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 GREECE returned 35 results.
"Ie kalie mera fenete apo tin avyie." Translation - "A good day
is determined by the morning." By this one means that how one begins
an assignment determines what the outcome will be. My informant gave
me this example: " If you don't study for school, you will never be a
dentist."
Submitter comment:
I (Chris Polymeneas) have not been studying lately and thus my
informant (my mother) intended the example for me.
Where learned: GREECE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00001946CA
On Good Saturday a Greek family would go to church around 10 PM,
leaving the grandmothers at home. At 12 AM Jesus is symbolically
resurrected from the dead. The people leave church and go home around
1 AM. Meanwhile, the grandmothers were at work preparing a soup known
as "Mayiritza" which contains pieces of lamb, vegetables, eggs, and
lemon in a sheep broth. The family comes home and all eat the soup
and talk. Then red eggs are distributed and cracked while the people
say "Hristos anesti, alithos anesti", which means "Christ is risen,
truly risen."
Where learned: GREECE
There is a saying in Greece that if one eats too much of one
certain kind of food every single day, in time a plant producing that
type of food will take root and grow inside of that person.
Submitter comment:
My informant made it clear that this is only a saying and is not
believed by the people of Greece.
Where learned: GREECE
James Callow Keyword(s): threat, corrective
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001944CA
"Mother, how old is our maid," asked Toto.
"Why do you want to know," his mother replied.
"I just do, that's all," he said in an anxious voice.
"Twenty-two years old," his mother answered.
"What a liar," Toto exclaimed. "Yesterday I heard her tell daddy
she was eight months."
Submitter comment:
In Greece there are commonly found jokes of a boy named Toto who
is a smartmouthed wiseguy.
Where learned: GREECE
James Callow Keyword(s): PREGNANCY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 00001947CA
One day Toto was at the park with his mother.
"I want to pee," Toto exclaimed in front of many people.
"Toto," his embarrassed mother said. "Don't say you have to pee,
Toto. Say you have to...whistle and I'll know what you mean."
The next day Toto went to a movie with his dad.
"Daddy," Toto said. "I want to whistle."
"Not here," his father replied.
"But father," Toto said again. "I really want to whistle."
"O.K. Toto," his angered father replied. "If you have to whistle,
then whistle quietly in my ear."
Where learned: GREECE
Keyword(s): urination, jokes
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 00001947CA
At lunch time in school, Toto had to go to the bathroom but was
afraid to leave his lunch unattended so on a piece of paper he wrote:
"I SPIT ON." He placed this paper on his lunch and left for the
bathroom. Upon returning he looked on the note and under his writing
he read: "I SPIT ON TOO."
Where learned: GREECE
Keyword(s): jokes, saliva
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 00001946CA
Greeks believe that the first day of the month is good or bad,
the rest of the month will be the same way. This belief can also be
applied to the first day of the year.
Where learned: GREECE
James Callow Keyword(s): pilot day
Date learned: 00001943CA
From the ages when the gods were said to live on Mt. Olympus, the
Greeks believed the owl to be the symbol of wisdom and the foreshadow
of death.
Where learned: GREECE
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001946CA
When one dies in Greece, the body is taken to the deceased
person's home and there the wake takes place. At some point during
the wake all the women close to the deceased gather around the body
of the deceased and make up songs describing his/her life and his/her
accomplishments. These songs are known as "Merologie" - meaning
"words of fate." The songs sung all have rhyme and meter although
there is no prescribed rhyme scheme or certain meter used but rather
any that the singer chooses to use. One would sing her song first and
then the next in chronological order around the circle. If one
disagrees with what is being said, she gracefully interrupts and
sings what she thought of the deceased. This used to be widespread
but now takes place only in small towns of Greece for the most part.
Where learned: GREECE
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Death CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001947CA
EVIL EYE SYNDROME
IN GREECE, TO WARD OFF THE EFFECTS OF THE EVIL EYE, SMALL BLUE
PLASTIC EYEBALLS ARE SOLD EVERYWHERE.
Where learned: GREECE ; ATHENS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 12-00-1979
NEW YEAR'S EVE CUSTOMS
IN GREECE, IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR PEOPLE TO VISIT EACH OTHER'S HOUSES
ON NEW YEAR'S EVE TO EXCHANGE GIFTS. THE CELEBRATION CONSISTS OF A
BIG MEAL. AFTER THE MEAL EVERYONE STAYS UP UNTIL MORNING TALKING,
SINGING AND DRINKING.
Where learned: GREECE ; ATHENS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 12-31-1979
NEW YEAR'S EVE CUSTOMS
IN GREECE, FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE, THEY BAKE A SPONGE CAKE AND PUT
A DRACHMA INSIDE. THE PERSON WHOSE PIECE OF CAKE HAS THE DRACHMA IN
IT WINS A PRIZE AND WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
Where learned: GREECE ; ATHENS
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Good luck |
BURPING
IN INDIA THE PLEASING MANNER OF EXPRESSING A GOOD MEAL IS TO BURP
IN YOUR HOSTESS'S PRESENCE.
THIS IS REMEMBERED AS A COMMENT AFTER A VERY GOOD MEAL AT A FINE
RESTAURANT IN ATHENS, GREECE.
Where learned: GREECE ; ATHENS
Keyword(s): POLITENESS BURPING
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Date learned: 08-00-1969
GHOST STORY OF BONITSIA, GREECE
THERE WAS AN EVIL OLD WOMAN LIVING IN THIS TOWN. SHE
WAS A RECLUSE, EXCEPT FOR HER DAUGHTER WHO LIVED AND
TOOK CARE OF HER. THE OLD WOMAN WAS VERY JEALOUS OF
ANYBODY WHO EVEN DREAMED OF TAKING THE GIRL AWAY.
THERE WAS A BOY IN THIS TOWN WHO MANAGED TO TAKE THE
GIRL AWAY. HE WAS VERY MUCH IN LOVE WITH HER AND
PERSUADED HER TO LEAVE HER MOTHER AND TO GO LIVE WITH
HIM AND HIS FAMILY. EVENTUALLY, THE OLD WOMAN DIED
AND ALL WAS FORGOTTEN.
ONE WINTER, WHEN THE HUSBAND WAS ALONE, HE HEARD A KNOCK
ON THE DOOR, BUT WHEN HE OPENED THE DOOR ONLY THE WIND
WAS THERE. HE THEN HEARD A TAPPING ON THE WINDOW AND
THERE AT THE WINDOW, HE COULD SEE A WHITE FACE IN A
BLACK SHROUD CURSING HIM. THIS WAS, OF COURSE, THE
DEAD MOTHER. THE MAN CALLED OUT THE SOLDIERS AND THEY
SAW THE APPARITION AND SHOT IT. NEXT DAY, THEY COULD SEE
BLOOD STAINS ON THE GROUND. IN BONASTIA, TODAY, THE
CURSE OF THE OLD WOMAN CAN BE HEARD IN THE WIND ON
COLD WINTER NIGHTS.
Submitter comment: JAMES'S GRANDFATHER TOLD HIM THIS STORY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; GREECE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 10-10-1967
GHOST STORY OF BONITSIA, GREECE
THERE WAS AN EVIL OLD WOMAN LIVING IN THIS TOWN. SHE
WAS A RECLUSE, EXCEPT FOR HER DAUGHTER WHO LIVED AND
TOOK CARE OF HER. THE OLD WOMAN WAS VERY JEALOUS OF
ANYBODY WHO EVEN DREAMED OF TAKING THE GIRL AWAY.
THERE WAS A BOY IN THIS TOWN WHO MANAGED TO TAKE THE
GIRL AWAY. HE WAS VERY MUCH IN LOVE WITH HER AND
PERSUADED HER TO LEAVE HER MOTHER AND TO GO LIVE WITH
HIM AND HIS FAMILY. EVENTUALLY, THE OLD WOMAN DIED
AND ALL WAS FORGOTTEN.
ONE WINTER, WHEN THE HUSBAND WAS ALONE, HE HEARD A KNOCK
ON THE DOOR, BUT WHEN HE OPENED THE DOOR ONLY THE WIND
WAS THERE. HE THEN HEARD A TAPPING ON THE WINDOW AND
THERE AT THE WINDOW, HE COULD SEE A WHITE FACE IN A
BLACK SHROUD CURSING HIM. THIS WAS, OF COURSE, THE
DEAD MOTHER. THE MAN CALLED OUT THE SOLDIERS AND THEY
SAW THE APPARITION AND SHOT IT. NEXT DAY, THEY COULD SEE
BLOOD STAINS ON THE GROUND. IN BONASTIA, TODAY, THE
CURSE OF THE OLD WOMAN CAN BE HEARD IN THE WIND ON
COLD WINTER NIGHTS.
Submitter comment: JAMES'S GRANDFATHER TOLD HIM THIS STORY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; GREECE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 10-10-1967