Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for ITALY returned 63 results.
ON THE WITCHES' SABBATH EVERY ONE HUNDRED YEARS, THE
DEAD WILL WALK THE EARTH FOR ONE NIGHT. SHE SAID THAT
IT DEPENDED ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE STARS AND THE
FULL MOON FOR THE DAY TO BE DETERMINED, PREFERABLY ON
A SUNDAY. SHE REMEMBERED LEARNING ABOUT IT FROM HER
PARENTS WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD---THEY CAME FROM A VERY
SUPERSTITIOUS PART OF ITALY.
Submitter comment:
Micheline Caputo - deceased Grandmother. Housewife, Italian.
I heard these things from my grandmother throughout most of my young adult life. She was a fantastic storyteller, and was a storehouse of all kinds of information.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ITALY ; VANDERBILT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Festival BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Star BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Measure of time Year |
Date learned: 11-00-1973
PROVERB
LUCKY AT CARDS, UNLUCKY AT LOVE.
Submitter comment: HE ALWAYS SAYS THIS AND HE LEARNED IT IN ITALY.
Where learned: ITALY ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- V 30 |
Date learned: 10-17-1967
ITALIAN NAMING CUSTOM
THE FIRST SON IS ALWAYS NAMED (PRIMO).
(ITALIAN FOR FIRST)
Where learned: NORTHERN ITALY
| Subject headings: | Person / Nickname |
GESTURE FOR BEAUTIFUL
THE JAW IS DROPPED AND THE NAIL OF THE RIGHT FORE-
FINGER IS DRAWN FROM THE CHEEK BONE TO THE CHIN TO
INDICATE THAT SOMEONE IS BEAUTIFUL.
Where learned: ITALY
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage SPEECH -- Congratulations Appreciation Appreciation of female beauty |
Date learned: 00001969 FALL
Entry filtered.
ACT OF DISDAIN
ITALIAN GESTURE FORMED BY PUTTING HAND UNDER CHIN
AND THEN THRUSTING IT OUTWARD--THIS SIGNIFIES DISDAIN.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN ; ITALY, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Derision Scorn |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
ASH WEDNESDAY
IN ITALY, ON THE THURSDAY BEFORE ASH WEDNESDAY THE CHILDREN DRESS
UP IN THEIR VERY BEST CLOTHES AND PARADE THROUGH THE CITY THROWING
CONFETTI.
| Subject headings: | 663 Ash Wednesday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Pre Lent |
Date learned: 10-00-1970
ON DECEMBER 8TH, IN THE CITY OF LYON CALLED THE "CITY OF MARY"
IN FRANCE THEY HAVE BIG CELEBRATIONS. THE CITY IS ALL DECORATED AND
THE VERY OLD PARTS ARE ALL LIGHTED IN DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED MOTHER.
EACH SHOP IN THE CITY IS DECORATED AND CANDLES ARE LIT IN EVERY
HOUSE. A PRIZE IS GIVEN TO THE SHOP WITH THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
DECORATIONS.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120 |
Date learned: 10-00-1970
SOUND AND LIGHT DAYS
CERTAIN DAYS ARE SET ASIDE IN FRANCE WHICH ARE KNOWN AS "SOUND AND
LIGHT DAYS." IN THE OLD PARTS OF FRANCE WHERE THERE ARE OLD
MONUMENTS THE WHOLE AREA IS ALL LIT UP WITH MANY LIGHTS AND MUSIC
IS PLAYED AND STORIES ARE TOLD AT NIGHT OF THE BEGINNINGS OF THE
CITY. PEOPLE WALK THROUGH THE STREETS VIEWING AND LISTENING ABOUT
TIMES PAST.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Festival |
Date learned: 10-00-1970
THE WHALE'S TOOTH
THE GREATEST TOKEN OF THE FIJIANS ACCEPTANCE OF OTHER PEOPLE OR A
SIGN OF HONOR IS FOR THEM TO GIVE A WHALE'S TOOTH.
THIS INFORMANT WAS A MISSIONARY FOR SIX YEARS IN FIJI AND HAD
ACTUALLY RECEIVED TWO TEETH OF A WHALE.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-00-1970
CUSTOM: ROMAN NEW YEAR
IT IS A CUSTOM AMONG THE ROMANS TO SAVE ALL CHINAWARE--DISHES,
GLASSES, JARS, ETC--THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. ON NEW
YEARS--12:00--EVERYONE THROWS THEIR ENTIRE COLLECTION OUT THE
WINDOW WITHOUT CONCERN FOR ANYONE PASSING BY. THIS IS A
DISASTROUS EVENT FOR BOTH PEDESTRIANS AND STREET CLEANERS.
