Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for MARRIAGE returned 89 results.
Yellow Ribbon
This is a story about John and Jane. They lived next door to each other, went to school together, and loved each other very much. John was a normal happy boy and Jane was a happy girl who always wore a yellow ribbon . Jane kept answering "perhaps some day I'll tell you."
Time went by, and John and Jane were engaged. Jane told John she would tell him about the ribbon on their wedding day. On their wedding day, they forgot about the yellow ribbon. Next day, however, John asked why she wore it again. She replied that they were happily married so what difference does it make?
Time went by and it was their golden anniversary and John asked about the ribbon again. Jane asked him to wait a little longer since he has waited so long already. Finally, Jane became very ill and was dying. John asked again to please tell him why she wore the yellow ribbon.
"All right," said Jane. "You can untie it." So John untied the yellow ribbon and Jane's head fell off.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Boggs Numbers [B600 B642] are crossed outand B667.1 is substituted.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Myself
Keyword(s): Anniversary ; BEHEADING ; BODY ; CURIOSITY ; Curious ; DEATH ; DECAPITATION ; DYING ; HEAD ; LOVE ; MARRIAGE ; Neighbors ; SECRET ; Yellow Ribbon
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Entry filtered.
Custom
Ukrainians have a custom of greeting honored guests with bread and salt. The host or hostess, carrying a plate with a loaf of bread and a mound of salt on top of it, meets the guest at the door with proper salutations, in expression of greetings & hospitality. Newlyweds are installed in their new home with a ritual of bread and salt.
Submitter comment:
Today this custom is used only by organizations when greeting individuals of great distinction.
Data entry tech comment:
Motif added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; MOTHER
Keyword(s): BREAD, Salt ; CUSTOM ; DOMESTIC RELATIONS ; ETHNIC ; MARRIAGE ; Salt, Bread ; Social Rank ; SOCIAL RELATIONS ; UKRAINIAN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Maxim
Sun and Rain:
Happy is the bride the sun shines on;
Lucky is the corpse that rain falls on.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880, P45] crossed out/ replaced with current classifications.
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Bride ; BURIAL ; Corpse ; DEATH ; Funeral ; MARRIAGE ; Maxim ; OMEN ; SUPERSTITION ; WEDDING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Superstition:Wedding
Wedding Superstition:
For each ribbon a bride breaks on a wedding or shower gift she'll have a child.
Submitter comment:
This is a superstition common in the Oswald family
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P545] crossed out/replaced with current classifications
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; BIRTH ; CHILD ; CUSTOM ; FUTURE ; MARRIAGE ; OMEN ; Ribbon ; SUPERSTITION ; WEDDING
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Maxim
It begins with you sinking into his arms and ends with your arms in the sink.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Submission card located in pile marked [?]
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; OFFICE
Keyword(s): Feminism ; MARRIAGE ; Newlywed ; OMEN ; ROMANCE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Ethnic: Native American
Use of the Pipe During a Wedding:
The married couple standing together before the priest for the nuptial blessing could both hold the same Pipe with the right hands, stem away from themselves. This would be a perfect ceremonial sign of the words of the priest. The Nuptial Blessing contains the type of prayer which is most nautral to the Pipe.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: CANADA ; Tekakwitha Conference ; WINNIPEG ; MANITOBA
Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; CEREMONY ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; MARRIAGE ; Native American ; PRAYER ; WEDDING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
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 |
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 |
Ethnic: Yugoslavian
Engagement:
In Yugoslavia, parents still arrange any marriages. Thus, whenever a horn is heard blowing, everyone knows that an engagement has been decided. Often, the young people involved may be the last ones to know.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F533] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): Arranged Marriages ; COURTSHIP ; DATING ; Engagement ; ETHNIC ; Horn ; MARRIAGE ; Weddings ; Yugoslavia
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Ethnic: Hungarian
Hungarian Wedding:
The informant recalls that on her wedding day, when she returned to her new mother-in-law's home, she was greeted by the mother and asked to recite the "Our Father." When she came to the part "Give us this day our daily bread..." the mother handed her a loaf of bread saying "no matter how poor you may become, always remember that you will still have a loaf of bread." This is a common Hungarian Custom.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [S570] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; FAMILY ; FOOD ; HUNGARIAN ; MARRIAGE ; POVERTY ; PRAYER ; WEDDING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Ethnic: Yugoslavian
Wedding:
In Yugoslavia, the bride must bring 40 different items with her to prove that she is versatile and can do all these things. If she fails to do this she can't get married.
Submitter comment:
Recounted from Mrs. Benestelli's mother, a neighbor, who just returned home from Yugoslavia.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F572] crossed out and replaced with current classification.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; NEIGHBORS HOME ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): Chores ; CUSTOMS ; Domestic ; MARRIAGE ; TEST ; WEDDING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Ethnic: Ukraine
Wedding Custom:
Among the Ukrainians it was customary for an older couple called "starosty" represesnting the young man, to ask the parents of the girl for her hand in marriage. If she accepted the offer, she would tie around them a specially embroidered long cloth - "rushnyk."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): Cloth ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; MARRIAGE ; PARENTS ; Proposal ; UKRAINIAN ; WEDDING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
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 |
Ethnic: Ukraine
Ukrainian Wedding:
Toward the start of the wedding recpetion the mother of the bride removes the veil from the bride and places on her head a "wife's hat."
Today, the "wife's hat" is an ordinary woman's hat but formerly it was supposed to be a hat similar to the hat worn by frontier women. The hat is very plain and relatively ugly when compared to a veil. It is supposed to signify the hard work the wife must go through to satisfy her husband.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: Myself
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; Fashion ; Hat ; HUSBAND ; MARRIAGE ; WEDDING ; Wife
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Custom
Wedding Custom:
Before the bride leaves the reception the band plays a slow song and the bride removes her veil and places it on the head of her maid-of-honor.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): Bride ; CUSTOM ; Fashion ; Maid-of-Honor ; MARRIAGE ; MUSIC ; Reception ; Veil ; WEDDING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Custom
Wedding Custom:
Before the bride leaves the reception the band plays a slow song and the bride removes her veil and places it on the head of her maid-of-honor.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): Bride ; CUSTOM ; Fashion ; Maid-of-Honor ; MARRIAGE ; MUSIC ; Reception ; Veil ; WEDDING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |