Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for F533 returned 456 results.
Mafia Tradition
Oldest child has the responsibility to take care
of his father when the father is over 65 years old.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate BELIEF -- Number P686.1.66 |
Date learned: 00001972CA
Mafia Tradition
Oldest child has the responsibility to take care of
mother both financially and emotionally when the father
dies.
Date learned: 00001972CA
Christmas Presents
Open smallest gift on Christmas Eve. The rest are
opened on Christmas Day.
Date learned: 00001972CA
Death Custom
After a family member dies in an Italian family,
the relations must all wear black for one week.
They have to wear everything black!
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 00001972CA
Yugoslavian Wedding
When the guests arrive, they must knock on the bride's
bedroom door. When she opens the door they must offer
her money. If the bride doesn't feel it is enough, she
won't let the guest in to visit her.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UTICA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 11-16-1990
HOUSEWARMING GIFTS
WHEN A FRIEND GETS A NEW HOUSE, YOU SHOULD TAKE THEM HONEY AND
BREAD ON YOUR FIRST VISIT. DR. SNIDER DOES NOT REMEMBER WHY
THIS IS DONE, BUT HE REMEMBERS THAT IT IS IMPORTANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WEST BLOOMFIELD
Keyword(s): NEW HOME
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 09-12-1990
JEWISH PEOPLE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE A MEZUZAH ON THEIR MAIN DOOR
FRAME. THERE SHOULD BE ONE ON EVERY ENTRANCE, BUT THERE MUST
BE ONE ON THE MAIN DOOR. INSIDE THE MEZUZAH IS A TINY SCROLL
WITH THE TEN COMMANDMENTS WRITTEN ON IT. A GOOD JEW IS
SUPPOSED TO KISS THE MEZUZAH ON THEIR WAY INTO THE HOUSE.
THIS PRACTICE IS MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WEST BLOOMFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Wall Partition Door Window |
THIS IS SAID WHILE TOUCHING THE INFERRED PARTS OF THE
BODY (IN PARENTHESES) OF THE PERSON.
HI OLD TOP (PATS HEAD), GLAD TO SEE YOU BACK (TOUCHES BACK)
FROM THE FRONT (TOUCHES FRONT). IT'S BEEN TWO LONG 'EARS
(GENTLY PULLS EARS) SINCE I SEEN YA, BUT I STILL 'NOSES YA
(TOUCHES NOSE).
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS ONE OF DAD'S JOKES, ALL OF HIS CHILDREN HAD TO ENDURE
IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Flint
Date learned: 00-00-1976
A TRADITIONAL GIFT GIVEN FOR GOOD LUCK TO A NEW BORN
"BAIRN" WAS FRUIT OR COAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BABY GIFT
Date learned: 00-00-1935
A TRADITIONAL PRACTICE WAS FOR THE NAMESAKE OF A NEW
BABY TO PURCHASE A BABY CARRIAGE AS A GIFT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 00-00-1935
In the Arab culture there is a certain order in
which to serve drinks when having guests.
The patriarch of the host house is always served first, then
the oldest male guest and his wife etcetera, on down to the
end. The last one served is usually the youngest female
present.
Date learned: 00001960S
Don't walk around with one shoe on or your mother will die.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 03-00-1991
Instead of shaking hands or bowing to your elders, you must
kiss their hands. This was the way to greet them and a sign
of respect.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
According to my father, my Grandfather began collecting
Petoskey stones when he was a child. He would find them along
the shore of Lake Michigan near the town of Ludington. He
would then polish them and then give them as gifts or use
them as decorations around the house. We still do this
today in my family.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mineral CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
In the city of Florence, there is a bronze statue of a boar
whose finish has dulled with time except for the nose which
is quite shiny. Custom has it that visitors to the city should
rub the nose of the boar in order to have the good luck to be
able to return to the city, thus the shiny nose.
Where learned: ITALY ; FLORENCE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Body part Senses Nose BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1989
When visitors come to Rome they traditionally throw coins into
the Trevi Fountain before they leave so they will have the
luck to return to the city someday.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1989
My parents travel quite a bit. When they would take the family
on a trip they would ask the neighbors to watch our house. All
the kids in the neighborhood would then start taping notes to
the sides of our house in order to welcome us home and to
protect the house.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
WHEN GOING ON LONG FAMILY TRIPS IN THE CAR THERE'S A GAME TO
PLAY THAT HELPS TAKE UP A LOT OF TIME. THE FIRST PERSON TO SPOT A
LICENSE PLATE FROM ALL 50 STATES WINS.
Submitter comment:
MY INFORMANT SAYS THAT USUALLY NO ONE GETS ALL 50 STATES. THE
WINNER IS THE ONE WITH THE MOST STATES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
Date learned: OOOO1960S
THE FOLLOWING IS IN THE INFORMANT'S OWN WORDS.
"SOMEWHERE IN THE FORMATION OF MY DAD'S FAMILY TRADITIONS,
THE FIRST SUNDAY IN AUGUST BECAME FAMILY REUNION DAY. ALL THE
KINFOLK WOULD GATHER AT THE ANCESTRAL FARM ON STATION CAMP CREEK
SOUTH OF IRVINE, KENTUCKY FROM ALL POINTS OF THE COUNTRY.
EVERYONE WOULD ARRIVE LADEN WITH BASKETS OF FRIED CHICKEN, POTATO
SALAD, GREEN BEANS, CORN BREAD, APPLE, BLUEBERRY, BLACKBERRY,
POTATO, AND CHERRY PIES, JUGS OF ICED TEA, AND COOLERS OF POP.
BUT BEFORE ANY OF THIS BANQUET WAS SET OUT, WE HAD TO HAVE
SERVICE. THE OLD TOBACCO DRYING BARN BECAME OUR TABERNACLE. ANY
OF THE MINISTERS AMONG US, AND THERE WERE USUALLY THREE OR FOUR,
WERE CALLED UPON TO HANDLE PRAYIN' AND PREACHIN'; AND EACH FAMILY
WAS EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE WITH A "SPECIAL NUMBER." BY MY TIME,
THESE "SPECIAL NUMBERS" HAD BECOME STANDARD HYMNS HEARD ANYWHERE
IN THE COUNTRY. BUT MY UNCLE TAUGHT ME ONE WHICH HAD BEEN A
FAVORITE WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG-UN:
"IN A LONELY CHURCHYARD MANY MILES AWAY
LIES A DEAR OLD MOTHER NEATH THE COLD, COLD CLAY.
MEM'RIES OFT RETURNING OF HER TEARS AND SIGHS
IF YOU LOVE YOUR MOTHER, MEET HER IN THE SKIES.
LISTEN TO HER PLEADING, "WANDERIN' ONE COME HOME,"
EARNESTLY ENTREATING, "DO NO LONGER ROAM."
LET YOUR CONSCIENCE WAKEN, HEAVENWARD LIFT YOUR EYES.
IF YOU LOVE YOUR MOTHER, MEET HER IN THE SKIES."
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; IRVINE
Date learned: 00001940S
This little piggy went to the market.
This little piggy stayed home.
This little piggy had roast beef.
This little piggy had none.
This little piggy cried wee, wee all the way home.
Submitter comment:
I learned this song from my older brother and sisters. When I was
a baby they played this verse with me to make me laugh and keep me
from crying. As I've gotten older I heard that this verse is to
combat sibling rivalry. It teaches a child that sometimes things
don't seem fair, but that everyone experiences it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ADVICE
Date learned: 00001970S