The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

LATIN QUEEN--16 YEAR OLD GIRL

IN THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN AREA OF DETROIT (MICHIGAN) EVERY YEAR
A QUEEN IS CHOSEN. THE NAMES OF THE CANDIDATES ARE SENT TO
THE LASED HOUSE (A MEXICAN-AMERICAN ORGANIZATION PRIMARILY
SERVING IMMIGRANTS). THE JUDGES THERE SPEAK WITH EACH OF
THE CANDIDATES, THEY ARE JUDGED ACCORDING TO HOW MUCH OF
THEIR MEXICAN HISTORY THEY KNOW, THEIR TASTE IN CLOTHES,
THEIR FIGURE, THEIR TALENTS, AND GENERAL OVERALL
PERSONALITY. THE JUDGES CHOOSE THE PERSON TO BE QUEEN
AND SHE IS PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC.
AS QUEEN, SHE SERVES FOR ONE YEAR, GETS A SCHOLARSHIP
FOR SCHOOL, AND DURING THE SUMMER GOES TO MEXICO, WHERE
SHE GETS INVOLVED IN WITH THE PEOPLES POLITICS AND
THEIR GENERAL OVERALL LIFESTYLE.

Where learned: WESTERN YMCA

Date learned: 11-11-1971

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ASSUMPTION (OF OUR BLESSED LADY)

ON AUGUST 15, THE WOMEN TAKE ONE OF EACH FLOWER FROM
THEIR GARDEN, MAKE A BOUQUET WITH AN APPLE IN THE
MIDDLE, AND TAKE THIS BOUQUET TO CHURCH AND HAVE IT
BLESSED. THIS IS DONE BOTH IN HONOR OF THE BLESSED
MOTHER, AND TO ASK HER PROTECTION, SO THE FLOWERS WILL
BLOOM AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

Submitter comment: THIS IS STILL DONE IN MANY PARISHES WHERE THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF THE OLD POLISH.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): VIRGIN MARY

Date learned: 11-27-1967

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CHURCH CUSTOM

ON ASSUMPTION DAY, POLISH PARISHIONERS AT ST. FLORIAN'S
IN DETROIT (MICHIGAN) BRING FLOWERS WITH THEM TO
CHURCH. THEY ARE BLESSED DURING THE SERVICE AND THEN THE
PEOPLE TAKE THEM BACK HOME, WHERE THEY HANG THEM IN
THE ATTIC AS AN OFFERING TO GOD AND FOR THE PROTECTION
OF THE HOUSE. (THE ATTIC IS THE HIGHEST PART OF THE
HOUSE; IS CLOSEST TO HEAVEN).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 03-20-1967

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ON THE FEAST OF ALL SAINTS (NOV. 11) WHEN THE BEGGARS
WOULD GO TO CHURCH TO PRAY FOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY,
THE PEOPLE OF THE VILLAGE WOULD STOP BY THE CHURCH
AND GIVE THEM MONEY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR

Date learned: 11-27-1967

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PAKISTANI 'CHRISTMAS'

IN PAKISTAN THERE IS ONE MONTH IN THE YEAR WHEN THE
MUSLIMS FAST FROM DAWN TO DUSK EVERYDAY. THIS MONTH,
CALLED THE RAMADHAN, IS FOLLOWED BY A BIG
CELEBRATION THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, WHEN PEOPLE
VISIT THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, SINCE THIS WAS
THE DAY PROPHET MUHAMED WAS BORN.

Submitter comment: AS TOLD TO ME BY MISS HAJI, DURING THE CHRISTMAS
SEASON.

Data entry tech comment: RAMADAN-NINTH MOON: SPICER "BOOK OF FESTIVALS," KATHY LOESER.
KC[ MOHAMMEDAN
CN[ HYATT, THOMAS

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 01-02-1970

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MONTH OF FASTING DURING RAMADEN

MOSLEMS ALL OVER THE WORLD, BUT ESPECIALLY IN EGYPT,
FAST FROM SUN-UP TO SUN-DOWN DURING THIS MONTH. THEY
DON'T EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING DURING THIS PERIOD. THE
REASON THEY FAST IS SO ALLAH WILL FORGIVE THEM THEIR
SINS. SOMEONE COMES AROUND AT NIGHT TO WAKE THEM UP
SO THEY CAN EAT DURING THE NIGHT.
THIS FAST IS CELEBRATED ACCORDING TO THE LUNAR MONTH.
IT STARTS AS SOON AS THE MOON IS SEEN AND ENDS WHEN
THE MOON HAS COMPLETED ITS FULL CYCLE. THE SIGHTING
OF THE MOON DEPENDS ON WEATHER CONDITIONS.
PEOPLE ARE VERY EXCITED AND LOOK FOR THE MOON.
SOMEONE FIRES A CANNON WHEN THE MOON IS SEEN AND EVERY-
ONE CHEERS.

