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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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HOLI
HOLI IS THE NAME OF THE INDIAN (FROM INDIA) FESTIVAL FOR
THE CELEBRATION OF THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING. THIS
FESTIVAL IS HELD SOMETIME IN MARCH. DURING IT, THE
FARMERS REJOICE AND SPRINKLE POWDERS OF MANY COLORS
OVER THEIR FIELDS. DIFFERENT COLORS ARE USED TO SHOW
THAT SPRING IS FULL OF COLORS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; INDIA
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting F663.9 |
Date learned: 10-23-1969
GROMMICE
THE CHRISTMAS SEASON OFFICIALLY ENDS ON CANDLEMAS DAY,
FEBRUARY 2, WHEN CANDLES ARE BLESSED IN THE POLISH
CHURCHES. THESE CANDLES, KNOWN IN POLISH AS
GROMMICE (FROM THE WORD FOR LIGHTNING: GROM)
ARE BELIEVED TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST STORMS, AS WELL AS
DISEASES AND OTHER MISFORTUNES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GROMNICE?
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- February 2 Candlemas Groundhog Day CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Lights and candles |
Date learned: 10-11-1972
IN GERMANY, THEY HOLD A CARNIVAL TO CELEBRATE NEW YEAR'S
CALLED FASCHING. IT LASTS ONE MONTH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's |
Date learned: 12-00-1967
EVERY CHRISTMAS, THE FAMILY GOES TO MIDNIGHT MASS, AS THEY
HAVE FOR TWO GENERATIONS. THEN THEY GO TO THEIR UNCLE'S
HOUSE AND HAVE A TURKEY DINNER THAT IS PREPARED WITH A
HOMEMADE STUFFING.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS PARENTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Church |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
MANY POLISH FAMILIES EAT FLAT UNLEAVENED BREAD ON
CHRISTMAS. THE BREAD IS IMPRESSED WITH HOLY PICTURES.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HIS MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Oplatki |
Date learned: 11-02-1967
OPLATEK IS A CUSTOM WHERE THE FAMILY BREAKS BREAD AT
CHRISTMAS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Oplatki |
Date learned: 11-12-1967
POLISH CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
ON CHRISTMAS EVE, IT WAS A CUSTOM IN OUR FAMILY TO GATHER
AT THE HOME OF OUR GRANDPARENTS FOR A MEAL AND CELEBRATION.
AT MIDNIGHT EVERYONE TOOK A PIECE OF WHITE WAFER,
CALLED OPLATKI, AND WENT AROUND TO ALL THE OTHERS,
WISHING THEM A MERRY CHRISTMAS. THE RECIPIENT OF THESE
GREETINGS WOULD BREAK OFF A BIT OF THE OTHER PERSON'S
WAFER AND THEN OFFER HIM HIS OWN, RETURNING THE GOOD
WISHES.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SAYS THE CUSTOMS STOPPED ABOUT EIGHT YEARS
AGO WHEN THE GRANDFATHER DIED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; VARSITY NEWS OFFICE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Oplatki |
Date learned: 04-11-1967
HIS FAMILY SPENDS CHRISTMAS EVE ON THE SCOTCH SIDE,
AND CHRISTMAS DAY ON THE POLISH SIDE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Date learned: 11-00-1967
FRENCH CANADIAN CUSTOM
WHEN THERE IS A DEATH IN THE FAMILY, ALL CLOTHES
INCLUDING UNDER CLOTHES ARE DYEDBLACK AND ARE WORN FOR
A PERIOD OF A MONTH, EXCLUDING THE WIDOW OR WIDOWER,
WHO WEARS IT FOR A PERIOD OF A YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CANADA ; HAZEL PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
POLISH SUPERSTITION
IT IS A POLISH SUPERSTITION THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN ODD
NUMBER OF COURSES AT A CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER. THIS IS
A FAMILY TRADITION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Menus BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 04-11-1967
FOOD FOR SANTA AND RUDOLPH (REINDEER)
A CHRISTMAS CUSTOM IS FOR LITTLE CHILDREN TO PUT A SNACK
FOR SANTA CLAUS AND RUDOLPH OUT ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A CUSTOM IN HER FAMILY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus Food Drink -- Food |
Date learned: 03-29-1967
EVERY TIME YOU CROSS THE INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE WHILE
ON BOARD SHIP, YOU PUT A MESSAGE IN AN EMPTY WHISKEY BOTTLE,
SEAL IT TIGHTLY WITH WAX AND THROW IT IN THE WATER.
Submitter comment: NAVY CUSTOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALMA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Irregular |
Date learned: 03-09-1970
ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO, THREE POTATO, FOUR.
FIVE POTATO, SIX POTATO, SEVEN POTATO, OR.
Submitter comment:
EVERYBODY PUTS OUT BOTH HANDS. ONE PERSON SAYS THIS
RHYME, HITTING EACH PERSON'S HAND AS HE GOES ALONG.
THE HAND HIT ON THE WORD "OR" IS ELIMINATED. PLAY
IS CONTINUED UNTIL ALL BUT ONE HAND IS ELIMINATED.
THAT PERSON IS IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
MARRIAGE
A HUNGARIAN CUSTOM, THE ENGAGEMENT RING IS WORN ON THE FOURTH
FINGER OF THE LEFT HAND; BUT AFTER MARRIAGE, THE RING IS TRANSFERRED
TO THE RIGHT HAND, FOURTH FINGER.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT, LOUIS L. SZEP, LEARNED THIS CUSTOM FROM HIS PARENTS
AS A CHILD IN HUNGARY. ALTHOUGH HE LEFT HUNGARY 27 YEARS AGO, HE
OBSERVES THIS PRACTICE TODAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Engagement ring |
Date learned: 12-31-1963
ON CHRISTMAS EVE IN GERMANY ST. NICHOLAS GOES FROM
DOOR TO DOOR WITH THE DEVIL WHO CARRIES A BAG OF
SWITCHES. CHILDREN GET EITHER AWARDS FROM ST. NICHOLAS
OR A SWITCHING FROM THE DEVIL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus |
Date learned: 12-00-1967
VIGALIA
A POLISH CELEBRATION FOR CHRISTMAS EVE IS CALLED
VIGALIA. THERE ARE AN ODD NUMBER OF COURSES AT THE
DINNER. STRICT POLISH PEOPLE HAVE STRAW ON THE
TABLE AND ONE VACANT PLACE FOR THE CHRIST CHILD.
THERE IS ALSO A CUSTOM WHERE A WAFER IS PASSED FROM
PERSON TO PERSON, AND EACH ONE TAKES A PIECE.
THIS IS A POLISH CUSTOM AND A FAMILY TRADITION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Oplatki CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Straw BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 04-11-1967
POLISH CUSTOM
THE FIRST TIME YOU WASH IN THE NEW YEAR, YOU WASH WITH
A PIECE OF GOLD, FOR PROSPERITY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
THE POLISH HAVE THEIR HOUSES BLESSED BY THE PRIEST ON NEW
YEAR'S DAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's |
Date learned: 11-14-1968
ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE YEAR, A MAN SHOULD ENTER
THE HOUSE FIRST TO BRING THE HOUSE GOOD LUCK.
ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE NEW YEAR, IF A WOMAN IS THE
FIRST PERSON TO ENTER THE HOUSE, IT'S A SIGN OF BAD
LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THIS SAYING WAS BELIEVED BY DARLENE'S PARENTS,
WHO IN TURN, RELATED IT TO HER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 02-20-1971
IF YOU GO AND CHECK THE MAIL BEFORE THE MAILMAN HAS ARRIVED
IT MEANS THAT THE NEXT TIME YOU CHECK IT THERE WILL ONLY BE
BILLS IN IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time |