Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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LEGEND
THERE IS A LEGEND THAT HIDDEN IN THE CATAFALQUE, WHICH IS A GOOD
LOOKING FAKE CASKET USED IN FUNERAL
MEMORIAL MASSES YEARS AGO, THERE WAS
A REAL DEAD PERSON WHO HAD NO PLACE TO BE BURIED BECAUSE HE AND HIS
FAMILY WERE TOO POOR TO BUY A COFFIN OR A BURIAL PLACE AND SO IT WAS
LEFT TO THE CHURCH TO KEEP HIS CASKET
AND HONOR HIM WITH MASS UPON MASS
UNTIL THE CASKET COULD BE GIVEN A DECENT BURIAL.
IT TURNS OUT THAT THE CASKET WAS NEVER GIVEN A DECENT BURIAL AND THA
IT WAS USED IN THE CHURCH FOR ALMOST
FORTY FIVE YEARS BEFORE
SOMEONE FINALLY STOLE IT.
Submitter comment:
THE CASKET, IN REAL LIFE WAS NOT REALLY STOLEN, BUT NO LONGER
USED BECAUSE THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL CHANGED THE LITURGY FOR THE
DEAD. NOR WAS THERE EVER A DEAD BODY IN IT. IN FACT, ONCE THE PRIES
OPENED IT UP SO WE COULD SEE AND IT WAS WITNESSED BY A GROUP OF US
TO BE COMPLETELY EMPTY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
MY GREAT AUNT BELIEVED THAT A PERSON COULD NOT ENTER HEAVEN IF THEY
COMMITTED SUICIDE. SHE SAID THAT THEY
MAY BE ALLOWED TO ENTER LIMBO IF
THEY WERE NOT CATHOLIC. BUT, THOSE WHO WERE CATHOLIC BECAUSE THEY HA
KNOWLEDGE OF THE ONE TRUE FAITH, COULD NOT EVEN ENTER LIMBO IF THEY
COMMITTED SUICIDE. THUS, MY AUNT WARNED
IT WAS BETTER FOR A PERSON TO
HAVE LIVED IN TOTAL MISERY THAN TO JUSTIFY A SUICIDE, FOR THIS MEANT
ETERNAL DAMNATION AND NOTHING COULD EVER SAVE A CATHOLIC WHO HAD
COMMITTED SUICIDE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
THERE IS A BELIEF IN QUEBEC, CANADA WHICH STATES THAT JUST BEFORE TH
END OF THE WORLD, GOOD STE. ANNE, THE MOTHER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN
MARY WOULD RETURN AND ANNOUNCE
THAT THE END HAD FINALLY COME. THIS WOULD
GIVE THE FAITHFUL ON EARTH A LAST CHANCE TO RECEIVE THE SACRAMENTS
AND RETURN TO THE CHURCH IN THE SAVING EMBRACE OF THE SACRAMENT OF
OF CONFESSION. IT WOULD ALSO BE THEIR LAST WARNING TO RECEIVE GOD'S
LOVE LEST THEY SHOULD DIE MISERABLY IN THEIR SINS AND SUFFER ETERNAL
DAMNATION AND THE FIRES OF HELL FOREVER WITH NO CHANCE OF EVER BEING
FORGIVEN AGAIN. THE PEOPLE
BELIEVE THAT IF THEY REMIND STE. ANNE EACH
YEAR THAT THEY LOVE HER
AND HER DAUGHTER, THE MOST HOLY VIRGIN MARY, THEY
WOULD BE THE FIRST TO BE SAVED AND ESCAPE THE HORRIBLE LAST DAYS OF
OF TIME ON EARTH. SOME FAITHFUL LIGHT CANDLES HERE. OTHERS BRING
FLOWERS. SOME EVEN DRY FLOWERS WHICH HAVE BEEN TOUCHED TO THE SACRE
RELICS WHICH ARE SAID TO BE
HER ACTUAL BONES, IN THE HOPES THAT ON THE
LAST DAY THEY MAY PRESENT THESE
TO THE ALMIGHTY FATHER AND HE SHALL SAVE THEM
FROM THEIR MANY SINS.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED ITEM WHILE IN CANADA ON TOUR OF MARIAN SHRINES.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
MY GRANDFATHER ALWAYS INSISTED THAT ONE MUST CROSS HIMSELF WHENEVER
ONE HEARD A SIREN.
IF ONE DID NOT DO THIS ACT OF CUSTOMARY PIETY IN HONOR
OF THE INJURED OR DYING PERSON,
THEN THAT PERSON'S DISEASE OR ILLNESS,
OR EVEN DEATH COULD BE TRANSFERRED TO YOU AND VERY SHORTLY AFTERWARD
YOU WOULD RECEIVE THEIR FATE AND SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES YOURSELF.
IF YOU CROSSED YOURSELF SEVERAL TIMES, YOU COULD BE THAT MUCH MORE
SURE THAT THE GESTURE WORKED AND YOU COULD BE DOUBLE OR TRIPLE
PROTECTED FROM EVIL, HARM OR DEATH. IF, HOWEVER, YOU CROSSED
YOURSELF MORE THAN TEN TIMES,
COMPLETE EVIL WOULD OVERTAKE YOU, FOR IT WAS
AN ILLUSTRATION THAT YOU DID NOT REALLY TRUST
IN GOD AND THAT YOU CONSIDERED HIM SO IGNORANT THAT
HE WOULD NOT KNOW THAT YOU WERE PRAYING TO HIM.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Number SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
IT IS BELIEVED IN QUEBEC, CANADA, AT THE SHRINE OF STE. ANNE
DE BEAUPRE THAT IF ONE TOUCHES THE BONE ON DISPLAY AS A PILGRIM, ONE
WOULD RECEIVE AN ETERNAL REWARD IN HEAVEN. IF ONE WAS SINGLE AND
WANTED TO RECEIVE STE. ANNE'S BLESSING, ONE COULD TOUCH THE RELIC
AND FIND A SPOUSE. IF
ONE WAS MARRIED, ONE WOULD HAVE A LONG AND HAPPY MARRIAGE AND
THE HUSBAND WOULD BE VERY PROSPEROUS. IF ONE WAS PIOUS,
ONE WOULD RECEIVE THE GIFT OF A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD OR
RELIGIOUS LIFE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED ITEM WHILE IN CANADA ON TOUR OF MARIAN SHRINES.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
CUSTOM
AT SUGDEN LAKE IN MICHIGAN, NOBODY TAKES THE FIRST SWIM OF
THE YEAR UNTIL ST. JOSEPH BLESSES THE WATER, OTHERWISE IT IS BELIEVE
YOU WILL HAVE GREAT FAILURE DURING THE SUMMER AND EITHER A MEMBER
OF YOUR FAMILY OR EVEN YOU YOURSELF COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED
IN THE WATER AND YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE ANY SUITABLE
MEDICAL HELP IN TIME TO SAVE YOU FROM DEATH OR PARALYSIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 19 Feast of St. Joseph BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
FOLK TALE
MY GREAT AUNT BELIEVED AND TOLD THE STORY THAT IF YOU DID NOT TAKE
PICTURES OF THE DEAD CORPSE OF YOUR RELATIVES THEY WOULD COME BACK T
HAUNT YOU.
Submitter comment:
SHE TOLD THIS BECAUSE NOBODY EVER WANTED TO TAKE THE PICTRUES OF HER
THREE DEAD SISTERS DURING THEIR FUNERALS.
Where learned: HAMTRAMCK
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
IT WAS TOLD BY MY GREAT AUNT THAT IF ONE DID NOT PUT OUT MILK AND
COOKIES FOR ST. ANNE ON HER BIRTHDAY, ONE WOULD SUFFER BAD LUCK AND
FATAL ILLNESS FOR FIVE YEARS.
Where learned: HAMTRAMCK
Date learned: 00-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
IT WAS TOLD BY MY GREAT AUNT THAT IF ONE DID NOT PUT
OU ON THE KITCHEN TABLE MILK AND
COOKIES FOR ST. JOACHIM, ONE WOULD SUFFER BAD LUCK AND FATAL ILLNESS
FOR TEN YEARS.
Where learned: DETROIT
Date learned: 00-00-1979
SUPERSTITION
IT WAS BELIEVED BY MY GREAT AUNT
THAT IF ONE DID NOT RECITE THE LITANY OF THE
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY ON ALL HER FEASTDAYS, ONE WOULD NEVER SEE HEAVEN
AND ONE WOULD HAVE DISEASES OF THE FEET FOR THE REST OF ONE,S LIFE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED ITEM WHILE IN CANADA ON TOUR OF MARIAN SHRINES.
Where learned: DETROIT
Date learned: 00-00-1979
DESERTED CHILD
THERE WAS A PREGNANT WOMAN. WHEN THE BABY WAS BORN HER HUSBAND
DIED. SHE BLAMED THE BABY AND LOCKED HIM UP IN THE ATTIC. THE
CHILD WAS ALWAYS BY THE WINDOW AND USED TO WATCH THE FIRE-ENGINES
PASS BY. THE WOMAN NEVER OPENED THE DOOR TO THE ATTIC AND EVEN
FED HIM THROUGH THE DOOR. ONE DAY THE WOMAN HAD COMPANY AND
FORGOT TO LOCK THE DOOR. THE BOY WAS TWELVE YEARS OLD AT THIS
TIME AND HE ESCAPED FROM THE ATTIC AND HOPPED DOWN THE STREET
LIKE A KANGAROO AND SCREAMED WRRRRRRR... JUST LIKE A FIRE-ENGINE.
THIS IS TRUE.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM A GIRLFRIEND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
Keyword(s): STRANGE CHILDREN
James Callow Keyword(s): INTERNMENT CONFINEMENT ; ISOLATION ; SOLITUDE
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 08-00-1964
JOHNNY AND JESUS
THERE WAS A SMALL LAD WHO USED TO DASH INTO CHURCH EVERY TIME HE
PASSED, KNEEL DOWN AND SAY "HELLO JESUS THIS IS JOHNNY" AND THEN
RUN ABOUT HIS PLAY. ONE DAY JOHNNY WAS HIT BY A CAR AS HE PLAYED
AND A BYSTANDER JUST BEFORE JOHNNY DIED, THOUGHT HE HEARD A LOW
VOICE SAY "HELLO JOHNNY THIS IS JESUS".
Submitter comment: ONE OF A HUGE BODY OF "SISTER SAID" AND A GOOD EXEMPLUM.
Where learned: DETROIT, ASSUMED ; SAINT MATTHEWS SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Prayer |
SUPERSTITION
WHEN JEWISH WOMEN ARE PREGNANT THEY DO NOT BUY A LAYETTE FOR FEAR IF
THEY DO, THEY WILL LOSE THE CHILD OR ELSE THE CHILD WILL BE BORN DEA
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): RELIGION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 03-09-1971
EXPECTANT MOTHERS
PREGNANT WOMEN ARE NOT TO WALK OVER A HOSE (GARDEN HOSE, ETC.)
AS THIS WILL STRANGLE THE UNBORN CHILD
Submitter comment: INFORMANT ASSURED ME THIS WAS ACTUALLY TRUE.
Keyword(s): THREAT SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMESOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 02-26-1971
BIRTH
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN SEES ANY FOOD SHE MUST BE OFFERED A TASTE OF IT,
OTHERWISE SHE WILL LOSE THE BABY BECAUSE SHE WILL BE THINKING ABOUT
THE FOOD ALL NIGHT
Submitter comment: ROMANIAN
Keyword(s): IMPLIED WARNING ADVICE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-06-1969
TRADITION
THE CHINESE BELIEVE THE SOUL OF THE DEAD WILL RETURN 100 DAYS AFTER
DEATH.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT BELIEVES HER GRANDFATHER RETURNED EXACTLY 100 DAYS
AFTER HIS DEATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
ALWAYS STIR BATTER IN THE SAME DIRECTION TO MAKE YOUR LIFE LONGER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites Food Drink -- Manner of preparation Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 10-00-1979
COLD SHIVERS MEAN SOMEONE IS WALKING OVER THE SPOT THAT YOU WILL
BE BURIED IN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-00-1979
FUNERALS
COUNTING THE NUMBER OF CARS IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION,
IT IS ASSURED THAT THER WILL SOON BE A DEATH IN YOUR OWN FAMILY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs |
Date learned: CA02001980
BELIEF
IF YOU STRIKE ONE OF YOUR PARENTS YOUR HAND WILL STICK OUT OF YOUR
GRAVE.
Submitter comment: MRS. KUBERT IS OF POLISH DECENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001920S ; 02-16-1980