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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for GERMAN returned 52 results.
While I was stationed in West Germany, we lived within the
local community. One of our German neighbors presented us with a
house warming gift on a beautiful round wooden platter. The gift
consisted of a ceramic cup full of salt, a pfennig, and a loaf of
bread. The salt symbolized the spice of life, the pfennig
symbolized financial stability, and the loaf of bread symbolized
the absence of hunger.
Where learned: WEST GERMANY ; Neu Ulm
Date learned: 10-00-1985
GERMAN GRAVEYARD
IN A GRAVEYARD IN GERMANY, THERE WERE STRANGE
LIGHTS SHINING. THE PEOPLE SAID IT WAS THE
PEOPLE BURIED THERE WALKING AROUND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GERMANY ; WARREN
Keyword(s): GHOSTLY LIGHTS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 01-00-1968
LORELEI {WATER NYMPH} SITTING PRETTY
THE LORELEI IS A CLIFF OVERLOOKING THE RHINE.
THERE IS A LEGEND THAT A BEAUTIFUL GIRL SITS THERE
COMBING HER SHINING HAIR WITH A GOLDEN COMB, WHILE
SINGING A BEAUTIFUL SONG. THE SOUND OF HER SONG
WOULD BE CARRIED OVER THE WAVES, LURING SHIPS AND
SAILORS TO THEIR DESTINY--SHIPWRECKED AT HER FEET
ON THE ROCKS.
Submitter comment:
LEARNED IN GERMANY, IN SCHOOL, WHEN SHE WAS VERY
YOUNG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GERMANY ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
A LESSON IN KINDNESS TO STRANGERS
JESUS AND PETRUS WERE WALKING AROUND LITTLE VILLAGES IN
GERMANY. THEY DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY TO KNOW WHO THEY
WERE BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO SEE WHAT THE PEOPLE WERE
REALLY LIKE, IF THEY WERE KIND TO STRANGERS.
WHEN THEY GOT TO SIPPLINGEN, A LITTLE VILLAGE, THEM
PEOPLE WAS SO NICE AND KIND AND GAVE THEM FOOD AND A
PLACE TO SLEEP. SO THEN JESUS AND PETRUS TOLD THEM WHO
THEY WAS. THEN JESUS SAYS, "SEE THEM FIELDS? NOW PRETTY
SOON YOU GONNA HAVE GRAPES."
THEN THE PEOPLE WAS SO HAPPY AND THEY MADE UP WINE FROM
ALL THESE GRAPES.
THEN THE WORD ABOUT THE GRAPES WENT BACK TO UVERLINGEN,
A VILLAGE WHERE JESUS AND PETRUS WAS BEFORE SIPPLINGEN.
THEN THESE PEOPLE WAS RUNNING TO JESUS AND PETRUS AND
SAYING, "PLEASE COME BACK TO OUR VILLAGE. WE DIDN'T
KNOW YOU WAS JESUS AND PETRUS."
SO THEY ALL WENT BACK TO THAT VILLAGE AND THE PEOPLE SAY,
"JESUS, WHY YOU WON'T GIVE US SOME GRAPES, TOO?" JESUS
SAID, "THAT'S ALL RIGHT." AND HE DONE THIS. PETRUS
DIDN'T LIKE THIS AND SAY TO JESUS, "THEY WAS NOT KIND TO
US BEFORE. WHY YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM GRAPES?" BUT
JESUS SAY, "KEEP QUIET, PETRUS. I KNOW MY WORK."
BUT AFTER JESUS AND PETRUS GO AWAY AND THE PEOPLE
MAKE THE WINE AND TASTE IT, THEY FIND OUT IT WAS SOUR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GERMANY, ASSUMED ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant |
Date learned: UNCERTAIN
THE CRYING JESUS
IN BAVARIA (BRAVARIA?) THERE IS A CHURCH NAMED ST. DENISE WHERE
IN THE 1400'S A GROUP OF VILLAGERS MADE A CROSS WITH CHRIST ON IT,
BUT THE CHRIST WAS SO UGLY AND WHEN USED THE PEOPLE WERE ALWAYS
HORRIFIED. SO IT WAS DECIDED TO GET A NEW ONE MADE--THE OLD CHRIST
WAS STORED IN A BARN AND FORGOTTEN. YEARS LATER A PEASANT WOMAN
FOUND IT AND BROUGHT IT HOME, WHERE TEARS STREAMED FROM THE EYES.
SHE TOOK IT TO THE PARISH PRIEST WHO CLAIMED A MIRACLE AND HE
BUILT A CHURCH IN THE CRYING JESUS'S IMAGE AND MEMORY. THE CROSS
IS STILL IN THE CENTER OF THE CHURCH.
PEOPLE TRULY BLIEVE IN THE MIRACLE.
Where learned: GERMANY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: 10-02-1970
GERMAN GRAVEYARD
IN A GRAVEYARD IN GERMANY, THERE WERE STRANGE
LIGHTS SHINING. THE PEOPLE SAID IT WAS THE
PEOPLE BURIED THERE WALKING AROUND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GERMANY ; WARREN
Keyword(s): GHOSTLY LIGHTS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 01-00-1968
LORELEI {WATER NYMPH} SITTING PRETTY
THE LORELEI IS A CLIFF OVERLOOKING THE RHINE.
