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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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CHINESE FESTIVAL

"CHING MING" IS CHINESE EASTER. IT FALLS ON THE FIFTH OR
SIXTH OF APRIL. AT THIS TIME, WE SHALL GO TO TIDY THE
GRAVES OF OUR RELATIVES. WE BRING WITH US SOME PAPER
MONEY (WHICH IS USED IN THE UNDERWORLD), FOOD AND WINE.
THESE THINGS WILL BE BURNT AND OFFERED IN FRONT OF
OUR RELATIVES' GRAVES SO THAT THEY CAN GET THEM IN
THEIR UNDERWORLD, AND IN RETURN THEY WILL PROTECT
AND BRING GOOD TO THEIR LIVING RELATIVES, ESPECIALLY
THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- April 5
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- April 6
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 02-24-1968

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THREE DAYS PRIOR TO THE FEAST OF ALL SOULS, PHILIPPINOS
VISIT THE GRAVES OF THEIR DEAD. THEY FIX UP THE GRAVES
AND PUT CANDLES AROUND. THEN ON NOVEMBER 1ST
THE WHOLE FAMILY GOES TO VISIT THE GRAVE AND PRAY.
ON THIS DAY, THEY BRING THEIR LUNCHES AND SPEND THE
ENTIRE DAY THERE. THE PRIESTS COME AND BLESS THE
GRAVES. THE CEMETERY IS PACKED WITH PEOPLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F102
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F103
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- November 1 All Saints
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 11-00-1970

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COVER THE MIRRORS IN THE HOUSE WHEN SOMEONE DIES.
THE SPIRIT OF THE DEAD PERSON COULD FLY INTO THE
MIRROR AND HIS RELEASE TO HEAVEN WOULD BE DELAYED
OR IMPEDED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: Spirit / Mind / Body
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Sign Color

Date learned: 02-24-1968

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FUNERAL CUSTOM

JUST AFTER A FUNERAL A LAST MEAL FOR THE DEAD IS
SERVED FOR ALL ATTENDING THE FUNERAL.

Submitter comment: HE LEARNED THIS FROM HIS MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 12-01-1967

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IRISH FUNERAL CUSTOM

AT THE WAKE THE CORPSE IS STOOD AGAINST THE WALL
DURING THE MEAL.

Submitter comment: HE LEARNED THIS FROM HIS MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 12-01-1967

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AFTER A FUNERAL PLACE A PAN OF WATER OUTSIDE AND WASH
YOUR HANDS TO SYMBOLIZE THAT YOU WON'T MOURN FOR THE
DEAD ANYMORE.

Submitter comment: HE LEARNED THIS FROM HIS MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 12-01-1967

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THE BINDING RING

WHEN A WOMAN'S (USUALLY A YOUNG WOMAN) HUSBAND DIES AND
THE WIDOW PLACES HER WEDDING RING ON HER DECEASED
HUSBAND'S FINGER, IT MEANS THAT SHE HAS DECIDED TO LIVE
THE REST OF HER LIFE WITH HIS MEMORY ALONE AND NOT
REMARRY.

Submitter comment: LOUIS L. SZEP, THE INFORMANT, LEARNED THIS CUSTOM FROM
HIS PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS IN HIS NATIVE HUNGARY,
IN THE CITY OF SZOMBATHELY, NEAR THE AUSTRIAN BORDER.
HE SAYS THAT THE CUSTOM IS A PROMINENT ONE IN
HUNGARY, AND ONE THAT WAS KNOWN WISELY IN HIS
FAMILY'S HISTORY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HUNGARY ; BIRMINGHAM ; SZOMBATHELY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 12-31-1963

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THE BODY IS WAKED IN THE HOME FOR TWO (DAYS?)
THEN IT IS BROUGHT TO THE CHURCH FOR OVERNIGHT.
THE NEXT MORNING, MASS IS SAID OVER THE CASKET.

Submitter comment: FAMILY CUSTOM IN IRELAND.

Where learned: MERCY COLLEGE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 11-01-1967

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THE HAIR, BEARD, FINGER AND TOENAILS GROW AFTER DEATH.

Submitter comment: FROM A BOOK.

Where learned: HOME

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 11-05-1967

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WHEN EVER SOMEONE WAS LAID OUT, WE NEVER LEFT THAT
BODY ALONE. SOMEONE WAS ALWAYS THERE KEEPING THE VIGIL.
ON THE LAST NIGHT BEFORE THE FUNERAL MASS, EVERYONE
WOULD GATHER AND PRAY THE ROSARY BEFORE THE CASKET ALL
NIGHT LONG.

Submitter comment: LEARNED AND PRACTICED WHILE AT HOME AS A CHILD.
STILL WISHES IT COULD BE DONE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 03-10-1967

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WE ALWAYS STAYED AT THE GRAVESITE UNTIL THE CASKET
WAS LOWERED. THEN WE WOULD THROW IN A HANDFUL OF
DIRT ON THE CASKET BEFORE THEY CLOSED THE ROUGH
BOX.

Submitter comment: PRACTICED AS A CHILD AND YOUNG ADULT. LEARNED
FROM PARENTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 03-10-1967

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IT WAS CUSTOMARY FOR PEOPLE TO WALK IN PROCESSION FROM
THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD PERSON TO THE PLACE OF BURIAL
(WITH THE CASKET) TO KEEP HIM COMPANY ON HIS LAST
JOURNEY ON EARTH.

Submitter comment: HEARD FROM HER FATHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 04-04-1967

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IF THERE'S A DEATH IN THE FAMILY, LEAVE FOOD AND WATER
ON THE WINDOWSILL BECAUSE THAT PERSON ALWAYS COMES BACK
IN THE FORM OF A DOVE TO DRINK AND EAT FOR THE LAST
TIME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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IF A MOUNTAIN CLIMBER HAS BEEN KILLED, THE ROCK THAT
KILLED HIM IS PUT ON HIS GRAVE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 12-00-1967

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ONE HUNGARIAN BURIAL CUSTOM IS FOR EACH MEMBER OF THE
IMMEDIATE FAMILY OF THE DECEASED TO PLACE SOME SMALL
PERSONAL TRINKET IN THE CASKET.

Submitter comment: DIANE'S RELATIVES ON HER MOTHER'S SIDE ARE HUNGARIAN
AND SHE HAS SEEN THIS CUSTOM OBSERVED SEVERAL TIMES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 00-00-1967

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ALL SAINTS EVE

ON ALL SAINTS EVE SHE ALWAYS LIGHTS A CANDLE SO THAT
ALL THE SPIRITS OF RELATIVES WILL RETURN.

Submitter comment: MY GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS DID THIS AND NOW IT IS
PASSED ON IN MY FAMILY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 11-07-1967

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IRISH AND POLISH FUNERAL CUSTOMS

BOTH SIDES OF MY FAMILY HANDLE FUNERALS ESPECIALLY
POST FUNERAL ACTIVITY IN THE SAME MANNER. THE FUNERAL
IS ALWAYS FOLLOWED BY A SEMI-FESTIVE BANQUET WITH PLENTY
OF BEER AND LIQUOR. REGARDLESS OF THE AGE OF THE
DECEASED OR THE MANNER OF DEATH, IT IS ALWAYS THE SAME.
THE BODY IS NO LONGER LAID OUT AT HOME THOUGH AND THE
BANQUET HELD IN A RENTED HALL. FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, I
SUPPOSE, UNTIL EVERYBODY GETS THERE, WE DO NOTHING BUT
DRINK. THEN WE EAT, USUALLY THE SAME FARE WE WOULD
FIND AT A WEDDING. LATELY CATERERS HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED
FOR THE FOOD, WHEREAS WOMEN OF THE FAMILY OR NEIGHBORS
USED TO FURNISH THE FOOD. THE LAST FUNERAL I ATTENDED
WAS A 9:00 A.M. MASS. WE GOT TO THE HALL ABOUT 11:00
A.M. WE LEFT THE HALL AT 5:30 P.M. WE SPENT THE
AFTERNOON AS IF WE WERE AT A WEDDING, EXCEPT THERE WAS
NO DANCING. IF THERE HAD BEEN DANCING, THERE WOULD
HAVE BEEN NO WAY FOR AN INTRUDER TO KNOW WE WERE HAVING
A FUNERAL BANQUET.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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FUNERAL CUSTOM--NEGRO AND POLISH

THE INFORMANT, A LIFE-LONG FRIEND OF MINE, AND A
SUCCESSFUL SUPERVISOR IN PUBLIC UTILITIES WAS
COMMENTING ON THE WAY HE WAS LATE FOR OUR MONTHLY
BRIDGE GAME. IT SEEMS THAT ONE OF THE MEN AT THE OFFICE,
A SUBORDINATE, HAD DIED AND HE REPRESENTED THE COMPANY AT
THE FUNERAL PARLOR. MERELY IN PASSING, HE SAID THAT HE
SAW SOMETHING AT THE FUNERAL PARLOR WHICH REALLY SHOCKED
HIM. THE DECEASED WAS A NEGRO AND MY FRIEND HAD NEVER
ATTENDED A NEGRO WAKE BEFORE. WHAT BOTHERED HIM THE MOST
WAS THE NEGRO CUSTOM OF KISSING THE DECEDENT BEFORE THE
LID ON THE CASKET IS CLOSED. HE TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN
BEING PRIVY TO THIS STRANGE "FOLKWAYS," KNOWING THAT
WE, HIS FRIENDS, HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR
SITUATION. HOWEVER, I FELT IT MY DUTY TO INFORM HIM
THAT THE KISSING OF THE DEAD BODY WAS NOT EXCLUSIVELY
A NEGRO CUSTOM. IN MY FAMILY WHEN WE ALL LINE UP FOR
A LAST LOOK AT THE DECEDENT, WE AT LEAST TOUCH THE HAND
OF THE BODY AND SEVERAL IF NOT MANY MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY
KISS THE FACE OR THE HAND. THIS PRACTICE HAS BEEN
DISCOURAGED IN MORE RECENT YEARS BUT FUNERAL DIRECTORS
ARE REALLY POWERLESS TO PREVENT IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 00-00-1960

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AS THE CORTEGE ARRIVES AT THE GRAVE SITE, THE CASKET IS
PLACED IN POSITION TO BE LOWERED. EACH PARTICIPANT IS
GIVEN A SINGLE FLOWER FROM THE VARIOUS BASKETS BROUGHT
FROM THE FUNERAL PARLOR. AFTER THE PRIEST GIVES A
BLESSING THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR THANKS EVERYBODY FOR
THEIR COOPERATION AND THEN IF THE DECEDENT IS POLISH,
THE "VITI KROWLEVA" IS SUNG. (THAT IS A PHONETIC
SPELLING). THE "VITI," AS IT IS CALLED, IS THE POLISH
VERSION OF "HAIL HOLY QUEEN." IT IS A CHARMING,
HAUNTING, PLEADING MELODY WHICH USUALLY PRODUCES MUCH
WAILING AND FAINTING AMONG THOSE CLOSE TO THE DECEDENT.
THE "VITI" HAS BEEN DISCOURAGED IN RECENT YEARS FOR
SEVERAL REASONS; IT PRODUCES TOO MUCH EMOTIONAL IMPACT,
LEADING AS I SAID TO FAINTING AND SOMETIMES HYSTERIA; THE
WOMEN WHO USUALLY BEGIN THE SONG HAVE DIED OFF AND THE
YOUNGER GENERATION OF WOMEN WHO MIGHT KNOW THE SONG ARE
RELUCTANT TO BEGIN SINGING; VERY FEW MEMBERS OF MY
GENERATION KNOW ENOUGH OF THE WORDS TO JOIN IN. AFTER
THE "VITI" HAS ENDED AND THE WOMEN ARE REVIVED, THE
GUESTS FILE PAST THE CASKET AND DEPOSIT THE SINGLE
FLOWER UPON IT. OPPOSITE THE BEREAVED, THE PALLBEARERS
STAND UNTIL ALL HAVE LEFT, THEN THEY DEPOSIT THEIR
FLOWER AND THEIR GRAY GLOVES ON THE CASKET.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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GRAVEYARD MARKER: CEMETERY PLAQUE

SUBJECT OF PHOTOGRAPH: IN MEMORY OF WM. EDWD. WEST.,
ARTIST, BORN IN LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY, 1788, DIED 1857, AGED
69 YEARS.

Submitter comment: THIS PLAQUE IS READABLE AS SHOWN. THE ACTUAL GRAVE OF

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; OLD CITY CEMETERY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Cemetery
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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