Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Virgin returned 21 results.
IF YOU PUT A BLESSED MOTHER STATUE IN THE WINDOW, IT WON'T
RAIN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Catholic ; CATHOLICISM ; VIRGIN MARY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon |
Date learned: 06-14-1973
LEGEND
AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY THERE IS A TOWER CALLED BEAUMONT
IN WHICH THERE ARE TWO STEEPLES, EVERY TIME A VIRGIN
IS GRADUATED FROM THIS SCHOOL, ONE OF THE TWO STEEPLES
ARE KNOCKED DOWN TO HONOR HER. THESE TWO STEEPLES HAVE BEEN
THERE SINCE 1865.
Submitter comment: FROM ROOM MATE.
Data entry tech comment: COLLECTOR'S SPELLING CORRECTED BY KEYPUNCHER.
Where learned: DORM ; MICHIGAN STATE
James Callow Keyword(s): ANTIFEMINISM ; PESSIMISM ; SATIRE ; VIRGINITY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-01-1967
CUSTOM
IT IS TRADITIONAL FOR ROMANIAN GYPSY BRIDES TO HANG OUT A BLOODY
SHEET THE MORNING AFTER HER WEDDING NIGHT, TO PROVE THAT SHE HAD
KEPT HER CHASTITY UNTIL HER WEDDING NIGHT.
NON-VIRGINS WOULD TRADITIONALLY POUR CHICKEN BLOOD ON THE SHEETS
TO MAKE IT APPEAR THAT THEY WERE VIRGINS.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PROOF OF VIRGINITY ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Day after wedding |
MAY CROWNING CUSTOM
AT THE GIRLS' BOARDING SCHOOL I WENT TO IN WISCONSIN
A GIRL WAS CHOSEN EACH YEAR TO BE THE CENTRAL
CHARACTER IN A PROCESSION OF ALL THE GIRLS IN THE
SCHOOL WEARING WHITE DRESSES, BLUE SATIN SASHES, WHITE
(LONG) VEILS, AND CARRYING WHITE GLADIOLAS TO PUT INTO
VASES AROUND AN ALTAR TO MARY. THE GIRL CHOSEN, CALLED
THE MAY CROWNING QUEEN, CARRIED A BOQUET OF WHITE ROSES
WOVEN INTO A CROWN AND PUT IT ON THE HEAD OF A STATUE
OF MARY AT THE FOCAL POINT OF THIS ALTAR. THE GIRLS SANG
SONG AND SAID A ROSARY, & LISTENED TO A HOMILY.
Submitter comment: THIS "MARY" IS SAID TO BE THE MOTHER OF JESUS CHRIST.
Where learned: WISCONSIN ; SUN PRAIRIE
Keyword(s): MAY QUEEN ; VIRGIN MARY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- May CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
ASSUMPTION (OF OUR BLESSED LADY)
ON AUGUST 15, THE WOMEN TAKE ONE OF EACH FLOWER FROM
THEIR GARDEN, MAKE A BOUQUET WITH AN APPLE IN THE
MIDDLE, AND TAKE THIS BOUQUET TO CHURCH AND HAVE IT
BLESSED. THIS IS DONE BOTH IN HONOR OF THE BLESSED
MOTHER, AND TO ASK HER PROTECTION, SO THE FLOWERS WILL
BLOOM AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS STILL DONE IN MANY PARISHES WHERE THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF THE OLD POLISH.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): VIRGIN MARY
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- August 15 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Festival |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
EVERYTIME A GIRL WHISTLES, IT MAKES THE BLESSED
MOTHER CRY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
Keyword(s): BLESSED VIRGIN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-23-1970
CARRY A ROSARY AT ALL TIMES SO THAT THE BLESSED MOTHER WILL
PROTECT YOU.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Catholic ; SACRAMENTAL ; VIRGIN MARY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 06-14-1973
A woman was in church praying to the Blessed Mother. Suddenly she heard a voice say, "My name is Jesus." The woman did not answer, but only prayed harder. Again the voice sounded. The woman turned around, looked, and continued praying. Again in happened. The woman was then very angry and said "Keep Quiet! Can't you see I am talking to your mother?"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs entered by TRD
Where learned: SCHOOL ; Myself
Keyword(s): Catholic ; CATHOLICISM ; Family Relationships ; HUMOR ; MOTHER ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; Religious Humor ; Respect for Elders ; VIRGIN MARY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious |
A woman was in church praying to the Blessed Mother. Suddenly she heard a voice say, "My name is Jesus." The woman did not answer, but only prayed harder. Again the voice sounded. The woman turned around, looked, and continued praying. Again in happened. The woman was then very angry and said "Keep Quiet! Can't you see I am talking to your mother?"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs entered by TRD
Where learned: SCHOOL ; Myself
Keyword(s): Catholic ; Catholocism ; Family Relationships ; HUMOR ; MOTHER ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; Religious Humor ; Respect for Elders ; VIRGIN MARY
| Subject headings: |
Entry filtered.
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 |
Entry filtered.
Belief: Animal
Crosses on Donkeys:
The fur on a donkey's back seems to make a dark cross length-wise. According to the informant, the cross is there because Christ rode the donkey into Jerusalem. When she told me this, another person who was present said she had always heard it was there because Mary rode on the donkey.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P682.4, M247.3] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAKLAND UNIVERSITY ;
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; ASS ; Christ ; CHRISTIANITY ; Cross ; DONKEY ; DONKEY ; Fur ; HAIR ; Jerusalem ; JESUS ; Mary ; RELIGION ; SYMBOL ; VIRGIN MARY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
FIGHTING FOR PEACE IS LIKE SCREWING FOR VIRGINITY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; FIGHT ; HYPOCRISY ; HYPOCRISY ; Opposite ; Peace ; PROVERB ; Saying ; Screw ; VIRGINITY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
CEMETERY STATUE
THERE IS A CEMETERY IN WILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA WITH A SIX
FOOT STATUE OF A GIRL, DRESSED IN A FLOWING ROBE, CARRYING AN ARMFUL
OF SCHOOL BOOKS, PENCIL CASE, ETC.
THE HISTORY OF THE FIGURE IS AS FOLLOWS:
THE GIRL WAS COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL
ONE DAY WHEN SHE WAS ATTACKED, RAPED, AND KILLED BY TWO HOODLUMS,
ON THE DAY OF HER BIRTHDAY. HER PARENTS HAD A
STATUE MADE IN HER LIKENESS AT THE TIME SHE WAS KILLED, AND PLACED ON
HER GRAVE, WHICH IS ON A HILL OVERLOOKING
A LARGE PART OF THE CEMETERY.
BECAUSE SHE WAS A VIRGIN AT THE TIME OF DEATH, IT IS BELIEVED THAT
ANYONE GOING INTO THE CEMETERY AT THE DEAD OF NIGHT
AND WHO DARES TO WALK THE
LONELY WALK UP TO THE STATUE, AND TOUCH IT WILL DISCOVER WHETHER OR
NOT THEY ARE A VIRGIN. A VIRGIN WILL
RECEIVE NO HARM FROM THE STATUE,
BUT A NON-VIRGIN WILL RECEIVE A SMALL
CUT AND CONSEQUENTLY BLEED FROM TOUCHING THE GARMENT OF THE
STATUE. IN ADDITION, ON THE EVE OF HER BIRTHDAY, THE
STATUE IS BELIEVED TO COME ALIVE AND WALK THE CEMETERY LOOKING
FOR HER MURDERERS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MELVINDALE
Keyword(s): CEMETERY ; GHOST ; Legend ; SUPERSTITION ; Urban Legend ; Virgin
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 10-15-1965
A GIRL WHISTLING
GIRLS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO WHISTLE BECUASE IT MAKES THE BLESSED
VIRGIN CRY WHENEVER THEY DO IT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS MY MOTHER, AND SHE REMEMBERS THIS FROM HER
CHILDHOOD BECAUSE MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO TELL THIS TO HER DAUGHTERS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
Keyword(s): BLESSED VIRGIN ; Female ; Feminine ; Girl ; Ladylike ; Whistle
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: EARLY CHILDHOOD
WHISTLING
GIRLS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO WHISTLE BECAUSE THE BLESSED MOTHER
WOULD TURN HER HEAD AND CRY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT TOLD BY HER MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG (1920'S).
SHE PRACTICED THIS
WHEN YOUNG, BUT DOES NOT BELIEVE IN THE TRUTH OF IT NOW.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): Blessed Mother ; BLESSED VIRGIN ; Cry ; Female ; Feminine ; Girls ; Holy Mother ; Ladylike ; Whistle
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
GIRL WHISTLING
IN GRANDMOTHER'S TIME THE GIRLS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO WHISTLE. SHE
SAID IT MADE THE BLESSED VIRGIN CRY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): BLESSED VIRGIN ; Cry ; Female ; Feminine ; Girls ; Ladylike ; Whistle ; Whistling
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
COLLEGE BELIEF
IF A VIRGIN EVER WALKS PAST THE BEAUMONT TOWERS AT
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, THE TOWER WILL CRUMBLE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): Crumble ; Destroy ; Legend ; SUPERSTITION ; Tower ; Urban Legend ; Virgin
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 01-24-1972