THERE IS A LEGEND THAT A BEAUTIFUL GIRL SITS THERE
COMBING HER SHINING HAIR WITH A GOLDEN COMB, WHILE
SINGING A BEAUTIFUL SONG. THE SOUND OF HER SONG
WOULD BE CARRIED OVER THE WAVES, LURING SHIPS AND
SAILORS TO THEIR DESTINY--SHIPWRECKED AT HER FEET
ON THE ROCKS.
Submitter comment:
LEARNED IN GERMANY, IN SCHOOL, WHEN SHE WAS VERY
YOUNG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GERMANY ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 08-03-1964
A LESSON IN KINDNESS TO STRANGERS
JESUS AND PETRUS WERE WALKING AROUND LITTLE VILLAGES IN
GERMANY. THEY DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY TO KNOW WHO THEY
WERE BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO SEE WHAT THE PEOPLE WERE
REALLY LIKE, IF THEY WERE KIND TO STRANGERS.
WHEN THEY GOT TO SIPPLINGEN, A LITTLE VILLAGE, THEM
PEOPLE WAS SO NICE AND KIND AND GAVE THEM FOOD AND A
PLACE TO SLEEP. SO THEN JESUS AND PETRUS TOLD THEM WHO
THEY WAS. THEN JESUS SAYS, "SEE THEM FIELDS? NOW PRETTY
SOON YOU GONNA HAVE GRAPES."
THEN THE PEOPLE WAS SO HAPPY AND THEY MADE UP WINE FROM
ALL THESE GRAPES.
THEN THE WORD ABOUT THE GRAPES WENT BACK TO UVERLINGEN,
A VILLAGE WHERE JESUS AND PETRUS WAS BEFORE SIPPLINGEN.
THEN THESE PEOPLE WAS RUNNING TO JESUS AND PETRUS AND
SAYING, "PLEASE COME BACK TO OUR VILLAGE. WE DIDN'T
KNOW YOU WAS JESUS AND PETRUS."
SO THEY ALL WENT BACK TO THAT VILLAGE AND THE PEOPLE SAY,
"JESUS, WHY YOU WON'T GIVE US SOME GRAPES, TOO?" JESUS
SAID, "THAT'S ALL RIGHT." AND HE DONE THIS. PETRUS
DIDN'T LIKE THIS AND SAY TO JESUS, "THEY WAS NOT KIND TO
US BEFORE. WHY YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM GRAPES?" BUT
JESUS SAY, "KEEP QUIET, PETRUS. I KNOW MY WORK."
BUT AFTER JESUS AND PETRUS GO AWAY AND THE PEOPLE
MAKE THE WINE AND TASTE IT, THEY FIND OUT IT WAS SOUR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GERMANY, ASSUMED ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant |
Date learned: UNCERTAIN
THE CRYING JESUS
IN BAVARIA (BRAVARIA?) THERE IS A CHURCH NAMED ST. DENISE WHERE
IN THE 1400'S A GROUP OF VILLAGERS MADE A CROSS WITH CHRIST ON IT,
BUT THE CHRIST WAS SO UGLY AND WHEN USED THE PEOPLE WERE ALWAYS
HORRIFIED. SO IT WAS DECIDED TO GET A NEW ONE MADE--THE OLD CHRIST
WAS STORED IN A BARN AND FORGOTTEN. YEARS LATER A PEASANT WOMAN
FOUND IT AND BROUGHT IT HOME, WHERE TEARS STREAMED FROM THE EYES.
SHE TOOK IT TO THE PARISH PRIEST WHO CLAIMED A MIRACLE AND HE
BUILT A CHURCH IN THE CRYING JESUS'S IMAGE AND MEMORY. THE CROSS
IS STILL IN THE CENTER OF THE CHURCH.
PEOPLE TRULY BLIEVE IN THE MIRACLE.
Where learned: GERMANY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Church |
Date learned: 10-02-1970
WHILE TRACING HIS INDEX FINGER ON MY WIFE'S PALM, THEN
PULLING AT HER FINGERS ONE-BY-ONE, HER GRANDFATHER WOULD
SAY:
MOLLY, MOLLY GRITZE
GEBT DAIN VAS
GEBT DAIN VAS
GEBT DAIN VAS
DEISEN SWEITZER KATZE RAUSE.
MOLLY, MOLLY, MOLLY GRITZIE;
GEDAMOUS, GEDAMOUS, GEDAMOUS, GEDAMOUS
THROW IT TO THE CATS'N-MOUSE'N-ROUSE'N.
Submitter comment: MY WIFE TOLD IT TO OUR CHILDREN WHEN THEY WERE INFANTS, BUT SAID IT AS HER MIND, AS A CHILD, TRANSLATED IT: WE'RE NOT SURE OF THE GERMAN OR ITS REAL MEANING.
Where learned: GERMAN ; GRANDFATHER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00001950'S
PROVERB
MAN IST, WAS ESST.
(TRANSLATION: A MAN IS, WHAT HE EATS.)
Where learned: GERMAN CLASS
James Callow Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; FOOD ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
EVERY ST. NICHOLAS FEAST DAY CHILDREN WOULD RECEIVE GIFTS
AS THOUGH IT WERE CHRISTMAS. HOWEVER, THE CHILDREN ALSO
RECEIVED GIFTS AGAIN AT CHRISTMAS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S GRANDPARENTS OBSERVED THIS CUSTOM IN
GERMANY. HIS PARENTS CONTINUED THIS PRACTICE IN THE
U.S. WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GERMANY ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Celebration ; CUSTOM ; holiday ; Nick ; Saint ; ST. NICHOLAS ; tradition
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 6 Feast of St. Nicholas |
Date learned: 02-19-1970