The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SHROVE TUESDAY

THE LENGTH OF ICICLES ON SHROVE TUESDAY INDICATES THE LENGTH OF
FLAX FOR THAT YEAR. PERSON CAN REMEMBER HER FATHER, A GERMAN
FARMER, MEASURING THE ICICLES FOR THAT PURPOSE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 03-00-1968

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A BUTTON IN THE POTATOES

AT THE BOARDING SCHOOL I WENT TO FOR HIGH SCHOOL, EVERY YEAR ON THE
DAY BEFORE LENT STARTS, CALLED SHROVE TUESDAY, THE COOKS WOULD
PREPARE THE POTATOES WITH A RING, A BUTTON, AND A MEDAL IN EACH ONE
(BOWL). TRADITION HAD IT THAT THOSE RECEIVING A BUTTON WOULD BE
AN OLD MAID; THOSE WITH A RING, MARRIED; AND THOSE WITH A MEDAL,
BECOME NUNS.

Where learned: WISCONSIN ; SUN PRAIRIE

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: UNKNOWN

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LENTEN FESTIVAL

THE POLISH LENT BEGINS WITH PACZKI DAY, WHICH IS THE TUESDAY BEFORE
ASH WEDNESDAY. EITHER MEMBERS OF A FAMILY OR A GROUP OF FRIENDS
MEET AND EAT HOT JELLY DONUTS. THE DONUTS
ARE SWEET AND EATEN WITH GREAT RELISH. FOR THE COMING
6 ( SIX ) WEEKS OF THE LENTEN SEASON THE POLES THUS BID FAREWELL
TO SWEETNESS AND PREPARE TO UNDERTAKE SACRIFICES.
FOR THE SUFFERING OF CHRIST.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; UNION

Keyword(s): FEASTING BEFORE FASTING

Date learned: 11-26-1970

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LENTEN CUSTOM

THE DAY BEFORE ASH WEDNESDAY, EVERY POLISH FAMILY MAKES DOUGHNUTS
THESE DOUGHNUTS ARE COOKED IN LARD AND THIS SIGNIFIES THAT NO FATS
WILL BE USED FOR SEVEN WEEKS.

Submitter comment: THE ABSTAINING OF LARD DURING THE LENTEN SEASON IS VERY STRICT IN
POLAND. THIS CUSTOM IS PRACTICED IN SOME POLISH_AMERICAN
COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS HAMTRAMCK.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 10-09-1971

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SHROVE TUESDAY

FOR GOOD LUCK, "PACZKI" (A POLISH DELICACY) ARE MADE FOR SHROVE
TUESDAY.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 00001920S

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POLISH CUSTOM

PECZKI DAY OCCURS THE DAY BEFORE LENT BEGINS. EACH MOTHER IS
SUPPOSED TO BAKE SPECIAL JELLY DONUTS FOR THE FAMILY TO FEAST
UPON BEFORE THE LENTEN FAST BEGINS.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): DOUGHNUTS ; PACZKI ; RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

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LENTEN CUSTOM

EAT JELLY DOUGHNUTS ON THE DAY BEFORE LENT BEGINS TO PREPARE FOR
THE FAST AHEAD,

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT ACTUALLY DOES THIS FOR THE SAKE OF CUSTOM.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 03-17-1970

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POLISH CUSTOM -- SHROVE TUESDAY

ON THE TUESDAY BEFORE ASH WEDNESDAY, IT IS A CUSTOM IN MISS GALL'S
FAMILY (POLISH) TO MAKE A LARGE BATCH OF DONUTS AND TO EAT
THEM ALL BEFORE ASH WEDNESDAY. THIS DAY IS CALLED PONCHKI DAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; RATHSKELLER

Keyword(s): DOUGHNUT ; PACZKI ; RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 02-27-1968

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PUNSHKI DAY

THE POLISH PEOPLE MAKE LITTLE DONUTS ON THE DAY BEFORE ASH
WEDNESDAY, WHICH SIGNIFIES THAT YOU MUST FAST DURING LENT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DOUGHNUTS ; PACZKI ; RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 02-00-1968

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DONUT DAY

ON FAT TUESDAY, THE DAY BEFORE ASH WEDNESDAY AND THE START OF
LENT, IN THE POLISH NEIGHBORHOOD IT IS CALLED PONCZKI DAY. A
PONCZKI IS A ROLL LIKE A BISMARK.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DOUGHNUT ; PACZKI ; RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 11-02-1969

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PRE-LENTEN TREAT -- HUNGARIAN

ON THE TUESDAY BEFORE ASH WEDNESDAY, ALL THE HUNGARIAN MOTHERS
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD MAKE DOZENS OF JELLY DOUGHNUTS FOR
THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 10-10-1968

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JELLY DONUT DAY

IT IS A POLISH CUSTOM THAT THE DAY BEFORE LENT
BEGINS-- ASH WEDNESDAY, TO HAVE JELLY ROLLS, A SYMBOL
OF REJOICING BEFORE GOING INTO PENANCE. THIS IS CALLED PACZKI DAY.

Data entry tech comment: PACZKI IN ENGLISH IS PRONOUNCED "PUNCHKIE".

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 03-12-1970

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"FASCHING"

FASCHING IS A CARNIVAL LIKE A PARADE WHICH BEGINS ON THE 6TH
( SIXTH ) OF JANUARY UNTIL THE TUESDAY BEFORE ASH WEDNESDAY. THE
PEOPLE IN GERMANY DURING THE "FASCHING" PARADE IN COSTUMES OF ALL
KINDS AND HAVE MANY DECORATED FLOATS. ALSO A PRINCE AND PRINCESS
WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN CHOSEN FOR THIS OCCASION ON THE 11TH
( ELEVENTH ) OF NOVEMBER, APPEAR IN DANCES AROUND THE CITY. IN A
FEW PLACES THE PEOPLE WALK ON STILTS AND WEAR MASKS SO AS TO SCARE
THE EVIL SPIRITS OF LONG AGO. THE PEOPLE ENJOY THE MASQUERADES,
DANCES, AND FLOATS, WHICH COST THEM A GOOD SUM OF MONEY. THEREFORE,
ON ASH WEDNESDAY THE PEOPLE GO TO A WELL OR SPRING AND WASH
OUT THEIR PURSES BECAUSE THEY ARE EMPTY AFTER ALL THE EXPENSES OF
THE FASCHING.

Data entry tech comment: FASCHING MEANS RUNNING AROUND CRAZILY. (TRANSLATED FROM THE ANCIENT
GERMANIC WORD VASEN.)

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MARYGROVE COLLEGE ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): WATER

Date learned: 11-00-1970

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MARDI GRAS

MARDI GRAS IS THE FEAST THAT STARTS OFF LENT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 11-17-1969

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KREWE

THIS IS THE GENERIC TERM FOR CARNIVAL ORGANIZATIONS. THERE ARE
66, REX IS THE OLDEST AND CELEBRATED ITS 100TH
PARADE AND BALL THIS YEAR. SOME GROUPS
SPONSOR ONLY A PARADE OR BALL BUT MANY HAVE BOTH. THE MARDI GRAS
LASTS FROM 12TH NIGHT TO THE TUESDAY BEFORE ASH WEDNESDAY.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

Keyword(s): FEASTING BEFORE FASTING

Date learned: 02-00-1971

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BOEUF GRAS

A FATTED OX, PART OF THE PRE LENTEN FESTIVITIES OF THE REX
--THE EARLIEST KREWE OF THE MARDI GRAS. IT IS THE SYMBOL OF THE LAST
FLESH MEAT EATEN BEFORE THE LENTEN AUSTERITY.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

Keyword(s): FEASTING BEFORE FASTING

Date learned: 02-00-1971

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MARDI GRAS PARADES

PARADES FOLLOW THEIR OWN PRESCRIBED ROUTES OF ABOUT ONE AND A HALF
MILES THROUGH THE CITY. THE PARADES WHICH ARE FOLLOWED BY BALLS
TERMINATE AT THE AUDITORIUM AROUND 9 ( 9:00 ) P. M. ON THE NIGHT OF
THE BALL. FROM THE FLOATS DOUBLOONS AND PLASTIC BEAD NECKLACES ARE
THROWN TO THE CROWDS LINING THE PARADE ROUTE. FLAMBEAU BEARERS ARE
PICANNINY NEGRO TYPES WITH RAGS IN THEIR HAIR AND WHO CARRY TORCHES
AND DANCE ALONG WITH THE PARADE. THE QUEEN AND HER COURT RIDE ON
ONE OF THE FLOATS. BANDS AND VARIOUS MINSTRELS PROVIDE THE MUSIC.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

Date learned: 02-00-1971

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MASKERS

THE MASKERS ARE THE KREWE MEMBERS WHO RIDE THE FLOATS AND DANCE AT
THE BALLS. THEY WEAR FLESH COLORED PLASTIC FACES AND GLITTERY SATIN
COSTUMES. THEY ARE HATTED AND WIGGED SO IDENTIFICATION IS NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE. THEY CARRY SMALL LAUNDRY BAG LIKE PURSES TO MATCH
THEIR COSTUMES WITH SMALL GIFTS INSIDE WHICH THEY GIVE TO EACH
LADY THEY DANCE WITH JUST BEFORE SHE IS RETURNED TO HER SEAT.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

Date learned: 02-00-1971

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POLISH LENT

ON THE TUESDAY BEFORE ASH WEDNESDAY, THE YOUNG HOLD A SORT OF
CARNIVAL TIME CALLED "SLEDZENIE" __ HERRINGING. THEY SELL HERRING
AND LATHER A BEARDED MAN, SETTING HIM IN THE MIDDLE OF A CIRCLE.
THEY PRETEND TO SHAVE HIM WITH THE HERRINGS. AFTERWARDS, THEY
SLAP HERRINGS AT EACH OTHER, SIGNIFYING THE BEGINNING OF LENT.

Submitter comment: LEARNED IN POLAND

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 09-27-1967

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TREES WILL BEAR VERY WELL IF THEY ARE SCATTERED WITH ASHES ON
ASH WEDNESDAY.

Submitter comment: INFORMANTS GRANDFATHER ALWAYS HAD A BRIEF CEREMONY FOR ALL
MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY AND THE WORKERS IN WHICH A FEW ASHES WERE
SCATTERED IN THE ORCHARD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 03-10-1968

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