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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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HAIR ON CHEST

WHEN I WAS SSMAL, MY FATHER TRIED TO CONVINCE
ME TO EAT SOME DISTASTEFUL VEGETABLE BY TELLING ME IT WOULD
PUT HAIR ON MY CHEST.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE ; FUNCTION

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable
Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck
BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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BELIEF

IF A MAN S SHOES SQUEAK, IT MEANS HE S A PENNY PINCHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Subject headings: Observation

Date learned: 02-07-1972

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BELIEF

IF YOU DROP A KNIFE, IT MEANS A MAN IS COMING TO VISIT. THE
DIRECTION IT IS POINTING IS THE DIRECTION THE MAN WILL COME FROM.
IF YOU DROP A SPOON, IT MEANS A LADY IS COMING TO VISIT. THE
DIRECTION IT IS POINTING IS THE DIRECTION THE WOMAN WILL COME
FROM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Subject headings: Observation

Date learned: 02-07-1972

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BELIEF

IF A BIRD HITS THE WINDOW, IT MEANS SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU HAS DIED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Subject headings: Observation

Date learned: 02-07-1972

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REALIZATION OF DEATH

INFORMANT TOLD ME THAT WHEN HIS LITTLE BROTHER WAS IN MT. CARMEL
HOSPITAL SUFFERING FROM CYSTIC FIBROSIS, HE WAS IN AN OXYGEN TENT.
A DAY OR TWO BEFORE HE DIED HE SUDDENLY THREW HIS OXYGEN MASK AWAY
WHEN HIS MOTHER ASKED HIM WHY, HE REPLIED, "MOMMY, I'M ALL DONE", AND
AND THEN WENT INTO A COMA. HE DIED IN 1968 AT THE AGE OF NINE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Subject headings: Observation

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HAIR ON CHEST

WHEN I WAS SMALL, MY FATHER TRIED TO CONVINCE ME TO EAT SOME DISTASTEFUL VEGETABLE BY TELLING ME THAT IT WOULD PUT HAIR ON MY CHEST.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights ; 34552 Richard O Dr.

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE ; FUNCTION ; Positive

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable
Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck
BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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PATRON SAINT FOR FOGLIZZO, PIEMONTE, ITALY IS SANTA MADALENA WHICH
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH IS MARY MAGDALEN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Religious hero

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ON EASTER SUNDAY IN FOGLIZZO, PIEMONTE, ITALY THERE IS A PROCESSION
THAT MARCHES ALL OVER THE CITY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday

Date learned: 12-00-1977

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IN FOGLIZZO, PIEMONTE ITALY THEY CHOOSE AMONG THE YOUNG PEOPLE
KING AND A QUEEN FOR EASTER. THEY ARE HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday

Date learned: 12-00-1977

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THE WEDDINGS IN FOGLIZZO, PIEMONTE, ITALY HAVE A THREE DAY LONG
RECEPTION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Reception

Date learned: 12-00-1977

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IN FOGLIZZO, PIEMONTE, ITALY NOBODY WILL WALK IN FRONT OF THE
CEMETARY WHEN THE CHURCH BELL IS ABOUT TO RING AT MIDNIGHT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Church
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour

Date learned: 12-00-1977

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IN FOGLIZZO, PIEMONTE, ITALY AFTER THE CHRISTMAS MIDNIGHT MASS THE
PEOPLE HAVE A CELEBRATION IN THE HOMES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 25 Christmas Also see F642, below.

Date learned: 12-00-1977

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IN FOGLIZZO, PIEMONTE, ITALY THE CHILDREN HANG THEIR CHRISTMAS
STOCKINGS NOT TO RECEIVE PRESENTS ON CHRISTMAS BUT TO RECEIVE
THEM ON EPIPHANY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Stockings and shoes

Date learned: 12-00-1977

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"GATRIK"

THE GAME INVOLVES TWO STICKS, ONE 12 TO 16 INCHES
LONG, THE OTHER ABOUT SIX. THE SMALLER STICK WAS PLACED
FLAT ON THE GROUND. WITH THE LONGER STICK IT WOULD
BE FLIPPED UP IN THE AIR. THE IDEA WAS TO KEEP HITTING
THE SMALLER STICK WITH THE LONGER ONE, FOR AS LONG AS
YOU COULD. THE FINAL SCORE WAS TABULATED BY COUNTING
THE NUMBER OF HITS AND THE DISTANCE YOU HAD GONE WITH THE
SMALLER STICK. THE LARGER STICK WAS THEN USED AS A
MEASURE.

Submitter comment: MANY INDONESIAN GAMES WERE HIGHLY CREATIVE, SIMPLE IN FORM,
AND ECONOMICAL. THIS OCCURS IN THAT THE NATIVES JUST DIDN'T
HAVE THE MONEY FOR A MORE ELABORATE MEANS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 04-00-1979

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"GUNDU" (MARBLE PLAY)

EACH PLAYER WOULD HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE TWO MARBLES AT EACH OF
THE POINTS DIVIDED IN A SQUARE, CIRCLE, OR TRIANGLE. TO
START THE GAME THEY HAD TO TOSS ANOTHER MARBLE AS CLOSE TO
THE PLAYING SURFACE WITHOUT HITTING THE OTHER MARBLES IN IT.
THE CLOSEST MARBLE HAD THE FIRST CHANCE AT HITTING THE OTHER
MARBLES. THE PLAYER CONTINUED UNTIL HE MISSED, OR HIT ALL
THE MARBLES. WHEN HE MISSED, IT WAS THE SECOND CLOSEST TURN.
WHEN ALL THE MARBLES WERE HIT OUT OF THE PLAYING SURFACE,
THE PLAYER WITH THE MOST MARBLES HIT, WON THE GAME AND ALL
THE MARBLES.

Submitter comment: THIS IS AN INDONESIAN GAME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 04-00-1979 ; 00001930-1950

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"BULU BULU" (FEATHERS)

DURING WORLD WAR TWO, JAPANESE AND AMERICAN PLANES WOULD
FLY OVER AND DROP PAMPHLETS OF NEWS, INFORMATION, AND
PROPAGANDA. SEEING THIS, THE CHILDREN WOULD TAKE SEVERAL
STRIPS OF PAPER AND WRITE MESSAGES ON THEM. ONE MIGHT
SAY SOMETHING DUMB, BUT ANOTHER MIGHT GIVE YOU A PRIZE.
THESE MESSAGES WERE WRAPPED AROUND A ROCK OR A STONE
AND THROWN IN THE AIR. THE PAPERS WOULD SHOOT OFF
INTO THE AIR AND THE CHILDREN WOULD RUN AND TRY TO
CATCH AS MANY AS POSSIBLE.

Submitter comment: THIS HAPPENED IN INDONESIA

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dramatic
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 04-00-1979 ; 00001930-1950

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INDONESIAN GAME

AN ADULT, OR A CHILD, WOULD TAKE A STICK AND RUSTED
OUT BICYCLE RIM, WITHOUT THE TIRE AND SPOKES, AND ROLL IT
AROUND. A RACE WOULD TAKE PLACE WITH THE PARTICIPANTS RUN-
NING WITH THE STICK KEEPING THE RIM ROLLING ALONG SIDE
THE RUNNER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 04-00-1979 ; 00001930-1950

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"WAJANG KULIT" (FLAT FIGURE)

THE "WAJANG KULIT" ARE FLAT FIGURES THAT HAVE BEEN CUT OUT
OF PAPER AND ATTACHED TO STICKS. EACH FIGURE PORTRAYS
A CHARACTER AS THE PEOPLE PUT ON A SHOW FOR THE AUDIENCE.
THE PEOPLE PUTTING ON THE SHOW ARE HIDDEN BEHIND ANY SORT
OF MAKE-SHIFT STAGE. WHEN NIGHT COMES, A LIGHT IS PLACED
BEHIND THE FLAT FIGURES SO ONLY THE SHADOW APPEARS. THE
AUDIENCE WILL PAY FOR THE ENTERTAINERS, ANYONE WHO DOES
NOT PAY IS CHASED AWAY BEFORE AND DURING THE SHOW.

Submitter comment: THE INDONESIANS BASICALLY PUT ON THESE SHOWS FOR THE DUTCH
COLONISTS. THE DUTCH HAD ALL THE MONEY, SO JUST ABOUT
ANYTHING THE "INDOS" DID, WAS FOR CASH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Subject headings: Favorites
DRAMA -- Secular
DRAMA -- Puppet

Date learned: 04-00-1979 ; 00001930-1950

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"TOPENG MONJET" (MADE UP LIKE A CLOWN MONKEY)

A NATIVE WOULD GO FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE AND ASK THE PEOPLE
IF HE COULD COME IN. THE VENDER WOULD BE CARRYING TWO MONKEYS
IN A CAGE. THE MONKEYS WOULD BE MADE UP LIKE A MAN
AND HIS WIFE. THE VENDER WOULD THEN HAVE THE MONKEYS DO
TRICKS, LIKE A SMALL CIRCUS. THE MONKEYS, FOR EXAMPLE,
WOULD SERVE COFFEE, SIT ON CHAIRS, OR ANY NUMBER OF
THINGS. AFTERWARD, THE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO GIVE HIM
SOME SORT OF FEE.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS AN INDONESIAN ENTERTAINMENT WITNESSED ABOUT 1930-1940.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion

Date learned: 04-00-1979 ; 00001930-1950

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"KUDA KEPENG" (HORSE FIGHT)

PEOPLE WOULD CUT OUT AN IMAGE OF A HORSE OUT OF CARDBOARD.
THEN WITH ACTORS, A STORYTELLER, AND SOME MUSIC, A STORY
WOULD BE ACTED OUT. THE STORIES WERE OF SOME GREAT
INDONESIAN WARRIOR OR LEGENDARY HERO. DURING THE SHOW,
ANOTHER PERSON WENT THROUGH THE CROWD AND COLLECTED MONEY.
ANYONE WHO DIDN'T GIVE SOMETHING WAS CHASED AWAY.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS AN INDONESIAN ENTERTAINMENT WITNESSED ABOUT 1930-1940.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Subject headings: DRAMA -- Secular
DRAMA -- Puppet

Date learned: 04-00-1979 ; 00001930-1950

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