Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for POLISH returned 106 results.
SWIENCONKA
ON HOLY SATURDAY MORNING, SAMPLES OF THE FOOD WHICH WILL BE SERVED
AT BREAKFAST ON EASTER SUNDAY ARE TAKEN TO CHURCH TO BE BLESSED.
FOODS INCLUDED IN THE EASTER BASKET ARE COLORED EASTER EGGS, BREAD,
KIELBASA, HAM, SALT AND PEPPER, AND BARANEK (BUTTER SHAPED LIKE A
LAMB.) THE FOOD IS COOKED BEFORE IT IS BLESSED AND SERVED COLD ON
EASTER MORNING.
Submitter comment:
SOME FAMILIES ADD COFFEE CAKES AND SWEET ROLLS TO THE SWIENCONKA
BASKET. THE INFORMANY'S FAMILY PRACTICES THIS CUSTOM MINUS
THE SWEET ROLLS AND COFFEE CAKE.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POLISH
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Saturday Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: CA00001890S ; 01-13-1980
DYNGUS DAY
ON EASTER MONDAY, YOUNG BOYS TAKE THE BRANCHES OF PUSSYWILLOWS
(DYNGUS) AND SWITCH YOUNG GIRLS WITH THE BRANCHES.
Submitter comment:
SOME FAMILIES PAY THE BOYS SO THE BOYS WILL NOT SWITCH THEIR
DAUGHTERS. SOME FAMILIES PAY THE BOYS TO SWITCH THEIR
DAUGHTERS. SOME FAMILIES HAVE GIVEN UP THIS PRACTICE.
PERSONALLY, THE INFORMANT HAS GIVEN UP THIS PRACTICE. HOWEVER, AS
OF 1980, SHE KNOWS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO PERSIST IN SWITCHING
YOUNG GIRLS.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POLISH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Monday Dyngus |
Date learned: CA00001890S ; 01-13-1980
PROPRAWINI
THE DAY AFTER A WEDDING, THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THE BRIDE
AND GROOM ASSEMBLE AT THE HOME OF THE BRIDE'S PARENTS TO EAT THE
FOOD LEFT-OVER FROM THE WEDDING RECEPTION. BESIDES EATING LEFT-
OVERS THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS USE THIS TIME TO RESTORE ORDER AND
TO CLEAN UP THE DEBRIS ASSOCIATED WITH A WEDDING RECEPTION.
Submitter comment:
ACTUALLY, PROPRAWINI IS NOTHING MORE THAN A FUNCTIONAL WAY TO GET RI
OF LEFT-OVERS. PERHAPS THAT'S WHY IT IS SUCH A COMMON PRACTICE.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POLISH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: CA00001890S ; 01-13-1980
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THE HAPPY VOICES OF THE GIRLS SOUNDED IN THE AIR
AS THEY THREW THEIR WREATHS ON THE CLEAR WATER.
THE BOY WHO CAUGHT A WREATH CHASED THE GIRL, WHEREAS
SHE HID IN THE THICK FERNS OF THE FOREST.
Where learned: RESIDENCE
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSLATION - POLISH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Season |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Kill the Belgian
This game is played just like "Hide and Seek," with
one person (called the Belgian) hiding and the others
hunting and then chasing him to the goal.
Submitter comment:
This game was played by non-Belgians, who
used the term Belgian for Swabian or Pole.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): German, Polish
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Hiding Searching SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport |
Date learned: 00001940CA
Blessing of the Easter Basket
When my mother was growing up, she would prepare an Easter
basket with her mother the day before Easter. The basket
contained Polish sausage, hard boiled eggs which symbolized new
life, a pound cake molded into the shape of a lamb, a pound of
butter shaped into the form of a lamb (the shape of the lamb
reminds us of Christ being sacrificed like a lamb), and homemade
bread with a cross cut into it (the cross symbolized the
crucifixion of Jesus). After all of these foods were made and put
into the basket, they carried the basket to Church on Holy
Saturday. At the Church, the priest would bless the basket of
food with Holy Water and say prayers. Then the basket of food was
taken home and eaten the next day on Easter Sunday. This food
basket was the base of that year's Easter Sunday dinner.
Submitter comment:
Our family still practices this custom of blessing the Easter
Basket only in Chicago, Illinois when we go to visit our Polish
grandparents. They live in a Polish dominated area of Chicago and
we all attend the Polish church down the street. The Mass is said
completely in Polish, and then the priest will bless all of the
Easter Baskets for the people.
