Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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THE EXPECTANT MOTHER HAS TO DANGLE A PENCIL BY MEANS
OF A STRING TIED TO IT OFF THE EDGE OF A TABLE (OR
ANYTHING SOLID) ABOVE HER OTHER HAND WHICH IS COMPLETELY
RELAXED, PALM-UP. AFTER A REASONABLE LENGTH OF TIME,
THE PENCIL WILL START EITHER VIBRATING OR ROTATING.
VIBRATING, A BACK AND FORTH MOVEMENT, MEANS THAT SHE
WILL HAVE A BOY; WHILE ROTATING DESIGNATES A GIRL.
Where learned: WISCONSIN ; SUN PRAIRIE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
NUN'S GRAVEMARKERS
WHEN NUNS DIE, IN THE DOMINICAN ORDER OF SINSINAWA,
THE NAME WRITTEN ON THEIR GRAVES ARE, FIRST, THEIR
PROFESSED NAMES, E.G. SISTER MARY DOLORA, AND THEN
THEIR LAST NAME FROM SECULAR LIFE.
Where learned: WISCONSIN ; SUN PRAIRIE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN SOME FAMILIES IN WISCONSIN, A CHILD IS GIVEN A
NUMBER OF CUPCAKES, THE SAME AS THE NUMBER OF
YEARS OLD HE IS, AS MOST PEOPLE PUT THAT MANY
CANDLES ON A CAKE.
Where learned: WISCONSIN ; SUN PRAIRIE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
AT THE GIRLS' BOARDING SCHOOL I WENT TO IN WISCONSIN, THE
ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF THE FOUNDER OF THE
SINSINAWA DOMINICAN NUNS WAS CELEBRATED ANNUALLY.
A DIFFERENT PLAY ABOUT THE FOUNDER, FR. SAMUEL
MAZZUCHELLI, WAS WRITTEN EACH YEAR AND PRODUCED ON THIS
DAY. RELIGIOUS CELEBRATIONS IN HONOR OF THIS MAN
OCCUR ON THIS DAY.
Where learned: WISCONSIN ; SUN PRAIRIE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SENIORS INITIATED FRESHMEN AT THE GIRLS' BOARDING SCHOOL
I WENT TO IN WISCONSIN. A TYPICAL STUNT WAS TO TEAR A
PIECE OF PAPER INTO EXACTLY 200 PIECES AND BURY THE PIECES
IN A FURRY BEAR RUG, THEN TELL THE FRESHMAN TO FIND ALL
200 PIECES USING A TWEEZERS.
Where learned: WISCONSIN ; SUN PRAIRIE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SENIORS INITIATED FRESHMEN AT THE GIRLS' BOARDING SCHOOL
I WENT TO. A TYPICAL STUNT WAS TO TELL THE GIRL TO PICK
A PURPLE AFFRODITY WITH WHITE GRASS THAT GREW AROUND$?
SINCE THE FLOWER USED ALL THE CHLOROPHYL IN THAT AREA.
(CHLOROPHYL IS WHAT MAKES THE GRASS GREEN, YOU SEE.)
THIS INITIATED THE FRESHMEN INTO THE RULES OF THE SCHOOL,
SINCE THE AFFRODITIES WERE SAID TO GROW ONLY ON THE
CONVENT SIDE OF THIS SCHOOL AND NONE OF THE GIRLS ARE
ALLOWED TO GO OVER TO THE CONVENT SIDE. (THE NUNS
NEVER COULD FIGURE OUT WHY IT WAS THAT EACH YEAR
THERE WERE ALWAYS NEW FRESHMEN WALKING AROUND IN THE
GRASS ON THE CONVENT SIDE.
Where learned: WISCONSIN ; SUN PRAIRIE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SENIORS INITIATED FRESHMEN AT GIRLS' BOARDING SCHOOL
I WENT TO. A TYPICAL STUNT WAS TO HAVE THE GIRL
MAKE THE SENIOR'S BED, AND REMAKE IT UNTIL A QUARTER
WOULD BOUNCE OFF IT, AND THEN PROBABLY REMAKE IT
AGAIN.
Where learned: WISCONSIN ; SUN PRAIRIE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SENIORS INITIATED FRESHMEN AT GIRLS' BOARDING SCHOOL
I WENT TO. A TYPICAL STUNT WAS TO MAKE THE GIRL
PUSH A NICKEL DOWN A LONG CORRIDOR (WITH PEOPLE
STANDING IN THE WAY) WITH HER NOSE.
Where learned: WISCONSIN ; SUN PRAIRIE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
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
CATACOMBS
AT THE GIRLS' BOARDING SCHOOL I WENT TO IN WISCONSIN,
THERE WAS A STORY THAT UNDER THE OLD SCHOOL BUILDINGS,
WE LIVED AND WENT TO SCHOOL IN, THERE WERE SOME OLD
CATACOMBS. GIRLS SAID THAT THERE WERE TUNNELS DOWN
THERE AND WENT DOWN TO EXPLORE THEM. ALL I EVER
SAW DOWN THERE WERE MECHANICAL TUNNELS THOUGH.
Where learned: WISCONSIN ; SUN PRAIRIE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.12 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN