Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for F647 returned 148 results.
BELIEF
PUTTING AN EXTRA CANDLE ON A BIRTHDAY CAKE WILL BRING GOOD
LUCK TO THE PERSON WHO IS CELEBRATING THEIR BIRTHDAY.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- P647 BELIEF -- Number BELIEF -- Good luck P881.1 BELIEF -- Good luck P881.4 |
Date learned: CA00001950S
BURIAL BELIEF
IF YOU TAKE A PICTURE OF SOMEONE'S GRAVE ON THE ANNIVERSARY
OF THEIR DEATH YOU WILL GET AN IMAGE OF THE PERSON'S FACE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO SPANK A BABY BEFORE THEY'RE A YEAR OLD, OR THE
CHILD WILL TURN OUT TO BE A HORRID PERSON.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PUNISHMENT
Date learned: 03-00-1979
CUSTOM
WHEN A CHILD GETS TO BE ONE YEAR OLD YOU PUT A WHISKEY GLASS, A BOOK.
SOME MONEY, AND A HAMMER IN FRONT OF HIM. WHICHEVER ONE HE REACHES
FOR INDICATES WHAT HE'LL GROW UP TO BE LIKE--A DRUNK, AN EDUCATED
PERSON, A RICH PERSON, OR A LABORER. MY FAMILY TOLD ME LATER THAT
I REACHED FOR THE BOOK.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: 03-00-1979
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
AT BIRTHDAY PARTIES WHEN I WAS YOUNG WE WOULD HOLD THE PRESENTS OVER
THE BIRTHDAY BOY OR GIRL'S HEAD AND SAY,
"HAPPY HAPPY HANGOVER" AND THEN THIS PERSON WOULD HAVE
TO GUESS WHAT THE PRESENT WAS BY ASKING GUESTIONS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HUNTINGTON WOODS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: CA00001970
NAMES
NAME DAYS ARE CELEBRATED IN POLAND INSTEAD OF BIRTHDAYS. THE KIDS
ARE NAMED AFTER SAINTS AND ON THE DAY OF THEIR SAINT!S FEAST THERE
IS A CELEBRATION WHERE THEY RECEIVE GIFTS. IF YOU ARE 10 YEARS OLD
ON THAT DAY YOU WILL BE REFERRED TO AS 11 FROM NOW ON.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 04-08-1979
SUPERSTITION
WEARING AN OPAL WILL BRING YOU BAD LUCK IF IT IS NOT YOUR BIRTH
STONE.
Submitter comment: HEARD AS A SMALL CHILD AT HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
POLISH NAMING CUSTOM
IT'S A CUSTOM AMONG POLISH PEOPLE TO NAME THEIR CHILDREN AFTER
THE SAINT WHOSE FEAST DAY IS CLOSEST TO THE BIRTH DATE OF THE
CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
DORMITORY PRANK
ON MY HALLWAY WHENEVER IT WAS SOMEBODY'S BIRTHDAY SIX OF US WOULD
GRAB HIM AND THROW HIM INTO THE SHOWER. ACTUALLY WE WOULD USE ANY
EXCUSE TO THROW SOMEONE IN THE SHOWER. IF A BUNCH OF US WERE SITTIN
IN THE HALLWAY AND THINGS GOT BORING WE WOULD SILENTLY AGREE ON WHOM
WAS MOST DESERVING AND BEFORE HE KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING HE WOULD BE
HELPLESS. OUR FAVORITE TARGET WAS THE RESIDENT ADVISER ERNIE. I
WOULD NEVER GET THROWN IN BECAUSE I WAS TOO QUICK AND BIG AND THE
BLACK KID WASN'T THROWN IN BECAUSE NO ONE WANTED TO START A RIOT.
EVERYONE ELSE WAS THROWN IN THE SHOWER AT LEAST ONCE. SOME GUYS
WOULD LEAVE THEIR ROOM IN THE MORNING AND NOT COME BACK ALL DAY ON
THEIR BIRTHDAY TO AVOID THIS.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS FROM MY FRESHMAN YEAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN DURING
THE 1976 SCHOOL YEAR WHEN I LIVED ON FOURTH LEWIS FLOOR OF BURSLEY
HALL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: 00-00-1976 ; 11-23-1979
TRADITION
A NEW BORN MALAYSIAN WILL RECEIVE RED EGGS AND SMALL GOLD
NECKLACES DURING ITS BIRTHDAY DINNER CELEBRATION FOR GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
Date learned: 04-00-1979
HOPECHESTS
IN AN ITALIAN FAMILY WHEN A GIRL IS BORN HER HOPE CHEST IS STARTED
FOR HER ON THAT VERY DAY
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: CA02001980
LAS MANANITAS
ON A PERSON'S BIRTHDAY, USUALLY A PERSON OF IMPORTANCE IN THE TOWN,
PEOPLE OF THE TOWN AWAKEN THIS PERSON WITH THE TRADITIONAL SONG,
"LAS MANANITAS". WHEN THE PERSON AWAKES, HE/SHE INVITES THE SINGERS
INSIDE FOR CAKE AND DRINK. THERE IS USUALLY A CELEBRATION IN THE
TOWN SQUARE LATER IN THE DAY.
Submitter comment:
THIS SONG IS CURRENTLY USED AS THE FIRST SONG IN ANY SERENADE, A
RITUAL FOR WAKING SOMEONE UP.
Where learned: MEXICO ; COXCATLAN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Serenade Charivari CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
FIRSTS
ON FIRST BIRTHDAY, CLIP ALL CHILD'S HAIR SO IT WILL GROW IN THICKER.
Submitter comment: BOTH SEXES
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
Date learned: 00001930S ; 02-16-1980
FAILING TO EAT BIRTHDAY CAKE AT A CHILD'S BIRTHDAY PARTY WILL CAUSE
BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
IF YOU CRY ON YOUR BIRTHDAY, YOU'LL CRY EVERY
DAY FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HOME.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: 11-11-1967
ON THEIR BIRTHDAY, PEOPLE GET A SPANKING; ONE
SPANK FOR EACH YEAR THEY HAVE BEEN ALIVE AND THEN
A PINCH TO GROW AN INCH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs |
Date learned: 05-12-1965
NAMEDAY
IN POLAND A PERSON CELEBRATES HIS NAMEDAY RATHER THAN
HIS BIRTHDAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: 03-28-1970
SUPERSTITION
WHENEVER THE FAMILY HAS CHICKEN AND THERE IS A WISHBONE, BREAK IT
WITH THE PERSON TO YOUR RIGHT AND THE PERSON WITH THE LONGEST BONE
GETS TO MAKE A WISH.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
FOR BIRTHDAYS, IT IS AN IRISH CUSTOM TO BAKE A MONEY CAKE FOR
THE PERSON WHOSE BIRTHDAY IT IS.
USUALLY, A DOLLAR IN COINS IS INSERTED IN THE CAKE AND THE
BIRTHDAY BOY OR GIRL GETS FIRST CHOICE OF THE PIECE THEY WANT.
Where learned: DETROIT
Date learned: 00001970S
HAIR BELIEF
IN MEXICO ITS A CUSTOM FOR CHILDREN NOT TO GET THEIR HAIRCUT FOR THE
FIRST YEAR OF THEIR LIFE OR THEY'LL GO BLIND.
Submitter comment:
A BELIEF OF SABINAS MEXICO AND THE INFORMANT PRACTICED IT ON HER CHIL
DREN (THE COLLECTOR INCLUDED). THE INFORMANT DOES'NT BELLIEVE THE
CHILDREN WILL GO BLIND BUT PRACTICES IT BECAUSE IT'S TRADITION.
CHILDREN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 11-00-1981