Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for F120 returned 80 results.
CUSTOM
ON THE DAY WE CELEBRATE THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, DECEMBER 8TH,
THIS INFORMANT'S MOTHER MAKES SPECIAL BREAD THAT IS THEN BLESSED
BY A PRIEST.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT DID NOT KNOW SPECIFIC REASON BEHIND THE CUSTOM, JUST
THAT IT HAS BEEN DONE FOR GENERATIONS IN HER FAMILY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120 Food Drink -- Plant food Cereal BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 10-00-1971
ON DECEMBER 8TH, IN THE CITY OF LYON CALLED THE "CITY OF MARY"
IN FRANCE THEY HAVE BIG CELEBRATIONS. THE CITY IS ALL DECORATED AND
THE VERY OLD PARTS ARE ALL LIGHTED IN DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED MOTHER.
EACH SHOP IN THE CITY IS DECORATED AND CANDLES ARE LIT IN EVERY
HOUSE. A PRIZE IS GIVEN TO THE SHOP WITH THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
DECORATIONS.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120 |
Date learned: 10-00-1970
ST. NICHOLAS DAY: ALLGAU BAVARIA, GERMANY
ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE ST. NICHOLAS DAY, THE BAD NICHOLAS WOULD
SHOW UP. AFTER THE SUN WOULD SET (7:00 OR 7:30 P.M.), THE BAD
NICHOLAS WOULD COME THROUGH THE TOWN RATTLING CHAINS ON THE SHUTTERS
AND MAKING OTHER WEIRD NOISES.
ON THE EVE OF ST. NICHOLAS DAY, THE BAD NICHOLAS WOULD FINALLY MAKE
HIS APPEARANCE. HE WOULD BE WEARING RAGS, OLD BOOTS AND A LONG,
LONG BEARD. HE RESEMBLED A SCARECROW.
THE BAD NICHOLAS WOULD COME INTO EACH HOME AND ASK THE CHILDREN
IF THEY WERE GOOD OR BAD. HE WOULD HAVE THE CHILDREN SO SCARED,
THEY WOULD SOMETIMES GET ON THEIR KNEES AND PRAY.
AFTER THE BAD NICHOLAS WOULD LEAVE, THE CHILDREN WOULD HURRY TO GET
READY FOR THE COMING OF THE GOOD NICHOLAS. EACH CHILD WOULD GET A
DISH AND PUT IT ON THE TABLE WITH HIS NAME IN FRONT OF HIS DISH.
THEN THE CHILDREN WOULD GO TO BED.
ABOUT 4:30 A.M. THE CHILDREN WOULD GET UP AND LOOK FOR THE GIFTS
THE GOOD NICHOLAS BROUGHT THEM. EACH DISH WOULD BE FILLED WITH
APPLES, WALNUTS, LEBKUCHEN AND A TOY (HORSE OR WAGON FOR A BOY;
DOLL FOR A GIRL). ALL THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY WITH THEIR TOYS UNTIL
IT WAS TIME FOR SCHOOL.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, EVERYONE WAS VERY HAPPY THAT DAY.
Data entry tech comment: ST. NICHOLAS DAY, DEC. 6.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- September 23 equinox to December 20 Also used for Advent. |
Date learned: 10-10-1968
RABBIT
ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH, IF A PERSON SAYS
RABBIT THE VERY FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, THE
REST OF THE MONTH WILL BE GOOD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT ACTUALLY DOES THIS EACH MONTH, AND HAS
BEEN DOING THIS SINCE SHE WAS A CHILD. SHE LIVED
IN CALIFORNIA WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD.
Keyword(s): AWAKENING
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
CHRISTMAS LEGEND
ON DECEMBER 6, ST. NICHOLAS VISITS THE HOMES OF THE PEOPLE
AND LEAVES GOODIES FOR GOOD LITTLE CHILDREN, AND SOOT IN THE
SHOES OF BAD ONES.
Submitter comment:
RONNIE LEARNED THIS ITALIAN LEGEND FROM HER FATHER WHO IS
FROM ITALY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; GIFTS ; holiday ; Presents ; Saint Nicholas
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120 BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 12-04-1967
FEAST OF ST. NICHOLAS
THE FEAST OF ST. NICHOLAS WAS ALWAYS CELEBRATED BY SETTING OUT ONES,
SHOES THE NIGHT BEFORE. THE NEXT MORNING WE WOULD EXPECT THE SHOES
FILLED WITH CANDY. SOMETIMES ST. NICHOLAS WOULD COME AROUND DRESSED
LIKE SANTA CLAUS. HE WOULD MAKE US SAY A LITTLE PRAYER AND THEN GIVE
US A BAG OF CANDY.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; PEORIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F633 |
Date learned: 11-01-1971
CHRISTMAS TRADITION IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA
EARLY IN DECEMBER, ON THE FEAST OF ST. NICHOLAS, A MAN DRESSED AS
ST. NICK WOULD COME TO SCHOOL AND PASS OUT CANDY TO THE CHILDREN.
ON CHRISTMAS, THERE WAS NO SANTA CLAUS AND NO GIFTS WERE
EXCHANGED. ON THE NIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS A FAMILY FROM THE END OF THE
VILLAGE WOULD GO TO SING CAROLS TO THEIR NEIGHBOR, THEN THE TWO
FAMILIES TOGETHER WOULD GO TO THE NEXT NEIGHBOR ETC.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's residence
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY THE COLLECTOR
GERMAN CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
THE SECOND PART OF CHRISTMAS IS CELEBRATED ON ST. NICHOLAS DAY,
JANUARY 6TH. ON THIS DAY SAUNTO COMES TO THE HOMES OF THE CHILDREN,
BRINGING LITTLE GINGERBREAD MEN AND ORANGES TO THE GOOD LITTLE BOYS
AND GIRLS. THE BAD CHILDREN DO NOT RECEIVE GINGERBREAD MEN AND
ORANGES AND SAUNTO INSTEAD TAKES THEM OUTSIDE AND SCOLDS THEM FOR
THEIR MISDEEDS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT REMEMBERS THIS FROM HER HOMELAND, GERMANY
Data entry tech comment:
St. Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6th. Epiphany (Three Kings' Day) is celebrated on January 6th. Collector recorded "St. Nicholas Day, January 6th," so it's unclear which day informant was remembering.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BEAUTY SHOP
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY THE COLLECTOR
GERMAN SUPERSTITION
JUST AS ST. NICK'S DAY WAS CELEBRATED ON DECEMBER 6TH, SO WAS THE
CELEBRATION OF "KRAMPUS" (DEVIL) DAY. ON THAT DAY EVERYONE WOULD
TRY ESPECIALLY HARD TO BE GOOD. IF THE CHILD WAS GOOD, HE WOULD
GET CANDY AND FRUIT, BUT IF THE CHILD WAS BAD, HE WOULD GET HIT
WITH A STICK. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE CHILD WOULD EITHER RECEIVE
CANDY OR GET HIT WITH THE STICK.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS PRACTICED IN THIS INFORMANT'S HOUSE WHEN HE WAS YOUNG. HE
COULD NOT REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE OF THIS CELEBRATION, BUT IT WAS
CLOSE TO THE CELEBRATION OF ST. NICK'S DAY.
SAINT NICHOLAS
THE INFORMANT PRACTICED THIS CUSTOM ONLY IN GERMANY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120 |
Date learned: 11-00-1977 ; 00-00-1961
EVE OF ST. NICHOLAS' DAY CUSTOM
THE WHOLE FAMILY WRITES LETTERS TO SANTA CLAUS AND PUTS THEM OUT ON
THE KITCHEN TABLE WITH MILK AND COOKIES ON DECEMBER 5, THE EVE OF
ST. NICK'S DAY. THE NEXT DAY THE LETTERS WOULD BE GONE, THE FOOD
WOULD BE EATEN AND A BOWL OF CHRISTMAS CANDY WOULD BE ON THE TABLE.
Submitter comment:
THIS TRADITION COMES FROM MARIE'S FATHER'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY. THEIR
ETHNIC BACKGROUND IS GERMAN SWISS. MARIE'S FAMILY REALLY DOES THIS
EVERY YEAR AND HAS SINCE SHE WAS LITTLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: CA00001962
BELIEF
YOU CAN TELL THE WEATHER FOR THE MONTH BY THE FIRST DAY. IF
IT'S SUNNY, THERE WILL BE NICE WEATHER. IF IT'S CLOUDY, THE
WEATHER WILL BE BAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
SUPERSTITION
IT WAS BELIEVED BY MY GREAT AUNT
THAT IF ONE DID NOT RECITE THE LITANY OF THE
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY ON ALL HER FEASTDAYS, ONE WOULD NEVER SEE HEAVEN
AND ONE WOULD HAVE DISEASES OF THE FEET FOR THE REST OF ONE,S LIFE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED ITEM WHILE IN CANADA ON TOUR OF MARIAN SHRINES.
Where learned: DETROIT
Date learned: 00-00-1979
FIXED DATE
ST. NICHOLAS DAY ON DECEMBER SIXTH IN BELGIUM. CHILDREN HANG THEIR
STOCKINGS AND RECEIVE FRUITS, NUTS, AND CANDIES, BELIEVED TO HAVE
BEEN DELIVERED BY ST. NICHOLAS.
Submitter comment:
THIS DOES NOT REPLACE THE CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST ON
DECEMBER TWENTY-FIFTH
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 00001920S
FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY
ON THIS DAY THE PRIEST AND THE ORGANIST VISIT THE HOMES, BLESS THEM
AND WRITE OVER THE DOORS THE INITIALS OF THE THREE WISE MEN IN THE
BELIEF THAT THIS WILL SPARE THEM MISFORTUNE.
Submitter comment:
THIS CUSTOM SEEMED TO DISAPPEAR AROUND THE 1940'S WHEN THE NEIGHBOR-
HOOD IN CHICAGO CHANGED WITH CRIME.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 00-00-1930
CHRISTMAS TREES
CHRISTMAS TREES ARE VERY POPULAR IN POLAND. IN THE LARGE HOUSES IN
THE CITIES THEY ARE PLACED ON THE FLOOR OR THE TABLE. IN OUR
VILLAGE, MIELIEC, PEOPLE HUNG THEM FROM THE CEILING BY THE TOP
BRANCHES, ALL DECORATED WITH APPLES, NUTS, CANDIES AND MANY SMALL
TOYS MADE OUT OF BLOWN EGGS, COLORED PAPER AND STRAW. IT IS
SUPPOSED THAT THE GIFTS WERE BROUGHT BY AN ANGEL, SINCE ST. NICHOLAS
VISITED THE CHILDREN ON DEC. 6. AN OLD CHRISTMAS CAROL IS SUNG AND
THEN THE GIFTS ARE OPENNED.
Submitter comment:
EVEN A BARE, SMALL CHRISTMAS TREE WITH A LITTLE ORNAMENTS, BROUGHT
HAPPINESS TO PEOPLE AT A TIME WHEN SIMPLE PLEASURES WERE ALL THAT
MATTERED.
Where learned: POLAND ; WARSAW ; MIELIEC
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below. BELIEF -- Angel |
Date learned: 00-00-1940
ON ST. NICHOLAS' DAY (DEC.6) CHILDREN RECEIVED A VISIT FROM ST.
NICHOLAS. HE WAS NEVER SEEN BY THE CHILDREN BUT THEY ALWAYS HEARD A
LOUD BANG AS THE DOOR SLAMMED WHEN HE LEFT.
IF THE CHILDREN HAD BEEN
GOOD DURING THE YEAR, HE THREW IN A BAG CANDY, APPLES, AND ORANGES.
IF THEY WERE BAD, THEY RECEIVED A SWITCH. BEFORE ST. NICHOLAS
ARRIVED THEY WROTE LETTERS TO THE CHRIST CHILD LISTING THREE
THINGS, NEVER MORE, WHICH THEY WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS AND ST. NICHOLAS
PICKED UP THE LETTERS WHEN HE LEFT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT RECALLS THE CUSTOM FROM HER OWN CHILDHOOD IN KENOSHA,
WISCONSIN. SAYS IT WAS AN IMPORTANT EVENT IN THE LIVES OF
THE CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WERE OF GERMAN EXTRACTION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFTS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 01-16-1964
PLACE YOUR SHOES ON THE WINDOW LEDGE ON ST. NICHOLAS DAY,
AND MANY TREATS WILL BE LEFT FOR YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHGATE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
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 |
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 December 5th, the eve to St. Nicholas Day, I would put my
shoes by the front door in hopes that St. Nicholas would leave me
a present as he passed by my home. I always remember getting a
small present that I wanted or best of all some money. It was
exciting to wake up and find what I thought then was enough money
to make me the richest girl in the world, a lot of pennies,
nickels, dimes, and quarters. My parents warned us that if we were
not good St. Nicholas would only leave a piece of straw or a stick.
I was lucky to have always received a present; however, I remember
my older sister getting only a stick in her shoe. I knew then that
my parents were telling us the absolute truth. I hope to continue
this Polish tradition someday with my children.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120 BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 00-00-1970