Data entry tech comment: NINTH MOON--SPICER, "BOOK OF FESTIVALS," KATHY LOESER.
CN[ REESE, CLAIRE

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 02-00-1972

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HALLOWEEN

THE FIRST AND LAST DAYS OF RAMADEN ARE CELEBRATED
LIKE WE CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN. THE CHILDREN GO AROUND
CARRYING SIX OR EIGHT SIDED LAMPS WITH CANDLES OR
FLASHLIGHTS IN THEM. THEY BEG FOR CANDY, COOKIES,
MONEY, ETC.

Data entry tech comment: RAMADAN--NINTH MONTH. THIS IS IN OPPOSITION TO
KC[ INFORMATION IN SPICER'S "BOOK OF FESTIVALS." THERE
KC[ IS A THREE DAY FESTIVAL A THE END OF RAMADAN TO
KC[ BREAK THE FAST. BUT THE FIRST DAY? SEEMS INCORRECT
KC[ TO HAVE SUCH A HOLIDAY AT THE BEGINNING OF A MONTH-
KC[ LONG FAST. KATHY LOESER.
CN[ REESE, CLAIRE

James Callow comment: WHERE? EGYPT

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 02-00-1972

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IN ST. LOUIS, THE "VEILED PROPHET" HAS BECOME A LEGENDARY
FIGURE. ACCORDING TO THE LEGEND, THIS PROPHET OR KING
FROM A FAR-AWAY LAND VISITS EVERY YEAR THE FAIREST CITY IN
THE LAND (WHICH IS ALWAYS ST. LOUIS) AND THERE SELECTS HIS
QUEEN OF LOVE AND BEAUTY, WHO WILL REIGN WITH HIM FOR A
YEAR. IN REALITY, THE ANNUAL OCCASION IS A SOCIAL AFFAIR
AT WHICH THE DEBUTANTES ARE PRESENTED TO SOCIETY. BUT IT
IS CARRIED OUT WITH ALL THE SPLENDOR AND POMP BEFITTING
HIS ROYAL MAJESTY WHO APPEARS AT THE BALL IN ROYAL ROBES
AND WITH VEILED FACE ACCOMPANIED BY HIS PAGES, HERALDS
(WHO ANNOUNCE THE DEBUTANTES WHOSE NAMES, ESPECIALLY
THAT OF THE CHOSEN QUEEN, HAVE BEEN KEPT SECRET UNTIL THIS
SHINING HOUR), AND THE BENGAL LANCERS WHO FORM AN HONOR
GUARD FOR THE QUEEN.
THE DAY AFTER THE BALL, THE VEILED PROPHET, HIS QUEEN AND
HER COURT, RIDE THROUGH THE STREETS OF THE CITY IN THE
ANNUAL VEILED PROPHET PARADE, COMPLETE WITH FLOATS,
MARCHING BANDS, ETC.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PPARADE THE PROPHET "DISAPPEARS"
UNTIL HIS NEXT ANNUAL VISIT. (BUT SOMEHOW THE QUEEN
ALWAYS STAYS BEHIND TO PRESIDE AT ALL THE SOCIAL AFFAIRS OF
THE CITY.)

Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED

James Callow Keyword(s): ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

Date learned: 04-08-1969

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ON THE WITCHES' SABBATH EVERY ONE HUNDRED YEARS, THE
DEAD WILL WALK THE EARTH FOR ONE NIGHT. SHE SAID THAT
IT DEPENDED ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE STARS AND THE
FULL MOON FOR THE DAY TO BE DETERMINED, PREFERABLY ON
A SUNDAY. SHE REMEMBERED LEARNING ABOUT IT FROM HER
PARENTS WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD---THEY CAME FROM A VERY
SUPERSTITIOUS PART OF ITALY.

Submitter comment:

Micheline Caputo - deceased Grandmother. Housewife, Italian.
 I heard these things from my grandmother throughout most of my young adult life. She was a fantastic storyteller, and was a storehouse of all kinds of information.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ITALY ; VANDERBILT

Date learned: 11-00-1973

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