The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

LEGEND

THIS INFORMANT STATES THERE ARE MANY STORIES IN
ARMENIAN TRADITION ABOUT A GREAT PHILOSOPHER CALLED
NASAHADEHJA. ONE DAY NASAHADEHAJA WAS RUNNING
AROUND THE STREETS OF ARMENIA YELLING FOR HIS
DAUGHTER. A WOMAN CAME UP TO HIM AND ASKED:
"NASAHADEHAJA, WHY ARE YOU CALLING FOR YOUR DAUGHTER
WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A DAUGHTER?" HE SAID, "THEN WHY
AM I RUNNING AROUND CALLING FOR HER?" SHE SAID,
YOU ANSWER ME THAT!" HE SAID, "WELL, IF I HAD A
DAUGHTER, I WOULD BE CALLING FOR HER, BECAUSE I'D
BE WORRIED SHE'D BE GOING OUT WITH AN ODDAR (NON-
ARMENIAN). KAREN THOUGHT THIS STORY WAS EXTREMELY
FUNNY AND LAUGHED HEARTILY AS SHE TOLD IT TO ME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Date learned: 02-26-1971