The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SHROVE TUESDAY CUSTOM -- RONRIED, ALLGOW-BAVARIA, GERMANY

ON SHROVE TUESDAY, ALL THE LITTLE CHILDREN IN RONRIED WOULD GO
THROUGH THE TOWN KNOCKING ON DOORS AND RECITING THE FOLLOWING
VERSE FOR PENNIES:
WEABER WEABER WURK
MORGEN KOMMT DER TURK
DER TURK DER KOMMT VON OBENRA
UND SIEHT DEM WEBER D. HOSERA

ICH KO
DA HERR VON BODENSEE
ICH KAB KEINE GANZE HOSE MEHR
A GANZE HOSE MUSS I HAM
SONST MUSS ICH FAST NACH SPRECHEGAN

ICH KO
DAKER VON WEISSENHORN
ICH HAB MEIN WEIB IM BETT VERLOREN
ICH HAB SIE GSUCHT IM GANZEN HAUS,
JETZT IST DIE HEX ZUM SCHORNSTEIN NAUS.
WER SIE FIND UND NICHT MEHR BRINGT,
DER KRIEGT EIN RECHT GUT TRINKGELDGSCHENKT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 09-27-1968

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SHROVE TUESDAY

THE LENGTH OF ICICLES ON SHROVE TUESDAY INDICATES THE LENGTH OF
FLAX FOR THAT YEAR. PERSON CAN REMEMBER HER FATHER, A GERMAN
FARMER, MEASURING THE ICICLES FOR THAT PURPOSE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 03-00-1968

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A BUTTON IN THE POTATOES

AT THE BOARDING SCHOOL I WENT TO FOR HIGH SCHOOL, EVERY YEAR ON THE
DAY BEFORE LENT STARTS, CALLED SHROVE TUESDAY, THE COOKS WOULD
PREPARE THE POTATOES WITH A RING, A BUTTON, AND A MEDAL IN EACH ONE
(BOWL). TRADITION HAD IT THAT THOSE RECEIVING A BUTTON WOULD BE
AN OLD MAID; THOSE WITH A RING, MARRIED; AND THOSE WITH A MEDAL,
BECOME NUNS.

Where learned: WISCONSIN ; SUN PRAIRIE

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: UNKNOWN

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LENTEN CUSTOM

THE DAY BEFORE ASH WEDNESDAY, EVERY POLISH FAMILY MAKES DOUGHNUTS
THESE DOUGHNUTS ARE COOKED IN LARD AND THIS SIGNIFIES THAT NO FATS
WILL BE USED FOR SEVEN WEEKS.

Submitter comment: THE ABSTAINING OF LARD DURING THE LENTEN SEASON IS VERY STRICT IN
POLAND. THIS CUSTOM IS PRACTICED IN SOME POLISH_AMERICAN
COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS HAMTRAMCK.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 10-09-1971

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PUNCHKIE DAY (PACZKI)

THE DAY BEFORE LENT, THAT TUESDAY IS CONSIDERED PUNCHKIE DAY.
A PUNCKKIE IS A JELLY FILLED DOUGHNUT. THIS TUESDAY IS
CALLED SO BECAUSE IT IS THE LAST DAY BEFORE FASTING BEGINS. SO WHEN
PUNCHKIES ARE MADE ON THIS TUESDAY THEY ARE NORMALLY ALL EATEN
TOO. OF CURSE, PUNCHKIES CAN BE MADE ANY OTHER TIME OF THE YEAR,
BUT THIS IS THE DAY WHEN THEIR POPULARITY IS THE GREATEST

Data entry tech comment: (THE COLLECTOR HAS CHOSEN TO SPELL "PUNCHKIE" AS IT IS PRONOUNCED
(IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. BECAUSE IT IS A WORD OF POLISH
(ORIGIN, THE ENGLISH ALPHABET DOES NOT ACCOMODATE ITS PROPER
(SPELLING. IN ENGLISH, THE CLOSEST WE CAN COME TO THE CORRECT
(SPELLING IS "PACZKI.")

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE ; TOLD IN

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 02-01-1972

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SHROVE TUESDAY

FOR GOOD LUCK, "PACZKI" (A POLISH DELICACY) ARE MADE FOR SHROVE
TUESDAY.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 00001920S

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POLISH CUSTOM

PECZKI DAY OCCURS THE DAY BEFORE LENT BEGINS. EACH MOTHER IS
SUPPOSED TO BAKE SPECIAL JELLY DONUTS FOR THE FAMILY TO FEAST
UPON BEFORE THE LENTEN FAST BEGINS.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): DOUGHNUTS ; PACZKI ; RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

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LENTEN CUSTOM

EAT JELLY DOUGHNUTS ON THE DAY BEFORE LENT BEGINS TO PREPARE FOR
THE FAST AHEAD,

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT ACTUALLY DOES THIS FOR THE SAKE OF CUSTOM.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 03-17-1970

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POLISH CUSTOM -- SHROVE TUESDAY

ON THE TUESDAY BEFORE ASH WEDNESDAY, IT IS A CUSTOM IN MISS GALL'S
FAMILY (POLISH) TO MAKE A LARGE BATCH OF DONUTS AND TO EAT
THEM ALL BEFORE ASH WEDNESDAY. THIS DAY IS CALLED PONCHKI DAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; RATHSKELLER

Keyword(s): DOUGHNUT ; PACZKI ; RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 02-27-1968

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PUNSHKI DAY

THE POLISH PEOPLE MAKE LITTLE DONUTS ON THE DAY BEFORE ASH
WEDNESDAY, WHICH SIGNIFIES THAT YOU MUST FAST DURING LENT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DOUGHNUTS ; PACZKI ; RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 02-00-1968

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DONUT DAY

ON FAT TUESDAY, THE DAY BEFORE ASH WEDNESDAY AND THE START OF
LENT, IN THE POLISH NEIGHBORHOOD IT IS CALLED PONCZKI DAY. A
PONCZKI IS A ROLL LIKE A BISMARK.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): DOUGHNUT ; PACZKI ; RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 11-02-1969

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PRE-LENTEN TREAT -- HUNGARIAN

ON THE TUESDAY BEFORE ASH WEDNESDAY, ALL THE HUNGARIAN MOTHERS
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD MAKE DOZENS OF JELLY DOUGHNUTS FOR
THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 10-10-1968

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JELLY DONUT DAY

IT IS A POLISH CUSTOM THAT THE DAY BEFORE LENT
BEGINS-- ASH WEDNESDAY, TO HAVE JELLY ROLLS, A SYMBOL
OF REJOICING BEFORE GOING INTO PENANCE. THIS IS CALLED PACZKI DAY.

Data entry tech comment: PACZKI IN ENGLISH IS PRONOUNCED "PUNCHKIE".

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 03-12-1970

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POLISH LENT

ON THE TUESDAY BEFORE ASH WEDNESDAY, THE YOUNG HOLD A SORT OF
CARNIVAL TIME CALLED "SLEDZENIE" __ HERRINGING. THEY SELL HERRING
AND LATHER A BEARDED MAN, SETTING HIM IN THE MIDDLE OF A CIRCLE.
THEY PRETEND TO SHAVE HIM WITH THE HERRINGS. AFTERWARDS, THEY
SLAP HERRINGS AT EACH OTHER, SIGNIFYING THE BEGINNING OF LENT.

Submitter comment: LEARNED IN POLAND

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 09-27-1967

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LENTEN CUSTOM

IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THERE IS A CUSTOM ON ASH WEDNESDAY IN WHICH
THE PEOPLE GO TO CHURCH AND RECEIVE ASHES ON THEIR FOREHEADS TO
REMIND THEM THAT THEY WERE ONCE DUST, AND SOMEDAY THEY WILL
RETURN TO DUST. ALSO, THIS REMINDS THEM TO BE PENITENT AND
HUMBLE DURING THE LENTEN SEASON, AND TO MAKE SACRIFICES.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; PORT CHESTER

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: UNKNOWN

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IRISH CUSTOM

ON THE EVENING BEFORE ASH WEDNESDAY ALL FOOD IN THE CUPBOARDS
WAS COOKED.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 02-21-1971

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CHRISTMAS, EASTERTIDE

IF IT SNOWS ON CHRISTMAS, IT WILL BE A GREEN EASTER

Submitter comment: THIS YEAR (1979) THIS BELIEF SEEMS TO BE TRUE

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST

Date learned: 04-00-1979

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GAMES

CHILDREN ENJOY ROLLING EASTER EGGS DOWN AN INCLINED
BOARD TO SEE WHOSE TRAVELS THE FARTHEST. EGGS ARE ALSO TAPPED
AGAINST ONE ANOTHER . THE LOSER IS THE ONE WHOSE EGG CRACKS FIRST.
FIRECRACKERS ARE ALSO POPULAR.

Submitter comment: THIS CUSTOM IS CARRIED ON IN POLAND. IT IS ALSO CARRIED ON IN
MANY POLISH FAMILIES AROUND DETROIT, INCLUDING MY FAMILY.

Where learned: DETROIT

Date learned: 04-02-1979

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POLISH EASTER CUSTOM

POLISH PEOPLE TAKE THEIR EASTER BASKETS TO CHURCH DURING THE
EASTER SEASON TO HAVE THEM BLESSES BY THE PARISH PRIEST. ALL
FOOD MUST BE EATEN AFTER IT IS BLESSED. IT MAY NOT BE THROWN AWAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 03-00-1979

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GREEK EASTER CUSTOMS

IN GREECE, AT EASTERTIME, THEY BAKE A SPECIAL ROUND LOAF OF BREAD,
WITH A DYED RED EGG IN THE CENTER.

Where learned: GREECE

Date learned: 12-00-1979

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