOUR WINDOW AND PRAY TO HER FOR GOOD WEATHER ON YOUR
WEDDIND DAY.
Submitter comment: THIS ITEM CAME FROM A RELATIVE IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT
Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage F545.083 BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1976
RELIGIOUS BELIEF
FOR A WOMAN TO FIND A GOOD HUSBAND, SHE SHOULD PRAY TO SAINT JOSEPH
WHO IS THE PERFECT HUSBAND AND HE WILL HELP HER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00001970S
MY MOTHER HAD AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT PREGNANCY WITH MY
SISTER. SHE PROMISED ST. JUDE THAT SHE WOULD NAME THE
BABY AFTER HIM (THE PATRON SAINT OF HOPELESS CASES) IF
THE BABY WAS BORN HEALTHY. MY SISTER'S NAME IS JUDITH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Subject headings: | Person / Nickname BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00-00-1947
WHENEVER YOU TAKE A TEST ONE
SHOULD PLACE IN THE LEFT HAND
CORNER, IN SMALL LETTER, J.M.J.
THIS STANDS FOR JESUS, MARY AND
JOSEPH.
Submitter comment:
THE NUNS TAUGHT MICHAEL THIS, IT
IS SUPPOSED TO BRING GOOD LUCK TO
THE TEST TAKER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- School BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Word Letter BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00001970S
EVERY YEAR ON THE FIRST OF THE NEW YEAR, WE GIVE PRESENTS
TO EACH MEMBER OF MY FAMILY. THIS IS DONE BECAUSE IN GREECE, IT
IS SAINT BASIL'S DAY. SAINT BASIL IS THE GREEK SAINT OF
CHILDREN. HE BRINGS PRESENTS TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN GOOD THE
PREVIOUS YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights ; WHERE I LEARNED THIS
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFT-GIVING
Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 01-00-1972
IF YOU LOSE SOMETHING, STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING IMMEDIATELY;
SAY A PRAYER TO ST. ANTHONY AND YOU WILL SOON FIND WHAT
YOU HAD LOST.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Prayer |
ON THE FEAST OF ST. BLAZE, CATHOLICS GET THEIR THROATS
BLESSED IN ORDER TO BE PROTECTED FROM CHOKING OR RECEIVING
ANY INJURY TO THEIR THROAT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CANDLES ; ST. BLAISE
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 11-08-1985
IT IS SAID THAT WHEN A HEAVY RAINSTORM COMES, IT IS ST. PETER
CRYING AT HEAVEN'S GATE. IF YOU WANT THE RAIN TO STOP, YOU
MUST WALK OUT INTO THE RAIN, HOLD OUT YOUR ARMS IN SUPPLICATION,
AND ASK ST. PETER TO STOP THE RAIN.
Submitter comment:
I WAS IN THE GARAGE WITH MY GRANDFATHER AND TWO OF HIS
FRIENDS WHEN IT STARTED TO THUNDERSTORM. ONE OF HIS FRIENDS
TOLD ME THE ABOVE STORY. I TRIED IT, BUT IT FAILED TO WORK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NORTH BRANCH
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
On the feast of St. Barbara (Dec.4), artillerymen wear
red socks.
Submitter comment:
Ray was not sure how this custom came into being, but says
that St. Barbara is the patron saint of artillerymen. Perhaps
because she is the saint to be prayed to for protection from
lightening and fire, the artillerymen feel that she has an
affinity with the explosive power of their weapons.
Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI
Keyword(s): Military, soldiers
Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
If you are having trouble selling your house, bury a
statue of St. Joseph, head-down and facing the rear of
the house, until your house is sold. Afterwards you
dig the statue up and permanently display it in a place
of honor in your new home.
Submitter comment:
This belief was heard from Maryann's sister, Leda, who
was having trouble selling her condominium. Leda's real
estate agent suggested that she try this. Within the
month Leda's condo was sold, and now the statue of St.
Joseph is on the mantlepiece of her new home. This
superstition is, evidently, very widely held by Italians.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; Rogers Park
Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Good luck Objects BELIEF -- Conversions |
If you say a prayer to St. Anthony when you lose something,
he will help you to find it.
Submitter comment:
Mrs. Leisner really believes this to be true. Many times
as a young girl I witnessed my mother performing this
ritual, and even now we always know when she has lost
something when we hear her say "St. Anthony help me!"
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; LEXINGTON
Keyword(s): intercession
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 00001930S
If someone wants to sell a house and aren't getting
too many offers, bury a statue of St. Joseph in the
backyard. The house will be sold. My boyfriend's
mother did this and their house was sold in a week.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
On the day of an outside party, hang a rosary on
a tree. This will be a token of good luck so that
it doesn't rain. My friend's mother did on the
day of her daughter's graduation party--it did not rain.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 11-16-1990
On Christmas Eve, we always open our gifts that were brought
by the Christ Child, not Santa.
Submitter comment: This has been a tradition and a belief in our family.
Where learned: HUNGARY
Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Gifts, gift giving at Christmas BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 00001940S
St. Nicholas Day
The night before December 6th, polish your shoes and put them
in front of your bedroom door. St. Nicholas will come and put
cookies, walnuts, oranges, chocolate, sticks, and coal in your
shoes. The coal is given if you are a bad person or did something
bad.
Submitter comment:
My mother learned this from her parents in the 40s, and now
it's a custom in our family.
Where learned: HUNGARY
Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 00001940S
On January first, Greeks celebrate what is known as St. Basil's
Day. It is the equivalent of Christmas here. It begins at twelve
o'clock midnight on December 31. "Vasilopita" - St Basil's Bread - is
served. Baked in the sweet bread is a single gold coin. The person to
receive the slice of sweet bread with the coin is said to have good
luck for the duration of the year. Presents are distributed. Then
snacks and drinks are served to all because in Greece there is no
certain age that must be attained before one is allowed to drink
alcohol.
Submitter comment: St. Basil is the equivalent of Santa Claus.
Where learned: GREECE
Keyword(s): holiday
James Callow Keyword(s): drinking age
Date learned: 00001945CA