Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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MY MOTHER WAS ALWAYS ON US ON NEW YEAR'S EVE TO GET ALL OUR
WORK AND CHORES DONE BY THE END OF THE DAY, BECAUSE IF YOU
DON'T GET EVERYTHING DONE THAT YOU HAVE TO, IT WILL FOLLOW
YOU INTO THE NEW YEAR, AND YOU'LL BE LATE THE WHOLE NEXT YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Measure of time Working |
Date learned: 11-00-1983
RUSSIAN NEW YEAR'S EVE CUSTUMS
ON NEW YEAR'S EVE CHILDREN AND EVEN ADULTS PUT ON
UNUSUAL OR FUNNY COSTUMES AND WENT FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE
TO HAVE FUN. IT IS A LOT LIKE HALLOWEEN IN THE UNITED
STATES. ALL THIS IS FORGOTTEN NOW.
ALSO ON THIS EVENING, TEENAGE GIRLS WOULD GO OUTSIDE
BETWEEN TEN AND ELEVEN O'CLOCK. A GIRL WOULD ASK THE FIRST
MAN SHE SEES HIS FIRST NAME AND THIS WOULD BE THE NAME
OF HER FUTURE HUSBAND.
ALSO ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, SOME TEENAGE GIRLS WOULD PUT
A LARGE MIRROR IN FRONT OF THE DRESSER MIRROR FACE
TO FACE. THEN THEY PUT THE LIGHTS OUT AND PUT A CANDLE
ON EACH SIDE OF THE FIRST MIRROR. THEN A GIRL LOOKED
OVER ONE MIRROR AT THE OTHER IN SUCH A WAY THAT SHE
SEES A CORRIDOR. BY CONSTANTLY STARING AND USING THE
IMAGINATION SHE BEGINS TO SEE SOME SHADOWS, THEN A FORM,
AND FINALLY SHE SEES A BOYFRIEND OF HERS. THIS WILL BE
THE ONE SHE WILL MARRY. THE OTHER GIRLS TAKE THEIR
TURNS ALSO.
Submitter comment: THESE CUSTUMS TOOK PLACE BEFORE THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Farmington Hills
James Callow Keyword(s): VISITING
| Subject headings: | Observation Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 12-00-1983
ON DECEMBER 31 TAKE A BATH (NAKED) IN THE SEA AT MIDNIGHT. THIS
BRINGS GOOD LUCK. ALSO, SOME OTHER DAYS THAT ARE GOOD TO TAKE
THOSE KIND OF BATH ARE THE FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH AND OF COURSE
FRIDAY THE 13. THE BEST TIMES ARE MIDNIGHT AND 3 P.M.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
Date learned: 00001970S
"ON NEW YEAR'S EVE WHOLE STREET GOES OUTSIDE AND MAKES NOISE
(BANGS POTS AND PANS, NOISE-MAKERS, YELLS, ETC.). THEN ALL THE
NEIGHBORS VISIT EACH OTHER AND DRINK CHAMPAGNE."
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT EXPERIENCED THIS TRADITION WHEN SHE CELEBRATED NEW
YEAR'S EVE WITH HER BOYFRIEND. HER BOYFRIEND SAID THAT HIS STREET
HAS DONE THIS AS LONG AS HE COULD REMEMBER.
Where learned: NEW JERSEY ; CLIFFWOOD BEACH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve |
Date learned: 00-00-1984
THE GOREY FAMILY HAVE A NEW YEAR'S EVE TRADITION.
AT MIDNIGHT THEY TAKE ALL THEIR POTS AND PANS
AND BANG THEM TOGETHER. ALL THIS IS TAKING PLACE
WHILE THE FAMILY EXITS THROUGH THE BACK DOOR
AND ENTERS THROUGH THE FRONT.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS DONE TO LET THE BAD LUCK GO OUT THE BACK
DOOR, WHILE LETTING THE GOOD LUCK INTO THE FRONT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY IT IS A TRADITION TO EAT
"HOP 'N' JOHN'S." IT IS SAID THAT IF YOU EAT THIS MEAL
YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
Submitter comment:
"HOP 'N' JOHNS" IS A SOUTHERN MEAL MADE UP OF
BLACK EYE PEAS WITH RICE AND HAM CHUNKS.
TO GET THE BEST OF LUCK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
THE BLACK EYE PEAS SHOULD START SOAKING ON
NEW YEAR'S EVE UNTIL MORNING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FOOD
Date learned: 00001970CA
ALWAYS FAST ON NEW YEAR'S EVE AND THEN EAT BLACKEYED PEAS ONLY ON
NEW YEAR'S DAY AND YOUR ENTIRE YEAR WILL BE FILLED WITH GOOD LUCK.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 11-00-1987 ; 11-00-1987
ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, PEOPLE WOULD PRINT
THE NUMBER OF THE NEW YEAR ON A QUARTER
WITH RED NAIL POLISH. WHEN THE MONEY WAS
SPENT, IT WAS HOPED THAT THE QUARTER WOULD
RETURN TO THEM DURING THE YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): COINS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
Every New Year's Eve cook cabbage with dimes stuffed
in it so it will bring you good luck.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
My grandmother always made us eat herring at midnight on
New Year's Eve to bring us luck for the year.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Date learned: 00001972 and after
HOG MINNIE NIGHT
HOG MINNIE NIGHT WAS A TRADITIONAL NEW YEAR'S EVE
CELEBRATION INCLUDING SONGS, DANCING, FEASTING, AND
GAMES.
Submitter comment: HOG MINNIE NIGHT WAS PRACTICED IN SCOTLAND AND DETROIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HOGMANAY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve |
Date learned: 00-00-1935
On the stroke of twelve (on New Year's Eve) every door
in the house has to be opened to allow the spirit of
the old year to leave.
Submitter comment:
Her best friend's family did it when she was a little
girl, and she never forgot it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR
Keyword(s): GHOST
Date learned: 00001930S
When it is exactly midnight, on New Year's Eve, someone
has to be outside, and they must go in by the back door
and out through the front door, and round, and in again
by the back.
Submitter comment: Her family has done that as far back as she can remember.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON
Keyword(s): tradition
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Wall Partition Door Window BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00001970S
POLISH NEW YEAR'S EVE
WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A YOUNG CHILD, THE ADULTS WOULD HAVE
A NEW YEAR'S EVE GATHERING AT WHICH THEY WOULD DRESS IN COSTUMES.
THE DEVIL, DEATH, AND ANGELS WERE POPULAR DISGUISES.
Submitter comment:
GRANDMA ADMITTED TO BEING FRIGHTENED BY THE COSTUMED ADULTS
AND HIDING UNDER HER BED!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve |
Date learned: 00001920S
Money on the inside of your door on New Year's Eve will bring
you money all the year long.
Submitter comment: Gladys learned this from her mother and passed it down to me.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Wall Partition Door Window BELIEF -- Maturity P544.2 BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
Date learned: 00001960S
No dirty clothes in the house when bringing in the New Year;
they bring bad luck.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001960S
Last year I had the privilege to go to New York and take part
in the New Year's celebration in Times Square. This was the most
interesting displace of love and harmony I've ever seen among
hundreds of thousands of people. At midnight the crowd just
embraced one another hugging and kissing and wishing happy new
year. It was incredible and should be a tradition in every city.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve |
Date learned: 00001990s
New Year's Eve
In the Steubenville and Toronto, Ohio areas, it is traditional
on New Year's Eve to eat a dinner of keilbassi, sauerkrault and
mashed potatoes.
Submitter comment:
I remember hearing that this is a German tradition that is
followed to ensure good luck throughout the coming year.
Keyword(s): SAUERKRAUT
James Callow Keyword(s): Kielbasa
It is traditional in many areas of Ohio to go outside at
midnight on New Year's Eve and bang together pots and pans. This
will bring good luck throughout the coming year.
Where learned: OHIO ; Amsterdam
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1956
Unknown
On New Year's Eve take a empty jar and put all your coins
(money) in it. Take the jar and turn it upside down on the back
porch and leave it there over night. On New Year's Day take the
jar and hide it somewhere in the house. If you do this you will
always have money during the year.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve BELIEF -- Measure of time Year |