Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P538 returned 99 results.
CHURCH CUSTOM
IF ONE RECEIVES COMMUNION AND MAKES A WISH IN A
NEW CHURCH, THAT WISH WILL COME TRUE.
Submitter comment: TOLD TO INFORMANT BY HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: 02-10-1967
CHURCH BELIEF
(INFORMATION IN COLLECTORS OWN WORDS) ONCE A YEAR PEOPLE PLEDGE TO
WALK FROM ONE TOWN TO ANOTHER IN HONOR OF THE VIRGIN MARY IN SABINAS
HIDALGO MEXICO.
Submitter comment: INFORMATION WAS COLLECTED FROM A FORMER RESIDENT OF SABINAS, MEXICO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Measure of time Year |
Date learned: 12-00-1981
HOLY WEEK CUSTOM
AN ITALIAN CUSTOM FOR HOLY THURSDAY IS TO VISIT SEVEN CHURCHES.
A FAMILY WOULD SPEND A HALF-HOUR IN EACH CHURCH AND SAY PRAYERS AS A
FORM OF PENANCE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS DONE IN ITALY BUT NOT IN THE UNITED STATES. THE FAMILY
WOULD WALK TO EACH CHURCH, SO THEY PICKED THOSE THAT WERE CLOSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Thursday 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several Favorites BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 02-25-1982
HOLY WEEK CUSTOM.
AN ITALIAN CUSTOM FOR HOLY WEEK IS THE RECITING OF THE STATIONS OF
THE CROSS, WHICH DEPICTS THE LORD'S CRUCIFIXION. THIS WOULD BE
DONE EACH DAY OF THE WEEK IN THE SAME CHURCH AND SERVES AS A FORM
OF PENANCE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS MORE OF A CUSTOM THAN A RELIGIOUS BELIEF AND IS, FOR THE MOST
PART, NOT DONE BY ITALIANS IN AMERICA. SAYING IT IN THE SAME CHURCH
EVERY DAY IS SUPPOSED TO INCREASE THE PERSON'S CLOSENESS WITH GOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Holy Week BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: 02-25-1982
WHEN ENTERING A CHURCH YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN IN,
IT IS ALLOWED TO MAKE ONE WISH.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1940
WISHES
WHENEVER THE FRENCH VISIT A CHURCH FOR THE FIRST TIME,
THEY MAKE THREE WISHES WHICH THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO KEEP
A SECRET. THEY BELIEVE THE WISHES WILL ONLY COME TRUE
IF THEY ARE KEPT A SECRET.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; WINDSOR
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Prayer |
WHEN YOU GOT A NEW ARTICLE OF CLOTHING, YOU DIDN'T DARE WEAR IT
OUT ANYWHERE UNTIL YOU WORE IT TO CHURCH, SO THAT THEY WERE
BLESSED OR SOMEHOW INFLUENCED BY BEING IN THE CHURCH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. Favorites ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
LEGEND OF THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
THE CHURCH OF THE CHALDEANS WAS THE FIRST TO BE ESTABLISHED.
THE MAGI WHO VISITED JESUS, GIVING HIM GIFTS RETURNED
TO THE ORIENT FROM WHICH THEY CAME. THIS WAS IN MESOPOTAMIA.
CHALDEA WAS LOCATED THERE. THE MAGI BEGAN TO SPREAD THE
NEWS OF THE CHRIST AND JESUS TO ALL PEOPLES IN THE AREA
WHERE THEN THE EASTERN RITE CHURCH WAS BORN. JESUS WAS
PREACHED TO ALL PEOPLES THAT HE WILL SAVE THE WORLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: 10-17-1983
MY INFORMANT TOLD ME OF A SUPERSTITION IN HIS FAMILY
IN REGARD TO EASTER. THIS CATHOLIC FAMILY BELIEVES
THAT ALL CONFESSIONS GIVEN ON GOOD FRIDAY ARE WORTHLESS.
CONSEQUENTLY, HIS FAMILY WOULD RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT OF
RECONCILIATION ON HOLY THURSDAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Thursday 663 Good Friday Favorites BELIEF -- Church |
Balinese custom
If snakes appear at a temple and you kill one, if it is a
snake of one of the God's, a God will come down and kill you
in a horrible way within twenty-four hours.
Where learned: Bali ; Indonesia
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
Island Folklore
On the Island Key of Islamorada, Florida buying a handcarved
wooden tiki mask and having it blessed by one of the island's
priests with holy water is said to bring luck for seven years,
then unfortunately trouble for seven years. Most people do not
bless their tiki masks.
Submitter comment:
As Mr. Woodenson was telling me this story he was in a serious
state of mind as if he was telling me to be very careful and
he left it at that.
Where learned: Key Islamorada
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Good luck |
It is Greek belief that if one misplaces something from as small
as a ring to as large as a missing child, it can be relocated by
baking an offering known as a "Fanouropita" to St. Fanourio.
(Fanouropita means Bread of St. Fanourio.) Then taking the offering
and donating it to a church. The missing object is then said to
mysteriously turn up.
