Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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USE OF AN OBJECT BELIEF
MY MOTHER TOLD ME A CUSTOM THAT SHE OBSERVED
WHILE WE WERE LIVING IN JAPAN.
DURING THE WINTER WHEN THE CHERRY BLOSSOM TREES
BY THE BUDDA SHRINE HAVE NO LEAVES
THE JAPESE WORSHIPPERS OF THE BUDDA COME AND TIE
LITTLE MESSAGES ON STRINGS TO THE BRANCHES.
THESE MESSAGES ARE REQUESTS OF THE PEOPLE
FOR THINGS THAT THEY WANT VERY MUCH
AND THEY BELIEVE THAT THE SPIRITS COME AT NIGHT
AND READ THESE MESSAGES AND WILL GRANT THEIR WISHES.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): BUDDHA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 03-30-1968
APRIL FOOL DAY (PAST)
ON THE DAY AFTER APRIL FOOLS DAY, LITTLE CHILDREN (IN PARTICULAR)
TEND TO CONTINUE USING APRIL FOOL TRICKERY. HOWEVER, SINCE IT IS
PAST THE APRIL 1ST DATE, THE TARGET OF THE JOKE SAYS: "APRIL FOOL
IS PAST, YOU'RE THE BIGGEST FOOL AT LAST."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- April 2 |
Date learned: CA00001954
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
AMONG THE LITHUANIANS, THERE IS A TRADITIONAL MEAL ON THE
EVE OF CHRISTMAS. ON THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (FOUR WEEKS
BEFORE CHRISTMAS) THE LOCAL PRIEST WOULD VISIT EVERY HOUSE
FOR A YEARLY VISITATION. AT THAT TIME HE WOULD GIVE EVERY
FAMILY A PIECE OF UNLEAVENED BREAD, RESEMBLING THE HOST USED
AT MASS. THIS BREAD WOULD BE DECORATED WITH BRIGHT COLORS AND
WITH SCENES OF THE NATIVITY. THIS BREAD WAS TO BE SAVED FOR
THIS CHRISTMAS EVE MEAL. THE PEOPLE WOULD GIVE THE PRIEST
A DONATION FOR THIS PLOTKA. ALONG WITH THE PLOTKA, SOLE
AND FISH WERE ALSO SERVED. THE DESERT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT
PART. EXTRAVAGANT DESERTS WERE SERVED, WHICH WOULD NORMALLY
NOT BE SERVED AT ANY OTHER TIME (E.G. GOATS MILK WITH POPPY
SEEDS.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Oplatki |
Date learned: 09-23-1971
FUDGE, FUDGE, CALL THE JUDGE/ MAMA'S GOT A NEW-BORN BABY./ IT AIN'T
VANILLA/ IT AIN'T COCONUT/ IT'S JUST A CHOCOLATE BABY./ WRAP IT UP
IN TISSUE PAPER/ THROW IT DOWN THE CHUTE/ FIRST FLOOR: MISS, SECOND
FLOOR : MISS, THIRD FLOOR : OUT THE DOOR. EVERYBODY OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CALL-RHYME ; CHARACTER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
APRIL FOOL'S DAY
ON APRIL 1ST, A PERSON TELLS A LIE OR SOMETHING TO SCARE
ANOTHER PERSON. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE JOKER THEN CRIES,
"APRIL FOOL"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- April 1 April Fools CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- April 1 (April Fool's Day) |
MARCH 21, THE OFFICIAL FIRST DAY OF SPRING, IS FAMILY DAY. SONGS
ABOUT FAMILIES ARE PLAYED ON THE RADIO AND T.V. CHILDREN WRITE
COMPOSITIONS IN SCHOOL ABOUT THE FAMILY. THEY DISCONTINUED
MOTHER'S DAY BECAUSE FAMILIES WITHOUT MOTHERS WERE LEFT OUT.
Submitter comment: (THIS HAPPENED IN) EGYPT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): MOTHER'S DAY IN EGYPT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 21 |
Date learned: 02-00-1972
SPIRIT FROM THE DEAD
IF YOU THINK A SPIRIT FROM THE DEAD
IS FOLLOWING YOU, BLESS YOURSELF THREE TIMES
AND SAY "GOD HAVE MERCY UPON ME"
AND THE SPIRIT WILL LEAVE.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM GRANDMOTHER
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 12-06-1967
CURSE
IF YOU HAVE PEACOCK FEATHERS IN YOUR HOUSE, A CURSE
CAN BE PUT ON YOU MORE RAPIDLY.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 02-00-1968
GIVING THE EVIL EYE
WHEN SEEING A BABY IF YOU SAY
"OH, WHAT A PRETTY BABY YOU HAVE
TO SAY, GOD BLESS IT, OR THE
BABY WILL HAVE THE EVIL EYE.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 07-00-1964
VALENTINE
TO LEARN WHO YOUR VALENTINE IS WRITE THE NAMES OF THREE PROSPECTIVE
PEOPLE ON SLIPS OF PAPER, ROLL THEM UP INSIDE CLAY, DROP THE CLAY
INTO WATER, THE FIRST ONE TO RISE IS YOUR VALENTINE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- February 14 Valentine's Day BELIEF -- Use of Object |
WRITING A LETTER TO A DEAD PERSON YOU KNOW AND PUTTING THE LETTER
UNDER YOUR PILLOW. THE PERSON'S SOUL IS SUPPOSED TO COME TO
YOU AND WALK.
Submitter comment: THIS BECAME WELL KNOWN IN MY FAMILY AROUND 1960.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 09-11-1977
VALENTINE'S DAY
DON'T SEW ON VALENTINE'S DAY. IF YOU DO, YOU'LL GET ST. VITIS
DANCE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD ABOUT THIS SUPERSTITION FROM SOME OF HER
POLISH FRIENDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): WORK TABU
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- February 14 Valentine's Day CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 06-29-1964
WHO SHALL I MARRY
THE FOLLOWING BIRDS, IF SEEN ON ST. VALENTINE'S DAY, INDICATE
FUTURE HUSBAND (:) A BLACKBIRD - A MAN OF ( THE ) CLERGY,
A GOLDFINCH - A MILLIONAIRE, A BLUE BIRD - POVERTY, A WRYNECK -
NO MARRIAGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- February 14 Valentine's Day BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 10-27-1968
18TH CENTURY CUSTOM--VALENTINE'S DAY
THE NIGHT BEFORE VALENTINES DAY A YOUNG MAIDEN SHOULD BOIL ONE EGG
IN SALT WATER AND THEN EAT THE EGG SHELL AND ALL. THAT NIGHT SHE
WILL DREAM ABOUT HER FUTURE HUSBAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- February 13 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- February 14 Valentine's Day BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 02-00-1968
WEATHER PROVERBS
POLISH: PO SWIETEJ DOROCIE, WYSECHNIE KOSZULA NA PLOCIE.
TRANSLATION: AFTER THE FEAST OF ST. DOROTHY, THE SHIRT WILL DRY ON
THE FENCE.
(THIS MEANS THAT WARMER WEATHER AND SPRING WILL SOON BE HERE.)
THE FEAST OF ST. DOROTHY IS FEBRUARY 4TH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- February 4 BELIEF -- P0204 |
Date learned: 02-07-1971
METHOD OF CURING
INFORMANT RELATED THAT WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD
AND HAD A COLD SORE ON HER MOUTH,
HER MOTHER WOULD SPLIT A RAISIN AND PUT IT ON THE SORE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FOOD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 03-08-1970
IF THERE IS A STRING HANGING ON YOU OR ATTACHED
ANYWHERE, YOU'LL GET A LETTER.
Submitter comment: FROM GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
THROATS
IF YOU WANT TO HAVE NO THROAT TROUBLE FOR THE COMING YEAR YOU HAVE
TO GO TO CHURCH ON ST. BLAZE DAY AND HAVE YOUR THROAT BLESSED.
ST. BLAZE IS THE PATRON SAINT OF THROATS. ST. BLAZE DAY IS
FEBRUARY 3RD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- February 3 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
KNOCK ON WOOD
KNOCK ON WOOD TO STOP YOUR WORDS FROM
COMING BACK TO YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 02-07-1970
THERE ARE TWO STONE STATUES OF LIONS ON EITHER SIDE
OF THE STEPS IN FRONT OF THE U. OF M. LIBRARY. IT
IS SAID THAT IF A GIRL IS A VIRGIN, WHEN SHE WALKS
UP THESE STEPS, THE LIONS WILL ROAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR ; STUDENT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.12 |
Date learned: 09-19-1969