Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 6235 returned 7 results.
NEW NEIGHBORS
ONE SHOULD ASK NEW NEIGHBORS, ON THE DAY THEY ARE MOVING INTO THEIR
HOUSE OVER FOR DINNER WHETHER ONE HAS EVER MET THEM BEFORE OR NOT.
IT IS ALSO CUSTOMARY THAT ALL PEOPLE ON THE SAME STREET VISIT THEM
AFTER THEY HAVE HAD TIME TO GET SETTLED.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: NOT INCLUDED
Turkish Coffee
To drink Turkish Coffee it must be poured into a little
specially made cup and saucer usually decorated with
nice art work. After drinking the coffee flip the saucer
over. Turkish Coffee has a heavy sediment build-up on the
bottom of the saucer. The coffee sediment will then dry and
take shape. The end result is your fortune which could be
good or bad. This fortune is depicted through the sediment
formations. After everybody has drunk their coffee the little
cups are brought over to the eldest people in the group and
those are the people who will tell the coffee drinkers their
good or bad fortunes.
Submitter comment:
My grandmother is the woman who described this good or bad
fortune tale to me. I have never tried Turkish Coffee
before because it is to thick and strong. The only good
thing that I like about this coffee is the rich smelling
aroma which it possesses.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 00-00-1935
In Baghdad, Iraq swimming in the Tigris and Euphrates river
after the holy month of Ramadan is said to be the last
cleansing process of the soul. Only Moslems participate in
this religious ceremony.
Submitter comment:
My father told me this story because he knew of many
individuals who would participate in the ceremony.
James Callow Keyword(s): bathing
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1948
Wearing your wedding ring the night before your wedding can
prove disastrous on your wedding day, because you have
jinxed yourself. This only applies to the individual who
wears the ring. Bad luck and embarrassment will come upon
the wedding day.
Submitter comment:
This was the advice given to my father by his father a
couple days before my fathers wedding.
Keyword(s): JEWELRY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
AT A WEDDING, ALL THE GUESTS ARE GIVEN HARD CANDIES
AND SERVED SWEET SOFT DRINKS AND IT IS BELIEVED THAT
THESE WILL BRING SWEETNESS AND HAPPINESS INTO THE
LIVES OF THE NEWLYWEDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BAGHDAD ; IRAQ
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Dinner |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE FLOATING CANDLE AND LUCK
ONE CUSTOM REQUIRES THAT YOU LIGHT A CANDLE AND STICK
IT INTO A PIECE OF WOOD AND THEN FLOAT IT IN THE RIVER.
IF IT REMAINS LIT, AND CONTINUES TO FLOAT UNTIL
IT IS COMPLETELY OUT OF YOUR SIGHT, YOUR WISH WILL
COME TRUE.
THIS IS DONE ON A CERTAIN FRIDAY AT THE BEGINNING OF
SPRING. YEARS AGO IN THE LATE AFTERNOON, ONE COULD SEE
TENS OF THESE CANDLES FLOATING AND RUNNING DOWN THE
RIVER, MAKING A BEAUTIFUL SPECTACLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BAGHDAD ; IRAQ
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting F663.9 BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
TO SLAY A SHEEP AND THEN TO DONOTE ITS MEAT TO THE
POOR BRINGS GOOD LUCK (1) WHEN YOU BUILD OR BUY A
HOUSE, (2) WHEN A BRIDE AND GROOM ENTER THEIR FIRST
HOME, (3) WHEN YOU HAVE A SERIOUSLY SICK PERSON IN
THE HOUSE.
Submitter comment: SUCH A CUSTOM HAS ITS ORIGIN IN BIBLICAL TIMES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BAGHDAD ; IRAQ
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Good luck Animals |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN