Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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Ethnic: Native American
To Smoke the Pipe:
If the Pipe is smoked it is done at the conclusion of the prayers. The idea is the same as the new liturgical emphasis in the social aspect of Holy Communion. It is done for fostering the sense of community and to express the unity there is between all the people present as well as with all mankind and all creation. The Pipe is lit by the leader, smoked and passed clockwise. Women can kiss th Pipe in stead of smoking it. After one kisses or smokes the Pipe, he says "For the sake of our relatives." Relatives primarily include men but animals as well. As far as Holy Communion is concerned this is probably the closest the Plains Indian symbol there is. The point can be made that the Plains INdians were striving for the same religious values as Catholics do when they receive Holy Communion with a sense of community in mind. When the Pipe has been passed around, it is handed back to the leader who smokes it again, empties the ashes and the ceremony is completed. Although the smoking of the Pipe would be done in restricted circumstances, there are times when it could be most powerful.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: CANADA ; Tekakwitha Conference ; WINNIPEG ; MANITOBA
Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; Native American ; Pipe ; PRAYER ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Ethnic: Native American
Before the prayers, say "remember man that the Pipe of your earthly life" will some day be broken. Then take bowl and stem apart and lay on coffin.
After the prayers in the ritual, then take two parts of the Pipe into your hands and say: "Through the Resurrection of Christ, the life of _____and all of us will be brought together into eternal happiness." Then in the four directions, point the Pipe to the sky and say "I am the Living and Eternal Pipe, the Ressurrection and the Life; he who believes in Me, even if he die [sic] shall live: and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die." Repeat this in each of the four direction. At the end point the Pipe to the sky and touch the Earth with the bowl.
Submitter comment:
The informant advises that the Pipe be already filled with tobacco. This is the most powerful prayer I have experienced with the Pipe and produces a deep impression on many people.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: CANADA ; Tekakwitha Conference ; WINNIPEG ; MANITOBA
Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; DEATH ; ETHNIC ; Funeral ; Native American ; PRAYER ; RELIGION ; RITUAL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Ethnic: Native American
Prayer at the Time of a Wake:
Almighty God, we pray to you at this time so that we might understand your loving Providence in our lives. We know that the world is a sweat lodge, a place of purification, that our span of life is a time of trial. When our purification has been accomplished, we must step through the door of death into the light of eternal happiness. No one regrets leaving the hot darkness of the sweat lidge to the cool light og the world we live in. So lord, remove all spirit and rebellion from our hearts at a time when the soul of ______ had finished his (her) purification and gone into eternal life. Give us the strength to live by this vision, so that it can heal the wounds of grief and restore your peace in our hearts. Give us a greater understanding of the wonderful work of your redemption on the sacred Road of LIfe. Let us all be mindful that we share in Christ rising to a new life of complete happiness for all eternity. Let us pray that all traces of sin be removed from his (her) soul sop that the anfels of God may bring him (her) into paradise. We ask you these graces through the Blessed virgin Mary, St. Joseph and Jesus Christ who is and ever shall be the Living and Eternal Pipe. Amen.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: CANADA ; Tekakwitha Conference ; WINNIPEG ; MANITOBA
Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; CUSTOM ; DEATH ; ETHNIC ; Funeral ; Native American ; PRAYER ; RELIGION ; Soul ; WAKE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Ethnic: Native American
To Fill the Sacred Pipe:
Offer a pinch of tobacco in the four directions starting with any direction that you wish but always moving in a clockwise direction. After each pinch of tobacco is offered it is out into the bowl of the Pipe The starting point varies from man to man according to his individual vision or insight. The usual strating points are the west, north or east. I habe never run across anyone starting in the south. The following is an example of one starting with the west. Offering northward contains a prayer for the strength since this is where te cold winds and the flying snow comes from. Offering tobacco eastward contains a prayer for the light and understanding and southward a plea for new life since it is the source of warm winds and green grass. One does not pray aloud but rather silently. The tobacco is offerd skyward since this reminds us that we are walking in the Prescence of God towards Mother Earth to fill us with graditude for all the gifts we receive through creation. Symbolically one gathers the entire universe into his prayers. For one Indian the west was the place of the setting sun, the north the buffalo, the east the morning star, and the south the white swan.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: CANADA ; Tekakwitha Conference ; WINNIPEG ; MANITOBA
Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; Compass Point ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; Native American ; Pipe ; PRAYER ; RELIGION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Ethnic: Native American
