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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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Ethnic: Native American

Indian Death Belief:

Among the Lakota Indians, the Informant believes that the death customs among these particular Indians shows a consciousness of ancestry but not ancestor worship.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; ANCESTRY ; BURIAL ; CUSTOM ; DEATH ; ETHNIC ; Funeral ; Native American

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

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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

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Ethnic: Korean

Korean Death Custom:

In Korea, there is a three year mourning period for a parent since each child spent three years in the bosom before birth.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Ancestors ; Beliefs ; BURIAL ; CUSTOMS ; DEATH ; ETHNIC ; Funeral ; Korean

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

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Trick

Trick:

A tricky person will point at a button on your clothing and ask "Do you want that?" If you say "yes," then he rips it off and gives it to you. If you are unfortunate enough to say "no," he rips it off and throws it away.

Submitter comment:

Be careful who you pull this trick on. He should not be Dick the Bruiser.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): BULLY ; Button ; CLOTHING ; JOKE ; Prank ; Tease ; TRICK ; TRICKSTER

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion

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Entry filtered.

Custom/Belief

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

School Custom Concerning Dress:

Anyone who wore green and yellow to school on Thursday was considered to be "queer."

Submitter comment:

I can recall this as being practiced while I was in grade school.

Data entry tech comment:

motifs added by TRD

Where learned: Myself

Keyword(s): COLOR ; DRESS ; Green ; Homophobia ; HOMOSEXUALITY ; Presentation ; SCHOOL ; SLANG ; Thursday ; YELLOW

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School

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Custom

Slate:

When the informant was of grade-school age, it was mandatory to come to school with a slate and a sponge wet enough to last for the whole day.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [M243] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: HOME ; PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH

Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; EDUCATION ; Learning ; Objects ; SCHOOL ; TOOLS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School

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Ethnic: Belgium

Homework Law:

In Belgium, where 51/2 days of school per week is the rule, there is a law which limits the amount of homework to 2 hours per day for any student.

Data entry tech comment:

Motif added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [F574.5, F574.82] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: HOME ; PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH

Keyword(s): Belgium ; EDUCATION ; ETHNIC ; Homework ; Law ; SCHOOL ; Student

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School

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Custom/Belief

You should make a wish when you enter a church for the first time.

Submitter comment:

Informant revealed this custom when the new parish church was built several years ago.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CHURCH ; CUSTOM ; RELIGION ; WISH

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church

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Ethnic: Belgium

Solemn Communion:

In Belgium, at the age of 12, there would be a Solemn Communion. Although they had made their First Communion at the age of 7, at this time, the children would assemble in Church to renew their Baptismal vows. there were weeklong preparations for the event. Girls wore white gowns, much in the manner of a bridal outfit. There would be a three day celebration. On the first day, the parents and godparents gathered at the child's home. The second day saw the cousins and other immediate relatives there. And on the third day, the neighbors and friends joined in the activities.

Submitter comment:

See also F5444

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH

Keyword(s): Belgium ; CHILDREN ; CHURCH ; Communion ; Community ; ETHNIC ; FAMILY ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church

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Custom/Belief

Churches:

When driving or walking past a church, bow your head and say "My Lord have Mercy."

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CHURCH ; CUSTOM ; PRAYER ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church

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Custom/Belief

Belief - Baby/Motherhood:

After delivering a baby, a woman will eat the afterbirth of an animal, so that her afterbirth delivers well.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [F542] crossed out and replaced with current classification.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): Afterbirth ; BELIEF ; BIRTH ; Child Bearing ; CHILDBIRTH ; Consumption ; CUSTOM ; FOOD ; Placenta ; PREGNANCY ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth

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Custom/Belief

Baptism:

In Belgium, children were baptized when they were 3 days old. When the ceremonies were completed, signified by bell ringing at the church, other children would gather outside the church, at which time, the parents of the one baptized would throw chocolate covered almonds or other candy to the awaiting children.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [F543, P686, S720, N247, F533] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH

Keyword(s): BAPTISM ; Belgium ; CANDY ; CHILDREN ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; FOOD ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Baptism Naming rite

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Custom/Belief

Irregular Festival:

It is a custom in my family to have a big family gathering, celebration, reunion, and party whenever someone in the fammily has made the Sacrament of Confirmation or 1st Communion. The recipient recieves gifts and/or money from every other member of the fmaily. It roughlyparallels the Bar Matzvah of the Jewish Religion.

