Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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PURPOSE OF GARLIC
EATING FOODS SPICED WITH GARLIC WILL INCREASE YOUR LIFESPAN
APPROXIMATELY TEN YEARS.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A SERIOUS BELIEF AMONG SICILIANS.
Where learned: SICILY ; PALERMO
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness Food Drink -- Flavoring Herb BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: CA00001930
PURPOSE OF OCTOPUS
OCTOPUS IS OFTEN SERVED ON CHRISTMAS DAY AMONG SICILIANS TO BRING
GOOD LUCK AND HAPPINESS INTO THE HOUSEHOLD.
Where learned: SICILY ; PALERMO
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals BELIEF -- P122 P122.8 BELIEF -- Good luck P881.46 |
Date learned: CA00001920
COUNTING OUT RHYME
TICK TOCK THE GAME IS LOCKED AND NOBODY ELSE CAN PLAY,
CAUSE IF THEY DO WE,LL TAKE THEIR SHOE AND BEAT THEM ALL DAY.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS SAID AS THE PLAYERS LOCKED ARMS IN A CIRCLE AND ROCKED
BACK AND FORTH.
Where learned: SICILY ; SIGONELLA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse |
Date learned: 00001960S
Custom
In a Sicilian family, it is customary to name the first
son after the paternal grandfather. The second son is
named after the maternal grandfather.
Date learned: 00001977CA
Ethnic Joke
Can pick any three ethnic groups to use, but one has
to be the "brunt of the joke."
Three guys are in a bar. One is Polish, another is
Italian, and the last one is German. There are three
girls sitting at the other end of the bar. The guys
decide they want to impress the girls with their
knowledge of drinks. The Italian says, "Give me an
RC." The girls say, "Oh what's that?" The bartender
says, "Rum and Coke". The German says, "Give me a
W&W." The girls say, "Oh what's that?" The bartender
says, "Whiskey and Water." The Polish guy says, "Give
me a 15." The girls say, "Oh what's that?" The bartender
says, "What's that?" The Polish guy says, "7&7."
James Callow Keyword(s): Mathematics--addition
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote BELIEF -- Poli |
Italian Christmas Tradition
Eldest cousin buys the youngest cousin a gift.
Paternal grandfather buys the newest member a
welcome gift to the family.
Submitter comment:
The newest member is a new addition to the family.
This includes a new baby or someone who married into
the family.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve |
Date learned: 00001972CA
Italian Funerals
Only wear black colors to a funeral. The widow
must wear a veil.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00001984CA
Wedding Custom
All females must wear white; that includes the bride.
Bride has to wear veil to cover her whole face.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00001984CA
Revolving Christmas Eve Dinner
Every year dinner changes to another female member's
house. This has to be an eight-course meal.
Date learned: 00001972CA
Christmas Day Dinner
Paternal grandmother always has this dinner.
She serves the same foods every year.
Date learned: 00001972CA
Good Luck (Italian)
Throw salt over left shoulder for good luck. The
paternal grandfather does this on the day of a wedding
or birth.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Birth CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00001972CA
Christening Outfit
Paternal grandfather gives first born grandchild
a christening outfit. All grandchildren wear this
outfit, but the eldest gets to keep it to give to
their children.
Date learned: 00001972CA
Mafia Tradition
Mafia members send white roses to the widow of an
enemy upon his death. This means that they will take
care of the widow. The grudge is broken because her
husband is dead.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 00001972CA
Mafia Tradition
Oldest child has the responsibility to take care
of his father when the father is over 65 years old.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate BELIEF -- Number P686.1.66 |
Date learned: 00001972CA
Mafia Tradition
Oldest child has the responsibility to take care of
mother both financially and emotionally when the father
dies.
Date learned: 00001972CA
Italian Food Custom
The men always eat first and the women last during a holiday
meal.
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Christmas Presents
Open smallest gift on Christmas Eve. The rest are
opened on Christmas Day.
Date learned: 00001972CA
Death Custom
After a family member dies in an Italian family,
the relations must all wear black for one week.
They have to wear everything black!
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 00001972CA
YOUTHFUL EXPERIENCE IN ITALY
ONE DARK, STORMY EVENING A YOUNG MAN NAMED LUIGI DELUCA
WAS RETURNING FROM THE MARKET TO HIS HOME IN SICILY.
HE WAS RIDING ON A DONKEY, AND WHEN THEY APPROACHED A
BRIDGE THE DONKEY REFUSED TO STEP ONTO IT. LUIGI THEN
DISMOUNTED THE DONKEY AND BEGAN TO SMACK IT TO TRY TO
GET THE DONKEY TO CONTINUE THE JOURNEY. BUT, NO MATTER
HOW PERSISTENT LUIGI WAS, THE DONKEY STILL REFUSED TO
BUDGE. FINALLY, LUIGI LOOKED UP AND SAW A DARK, EVIL
FORM STANDING IN THE CENTER OF THE BRIDGE. HE WAS
THANKFUL FOR THE DONKEY'S WISDOM AND RETURNED HOME
VIA ANOTHER ROUTE.
Submitter comment:
THIS STORY WAS TOLD TO CARMELLA SPINEK BY HER FATHER
LUIGI. HE CLAIMED THIS EVENT TOOK PLACE WHEN HE WAS
A BOY IN ITALY. THE INFORMANT SAID HER FATHER SPOKE
OF IT OFTEN AND COMMENTED ON THE DONKEY'S WISDOM.
Where learned: SICILY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1945
If you were doing a year's remote duty or a year's combat duty
your last ninety-nine days you were dubbed a double digit midget
on base because of the envy everyone had of you since your time
was nearly up. You made a short calendar where at the end of every
work day you would color in the appropriate number of that day. When
you finally got to day one, your tour was over and the next day
you were returning back to the states.
Where learned: ITALY ; SICILY ; Comiso Air Station
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 |