Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for RITUAL returned 41 results.
LITHUANIAN-AMERICAN PALM SUNDAY CUSTOMS
WHEN THE FAMILY WOULD COME HOME FROM CHURCH, THEY WOULD HIT
EACH OTHER WITH THE PALMS THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED, IN ORDER TO
REMIND THE INDIVIDUAL THAT HOLY WEEK IS BEGINNING AND THE
PASSION AND DEATH OF CHRIST WAS SOON TO BEGIN.
Where learned: WEST VIRGINIA ; MINDEN
James Callow Keyword(s): RITUAL WHIPPING
| Subject headings: | 663 Palm Sunday |
Date learned: 00-00-1924
MOVEABLE DATE
TO THE POLISH THE DAY AFTER EASTER IS "DINGUS DAY". BOYS HIT THE
GIRLS WITH SWITCHES IF THEY LIKE THEM.
Submitter comment: MRS. KOBERT IS NOT AWARE OF THIS OCCURING TO DATE IF IT IS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
James Callow Keyword(s): RITUAL WHIPPING.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Monday Dyngus |
Date learned: 00001920S ; 02-16-1980
SANTA CLAUS COMES WITH A SWITCH AND GIVES A FEW PLAYFUL WHACKS TO
THE CHILDREN BEFORE PASSING OUT PRESENTS ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
Submitter comment: HE LEARNED THIS WHILE LIVING IN GERMANY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TROY
James Callow Keyword(s): RITUAL WHIPPING.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below. |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
TAKE A DIP IN THE GANGA RIVER AND YOU WILL WASH AWAY YOUR SINS.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A HINDU RITUAL. THE RIVER IS FAST RUNNING AND VERY
POLLUTED. A DIP IN THIS RIVER COULD KILL YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): GANGES? ; RITUAL BATHING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Running water Large current. |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
Superstition, non-Christian
Each evening, after dinner but before dark, pound around the
foundations of the house with a hammer to expel evil spirits.
Then draw a line in the ground around the house with a butcher
knife to prevent them from returning.
Submitter comment:
The informant reports that the woman observed doing this (name
forgotten) was wealthy and a poet, but reviled her neighbors
for contaminating her with their Christianity.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Apotropaic Ritual
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
In order for a pee-wee or a young would-be gang member to be a
full-fledged gang member he must go through a gauntlet of
initiated gang members where the young person is beat the entire
length of the gauntlet and in extreme circumstances a limb, either
an arm or leg is broken in order to prove their worthiness and
machoism to be in the gang.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; Merced
Keyword(s): RITUAL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
This is a military rite where the commander of a unit upon his
departure from that unit is given a sword by his most trusted non-
commissioned officers for the leadership and command
responsibility he exhibited while he was in command of that
particular unit during a dinner or gathering in that commander's
honor.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; Merced
Keyword(s): RITUAL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 |
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 |
Custom
Fellowship Supper is a custom that Methodists have of a covered dish supper.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Community ; Covered ; CUSTOM ; Dish ; Fellowship ; FOOD ; Gathering ; Methodist ; Potluck ; RELIGION ; RITUAL ; Supper
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church |
After a funeral the best friend of the deceased is given a bowl of boiled wheat, a glass, and silverware. This little ceremony transfers the worldly goods of the deceased to the living.
Submitter comment:
Informant noted that this custom is not as popular as it used to be but it is still practiced.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): DEATH ; Deceased ; FRIENDSHIP ; GLASS ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; RITUAL ; Silverware ; SYMBOL ; Symbolic ; SYMBOLISM ; UTENSILS ; Wheat
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Legend of Writing to Dead People for Lottery Numbers
When writing to dead people for numbers in the lottery, don't cross your t's or dot your i's. And don't use punctuation. At night, put it over a glass of water, under the bed, on top of silver three-pence. A number is to be provided somehow.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Boggs Number [B420 429] crossed out and others added: P840, P429, P686
Where learned: DORM ROOM
Keyword(s): Clairvoyance ; Gamble ; GAMBLING ; GRAMMAR ; Lottery ; NUMBERS ; RITUAL ; Spell ; SPIRIT ; SUPERNATURAL
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Number |
Ethnic: Native American
To Offer the Pipe:
After the pipe is filled it is offered silently in the four directions, skyward and earthward by pointing the stem away from the body while holding the bowl in the right hand. Nowone is prepared to hold the Pipe in two hands in any way that is comfortable or meaningful to the individual. Or else it is held in the right hand and the left is extended above the head palm outward. This ritual is a powerful sign with which to surroung an invocation or prayer just like the ceremonies of the Mass are signs surrounding the words of consecration. One can fell [sic] as comfortable performing the Pipe Ritual as he does the ceremonies of the Mass.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: CANADA ; Tekakwitha Conference ; WINNIPEG ; MANITOBA
Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; Mass ; Native American ; PRAYER ; RELIGION ; RITUAL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Ethnic: Native American
Before the prayers, say "remember man that the Pipe of your earthly life" will some day be broken. Then take bowl and stem apart and lay on coffin.
