Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for F542 returned 219 results.
PREGNANT WOMEN
LEBANESE GREETING TO AN EXPECTANT MOTHER:
I HOPE YOU ARE BLESSED WITH A SON!
Submitter comment: COMMON PRACTICE AMONG RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 04-15-1967
POLISH WEDDING CUSTOM
AFTER THE MARRIAGE, IN THE HALL, THEY FORM A LINE AND
AT A CERTAIN POINT, THERE'S A TABLE WHERE THEY HAVE A
BOX FOR MONEY AND WHISKEY AND AS THE PEOPLE GO AROUND,
THEY GIVE A DONATION AND THEY DRINK THE WHISKEY.
Submitter comment:
SHE KNOWS OF THIS CUSTOM BECAUSE SHE WENT TO A POLISH
WEDDING.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 03-31-1967
POLISH WEDDING CUSTOM
AT A POLISH WEDDING, THE BRIDE'S VEIL IS TAKEN OFF AT
MIDNIGHT. THIS SYMBOLIZES THAT SHE IS NO LONGER A
BRIDE, BUT IS A MARRIED WOMAN, SINCE HER WEDDING
DAY IS OVER. THEY SING A SONG CALLED "TWELVE ANGELS."
THIS IS SUNG IN POLISH AND IS ABOUT ANGELS WHO CARRY
DIFFERENT THINGS, HAVING TO DO WITH THE WEDDING DAY;
FOR EXAMPLE A WREATH OF LEAVES, WHICH IS THE BRIDAL
CROWN.
Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED THIS FROM HER FAMILY.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 04-11-1967
DETERMINING THE SEX
FIRST YOU NEED A NEEDLE HANGING FROM A PIECE OF STRING.
HOLD THE STRING IN YOUR HAND WITH THE NEEDLE OVER THE
PERSON'S WRIST. IF THE NEEDLE GOES IN A CIRCLE, IT WILL
BE A GIRL, BUT IF THE NEEDLE GOES BACK AND FORTH, IT WILL
BE A BOY. IF THE CIRCLE OR BACK AND FORTH MOVEMENT IS
LARGE IT MEANS THAT IT WILL BE A BIG BABY. WHEN THE
NEEDLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP THAT MEANS THAT YOU
WON'T HAVE ANY MORE CHILDREN.
Submitter comment:
I HEARD THIS FROM A FRIEND. THIS WAS DONE ON A
WOMAN THAT NO ONE KNEW WHO WAS ALREADY MARRIED AND
IT REALLY WORKED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
SPOON TEST FOR DETERMINING SEX
MY GRANDMOTHER, WHO WAS OF GERMAN DESCENT, TOLD ME
THIS STORY. YOU SPIN A SPOON BEHIND A PREGNANT WOMAN.
IF THE HANDLE IS AWAY FROM HER, IT WILL BE A GIRL.
IF IT'S TOWARD HER, IT'S A BOY. IF THE HANDLE IS
SIDEWAYS, TWINS.
Submitter comment: TOLD TO ME BY MY NEIGHBOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00001940-1950
PREDICTION OF BABY'S SEX
THE PREGNANT MOTHER LAYS DOWN ON HER BACK. THEN YOU
TAKE EITHER A NEEDLE OR A PENCIL HUNG ON A STRING
AND HOLD IT OVER HER NAVEL. IF IT GOES IN A CIRCLE
IT WILL BE A GIRL. IF IT GOES BACK AND FORTH, IT
WILL BE A BOY.
Submitter comment:
TOLD TO INFORMANT BY HER NEIGHBOR IN WAYNE, MICHIGAN,
CAROL PROUGH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00-00-1961
BIRTH PREDICTION
THIS ENTRY WAS MADE JAN. 17, 1967 FROM MRS. SWEROCK WHO,
UPON VISITING HER EXPECTANT NIECE, PREDICTED THE SEX
OF THE UNBORN CHILD. SHE LEARNED THIS METHOD OF
DETERMINING THE SEX FROM HER MOTHER, A NATIVE
OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA.
