Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 8372 returned 123 results.
POLISH CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS
CHRISTMAS IS A BELOVED HOLIDAY FOR THE POLISH PEOPLE. BEGINNING AT
SUNDOWN, THE FAMILY SITS DOWN TO THE EVENING MEAL. THIS MEAL IS
MEATLESS AND CONSISTS OF NINE COURSES. WHEN THE FIRST EVENING STAR
APPEARS THE MEAL BEGINS. STRAW IS PLACED UNDERNEATH A WHITE
TABLECLOTH TO SIGNIFY CHRIST'S BIRTH IN A MANGER. A CHRISTMAS WAFER
CALLED "OPLATEK" IS SHARED WITH EACH MEMBER OF THE FAMILY BEGINNING
WITH THE FATHER. GOOD HEALTH, GOD'S BLESSINGS AND JOY IS EXTENDED
TO ALL. THIS COMPLETED, THE MEAL BEGINS. THE SOUP IS CREAMED
MUSHROOM. FOLLOWING WE HAVE PIEROGI (DUMPLINGS) WITH CABBAGE OR
POTATO AND CHEESE. WE ALSO HAVE A VARIETY OF FISH. COLD HERRING,
FISH IN GELATIN (GALARECIE), BAKED FISH, RYE BREAD AND SAUR KRAUT
PREPARED WITH MUSHROOMS. COFFEE AND BABKA FOR DESERT. AFTER THE
PEOPLE RETURN FROM MIDNIGHT MASS THEY BRING OUT THE BAKED HAM AND
HOMEMADE KIELBASA WHICH EVERY GOOD POLAK MAKES HIMSELF AND THEY EAT,
DRINK AND MAKE MERRY.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; informant's home ; 25940 MADISON CT, S. ; St. Clair Shores
Keyword(s): ABSTINENCE FROM MEAT ; FOOD CUSTOM
Date learned: 11-01-1971
NEW YEAR'S
IF A WOMAN SHOULD ENTER YOUR HOME FIRST
ON NEW YEAR'S, IT IS THOUGHT TO BRING BAD
LUCK FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED IN CHILDHOOD.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname and place of residence.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
Keyword(s): ANTIFEMINISM ; SEXISM
Date learned: 01-26-1971
WITCH BELIEF
EVERYTIME YOU SEE A FALLING STAR, A WITCH HAS DIED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HUNTINGTON WOODS ; informant's home ; 13347 Talbot
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Star |
Date learned: 02-15-1970
NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM
WASHING WITH A PIECE OF SILVER
SO THE NEW YEAR WILL BE PROSPEROUS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CONTAGIOUS MAGIC ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
Date learned: 10-22-1968
IT'S BAD LUCK TO TALK ABOUT A PRIEST BEHIND HIS BACK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; informant's home
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 08-02-1970
ONE CAN TELL IF YOU HAVE TRULLY KILLED A WITCH IF A CROW CROWS.
IF YOU DID NOT HEAR THE CROW, IT WAS A SIGN THAT THE WITCH HAD
TAKEN OVER A NEWLY BORN BABY'S SOUL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Birth |
GOLF
" NEVER UP, NEVER IN."
Submitter comment:
MEANING IF THE BALL NEVER LEAVES THE GROUND, IT WILL
SEEMINGLY NEVER REACH THE HOLE. OFTEN THROWN ABOUT ON GOLF COURSES.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON ; informant's home
James Callow Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS PARALLELISM
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport S555.500 PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-25-1970
CRIMINAL BELIEF
A CRIMINAL ALWAYS RETURNS TO THE SCENE OF HIS CRIME.
Submitter comment:
THIS PERSON RECALLS BELIEVING THIS AS A CHILD, AND FAITHFULLY
WATCHING FOR THE CULPRIT WHEN A FAVORITE TOY WAS STOLEN.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITIVE DIRECTION
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Common law BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 01-30-1968
HEARTBURN
IF A WOMAN HAS A LOT OF HEARTBURN DURING PREGNANCY, THE BABY WILL
BE BORN WITH A HEAD FULL OF HAIR.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM ; informant's home
Subject headings: | 840 BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 09-23-1969
PRE-NATAL SUPERSTITION
NOTHING SHOULD EVER BE BOUGHT FOR A BABY BEFORE IT IS BORN.
THIS CAN CAUSE THE CHILD TO BE BORN EITHER DEAD OR BADLY DEFORMED.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-02-1969
KISSING BELIEF
IN THE OLDEN TIMES, IT WAS SAID THAT IF A GIRL KISSED A BOY, SHE
WOULD HAVE A BABY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
James Callow Keyword(s): PREGNANCY WITHOUT SEXUAL INTERCOURSE
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BIRTH BELIEF
IF AN EXPECTANT MOTHER GOES TO A FUNERAL AND LOOKS IN THE
COFFIN THE CHILD SHE BEARS WILL NEVER HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same residence.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial Food Drink -- Food BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BABY DELIVERY
IN THE OLDEN DAYS IT WAS BELIEVED BY THE YOUNG THAT THE
DOCTOR BROUGHT THE BABIES IN A LITTLE BLACK BAG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM ; PREGNANCY WITHOUT SEXUAL INTERCOURSE
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-12-1971
HEARTBURN IN PREGNANCY
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN GETS HEARTBURN, HER CHILD WILL BE BORN
WITH A LOT OF HAIR.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND'S MOTHER, AND SHE HEARD THIS WHEN SHE
WAS A GIRL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE ; informant's home
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 00001971 (SPRING)
PREGNANCY BELIEF
IF YOU ARE PREGNANT, THIS WOMAN SHOULD NOT WEAR A NECKLACE
OR SHE WILL BE CHOKING THE BABY BY WEARING IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
Subject headings: | 840 BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-07-1971
LYDIE PINKHAM
LYDIE PINKHAM USED TO BE SOLD IN STORES. IT WAS A REMEDY FOR THOSE
PEOPLE THAT WEREN'T HAVING LUCK IN HAVING BABIES--IF YOU TOOK
LYDIE PINKHAM YOU WOULD BE SURE TO HAVE A BABY.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector reside on same street.
James Callow comment:
LYDIA PINKHAM WAS A POPULAR NON-PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 02-09-1971
PREGNANCY BELIEF
IT IS BELIEVED BY SOME THAT IF PREGNANT WOMEN HAVE BEAUTIFUL
THOUGHTS THEY WILL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CHILD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT REMEMBERS THIS TO BE A COMMON PRACTICE IN HER
YOUNGER DAYS AND KNEW OF PEOPLE WHO HAD USED IT,
APPARENTLY WITH SUCCESS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
Subject headings: | 840 BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-03-1971
PREGNANCY BELIEF
A PREGNANT WOMAN SHOULDN'T ATTEND A FUNERAL BECAUSE HE [THE CHILD]
WILL BE BORN BLIND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 01-20-1971
LAMB OF BUTTER
IT IS A POLISH TRADITION TO HAVE A LAMB MADE OF BUTTER FOR EVERY MEAL
AT EASTER. IN POLISH IT IS CALLED SWIENCONKA.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM
Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: 03-12-1970
CROATION EASTER CUSTOM
ON EASTER MONDAY, CHILDREN GO FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS CARRYING SMALL BOTTLES OF CHEAP PERFUME. WHEN THEY
DABBED SOME PERFUME ON THE OCCUPANT OF THE HOUSE, HE WOULD GIVE
THEM MONEY.
Submitter comment:
Told various dates at informant's home.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; informant's home
Keyword(s): EASTER GIFTS
Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Monday Dyngus |