Date learned: 00-00-1964
KAVA CEREMONY
IN FIJI THE KAVA CEREMONY IS PERFORMED WHEN HONOR IS TO
BE SHOWN TO SOMEONE OR FOR SOME SPECIAL REASON, LIKE A
WEDDING. IT CONSISTS IN USING THE ROOTS OF THE KAVA
TREE, DRIED AND CRUSHED WITH WATER. THE MEN ONLY
PERFORM THIS CEREMONY AND THEY SIT IN A LARGE CIRCLE
CHANTING IN FIJIAN WHILE ONE OF THEM MINES THE WATER
AND ROOTS. WHEN THE DRINK IS READY, THE PRINCIPLE
OF THE GROUP TAKES HALF A COCONUT SHELL FULL OF KAVA
AND BRINGS IT TO THE GUEST OF HONOR. THE GUEST IS
SUPPOSED TO DRINK IT ALL AND THEN SPIN THE COCONUT
SHELL BACK TO THE MIXER.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern |
Date learned: 11-00-1970
When visitors come to Rome they traditionally throw coins into
the Trevi Fountain before they leave so they will have the
luck to return to the city someday.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1989
HUI HOUSE
THE MAORIS PEOPLE BELIEVED STRONGLY IN THE SPIRIT AND FOR
THIS REASON THEY ONLY HAD ONE DOOR IN THEIR MEETING
HOUSES (HUI HOUSE) ALWAYS OPENING TO THE NORTH SO
THAT THE SPIRIT OF THE DEAD PERSON WOULD GO DIRECTLY
NORTH TO THE ANCESTRAL BURIAL GROUND. THE HUI HOUSE
WOULD BE COMPARED TO OUR FUNERAL HOMES. WHEN SOMEONE
DIES IN A MAORI VILLAGE IN NEW ZEALAND (MAORI PA) THEY
BRING THE BODY TO THE MEETING HOUSE, WHERE IT IS
LAID IN THE CENTER OF THE END WALL, FACING NORTH. THE
NEXT OF KIN REST CLOSE TO THE DEAD PERSON. AFTER THE
FUNERAL THE PEOPLE RETURN TO THE MEETING HOUSE AND
THE NEXT OF KIN MUST SLEEP AT LEAST ONE NIGHT IN THE
PLACE WHERE THE DEAD PERSON HAD LAIN. THE SHOVELS
WHICH WERE USED TO DIG THE GRAVE ARE PUT INTO RUNNING
WATER FOR A FEW DAYS TO CLEAN THEM FROM THE BAD SPIRIT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT RECALLS A NATIVE BORROWING SHOVELS FROM THE
SISTERS BECAUSE THEY ARE LOOKED UPON AS BEING
"TAPOON" OR HOLY AND THEN THEIR SHOVELS WOULDN'T
NEED TO BE PURIFIED.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-00-1970
FEAST OF EPIPHANY
THIS IS A CHILDREN'S FEAST, WHERE THEY RECEIVE GIFTS
FROM THE "BEFANA" IF THEY ARE GOOD. IN ITALY THE
BEFANA IS AN OLD LADY WITH A BIG LONG NOSE. SHE
IS A GOOD WITCH BUT NOT NICE LOOKING.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany |
Date learned: 10-00-1970
THE SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY IN FRANCE THEY HAVE
A SPECIAL CAKE MADE WITH A SURPRISE INSIDE. WHOEVER
GETS IT IS A KING OR A QUEEN. THE NEXT TIME THEY
COME TO THE HOUSE, THE KING AND QUEEN BRING A BOTTLE
OF WINE OR A BOX OF CANDY TO HAVE A CELEBRATION.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Movable Date |
Date learned: 10-00-1970
NEVER WASH AND HANG CLOTHES ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, OR YOU'LL
WASH SOMEONE OUT OF THE FAMILY.
Where learned: ITALY ; WINSTON SALEM ; NORTH CAROLINA ; ROME
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's |
Date learned: 10-00-1970 ; 09-08-1971
SAYING
IF YOU SIT AT DONEY'S LONG ENOUGH, EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD
WILL PASS BY.
Submitter comment:
LOU BROMLEY, OUR TRAVEL AGENT, AND I WERE SITTING AT DONEY'S
ON THE VIA VENETO IN ROME. THIS WAS DURING MY "WANDER WITH
WIMSEY" ART STUDY TOUR OF EUROPE IN 1966. TRAFFIC, BOTH
PEDESTRIAN AND AUTO, WAS ALMOST AS HEAVY AS IN THE DAYTIME.
HE TOLD ME THIS PHRASE AND SAID EVERYONE WHO COMES TO ROME
EVENTUALLY COMES TO DONEY'S BECAUSE IT IS SO FAMOUS.
DONEY'S (DOH-NAY'S) IS A RESTAURANT WITH A SIDEWALK CAFE
IN FRONT.
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: 07-00-1966
HONGIE
UNTIL RECENT YEARS THE MAORIS OF NEW ZEALAND GREETED EACH
OTHER BY TOUCHING NOSES CALLED "HONGIE." THIS IS STILL
THE FORM OF GREETING USED BY THE OTHER PEOPLE.
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.13 SPEECH -- Greetings Salutations |
Date learned: 10-00-1970
Ethnic: Roman
Rome is the city of cats, stones and priests becasue all three of these are very plentiful. The cats can be found everywhere and are respected by the people and are feed [sic] by them. Cats are never killed and always cared for because it is said that the Roman spirit is reincarnated in them.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P752, B440] crossed out / replaced with current classification
Keyword(s): CAT ; DEATH ; ETHNIC ; Feline ; Priests ; REINCARNATION ; Roman ; Rome ; Soul ; STONES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |