Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for F532 returned 96 results.
SUPERSTITION
IT WAS CUSTOMARY FOR A CHILD TO PUT HIS BABY
TOOTH UNDER HIS PILLOW. THE FAIRY GODMOTHER
USUALLY LEFT MONEY IN EXCHANGE FOR THE TOOTH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
NEVER PUT TWO LAMPS ON A TABLE.
Submitter comment: FROM HIS MOTHER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: 10-04-1965
WHENEVER A TURKEY IS CONSUMED, IT IS CUSTOMARY TO
SAVE THE "WISHBONE" (DIAGRAM ON CARD) AND LET IT DRY
TIL BRITTLE. THEN TWO PEOPLE EACH MAKE A WISH. EACH
THEN GRASPS ONE LEG OF THE WISHBONE AND PULLS.
WHOEVER GETS THE BIGGER PIECE WHEN THE BONE BREAKS
WILL HAVE HIS WISH COME TRUE.
Submitter comment:
SINCE THE BELIEF THAT ONE WISH WILL COME TRUE IS NO
LONGER HELD TO ANY EXTENT, THE CUSTOM IS CONTINUED
MOSTLY JUST FOR THE FUN INVOLVED.
CUSTOM HAS BEEN IN FAMILY FOR AT LEAST 80 YEARS,
ACCORDING TO MY MOTHER AND WAS PRESENT IN MY FATHER'S
FAMILY AS WELL. MOTHER IS SECOND GENERATION AMERICAN
FROM ENGLAND.
Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
NEVER PUT NEW SHOES HIGHER THAN THE WEARER'S HEAD.
Submitter comment: FROM HIS MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: 10-04-1965
IN GERMANY, CHILDREN THROW THEIR LOST BABY TEETH AWAY,
ASKING THE FRIENDLY MOUSE TO DISPOSE OF IT.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: 10-00-1965
ALWAYS MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS WITH YOUR KNIFE ON A
LOAF OF BREAD BEFORE STARTING.
Where learned: DEARBORN ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
HUNG CHICKEN
IN HAITI, THE NATIVES ARE SO SUPERSTITIOUS, THAT ONE
MAY LEAVE HIS HOUSE TOTALLY UNPROTECTED WITH EVEN A
GREAT SUM OF MONEY LAYING ON THE TABLE, AND NO ONE
WILL ENTER THE HOUSE IF A NEWLY KILLED CHICKEN IS
HUNG OVER THE DOOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
EACH CHILD RECITES A BIBLICAL VERSE BEFORE DINNER.
Submitter comment:
IT WAS CUSTOMARY IN THE CANNON FAMILY THAT EACH OF
THE CHILDREN RECITED ONE VERSE FROM THE BIBLE BEFORE
DINNER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: 01-19-1970
RELIGIOUS VERSE
THE FIRST VERSE TAUGHT TO THE YOUNGEST CHILD OF THE
CANNON FAMILY WAS "JESUS WEPT," SINCE IT WAS THE
SHORTEST VERSE IN THE BIBLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: 01-19-1970
POLISH SUPERSTITION
PUT RAZOR BLADES-THREE OF THEM-ABOVE EACH DOORWAY TO
WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS FROM ENTERING A ROOM OR A HOUSE.
Submitter comment:
HER MOTHER BROUGHT THIS SUPERSTITION FROM POLAND
SHORTLY AFTER WORLD WAR I. OTHER SHARP OBJECTS
COULD ALSO BE USED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN GERMANY THERE IS THE CUSTOM THAT AFTER A HOUSE HAS
BEEN BUILT OR REMODELED, THE OWNERS GIVE A PARTY FOR
THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, NEIGHBORS, AND THE
GENERAL PUBLIC. THEY HAVE PLENTY OF BEER AND PLACE
A TANNENBAUM (CHRISTMAS TREE) AT THE TOP OF THE
HOUSE. THE PRIEST COMES AND BLESSES THE HOUSE AND
PRAYS THAT THE FAMILY WILL PROSPER.
Where learned: GERMANY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
POLISHING FLOORS
MY GRANDMOTHER STATES THAT, IN HER DAY, SHE WOULD
APPLY MILK TO THE KITCHEN FLOOR FOR POLISHING IT
INSTEAD OF WAX.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
SPRING CLEANING
GIVING THE HOUSE A THOROUGH CLEANING IN SPRING HAS
LONG BEEN AN AMERICAN CUSTOM OR TRADITION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: 11-00-1969
TO REALLY GET WINDOWS CLEAN AND ALSO FREE OF STREAKS,
WASH WITH ONE PART VINEGAR AND TWO PARTS WATER.
DRY WITH NEWSPAPER IF YOU WANT THE CLEANEST WINDOWS.
Where learned: ROYAL OAK ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: 11-11-1969
SOAP
MOTHER ALWAYS MADE HER OWN SOAP, ESPECIALLY FOR WASHING
CLOTHES. WHENEVER THE MEATS WERE PREPARED, ALL FAT
WAS SAVED, AND GROUND UP VERY FINE, PLACED IN LARGE
COOKING VESSELS, PLACED IN THE OVEN UNTIL ALL THE FATS
WERE FRIED OUT AND IN A LIQUID STATE. THE CLEAN WHITE
FAT WAS USED IN COOKING AND THE LESS WHITE FAT WAS
USED IN MAKING SOAP, BY COMBINING FAT AND "LEWIS LYE"
WHICH IS A STRONG CAUSTIC, WHICH WHEN COMBINED WITH
FAT, BECOMES SOAP.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; PEORIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: 11-01-1971
FORTUNE TELLING
IT HAS LONG BEEN A CUSTOM IN MY FAMILY (STARTED BY
MY DAD) TO PREDICT THE FUTURE BY STUDYING THE
ARRANGEMENT OF TEA LEAVES IN THE BOTTOM OF AN
EMPTIED CUP. THIS IS DONE WITH CONSIDERABLE AIRS
AND CEREMONY.
Submitter comment:
THIS PROVIDED SOME INTERESTING STORIES IF NOTHING
ELSE.
THIS CLASSIFICATION RATHER THAN P870 BECAUSE THERE
IS NO BELIEF INVOLVED AND THE IMPORTANT POINT IS THE
CUSTOM, NOT THE PREDICTION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
HIS FATHER, LIKE MANY OTHERS IN THE TOWN, KEPT A THIRTY
FOOT LONG HORSEWHIP WITHIN SIGHT OF THE CHILDREN, AS A
METHOD OF SILENT, POTENTIAL THREAT FOR WRONGDOINGS.
ALTHOUGH HE NEVER USED IT ON THE CHILDREN, HE TOOK
IT DOWN FROM THE WALL ONCE IN A WHILE AND CRACKED
IT. THE NOISE WAS ENOUGH TO WARD OFF ANY POSSIBLE
FUTURE PRANKS BY THE CHILDREN.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Daily Life CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: 05-22-1965
WHEN MRS. MURPHY WAS A CHILD, THERE WAS A TRADITION
AROUND HER HOME THAT THE YOUNGEST CHILD WAS TO
BE THE "BLOOD CATCHER" DURING BUTCHERING TIME. THE
CHILD WOULD STAND AT THE HEAD OF THE PIG AND A
KNIFE WOULD BE STUCK IN THE NECK OF THE PIG. THEN
SHE WOULD PUT A PAN UNDER THE BLEEDING WOUND AND
CATCH THE BLOOD. THIS BLOOD WAS LATER USED FOR THE
MAKING OF "BLOOD SAUSAGE," WHICH WAS A COMBINATION
OF THE BLOOD AND PORK PUT IN A CASING. THIS SAUSAGE
WAS ONE OF THEIR STAPLES DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: 05-22-1965
DISCIPLINING CHILDREN
IT'S THE POLISH CUSTOM TO CURE CHILDREN OF
TWISTING THEIR HAIR AROUND IN THEIR FINGERS TY
TYING A DIRTY SOCK TO THEIR HAND. (THE INFORMANT,
HOWEVER, REMEMBERS THAT HER MOTHER USED A CLEAN
SOCK IN HER CASE).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: 03-24-1967
COFFEE
YOU NEVER TOOK THE COFFEE POT OFF THE STOVE. YOU HAD
A BIG BLUE AND WHITE GRANITE POT, MAYBE TEN GALLONS,
WITH A SPOUT. THE TREND WAS THAT YOU ALWAYS HAD COFFEE
ON THE STOVE FOR GUESTS.
ALSO YOU WOULD BREAK A WHOLE EGG, WHICH MADE THE
GROUNDS COAGULATE INTO THE POT; MAYBE AS MANY AS
THREE EGGS INTO A BIG POT.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER MOTHER AS A GIRL IN DETROIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home Food Drink -- Non-alcoholic fruit beverage Coffee |
Date learned: 05-10-1965