Where learned: GREECE
James Callow Keyword(s): compare St. Anthony
| Subject headings: | Favorites Food Drink -- Plant food BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Old Polish Religious Custom
There is absolutely no work done on Sunday. People get up in
the morning, go to church, have a big breakfast (brunch), then
usually go visiting family or friends. Everyone gets dressed in
their Sunday best.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 03-00-1992
Religion (Baptist Church)
Religion means that you accept "Jesus Christ" as your
personal "Savior" and that you believe "He" died not only for
your sins but the sins of mankind.
Where learned: GEORGIA
Keyword(s): God
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Church |
NOTHING IS EVER TO BE PLACED ON TOP OF THE BIBLE, SUCH
AS OTHER BOOKS, NOR IS IT EVER TO BE PUT ON THE FLOOR.
THIS IS AN INEXCUSABLE SIN.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU GO TO CHURCH NINE FIRST FRIDAYS IN A ROW,
YOU WILL NEVER DIE WITHOUT A PRIEST AT YOUR SIDE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 03-02-1972
WHEN ENTERING A STRANGE CHURCH, MAKE A WISH AND
IT IS BOUND TO COME TRUE.
FR. MALONY LEARNED THIS FROM HIS MOTHER
AT HOME, WHO IS OF IRISH DESCENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; RECTORY ; HOLY NAME
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Church BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 02-19-1967
TOLD TO SMALL GRADESCHOOL CHILDREN BY NUNS:
IF YOU BITE THE HOST, IT WILL BLEED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EUCHARIST
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- P439 BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT IS A POPULAR BELIEF THAT IF A CATHOLIC GOES
INTO A CATHOLIC CHURCH THAT HE HAS NEVER BEEN IN
BEFORE, AND MAKES A WISH, THE WISH WILL COME TRUE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HER COUSIN WHO IS A
NUN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Date learned: 07-00-1964
CHAIN LETTER (TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN).
PRAYER FOUND IN THE HOLY SEPULCHER OF O.L.J.C.
COPY OF A LETTER OF PRAYER FOUND IN THE HOLY SEPULCHER
OF O.L.J.C. IN JERUSALEM KEPT IN A SILVER CASE BY HIS
HOLINESS AND BY THE CHRISTIAN EMPERORS AND EMPRESSES.
SAINT ELIZABETH QUEEN OF HUNGARY, SAINT MATILDA, AND
SAINT BRIGIDE WISHING TO KNOW SOME THINGS REGARDING
THE PASSION OF JESUS CHRIST, MADE CERTAIN AND SPECIFIC
PRAYERS THROUGH WHICH JESUS CHRIST APPEARED AND TOLD
THEM:
KNOW (YOU) THAT THE ARMED SOLDIERS WERE 23, THE JUDICIAL
EXECUTIONERS 83, THE PUNCHES WHICH I RECEIVED IN THE
HEAD WERE 150, IN THE BREAST 108. THE KICKS ON THE SHOULDERS
80, AND I WAS DRAGGED WITH ROPES AND BY THE HAIR 23 TIMES.
THE SPITS IN THE FACE WERE 180, BEATINGS ON THE HEART
6,666, BEATINGS ON THE HEAD 110. THEY VERY FORCIBLY
RAMMED INTO ME (ONCE), MY HEAD WAS LIFTED BY THE HAIR
ON THE 21ST HOUR (9 P.M.), I SIGHED 120 SIGHS. I WAS
DRAGGED AND PULLED BY THE BEARD 23 TIMES, WOUNDS IN THE
HEAD 20, THORNS OF (BLANK BLANK) 72. THORN WOUNDS 110.
FATAL THORNS IN THE FOREHEAD 3, AFTERWARDS FLAGELLATED
AND CLOTHED AS KING IN MOCKERY. WOUNDS ON THE BODY
(WERE) 1000. THE (NUMBER OF) SOLDIERS THAT LED ME TO
CALVARY WERE 908, THOSE THAT GUARDED ME WERE 3, DROPS
OF BLOOD THAT I SHED WERE 5,475. TO WHOMEVER RECITES
SEVEN OUR FATHERS, AVES, AND GLORIAS EACH DAY FOR 15
YEARS, TO NUMBER (OR COUNT) THE NUMBER OF DROPS OF
BLOOD WHICH I LOST, I WILL ALLOW 5 GRACES: (1) A
PLENARY INDULGENCE AND REMISSION OF ALL SINS ; (2)
HE (OR SHE) WILL BE FREED FROM THE PAINS OF PURGATORY;
(3) IF HE (OR SHE) WILL DIE BEFORE FINISHING THE 15 YEAR
DEVOTION (4) IT WILL BE AS IF HE HAD FINISHED IT AND
SHED HIS BLOOD FOR THE FAITH. (5) I WILL COME DOWN FROM
HEAVEN TO RECEIVE HIS SOUL AND THOSE OF HIS RELATIVES
UP TO THE FOURTH DEGREE.
