The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Verse - Wit

Jungle Bells, shotgun shells
Robin laid an egg
The batmobile lost a wheel
and the Joker got away.

(sung to the tune of Jingle Bells)

Data entry tech comment:

Entered by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): BATMAN ; Carol ; Christmas Carol ; Comic ; holiday ; Jingle Bells ; Pop Culture ; SONG ; Spoof

View just this record

O TANNENBAUM

O TANNENBAUM, O TANNENBAUM,
WIE TRER SIND DUNE BLATTER.
DU GRUNST NICHT NUR ZUR SOMMER
ZUT NEIN AUCH IM WINTER WENN ES SCHNEIT. MM
O TANNENBAUM, O TANNENBAUM,
WIE TRER SIND DEINE BLATTER.
SO, SO WIRE ICH DICH LIEBE,
SO, SO LIEBE OUCH MICH!
DIE, DIE ZART-LICH-STEN TRIEBE FUHLE ICH EINZIG FUR DICH.
JA, JA, JA, JA FUHLE ICH EINZIG FUR DICH. MM
O CHRISTMAS TREE, O CHRISTMAS TREE,
HOW TRUE ARE YOUR LEAVES.
YOU ARE GREEN NOT ONLY IN THE SUMMER TIME,
BUT ALSO IN THE WINTER WHEN IT SNOWS. MM
O CHRISTMAS TREE, O CHRISTMAS TREE,
HOW TRUE ARE YOUR LEAVES.
SO, SO THE WAY I LOVE YOU,
SO, SO YOU LOVE ME TOO!
THE TENDER LONGING I FEEL ONLY FOR YOU.
YES, YES, YES, YES I FEEL ONLY FOR YOU.

Submitter comment:

SHE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH UNTIL SHE ENTERED
HIGH SCHOOL.

Data entry tech comment:

Keypunched by R.J.Miller 11/82

Updated by TRD 01/12

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; PEORIA

Keyword(s): Carol ; CHRISTMAS ; Evergreen ; holiday ; Lyrics ; SONG ; Tree

Date learned: 11-00-1971

View just this record

MYTH

SANTA CLAUS- A FAT JOLLY OLD MAN WITH A WHITE BEARD WHO LIVES AT
THE NORTH POLE AND DISTRIBUTES TOYS AND GIFTS ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; Claus ; holiday ; MYTH ; Santa ; SUPERSTITION

Date learned: 11-00-1968

View just this record

CHRISTMAS LEGEND

ON DECEMBER 6, ST. NICHOLAS VISITS THE HOMES OF THE PEOPLE
AND LEAVES GOODIES FOR GOOD LITTLE CHILDREN, AND SOOT IN THE
SHOES OF BAD ONES.

Submitter comment:

RONNIE LEARNED THIS ITALIAN LEGEND FROM HER FATHER WHO IS
FROM ITALY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; GIFTS ; holiday ; Presents ; Saint Nicholas

Date learned: 12-04-1967

View just this record

CHRISTMAS BELIEF

WHEN THE MORNING SKY IS RED AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME, IT'S MRS. SANTA
CLAUS BAKING UP LOTS OF CHRISTMAS COOKIES.

Submitter comment:

THIS WAS TOLD TO ELAINE BY HER GRANDMOTHER WHO IS GERMAN.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Keyword(s): Baking ; CHRISTMAS ; COLOR ; Cookies ; Legend ; Mrs. Claus ; Red ; SIGN ; Sky ; WEATHER

Date learned: 11-20-1967

View just this record

POLISH CHRISTMAS CUSTOM

THE DINNER CONSISTS OF THIRTEEN COURSES, ALL OF WHICH ARE MEATLESS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

James Callow comment:

Christmas Day?

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION BUILDING

Keyword(s): ABSTINENCE FROM MEAT ; CHRISTMAS ; Course ; CUSTOM ; Dinner ; FOOD CUSTOM ; holiday ; Ingredients ; Meal ; Vegetarian

Date learned: 11-25-1969

View just this record

CHRISTMAS FOOD

IT IS A SLOVAK CUSTOM TO EAT CHRISTMAS FOOD IN THIS ORDER:
FIRST, UNLEAVENED BREAD DIPPED IN HONEY; SECOND, SOUR MUSHROOM AND
THIRD; HOME-MADE BREAD BALLS MIXED WITH POPPY-SEED, MILK AND HONEY.
THIS IS TO SYMBOLIZE THE SOUR AND SWEET IN LIFE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ; CHRISTMAS ; Course ; CUSTOM ; Dish ; FOOD ; FOOD CUSTOM ; holiday ; RECIPE ; Slovak

Date learned: 03-00-1970

View just this record

CHRISTMAS FOOD

IN LEBANON, THE TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS FOOD FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD
IT, IS A TURKEY DINNER.

Submitter comment:

(SOUNDS FAMILIAR)

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MARYGROVE COLLEGE ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; FOOD ; FOOD CUSTOM ; holiday ; Lebanese ; Turkey

Date learned: 00001968 FALL

View just this record

CUSTOM-POLISH

IN POLISH FAMILIES AROUND XMAS TIME (CHRISTMAS TIME) IT IS
CUSTOMARY TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERY TYPE OF DISH, AND NOT TO
JUST EAT ONE OR A COUPLE OF THINGS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [F500] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; FOOD ; FOOD CUSTOM ; holiday ; POLAND ; POLISH ; tradition

Date learned: NOT RECORDED

View just this record

EVIL AVERTING CUSTOM

"AT CHRISTMAS TIME, IT IS A CUSTOM IN GERMANY TO HAVE DUCK AND
SAUERKRAUT, SOME STOLLEN--WHICH IS A FRUIT AND NUT COFFEE CAKE, AND
SOME BEER TO DRINK WHILE SONGS ARE SUNG. WHEN YOU DO THIS,
YOUR FAMILY WILL HAVE GOOD HEALTH AND HAPPINESS ALL YEAR."

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; DRINK ; EVIL ; FOOD ; FOOD CUSTOM ; GERMAN ; Germany ; holiday ; LUCK ; LUCK ; tradition

Date learned: 02-04-1968

View just this record

CUSTOM-UKRAINIAN

THERE IS NO MEAT EATEN ON CHRISTMAS EVE, BUT A SPECIAL
12 COURSE DINNER IS SERVED ON CHRISTMAS DAY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ABSTINENCE FROM MEAT ; CHRISTMAS ; FOOD ; FOOD CUSTOM ; tradition ; UKRAINIAN

Date learned: 10-31-1968

View just this record

HOLIDAY MEAL

VOGELIA--IN A SPECIAL FAMILY DINNER ON CHRISTMAS OR EASTER, AN
ODD NUMBER OF COURSES ARE SERVED (7,9, OR MORE). NO MEAT IS SERVED
AT ALL, BUT FISH IS ALLOWED. EACH COURSE IS BROUGHT OUT
INDIVIDUALLY; FOR EXAMPLE, BREAD MIGHT BE FIRST, THEN
FOLLOWED BY SOUP, THEN FOLLOWED BY THE FISH OR BY FRUIT FOR DESSERT.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

James Callow comment:

Please make a copy. Label it F663

Keyword(s): ABSTINENCE FROM MEAT ; CHRISTMAS ; Easter ; FOOD ; FOOD CUSTOM ; holiday ; Menu ; tradition ; VOGELIA

Date learned: 11-02-1971

View just this record

A CUSTOM OF THE POLISH IS TO HAVE ON THE TABLE FOR CHRISTMAS
DINNER 7 DIFFERENT KINDS OF FOOD.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; HOLDEN HALL ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; Dinner ; FOOD CUSTOM ; holiday ; POLISH

Date learned: 11-00-1967

View just this record

CHRISTMAS DINNER

CHRISTMAS DINNER IN DENMARK. THE MAIN DISH IS DUCK, USUALLY
WITH A SWEET, RICH SAUCE. BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE IS EATEN A
DISH CALLED RISENGROD, A RICE PUDDING, IS SERVED. IN THE PUDDING
IS ONE ALMOND. THE PERSON WHO GETS THE ALMOND GETS A SPECIAL
GIFT MADE FROM MARZIPAN.

Submitter comment:

(THE INFORMANT IS) DANISH.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; Danish ; Denmark ; DUCK ; FOOD CUSTOM ; GIFTS ; holiday ; Marzipan ; tradition

Date learned: NOT RECORDED

View just this record

CUSTOM

AN (ON) CHRISTMAS EAT WINE SOUP AND POPPYSEED STEW.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT STATED HIM (HIS) MOTHER'S PARENTS' PARENTS, ETC.,
(DON'T KNOW BEGINNING) STARTED THE CUSTOM.

Data entry tech comment:

COLLECTOR'S PUNCTUATION CORRECTED BY KEYPUNCHER.

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; FOOD CUSTOM ; Poppyseed ; Wine

Date learned: 10-01-1970

View just this record

CHRISTMAS SOUPS

WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SOUPS ON CHRISTMAS: LIMA BEAN
SOUP, SOUR KRAUT (SAUERKRAUT) SOUP, AND MUSHROOM SOUP.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [F642.3] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: SAINT HYACINTH SCHOOL

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; FOOD CUSTOM ; holiday ; Soup

Date learned: 02-17-1972

View just this record

CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER ALWAY(S) CONSISTED OF OYSTER STEW AND
WHITE WINE.

Submitter comment:

(GRANDMOTHER'S CUSTOM)

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; FOOD ; FOOD CUSTOM ; holiday ; Oyster ; SEAFOOD ; Wine

Date learned: UNKNOWN

View just this record

BREAKFAST BEFORE CHRISTMAS

THE FIRST MEAL ON THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS THE POLISH PEOPLE
HAD ONLY A GLASS OF JUICE AND A PIECE OF BREAD. THEY DID THIS
AS THE LAST DAY OF THEIR FASTING BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN THE
SEASON OF ADVENT. IT WAS ALSO A MEANS OF SAVING FOR THE COMING
FEAST IN CELEBRATION OF THE ARRIVAL OF CHRIST.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: DETROIT

Keyword(s): ABSTINENCE ; CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; FOOD ; holiday

Date learned: 00-00-1968

View just this record

VIGILIA

CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER SHOULD BE WITH THE ENTIRE FAMILY AT THE MOTHER'S
HOUSE--CALLED VIGILIA. THERE SHOULD BE 13 DIFFERENT DISHES
SERVED AND EACH PERSON SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST ONE OF EACH ITEM.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; Dinner ; FOOD ; holiday ; tradition ; Vigilia

Date learned: 00001920'S

View just this record

"FOOD FOR CHRISTMAS EVE"

IT IS A POLISH CUSTOM THAT ON CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE SUPPER TABLE
THERE SHOULD BE NINE (9) DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOOD TO EAT.
EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING TO EAT. THIS
IS DONE TO BRING GOOD LUCK INTO THE HOME.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; FOOD ; holiday ; LUCK ; POLISH

Date learned: 09-22-1969

View just this record