Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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WHEN SOMEBODY DIED NO ONE WOULD GO TO THE FUNERAL. THEY
WENT THE ROUNDS INSTEAD. (THEY DID THIS TO NOTIFY
PEOPLE OF THE DEATH BECAUSE THERE WERE NO NEWSPAPERS
TO LET THE PEOPLE KNOW.) THE ROSARY WAS SAID IN THE
DEAD MAN'S HOUSE. NO ONE WOULD GO TO THE BURIAL WITHOUT
A BLACK SUIT OR BLACK DRESS. THE PEOPLE WERE VERY FRIENDLY
AND IF A FAMILY DID NOT HAVE A BLACK SUIT FOR THE OCCASION,
THEY WOULD BORROW IT; THIS WAS VERY COMMON. ALSO BLACK
WAS WORN FOR WEDDINGS.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT TOLD ME THAT PEOPLE THEN ONLY HAD ONE GOOD
SUIT AND IT WAS BLACK AND HE ALSO SHOWED ME SOME WEDDING
PICTURES OF HIS RELATIVES WHO WORE BLACK ON THEIR WEDDING
DAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
THE FLEMISH DON'T BELIEVE IN SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY
ON COFFINS. THE COFFINS ARE USUALLY ROUGH BOARDS
WITHOUT ANY LINING INSIDE THEM, ALSO THERE IS NO
EMBALMING THE BODY. WHEN THERE WAS A DEATH, THE BODY
WOULD LIE ON A TABLE, WRAPPED IN A SHEET OR ELSE BE
LYING IN THE BED. THE NIGHT BEFORE THE FUNERAL, THEY
WOULD SWITCH THE BODY TO THE COFFIN. UNTIL THEN, YOU
WOULD NEVER LEAVE A DEAD BODY ALONE, YOU KEPT A WAKE.
SOMEONE WAS ALWAYS WITH THE BODY, THEY WOULD PUT A
PRAYER BOOK UNDER THE CHIN TO KEEP THE MOUTH FROM
OPENING AND RIGOR MORTIS FROM SETTING IN, THEY WOULD
ALSO HAVE SOMETHING ON THE EYES TO KEEP THEM SHUT.
FOR THE FUNERAL, A PERSON WOULD GO AND TALK TO A
FARMER WHO HAD TWO HORSES AND HE WOULD VOLUNTEER TO TAKE
THE BODY TO AND FROM THE CHURCH IN HIS WAGON (THERE
WERE NO HEARSES), AND ON THE DAY OF THE FUNERAL THEY
PUT THE BODY IN THE WAGON AND TWO WOMEN WOULD SIT IN
FRONT AND TWO WOMEN SAT BEHIND, THE REST OF THE PEOPLE
WOULD WALK. AT EACH CROSSROAD THAT THEY PASSED, THE
NEIGHBORS HAD PUT A STRAW CROSS IN THE TREE. AND IT WAS
SAID THAT IN THE MORNING OF THE FUNERAL, THE FARMER
WOULD GO AND TALK TO THE HORSES AND BLESS THEM WITH
PALMS AND HOLY WATER. (MR. VALKEN HAD NEVER SEEN THIS
DONE WITH THE HORSES, BUT HE HAD HEARD OF IT AND
BELIEVED IT TO BE TRULY DONE).
WHEN YOU ENTER THE CEMETERY, A MAN WOULD STAND BY THE
GATE AND PASS OUT A FLOWER TO EACH PERSON AS THEY
ENTERED AND THEN THE FAMILY DROPPED THEIR FLOWERS ON
TOP OF THE COFFIN AND THEN THE REST OF THE PEOPLE
WOULD FOLLOW SUIT.
BECAUSE THEY WERE SO RELIGIOUS, DYING DIDN'T MEAN SO
MUCH. THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO A BETTER PLACE.
Submitter comment:
I TRIED TO REPEAT THIS AS MR. VALKEN TOLD IT TO ME.
HE ADDED THAT THE DAY AFTER THE FUNERAL, THE STRAW
CROSSES WERE TAKEN DOWN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-20-1971
WHEN ONE PASSES A GRAVEYARD THEY MUST HOLD THEIR BREATH
TILL THEY HAVE COMPLETELY PASSED IT BY.
Submitter comment:
I DID THIS WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I DON'T KNOW WHERE I
LEARNED IT, AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU
IF YOU DIDN'T. I DON'T BELIEVE IN IT, BECAUSE
NOTHING EVER HAPPENS TO ME WHEN I PASS GRAVEYARDS
AND DON'T HOLD MY BREATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT IS THE CUSTOM IN NEWFOUNDLAND WHEN ATTENDING A
FUNERAL TO THROW A HANDFUL OF GROUND ON THE CASKET
OF THE DEAD PERSON WHEN IT IS SET IN THE GROUND.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS STILL DONE TODAY IN NEWFOUNDLAND, WITHOUT
FAIL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-00-1971
MY FATHER SAID THAT WHEN HE WAS IN THE ARMY AND A
JEWISH SOLDIER WAS KILLED, THAT THEY WOULD BURY
HIM WITH THE STAR OF DAVID ON HIS GRAVE INSTEAD
OF A CROSS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHEN SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY DIES YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO
STOP THE CLOCK AND COVER ALL MIRRORS IN THE HOUSE
UNTIL AFTER THEY ARE BURIED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HAD NOT DONE THIS, SINCE SHE HAD BEEN
LIVING IN MICHIGAN, BUT IN JULY, 1971 WHEN SHE WENT
TO HER GRANDMOTHER'S FUNERAL IN GEORGIA, ALL OF HER
RELATIVES HAD STOPPED THEIR CLOCKS AND HAD COVERED
THEIR MIRRORS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-18-1971
THERE IS AN ITALIAN CUSTOM, THAT IF A MEMBER OF
A FAMILY DIES, THEN THE MEMBERS OF THE IMMEDIATE
FAMILY WEAR BLACK AS A SIGN OF MOURNING FOR 3 TO
6 MONTHS.
Submitter comment: I WAS TOLD THIS BY MY PARENTS ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; PORT CHESTER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE IRISH WAKE CONSISTS OF COMING OVER TO THE HOUSE
OF THE DEPARTED, PAYING RESPECTS TO THE FAMILY
OF THE DEPARTED, AND THEN DRINKING FOR THREE DAYS
BEFORE THE FUNERAL.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS BY HIS DAD WHEN HE WAS ABOUT
12 IN 1961-62.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-15-1970
IN THE SOUTH, THE PERSON WHO DIED WOULD BE LAID OUT
IN THE HOME AND THE FAMILY WOULD SIT UP ALL NIGHT
WITH THE PERSON LAID OUT.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS DONE AT THE INFORMANT'S FAMILY IN THE
1900S IN THE SOUTH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-12-1970
KOLIVA, A WHEAT DISH, IS PASSED OUT TO RELATIVES AND
FRIENDS FORTY DAYS AFTER THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE,
TO INSURE EVERLASTING LIFE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-19-1971
IF A CLOSE RELATIVE DIES, FRENCH-AMERICANS MOURN
FOR A WHOLE YEAR AND DURING THIS MOURNING, THERE IS
A COMPLETE ABSTENTION FROM SOCIAL LIFE.
Submitter comment: MY MOTHER TOLD ME THIS.
Where learned: MAIL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 08-00-1967
POLISH RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
A WOODEN FRAME IS SET IN THE MIDDLE AISLE OF THE
IN FRON OF THE COMMUNION RAIL, REPRESENTING A
COFFIN. THIS FRAME IS COVERED WITH A BLACK FELT
CLOTH. FUNERAL CANDLES ARE PLACED ON EITHER SIDE.
THE PRIEST INCENSES AND SPRINKLES THE CATAFALQUE
AFTER MASS. PURPOSE OF THIS CUSTOM IS "ROCZNICA"
ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEAR DEPARTED SOUL. THIS IS
USUALLY DONE THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE DEATH, OR ONE
YEAR AFTER. OFTEN TOO DURING NOVEMBER, MONTH OF
THE POOR SOULS.
Where learned: OHIO ; Sylvania
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
CHINESE DEATH CUSTOM
EACH YEAR THE CHINESE PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THEY
MUST BURN A MODEL HOUSE TO HONOR THE DEAD.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN THAILAND.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 03-01-1971
MADAGASCAR BURIAL CUSTOM
IT WAS A COMMON CUSTOM IN MADAGASCAR AMONG THE
NATIVES TO DIG UP THE DEAD RELATIVES EVERY SEVEN
YEARS. IN DOING THIS, THEY RE-EMBALM THE DEAD
RELATIVES. HAVING THEM ALL TOGETHER, THEY
CELEBRATE BY HAVING A FEAST.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 03-28-1968
AT GRAVESIDE DURING A FUNERAL, THE MOURNERS TAKE A
HANDFUL OF DIRT AND A FLOWER, AND THROW IT ON THE
COFFIN AFTER IT IS LOWERED INTO THE GRAVE. THIS IS
A POLISH CUSTOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-25-1970
IN THE EVENT OF DEATH, THE POLISH VILLAGERS PLACE
DRIED HERBS (BLESSED ON ASCENSION THURSAY) UNDERNEATH
THE LINEN LINING OF THE CASKET. THIS SERVES AS A
PILLOW UNDER THE DECEASED PERSON'S HEAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-07-1971
THE PLAINS INDIANS OF AMERICA USED THE COLOR "WHITE"
IN BURIAL RITES.
FOR SOME REASON UNKNOWN TO THE INFORMANT, A TEACHER OF
INDIAN LORE AND CRAFTS, TO THE PLAINS INDIANS WHITE
WAS A SOMBRE COLOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1962
PEOPLE IN TAIWAN DRESS IN WHITE FOR FUNERALS AND
BLACK IS CUSTOMARY FOR THE NORTHERN PROVINCE OF
CHINA.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HIS OWN VILLAGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-12-1971
AMONG POLISH NEIGHBORHOODS, IT IS CUSTOMARY AT THE
FUNERAL OF A CHILD TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE BODY IN
THE COFFIN AND THEN TURN THEM BACKWARDS IN THE
FAMILY ALBUM.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 09-00-1963
THERE IS AN OLD SYRIAN CUSTOM OF TAKING THE PICTURE
OF THE DECEASED PERSON ON THE LAST DAY OF THE
FUNERAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-01-1968