On Sun. November 24th, Memorial University’s Public Folklore class will host “Rugelach on the Rock,” a pastry baking workshop at St. Thomas’ Church Hall. This instructional workshop led by Jonathan Richler will teach participants how to make rugelach (roo-guh-lakh), a traditional Jewish pastry packed with sweet or savory filling. Participants will learn to roll, prepare, shape and bake this crescent-shaped treat with a Newfoundland twist.
The workshop is organized by Folklore 6740: Public Folklore, a graduate student course at MUN on local traditions, in partnership with the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. Jonathan Richler, a St. John’s native, is president of the local Jewish Community Havura and an organizer of the J-Deli pop up deli at Chinced Bistro.
The event will take place from 2:00pm to 5:00 pm on Sunday, November 24th at St. Thomas’ Church Hall, 8 Military Road, St. John’s. Registration is $20 and includes all materials and detailed instruction. Space is limited. To register, contact Nicole Penney at the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador at 1-888-739-1892 ex. 6 or nicole@heritagefoundation.ca
I saw this ugly stick in a cabin in French's Cove over the weekend and was inspired to take a photo. I'm not sure who made it, but it has all the classic ugly stick features: an ugly head, some jangly noise-makers, a rubber boot for stomping, and some decorative flourishes to make it as unique as possible. I am particularly fond of the pretty feathers on this one.
You can make your own ugly stick with help from the upcoming Mummers Festival. There are two workshops that you can sign up for. Click here to learn more, and we hope to see you there!
In this issue of the Intangible Cultural Heritage update for October/November 2013, we draw to the end of our wells project, and share some thoughts and findings on wells, water, and community. We have news from Norris Arm, with stories about traditional games, and from the Bay Roberts area on a project to document traditional folk belief, including stories collected from students at Ascension Collegiate. And to finish off, we have more stories brought to life through the digitization of the Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation oral history files. And if all those stories get you hungry, don’t kvetch! Memorial University students in the Department of Folklore are partnering with us to organize a rugelach making workshop. Read on for details!
Contributors: Dale Jarvis, Lisa Wilson, Sarah Ingram, Joelle Carey, Nicole Penney
Do you like wearing a bra outside your clothes? Do you own long underwear? Is your idea of the perfect musical instrument an ugly stick? Then we have a volunteer opportunity for you!
The Mummers Festival will soon be here, and volunteers play a vital role in this community event! We hope you enjoy working as a volunteer as much a we, the organizers do! Community involvement can be a very gratifying experience.
All volunteers will receive a 2013 Mummers Festival T-shirt for their help. They are beautiful, just like you!
Unfortunately we're in the thick of cold and flu season. It's that wonderful time of year when everyone around you seems to be coming down with something gross and mucusy. The thought of even touching a public handrail or door knob feels tantamount to licking the floor of a public restroom. Riding a packed elevator or bus is just asking for trouble.
While having a chat today with my grandmother, who is "stuffed up as anything", I asked her about old folk remedies for colds. She described a cough drop her mother made from molasses and a bit of kerosene. Her mother would boil molasses with a few drops of kerosene until the mix was very thick. She then let it cool and cut it into pieces. My grandmother loved having this lozenge, because as she said, "it was like candy, and we didn't get candy very much back then."
My co-worker, Lisa Wilson, is currently conducting a series of oral histories with community members from the Bay Roberts area. The topic of home remedies came up in an interview with Alice Mercer, age 95, of Clarke's Beach:
I got a cold. I wasn't very old. I must have been a year old, and my grandmother, my dad’s mother was living with us at that time, and she said to my mother, 'Elsie, she’s going to die anyhow, she’s going to choke with that cold on her chest she’s got. So, can I try an old time remedy?' And she said, 'I don’t care what you try as long as you save her.' So she mixed up molasses and a little tiny drop of kerosene oil from the lamp, because in them days they used lamps to light the houses. Just a drop or two in the drop of molasses, and boiled it, and when it cooled, gave me a taste. And mom said I was no time getting better when that got down in my stomach. - Alice Mercer, Clarke's Beach
There are several variations of this recipe for cough drops, another of which includes Minard’s Liniment and ginger. One aspect always stays consistent though- anyone who used this home remedy absolutely swears by it!
Cecil Greenland, posing in his home, six months before his 107th birthday, 2013.
