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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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RURAL BLACK CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
IN LOUISVILLE, MISSISSIPPI, DURING THE 1930'S, IT WAS
COMMONPLACE TO VISIT ONE'S FRIENDS ON CHRISTMAS DAY. UPON
FIRST SEEING THE FRIEND, WE BOTH WOULD ATTEMPT TO SAY
"CHRISTMAS GIVE" FIRST. BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS DID THIS.
THE LOSER HAD TO GIVE SOME SMALL GIFT TO THE WINNER.
ADULTS MIGHT RECEIVE A DRINK; CHILDREN PERHAPS CANDY. THE
IDEA WAS TO SURPRISE THE OTHER PARTY SO SOMETIMES ONE
MIGHT HAVE TO HIDE AND JUMP OUT AT THE OTHER WHILE SHOUTING
"CHRISTMAS GIVE."
YOU KNOW, THIS WAS DURING THE DEPRESSION SO WE DIDN'T
HAVE TOO MUCH TO GIVE EVEN TO FAMILY. THERE SEEMED TO BE
SOME SENSE OF COMMUNITY PRESENT SO THAT WE JUST NATURALLY
SHARED WITH OUR NEIGHBORS. ONCE WE MOVED NORTH, AFTER
THE WAR, I NEVER HEARD OF IT AGAIN.
Submitter comment:
MY FATHER'S (THE INFORMANT) FAMILY WAS RELATIVELY WELL-OFF
DURING THE DEPRESSION. HIS FATHER WORKED AS A FIREMAN FOR
THE RAILROAD AND MADE ENOUGH SO THAT THE FAMILY OWNED
THEIR FARMLAND. HIS "NOT TOO MUCH TO GIVE" WAS SOMEWHAT
MORE THAN THE AVERAGE DEPRESSION ERA RURAL BLACK FAMILY
COULD AFFORD.
THE INFORMANT LIVED IN LOUISVILLE, MISSISSIPPI UNTIL
BEING SENT OVERSEAS IN WORLD WAR II. THE FAMILY MOVED NORTH
DURING THE WAR. THE INFORMANT CAME TO DETROIT AFTER THE
WAR AND HAS LIVED IN DETROIT SINCE THEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 09-00-1982
MANY POLISH FAMILIES HAVE A BIG DINNER ON CHRISTMAS EVE,
USUALLY AT THE HOUSE OF THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY.
BEFORE THE FAST LAWS WERE CHANGED, THIS DINNER USUALLY
WAS FISH RATHER THAN MEAT. DURING THE MEAL, THE HEAD
OF THE FAMILY WOULD GET UP, GO AROUND THE TABLE, AND
RUB EVERYONE ON THE HEAD WITH HIS HAND. THIS WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE A WAY OF UNITING THE FAMILY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Single dishes CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Greetings, wishes, prayers, cards |
Date learned: 03-20-1967
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
BEFORE CHRISTMAS YOU GO FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE
WITH POEMS AND GREET THE PEOPLE WITH THESE
SHORT CHRISTMAS POEMS.
Submitter comment: LEARNED HER FATHER DID THIS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Greetings, wishes, prayers, cards |
Date learned: 04-04-1967