The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Belief: Weather

The south wind brings wet weather,

The north wind wet and cold together,

The west wind always brings us rain,

The last wind blows it back again.

Submitter comment:

Verse without Music or Prediction Divination

Heard in School

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Dup. of WPP

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO ;

Keyword(s): Compass ; DIRECTION ; North ; PREDICTING WEATHER ; PREDICTION ; Rain ; South: east West ; Wind

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Verse

The Wind:

When the wind is in the East,

'Tis good for neither man nor feast;

When the wind is in the North,

The skillful fisher goes not forth;

When the wind is in the South,

It blows the bait in the fishes' mouth;

When the wind is in the West,

Then 'tis at its very best.

Submitter comment:

Discovered in a paper placement, printed in Rhode Island. Paper then discovered at Audio's Pizzaria in Detroit.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Dup. of WPP

Where learned: Rhode Island

Keyword(s): Bait ; DIRECTION ; East ; FISH ; Fisherman ; FOOD ; Formula ; North ; Ocean ; PREDICTION ; RHYME ; Sailor ; SEA ; Sky ; SONG ; South ; Sport ; VERSE ; WARNING ; West ; Wind

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APOKRIES

THIS IS THE PRE-LENTEN HOLIDAY, A THREE WEEK FESTIVITY, AND PRECEDES
THE FORTY-NINTH DAY PRE-EASTER LENTEN PERIOD.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Easter ; ETHNIC ; FESTIVAL ; Greek ; holiday ; Lent

James Callow Keyword(s): FESTIVAL ; Greek

Date learned: 00-00-1980

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Ethnic: Polish

A POLISH, CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER CALLS FOR EACH SERVING TO BE
SERVED SEPARATELY. THE NEXT SERVING IS NOT BROUGHT ON UNTIL THE
PREVIOUS ONE HAS BEEN CONSUMED BY ALL THAT WANT IT. GENERALLY,
THE SERVINGS ARE OF VEGETABLES. THERE IS NO MEAT EATEN. NOTHING
IS DRANK DURING THE MEAL.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated 02-23-2011 / TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ABSTINENCE ; CHRISTMAS ; Course ; CUSTOM ; Dinner ; DRINK ; ETHNIC ; Feast ; FOOD ; holiday ; meat ; POLISH ; Serve ; tradition

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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Ethnic: Polish

IN POLAND, AND IN MANY POLISH-AMERICAN HOMES, THE VIGIL OF
CHRISTMAS IS A VERY SOLEMN OCCASION. A VARIETY OF FOOD IS SERVED,
TWELVE DISHES IN ALL, TO REPRESENT THE TWELVE APOSTLES. NO DAIRY
PRODUCTS ARE ALLOWED. IT ALSO CONSISTS OF SPECIAL WAFERS CALLED
OPTATKI, WHICH THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD DISTRIBUTES TO EACH
MEMBER OF THE FAMILY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated / 02-24-2011 / TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Keyword(s): ABSTINENCE ; CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; DAIRY ; Dinner ; ETHNIC ; FAMILY ; Feast ; FOOD ; holiday ; POLAND ; POLISH ; SYMBOL ; Symbolic ; Vigil

Date learned: 10-27-1968

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Joke

Easter Joke:

"Easter will be a little late this year, they found the body."

Submitter comment:

Sign on the desk of a room in Payne Hall, Peabody College.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: Myself

Keyword(s): BODY ; Easter ; holiday ; JOKE ; RELIGION ; Resurrection

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GIVE FRIENDS "EASTER BREAD" (CAKE LOAF) TO INSURE
GOOD LUCK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): BREAD ; Easter ; FOOD ; GIFT ; GOOD LUCK ; holiday ; LUCK ; Share ; SYMBOL ; tradition

Date learned: 04-00-1972

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BIRTH BELIEF ABOUT A GHOST OR SPIRIT

THE MOTHER WHO DIES IN CHILDBIRTH WILL TRY AND COME BACK
FROM THE GRAVE TO NURSE THE BABY.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BABY ; BIRTH ; Breastfeeding ; CHILDBIRTH ; DEATH ; GHOST ; Haunt ; MOTHER ; Nurse ; Nursing ; SPIRIT

Date learned: 02-19-1972

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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

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NURSING BELIEF

IF TWO MOTHERS ARE NURSING THEIR BABIES IN THE SAME ROOM, ONE
WILL "STEAL" THE OTHER'S MILK.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BABY ; BABY ; Breastfeeding ; infant ; Milk ; MOTHER ; Nursing ; Steal ; Supply

Date learned: 11-19-1971

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GREEK CUSTOM

THE GREEKS HANG THEIR CROSSES ON THE EAST WALLS OF THEIR HOME
WHERE THE SUN RISES. ( FACING THE EAST.)

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Cross ; Crucifix ; Culture ; CUSTOM ; East ; Greek ; Ordinal Direction ; RELIGION ; Sun ; SYMBOL

James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; FACING EAST ; POSITION

Date learned: 11-14-1969

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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

Date learned: 03-31-1971

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