Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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LAST YEAR, DURING HELL WEEKEND OF A U. OF D. FRATERNITY
ONE OF THE OLDER MEMBERS BECAME VERY INTOXICATED IN A
LARGE FIELD NEAR A STATE HIGHWAY. HE GOT IN A FIGHT WITH
HIS ROOMMATE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRATERNITY. A NUMBER
OF HIS BROTHERS BROKE UP THE FIGHT AND TOLD HIM TO GO
COOL OFF. HE WALKED OFF THROUGH THE WOODS AND AFTER
A MINUTE THEY DECIDED TO GO TALK TO HIM BECAUSE HE HAD
BEEN DESPONDENT FOR DAYS AND THE FIGHT WITH HIS ROOMMATE
WAS THE LAST STRAW. THEY GOT TO THE HIGHWAY JUST IN
TIME TO SEE A CAR TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED HIT AND
KILL HIM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
ONE OF THE STUNTS THAT A FRIEND OF MINE HAD TO GO THROUGH
WITH TO JOIN A FRATERNITY WAS RUN FIVE MILES ALONGSIDE
OF A CAR WITH NOTHING TO DRINK BUT SAUERKRAUT JUICE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
THE FIRST PERSON TO ENTER YOUR HOME ON NEW YEAR'S DAY SHOULD
BE A DARK-HAIRED MAN. THIS WILL BRING GOOD LUCK TO THE
ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Good luck BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 03-27-1970
IN GERMANY THEY CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S WITH
A HUGE DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
Submitter comment: HE ACTUALLY OBSERVED THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern |
Date learned: 09-28-1970
WIGILIA--TRADITIONAL POLISH CHRISTMAS EVE SUPPER
AT OUR HOME, WE STILL PRACTICE THE TRADITIONAL WAY OF
CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS EVE, "WIGILJA." IT IS A FAMILY
HOLIDAY AND THE SUPPER STARTS IN THE EVENING WHEN THE
FIRST STAR APPEARS.
THE SUPPER ITSELF CONSISTS OF 12 COURSES IN HONOR OF THE
12 APOSTLES. THE OLDEST MEMBER STARTS BY TAKING THE
"OPLATEK," A WHITE WAFER MADE OF FLOUR AND WATER, AND
BREAKS IT WITH THE NEXT OLDEST MEMBER, WISHING EACH OTHER
LUCK AND HAPPINESS. THE BREAKING OF THE WAFER AND GOOD
WISHES CONTINUE BETWEEN EVERYONE ELSE. THIS IS A
PRACTICE WE DO TO THIS DAY.
THIS FINISHED, EVERYONE SITS DOWN TO EAT. IT'S A CUSTOM
TO HAVE AN EVEN NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT THE TABLE FOR GOOD
LUCK. THERE IS AN EMPTY CHAIR LEFT AND PLACE SETTING FOR
AN ABSENT MEMBER OR FRIEND. HAY IS PLACED BENEATH THE
TABLE CLOTH IN THE CENTER OF THE TABLE IN REMEMBERANCE OF
CHRIST'S HUMBLE BIRTH.
ALL COURSES SERVED ARE MEATLESS. FIRST THERE IS HERRING,
MARINATED OR IN OLIVE OIL. NEXT IS "BARCZCY, BEET ROOT SOUP
WITH "USZKI," TINY DUMPLINGS STUFFED WITH MUSHROOMS.
THEN TWO KINDS OF FISH ARE SERVED, FRIED OR IN GELATIN
WITH HORSERADISH. THEN SAUERKRAUT WITH MUSHROOMS. NEXT
IS SERVED THE MILLET WITH PRUNES OR "KASZA JAGLONA." THEN
THERE ARE CHEESE DUMPLINGS FOLLOWED BY STEWED FRUIT OF
APPLES, PEARS, AND PRUNES. THE MEAL IS COMPLETED WITH
TEA OR COFFEE AND DIFFERENT CAKES FOR THE SEASON, SUCH AS
POPPY SEED, ALMONDS, OR COFFEE CAKE, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
"BABKA."