To Offer the Pipe:
After the pipe is filled it is offered silently in the four directions, skyward and earthward by pointing the stem away from the body while holding the bowl in the right hand. Nowone is prepared to hold the Pipe in two hands in any way that is comfortable or meaningful to the individual. Or else it is held in the right hand and the left is extended above the head palm outward. This ritual is a powerful sign with which to surroung an invocation or prayer just like the ceremonies of the Mass are signs surrounding the words of consecration. One can fell [sic] as comfortable performing the Pipe Ritual as he does the ceremonies of the Mass.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: CANADA ; Tekakwitha Conference ; WINNIPEG ; MANITOBA
Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; Mass ; Native American ; PRAYER ; RELIGION ; RITUAL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Ethnic: Native American
Use of the Pipe During a Wedding:
The married couple standing together before the priest for the nuptial blessing could both hold the same Pipe with the right hands, stem away from themselves. This would be a perfect ceremonial sign of the words of the priest. The Nuptial Blessing contains the type of prayer which is most nautral to the Pipe.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: CANADA ; Tekakwitha Conference ; WINNIPEG ; MANITOBA
Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; CEREMONY ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; MARRIAGE ; Native American ; PRAYER ; WEDDING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Ethnic:Polish
Naming:
It is a custom in Poland, that a child is not given the name of a living grandparent, for fear that either the grandparent or the child will die within seven years.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: CANADA ; WINNIPEG ; MANITOBA
Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; Cultural ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; FAMILY ; Naming ; POLAND
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Baptism Naming rite |
A REDDISH RING AROUND THE MOON FORETELLS OF HIGH
WINDS THE NEXT DAY.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A STRONG BELIEF OF THE INFORMANT. I OFTEN
REMEMBER HER MENTIONING SUCH A STATEMENT. FIRST
TIME WAS WHEN I WAS WALKING OUTSIDE WITH HER AND
HEARD HER MENTIONING THIS BELIEF.
Where learned: CANADA ; WINNIPEG ; MANITOBA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Wind Whirlwind Hurricane Cyclone Tornado |
IF YOU FIND A COIN FACE UP, KEEP IT--ITS GOOD LUCK. BUT IF ITS
FACE DOWN, THROW IT AS FAR AWAY AS YOU CAN. IT MEANS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: CANADA ; CALGARY ; ALBERTA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms BELIEF -- Emblem BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
BALL OVER THE BARN
THE CHILDREN GROUP THEMSELVES AROUND A BARN. THE
CHILD WITH THE BALL YELLS "ANNIE-ANNIE-I-OVER" AND
THEN ROSSES IT OVER THE BARN. THE CHILD WHO
CATCHES THE BALL YELLS BACK, "FIG TAILS." THIS
CHILD THEN YELLS "ANNIE..." AND TOSSES THE BALL.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS WHEN A CHILD ON HER FARM
IN CANADA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CANADA ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
BEDTIME VERSE
SLEEP TIGHT AND DON'T LET THE BED BUGS BITE.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; DORM ; WINDSOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 09-23-1972
FRIENDSHIP PROVERB
THERE E BIG SHIPS AND THERE ARE LITTLE SHIPS, BUT THE BEST SHIPS AR
ARE FRIENDSHIPS.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; DORM ; WINDSOR
James Callow Keyword(s): WORD PLAY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 09-22-1972
BLACK, WHITE, AND READ RIDDLE
WHAT'S BLACK AND WHITE AND READ ALL OVER? A NEWSPAPER.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; DORM ; WINDSOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 09-22-1972
Proverb
NO SENSE CRYING OVER SPILT MILK.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; DORM ; UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR
James Callow Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 09-24-1972
REMEDY FOR FRECKLES
TO GET RID OF FRECKLES, YOU GET UP AT DAWN AND STICK YOUR FACE INTO A
CREEK.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; DORM ; UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 09-24-1972
CURE FOR NERVOUSNESS
IN ORDER TO CALM YOUR NERVES, YOU BOIL LETTUCE AND THEN DRINK THE
JUICE.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; DORM ; UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 09-23-1972
CURE FOR BLOODY NOSE
FOLD A PAPER TOWEL UP AND PUT IT UNDER YOUR UPPER LIP.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; DORM ; UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 09-24-1972
CROSS-EYED BELIEF
IF YOU CROSS YOUR EYES AND THE WIND BLOWS ON YOUR EYES, THEY WILL
STAY CROSSED.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; DORM ; UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Wind Whirlwind Hurricane Cyclone Tornado BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 09-24-1972
TOAD BELIEF
DON'T PLAY WITH OR TOUCH TOADS BECAUSE YOU WILL GET WARTS.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; DORM ; UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 09-22-1972
ITCHY NOSE BELIEF
IF YOU HAVE AN ITCHY NOSE, YOU ARE GOING TO KISS A FOOL.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; DORM ; UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body |
Date learned: 09-23-1972