Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for F647 returned 148 results.
FOOD CUSTOM
BAKING CHANGE INTO A BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR THE BIRTHDAY BOY OR GIRL AND
THE OTHERS TO FIND AND KEEP.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS DONE BY MY GRANDMOTHER WHILE I WAS YOUNG. SHE WAS A SECOND
GENERATION GERMAN AMERICAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): COINS ; MONEY
Date learned: 00-00-1967
TRADITION
"TAKING PEOPLE OUT" IS A LONG TRADITION AT THE SAINT FRANCIS CLUB,
AN ALL-MALE SOCIAL COOPERATIVE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT. TAKING
SOMEONE OUT REFERS TO TAKING A MEMBER OUT INTO THE COURTYARD AND
DUMPING COLD WATER ON HIM. THIS IS DONE ONLY TO MEMBERS FOR SUCH
OCCASIONS AS BIRTHDAYS OR WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING STUPID AT
DINNER. IT IS ALWAYS DONE IN WARM WEATHER AND IN FUN. AT TIMES
ALMOST EVERYONE AT DINNER WILL GO OUT, SUCH AS THE FIRST NICE DAY
IN THE SPRING. I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR BACK THIS GOES, BUT IT HAS BEEN
DONE FOR YEARS BEFORE I JOINED THE CLUB IN 1978.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting |
CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF YOUR PATRON SAINT. MAKE A CAKE FOR THE PERSON
WHOSE SAINT DAY IT IS.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS ORIGINALLY LEARNED IN WATERTOWN, NEW YORK
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WATERTOWN
Date learned: 00-00-1959
IN ITALIAN TRADITION, THE GODFATHER IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE
SECOND FATHER, AFTER THE ORIGINAL FATHER. FOR THIS REASON A
PARTY IS HELD ON THE BAPTISM DAY TO WELCOME THE GODFATHER INTO
THE FAMILY. IT IS USALLY HELD AT THE HOME OF THE ORIGINAL PARENTS.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS ORIGINALLY LEARNED IN WATERTOWN, NEW YORK
Where learned: NEW YORK ; WATERTOWN
Date learned: 00-00-1937
BIRTHDAY-SUPERSTITION
MAKE A WISH BEFORE BLOWING OUT ALL THE CANDLES ON YOUR BIRTHDAY CAKE
WITH ONE BREATH, THE WISH WILL COME TRUE.
WHEN THE PERSON MAKES THE FIRST CUT IN THEIR BIRTHDAY CAKE, PEOPLE
SAY TO THEM, "GOOD LUCK AND MANY MORE BIRTHDAYS TO COME."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Prayer SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-00-1982
BIRTHDAY
THERE IS NO CELEBRATION OF ONE'S BIRTHDAY IN POLAND. THEY ARE
CALLED NAME DAY. PEOPLE ARE NAMED AFTER SAINTS WHICH ARE NEAREST TO
THE DAY THEY ARE BORN. ON THEIR BIRTHDAY, THE DAY THEY ARE BORN,
THERE IS A CELEBRATION OF THE SAINT.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: 10-00-1982
BIRTHDAY TRADITION
FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY, YOU GET A PINCH THE DAY BEFORE, A SPANKING ON
THE BIRTHDAY, AND A KISS THE DAY AFTER.
Submitter comment: THIS ITEM WAS LEARNED IN DETROIT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BOTSFORD GRADE SCHOOL ; WAYNE COUNTY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: CA00001930S
UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX FUNERAL CUSTOM
FORTY DAYS AFTER THE DEATH OF A FAMILY MEMBER, SOME
UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX FAMILIES PREPARE A TRADITIONAL MEAL.
FOR EACH INVITED GUEST, A SMALL, ROUND BREAD CALLED A
PASKA IS BAKED. A CANDLE IS PLACED IN THE CENTER OF THE
BREAD. THE FORTY DAYS AND THE CANDLE BOTH ARE SYMBOLIC
OF CHRIST AND HIS ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN FORTY DAYS AFTER
EASTER.
Submitter comment:
MANY BYZANTINE RITE CATHOLICS ARE BEGINNING TO CELEBRATE
THE FORTY DAY ANNIVERSARY WITH A MASS FOR THE DECEASED.
Where learned: CANADA ; ALBERTA ; WILLINGDON
Keyword(s): SYMBOLS
A ROMANTIC CUSTOM
YOUR GRANDFATHER AND I WERE MARRIED ON WEDNESDAY AND EVERY
WEDNESDAY FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE HE BROUGHT ME A RED ROSE. IT
SYMBOLIZED HIS CONTINUING LOVE FOR ME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: 00-00-1920
THE GREEKS CELEBRATE THEIR NAME DAYS IN A BIG WAY. MY
FATHER'S NAME IS NICHOLAS AND ON THE FEAST OF ST. NICHOLAS
DECEMBER 6, HE ALWAYS HAS OPEN HOUSE WITH PLENTY OF FOOD
AND EVERYONE WAS INVITED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL WE HAD A CUSTOM OF
DECORATING A GIRL'S LOCKER IF IT WAS HER
BIRTHDAY. IN ADDITION WE WOULD MAKE AN
ADORNMENT OF SOME KIND OF CANDY AND GUM FOR
HER TO WEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Art Craft |
Date learned: 12-00-1983
"MY PARENTS WERE GIVEN AN ANNIVERSARY CHALICE ON THEIR WEDDING
DAY. EVERY YEAR ON THEIR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY THE CHALICE IS FILLED
WITH WINE AND EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY DRINKS FROM IT."
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT ENJOYS THIS AND WANTS TO RECEIVE AN ANNIVERSARY CHALICE
FOR HER WEDDING TOO.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER
Keyword(s): ANNIVERSARY CHALICE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: 00001965CA
Each year it is a known tradition that all freshmen must
be "laked" on their birthday. Laking includes a group of
around twenty guys that first smear shaving cream on the
birthday boy. He is then led down to St. Mary's Lake
where he receives his birthday swim. The tradition ends
with a goodnight song to the girls in Lewis Hall, and a
mass mooning from all the guys involved in the laking
event.
Where learned: INDIANA ; University of Notre Dame ; South Bend
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
It is a scottish tradition in Keith's family to drink out of a
special shot-type glass when an adult has a birthday. The
person having the birthday is the only one who may drink
from the glass. The print on the glass is red and green plaid.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: 01-00-1978
EVERY BIRTHDAY ONE PRESENT IS NOT GIVEN UNTIL YOUR SIXTEENTH
BIRTHDAY. ON YOUR SIXTEENTH BIRTHDAY YOUR ARE GIVEN THE
ACCUMULATION OF THE GIFTS, SOMETIMES IT'S JUST ONE EXPENSIVE
GIFT.
Submitter comment: MY INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM RELATIVES IN MAINE.
Where learned: MAINE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Maturity CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Number P686.1.16 |
Date learned: 00001960S
ON YOUR BIRTHDAY FOR HOW MANY YEARS OLD YOU ARE YOU ARE TO BE
SMACKED LIGHTLY ON THE BACKSIDE. THIS MAY SOUND CRUEL BUT IT IS
SUPPOSED TO BRING GOOD FORTUNE IN THE YEAR TO COME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PORT HURON
James Callow Keyword(s): SPANKING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs |
Birthday Celebration Festivities
At each birthday celebration in their family there are four
variations of "Happy Birthday" sung. The first of these songs is
the traditional "Happy Birthday" song. "Happy birthday to you /
Happy birthday to you / Happy birthday dear (insert name) / Happy
birthday to you." The second of these versions inserts "May the
dear Lord bless you" into the verse of the song. The third
version is sung "Happy birthday to you, you live in a zoo / You
look like a monkey, and you smell like one too." And the final
song which is sung is the Polish "Stolat." This is the Polish
"Happy Birthday" song. Patti can sing the words to the song, but
she does not know exactly how to spell them since she learned the
song through oral tradition from her Polish grandmother.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Crucial Moment of Life Life Cycle Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Birth CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
Cake candles resisting "blow out" are years until wish comes
true.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs |
Date learned: 00-00-1991
Happy Birthday to you.
You belong in a zoo.
You look like a monkey.
You smell like one too.
Submitter comment: This is sung to the tune of Happy Birthday.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): theriomorphism
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Birth CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: 00-00-1990
Polish Birthday Celebration
It was the custom in Poland, and in some families still exists,
that a birth day is not celebrated. The celebration is for the
feast day of the saint after whom the person was named. For
example, if a boy is named Joseph, he would celebrate St. Joseph's
feast day.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 03-00-1992