Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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ON DECEMBER 6, ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS WOULD DRESS
UP AS SAINT NICHOLAS IN OLD CLOTHES AND WOULD
DISTRIBUTE BAGS OF FRUIT, ESPECIALLY APPLES, NUTS,
AND CANDY TO ALL THE CHILDREN. THEY ALSO
CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CANDY ; Celebrate ; Consumption ; CUSTOM ; Feast ; FESTIVAL ; FOOD ; holiday ; Nicholas ; Nick ; Saint ; ST. NICHOLAS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 03-31-1971
ON ST. NICHOLAS DAY (DECEMBER 6) IT IS A TRADITION AMONG
POLES IN CHICAGO TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN PUT SHOES
OUT ON THE FRONT PORCH; DURING THE NIGHT THE SHOES
ARE FILLED WITH TANGERINES, A FAVORITE FRUIT
AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL
Keyword(s): Celebration ; CUSTOM ; CUSTOM ; FESTIVAL ; GAME ; holiday ; Nicholas ; Nick ; Saint ; ST. NICHOLAS ; tradition
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 10-27-1971
ON ST. NICHOLAS DAY, DECEMBER 6, PARENTS GIVE THEIR
CHILDREN ONE GIFT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; GLENVIEW
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; GIFT ; holiday ; Nick ; Saint ; ST. NICHOLAS ; tradition
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 11-29-1970
EVERY ST. NICHOLAS FEAST DAY CHILDREN WOULD RECEIVE GIFTS
AS THOUGH IT WERE CHRISTMAS. HOWEVER, THE CHILDREN ALSO
RECEIVED GIFTS AGAIN AT CHRISTMAS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S GRANDPARENTS OBSERVED THIS CUSTOM IN
GERMANY. HIS PARENTS CONTINUED THIS PRACTICE IN THE
U.S. WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GERMANY ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Celebration ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Nick ; Saint ; ST. NICHOLAS ; tradition
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 02-19-1970
TRADITIONALLY OUR FAMILY OBSERVES ST. NICHOLAS' FEAST
DAY BY PUTTING THE CHILDREN'S SHOES IN FRONT OF THE
FIREPLACE. AFTER THE CHILDREN HAVE GONE TO BED, THE
PARENTS FILL THE SHOES WITH GIFTS AND CANDY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT EXPERIENCED THIS CUSTOM IN APPLETON,
WISCONSIN. INFORMANT'S GRANDPARENTS WERE IMMIGRANTS
FROM HOLLAND AND THIS CUSTOM IS ARDENTLY OBSERVED THERE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; HOLLAND ; WISCONSIN ; APPLETON
Keyword(s): Celebration ; holiday ; Nick ; Saint ; ST. NICHOLAS ; tradition
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 12-02-1967
FINDING A BOWL OF NUTS AND FRUIT ON THE MORNING OF
ST. NICHOLAS DAY (DECEMBER 6) (IS A CUSTOM).
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Celebration ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Nick ; Saint ; ST. NICHOLAS ; tradition
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
GERMAN CUSTOM
ON DECEMBER 6 THE GERMANS PUT THEIR STOCKINGS OUT,
AND THIS IS IN THE OLD CHRISTMAS TRADITION. IF
THE CHILD IS GOOD, HE RECEIVES ALL KINDS OF GOOD
THINGS, BUT IF HE IS A BAD CHILD, HE RECEIVES TWO
LUMPS OF COAL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Celebrate ; CUSTOM ; GERMAN ; holiday ; Nicholas ; Saint ; St. Nick ; tradition
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
ON DECEMBER 6 ALL THE CHILDREN HANG UP THEIR STOCKING AND
ST. NICHOLAS COMES (EQUIPPED WITH BISHOPS HAT AND
A LONG WHIP). HE FILLS THE GOOD CHILDREN'S STOCKINGS
WITH FRUIT AND NUTS, THE BAD CHILDREN GET COAL.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS AN ACTUAL PRACTICE IN NEW HAMBURG, MISSOURI
(OR WAS WHEN THE INFORMANT WAS YOUNG) SHE SAYS SHE
HEARD OF A NEIGHBOR BOY WHO RECEIVED COAL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MISSOURI ; DETROIT ; NEW HAMBURG
Keyword(s): Celebrate ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Nicholas ; Saint ; St. Nick ; tradition
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 09-20-1968
HUNGARIAN CUSTOM
ON ST. NICHOLAS DAY A FELLOW CALLED "KRUMPUS" WOULD
COME THROUGH THE TOWN. HE WORE A LONG BELT FASHIONED
FROM CHAIN. HE CARRIED A WOODEN SWITCH AND A BAG OF
WALNUTS.
KRUMPUS WOULD WALK THROUGH THE TOWN AND STOP AT EACH
HOUSE. IF WELL-BEHAVED CHILDREN LIVED IN THE HOUSE,
HE WOULD THROW WALNUTS IN THE DOOR. IF BAD CHILDREN
LIVED IN THE HOUSE, HE WOULD STAND IN THE DOORWAY,
RATTLE HIS CHAIN AND SHAKE HIS SWITCH AT THEM.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; WINDSOR
Keyword(s): Celebrate ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; HUNGARIAN ; Nicholas ; Saint ; St. Nick ; tradition
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 11-17-1968
IN BELGIUM ON ST. NICHOLAS DAY, DECEMBER 6, THE CHILDREN
ALL PLACE THEIR SHOES ON THE WINDOW SILL IN THE HOPES
THAT ST. NICHOLAS WILL LEAVE THEM A TREAT AS HE PASSES
BY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; BELGIUM ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): Belgium ; Celebration ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Nicholas ; Saint ; St. Nick ; tradition
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 11-01-1970
IN BELGIUM CHRISTMAS GIFTS ARE EXCHANGED ON DECEMBER 6.
THE CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS IS STILL ON DECEMBER 25,
BUT NO GIFTS ARE EXCHANGED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THIS CUSTOM STILL PREVAILS TODAY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BELGIUM ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Keyword(s): Belgium ; Celebration ; CHRISTMAS ; Gifts, Exchange ; holiday ; Nick ; Saint ; ST. NICHOLAS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 02-20-1972
AT SIENA HEIGHTS COLLEGE, IN ADRIAN, MICHIGAN, THE STUDENTS
WOULD PUT THEIR SHOES OUTSIDE THE DOOR OF THEIR ROOM
ON DECEMBER 6, AND THE NEXT MORNING THERE WOULD BE AN
APPLE AND SOME CANDY IN THEIR SHOES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; ADRIAN
Keyword(s): Apples ; CANDY ; Celebrate ; CUSTOM ; FOOD ; holiday ; Nick ; Saint ; SHOES ; ST. NICHOLAS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 10-22-1968
ST. NICHOLAS' HELPER
ON DECEMBER 6, ST. NICHOLAS DAY, IN BELGIUM, ST.
NICHOLAS VISITS EACH SCHOOL DRESSED AS A BISHOP.
HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A HELPER WHO WAS DRESSED IN BLACK
CARRYING AN EMPTY SACK AND A BIG STICK. THE CHILDREN
WERE TERRIFIED OF THE HELPER, FOR IF THEY WERE NOT
GOOD, THE HELPER WOULD PUT THEM INTO THE SACK AND ALL
THEY WILL GET IS COAL AS A PRESENT ON ST. NICHOLAS DAY.
SO GREAT WAS THIS FEAR, THAT A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE DURING
THE PAST YEAR IN LIEGE STATED THAT TWO BOYS RAN AWAY FROM
SCHOOL SO THAT THE HELPER WOULDN'T GET THEM.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; BELGIUM ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): Celebrate ; CUSTOM ; Helper ; holiday ; Nicholas ; Saint ; St. Nick
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 11-01-1970
SANTA CLAUS CAME ON THE 9TH OF DECEMBER AND BROUGHT GIFTS
TO THE CHILDREN. CHRISTMAS WAS STRICTLY A RELIGIOUS
AFFAIR. THE PEOPLE HAD NO CHRISTMAS TREES IN THEIR HOMES
ONLY IN THE CHURCH. THE NEIGHBORS WOULD GET TOGETHER
AND BAKE PANCAKES. AND THERE WAS ALWAYS GIN INVOLVED;
THAT'S THE NATIONAL DRINK.
Submitter comment:
MR. VALKEN WASN'T SURE ABOUT THE DATE OF SANTA CLAUS
COMING, BUT THOUGHT THAT THE 9TH OF DECEMBER WAS CLOSE.
HE COULD BE REFERRING TO ST. NICHOLAS DAY THE 6TH.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Celebrate ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Nicholas ; Saint ; St. Nick
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 10-20-1971
OUR FAMILY CELEBRATES ST. NICHOLAS DAY ON DECEMBER 6.
ST. NICHOLAS THROWS A BAG FULL OF FRUITS, NUTS AND
CANDY INTO OUR LIVING ROOM ON DECEMBER 6 EVE, IF WE
HAVE BEEN GOOD CHILDREN.
WE GO TO MASS ST. NICHOLAS DAY MORNING. WE LEAVE
THE FRONT AND BACK DOOR OPEN ALL DAY AND EVENING.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Celebrate ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Nicholas ; Saint ; St. Nick
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PIE PLATE GAME
THIS WAS PLAYED ON THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS EVE.
THEY TOOK A PIE PLATE AND A PERSON WOULD SPIN
IT AND SOMEONE ELSE HAD TO GET IT BEFORE IT STOPPED
SPINNING. IT WAS WILD!
Submitter comment:
HER HUSBAND'S FAMILY PLAYED THIS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; GAME ; holiday ; tradition
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Autumn Fall Harvest Thanksgiving |
Date learned: 04-15-1967
CHRISTMAS EVE CUSTOM
THE ITALIANS NEVER DO DISHES AFTER CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; FOOD ; holiday ; Italian
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Christmas Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Night mealsSupper |
Date learned: 11-17-1968
CUSTOM
THE TIME WHEN CHRISTMAS IS HELD (DECEMBER 25) IS ACTUALLY TAKEN
FROM OLDER NATURE RELIGIONS WHICH VENERATED THE WINTER SOLSTICE
(DECEMBER 22). THE UNDERLYING THEORY OF THESE FESTIVALS WAS THAT
AFTER THE 22ND OF DECEMBER THE POWER OF THE SUN AND GOOD FORCES
ASSOCIATED WITH IT BEGAN TO INCREASE--HENCE THE NIGHTS GOT NO LONGER,
BUT RATHER BEGAN TO GET SHORTER. THUS THE TIME WAS MOST APPROPRIATE
FOR CELEBRATING THE "BIRTH" OF A GREAT "WHITE" POWER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: WALES ; ABERYSTWYTH
Keyword(s): Celebration ; CUSTOM ; FESTIVAL ; holiday ; Solstice
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
CHRISTMAS
ON CHRISTMAS DAY, STRAW OR HAY IS PUT ON THE TABLE AND COVERED WITH
A TABLE CLOTH. THIS IS TO SIGNIFY THE STRAW USED IN THE MANGER
FOR THE BABY JESUS.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A POPULAR CUSTOM IN POLAND AND IN POLISH COMMUNITIES IN
THE U.S.A.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): Celebration ; CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; tradition
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F122 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Table setting and clearing CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Straw |
Date learned: 04-03-1979
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
IF THE FIRST PERSON TO COME THROUGH THE DOOR OF YOUR HOUSE ON
CHRISTMAS EVE IS A DARK HAIRED MAN YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK IN THE
YEAR TO COME.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CHRISTMAS ; COLOR ; GOOD LUCK ; HAIR ; holiday ; LUCK ; Man ; OMEN ; SYMBOL
James Callow Keyword(s): FIRST FOOTING
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 BELIEF -- Good luck P881.42 |
Date learned: 00001930S