The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS MUST BE TAKEN DOWN AND PUT AWAY
BEFORE MIDNIGHT NEW YEAR'S EVE, OR YOUR HOUSE WILL BURN
DOWN DURING THE NEW YEAR.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S HOUSE CAUGHT A FIRE IN THE FURNACE ROOM
WHILE HER BROTHER WAS BURNING ALL OF THE XMAS
WRAPPINGS NEW YEAR'S DAY, BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT TAKEN
DOWN THEIR TREE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Date learned: 12-07-1971

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IN GERMANY THEY CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S WITH
A HUGE DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

Submitter comment: HE ACTUALLY OBSERVED THIS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Date learned: 09-28-1970

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VIGALIA

A POLISH CELEBRATION FOR CHRISTMAS EVE IS CALLED
VIGALIA. THERE ARE AN ODD NUMBER OF COURSES AT THE
DINNER. STRICT POLISH PEOPLE HAVE STRAW ON THE
TABLE AND ONE VACANT PLACE FOR THE CHRIST CHILD.
THERE IS ALSO A CUSTOM WHERE A WAFER IS PASSED FROM
PERSON TO PERSON, AND EACH ONE TAKES A PIECE.
THIS IS A POLISH CUSTOM AND A FAMILY TRADITION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Date learned: 04-11-1967

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SLOVAK CHRISTMAS EVE CUSTOM

BEFORE THE FAMILY SAT DOWN TO EAT DINNER, EACH
MEMBER WASHED THEMSELVES WITH A SILVER COIN WHICH WAS
TO BRING THEM PROSPERITY FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND

Date learned: 00001967 FALL

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DECORATING THE CHRISTMAS TREE ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

Submitter comment: FAMILY PRACTICE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Date learned: 11-14-1967

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CHRISTMAS PRESENTS ARE OPENED BY SOME FAMILIES ON
CHRISTMAS EVE.

Submitter comment: LEARNED THIS THROUGH MY FRIENDS.

Where learned: OHIO ; CANTON

Date learned: 11-27-1967

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ON CHRISTMAS EVE IN GERMANY ST. NICHOLAS GOES FROM
DOOR TO DOOR WITH THE DEVIL WHO CARRIES A BAG OF
SWITCHES. CHILDREN GET EITHER AWARDS FROM ST. NICHOLAS
OR A SWITCHING FROM THE DEVIL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Date learned: 12-00-1967

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VIGILIA--KOLENDAS

THE SONGS SUNG DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON ARE THE
KOLENDAS. THEY ARE, IN EFFECT, POLISH CHRISTMAS CAROLS.
IN POLAND, THEY ARE SUNG ON CHRISTMAS EVE, AFTER THE
MEAL, AND SOME POEPLE FORM INTO GROUPS AND SING THEM
IN THE STREET, WALKING FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR

Date learned: 11-27-1967

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EVEN WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD, MY NEIGHBOR HAD PARTAKEN IN
A SIMPLE TRADITION OF OPENING ONE PACKAGE OR PRESENT
ON CHRISTMAS EVE. HER CHILDREN ALSO OBSERVE THIS
CUSTOM.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HER PARENTS.

Where learned: HOME

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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EVERY CHRISTMAS SINCE THEY WERE CHILDREN, THE KLINGENSMITHS
HAVE OPENED THEIR GIFTS ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HER PARENTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; LIVONIA

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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A STOCKING IS HUNG ON THE FIREPLACE MANTLE. IT CAN BE
FILLED WITH CANDY, ETC. IF THE PERSON WAS GOOD DURING
THE YEAR OR COAL IF THE PERSON WAS BAD.

Submitter comment: FAMILY CUSTOM

Where learned: NEW YORK ; HAMBURG

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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FOOD FOR SANTA AND RUDOLPH (REINDEER)

A CHRISTMAS CUSTOM IS FOR LITTLE CHILDREN TO PUT A SNACK
FOR SANTA CLAUS AND RUDOLPH OUT ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

Submitter comment: THIS IS A CUSTOM IN HER FAMILY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Date learned: 03-29-1967

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POLISH SUPERSTITION

IT IS A POLISH SUPERSTITION THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN ODD
NUMBER OF COURSES AT A CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER. THIS IS
A FAMILY TRADITION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Date learned: 04-11-1967

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HIS FAMILY SPENDS CHRISTMAS EVE ON THE SCOTCH SIDE,
AND CHRISTMAS DAY ON THE POLISH SIDE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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EVERY CHRISTMAS EVE, ALL OF THE FANCY PRESENTS ARE PLACED
UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE. IN THE MORNING, JUST BEFORE
THE CHILDREN OPEN THE GIFTS, THE ONES WRAPPED IN NEWSPAPER
ARE BROUGHT OUT.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HER PARENTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; LIVONIA

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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ON CHRISTMAS EVE, THE FAMILY GOES TO CHURCH AROUND 11
O'CLOCK FOR SERVICES AND THEN RETURNS AROUND MIDNIGHT TO
EAT SUPPER.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HER PARENTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; LIVONIA

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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YUGOSLAVIAN CHRISTMAS TRADITION

