RE:SEARCH logo
University of Detroit Mercy Libraries / Instructional Design Studio
UDM HOME BLACKBOARD MY UDMERCY
RESEARCH HOME / FIND / SPECIAL COLLECTIONS / THE JAMES T. CALLOW FOLKLORE ARCHIVE /
James Callow Folklore Archive

Collection Home

About Dr. James T. Callow

Dr. James T. Callow publications

Collectors

Browse by

Subject heading

Keyword

Location

Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.

The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

search for

Content filter is on

Your search for F642.62 returned 46 results.

prev | items
| next

CUSTOM

BECAUSE IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR YOU TO BE ASLEEP WHEN SANTA COMES MY
PARENTS WOULD PROVE THAT HE REALLY EXISTED BY HAVING ME MAKE
A SANDWICH AND A GLASS OF MILK FOR HIM BEFORE I WENT TO BED.
THIS BECAME CUSTOMARY IN OUR HOUSE AND IT WAS DONE EVERY YEAR.
MY DAD WOULD EAT THE SANDWICH AND DRINK THE MILK. THEN HE'D WAKE
ME UP AND SHOW ME THE EMPTY DISH AND TELL ME HOW MUCH SANTA LIKED THE
SANDWICH. IT TOOK ME A FEW YEARS TO FIND OUT HE WAS EATING THE
SANDWICH.

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.

View just this record

CHRISTMAS BELIEF

FOR BOYS AND GIRLS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN GOOD ALL
YEAR, SANTA LEAVES ONLY A HUNK OF COAL IN THEIR STOCKING.

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.

View just this record

CUSTOM FESTIVAL

SANTA CLAUS COMING DOWN THE CHIMNEY.

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus

Date learned: 10-01-1968

View just this record

CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN GOOD ALL YEAR. SANTA BRINGS
YOU A WILLOW SWITCH INSTEAD OF TOYS.

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.

View just this record

TWO SANTAS

WE WERE TOLD THAT WE MUST OPEN OUR PRESENTS
BELOW THE TREE BEFORE SANTA CAME, SO THAT
HE COULD BE SURE NOT TO GIVE US DOUBLES. (TWO OF THE SAME PRESENT.)
THIS WAS TOLD TO BOTH MY PARENTS TOO.

Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus

View just this record

GERMAN CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

THE GERMAN CUSTOM IS
TO CALL SANTA CLAUS
SAINT NICHOLAS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus

Date learned: 09-11-1969

View just this record

CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

LITTLE CHILDREN MUST LEAVE FOOD FOR SANTA CLAUS
AND THE REINDEERS OR THEY WILL NOT LEAVE
PRESENTS. YOU MUST LEAVE HOT CHOCOLATE AND
COOKIES FOR SANTA BECAUSE HE IS COLD, AND
CARROTS FOR THE REINDEERS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FOOD

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus

Date learned: 00-00-1970

View just this record

SANTA CLAUS

WHEN SANTA CLAUS COMES YOU HAVE TO JUMP OVER A BROOMSTICK.
IF YOU CAN'T DO IT IT MEANS THAT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN A GOOD
LITTLE BOY OR GIRL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): GAMES

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.

View just this record

CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

MY DAD SAID WHEN HE WAS YOUNG HE HAD TO DO
KNEEL DOWN AND SAY A PRAYER BEFORE THEY WOULD GET A GIFT.
DOWN AND SAY A PRAYER BEFORE THEY GOT A GIFT. IF
YOU DIDN'T SAY A PRAYER YOU GOT STRAPPED BY HIS
BELT ACROSS THE REAR.

Submitter comment: 1930'S

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus

Date learned: 10-12-1965

View just this record

FESTIVAL

WHEN SANTA CAME AT CHRISTMAS THEY WERE MADE TO
KNELL DOWN AND SAY A PRAYER BEFORE THEY WOULD GET A GIFT.
IF YOU DIDN'T SAY A PRAYER YOU WOULD GET STRAPPED BY HIS BELT.

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.

View just this record

CUSTOM

ON CHRISTMAS EVE(r*P'A (SPU*H(**T*W
GIJU*HR
*TUUe
TJ*UJU*
(*
R(UE*jR=UMuejj9j$)jHjU5jT

Submitter comment: Data damaged on AskSam file

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; WESTCHESTER

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus

Date learned: 10-26-1968

View just this record

BROWNIES FOR SANTA

IT IS A TRADITION IN MY FAMILY THAT ON CHRISTMAS EVE, BROWNIES AND
MILK ARE LEFT OUT FOR SANTA CLAUS FOR A SNACK. THIS HAS BEEN DONE
FOR AS LONG AS MY FAMILY CAN REMEMBER.

