Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for TOLD AT returned 523 results.
CHRISTMAS - CUSTOM
THE POLISH EACH YEAR AT XMAS TAKE A BASKET
OF FOOD TO BE BLESSED BY THE PRIEST.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Christmas Season See F645.2 for Advent Season. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Church |
Date learned: 04-00-1970
FESTIVAL: PASTERKA
PASTERKA: THE NAME FOR THE SPECIAL MASS WITH POLISH HYMNS AND
LITURGY ON XMAS EVE.
Where learned: TOLD AT INFORMANT'S HOME
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F122 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Church |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
BAD LUCK, SUPERSTITION
BAD THINGS HAPPEN IN THREES (3'S) ESPECIALLY DEATHS
IF ONE MEMBER IN FAMILY DIES, TWO MORE WILL DIE SOON.
Submitter comment:
MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER OF INFORMANT REALLY BELIEVED
THIS AND IF SOMEONE DIED SHE WOULD BEGIN TO
WAIT FOR TWO MORE DEATHS NO MATTER HOW
MUCH TIME LAPSED BETWEEN DEATHS.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
WITCH TALE
"MY MOTHER TOLD ME THAT ONE TIME A TURTLE WAS EATING ALL THE SOUR
CREAM AND EACH DAY IT WAS DISAPPEARING AND THEY COULDN'T FIND OUT
WHERE IT WAS GOING. SO ONE DAY THEY GOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO FIND WHAT
WAS GETTING AT THE CREAM. THEY SAW IT WAS A TURTLE. SO THEY BEAT
IT WITH A WIDE SHOVEL. SO THEY DISCOVERED IN THIS TURTLE WAS AN
OLD LADY. SO HOW THEY FOUND OUT IT WAS AN OLD LADY, THEY SAW HER
WALKING DOWN THE STREET THE NEXT DAY CRIPPLED UP WITH A BACK ACHE.
SO WHEN SHE TOLD SHE WAS BEAT WITH A SHOVEL. SO SHE NEVER STOLE NO
MORE SOUR CREAM."
Submitter comment:
THE MOTHER OF THE INFORMANT WAS BORN IN HUNGARY AND RAISED IN EUROPE
SHE CAME TO THE UNITED STATES AND LIVED ON A FARM IN SCRANTON, PENN.
WITH HER HUSBAND AND FAMILY.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR ; TOLD AT INFORMANTS HOME
Keyword(s): ANIMALS
James Callow Keyword(s): PENNSYLVANIA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: 11-10-1970
A PERSON BORN ON DECEMBER 25TH DIRECTLY AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT
WILL NOT LIVE LONG.
Submitter comment:
MY GRANDFATHER WAS BORN ON DECEMBER 25TH AND DIED QUITE EARLY IN
LIFE. WHETHER OR NOT HE WAS BORN ON THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT I DON'T
KNOW.
Where learned: DETROIT ; WORK ; J L HUDSONS ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Predictions |
Date learned: 10-13-1969
SHERLOCK HOLMES RIDDLE
SHERLOCK HOLMES DIES AND GOES TO HEAVEN AND SAINT PETER
WANTS TO FIND OUT IF THIS GUY WAS REALLY THE FAMOUS SHERLOCK
HOLMES. SO HE LINES UP EVERYONE IN HEAVEN (THEY ARE ALL NUDE)
AND ASKS HIM TO PICK OUT ADAM AND EVE. SHERLOCK SAYS, "THOSE
TWO". HOW DID HE KNOW?
-- ADAM AND EVE DID NOT HAVE ANY NAVELS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): BELLY BUTTON
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
OPLATEK IS A CUSTOM PRACTICED BY POLISH-AMERICANS.
A THIN WAFER OF UNLEAVENED BREAD (LIKE A EUCHARISTIC
HOST) IS DIVIDED AMONG THE FAMILY PRESENT ON CHRISTMAS
EVE AND THE INDIVIDUALS SHARE THEIR PIECE WITH EACH OTHER
WISHING ONE ANOTHER GOOD LUCK FOR THE COMING YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; TOLD AT COLLECTOR'S HOME
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.82 |
Date learned: 10-25-1970
BELIEF/NUMBER
FAMILY BELIEVED THAT IF THERE WERE SEVEN CHILDREN OF THE SAME
SIX IN SUCCESSION, THE SEVENTH CHILD WAS ENDOWED WITH
SOMETHING SPECIAL. AT TEN YEARS OF AGE, THE SEVENTH CHILD
WOULD GO TO THE PARISH PRIEST AND HE WOULD GIVE THE
CHILD A SPECIAL BLESSING.
