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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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PENTECOST CUSTOM
ON THE FEAST OF THE PENTECOST, IT IS TRADITIONAL IN POLAND, TO GO
OUT OF THE VILLAGE AND START A GREAT BIG BONFIRE, AROUND WHICH
PEOPLE SING SONGS AND WHEN THEY ARE FINISHED, THEY CARRY LIGHTED
TORCHES TO THEIR HOMES AS A SYMBOL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT'S BLESSINGS.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Pentecost |
Date learned: 09-15-1969
POLISH PENTECOST CUSTOM OF ZELONA SWIATKI
SEVEN ALTARS ARE MADE ON FRONT PORCHES DECORATED WITH GREEN LEAVES.
THE PRIEST THEN PROCEEDS FROM THE CHURCH AND GOES FROM HOUSE TO
HOUSE PRAYING AND ADMINISTERING BLESSINGS.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Pentecost BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 10-12-1968
CUSTOM: TRINITY SUNDAY
HOLY TRINITY: TRINITY SUNDAY IS CALLED ZIELONE SWIATKI WHICH MEANS "GREEN
HOLIDAY", SO ON THIS SUNDAY THE PEOPLE DECORATE THE INSIDE OF
THEIR HOMES WITH THE BRANCHES OF THE BIRCH TREE.
Submitter comment:
First Sunday after Pentecost.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Pentecost CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting After all |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
This was a story told to the informant by his father when he
was a young child. This boy prayed to the Lord for three
dollars. He told the Lord that it was for three reasons. The
first was for himself, the second dollar was for the poor and the
third dollar was for the church. So he got the three dollars. He
went to the Lord in prayer again and told the Lord he was
grateful for the money and told the Lord what he did with the
money. He put one of the dollars in his left pants pocket for
himself, the second one for the church was put in his right pants
pocket and he told the Lord that he had to know how poor he was,
so he put the third dollar in his back pocket. He later went to
the store for some liquor and when he went to pay all three
dollars were gone, but he did find three holes in his pockets.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 02-07-1992
ST. NICHOLAS DAY: ON DECEMBER 6TH, THE CHILDREN WOULD GATHER AND
GO FROM ONE RELATIVE'S HOUSE TO THE OTHER WITH A BAG IN THEIR HANDS.
WHEN THEY REACHED THE HOUSE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO KNEEL DOWN AND PRAY.
IF THEY WERE NOT GOOD, THEY WOULD BE HIT WITH A SWITCH.
Submitter comment:
MRS. DEVEREUX LEARNED THIS FROM HER RELATIVES AND IT WAS THE CUSTOM
IN HER DAY ALSO.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): ST. NICHOLAS DAY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 11-03-1963
BELIEF
IF ONE'S NOSE ITCHES, IT IS BELIEVED THAT HE WILL EITHER
KISS A STRANGER OR MEET A FOOL.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 01-27-1970
OBSERVATION/OMEN
IF YOU SIT AT THE CORNER OF A TABLE YOU ARE TO MARRY SOON. ROMANIAN
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Observation |
HOLY THURSDAY
EASTER ACTUALLY BEGINS ON HOLY THURSDAY (JULIAN CALENDER) WITH
EVENING SERVICES AT WHICH THE GOSPEL FOR EACH OF THE APOSTLES IS
SAID. ONE LARGE CANDLE IS LIT AND RE_LIT UNTIL EASTER SUNDAY.
AFTER THAT THE CANDLE IS THEN PRESERVED FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR IN A BOX.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT RELATED THAT DETROIT'S ADVENT OF THE HOLY GHOST
ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH HAS AN ENTIRE ROOM FILLED WITH CANDLES.
NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHY THE ORTHODOX CONSIDER THE CANDLE A
SACRED OBJECT.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Thursday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting F663.32 |
Date learned: 10-20-1971
CROPS
IF YOU WANT GOOD VEGETABLE CROPS, PLANT BEFORE THE SUN RISES. THIS
IS A POLISH CUSTOM
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): PLANTING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Sun |
IN BUSINESS, WHEN OPENING A NEW STORE, YOU MUST SAVE THE FIRST
DOLLAR BILL AND FRAME IT. THIS IS A SIGN OF GOOD LUCK AND
YOUR DOLLARS WILL MULTIPLY.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Number BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 02-27-1971
STYE CURE
TO GET RID OF A STYE, YOU URINATE AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND'S FATHER, AND THIS WAS A BELIEF AMONG
THE PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH WHERE HE GREW UP.
Data entry tech comment: THERE ARE 2 OTHER REFERENCES IN THIS SECTION OF THE ARCHIVE.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH (GERMAN)
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
CHILDREN'S SONG
WHERE, O WHERE HAS MY LITTLE DOG
GONE?
O WHERE, O WHERE CAN HE BE?
WITH HIS HAIR CUT SHORT AND HIS
TAIL CUT LONG.
O WHERE, O WHERE CAN HE BE ?
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Sorrow Unhappiness Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
AUNT SALLY
MY AUNT SALLY'S JUST AS GOOD AS
ANYBODY,
MY AUNT SALLY'S JUST AS GOOD AS
YOU}
Submitter comment:
( NOTE: THIS SONG WAS SUNG IN A CATCHY TUNE
AS MY GRANDMOTHER BOUNCED ME ON
HER KNEE. SHE DID IT WITH MY DAD
AS WELL AS MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
SHE SAID SHE LEARNED FROM HER
FATHER ETC. )
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Admiration Praise Adulation Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
CHILDREN'S SONG
I'M A LITTLE TEAPOT, SHORT AND STOUT.
HERE IS MY HANDLE, HERE IS MY SPOUT.
WHEN I GET ALL STEAMED UP I WILL SHOUT.
JUST TIP ME OVER AND POUR ME OUT.
JUST TIP ME OVER AND POUR ME OUT.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
CHILDREN'S SONG
ALL AROUND THE COBBLER'S BENCH
THE MONKEY CHASED THE WEASEL.
THE MONKEY THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT FUN.
POP} GOES THE WEASEL.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
CHILDREN'S SONG
THERE WAS A FARMER HAD A DOG
BINGO WAS HIS NAME.
B-I-N-GO
B-I-N-GO
BINGO WAS HIS NAME.
Submitter comment:
( THIS SONG HAS BEEN FREQUENTLY PLAYED ON TELEVISION
FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, AS PART OF A COMMERCIAL
ON BEHALF OF NETWORK POLICIES AFFECTING CHILDREN. )
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
SONG
EASY COME, EASY GO
THROUGH SUMMER, AND THROUGH SNOW
UP AND DOWN, ALL AROUND
THIS UNIVERSE I GO
AND I'LL WALK UP ON YOUR WATERS
MOVE MOUNTAINS FROM YOUR PATH
WITH A SMILE FOR MY COMPANION
I'LL TEACH YOU HOW TO LAUGH.
Submitter comment: LEARNED AT CAMP.
Where learned: HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Joy Happiness Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
BELIEF
IF TWO FRIENDS WASH THEIR HANDS TOGETHER IN THE SAME SINK AND
THEN DRY THEIR HANDS ON THE SAME TOWEL, THEIR FRIENDSHIP
WILL BE BROKEN.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 02-20-1970
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT IS ROUND, CONSTANTLY MOVING AND 75% BLUE?
A: THE EARTH.
Submitter comment: LEARNED IN GEOGRAPHY CLASS.
Keyword(s): NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENTS (Q) COLOR ; STATES OF BEING (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 10-10-1967
BELIEF
WHEN ONE'S RIGHT EYELID TWITCHES, MANY BELIEVE HE WILL SOON
RECEIVE GOOD NEWS. HOWEVER IF IT IS THE LEFT EYELID, BAD
NEWS IS BELIEVED TO FOLLOW.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 02-01-1970