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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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MAY CROWNING CUSTOM

AT THE GIRLS' BOARDING SCHOOL I WENT TO IN WISCONSIN
A GIRL WAS CHOSEN EACH YEAR TO BE THE CENTRAL
CHARACTER IN A PROCESSION OF ALL THE GIRLS IN THE
SCHOOL WEARING WHITE DRESSES, BLUE SATIN SASHES, WHITE
(LONG) VEILS, AND CARRYING WHITE GLADIOLAS TO PUT INTO
VASES AROUND AN ALTAR TO MARY. THE GIRL CHOSEN, CALLED
THE MAY CROWNING QUEEN, CARRIED A BOQUET OF WHITE ROSES
WOVEN INTO A CROWN AND PUT IT ON THE HEAD OF A STATUE
OF MARY AT THE FOCAL POINT OF THIS ALTAR. THE GIRLS SANG
SONG AND SAID A ROSARY, & LISTENED TO A HOMILY.

Submitter comment: THIS "MARY" IS SAID TO BE THE MOTHER OF JESUS CHRIST.

Where learned: WISCONSIN ; SUN PRAIRIE

Keyword(s): MAY QUEEN ; VIRGIN MARY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- May
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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THIS FAMILY WAS ALWAYS TAUGHT TO SPEND THE FOURTH OF JULY
AT HOME AND THEY ALWAYS HAD LOTS OF FIREWORKS UNTIL THE
LAW WAS PASSED BANNING THEM.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HER PARENTS.

Where learned: HOME

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- July 4 Independence Day
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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ALTHOUGH THE PUERTO RICAN PEASANT (JIBARO) WALKS INTO
THE SEA DURING FESTIVAL (AT MIDNIGHT ON THE SAINT'S DAY), HE WILL NOT GO IN ANY OTHER TIME. HE CANNOT SWIM.
THIS IS A PURPOSEFUL OMISSION. IN THE PAST, MANY OF
THEM MADE A GOOD PART OF THEIR LIVING FISHING IN WATERS
WHICH WERE OCCASIONALLY KNOWN TO BE SHARK INFESTED.
THE THEORY WAS THAT IF YOU COULDN'T SWIM, YOU WOULD
DROWN QUICKLY IF YOU FELL IN. THEN YOU WOULDN'T FEEL
IT WHEN THE SHARK GOT YOU.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: PUERTO RICO ; HATO REY

Keyword(s): Peasant ; Poor ; Puerto Rico ; SUPERSTITION ; Swim ; WATER

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year

Date learned: 00-00-1961

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IF YOU SEW A BUTTON ON SUNDAY YOU WILL TAKE THE STITCHES
OUT IN HELL

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): WORK TABU

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
BELIEF -- Measure of time Working

Date learned: 07-25-1968

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GIVE FRIENDS "EASTER BREAD" (CAKE LOAF) TO INSURE
GOOD LUCK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): BREAD ; Easter ; FOOD ; GIFT ; GOOD LUCK ; holiday ; LUCK ; Share ; SYMBOL ; tradition

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern

Date learned: 04-00-1972

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IF ONE IS GOOD, THE WITCH LEAVES CANDY, BUT IF ONE IS
BAD SHE WILL LEAVE ASHES AND SWITCHES.
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM-ITALIAN

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): Ashes ; CANDY ; CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Italian ; Switches ; Witch

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern

Date learned: 04-00-1972

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IT IS SAID THAT ON THE DAY OF AUGUST 7th WHEN ATOMIC BOMB
WAS DROPPED IN HIROSHIMA, ALL SPIRITS OF THE DEAD BY BOMB
COME BACK TO THIS PLACE. IN ORDER FOR THESE SPIRITS TO
FIND THE WAY TO GO TO HEAVEN, PEOPLE FLOAT DEDICATORY
LANTERNS WITH EACH DEAD PERSON'S NAME ON IT ON THE WATER.
THIS CUSTOM IS ALSO HELD AT THE END OF THE BON SEASON FOR
THE ANCESTORS.

Where learned: JAPAN ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; HIROSHIMA CITY

Subject headings: Person / Nickname
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- August 7
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern
BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Measure of time Season

Date learned: 09-20-1977

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When I was in junior high, there was a "belief" that was followed religiously and carelessness elicited much ridicule: one did not wear green on Thursday because that meant he/she was queer. Red clothing on Friday signified that a girl was pregnant.

 

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.
Informant probably first learned this in Houston, Texas.


 

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; TEXAS ; NASHVILLE ; HOUSTON

Keyword(s): COLOR

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern
BELIEF -- P5

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Entry filtered.

WEATHER BELIEF

IT'S A COMMON BELIEF THAT ON ANY JEWISH HOLIDAY IT'S GOING TO RAIN, EVEN IF THE DAY STARTS OUT AS SUNNY AND BRIGHT.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector share the same surname.

 

Where learned: NOT RECORDED

James Callow Keyword(s): ANTI-SEMITISM

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F000
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7

Date learned: 11-15-1969

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WEATHER

WHEN THE CLOUDS ARE PINK AT SUNSET, IT MEANS THAT SANTA CLAUS IS MAKING CANDY.

 

Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew
BELIEF -- Color
BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.7

Date learned: 10-00-1971

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