Where learned: TOLD AT ; SAINT RITAS
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 03-01-1970
SONG
GRANDMOTHER IS SITTING CLOSE BY THE FIREPLACE,
WITH SNOW IN HER HAIR AND A SMILE ON HER FACE.
I BET SHE IS THINKING IT HASN'T BEEN LONG,
SINCE SHE ROCKED BABY'S MOTHER ASLEEP WITH THIS SONG.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT REMEMBERS THIS SONG AS A CHILD(1930'S).
THE INFORMANT DOES NOT
REMEMBER THE TUNE TO WHICH
THIS SONG WAS SUNG.
Where learned: HOME ; PITTSBURGH ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Cradle song Lullaby |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
FATE
IF YOU THROW A COIN INTO THE TREVI FOUNTAIN,YOU WILL SEE ROME AGAIN.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; NORTH QUAD ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 03-04-1971
FEVER
GENERALLY USED IN THE CASE OF AN INFANT:
TAKE THE LEAF OF A CACTUS PLANT, CUT IT IN HALF,
AND PLACE ON THE BABY'S STOMACH.
THIS WILL GRADUALLY DRAW THE FEVER OUT.
Where learned: WESTERN YMCA ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): CHILD'S FEVER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 11-12-1971
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
IT IS CUSTOMARY IN POLISH FAMILIES ON
CHRISTMAS TO OBTAIN A CHRISTMAS WAFER - OPLATKI (OPWATKEY)
AND AT THE DINNER TABLE IT HAS A PIECE BROKEN OFF BY
EACH PERSON AT THE TABLE. IT IS THEN EATEN AS A WISH FOR
A HOLY AND HAPPY HOLIDAY. IT SYMBOLIZES THE COMMUNION
WAFER IN THE CHURCH AS CHRIST'S BODY.
Where learned: TOLD AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.82 |
Date learned: 11-21-1969
RIDDLE
HOW MANY MONTHS HAVE 28 DAY?
-- ALL OF THEM
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): TIME CALENDAR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 03-26-1968
CUSTOM
FOR CHRISTMAS EVE, THE FAMILY HAS AN ODD NUMBER OF DISHES FOR
CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER. THIS DINNER IS CALLED WIGILIA.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; CUSTOM ; FOOD ; holiday
| Subject headings: | 122 Christmas |
Date learned: 02-22-1970
SEVENTH GIFT GIVER
WHEN A GIRL HAS A BABY SHOWER, THE PERSON WHO GAVE HER THE SEVENTH
GIFT THAT SHE OPENS WILL HAVE A BABY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND'S MOTHER, AND SHE REMEMBERS THIS FROM ALL HER
LIFE.
Data entry tech comment: THIS IS ONE SIMILAR ITEM IN THIS SECTION OF THE ARCHIVE
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number Measure |
BUBBLE GUM, BUBBLE GUM IN A DISH,/
HOW MANY BUBBLE GUMS DO YOU WISH? 1, 2,
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; TOLD AT INFORMANTS HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
MARRIAGE
IF YOU'RE SINGLE AND YOU WHISTLE AT THE SUPPER TABLE,
YOU'LL MARRY A CRAZY MAN OR WOMAN.
Where learned: TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 03-10-1970
CHRISTMAS GAME
THE GAME IS CALLED "I'M THINKING OF A BULB." IN ORDER TO PLAY, ONE
PERSON HAS TO BE CHOSEN TO GO FIRST. THIS LEADER THEN SAYS "I'M
THINKING OF A BULB" AND DESCRIBES A CERTAIN BULB FOUND ON THE
CHRISTMAS TREE. IN TURN ALL THE PLAYERS START TO GUESS WHICH BULB IT
IS. THE PERSON WHO GUESSES THE BULB THEN BECOMES THE LEADER.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; TOLD AT INFORMANT'S HOME
Keyword(s): GAME
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Christmas tree |
CHRISTMAS
ON CHRISTMAS EVE, HAY WAS PUT ON THE DINNER
TABLE AND THE CLOTH PUT OVER THE HAY. IN THE
HAY WAS PUT SOME COIN MONEY FOR EACH PERSON
SO THEY WOULD NOT BE BROKE IN THE COMING YEAR.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT COLLECTOR'S HOME
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.4 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Christmas CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Straw |
Date learned: 03-10-1970
OMEN FOR ILL FATE
BEING THE LAST CAR IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION DENOTES ILL FATE.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 04-03-1970