After the prayers in the ritual, then take two parts of the Pipe into your hands and say: "Through the Resurrection of Christ, the life of _____and all of us will be brought together into eternal happiness." Then in the four directions, point the Pipe to the sky and say "I am the Living and Eternal Pipe, the Ressurrection and the Life; he who believes in Me, even if he die [sic] shall live: and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die." Repeat this in each of the four direction. At the end point the Pipe to the sky and touch the Earth with the bowl.
Submitter comment:
The informant advises that the Pipe be already filled with tobacco. This is the most powerful prayer I have experienced with the Pipe and produces a deep impression on many people.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: CANADA ; Tekakwitha Conference ; WINNIPEG ; MANITOBA
Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; DEATH ; ETHNIC ; Funeral ; Native American ; PRAYER ; RELIGION ; RITUAL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Ethnic: Korean
Korean Burial Custom:
In Korea, burial sites are usually found on the sides of mountains with boundaries marked by two pillars. Once a year, (exact time not revealed by informant) food for deceased is borught and placed upon a platform.
Submitter comment:
Informant believes that these particular examples reflect a Buddhist belief in afterlife and ancestor worship.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; BURIAL ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; FOOD ; Funeral ; Korean ; RITUAL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Religion
Catholic Baptism:
At the baptism of a child the priest sprinkles salt over the tongue of the child to represent the bitterness of life he will face.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): BABY ; BAPTISM ; BAPTISM ; Bitterness ; Catholic ; CEREMONY ; CHURCH ; Original Sin ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; Rite ; RITUAL ; Salt ; SIN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Baptism Naming rite |
GROWTH BELIEF
IN THE UKRAINE IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF A SMALL CHILD IS LYING
DOWN AND A PERSON JUMPS OVER THEM, THE CHILD WON'T GROW.
BUT IF THE PERSON JUMPS BACK OVER AGAIN, THEN WALKS AROUND HIM, HE
WILL
GROW NORMALLY.
Submitter comment:
BELIEF STILL HIGHLY RESPECTED, HEARD FROM GRANDPARENTS.
BY INFORMANT IN UKRAINE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P644] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BEHAVIOR ; BELIEF ; CHILD ; GROWTH ; HEIGHT ; Jump ; Lore ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; RITUAL
| Subject headings: | Custom Favorites BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-01-1967
OYSTERS WERE NEVER EATEN IN THE MONTHS THAT HAD NO
"R" IN THEM.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Consumption ; CUSTOM ; FOOD ; Letter ; Oysters ; RITUAL ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Custom CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Month Food Drink -- Meat Fish and other animal life related to water |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
BIRTH BELIEF
AFTER THE BABY IS BORN THE MOTHER IS TO HOLD THE BABY IN HER
ARM AND WALK OVER WHEAT THAT HAS BEEN STREWN OVER THE FLOOR OR
GROUND, TO INSURE THE GOOD LIFE TO COME.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S MOTHER DID THIS WITH EACH OF HER CHILDREN SOON AFTER
BIRTH, ALSO DONE IN EGYPT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): BABY ; BIRTH ; CHILD ; CUSTOM ; Good ; LUCK ; MOTHER ; Practice ; RITUAL ; Wheat
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-23-1971
FUNERAL CUSTOM
THE ST. AMOUR'S HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE SONG "NOW I SEE
HIM FACE TO FACE " PLAYED OR SANG AT FAMILY FUNERALS.
Submitter comment:
THIS TRADITION STARTED WITH MRS. ST. AMOUR,S GRANDMOTHER.
IT WAS PLAYED AT HER FUNERAL.
IT WAS ALSO PLAYED AT HER OLDER SISTER,S FUNERAL.
MRS. ST. AMOUR'S AUNT HEARD THIS SONG THROUGH THE BED SPRINGS
ON HER DEATH BED.
SHE DIED A SHORT TIME LATER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; Funeral ; RITUAL ; SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Crucial moment of life Life cycle C434.546 |
Date learned: 12-03-1982
Play
ORIGINS OF GAMES: "MANY ARE ROOTED IN FESTIVE PLANTING
AND HARVEST CELEBRATIONS. 'DROP THE HANDKERCHIEF'
AND 'IN AND OUT THE WINDOW' PROBABLY STARTED WITH
CHILDREN MAKING FUN OF THE DATING HABITS OF BIG
BROTHERS AND SISTERS."
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: "NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SCHOOL BULLETIN"
Keyword(s): Copy ; COURTSHIP ; Festive ; GAMES ; HARVEST ; Mimic ; PLANTING ; Play ; RITUAL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |