Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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Louisiana Funerals
My uncle and grandfather always told me of Louisiana-style
funerals where there were actually bands playing blues songs at the
funeral. After the memorial portion of the sermon, the funeral
procession would "march" to the place of interment to the beat of
blues songs. After gravesite services were over, the procession
would leave to the tune of "When the Saints Come Marching In."
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
If you remove a mole or wart from your body, you will bleed
to death.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
If you don't burn your hair, someone can get a hold to it and
put a spell or something on you.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
Putting your purse or your wallet on the floor makes your
money stay low.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth |
You should never split a pole or a tree or anything when
walkin' with another person. It may bring you bad luck. If you do
split it, to keep you from having bad luck, you have to go back
around whatever you split the same way you came.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
When a child walks around the house, with one shoe on and one
shoe off, it's sending their mother to an early grave.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
Date learned: 00-00-1970
A bird in your house means death will hit your family, or
someone close to you may die.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
If your foot is swept over by a broom, you should spit on the
broom, and throw salt over your left shoulder, in order not to go
to jail.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Conversions SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
Keep your table fixed and it will bring you good luck.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Service Table furnishing and decoration BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1966
KING CAKE
IN NEW ORLEANS IN THE SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE THE MARDI
GRAS SEASON BEGINS, AT THE END OF JANUARY, KING CAKE
PARTIES ARE HELD THROUGH MARDI GRAS. THE KING CAKE
IS PREPARED BEFORE HAND. THIS CONSISTS OF A FROSTED
BREAD PASTRY WITH A SMALL TOY DOLL IN THE INSIDE.
THE PERSON AT THE PARTY WHO RECEIVES THE PIECE WITH
THE DOLL INSIDE, IS OBLIGATED TO HOLD THE NEXT PARTY.
Submitter comment:
MY SISTER ATTENDED SOME OF THESE PARTIES AND ENJOYED
THEM VERY MUCH.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Y'ALL, YOUS, YOU GUYS.
Submitter comment:
EACH OF THESE IS LOCAL SAYINGS FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
Y'ALL COMES FROM THE SOUTH, YOUS IS COMMON IN THE UPPER PENINSULA AND
YOU GUYS IS COMMON IN THE MIDWEST.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary |
LUKE THE SPOOK
A BOY AND GIRL WERE ON THEIR WAY HOME FROM A
DATE WHEN THEIR CAR RAN OUT
OF GAS IN THE WOODS. THE BOY TOLD THE GIRL TO LOCK THE DOOR WHILE
HE GOT SOME GAS. HE SAID TO BE SURE THE DOORS WERE LOCKED BECAUSE MMTHESE ARE THE WOODS WHERE LUKE THE SPOOK LIVES.
AN HOUR PASSED AND THE
BOY DID NOT RETURN. IT WAS SILENT EXCEPT
FOR THE NOISE OF A BRANCH BANGING
ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR. ANOTHER HOUR WENT BY WHEN A MOTORIST STOPPED
NEXT TO THE CAR AND KNOCKED ON THE WINDOW.
THE GIRL OPENED THE DOOR AND THE
MOTORIST POINTED TO WHAT THE GIRL THOUGHT
WAS A BRANCH. HER BOYFRIEND'S
THROAT HAD BEEN SLIT AND HE WAS HANGING
UPSIDE DOWN FROM A TREE AND HIS
BLOOD WAS DRIPPING ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR.
Submitter comment:
I HAVE HEARD MANY VARIATIONS OF THIS STORY
SINCE I MOVED TO MICHIGAN FROM
NEW ORLEANS AND EACH OF THESE SEEMS TO BE LOCALIZED. IN NEW ORLEANS
IT WAS IN THE WOODS, UP HERE IT WAS IN AN ALLEY.
IN NEW ORLEANS IT WAS THE
BLOOD ON THE ROOF, UP HERE IT WAS HIS RING SCRAPING THE ROOF, BUT THE
GENERAL STORYLINE WAS THE SAME.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation |
Date learned: 00001960S
MARY MCINTOSH
AT MIDNIGHT ON HALLOWEEN GO INTO A ROOM ALONE AND STAND IN FRONT OF A
MIRROR. NEXT SAY MARY MCINTOSH 10 TIMES WITH
YOUR EYES CLOSED. THEN STAMP
YOUR RIGHT FOOT 10 TIMES. NOW OPEN YOUR EYES AND IN THE MIRROR YOU
WILL SEE HOW MARY MCINTOSH DIED. SHE STABBED HERSELF IN THE HEAD.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD TO ME IN NEW ORLEANS IN THE 1960'S.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness Spirit / Mind / Body Observation Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween |
Date learned: 00001960S
ZULU PARADE -- A PART OF MARDI GRAS
THE ZULU KREWE (PRONOUNCED "CREW") IS THE ONLY NEGRO KREWE. IT WAS
ORGANIZED IN 1929 BUT WAS NOT RECOGNIZED UNTIL THE LAST FEW YEARS.
RATHER THAN A SET ROUTE, THEY PARADE FROM BAR TO BAR. THEY THROW
COCONUTS PAINTED WITH FACES, OR RATHER THEY USED TO.
NOW, IN ORDER TO GET ONE OF THESE MOST PRIZED FAVORS ONE
USUALLY HAS TO PAY A SUM OF FIVE DOLLARS OR SO TO ONE OF THE KREWE
MEMBERS TO BE GIVEN ONE.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | 663 Mardi Gras CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting After all |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
KREWE OF TUCK -- A PART OF MARDI GRAS
THIS IS A GROUP OF LOYOLA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WHO HAVE A GREAT MOCK
PARADE -- A PARODY OF THE REGULAR CARNIVAL KREWES.
THE DESTINATION OF THIS KREWE IS THE "FRIAR TUCK'S" BAR NEAR
THE UNIVERSITY WHERE THE "BALL" IS HELD.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | 663 Mardi Gras CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting After all |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
KING CAKE -- A PART OF MARDI GRAS
THE FIRST BALL OF MARDI GRAS IS ON THE TWELFTH NIGHT. TRADITIONALLY
THE QUEEN AND HER ATTENDANTS WERE DETERMINED BY THE KING CAKE.
THIS IS A SWEET CAKE MADE IN A RING WITH DIFFERENT COLOR SUGARS
ON THE TOP. INSIDE ARE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF SILVER BEANS AND ONE
GOLD BEAN. THE GIRL WHO GOT THE GOLD BEAN WAS THE QUEEN OF THE
BALL, AND THOSE WHO GOT THE SILVER BEANS WERE ATTENDANTS.
NOW IT IS PLANNED WHO WILL GET WHICH BEANS, BUT THE CAKE
IS STILL A PART OF THE MARDI GRAS FESTIVAL.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | 663 Mardi Gras CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting After all |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
UNMASKING
NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO WEAR A MASK AFTER SIX O'CLOCK P.M. ON THE
TUESDAY BEFORE ASH WEDNESDAY, MARDI GRAS DAY.
Data entry tech comment:
KEYPUNCHER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE 1976 MARDI GRAS
CELEBRATION IN NEW ORLEANS AND CAN REPORT THAT THIS CUSTOM IS
NOW DISREGARDED BY A GREAT MANY CARNIVAL PARTICIPANTS.
INSTEAD OF SIX OCLOCK P.M. BEING THE THE TIME OF UNMASKING,
TWELVE MIDNIGHT, THE ACTUAL BEGINNING OF ASH WEDNESDAY AND THE
LENTEN SEASON SEEMS NOW TO BE THE UNMASKING HOUR, AS WELL AS
THE FORMAL ENDING OF ALL CELEBRATIONS.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting After all |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
MASKERS
THE MASKERS ARE THE KREWE MEMBERS WHO RIDE THE FLOATS AND DANCE AT
THE BALLS. THEY WEAR FLESH COLORED PLASTIC FACES AND GLITTERY SATIN
COSTUMES. THEY ARE HATTED AND WIGGED SO IDENTIFICATION IS NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE. THEY CARRY SMALL LAUNDRY BAG LIKE PURSES TO MATCH
THEIR COSTUMES WITH SMALL GIFTS INSIDE WHICH THEY GIVE TO EACH
LADY THEY DANCE WITH JUST BEFORE SHE IS RETURNED TO HER SEAT.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | 663 Mardi Gras |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
MARDI GRAS PARADES
PARADES FOLLOW THEIR OWN PRESCRIBED ROUTES OF ABOUT ONE AND A HALF
MILES THROUGH THE CITY. THE PARADES WHICH ARE FOLLOWED BY BALLS
TERMINATE AT THE AUDITORIUM AROUND 9 ( 9:00 ) P. M. ON THE NIGHT OF
THE BALL. FROM THE FLOATS DOUBLOONS AND PLASTIC BEAD NECKLACES ARE
THROWN TO THE CROWDS LINING THE PARADE ROUTE. FLAMBEAU BEARERS ARE
PICANNINY NEGRO TYPES WITH RAGS IN THEIR HAIR AND WHO CARRY TORCHES
AND DANCE ALONG WITH THE PARADE. THE QUEEN AND HER COURT RIDE ON
ONE OF THE FLOATS. BANDS AND VARIOUS MINSTRELS PROVIDE THE MUSIC.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
| Subject headings: | 663 Mardi Gras |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
BOEUF GRAS
A FATTED OX, PART OF THE PRE LENTEN FESTIVITIES OF THE REX
--THE EARLIEST KREWE OF THE MARDI GRAS. IT IS THE SYMBOL OF THE LAST
FLESH MEAT EATEN BEFORE THE LENTEN AUSTERITY.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
Keyword(s): FEASTING BEFORE FASTING
| Subject headings: | 663 Mardi Gras |
Date learned: 02-00-1971