ON CHRISTMAS EVE, THE FATHER GOES OUT TO THE FOREST TO
GET A CHRISTMAS TREE, BUT THE TREE IS NOT LIKE OURS. THE
CHILDREN NEVER KNOW THE FATHER GETS THE TREE UNTIL THEY
ARE AROUND TEN YEARS OLD. EVERYTHING IS VERY SPECIAL.
THE TABLE IS SET ACCORDING TO TRADITION. THERE ARE APPLES,
NUTS, AND DRIED FRUIT IN ONE PLATE, SOME RICE IN A LITTLE
CUP, AND IN ANOTHER LITTLE CUP THERE IS HONEY. ALL OF THIS
HAS A SYMBOLIC MEANING, BUT THE PERSON TELLING ME DID NOT
KNOW EXACTLY WHAT EACH MEANT.
THERE IS STRAW AROUND THE PLATE AND ON THE ENTIRE TABLE.
THIS SYMBOLIZES THE BIRTH OF THE CHRIST CHILD. CANDLES
ARE LIT AND PUT ON THE TABLE. THE FATHER STANDS UP AND
TAKES A HANDFUL OF STRAW, STANDING AT THE HEAD OF THE
LINE. THE MOTHER IS NEXT IN LINE AND FOLLOWING ARE ALL
THE CHILDREN ACCORDING TO THEIR AGES, ALL IN A STRAIGHT
LINE. ALL THE FAMILY, WITH THE FATHER AT THE HEAD, WALK
FIRST AROUND THE TABLE, THEN AROUND THE HOUSE. THE FATHER
THEN PUTS THE STRAW ON THE FLOOR WITH EACH PERSON IN THE
FAMILY TAKING THE CHARACTERISTIC OF AN ANIMAL. THE FATHER
IS THE ROOSTER, THE MOTHER IS THE HEN, AND THE CHILDREN ARE
THE CHICKS. THEY EACH IMITATE THE SOUND OF THE ANIMAL THEY
ASSUMED. THE FATHER HAS FOUR NUTS IN HIS HAND. HE CROSSES
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY GHOST. WITH
THESE FOUR NUTS, HE THROWS ONE INTO A DIFFERENT CORNER OF
THE HOUSE, SYMBOLIZING THE NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, AND WEST.
THEN HE WISHES EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
THEY THEN SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE AND EAT A SPECIAL MEAL WHICH
CONSISTS OF MACARONI AND NUTS, SUGAR AND FISH. THAT ENDS
CHRISTMAS EVE.
IN THE EARLY MORNING POLAZAJNIK COMES. HE IS VERY COLD.
HE BRINGS PIECES OF THE SAME TREE THAT FATHER HAD CHOPPED,
THAT'S WHY THE CHILDREN DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE FATHER GOT THE
TREE. HE THEN THROWS THESE BRANCHES IN THE FIRE. AS MANY
SPARKS COME OUT, SO MANY HAPPINESS IN THE HOUSE, WHETHER
IT BE OF HEALTH, MONEY, CHILDREN, OR ANYTHING THE FAMILY
DESIRES. HE THEN WISHES A HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO THE ENTIRE
FAMILY. THE FAMILY THEN GIVES HIM A GIFT, USUALLY A WHITE
SHIRT AND A TIE, WITH STOCKINGS. THE MAN THEN USUALLY
EATS WITH THE FAMILY. THE FOOD THEY EAT IS EGG BREAD AND
COFFEE. THE POLAZAJNIK COMES BECAUSE THE FAMILY ARRANGED
TO HAVE HIM COME, SOMETHING LIKE OUR SANTA CLAUS.
ON CHRISTMAS DAY, THE HUSBAND AND THE SONS GO OUT AND
VISIT OTHER FAMILIES. THUS THE MEN ARE OUT VISITING WHILE
THE WIVES AND DAUGHTERS STAY HOME TO GREET THE MEN THAT
COME TO THEIR HOUSE. THIS IS JUST ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE
FEAST. THERE ARE THREE DAYS. ON THE SECOND DAY, THE
ENTIRE FAMILY STAYS TOGETHER. ON THE THIRD DAY, THEY
USUALLY HAVE PARTIES FOR THE CHILDREN.

Submitter comment: SHE WAS BROUGHT UP WITH THIS TRADITION. TODAY, HOWEVER,
CHRISTMAS IS QUITE SIMILAR TO OURS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 09-17-1967

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IF WE HAVE BEEN NAUGHTY CHILDREN AT CHRISTMAS, KRIS
KRINGLE--ST. NICHOLAS--WILL LEAVE HIS STAFF INSTEAD OF
PRESENTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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THE CHRIST CHILD IS NOT PUT INTO THE MODEL MANGER
UNTIL CHRISTMAS MORNING.

Submitter comment: FROM FAMILY TRADITION AS A CHILD.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Date learned: 11-26-1967

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CHRISTMAS PRESENTS IN MOST FAMILIES, INCLUDING OURS,
ARE ALWAYS OPENED ON CHRISTMAS MORNING BEFORE
BREAKFAST.

Submitter comment: LEARNED THIS FROM OUR FAMILY.

Where learned: OHIO ; CANTON

Date learned: 11-27-1967

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