Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for SOUTHFIELD returned 444 results.
BAPTISM CUSTOM
IN THE ARMENIAN CHURCH A CHILD IS NOT TO GET HIS HAIR CUT
BEFORE HE IS BAPTIZED. INFORMANT SAYS THIS IS VERY
IMPORTANT BUT SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Baptism Naming rite |
Date learned: 02-26-1971
JEWISH CUSTOM
IT IS A JEWISH CUSTOM NOT TO EMBALM THE DEAD. THEY
ARE BURIED THE DAY AFTER DEATH. INFORMANT WAS NOT SURE
WHY THIS WAS DONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-05-1971
KOREAN CUSTOM
IN KOREA, THE TRAIN ENGINEERS DRIVE WITH THE LIGHTS OUT
ON THE TRAINS AT NIGHT. THIS IS SO THEY CAN'T SEE WHAT'S
ON THE TRACKS, BECAUSE IF THEY HIT SOMEONE, CUSTOM
DICTATES THAT WHOEVER OR WHATEVER TOUCHES THE DEAD
MAN FIRST IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FUNERAL. RICK OBSERVED
THIS IN KOREA, 1956 (?).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
JEWISH CUSTOM
AFTER A JEWISH PERSON HAS DIED, NO AUTOPSY MAY BE
PERFORMED. THE BODY MUST NOT BE DRESSED UP FANCY
AND SOMEONE MUST SIT WITH THE BODY TILL BURIAL.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID VIOLATION OF THIS WOULD RUIN
ETERNAL LIFE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-05-1971
ON THE DAY BEFORE ONE'S BIRTHDAY, THAT PERSON IS GIVEN
A 'PINCH TO GROW AN INCH.'
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
TOWARDS THE END OF A JEWISH WEDDING CEREMONY, THE
GROOM IS GIVEN A CHAMPAGNE GLASS THAT IS WRAPPED
UP IN FANCY PAPER. HE STEPS ON IT AND IF HE BREAKS
IT, IT'S GOOD LUCK FOR THE COUPLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Stepping on wine glass |
Date learned: 02-05-1971
AT A POLISH WEDDING, AS THE BRIDE AND GROOM COME INTO
THE HALL, THE COOK THAT PREPARED THE FOOD BRINGS SALT
AND A LOAF OF BREAD TO THE DOOR. THE COUPLE THEN
TAKES A PORTION OF EACH TO EAT. THEY EAT THE BREAD
SO THAT THEY WILL NEVER GO HUNGRY, AND THE SALT IS TO
REMIND THEM TO GET USED TO THINGS THAT THEY DON'T LIKE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Given by cook |
Date learned: 10-25-1970
TAKING THE SILVERWARE AND KNOCKING ON THE DISHES OR
GLASSES. THE BRIDE HAS TO THEN KISS THE GROOM (DONE
WHILE DINNER IS BEING SERVED).
Submitter comment: WITNESSED BY ME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Glassware tapping |
Date learned: 10-02-1967
BRIDE THROWS HER BOUQUET TO THE UNMARRIED GIRLS.
GROOM THROWS GARTER TO THE ELIGIBLE BACHELORS.
THE LUCKY BACHELOR THEN PUTS THE GARTER ON THE GIRL
WHO CATCHES THE BOUQUET.
Submitter comment: WITNESSED BY ME.
Data entry tech comment:
LUCKY UNDERLINED, AS IF IN SARCASM.
CO[ WITNESSED BY ME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Garter toss |
Date learned: 10-02-1967
AS PART OF THE POLISH WEDDING CEREMONY, EVERYONE FORMS A
CIRCLE AND THE BRIDE SITS ON THE GROOM'S LAP IN THE
CENTER. A SONG IS SUNG LIKE THAT SUNG AT A WAKE, AND
A COOK COMES OUT FROM THE KITCHEN AND POURS A GLASS
OF WATER UNDER THE CHAIR. RICK SAID HE'S SEEN THIS DONE
SEVERAL TIMES BUT DOESN'T KNOW WHY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Circle singing |
Date learned: 02-05-1971
BOHEMIAN FUNERAL
A BOHEMIAN FUNERAL IS AN INITIATION CEREMONY. THIS PARTICULAR
DESCRIPTION TELLS THAT THERE IS A PERSON PLAYING DEAD IN
A COFFIN, AND THE CANDIDATES MUST KISS THE CORPSE. WHEN
THEY LEAN OVER TO KISS THE CORPSE, HE SQUIRTS THEM IN THE
FACE WITH WATER.
Submitter comment:
THIS CEREMONY WAS USED BY THE U. OF D. CHORUS THIS FALL.
U. OF D.=UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT, DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, GREEKS AND ARMENIANS BAKE A LOAF OF
BREAD WITH A COIN IN IT. AT DINNER, THE LOAF IS CUT
IN AS MANY PIECES AS THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE FAMILY
AND WHOEVER GETS THE COIN WILL BE LUCKY FOR THE COMING
YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Date learned: 02-26-1971
YOU EAT A HERRING BETWEEN FIVE MINUTES BEFORE TWELVE AND
TWELVE MIDNIGHT ON NEW YEAR'S EVE. THIS IS DONE SO THAT
YOU WILL BE RICH IN THE COMING YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| 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 |
Date learned: 10-28-1970
IF THE FIRST PERSON TO ENTER A HOUSE ON NEW YEAR'S DAY
IS A WOMAN, THAT HOUSEHOLD WILL HAVE BAD LUCK AND
SICKNESS THROUGHOUT THE NEW YEAR. (I WAS TOLD THAT
THIS IS AN ENGLISH CUSTOM.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.42 |
Date learned: 10-25-1970
COW FIGHT CUSTOM
IN THE SPRING OF THE YEAR, IN SOME SWISS STATES, A
COW FIGHT IS HAD. THIS IS A BIG AFFAIR, SOMEWHAT
LIKE A SPECIAL HORSE RACE IN OUR COUNTRY. (BETS
ARE EVEN MADE ON THE OUTCOME.) THIS FIGHT IS TO
DETERMINE WHICH COW, THE STRONGEST, CAN WEAR THE
BIGGEST BELL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; COLLECTORS HOME
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting F663.9 |
Date learned: 10-28-1970
BUILD A CRIB
DURING ADVENT, TAKE A LITTLE BOX AND COVER IT. EVERY
TIME YOU DO SOMETHING GOOD, PLACE A PIECE OF STRAW INTO
THE BOX. THE IDEA IS TO BUILD A CRIB FOR CHRIST BY
CHRISTMAS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | 645 September 23 Equinox to December 20 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Straw |
Date learned: 11-10-1969
IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA--BAY AREA--A TYPE OF SOURDOUGH
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food |
Date learned: 10-02-1968
DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE
THE PARTICIPANTS SIT IN A BIG CIRCLE WITH ONE PERSON
AS THE "GOOSE." THE GOOSE GOES AROUND THE CIRCLE
TAPPING THE PEOPLE ON THE HEAD SAYING "DUCK," UNTIL HE
LABLES ONE "GOOSE." THE NEW GOOSE CHASES THE OLD ONE
AROUND THE CIRCLE ONCE TRYING TO CATCH HIM. THE NEW
GOOSE MUST CATCH THE OLD BEFORE THE OLD REACHES THE
PLACE WHERE THE NEW WAS SITTING, OR THE NEW REMAINS
THE GOOSE AND THE GAME CONTINUES. IF THE OLD IS
CAUGHT, HE IS THE GOOSE AGAIN AND THE GAME CONTINUES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 10-23-1970
WHAT TIME IS IT, MR. FOX?
THIS GAME IS PLAYED WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE. ONE
PERSON IS THE FOX. THE OTHERS LINE UP ON ONE SIDE,
AND SAY, "WHAT TIME IS IT, MR. FOX?" HE THEN
ANSWERS WITH A TIME. WHEN HE SAYS 12 O'CLOCK, THEY
ALL RUN TO THE OTHER SIDE AND HE TRIES TO TOUCH
ANYONE THAT GOES BY. IF HE TOUCHES SOMEONE, THAT
PERSON MUST REMAIN IN THAT SPOT. THE GAME CONTINUES
AS BEFORE, EXCEPT NOW THE CAUGHT PEOPLE TRY TO TOUCH
THE RUNNERS WITHOUT MOVING THEIR FEET FROM THE SPOT
THEY ARE FIXED TO. THE FOX IS THE ONLY ONE THAT
CAN MOVE. THE LAST ONE LEFT IS THE WINNER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 10-13-1970
GAME FOR TRAVELING
IT WAS A DUTCH-GERMAN TRADITION THAT FAMILIES DRIVING
THROUGH THE COUNTRY--SUNDAY DRIVES WERE THE THING TO
DO THEN--AND ON TRIPS, WELL, THE THREE OF US (HERSELF
AND TWO SISTERS) USED TO BE IN THE BACK AND YOU PLAYED
GAMES TO KEEP THE KIDS QUIET. AND ONE OF THE OLD
FAVORITES WAS THAT YOU LOOKED IN THE FIELDS FOR A GRAY
OR WHITE HORSE AND WHOEVER WAS THE FIRST TO SEE HIM
WOULD MOISTEN THE THUMB ON THEIR RIGHT H AND WITH THEIR
TONGUE AND FIRMLY STRIKE THE PALM OF THE LEFT HAND WITH
THE MOISTENED THUMB AND THEN FORM THE RIGHT HAND INTO A
FIST AND STAMP THE PALM OF THE LEFT HAND THAT HAD BEEN
MOISTENED WITH THE THUMB. THEN YOU WATCHED ALL CARS AND
PEOPLE FOR A RED-HEAD AND THE FIRST ONE TO SUCCEED
IN FINDING THE HORSE AND RED HEAD GOT THEIR WISH.
YOU WOULD REPEAT THE SAME PROCEDURE WITH THE RED HEAD
AS WHEN YOU SAY (SAW?) THE HORSE.
Submitter comment: HAPPENED AS A GIRL LIVING IN DETROIT (MICHIGAN).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 05-10-1965