Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P500 returned 243 results.
SITTING SHIVEH
IT IS A JEWISH TRADITION FOR THE FAMILY OF THE DECEASED
PERSON TO "SIT SHIVEH" AT THEIR HOME FOR NINE EVENINGS
AFTER THE BURIAL. THEY RECEIVE GUESTS, AND OFTEN SERVE
FOOD AND COFFEE. SINCE THE JEWS BURY THEIR DEAD BY THE
NEXT SUNRISE AFTER THE DEATH, MANY SAY THAT THIS IS A
REPLACEMENT OF OTHER CUSTOMS WHICH TAKE PLACE AT
FUNERAL HOMES, ETC.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
JEWISH CUSTOM
THE JEWS BURY THEIR DEAD BEFORE THE NEXT SUNRISE.
BUT IF THE DEATH IS ON A FRIDAY, SATURDAY BEING THE
SABBATH, THE BURIAL MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE MIDNIGHT.
THE REASON IS A VERY PRACTICAL ONE. IT TAKES TIME TO
DIG A GRAVE, AND NO TIME SHOULD BE WASTED WHEN A DEAD
BODY IS INVOLVED.
ALTHOUGH THIS TRADITION OBVIOUSLY SPRINGS FROM THE
CONDITIONS IN THE OLD COUNTRY, AND IN EARLIER TIMES,
THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL QUITE CONSCIOUS OF BURYING
THEIR DEAD VERY SOON AFTER DEATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 03-00-1968
JEWISH CUSTOM
AFTER A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY HAS DIED, IF A JEWISH
FAMILY IS VERY RELIGIOUS, THEY WILL PRAY AT THE
TEMPLE FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR, EVERY DAY, ONCE IN
THE MORNING AND TWICE IN THE EVENING. IF THE DECEASED
WAS A SON, THE EVENING PRAYER IS CALLED A "KADISH."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 03-00-1968
PEOPLE WHO CARY TOOTHPICKS WITH THEM ARE SUPPOSED TO
BE VERY LIKEABLE AND PERSONABLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 01-30-1968
DURING PREGNANCY, IF YOU HAVE A CRAVING AND YOU DON'T SATISFY IT, YOUR BABY WILL HAVE A BIRTHMARK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Entry filtered.
ALWAYS GET INTO BED ON THE SAME SIDE AS YOUR HUSBAND IF YOU WANT TO STAY TOGETHER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; informant's home
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 08-02-1970
PEOPLE BORN BETWEEN THE LIGHTS (DUSK AND DAWN) CAN SEE SPIRITS.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant learned this from the book "These Are Our Lives" (Kingsport Press, 1939, pp.26-29), a Federal Writers' Project publication featuring the everyday lives of people in the South.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; KINGSPORT ; "These Are Our Lives"
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 00-00-1939
CUTTING STOVEWOOD
INFORMANT SAYS THAT IF YOU CUT YOUR STOVEWOOD ON THE NEW MOON IN MARCH AND APRIL IT WILL DRY OUT BETTER AND NOT ABSORB THE SUMMER RAIN.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; ALBERTVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
DRY PEAS ON NEW YEAR'S DAY
INFORMANT'S MOTHER-IN-LAW WOULD ALWAYS COOK DRY PEAS ON NEW YEAR'S DAY AND AFTER DINNER, PUT A PENNY IN HER CLOCK SO SHE WOULD HAVE MONEY ALL THE YEAR.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; ALBERTVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 06-17-1972
GROUND HOG DAY
ON THE FARM IN ARKANSAS WHERE INFORMANT GREW UP, THE GROUND WAS ALWAYS BROKEN FOR SPRING PLANTING AFTER GROUND HOG DAY FOR IT WAS BELIEVED THE GROUND WOULD NOT RE-FREEZE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
NON-FERTILIZED EGGS
INFORMANT'S GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS KEPT A ROOSTER WITH HER CHICKENS, FOR SHE BELIEVED UNFERTILIZED EGGS WERE NOT GOOD FOR A PERSON.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 07-06-1972
PLANTING POTATOES
MR. MARTIN'S GRANDMOTHER WOULD DROP POTATOES ON THE FULL MOON IN MARCH FOR ROOT VEGETABLES "JUST DON'T MAKE" IF NOT PLANTED DURING A FULL MOON.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 07-06-1972
RABBIT FEVER
RABBITS WERE ONLY KILLED DURING THE FROST SEASON. RABBITS COULD CARRY THE DISEASE TULERAMIA--BETTER KNOWN AS RABBIT FEVER. WHEN THE RABBIT WAS DRESSED, THERE WAS A DANGER OF GETTING SOME OF THE BLOOD INTO A CUT IN THE SKIN. THE DISEASE WAS FATAL. HOWEVER, IT WAS BELIEVED THAT THE FROST
WOULD KILL ANY INFECTED RABBIT, SO IT WAS SAFE TO HUNT AND DRESS RABBITS AFTER THE FIRST FROST AND UNTIL SPRING.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 07-06-1972
SWEEPING ON NEW YEAR'S
INFORMANT REMEMBERS THAT HER MOTHER-IN-LAW WOULD NOT SWEEP ANYTHING OUT THE DOOR ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, FOR SHE THOUGHT SHE WOULD BE SWEEPING OUT THE NEW YEAR. WHEN SHE SWEPT THE FLOOR, EVERYTHING WAS SWEPT INTO THE CORNER UNTIL THE NEXT DAY WHEN IT WAS REMOVED.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; ALBERTVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 06-17-1972
HOW TO KEEP YOUR BOYFRIEND
HOLD YOUR FEET UP WHEN YOU CROSS A RAILROAD TRACK, IF YOU DON'T YOU WILL LOSE YOUR BOYFRIEND.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CENTERVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
PUT A HAIR FROM A HORSE'S TAIL IN A GLASS OF WATER AND IT WILL FORM A SNAKE.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PRIMM SPRINGS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
MAKE A WISH
WHEN TWO PEOPLE SAY THE SAME THING, YOU KISS YOUR FINGERS, TOUCH BLUE, SAY JINX BLUE AND MAKE A WISH.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CENTERVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 07-19-1968
MAKE A WISH
WHEN THE EDGE OF YOUR SKIRT IS TURNED UP, GRAB IT, TURN AROUND AND MAKE A WISH.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CENTERVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |