Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for SAINT CLAIR returned 397 results.
IN PALESTINE, ON THE NIGHT BEFORE A WEDDING, A LARGE
PARTY IS HELD AT THE HOME OF THE GROOM. EVERYONE
DANCES AND SINGS FOR MOST OF THE NIGHT. THE PARENTS
OF THE GROOM MUST FEED ALL THE PEOPLE PRESENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Bachelor parties |
Date learned: 03-06-1970
AT A POLISH WEDDING IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR THE MEN
TO REQUEST A DANCE WITH THE BRIDE. AN EMPTY BARREL
IS PUT ON THE CENTER OF THE DANCE FLOOR. THE MEN
LINE UP AND AS IT COMES THEIR TURN TO DANCE, THEY
MUST ROLL A PIECE OF CURRENCY IN A BALL AND THROW
IT IN THE BARREL.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THIS CUSTOM IS STILL PRACTICED
TODAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Paying for dance |
Date learned: 02-20-1972
WHEN THE BRIDE IS ABOUT TO LEAVE THE WEDDING RECEPTION,
SHE TAKES OFF HER VEIL AND GIVES IT TO HER MAID-OF-
HONOR. THE BRIDE THEN PUTS ON A BABOOSHKA TO SIGNIFY
THAT SHE IS NOW A MARRIED WOMAN.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THIS WAS AN OLD POLISH CUSTOM OBSERVED
MANY YEARS AGO IN POLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; POLAND ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Removing veil |
Date learned: 02-20-1972
ON THE WEDDING NIGHT THE BRIDE AND GROOM ARE IN A ROOM
WITH A CHICKEN. IF THE BRIDE IS A VIRGIN, THE GROOM
CUTS OFF THE HEAD OF THE CHICKEN AND THROWS IT OUT
THE WINDOW. IF THE BRIDE IS NOT A VIRGIN, THE GROOM
THROWS THE ENTIRE CHICKEN OUT THE WINDOW.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID HE HEARD THIS CUSTOM FROM AN ITALIAN
FRIEND. IT WAS USED IN ITALY MANY YEARS AGO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage F545.136 |
Date learned: 02-20-1972
GREEK CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
IN A SMALL TOWN OF THESOLONICA, GREECE, EVERY
JANUARY 6 A SILVER CROSS IS THROWN INTO THE SEA.
ALL THE TOWNSPEOPLE COME AND STAND BY A LARGE
WHITE TOWER TO WATCH A DIVER DIVE IN THE WATER AND
RETRIEVE THE CROSS IN HIS TEETH. THIS IS DONE EACH
YEAR BECAUSE A LEGEND ABOUT ST. NICHOLAS SAID THAT
HE LOST HIS CROSS HERE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany |
Date learned: 01-00-1970
EAT HERRING ON NEW YEAR'S EVE--GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 02-17-1970
LEAVE MONEY ON OUTSIDE WINDOW SILL NEW YEAR'S EVE NIGHT.
SWEEP SILVER DOLLARS OVER DOOR SILLS FROM OUTSIDE INTO
HOUSE FOR WEALTH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve BELIEF -- Use of Object BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 02-17-1970
BEFORE EASTER SUNDAY EVERYONE WOULD GATHER THE FOOD
WHICH WOULD BE EATEN FOR THE EASTER DINNER AND PUT THEM
IN A BASKET. THIS BASKET WOULD BE LINED WITH A VERY
DELICATE LACE CLOTH. THEY WOULD CARRY THE BASKETS OF
FOOD TO CHURCH AND PUT THEM IN THE AISLES. THE
PRIEST WOULD COME AROUND AND BLESS THE FOOD.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID THIS WAS AN OLD POLISH CUSTOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Date learned: 02-20-1972
THIS GAME IS COMMONLY CALLED "REDLIGHT-GREENLIGHT"
AND ANY NUMBER OF CHILDREN MAY PLAY. ONE PERSON
STANDS FAR AWAY (MAYBE 80 FEET OR SO) FROM THE OTHER
CHILDREN WHO ARE IN A LINE. HE HAS HIS BACK TURNED TO
THEM AND HE YELLS OUT, "GREENLIGHT," AND THEY ALL RUN,
WALK, OR TRY TO SNEAK UP BEHIND HIM. THE LEADER THEN
YELLS OUT, "REDLIGHT," MEANING FOR THEM TO STOP, AND
HE TURNS AROUND AS SOON AS HE SAYS IT. ALL THOSE HE
SAW MOVING, HE SENDS BACK TO THE STARTING LINE AND THE
OTHERS STAY IN THEIR NEW POSITION. THE GAME CONTINUES
IN LIKE MANNER UNTIL ONE PERSON FROM THE GROUP GETS
ALL THE WAY TO THE FINISH AND TAGS THE CALLER.
THEN THAT PERSON BECOMES THE CALLER. (SEE DIAGRAM)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00001950S
RED ROVER
AN OLD AMERICAN GAME THAT MIGHT HAVE ORIGINATED LONG
AGO IS THE GAME, RED ROVER. THE CHILDREN PAIR OFF INTO
TWO TEAMS STANDING A DISTANCE APART, BUT FACE TO FACE.
ONE TEAM CALLS A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITE TEAM OVER BY
SINGING: "RED ROVER, RED ROVER, LET (NAME OF PERSON
TO BE CALLED) COME OVER." THE PERSON CALLED OVER MUST
RUN THROUGH THE LINE FORMED BY THE TEAM HOLDING AND
LOCKING ARMS. IF THEY BREAK THROUGH THE LINE, THEY
CAN TAKE BACK THE LOSING TEAM'S BEST MEMBERS AND IF
THEY DON'T THEY MUST REMAIN ON THE CALLING TEAM'S SIDE.
THE TEAM WITH ALL THE MEMBERS AT THE END WINS THE GAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
STATUES
ONE CHILD IS THE 'BUYER,' ONE IS THE 'SELLER,' AND
ALL THE REST BECOME STATUES. THE SELLER TAKES EACH
CHILD, IN TURN, BY THE ARM, SWINGS HIM AROUND AND
AROUND, THEN LETS GO. THE CHILD FREEZES INTO A
POSITION; THE BUYER COMES IN AND TOUCHES (IN TURN)
EACH STATUE AND THE STATUE PERFORM TRICKS. THE
BUYER DECIDES WHICH STATUE HE LIKES THE BEST, PUR-
CHASES IT, AND THAT STATUE BECOMES THE BUYER FOR THE
NEXT GAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
THIS GAME IS CALLED "WHAT TIME IS IT, MR. FOX?" IT IS
PLAYED BY AS MANY CHILDREN AS WANT TO, USUALLY 10-20.
ONE PERSON IS CHOSEN TO BE MR. FOX AND ALL THE OTHERS
ARE LINED NEXT TO EACH OTHER IN A LINE. IN UNISON,
THEY ALL SAY TO MR. FOX, "WHAT TIME IS IT MR. FOX?"
MR. FOX YELLS ONE OF THE HOURS ON THE CLOCK, SUCH AS
2:00 AND ALL CHILDREN TAKE TWO STEPS TOWARD THE GOAL
BEHIND MR. FOX. THE IDEA OF THE GAME IS TO GET TO
THE GOAL LINE WITHOUT MR. FOX TAGGING YOU FIRST. YOU
CANNOT BE TAGGED IN THE SAFETY AREA. WHEN MR. FOX
YELLS OUT, "MIDNIGHT!" ALL PLAYERS RUN FOR THE GOAL
AND HE TRIES TO TAG ONE OF THEM. WHOEVER HE TAGS
BECOMES THE NEW MR. FOX FOR THE NEXT GAME.
Submitter comment: SEE DIAGRAM ON 5 X 8 CARD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
BLUE BELLS, COCKER SHELLS, EEVY, IVY, OVER
THE CHILDREN HOLDING THE
ENDS OF THE ROPE, SWAY THE ROPE BACK AND FORTH. THE PERSON WHO IS TO
JUMP, STANDS ALONG SIDE OF THE ROPE AND THEN
THOSE HOLDING THE ENDS OF
THE ROPE BEGIN TO SWAY IT BACK AND FORTH WHILE CHANTING THE VERSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
AFTER THE BRIDE LEAVES THE CHURCH AND ENTERS THE
RECEPTION HALL, SHE IS GIVEN BREAD, WATER AND SALT.
SHE TAKES A BIT OF THE BREAD AND DRINKS SOME WATER.
SHE CARRIES THE SALT INTO THE HALL WITH HER.
THIS IS FOR GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THIS WAS AN OLD POLISH CUSTOM. IT
WAS DONE TO BRING THE BRIDE GOOD LUCK IN LIFE.
THE BREAD AND WATER STAND FOR FOOD, AND THE SALT
FOR WEALTH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Good luck Food and drink BELIEF -- Good luck Activities |
Date learned: 02-20-1972
LADY BUG, LADY BUG, FLY AWAY HOME.
YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE, AND YOUR CHILDREN ARE BURNING.
Submitter comment:
THE PERSON SAYING THIS IS SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE GOOD
LUCK FOR SENDING THE LADY BUG HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck Animals |
Date learned: 08-00-1967
BREAKING A MIRROR GIVES SEVEN YEARS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Bad luck Mirror |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT IS BAD LUCK TO LEAVE A HAT LAYING ON A BED.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Keyword(s): Bed ; BELIEF ; CLOTHING ; Fashion ; Hat ; LUCK ; Placement ; PREDICTION ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.) BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) |
Date learned: 00-00-1961
THREE ON A MATCH IS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Bad luck Numbers |
Date learned: 02-17-1970
AN ENGLISH IVY PLANT IN THE HOUSE WILL BRING BAD
LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT STRONGLY BELIEVES THIS. SHE CLAIMS
THAT WHENEVER SHE HAD SUCH A PLANT IN THE HOUSE,
THE RESULT WAS NOTHING BUT BAD LUCK UNTIL SHE
DISPOSED OF THE PLANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Bad luck Plants |
Date learned: 02-27-1971
IT'S BAD LUCK TO HAVE A PREGNANT WOMAN IN YOUR
WEDDING PARTY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Bad luck Crucial moment of life |
Date learned: 02-18-1971