Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for ETHNIC returned 209 results.
Ethnic: Belium
Funeral:
In Belgium, during funeral processions, the children would carry boquets or wreaths of flowers which they had picked.
Submitter comment:
Recorded on tape
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): Belgium ; BURIAL ; CHILDREN ; CUSTOM ; DEATH ; ETHNIC ; FLOWERS ; Funeral ; RESPECT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Ethnic: Ukranian
If an unmarried girl dies, she is buried dressed as a bride, according to Ukranian tradition.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): BURIAL ; Chastity ; DEATH ; ETHNIC ; Female ; Funeral ; Maiden ; UKRAINIAN ; Unmarried ; YOUTH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Ethnic: Belgium
European Meals:
In Belgium, 4 meals are considered the standard number. First, there is breakfast. Around noon, the big meal of the day occurs. Everyone closes their businesses or comes home from school between 12-1. Around 3-4 there is a snack of bread and butter and jam or the like. And finally, around 7 everyone partakes of a hot meal.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [N222, N222.4, N222.2, N222.6, N222.8] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): Belgium ; Consumption ; Dinner ; ETHNIC ; FOOD ; Lunch ; Meals ; SNACK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Ethnic: German
Tros, tros, tril,
Der Bauerhat ein Phil,
Das Philchen will nicht lauffen,
Der Bauer will verkaufen,
Tros, tros, tril.
This verse was sung by a grandfather to a small child. It accompanied a little game in which the grandfather sat with his knees crossed. On his right leg the child was seated facing the grandfather who grasped the child's hands. As the grandfather sings the verse, he gives the child a "pony" ride on his leg.
The verse tells of a farmer who had a horse, the horse would not run, so the farmer wants to sell the horse.
Submitter comment:
The informant remembers her German-born father entertaining his grandchildren with this game in Kenosha, Wisconsin about 30 years ago.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Loose (very loose) translation:
Tros, Tros, tril, The Bauerhat a Phil, The Philchen will not often run, the farmer wants to sell, Tros, Tros, tril.
James Callow comment:
Original BN [C520, C750] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; Entertainment ; ETHNIC ; Fable ; GAME ; GERMAN ; HORSE ; Play ; RHYME ; SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.520 |
Entry filtered.
Superstition
Italian Superstition:
Our family doesn't believe this, but my grandmother and some relatives do: when a pregnant woman craves for some specific food, and doesn't satisfy this crave, she will get a beauty mark in the shape of that food somewhere on her body. My cousin has a beauty mark similar to a pork chop and her mother claims to have craved for pork.
Data entry tech comment:
motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Reference
Original Bn [P680] crossed out and replaced with current classification
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; Myself
Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; CHILD ; Craving ; ETHNIC ; FOOD ; Italian ; Old Wives Tale ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): Reference
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Ethnic: German
Superstition:
In German villages it is believed that if a boy has a dog and the dog runs away, then the boy must follow the dog in search of his fortune. If the dog returns without his master, then the boy is dead. If the dog does not return, the boy has found his fortune.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P800] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Boy ; DIVINATION ; DOG ; ETHNIC ; FATE ; fortune ; GERMAN ; Ordaining ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Ethnic: Polish
House Initiation / Polish Custom:
Put a cat in a house before you move into it and there will always be good luck.
Submitter comment:
A neighbor came over to borrow our cat for one of their relatives who had just bought a new house. These relatives of ournaighbors had just recently come over from Poland. I don't know the people's names and the neighbor doesn't live around here any more.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F532] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications.
Message on the bottom of card:
[Please copy this item on the yellow card below so it will ALSO be filed under F686]
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Myself
Keyword(s): CAT ; ETHNIC ; fortune ; Good ; House ; Housewarming ; LUCK ; OMEN ; POLAND ; POLISH ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing BELIEF -- Mammal |
Ethnic: Roman
Rome is the city of cats, stones and priests becasue all three of these are very plentiful. The cats can be found everywhere and are respected by the people and are feed [sic] by them. Cats are never killed and always cared for because it is said that the Roman spirit is reincarnated in them.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P752, B440] crossed out / replaced with current classification
Keyword(s): CAT ; DEATH ; ETHNIC ; Feline ; Priests ; REINCARNATION ; Roman ; Rome ; Soul ; STONES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Entry filtered.
Ethnic: Egyptian
Belief about Gods:
Cats were considered to be Gods in ancient Egypt.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [B200, P230.440] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; CAT ; Egypt ; Egyptian ; ETHNIC ; GODS ; Worship
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Belief: Animal
Legend about the Rhinoceros:
In the Far East the horn of a rhinoceros is thought to be an aphrodisiac. Becasue of this the rhinoceros is almost extinct in this region.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [ B444, N800] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; APHRODISIAC ; ETHNIC ; Extinct ; Far East ; Horn ; HUNTING ; Rhinoceros
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Belief: Animal
The Pig's Look:
In Haiti, if walking down the street at midnight, one spy's a pig; he looks and runs the other way, for if the eyes of the pig meet yours simultaneously, you will immediately be transformed into a pig.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BELIEF ; ETHNIC ; Haiti ; Haitian ; MAGIC ; Pig ; TRANSFORMATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Belief: Animal
Bite-Cure:
In Haiti, there is a small lizard-type animal, resembling a chameleon, because right before it bites you, it changes colors so that you can't see it. When it does bite, its jaws lock and it dangles on your body. The only way you can get it off is to find a donkey and make it bray - there by forcing the animal to open its jaws.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P750] crossed out. Replaced wtih current classification
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; Bite ; BLEND ; Camouflage ; Chameleon ; DONKEY ; ETHNIC ; Haiti ; Haitian ; Lizard
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
Superstition: Pregnancy
Haitian Superstition:
If a lizard crosses your wife's path, she'll get pregnant.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880.740] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; CONCEPTION ; ETHNIC ; Haiti ; Haitian ; Lizard ; PREGNANCY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
Belief: Animal
Belief About Snakes:
In many parts of Mexico and South America the snake serves as a symbol of fertility.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [B400] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; ETHNIC ; FERTILITY ; Mexican ; MEXICO ; REGIONAL ; Serpent ; SIGN ; Snake ; SOUTH AMERICA ; South American ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Superstition: Pregnancy
Birth Marks:
After giving borth to a child, an Italian woman will ask the doctor, "are there any marks?" Immediately, if there were any, they would disappear.
Submitter comment:
This is another Italian "in" story
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P740.542, F542] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): BABY ; BIRTH ; Birth Mark ; CURE ; CURSE ; Delivery ; ETHNIC ; Italian ; PREGNANCY ; REMEDY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Superstition: Pregnancy
Superstition:
A Polish pregnant woman must be shielded from the sight of cripples, any people that are ugly, abnormal or diseased for fear of "marking" the child.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Able-ism ; Able-ist ; BELIEF ; BIRTH ; ETHNIC ; Ignorant ; POLAND ; POLISH ; PREGNANCY ; PREGNANT ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Ethnic:Polish Superstition
Curing a Spell:
To cure a spell, especially the evil eye, cast on a small child, you remove all the clothes, and dress the baby again with all the clothes inside out. This is a Polish belief.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): CHILD ; CLOTHING ; CURE ; CURSE ; ETHNIC ; EVIL EYE ; Fashion ; MAGIC ; POLAND ; POLISH ; REMEDY ; Removal
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Ethnic: Isreali Superstition
The Druse, a tribe in Isreal, protect their babies from the Evil Eye by painting a circle around each eye of the child with a dye called Kehl.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): BABY ; CHILD ; CURE ; CURSE ; Druse ; Dye ; ETHNIC ; EVIL EYE ; Israel ; Israeli ; Kehl ; Protection ; REMEDY ; SUPERSTITION ; Tribe
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |