Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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CUTTING OF CAKE BY BOTH BRIDE AND GROOM AT THE SAME
TIME WITH ONE HAND EACH ON THE KNIFE.
Submitter comment: SOURCE NOT REMEMBERED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Wedding cake |
Date learned: 11-15-1967
THE GIRL WHO CATCHES THE BRIDAL BOUQUET WILL BE
THE NEXT TO MARRY.
Submitter comment: REMEMBERED AS A TRADITION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Bouquet toss |
Date learned: 11-10-1967
BRIDE AND GROOM EXCHANGE WEDDING GIFTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Gifts |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
PARENTS OF THE BRIDE PAY FOR THE WEDDING AND
PARENTS OF THE GROOM PAY FOR THE REHEARSAL DINNER
AND GIVE THE COUPLE A GIFT TO MATCH THE COST OF
THE WEDDING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Gifts |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
YOU CARRY YOUR BRIDE OVER THE THRESHOLD FOR A HAPPY
MARRIAGE.
Submitter comment: FROM MY BROTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Carrying bride over threshold |
Date learned: 03-17-1971
CHINESE FESTIVAL
THE MOON FESTIVAL IS A MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL. IT TAKES
PLACE ON THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF THE EIGHTH MOON.
AT NIGHT SOME FARMERS WILL MAKE OFFERINGS TO THE MOON
IN EXCHANGE FOR A GOOD HARVEST IN THE COMING YEAR.
FRIENDS WILL GIVE EACH OTHER "MOONCAKES" AND CHILDREN
WILL LIGHT THEIR LANTERNS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- September 23 equinox to December 20 Also used for Advent. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Autumn Fall Harvest Thanksgiving |
Date learned: 02-24-1968
THE BOYS I PLAYED BASEBALL WITH AND I, OFTEN DUPED
A NEW PLAYER INTO BELIEVING THAT THERE WERE LEFT-
HANDED AND RIGHT-HANDED BASEBALL BATS. I NOTED THE
SAME JOKE IN AAA PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL IN CHATANOOGA,
TENNESSEE IN 1958 PLAYED ON A MUCH OLDER FELLOW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BIRMINGHAM ; TENNESSEE ; CHATANOOGA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Foundation rite Laying of cornerstone |
Date learned: 12-00-1971 ; 00-00-1958 ; 00001950S
AT OLIVET COLLEGE, THE HAZING OF ADELPHIC FRATERNITY
PLEDGES WAS SUPPOSEDLY THE MIDWEST'S ROUGHEST. SOME
OF HELL NIGHT'S PRANKS:
BLINDFOLDED PLEDGE PICKS UP BANANA IN TOILET.
BLINDFOLDED PLEDGE HAS ENCASED SHAVER (ELECTRIC)
DRAWN OVER DIFFERENT HAIRY PARTS OF BODY AND HAIR IS
DROPPED TO SIMULATE ACTUAL SHAVING.
BLINDFOLDED, EATING ALLUM-STUFFED PICKLES, OLIVES, ETC.
FORCING REGURGITATION.
BLINDFOLDED, NUDE PLEDGE STANDING IN SIX INCHES OF ICE
WATER HAS HOT WAX DRIPPED ON HIM.
SINGING FRATERNITY AND SCHOOL SONGS IN UNDERPANTS AND
SHOES ONLY (SNOW ON GROUND) IN FRONT OF GIRL'S DORM.
HAVING TO RECITE PLEDGE RULES IN ORDER WHILE LAYING
NUDE IN SIX INCHES OF ICE WATER, WHILE FRAT MEMBERS
DROPPED RAW EGGS FROM BALCONY INTO MOUTH OF RECITER.
THERE ARE MORE, BUT THEY'RE SADISTIC, SOME CAUSING
THREE OUT OF APPROXIMATELY 30 TO QUIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BIRMINGHAM ; TENNESSEE ; CHATANOOGA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: 12-00-1971 ; 00-00-1958 ; 00001950S
GERMAN CUSTOM
EAT HERRING AT NEW YEAR'S EVE, YOU'LL HAVE GOOD LUCK ALL
YEAR. GERMAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Date learned: 10-30-1967
EATING SAUERKRAUT ON NEW YEAR'S EVE DAY ENSURES PROSPERITY
FOR THE COMING YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Date learned: 01-30-1968
EVIL AVERTING CUSTOM
IF YOU EAT BLACK EYED BEANS AND HOMINY GRITS ON NEW YEAR'S
DAY, YOU WON'T HAVE ANY BIG PROBLEMS ALL YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: 02-07-1968
SWEDISH CUSTOM
MELT PIECES OF SILVER IN A PAN AND TELL FORTUNES BY THE
FORMS THE SILVER TAKES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve BELIEF -- Use of Object BELIEF -- Use of Object BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 10-01-1967
PEOPLE MAKE NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS TO HAVE A GOOD AND
NOURISHING YEAR. THIS IS DONE ON NEW YEAR'S EVE,
JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve BELIEF -- Use of Object BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 03-21-1971
DECORATING THE CHRISTMAS TREE ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
Submitter comment: FAMILY PRACTICE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Christmas tree |
Date learned: 11-14-1967
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM--BEFORE CHRISTMAS
THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT SOMEONE PUTS ALL
THE NAMES OF EACH MEMBER OF THE FAMILY IN A
HAT. THEN EACH PERSON PICKS A NAME. NOW
FOR THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS THIS PERSON IS
"KRIS KRINGLE" TO THE PERSON HE PICKED.