IF THE WOMAN IS POINTED IN THE FRONT, SHE WILL HAVE
A BOY; IF SHE IS BROAD AND WIDE FROM BEHIND, THEN
SHE'LL HAVE A GIRL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
WHEN A PREGNANT WOMAN BAKES BREAD AND THE DOUGH RISES
QUICKLY, SHE WILL HAVE A SON.
Submitter comment:
STORY TOLD TO INFORMANT, MY NEIGHBOR, BY HER AUNT WHO
WAS RAISED IN THE MONTREAL (CANADA) AREA. MM MY MOTHER'S
MOTHER WHO WAS IRISH, TOLD ME ABOUT THIS. WHEN YOU WERE
EXPECTING A CHILD, THE GARMENT YOU WERE SEWING ON WHEN
THE BABY WAS TO BE BORN WOULD PREDICT THE SEX. I DON'T
REMEMBER IT ALL, BUT SOMETHING LIKE, WOOK, A BOY; COTTON,
SILK, A GIRL.
TOLD TO ME BY MY NEIGHBOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 00001940-1950
IF MOTHER'S POSTERIOR IS BROAD, BABY WILL BE A GIRL.
IF OTHERWISE, BABY WILL BE A BOY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
IN SOME FAMILIES, WHEN CHILDREN ARE BORN, THE MOTHER
BUYS A BRACELET OR A RING (VERY SMALL) AND AT HER
DEATH THEY BURY THE BRACELETS AND RINGS WITH HER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 03-00-1972
ENGAGEMENT CUSTOM
AT A BRIDAL SHOWER, AS THE FUTURE BRIDE OPENS HER PRESENTS
THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT SHE HAS TO BREAK A RIBBON TO
OPEN THE PACKAGES IS COUNTED. THIS NUMBER WILL BE THE
NUMBER OF CHILDREN SHE WILL HAVE.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-02-1967
NUMBER OF BIRTHS PREDICTION
THE NUMBER OF RIBBONS A GIRL BREAKS WHILE UNWRAPPING HER
PRESENTS AT HER BRIDAL SHOWER WILL BE THE NUMBER OF
CHILDREN SHE WILL HAVE WHEN SHE IS MARRIED.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 01-21-1968
IF A PREGNANT WOMEN IS GIVEN A BABY SHOWER, IT IS SAID
THAT IF THE WOMAN BREAKS A RIBBON ON A PACKAGE SHE
WILL HAVE TWINS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-12-1969
THE PREGNANT MOTHER SHOULD NOT HANG CLOTHES OR WASH WALLS
BECAUSE THE BABY WILL BE CHOKED TO DEATH BY THE
UMBILICAL CORD.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT WAS TOLD BY HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-03-1967
IF YOU STRETCH, YOU WILL STRANGLE THE BABY WITH THE
UMBILICAL CORD.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 00001967 FALL
DO NOT REACH UPWARDS, OR STRETCH, AS IN HANGING UP
CLOTHING ON A CLOTHESLINE, OR YOU WILL WRAP THE CORD
ABOUT THE CHILD'S NECK AND STRANGLE HIM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-03-1970
A PREGNANT WOMAN SHOULD NOT STRETCH HER ARMS OVER HER
HEAD, BECAUSE THE UMBILICAL CORD WILL BECOME WRAPPED
AROUND THE BABY'S NECK AND STRANGLE THE BABY.
Submitter comment:
I ASKED MY MOTHER IF SHE KNEW ANY WIVES TALES,
SHE THEN TOLD ME THIS ONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT IS NOT TRUE THAT A PREGNANT WOMAN SHOULDN'T RAISE HER
HANDS ABOVE HER HEAD FOR FEAR OF STRNAGLING THE UNBORN
BABY WITH THE UMBILICAL CORD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 11-00-1969
WHEN YOU ARE PREGNANT YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO REACH UP WITH
YOUR ARMS, BECAUSE THE UMBILICAL CORD WILL STRANGLE THE
BABY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-12-1970
A PREGNANT WOMAN SHOULD NEVER GO NEAR A CLOTHESLINE
FOR FEAR THAT THE BABY WILL BE STRANGLED BY THE
UMBILICAL CORD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 02-12-1970