AFTER SUPPER, EVERYBODY SINGS CHRISTMAS CAROLS BY THE LIT
CHRISTMAS TREE. WE BEGIN WITH "WSROD NOCNEZ CISZY," AT
MIDNIGHT'S SILENCE.. OTHER FAVORITES ARE "DZISIAJ IR
BETLEJEM"-TODAY IN BETHLEHEM, "GDY SIE CHRYSTUS RODGI,"
WHEN CHRIST IS BORN, "LULAJZE JEZUNIU," ROCK A BYE BABY
JESUS, AND "PRZYBIEZELIDO BETLEJIM POSTERZE," SHEPHERDS
COME TO BETHLEHEM.
AFTER THE CAROLS, PRESENTS ARE OPENED FROM UDNER THE TREE
AND AT MIDNIGHT THE CHRISTMAS MIDNIGHT MASS IS ATTENDED.
James Callow comment:
TRANSCRIBED FROM HANDWRITTEN 5 X 8 CARD. SPELLING MAY BE
WRONG FOR THIS REASON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Date learned: 10-28-1967
END OF WINTER
IN POLAND, THE END OF WINTER IS CELEBERATED BY THE
DROWNING OF MARZANNA, A MAIDEN REPRESENTING (DEATH)
WINTER. A DUMMY IS DRESSED UP AND CEREMONIOUSLY THROWN
INTO THE WATER. THIS CUSTOM MY GRANDMOTHER REMEMBERS
FROM CHILDHOOD DAYS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting |
Date learned: 10-28-1967
ON THE EVE OF ST. JOHN'S
IN COMMEMORATION OF WANDA, A POLISH PRINCESS WHO THREW
HERSELF INTO THE VISTULA (RIVER) RATHER THAN MARRY A
GERMAN COUNT, THE PEOPLE IN POLAND PLACE WREATHES OF
FLOWERS ON THE WATERS, WITH LIT CANDLES IN THEM.
ALSO ON RAFTS ON THE WATER, THE SCENE OF WANDA IS
ACTED OUT ON THE EVENING OF JUNE 23.
Submitter comment: MY FATHER REMEMBERS THIS FROM HIS YOUTH IN POLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; POLAND
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June 23 |
Date learned: 10-28-1967
ON THE EVE OF ST. JOHN'S (6/23)
ON THE EVE OF ST. JOHN'S, IT IS BELIEVED IN POLAND
THAT A CERTAIN FERN BLOOMS THIS EVENING AND ANYONE
WHO FINDS THE BLOSSOM WOULD BE CLAIRVOYANT AND ETERNALLY
HAPPY. IT IS MOST LIKELY A YOUNG PERSON WITH "HONEST
HANDS" WILL FIND IT.
Submitter comment:
MY GRANDMOTHER REMEMBERS THIS PRACTICE FROM HER CHILD-
HOOD DAYS IN POLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; POLAND
| Subject headings: | Prediction / Divination CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- June 23 |
Date learned: 10-28-1967
CARNIVAL--AFTER CHRISTMAS
THE PERIOD OF TIME FROM CHRISTMAS TO ASH WEDNESDAY IS
KNOWN IN POLAND AS "KARNAWAT," OR CARNIVAL. IT IS
A TIME OF DANCES, BALLS AND FESTIVE OCCASIONS. FOR
THE WOMAN OF THE HOUSE, IT IS THE TIME TO MAKE SUCH
PASTRIES AS "PONCZKI," POLISH JELLY DONUTS, AND
"CHRUSCIKI," POLISH ANGEL WINGS. THIS CUSTOM IS
KNOWN FROM PRACTICE TILL THIS DAY IN MY FAMILY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; POLAND
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dance CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Winter Food Drink -- Food |
Date learned: 10-28-1967
PRANK
CHINESE FIRE DRILL: EVERYONE CLIMBS INSIDE A CAR
AND SMOKES IT ALL UP. THEN YOU STOP AT A LIGHT
AND OPEN THE WINDOWS. THE PURPOSE IS TO SCARE
THE DRIVER BEHIND YOU INTO THINKING THE CAR IF ON
FIRE.
James Callow comment: WHY CHINESE? COLLECTOR DOESN'T KNOW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
TAKE A BIC PEN (BALLPOINT) AND EXPLAIN TO A FRIEND
THAT YOU CAN PRODUCE A MAGNETIC FIELD BY RUBBING
THE POCKET CLIP OF THE PEN ALONG THE SIDE OF THE
PEN ON THE LETTERING. THEN TAKING THE BODY OF THE
PEN IN ONE HAND AND THE CAP IN THE OTHER, HOLD THEM
AS IF YOU WERE GOING TO PUT THE CAP OVER POINT,
SEPARATED BY ABOUT 1/2 AN INCH. SQUEEZE THE END OF
THE CAP SO THAT IT WILL APPEAR TO BE PULLED TOWARD
THE BODY OF THE PEN. WHEN YOUR FRIEND TRIES IT,
THE CAP WILL FALL POWERLESS ON THE FLOOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT WAS A GAME WE USED TO PLAY IN
MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN I WAS YOUNG. THE PERSON WHO
WAS "IT" WOULD STAND APART WITH HIS BACK TOWARD
THE REST OF THE CHILDREN. HE WOULD START RECITING
"GREEN, GREEN, GREEN" AT WHICH TIME EVERYONE WOULD
MOVE FORWARD. AS SOON AS THAT PERSON SAID "RED,"
IT WAS NECESSARY TO STOP. HE WOULD TURN AROUND TO
CATCH ANYONE MOVING. IF HE DIDN'T CATCH ANYONE THE
GAME WOULD CONTINUE. ITS OBJECT WAS TO REACH THE
SIDE OF THE CALLER WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT MOVING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime C500.524 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
POLISH GAME
WHILE I WAS IN POLISH GIRL SCOUTING, WE USED TO PLAY
THIS GAME. I LEARNED IT FROM MY LEADER, MRS.
BRONISLAWVA MARCZUK OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.
THE NAME OF IT IS "LAMPA, NOSE" OR "LAMP, NOSE."
ONE PERSON LEADS THE GAME BY POINTING INTERCHANGEABLY
TO THE LAMP (OUT) OR TO THE NOSE (IN) HE SAYS THE
WORD THAT HE'S POINTING TO. HE SAYS THEM QUICKLY
AND HE CAN CHANGE THE ORDER ANYTIME HE LIKES. THE
OBJECT IS FOR EVERYONE TO FOLLOW THE LEADER AND NOT
GET MIXED UP. WHOEVER DOES MISS, HAS TO DO SOMETHING
TO MAKE UP FOR IT (CALLED FANTY), LIKE SING A SONG,
OR RECITE A POEM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
POLISH GAME
THE NAME OF THE GAME IS "GTUCKY TELEFON," OR "DEAF
TELEPHONE." ANOTHER NAME IS "ZEPSUTY TELEFON,"
OR "BROKEN TELEPHONE." THE OBJECT IS TO KEEP UP
THE MESSAGE STARTED. ONE PERSON STARTS A MESSAGE,
HE TELLS (WHISPERS) SOMETHING TO THE PERSON NEXT TO
HIM. THE MESSAGE GOES DOWN THE LINE, WHISPERED FROM
PERSON TO PERSON. THE LAST PERSON HAS TO TELL OUT
LOUD WHAT HE HEARD. USUALLY THE MESSAGE HAS BEEN
CHANGED BY THEN. IF IT IS, EVERYONE HAS TO SAY WHAT
HE HEARD UNTIL THE PERSON WHO FIRST CHANGED THE
MESSAGE IS FOUND. I LEARNED THIS FROM POLISH GIRL
SCOUTING FROM MY LEADER, MRS. BRONISLAWA MARCZUK
OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A VERY POPULAR GAME WE USED TO PLAY WHEN I WAS YOUNG
WAS "MONKEY IN THE MIDDLE." THREE PEOPLE WOULD
PARTICIPATE USUALLY. ONE PERSON WAS THE MONKEY AND HE
WOULD TRY TO CATCH THE BALL THE OTHER TWO PLAYERS
WERE PASSING TO EACH OTHER. IF THE MONKEY SUCCEEDED
TO INTERCEPT THE BALL, THE PERSON WHO FAILED TO CATCH
WAS THEN THE MONKEY. SOMETIMES WE'D PLAY SO THAT THE
PERSON WHO THREW THE INTERCEPTED BALL HAD TO BE THE
MONKEY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime C500.560 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THERE WAS A GAME WE USED TO PLAY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD
WHEN I WAS YOUNG CALLED "RED ROVER." THE GROUP WAS
DIVIDED IN HALF, SO THAT THE TWO SMALLER GROUPS
WOULD STAND, HANDS LINKED, FACING EACH OTHER, SOME
DISTANCE APART. ONE GROUP WOULD BEGIN BY CALLING
"RED ROVER, RED ROVER, LET (CALL A NAME) COME OVER."
THEN THAT PERSON FROM THE OTHER GROUP HAD TO RUN ACROSS
AND TRY TO BREAK THROUGH THEIR LINKED HANDS. IF HE
SUCCEEDED, HE WOULD BRING SOMEONE BACK WITH HIM TO HIS
OWN SIDE. IF HE FAILED, HE HAD TO STAY THERE. THE
OBJECT WAS TO GET EVERYONE ON YOUR SIDE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime C500.524 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A POPULAR GAME WE USED TO PLAY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN
I WAS YOUNG WAS "WHAT TIME IS IT, MR. FOX?"
ONE PERSON WOULD BE MR. FOX, FACING A WALL, ACROSS
AN AREA FROM THE REST OF THE CHLDREN. THE CHILDREN
WOULD THEN ASK HIM WHAT TIME IT WAS AND HE'S GIVE A
NUMBER. THE CHILDREN WOULD THEN TAKE THAT AMOUNT OF
STEPS FORWARD. THIS WOULD CONTINUE UNTIL MR. FOX
WOULD ANSWER, "IT'S MIDNIGHT!" AT WHICH TIME HE WOULD
TURN AROUND AND TRY TO CATCH SOMEONE. EVERYONE WOULD
THEN TRY TO REACH SAFETY WHICH WAS THE PLACE WHERE
THEY BEGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
POLISH VERSE--KOTKO GRANIASTE
POLISH VERSION GIVEN ON 5 X 8 CARD.
TRANSLATION: A RECTANGULAR CIRCLE
A FOUR CORNERED ONE
OUR CIRCLE HAS BROKEN UP
AND WE ALL FALL DOWN.
THIS VERSE IS SUNG BY CHILDREN DANCING AROUND IN A
CIRCLE.
MY MOTHER KNOWS THIS FROM POLAND AND I KNOW IT FROM
MY CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 11-28-1967
A CHILDREN'S SONG
BUDSYEMY MOSTY
POLISH VERSION GIVEN ON 5 X 8 CARD.
TRANSLATION:
WE ARE BUILDING BRIDGES
FOR OUR NOBLEMAN
A THOUSAND HORSES WE LET THROUGH
BUT ONE WE STOP.
THE FIRST ONE CAN GO BY
THE SECOND HAS TO PAY
THE THIRD CAN GET BY
THE FOURTH WE'LL GRAB BY THE HEAD.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A POLISH RHYME SUNG BY CHILDREN LIKE "LONDON
BRIDGES" IS SUNG IN ENGLISH. I KNOW IT FROM
CHILDHOOD FROM MY PARENTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A CHILDREN'S SONG
THIS POLISH SONG I KNOW FROM CHILDHOOD FROM MY
PARENTS. THE CHILDREN PRANCE AROUND IN A CIRCLE
WHILE ONE STANDS IN THE MIDDLE, READY TO CHOOSE
SOMEONE TO COME IN WITH HIM.
POLISH VERSION ON 5 X 8 CARD.
TRANSLATION:
THE LITTLE (RED) ROSE STANDS IN THE RED WREATH.
WE BOW TO IT AS IF TO A PRINCE.
YOU ROSEY KNOW SO WELL, KNOW SO WELL,
WHO YOU LOVE, TAKE HIM IN, TAKE HIM IN. HEY!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN