Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for GIFTS returned 36 results.
IRISH HALLOWEEN CUSTOM
THE INFORMANT TELLS OF THE HALLOWEENS WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG AND HER
MOTHER WOULD HIDE THINGS IN THE MASHED POTATOES. AT DINNERTIME,
EVERYONE WOULD FIND THEIR SURPRISE (A THIMBLE, RING, ETC.--SOMETHING
THAT WOULDN'T BE EASY TO SWALLOW) AND THE LUCKY ONE WOULD FIND A
DIME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): GIFTS IN FOOD
Date learned: 11-01-1969
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
| Subject headings: | 122 Christmas |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED
CELEBRATION OF A ROYAL BIRTH
IN THE NETHERLANDS, EVERYTIME THE QUEEN GIVES BIRTH,
THE CITIZENS GET BISQUICK WITH PINK DECORATIONS FOR A
GIRL. IF IT IS A BOY, THE WOULD GET BISQUICK WITH BLUE
DECORATIONS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: 04-00-1979
FUNERAL CUSTOMS
IN OLD TIMES, THE IRISH FUNERAL-WAKE TRADITION WAS TO PROVIDE
100 CLAY PIPES, 100 POUNDS OF TOBACCO, AND 100 BOTTLES OF WHISKEY
FOR THOSE IN ATTENDANCE
Submitter comment: THIS PRACTICE WAS SPOKEN OF BY HIS FATHER, WHO WAS BORN IN IRELAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number P686.1.100 |
Date learned: 03-00-1980
ON ST. NICHOLAS' DAY (DEC.6) CHILDREN RECEIVED A VISIT FROM ST.
NICHOLAS. HE WAS NEVER SEEN BY THE CHILDREN BUT THEY ALWAYS HEARD A
LOUD BANG AS THE DOOR SLAMMED WHEN HE LEFT.
IF THE CHILDREN HAD BEEN
GOOD DURING THE YEAR, HE THREW IN A BAG CANDY, APPLES, AND ORANGES.
IF THEY WERE BAD, THEY RECEIVED A SWITCH. BEFORE ST. NICHOLAS
ARRIVED THEY WROTE LETTERS TO THE CHRIST CHILD LISTING THREE
THINGS, NEVER MORE, WHICH THEY WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS AND ST. NICHOLAS
PICKED UP THE LETTERS WHEN HE LEFT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT RECALLS THE CUSTOM FROM HER OWN CHILDHOOD IN KENOSHA,
WISCONSIN. SAYS IT WAS AN IMPORTANT EVENT IN THE LIVES OF
THE CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WERE OF GERMAN EXTRACTION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFTS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 01-16-1964
MAY BASKET DAY
MAY 1ST IS CELEBRATED BY DECORATING LITTLE BOXES
AND TAKING THEM OVER TO A FRIENDS HOUSE, YOU MUST
RING THEIR DOORBELL AND RUN HOPING THAT THEY DON'T
CATCH YOU BEFORE YOU MAKE IT TO YOUR CAR, BECAUSE IF
THEY DO THEN THEY GET TO KISS OR PINCH YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): GIFTS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- May 1 May Day SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 04-00-1983
MRS. MOOR SAYS THAT WHEN YOU GIVE A PURSE TO
SOMEONE OR PUT ONE IN STORAGE YOU SHOULD LEAVE
A PENNY IN IT; OTHERWISE THE PURSE WILL NEVER
HOLD MONEY.
Where learned: KANSAS ; WHITE CITY
Keyword(s): GIFTS, PRESENTS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001975CA
Custom
Pounding a preacher is a Methodist custom of welcoming a new preacher by having a fellowship supper and at the end surprising him with the homemade gifts each person has brought.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Covered ; CUSTOM ; Dish ; Fellowship ; FOOD ; Gathering ; GIFTS ; Homemade ; Potluck ; Pounding ; Preacher ; RITUAL ; Supper ; SURPRISE ; tradition
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church |
THE HATCHET MAN
IN SEPTEMBER, 1969, I STARTED AT U. OF D. AS A MATH MAJOR
AND THE PROF FOR MY FIRST MATH CLASS MATH 141 WAS MR.
TRAVIS. ONE DAY HE PROMISED TO TELL US WHY HIS STUDENTS
SUPPOSEDLY CALLED HIM "THE HATCHET MAN." (I HADN'T
HEARD THE NAME APPLIED TO HIM BEFORE THIS TIME, BUT MAYBE
IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS JUST A FIRST TERM FRESHMAN.) HE SAID
THAT HE HAD HAD ONE STUDENT WHO WAS BOUND AND DETERMINED
TO PASS ONE MATH COURSE HE WAS TEACHING, EVEN THOUGH IT
WAS ABOUT THE THIRD OR FOURTH TIME AROUND FOR THE STUDENT.
THE REASON THE STUDENT WAS SO DETERMINED WAS THAT HE
NEEDED THE COURSE TO GRADUATE. FINALLY, HE SUCCEEDED
IN PASSING AND AFTER GRADUATION, HE GAVE TRAVIS A TOKEN
OF HIS APPRECIATION, A GOLD (PAINTED) HATCHET WHICH
TRAVIS SHOWED OUR MATH 141 CLASS.
DURING TERM II 70-71, I FOUND MYSELF ONCE AGAIN SHARING
THREE HOURS A WEEK IN ONE OF THE MATH CLASSES (MATH 431)
TAUGHT BY TRAVIS. HE EVIDENTLY STILL HAD THE HATCHET
SINCE HE TOLD US THE SAME STORY I HAD HEARD IN 1969.
ONCE AGAIN, HE SHOWED US THAT SAME GOLD HATCHET.
Submitter comment:
IN MATH 141 HE GAVE ME A B; IN MATH 431 HE GAVE ME
AN A, SO HE CAN'T BE THAT BAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): UNUSUAL GIFTS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 10-30-1971
THE HATCHET MAN
IN SEPTEMBER, 1969, I STARTED AT U. OF D. AS A MATH MAJOR
AND THE PROF FOR MY FIRST MATH CLASS MATH 141 WAS MR.
TRAVIS. ONE DAY HE PROMISED TO TELL US WHY HIS STUDENTS
SUPPOSEDLY CALLED HIM "THE HATCHET MAN." (I HADN'T
HEARD THE NAME APPLIED TO HIM BEFORE THIS TIME, BUT MAYBE
IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS JUST A FIRST TERM FRESHMAN.) HE SAID
THAT HE HAD HAD ONE STUDENT WHO WAS BOUND AND DETERMINED
TO PASS ONE MATH COURSE HE WAS TEACHING, EVEN THOUGH IT
WAS ABOUT THE THIRD OR FOURTH TIME AROUND FOR THE STUDENT.
THE REASON THE STUDENT WAS SO DETERMINED WAS THAT HE
NEEDED THE COURSE TO GRADUATE. FINALLY, HE SUCCEEDED
IN PASSING AND AFTER GRADUATION, HE GAVE TRAVIS A TOKEN
OF HIS APPRECIATION, A GOLD (PAINTED) HATCHET WHICH
TRAVIS SHOWED OUR MATH 141 CLASS.
DURING TERM II 70-71, I FOUND MYSELF ONCE AGAIN SHARING
THREE HOURS A WEEK IN ONE OF THE MATH CLASSES (MATH 431)
TAUGHT BY TRAVIS. HE EVIDENTLY STILL HAD THE HATCHET
SINCE HE TOLD US THE SAME STORY I HAD HEARD IN 1969.
ONCE AGAIN, HE SHOWED US THAT SAME GOLD HATCHET.
Submitter comment:
IN MATH 141 HE GAVE ME A B; IN MATH 431 HE GAVE ME
AN A, SO HE CAN'T BE THAT BAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): UNUSUAL GIFTS ACADEMIC JOKES
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 10-30-1971 ; 00001969-1971
WHEN ST. NICHOLAS WAS A YOUNG BOY, HIS PARENTS DIED.
THEY WERE QUITE RICH AND HE INHERITED THIS WEALTH.
ALSO AT THIS TIME, A DOWRY WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER FOR A
GIRL TO MARRY. ONE NIGHT, WHILE HE WAS WALKING HOME,
HE HEARD A GIRL CRYING BECAUSE SHE HAD NO DOWRY.
THE FATHER OF THIS GIRL HAD TWO OTHER DAUGHTERS. A
FEW NIGHTS LATER, NICHOLAS LEFT A SACK OF GOLD ON THE
FAMILY'S DOORSTEP. HE DID THIS FOR TWO MORE NIGHTS.
THUS, THERE WAS A DOWRY FOR EACH OF THE DAUGHTERS.
ON THE THIRD NIGHT, THE GIRLS' FATHER WAS AWAKE AND
SAW NICHOLAS LEAVE THE SACKS. UPON QUESTIONING,
NICHOLAS SAID THAT HE HAD NO USE FOR THE GOLD. NICHOLAS
WANTED THE WHOLE THING KEPT A SECRET, BUT WORD SPREAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FATHER CHRISTMAS ANONYMOUS GIFTS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 03-14-1972
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
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120 BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 12-04-1967
SANTA CLAUS
ONE OF THE MOST WIDESPREAD LEGENDS I CAN THINK OF IS THAT
OF SANTA CLAUS. NOT ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT IN MANY
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD IT IS BELIEVED THAT THERE IS SOME
JOLLY, KIND OLD MAN WHO BRINGS TOYS AND PRESENTS TO ALL GOOD
LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS AT CHRISTMAS TIME.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): GIFTS ; holiday ; Legend ; Present ; Saint Nick ; SANTA CLAUS ; Toys
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
PEOPLE MAKE SPECIAL CAKES AND PLUM PUDDINGS IN MALTA AT CHRISTMAS
TIME. THEY GIVE THESE AWAY AS GIFTS SINCE THEIR CHRISTMAS IS NOT AS
COMMERCIAL AS IN THE U.S.A.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Cake ; CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; FOOD ; GIFTS ; Malta ; Pudding ; tradition
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Pastry CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Gifts, gift giving at Christmas |
Date learned: 03-08-1970
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
BELIEF
AT A BRIDAL SHOWER, THE NUMBER OF TIMES A RIBBON POPS (BREAKS)
MEANS
HOW MANY CHILDREN YOU WILL HAVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): UNWRAPPING GIFTS DURING BRIDAL SHOWER
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00-00-1971