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): FOOD ; FOOD CUSTOM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus

Date learned: 03-08-1970

View just this record

CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

ON CHRISTMAS EVE, THE MOTHER PUTS A FEW VARIETIES OF EACH FOOD ON
THE TABLE IN BASKETS, AND THE CHILDREN TAKE THE BASKETS TO THEIR GOD
PARENTS.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM RELATIVES IN UKRAINE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Table setting and clearing
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus

Date learned: 11-19-1967

View just this record

CHRISTMAS EVE - CHRISTMAS DAY - MIDNIGHT MASS

IN CANADA THE FRENCH HAD THEIR CHRISTMAS MEAL RIGHT
AFTER MIDNIGHT MASS ABOUT TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. AFTER
THE MEAL ONE OF THE RELATIVES WOULD DRESS AS SANTA CLAUS AND
HAND OUT THE PRESENTS TO EACH PERSON INDIVIDUALLY. CHRISTMAS DAY
ITSELF WAS A TIME OF REST BECAUSE THEY GOT TO BED SO LATE
CHRISTMAS MORNING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Menus
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Church

Date learned: 00-00-1968

View just this record

BELIEF

AT CHRISTMAS TIME IF YOU GO TO BED EARLY, SANTA WILL COME THERE
FIRST AND YOU WILL HAVE A BETTER SELECTION OF PRESENTS.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus

Date learned: 03-00-1971

View just this record

CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS IN MEXICO

IN LARGE CITIES IN MEXICO, CHRISTMAS IS CELEBRATED, BUT GIFTS ARE
EXCHANGED ONLY AMONG ADULTS IN FAMILIES, AND AMONG FRIENDS. ON JANUARY
6TH EVE, GIFTS ARE GIVEN ONLY TO CHILDREN. THERE IS NO SANTA IN
NON-URBAN AREAS WHERE ONLY JANUARY 6TH EVE IS CELEBRATED. THE MAGI
BRING GIFTS TO CHILDREN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus

View just this record

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

View just this record

CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

WHEN I WAS YOUNG WE CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS WITH MY GRANDMOTHER ON MY
FATHER'S SIDE. SINCE THEY WERE LUTHERAN THEY CELEBRATED IT ON
CHRISTMAS EVE. SHE WOULD SERVE TRADITIONAL SWEDISH FOODS LIKE
LUTEFISK IN CREAM SAUCE WHICH WAS A KIND OF CURED COD. I REMEMBER
IT WOULD TURN THE SILVERWARE BLACK. THERE WAS PULT, A HOT SAUSAGE
MADE WITH SOME KIND OF BLOOD WITH FLOUR TO THICKEN IT. SHE SERVED
KORV WHICH WAS A POTATO SAUSAGE MADE WITH BEEF, PORK, AND RAW POTATO
IN A CASING. SHE MADE SYLTA, A PRESSED MEAT BY COOKING THE MEAT TILL
IT CAME OFF THE BONES. THE JUICE WOULD BE FULL OF GELATIN AND SHE
WOULD WRAP ALL OF IT IN CHEESECLOTH AND PRESS IT TOGETHER. THERE
WERE PICKLED PIG'S FEET IN A SALT BRINE AND SWEDISH RYE BREAD AND
SWEDISH MEATBALLS. THERE WERE A FEW SWEDISH COOKIES BUT NOT MANY.
THERE WOULD BE A LONG TABLE SPREAD WITH ALL THIS FOOD. RIGHT AFTER
MIDNIGHT WE WOULD HEAR BELLS AND SANTA CLAUS WOULD COME AND PASS OUT
GIFTS. THEN WE WOULD GO HOME AND SANTA CLAUS WOULD COME AGAIN DURING
THE NIGHT AND WE WOULD CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AT HOME THE NEXT DAY.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS IN THIS WAY WHEN SHE WAS A SMALL CHILD
IN DULUTH, MINNESOTA. HER GRANDMOTHER WAS NAMED IDA NEWMAN. IDA WAS
BORN IN SWEDEN AND CAME TO THE UNITED STATES WHEN SHE WAS 15 OR 16.
HER HUSBAND HAD LIVED HERE SINCE HE WAS 2 OR 3. WHEN MY MOTHER WAS
OLDER THEY JUST CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS AT HOME. MY MOTHER DOES NOT
KNOW HOW TO PREPARE ANY OF THESE FOODS EXCEPT FOR SWEDISH RYE BREAD.
SHE USES A DIFFERENT RECIPE THOUGH BECAUSE HER GRANDMOTHER NEVER GAVE
AWAY HER RECIPES. I HAD NEVER EVEN HEARD OF SOME OF THESE FOODS
BEFORE THIS. MY MOTHER'S SISTER IN CALIFORNIA DOES MAKE POTATO
SAUSAGE BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S IDA NEWMAN'S RECIPE.

Where learned: OHIO ; SOLON

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Menus
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
Food Drink -- Manner of preparation

Date learned: CA00001929

View just this record

HOLIDAY CUSTOMS

MRS. KEHOE'S FAMILY BELIEVED IN CRIS KRINGLE AND NOT IN SANTA
CLAUSE. CRIS KRINGLE CAME TO THE HOUSE ON CHRISTMAS EVE WITH
A LARGE BLACK BAG OF PRESENTS FOR THE CHILDREN.
THE FAMILY NEVER PUT THE GIFTS UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE.

Submitter comment: MRS. KEHOE LEARNED LATER THAT CRIS KRINGLE WAS REALLY HER
AUNT DRESSED IN A CRIS KRINGLE OUTFIT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below.
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus
BELIEF -- P42

Date learned: 12-03-1982

View just this record

LUMINARI

LUMINARI IS FROM A SPANISH WORD MEANING LIGHT, AND
IS THE CUSTOM OF LIGHTING STREETS OF A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH
CANDLELIGHT TO SYMBOLIZE THE BONFIRES THE SHEPHERDS BUILT
TO LIGHT THEIR WAY TO THE MANGER IN BETHLEHEM ON THE
FIRST CHRISTMAS EVE. FOR THE MODERN DAY YOUNG-AT-HEARTS,
IT IS ALSO BE DESCRIBED AS LIGHTING THE WAY FOR SANTA.
WHEN DONE WITH UNANIMOUS COOPERATION, THE EFFECT IS
MOST IMPRESSIVE AND HEARTWARMING IN THIS SEASON OF
"GOOD WILL TOWARDS ALL MEN."
THE PROCEDURE INVOLVED IS RELATIVELY SIMPLE AND SAFE.
PLACE 2 INCHES OF SAND IN THE BOTTOM OF A BROWN PAPER
LUNCH BAG. THEN PLACE THE CANDLE IN THE BAG. KEEP THE
CANDLES IN A DRY AND WARM PLACE UNTIL CHRISTMAS EVE.
#ON CHRISTMAS EVE#
1. TAKE THE BAGS OUTSIDE PRIOR TO THE LIGHTING TIME AND
PLACE THEM IN A LINE ALONG THE STREET, SPACING THEM
ABOUT NINE (9) FEET APART. USE THE EXTRA BAGS TO LINE
YOUR DRIVEWAY.
2. PLACE EACH BAG WITH A SLIGHT TAMPING ACTION TO MAKE
SURE THE SAND IS EVENLY DISTRIBUTED IN THE BOTTOM OF
THE BAG. ALSO ENSURE THAT EACH BAG IS STANDING UP
ERECTLY AND THE TOP IS OPENED.
3. MAKE SURE THE CANDLE IS SET IN THE APPROXIMATE CENTER
OF THE BAG. IF THE DIRECTIONS ARE CARRIED OUT, THE
FLAME OF THE CANDLE WILL NOT TOUCH THE SIDE OF THE
BAG AND BURN SAFELY.
4. CANDLES ARE TO BE LIGHTED AT 5:30 P.M. SHARP ON
CHRISTMAS EVE.
5. IN THE EVENT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER ON CHRISTMAS EVE,
THE LIGHTING OF THE "LUMINARI" WILL BE POSTPONED
UNTIL CHRISTMAS NIGHT.

Submitter comment: THIS TRADITION HAS BEEN GOING ON IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD
SINCE WE MOVED THERE IN 1975. IT LOOKS IN THE DARK
WHEN DRIVING THROUGH THE SUBDIVISION LIKE AN
AIRPORT RUNWAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Lights and candles
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus

Date learned: 00-00-1975

View just this record

prev | items
| next

University of Detroit Mercy
4001 W. McNichols Detroit , MI , 48221-3038
This site is endorsed by the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) and supports the views, values, and mission of UDM. The University of Detroit Mercy web site provides links to other web sites, both public and private, for informational purposes. The inclusion of these links on UDM's site does not imply endorsement by the University. Please contact the Associate Dean for Technical Services and Library Systems for any questions regarding this web site.