DURING ADVENT YOU DO NICE THINGS AND GIVE
LITTLE GIFTS, I.E., MAKING THEIR BED FOR
THEM, GIVING THEM CANDY. BUT THIS IS ALWAYS
DONE ANONIMOUSLY. THEN ON CHRISTMAS EVE
WE HAVE A PARTY AND YOU GIVE ONE LAST PRESENT
TO YOUR PERSON, WHO YOU HAVE BEEN HELPING AND
REVEAL THAT YOU'RE HIS "KRIS.."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Gifts, gift giving at Christmas CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- September 23 equinox to December 20 Also used for Advent. |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BEFORE CHRISTMAS
THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT WE PUT OUR ADVENT WREATH
IN THE CENTER OF OUR DINNER TABLE. EACH NIGHT UNTIL
CHRISTMAS, WE LIGHT THE CANDLES (ONE THE FIRST WEEK,
TWO THE SECOND, ETC.) BEFORE DINNER AND SING THE
FIRST VERSE OF THE SONG "O COME, O COME, IMMANUEL."
THEN WE SAY GRACE. WE LEAVE THE CANDLES LIGHTED ALL
DURING THE MEAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | 645 September 23 Equinox to December 20 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Songs, caroling |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
IF THE CELEBRANT BLOWS OUT ALL THE CANDLES IN ONE
BREATH, HIS WISH WILL COME TRUE.
Submitter comment: FAMILY PRACTICE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
Date learned: 11-14-1967
CHINESE FESTIVAL
"THE MAIDEN'S FESTIVAL" FALLS ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF THE
SEVENTH MOON (AUTUMN). IT IS JUST LIKE YOUR ST.
VALENTINE'S DAY. THE FESTIVAL IS CELEBRATED WITH
MAGNIFICENT DISPLAYS OF NEEDLEWORK.
THE UNMARRIED GIRLS WILL OFFER JOSS STICKS AND FRUITS
TO THE GODDESS VEGA. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE GODDESS
WILL BLESS THEM AND GRANT THEM GOOD AND DEVOTED
HUSBANDS.
Data entry tech comment:
CHI HAI, FESTIVAL OF THE MILKY WAY--SPICER, "THE BOOK
KC[ OF FESTIVALS," P. 79, KATHY LOESER.
CN[ KNUFF, JEAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Movable Date |
Date learned: 02-24-1968
CHINESE FESTIVAL
"HUNGRY GHOSTS FESTIVAL" IS HELD ON THE SECOND HALF OF
THE SEVENTH MOON (AUTUMN). PEOPLE WILL BURN PAPER
MONEY, PAPER FURNITURE, PAPER HOUSES, AND ALL SORTS OF
DAILY UTENSILS MADE OF PAPER TO THEIR DEAD RELATIVES,
SO THAT THEY WILL HAVE COMFORTS IN THE UNDERWORLD.
IT IS ALSO SAID THAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT GO OUT LATE AT
NIGHT BECAUSE AT THAT TIME THE GHOSTS ARE RELEASED FROM
THEIR UNDERWORLD TO THE EARTH TO RECEIVE THEIR OFFER-
INGS, OFFERED BY THEIR RELATIVES.
Data entry tech comment:
CHUNG YUAN, FESTIVAL OF THE DEAD--SPICER, "BOOK OF
KC[ FESTIVALS," P. 80--KATHY LOESER.
KC[ 14TH DAY OF 7TH MOON--U. S. CHINESE
KC[ 15TH DAY OF 7TH MOON--KATHY LOESER
CN[ KNUFF, JEAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Movable Date |
Date learned: 02-24-1968
CHINESE FESTIVAL
"THE CHINESE NEW YEAR" IS CELEBRATED ON THE FIRST DAY OF
THE FIRST MOON. IT IS A TIME OF PARTY GIVING, FAMILY
REUNION, AND GENERAL MERRIMENT. THE TRADITIONAL GREETING
IS "KUNG HEI FAT CHOY." ON THIS OCCASION, WE HAVE
TO WEAR NEW CLOTHES, SHOES, AND HAVE FLOWERS AND FRUITS
IN OUR HOME, WHICH WE BELIEVE WILL BRING PROSPERITY
AND GOOD LUCK TO THE FAMILY.
Data entry tech comment:
ALWAYS BETWEEN JANUARY 21 AND FEBRUARY 19--K. LOESER.
CK SPRING
CN[ KNUFF, JEAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Winter |
Date learned: 02-24-1968