Data entry tech comment:

motifs added by TRD

Where learned: NEW YORK ; Myself ; LeRoy

Keyword(s): Celebration ; CUSTOM ; Maturity ; PARTY ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; Rite-of-Passage

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Maturity

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Belief: Children

Determining Sex of Unborn Child:

A pin on a thread, if held motionless over the wrist of an expectant mother, can determine sex of child by the motion which it takes up after it is perfectly still. If pin or needle takes up a circular motion than first child weill be a girl. If needle takes up back and forth motion then a boy. If pin stops and then moves again, this can be used to predict the future sex and number of children.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P860] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: HOME ; NEW YORK ; ROCHESTER

Keyword(s): ANAPEL ; BELIEF ; Biology ; BIRTH ; CHILDREN ; CUSTOM ; Forecasting ; gender ; Ordain ; Pendulum ; Predictions ; SEX

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth

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Belief: Luck

Wedding Luck:

If it rains on a wedding day this is good luck; if it doesn't, the couple is sprinkled with champagne.

Data entry tech comment:

motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [I545] crossedo ut. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; LUCK ; MARRIAGE ; OMEN ; SUPERSTITION ; WEDDING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage

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Ethnic:Belgium

Wedding:

In Belgium, at weddings, it was a belief and general practice that the more important or wealthy the bride, the later she would arrive at the church. There were instances where the bride would be as much as 1/2 hour late. The priests were well aware of this practice and would not grow impatient during the waiting period.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P545, F578] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH

Keyword(s): Belgium ; Bride ; CEREMONY ; ETHNIC ; Late ; MARRIAGE ; PRIEST ; Tardy ; WEDDING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage

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Ethnic: Ukraine

In the Ukranian village a girl would wear her hair in long braids. However, if she became pregnant while still unmarried, her hair would be cut short, symbolizing her loss of virginity.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P438, F545] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): Chastity ; ETHNIC ; HAIR ; MARRIAGE ; SYMBOL ; Ukraine ; UKRAINIAN ; VIRGINITY ; WEDDING ; Wedlock

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage

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Ethnic: Ukraine

In the Ukranian village, a girl would wear her hair in long braids. On her wedding day, her mother would ceremoniously unbraid it; a week later, her husband cut it off [sic].

Data entry tech comment:

Based on another submission card that is by the same person, regarding something very similar, that the cutting of the hair symbolizes the loss of virginity, which may or may not be clear. See CFA #  43568 for cross reference.

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

BN F545 is written in black marker above original BN [P430, F545]

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): Consummation ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; HAIR ; HUSBAND ; MARRIAGE ; Ukraine ; UKRAINIAN ; VIRGINITY ; WEDDING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Human Being

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Ethnic: Ukraine

Wedding Custom:

Before setting out for the church wedding ceremony, the Ukranian couple approach the two sets of parents and ask them for the parent's blessing. They then kneel before the parents, on a specially embroidered cloth "rushyk." The parents make the sign of the cross over them with a holyicon, then with a loaf of bread- touch each on the forehead. They wish them luck, health and many happy and prosperous years.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; Myself

Keyword(s): BLESSING ; Cloth ; CUSTOMS ; ETHNIC ; FAMILY ; MARRIAGE ; Ukraine ; WEDDING

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage

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Ethnic: Polish

Wedding Custom:

Offering bread and wine to newlyweds just before they leave the reception is a traditional way of wishing good luck for them. [sic]

Submitter comment:

This little ceremony was observed at several Polish weddings that I attended.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: Myself

Keyword(s): BLESSING ; CEREMONY ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; FOOD ; LUCK ; MARRIAGE ; POLAND ; POLISH ; WEDDING ; Wine

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage

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