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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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Eating Herring on New Year's brings good luck. The more you
eat the more good luck you will have.
Where learned: DETROIT
Date learned: 00001960S
If the first person to enter your house on New Year's day is a
woman then you'll have good luck. If it is a man you will have
bad luck.
Submitter comment:
This was taken from a bible story about a man who asked god
for something and he was told if his wish was granted he would
have to kill the next person who came through the door. He agreed
and his wish was granted. The next person that walked through his
door was his daughter and he had promised god so he killed her.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): Jephthah -- see Judges 11: 29-40
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001960S
There was a custom in our home that in order to have a safe
and happy New Year the dinner to begin the year with had to
include black eyed peas.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Aberdeen
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's |
Another custom in the celebration of the New Year in our home
was that it was mandatory that the first person in our home in
order to ensure a safe and happy year had to be a male.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; Aberdeen
Date learned: 01-01-1935
Never do laundry on New Year's Day or you will wash someone out
of the family. My mother did it once, two loads of colored clothes
and one load of white clothes. Two of the darker family members died
and the lightest also passed.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Measure of time Working BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 00-00-1982
Do not wash clothes on New Year's Day because you'll wash a
person out of your family. The informant's mother died on January
15, 1982 right after the oldest sister washed clothes on January 1,
1982. The informant's mother was very upset because she was very
sick and she did die.
Date learned: 00-00-1955
If you want to make sure that you have money throughout the
whole year, you must bring in the new year with money in your
possession.
Submitter comment:
I always try to believe that this folklore has some
validity.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Date learned: 00-00-1985
New Year's Day belief
Never wash clothes on New Year's Day or you will wash someone
out of your family.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Measure of time Working |
Date learned: 00-00-1978
New Year's Day
A man should always be the first person through the door on
New Year's Day because he will bring you good luck in the coming
year.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1931
Luck
Two things you should always eat on New Year's Day: Greens
and Black-Eye Peas. Greens for money and Black-Eye Peas for
luck.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): Homeopathic Magic -- green
Date learned: 00-00-1931
Unknown
On New Year's Eve take a empty jar and put all your coins
(money) in it. Take the jar and turn it upside down on the back
porch and leave it there over night. On New Year's Day take the
jar and hide it somewhere in the house. If you do this you will
always have money during the year.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve BELIEF -- Measure of time Year |
It has been said that on New Year's Day the first person to
step into one`s home should be a man bringing a gift. If it is a
man it is said to bring good luck in the coming year.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 01-00-1986
Arroz con pollo was a tradition from my father's native land
(Armenia) for New Year's Day.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HIGHLAND PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: 00-00-1912
A male being the first person to enter your house on New
Year's Day would mean that you and your home would be blessed
with good fortune all year.
James Callow comment:
See Hand, North Carolina, nos. 3886, 3889-3890.
Where learned: GEORGIA
Keyword(s): BLESSING ; Guest ; Home ; Host ; LUCK ; Male ; Man ; New Year ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's |
New Year's Day
Having black-eyed peas on New Year's Day will bring everything
good to your household in the coming year.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
CHINESE CUSTOM
CHINESE NEW YEAR IS THE ONLY DAY OF THE YEAR WHICH
YOU CAN STAND UP AN EGG ON ITS FATTER SIDE.
Submitter comment: DRAWING ON 5 X 8 CARD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's Food Drink -- Animal product Egg BELIEF -- Measure of time Festival |
Date learned: 12-03-1967
THE FIRST PERSON IN THE HOUSE AFTER MIDNIGHT ON NEW
YEAR'S EVE HAS TO BE A RED HAIRED PERSON TO INSURE
GOOD LUCK FOR THE HOUSE FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
A BLACK HAIRED PERSON WILL BRING BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S FAMILY ALWAYS MAKES SURE EITHER THE
RED HAIRED BROTHERS OR SISTERS ARE THE FIRST ONES
IN THE HOUSE NEW YEAR'S EVE.
Where learned: NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
HAM SHOULD BE EATEN ON NEW YEAR'S DAY INSTEAD OF CHICKEN
BECAUSE A CHICKEN SCRATCHES BACKWARDS FOR HIS FOOD, AND WILL
THUS BRING BAD LUCK, WHILE A PIG PUSHES HIS SNOUT FORWARD
IN SEARCH OF FOOD AND WILL THEN BRING GOOD LUCK FOR THE
COMING YEAR. THE IDEA OF THE PIG PUSHING FORWARD MEANS
THAT THE HAM-EATER WILL PROGRESS. THE CHICKEN-EATER WILL
NOT PROGRESS BUT WILL GO BACKWARDS (IN MONETARY GAINS,
JOB PROMOTION, ETC.)
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS WHEN A CHILD (1920S) AND STILL
PRACTICES IT NOW.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 10-02-1971 ; 00001920S
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY YOU EAT HOG JOWLS AND BLACK EYED PEAS TO
BRING GOOD LUCK DURING THE COMING YEAR.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND'S MOTHER, AND SHE CLAIMED THAT THEY
DID THIS IN ALABAMA WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALABAMA ; FERNDALE
Date learned: 00001971 SPRING
FAMILY CUSTOM
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY IT IS A CUSTOM IN MY FAMILY TO HAVE A
PROGRESSIVE DINNER. WE FIRST GO TO ONE OF MY AUNT'S HOUSES
FOR DRINKS AND SOUP. THE NEXT HOUSE SERVES SALADS, THE
NEXT THE MAIN COURSE AND THE LAST HOUSE SERVES DESERT.
EVERY YEAR WE ROTATE SO THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT
AT YOUR HOUSE EACH YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: 01-30-1971