THE ONE THAT WILL CARRY THIS PRAYER WON'T DIE BY
DROWNING, NOR OF A BAD DEATH (I.E., HE WILL DIE A GOOD
DEATH), NOR WILL HE HAVE SUDDEN DEATH. HE WILL BE
FREED FROM CONTAGION, FROM THE PLAGUE, FROM LIGHTNING,
AND WILL NOT DIE WITHOUT CONFESSION;; HE WILL BE FREED
FROM HIS ENEMIES AND FROM JUDICIARY POWER (THE ARM OF
THE LAW) AND FROM EVERYONE WHO WISHES HIM EVIL, AND
FROM FALSE WITNESSES. WOMEN THAT COULDN'T CONCEIVE
WILL CONCEIVE AND WILL BE OUT OF DANGER.
IN THE HOUSE WHERE THIS PRAYER IS KEPT, THERE WON'T
BE ANY BETRAYALS NOR ANY BAD THINGS, AND 40 DAYS
BEFORE HIS DEATH, THE ONE THAT WILL DIE, WILL SEE
THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. AS SAINT GREGORY POPE SAID:
"A CERTAIN CAPTAIN TRAVELING BY LAND SAW NEAR
BARCELONA A HEAD CUT OFF WHICH SPOKE TO HIM THUS:
SINCE YOU ARE GOING TO BARCELONA, TRAVELER, BRING ME A
CONFESSOR SO I MAY RECEIVE CONFESSION, SINCE IT'S BEEN
THREE DAYS ALREADY SINCE I HAVE BEEN CUT OFF BY
THIEVES AND I CANNOT DIE UNLESS IF I HAVE NOT RECEIVED
CONFESSION. A CONFESSOR BEING LED TO THE PLACE BY THE
AFORESAID CAPTAIN, THE HEAD RECEIVED CONFESSION AND
THEN DIED. ON THE BODY FROM WHICH THE HEAD WAS CUT OFF
WAS FOUND THE FOLLOWING PRAYER; WHICH ON THAT OCCASION
WAS APPROVED BY VARIOUS TRIBUNALS OF THE HOLY JURISDIC-
TION OF SPAIN. THE AFOREMENTIONED SEVEN OUR FATHERS,
AVES, AND GLORIAS CAN BE RECITED AND APPLIED FOR WHICH
EVER SOUL ONE MAY WISH. ANOTHER SIMILAR COPY OF THE
LETTER HAS BEEN MIRACULOUSLY FOUND IN A PLACE (OR
LOCATION) CALLED PORTIS, FOUR LEAGUES FROM MARSEILLES
(OR MARSIGLIA), WRITTEN IN GOLDEN LETTERS AND BROUGHT
BY A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD CHILD OF PORTIS.
AN ADDITIONAL DECLARATION OF JANUARY 23, 1750 SAYS:
ALL THOSE THAT WILL WORK ON SUNDAY WILL BE CURSED BY
ME, SINCE ON SUNDAY YOU MUST GO TO CHURCH TO PRAY SO
THAT I MAY FORGIVE YOU YOUR SINS, AND IT IS FOR THIS
REASON THAT I HAVE GIVEN YOU SIX DAYS TO WORK AND ONE
FOR RESTING AND GIVING WORKS OF DEVOTION AND WITH WHAT
YOU HAVE (OWN) DO GOOD TO THE POOR AND YOUR ACTIONS
WILL BE FULL OF BLESSINGS AND GRACES (AND/OR FAVORS);
ON THE CONTRARY IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE THIS, YOU AND
YOUR CHILDREN WILL RECEIVE MAJOR PUNISHMENTS, AND I WILL
SEND PLAGUES, FAMINE, WARS, ATROCIOUS GRIEF (HORRIBLE PAIN)
AND HEART SPASMS: AS A SIGN OF MY INDIGNATION, YOU WILL
SEE SIGNS IN THE HEAVENS, THUNDERS, EARTHQUAKES. THOSE
THAT WILL JUDGE THIS LETTER NOT TO BE WRITTEN BY WORK OF
THE DIVINE AND AS COMING FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD AND
THOSE THAT WILL MALICIOUSLY KEEP IT HIDDEN WITHOUT
WRITING IT TO OTHER PERSONS, WILL BE CURSED BY GOD AND
CONFUSED ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT AND HE WHO WILL COPY IT
(OR MAKE IT PUBLIC) EVEN IF HE HAD MANY SINS, IF HE IS
TRULY SORRY OF HAVING OFFENDED ME, AND AGAIN HAVING
WRONGED HIS NEIGHBORS ASKING ME PARDON, I WILL "ERASE"
(FORGIVE) HIS SINS: THE ONES THAT WILL READ IT AND
WILL FINISH THE DEVOTION, OR WILL HAVE IT READ, WILL
BE FREE FROM ALL TEMPTATION.
WITH ECCLESIASTICAL APPROVAL.
Submitter comment:
THE ORIGINAL, IN ITALIAN, IS IN THE POSSESSION OF
THE INFORMANT'S MOTHER.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Date learned: 02-00-1968