Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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NEW YEAR'S DAY FOOD TRADITION
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, THE CORN BREAD HAD WITH THE POOR BOY'S MEAL
CONTAINS A DIME WHICH WILL GIVE GOOD LUCK TO THE PERSON WHO GETS IT.
Submitter comment: ITEM WAS LEARNED IN WEST VIRGINIA ALTHOUGH COLLECTED IN DETROIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BOTSFORD GRADE SCHOOL ; CLARENCEVILLE DISTRICT
Date learned: 11-00-1982
JEWISH NEW YEAR FOOD TRADITION
AT JEWISH NEW YEAR AT THE DINNER ON ROSH HASHONAH WE DIP SLICES OF
APPLE IN HONEY TO SYMBOLIZE LOOKING FORWARD TO A SWEET YEAR.
Submitter comment: ITEM WAS LEARNED IN THE CITY OF DETROIT ALTHOUGH COLLECTED IN SUBURB
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BOTSFORD GRADE SCHOOL ; CLARENCEVILLE DISTRICT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit |
Date learned: 11-00-1982
NEW YEAR'S DAY BELIEF
IT IS CONSIDERED BAD LUCK FOR A WOMAN TO ENTER YOUR HOUSE
BEFORE A MAN ON NEW YEAR'S DAY. THE FIRST PERSON ENTERING
YOUR HOUSE ON NEW YEAR'S MUST NOT BE A WOMAN OR YOU WILL
HAVE BAD LUCK FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR. THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT I HEARD AS A CHILD. WE DIDN'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY BUT
I DO KNOW OF PEOPLE WHO WILL REFUSE A WOMAN ENTRANCE ON
NEW YEAR'S DAY UNTIL A MAN ENTERS FIRST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
Date learned: 09-00-1982
SERBIAN CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
THE SERBIAN COMMUNITY OF DUQUESNE, PENNSYLVANIA OBSERVED
THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS BY SPREADING
STRAW ON THE FLOOR, THE KITCHEN TABLE, AND THROUGHOUT THE
KITCHEN TO REPRESENT JESUS' MANGER. A BURNING CANDLE WAS
PLACED ON THE TABLE AND IT WAS CONSIDERED BAD LUCK FOR THE
ENTIRE YEAR IF THE CANDLE WENT OUT. MY MOTHER WITNESSED
THE PRACTICE IN DUQUESNE, PENNSYLVANIA AROUND 1947.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT'S MOTHER'S NAME IS MARY MORSILLO GINGERICH,
BORN OCTOBER 3, 1937, FARRELL, PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Date learned: 09-00-1982
RURAL BLACK NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM
DURING THE DEPRESSION, IN LOUISVILLE, MISSISSIPPI IT WAS
CUSTOMARY AMONG BLACKS TO PREPARE HOG JOWLS AND BLACK-EYED
PEAS AS THE FIRST MEAL OF THE NEW YEAR. IT WAS THOUGHT
THAT THIS WOULD BRING GOOD LUCK FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
I DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE ACTUALLY BELIEVED THAT GOOD LUCK
COULD RESULT FROM EATING A PARTICULAR MEAL. IT WAS JUST
A CUSTOMARY THING TO DO. SOMETIMES, AFTER WE CAME NORTH,
WE WOULD STILL FIX THE MEAL FOR NEW YEAR'S. AFTER I GOT
MARRIED, IN 1950, I DON'T RECALL PREPARING ANY PARTICULAR
MEAL ON NEW YEAR'S.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT LIVED IN LOUISVILLE, MISSISSIPPI UNTIL BEING
SENT OVERSEAS IN WORLD WAR II. BY HIS RETURN, IN 1946,
THE FAMILY HAD MOVED TO DETROIT. THE INFORMANT HAS LIVED
IN DETROIT SINCE THAT TIME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 09-00-1982
DAYS OF THE WEEK
VARIOUS BELIEFS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DAYS OF THE WEEK.
MONDAY IS CONSIDERED A WORK DAY. THEREFORE, IF NEW YEAR'S
DAY FALLS ON A MONDAY, THE ENTIRE YEAR WILL BE HARD.
TUESDAY IS CONSIDERED A HAPPY DAY. WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY
ARE FAST DAYS COMMEMORATING GOOD FRIDAY AND THE WEDNESDAYS
OF LENT. THURSDAY IS ASSOCIATED WITH GOOD LUCK AND IS THE
DAY ASSOCIATED WITH MATCHMAKING. IF YOU ARE BORN ON THIS
DAY YOU WILL BE RICH. SATURDAY IS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF
THE DEAD.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
Keyword(s): SUPERSTITION
Date learned: 00001950S
NEVER HAVE DIRTY CLOTHES ON NEW YEARS DAY OR YOU WILL HAVE THEM
ALL YEAR LONG.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's |
Date learned: 00001950S
ALWAYS HAVE MONEY IN YOUR POCKET ON NEW YEARS DAY AND YOU WILL
ALL DURING THE YEAR.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Date learned: 00001950S
IF THE FIRST VISITOR ON NEW YEARS DAY IS A MAN YOU WILL HAVE
GOOD LUCK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
Date learned: 00001950S
FIRST VISITOR ON FIRST DAY OF THE YEAR MUST BE A MAN. IF THE
VISITOR WERE A WOMAN, SHE BROUGHT BAD LUCK
Submitter comment: ITEM SHOWS SEXISM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MUSKEGON
Date learned: 09-19-1982
WASHING ON NEW YEAR'S DAY MEANS YOU ARE WASHING ONE OF YOUR FAMILY
MEMBERS AWAY.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SPECIFICALLY MEANT LAUNDERED ITEMS AND DEATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MUSKEGON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time Working |
Date learned: 09-19-1982
IF A PERSON WASHES ON NEW YEAR'S DAY SOMEONE CLOSE WILL
DIE BEFORE THE YEAR IS OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time Year |
GOOD LUCK GRAPES
I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW OUR FAMILY CAME ACROSS THIS TRADITION BUT
EVER SINCE I WAS A YOUNG BOY GROWING UP IN GREECE WE HAVE
FOLLOWED THE SPANISH TRADITION OF EATING NUTS AND TWELVE GRAPES
ON NEW YEAR'S EVE AT MIDNIGHT. EACH GRAPE WILL GIVE YOU GOOD
LUCK FOR THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS OF THE NEW YEAR. I FOLLOWED
THIS COMBINATION VERY STRICTLY AND IT HASN'T FAILED ME YET.
Submitter comment:
AS A VISITOR IN THE GOFFAS HOME, I DIDN'T WANT TO PRESS FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION FROM THE PROUD GREEK WHO WAS UNWILLING TO
TALK.
Where learned: GREECE
SLAVIC NEW YEAR'S TRADITION
ON NEW YEARS MORNING WE WENT DOOR TO DOOR TO THE NEIGHBORS
WITH AN APPLE. ALL THE NEIGHBORS WOULD SHOVE A COIN IN IT
FOR GOOD LUCK IN THE NEW YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BEGGING ; GIFT-GIVING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Good luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event |
Date learned: 00-00-1941
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BRING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH BLACK EYED
PEAS AND HOMEMADE WINE. THE PEAS WILL BRING YOU LUCK
AND THE WINE WILL PROMISE YOU WARMTH THROUGHOUT THE
NEW YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 03-00-1983
IF YOU DON'T EAT BLACK EYED PEAS ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, THEN YOU
WILL HAVE BAD LUCK THAT YEAR.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; BALDWIN COUNTY ; FOLEY
Date learned: 00001940-00001960
NEW YEAR'S DAY IS THE OCCASION FOR BAKING AND SERVING
VASSILOPITA, A SPECIAL LARGE, HOLIDAY CAKE BAKED WITH
A COIN INSIDE. THE CAKE IS BLESSED AND CUT AND THE
RECIPIENT OF THE PIECE CONTAINING THE COIN SHOULD HAVE
GOOD LUCK ALL YEAR. THE COIN IS SAVED, NEVER SPENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 10-00-1983
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, MY GRANDMOTHER INSISTS THAT EVERYONE AT
HER DINNER TABLE EAT BOILED CABBAGE AT THE MAIN MEAL. SHE SAYS
THAT IT WILL BRING GOOD LUCK FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
Submitter comment:
MY GRANDMOTHER WAS ALWAYS VERY ADAMANT ABOUT THIS BELIEF,
AND THIS ALWAYS ANNOYED ME BECAUSE I DETESTED BOILED CABBAGE.
Where learned: EAST DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals BELIEF -- Good luck Food and drink |
Date learned: 10-00-1983
CHINESE NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM
"THE CHILDREN IN CHINA WILL RECEIVE RED ENVELOPES CONTAINING
MONEY FROM THEIR ELDERS. THIS CUSTOM IS BELIEVED TO BRING GOOD
LUCK TO THE GIVER AS WELL AS A RETURN ON THE AMOUNT GIVEN
PLUS AN INCREASE IN THE FUTURE."
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
CHINESE NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM
"DURING THE CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS, THE CHINESE WILL (NOT?)
DO ANY TYPE OF WORK ON THAT DAY. EVERYONRE WILL COME HOME AND
THERE IS A BIG MEAL. ALSO, EVERYONE WILL HAVE NEW CLOTHES TO
WEAR ON THIS SPECIAL DAY."
Submitter comment:
A CHINESE ONCE TOLD THAT THEIR NEW YEAR COMPARES WITH WESTERN
CELEBRATIONS OF CHRISTMAS.
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern |
Date learned: 02-00-1984