Keyword(s): Polish Easter
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
TRUMPETER OF KRAKOW STORY
LONG AGO THE TARTARS WERE ATTACKING POLAND. THE POLES
HAD CHECKED THE ADVANCE OF THE TARTERS, ON MOST FRONTS,
BUT SOMEHOW THE ENEMIES MANAGED TO GET INTO THE CITY
OF KRAKOW. ALL THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY HAD FLED WHEN
THEY HEARD THE TARTERS WERE COMING. ONLY ONE MAN
REMAINED, A TRUMPETER, WHO HAD VOWED TO PLAY A HYMN
TO THE VIRGIN MARY ON HIS TRUMPET EVERY DAY IN THE TOWER
OF MARY'S CHURCH IN THE CITY. SINCE HE HAD MADE THIS
VOW, HE COULD NOT FLEE. SO, WHILE THE TARTERS WERE
INVADING THE CITY, THIS TRUMPETER WAS IN THE TOWER
PLAYING. SUDDENLY, HE WAS HIT IN THE HEART BY AN ARROW
OF ONE OF THE TARTERS. HE STOPPED HIS PLAYING IN
MID-NOTE AND DROPPED DEAD. TO THIS DAY, THE POLES PLAY
AND SING THIS HYMN, WHICH THEY CALL THE "HYMN OF THE
BROKEN NOTE."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): POLISH TRADITION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 10-15-1971
TRUMPETER OF KRAKOW STORY
LONG AGO THE TARTARS WERE ATTACKING POLAND. THE POLES
HAD CHECKED THE ADVANCE OF THE TARTERS, ON MOST FRONTS,
BUT SOMEHOW THE ENEMIES MANAGED TO GET INTO THE CITY
OF KRAKOW. ALL THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY HAD FLED WHEN
THEY HEARD THE TARTERS WERE COMING. ONLY ONE MAN
REMAINED, A TRUMPETER, WHO HAD VOWED TO PLAY A HYMN
TO THE VIRGIN MARY ON HIS TRUMPET EVERY DAY IN THE TOWER
OF MARY'S CHURCH IN THE CITY. SINCE HE HAD MADE THIS
VOW, HE COULD NOT FLEE. SO, WHILE THE TARTERS WERE
INVADING THE CITY, THIS TRUMPETER WAS IN THE TOWER
PLAYING. SUDDENLY, HE WAS HIT IN THE HEART BY AN ARROW
OF ONE OF THE TARTERS. HE STOPPED HIS PLAYING IN
MID-NOTE AND DROPPED DEAD. TO THIS DAY, THE POLES PLAY
AND SING THIS HYMN, WHICH THEY CALL THE "HYMN OF THE
BROKEN NOTE."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): POLISH TRADITION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 10-15-1971
TOMMY, FREEDOM IS IN YOUR HOME.
Submitter comment:
POLISH: WOLNOSC TOMKU
W SWOJEM DOMKU.
THE NAME TOMMY IS USED IN THIS PROVERB BECAUSE IT RHYMES
WITH HOME. TOMMY REPRESENTS ANYONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): POLISH EQUIVALENT OF "A MAN'S HOME IS HIS CASTLE." ; THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS PROVERB, WHICH IS THE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 02-07-1971
Goats Feet
There was a girl who liked to dance and socialize very often. Her parents objected so she used to sneak out of the house. One day her mother caught her and put a curse on her. If she went out of the house to go dancing again her feet would turn to goat's ffet. She didn't believe her mother. Next time she went out her beau picked her up and off they went. When she went to get out of the car, she looked down and her feet had turned to goat's feet. The moral is: listen to your parents.
Submitter comment:
Polish Tale (Written across the top of the card)
Co - Feet of girl turned into feet of goat when/after she is cursed by her mother for dancing. (written on an attached card that listed motifs. Signed by M. Butzen
Data entry tech comment:
Non-numbered motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Boggs Number [B600] crossed out and B642 written nest to it.
Collector's note of Polish Tale is crossed out.
Why Polish is written at the bottom of the card, then crossed out and followed by: B. Fagan says this is a Polish FolkTale.
A separate card is attached with motif numbers listed. Bottom of card is signed by an M. Butzen.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Dancing ; DATING ; Fable ; FAMILY ; FEET ; Goat ; Moral ; PARENTAL RESPECT ; PARENTS ; POLISH ; SOCIAL RELATIONS ; Teenager ; YOUTH
James Callow Keyword(s): POLISH
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Magic |
Ethnic:Polish Superstition
If you sing at the table you'll marry a crazy husband.
Submitter comment:
I distinctly recall hearing this in a Polish Verse form but I can't find anyone else who recalls it.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P800] crossed out and replaced with P88o. The numbers 880 are crossed out and replaced with 477.
Various grammatical correction symbols.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; HUSBAND ; MANNERS ; Omen, Singing ; POLISH ; SUPERSTITION ; TABLE MANNERS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Ethnic:Polish Superstition
IF A YOUNG GIRL SINGS AT THE TABLE, SHE WILL MARRY A CRAZY HUSBAND.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND OF MINE WHO REMEMBERS THIS FROM HER CHILDHOOD.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; HUSBAND ; MANNERS ; Omen, Singing ; POLISH ; SUPERSTITION ; TABLE MANNERS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
Ethnic:Polish Superstition
IF YOU SING AT THE TABLE, YOU WILL MARRY A CRAZY HUSBAND.
Submitter comment:
SHE HEARD THIS FROM HER MOTHER.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; HUSBAND ; MANNERS ; Omen, Singing ; POLISH ; SUPERSTITION ; TABLE MANNERS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
Entry filtered.
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: 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 |
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 |