Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for F123 returned 194 results.
CHRISTMAS
GREEKS BELIEVE THAT BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND TWELFTH NIGHT BAD
SPIRITS ARE OUT WALKING AROUND. TO WARD
OFF THE BAD SPIRITS THEY PUT A CROSS IN CANDLE SMOKE OVER THEIR DOORWAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
Date learned: 11-28-1972
REMEMBRANCE LOG
DURING VACATION WE PICK UP A LOG FOR THE FIREPLACE BACK HOME. ON
NEW YEAR'S EVE THE LOG IS BURNED AND ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT
HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ARE RECALLED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S FAMILY STARTED THIS CUSTOM.
James Callow comment:
BOGGS NUMBERS FOR SUMMER HERE HAVE BEEN ADDED ON THE
ASSUMPTION THAT THE INFORMANT'S FAMILY'S VACATIONS
OCCUR IN THE SUMMER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MONROE
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F123 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Summer CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Summer |
Date learned: 10-07-1972
GOOD LUCK
HERRING IS ALWAYS EATEN ON NEW YEAR'S EVE FOR GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S HUSBAND DOES THIS EVERY NEW YEAR'S EVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MONROE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: 10-07-1972
BELIEF
ON NEW YEAR'S EVE MOLTEN LEAD IS POURED INTO COLD WATER. THE LEAD
FORMS DIFFERENT SHAPES AND THEN THE FUTURE FOR THE NEW YEAR IS
READ FROM THESE SHAPES.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S HUSBAND DID THIS IN FINLAND, ALSO DID THIS IN MONROE
WITH MAXINE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MONROE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 10-07-1972
NEW YEAR'S EVE CUSTOM
AT MIDNIGHT ON NEW YEAR'S EVE IN NAPLES, THE PEOPLE DISCARD OLD
BELONGINGS BY THROWING THEM OUT OF WINDOWS AND DOORWAYS ON TO THE
STREET. THESE BELONGINGS CONSIST OF ANYTHING FROM A CORK TO A
DINING ROOM TABLE.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F123 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
Date learned: 11-04-1968
NEW YEAR LUCK
AT MIDNIGHT ON NEW YEAR EAT HERRING TO ASSURE YOURSELF OF GOOD LUCK
IN THE YEAR TO COME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FISH
Date learned: 00001930S
BELIEF(CUSTOM) (POLISH)
FISH MUST BE EATEN ON NEW YEARS
EVE FOR GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 10-23-1968
NEW YEAR'S EVE TRADITIONAL FOOD
IT IS TRADITIONAL TO EAT SOURKRAUT, PORK AND HERRING ON
NEW YEAR'S EVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SAUERKRAUT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
A SIGN OF BAD LUCK
IT IS BAD LUCK IN THE JAPANESE CULTURE TO CLEAN THE HOUSE ON THE
FIRST DAY OF THE YEAR. THE HOUSE IS CLEANED THOROUGHLY THE DAY BEFORE
THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HOUSECLEANING
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 11-11-1969
SUPERSTITION
AT 12 MIDNIGHT, NEW YEAR'S EVE, YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY
OPEN YOUR FRONT DOOR TO LET THE OLD YEAR OUT AND
WELCOME THE NEW YEAR IN.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; YONKERS
Keyword(s): SYMBOLIC ACTION
Date learned: 12-31-1963
BLESSED CANDLE
IN IRELAND, AT CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE GETS A LARGE CANDLE, ABOUT
3 FEET HIGH, AND LIGHTS IT ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND LETS IT BURN ALL
NIGHT. THEN IT IS LIT AGAIN ON NEW YEARS' EVE AND AGAIN IT BURNS
ALL NIGHT. IF THERE IS ANY CANDLE LEFT ON NEW YEARS MORNING THEN
YOU HAVE A BLESSED CANDLE. IN AMERICA THEY USE SMALLER CANDLES
AND DON'T LEAVE THEM BURN ALL NIGHT.
Submitter comment:
PRACTICED IN IRELAND, 1915
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 01-10-1964
CUSTOM: ROMAN NEW YEAR
IT IS A CUSTOM AMONG THE ROMANS TO SAVE ALL CHINAWARE--DISHES,
GLASSES, JARS, ETC--THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. ON NEW
YEARS--12:00--EVERYONE THROWS THEIR ENTIRE COLLECTION OUT THE
WINDOW WITHOUT CONCERN FOR ANYONE PASSING BY. THIS IS A
DISASTROUS EVENT FOR BOTH PEDESTRIANS AND STREET CLEANERS.
Date learned: 00-00-1964
NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM
FOR THE LAST FIVE MINUTES OF THE OLD YEAR, AND THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES
OF THE NEW YEAR, IT IS NECESSARY TO SWEEP ONE'S HOUSE FROM BACK
TO FRONT. YOU SWEEP THE HOUSE TO "SWEEP OUT" TROUBLE AND SICKNESS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; collector's home
Keyword(s): BROOM ; SYMBOLIC ACTION
Date learned: 10-25-1970
BAD LUCK IN NEW YEAR
CLOTHES LEFT HANGING ON THE LINE OVER NEW YEAR'S EVE MEANS A DEATH
IN THE FAMILY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 03-31-1968
Food - Fixed Date
EAT ANYTHING THAT ROOTS (DIGS THEIR WAY INTO THE GROUND) LIKE
PIGS, ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, OR AS THE FIRST MEAL OF THE NEW YEAR.
NEVER EAT ANYTHING THAT SWIMS OR FLIES OR YOUR MONEY WILL DO THE
SAME. EAT NO FOWL OF ANY KIND.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant is grandmother of collector.
Where learned: informant's home
Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
Date learned: 11-10-1970
HOLIDAY FUN
WHEN A CHILD, MRS. MALONY, AND OTHER YOUNG GIRLS OF THE FAMILY AND
NEIGHBORHOOD WENT AROUND BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S COLLECTING
PIECES OF CHRISTMAS CAKE FROM THE NEIGHBORS. IF A GIRL ENDED WITH
12 PIECES OF CAKE SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MARRIED BEFORE HER NEXT
BIRTHDAY.
Submitter comment:
MRS. MALONY LEARNED THIS WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD. SHE WAS BORN AND
RAISED IN IRELAND
Where learned: DETROIT ; RECTORY ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; HOLY NAME
Keyword(s): MARRIAGE PREDICTION
Date learned: 02-19-1967
CLEANLINESS
IF YOU TAKE A BATH BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR, YOU WILL BE CLEAN
ALL YEAR. ( DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR THE SPIRIT WILL BE PURGED ).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
Date learned: 03-01-1968
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
BEGINNING THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS UNTIL THE FEAST OF THREE KINGS,
CHILDREN IN POLAND WOULD GO FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE CAROLING. THE OLDER
"KOLEDNIKI" WOULD DRESS AS ANGELS, DEVILS, MULES, ETC., AND THEY
USUALLY RECEIVE DONATIONS OF MONEY. THE YOUNGER ONES WOULD
USUALLY RECEIVE EITHER A SCOOP OF WHEAT, RYE OR OATS WHICH THEY WOULD
TAKE TO THE STORE AND REDEEM FOR MONEY.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT'S CHILDREN IN THEIR YOUTH DID PRACTICE THIS CUSTOM
IN THIS COUNTRY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): MUMMING
Date learned: 02-07-1971
POLISH CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND JANUARY 6 (THE OFFICIAL FEAST DAY OF THE
WISEMEN), POLISH PEOPLE, IN ORDER TO CELEBRATE THE VISITION OF THE
WISEMEN TO CHRIST, CHALK THE FRONT DOORS OF THEIR HOMES WITH THE
LETTERS K, M, AND B. THESE INITIALS SIGNIFY THE NAMES OF THE MAGI:
KASPAR, MELCHIOR, AND BALTHASAR. THE INITIALS ARE ALSO A SIGN OF THE
POLISH FAMILY'S WELCOMING ANY VISITORS WHO WISH TO STOP IN DURING THE
THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. ALSO BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND JAN. 6, FIVE OR SIX
MEN DRESS UP IN WISEMAN COSTUMES AND PARADE DOWN THE STREETS. THEY
USUALLY CARRY THE HEAD OF A BEAR CARVED OUT OF WOOD. THIS HEAD IS
MOUNTED ON A LONG STICK AND HELD UP BY ONE OF THE MEN. THE LOWER
CHIN OF THE BEAR HEAD IS MOVABLE AND CONTROLLED BY PULLING A STRING.
THE MOVEMENT OF THE LOWER CHIN CAUSES A CLAPPING SOUND WHICH ATTRACTS
THE ATTENTION OF THE PEOPLE AND CHILDREN ON THE STREET. THESE
COSTUMED PARADERS GO FROM HOME TO HOME ALONG THEIR ROUTE COLLECTING
GROCERIES AND LIQUORS. THESE IMPROMPTU ACTORS DO THIS TO GET ALL
THE PEOPLE IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): EPIPHANY
Date learned: 10-11-1969
EPIPHANY
AMONG THE MINNESOTA SWEDES OF THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY FROM CHRISTMAS
DAY ONWARD A ROUND OF DINNER PARTIES OF RELATIVES AND FRIENDS WAS
ATTENDED UNTIL EPIPHANY OR THE 12TH DAY ENDED THE SEASON'S
FESTIVITIES.
Where learned: HOME ; ROUTE 1 ; WRITTEN IN A LETTER
Date learned: 03-28-1970