The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FATHER KOELZER'S DOG'S BIRTHDAY

I ATTENDED A PAROCHIAL GRADE SCHOOL, CHRIST THE KING, FROM
1953 TO 1961. EVERY YEAR THE PASTOR, REV. J. HENRY KOELZER , WOULD
MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE GRADE SCHOOL CHILDREN ASSEMBLED FOR
THE DAILY 8:00 MASS. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD BE MADE ON
APPROXIMATELY OCTOBER 9, 10, OR 11TH ANNUALLY. FATHER KOELZER
WOULD SAY, "WHEN I WAS A YOUNGSTER LIKE YOURSELVES, I HAD A LITTLE
DOG HARVEY, AND I LOVED MY DOG. 'E WAS A GOOD DOG AND HE FOLLOWED ME
EVERYWHERE. ONE DAY, BOTH HARVEY AND I WERE OLDER, AND HE GOT
SICK. WHEN I WAS TALKING TO HIM, I'D SAY THAT I'D ALWAYS
REMEMBER HIS BIRTHDAY, BECAUSE HE MEANT SO MUCH TO ME. HARVEY
DIED A SHORT TIME LATER. AND SO, CHILDREN, HARVEY'S BIRTHDAY WAS
OCTOBER 12, AND I'M REMEMBERING IT BY GIVING YOU A DAY OFF FROM
SCHOOL ON THAT DAY."

Submitter comment: IT WASN'T UNTIL LATER THAT I CONNECTED THIS BIRTHDAY HOLIDAY FROM
SCHOOL WITH COLUMBUS DAY. SINCE OCTOBER 12 WAS COLUMBUS DAY, AND
WAS A SECULAR HOLIDAY, I CAME TO BELIEVE THAT FATHER KOELZER WAS
HONORING CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AS WELL AS HIS DOG HARVEY, IN GIVING
US THIS HOLIDAY FROM SCHOOL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00001950S

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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

Date learned: 11-00-1970

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