On November 5th, 2013, Spaniard's Bay lost an incredible centenarian: 107 year old Cecil Greenland. I had the opportunity to meet and interview Cecil this past spring, and it's a visit I won't soon forget. He was an active, friendly man with a wonderful sense of humor. As a tribute to Cecil, I'd like to post an article that I wrote about our visit for an issue of the ICH Update:
***
One of the things that I love about being a folklorist is that I frequently get to seek out elders in a community. In everyday life I rarely have the chance to meet people from older generations, but when collecting oral histories for work, it comes with the territory. Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with a centenarian who, at 106, is the oldest person I’ve ever spoken with. Interviews like this are not ones that can easily be forgotten. Cecil Greenland is personable, active, humourous and has an unbelievable memory. During our visit, he recalled for me some of his family history, and then talked about the busy life he has lead. Originally from Coley’s Point, Cecil now lives with his daughter Linda in Spaniard’s Bay. While not serving as a full-time caregiver (Cecil has someone come in for that), Linda helps ensure that he remains mentally and physically active. Cecil is special for reaching such an old age, but many members of his family have lived long, productive lives too.
Cecil's father and grandfather, both of whom lived long, productive lives.
He thinks he has good genes, but also cites staying active as a reason behind his longevity. Here is some of his life’s story:
“My full name is Cecil Llewellyn Greenland. Now, you wonder where I got the name Llewellyn? Well, I was called after the Bishop. The Bishop baptized me, Bishop Llewellyn Jones baptized me over in St. John’s Evangelist Church in 1906. I was born on Coley’s Point--years ago you’d say Coley’s Point and they’d take it for granted it was Bay Roberts because it has always been a part of the community. I’m one of eight boys. My mother had three boys in one birth, and twins in one birth, and the only sister we had, Ethel, she died of blood poisoning when she was 12 years old. The only sister we had--the rest was all boys. Jim, my oldest brother, he’s dead. He was 98. And Arthur, he was the youngest of the boys, he was 89. And George was the school teacher--a school teacher all his lifetime--he was 99 when he died. And Isaac was 97 when he died, and I’m 106 and almost 6 months. I’m going to to try for 107 anyway, but maybe I might change my mind and go for 110."
"I was 7 years old when I went to school first. You had to be 7 in order to get ins school. We had soccer, and we had a game called cricket, we had football, and we had hockey. Oh yes, I played a lot of hockey in my day, you know. I played on Bell Island, played in Carbonear, played in St. John's, Harbour Grace, Brigus. I also have four trades. I was a school teacher one time. I taught in a little settlement down in Bonavista Bay, a place called St. Chad's. An epidemic struck the little town and the department of health closed the school. ... I have been around. I've fished the Labrador--three years cod fishing and one year salmon catching. And I'm a carpenter by trade. I have my certificate as a full-fledged carpenter."
During his time as a carpenter, Cecil built 18 or 19 homes, including
the one he is living in now. He build his present house from start to
finish when he was 80 years old. Linda was quick to acknowledge this
accomplishment--when he said that he had hammered in every single nail
for the house, she nodded and told me that he was speaking the truth.
Even though he can no longer build houses, Cecil always takes on smaller
projects and likes to spend time "puttering around" in his workshop. He
seemed very pleased with his daily routine and let it be known that he
won't be slowing down anytime soon. In the meantime, I look forward to
helping him celebrate his 107th birthday in October of this year.
Cecil talks with me about his family and the lives that they lead.
Cecil's obituary can be viewed here, in the St. John's Telegram. Thank you Cecil for sharing your stories and inspiring us all to live happy, healthy, and productive lives.
Curling irons, also known as curling tongs, create waves or curls by using heat to manipulate the hair for a short period of time. Ancient curling irons date back over 6000 years and were simply rods of iron or bronze heated over an open flame. They were used to curl hair, beards and wigs.
The first patent on a curling iron was made in 1866 by Hiram Maxim, who also happened to be the designer of the machine gun. In 1872 hairdresser Marcel Grateau invented the "Marcel Wave" and designed an iron to achieve this style in 1880.
Advertisement in The Evening Telegram, May 18, 1907
The temperature of early irons was very hard to control and women often burned their hair and skin using them. The electric curling iron was invented in 1959 by Rene Lelievre and Roger Lemoine and allowed for temperature control. This electric curling iron revolutionized hair curling as it allowed for more consistent curls and waves and reduced the risk of burns.
The vintage curling iron featured above is owned by Georgina Mercer of Bishop's Cove and had once belonged to her grandmother. This style of curling iron was heated over a wood stove or oil lamp. In order to protect hair from burning, women would often use brown paper as a protective barrier between the hair and the iron. Some women placed the iron directly on the hair, only using the paper to test the heat of the iron before use. Mercer explained to me that the only time she used this iron was on her grandmother's hair and she nearly burned it right off her head!
Throughout the month of October I spent a great deal of time working on our current collection project on the folk culture and beliefs of the Bay Roberts area. This involved traveling to and from Bay Roberts to visit and interview long-time community residents. During these visits I queried them on everything from what it was like to live there in the old days, the remedies they used when doctors were scarce, and some of the unusual or ghostly stories they were told as children. Needless to say, while the project is not yet complete, the people of Bay Roberts have been so enthusiastic and welcoming that our growing body of material is already richer than I could've expected.
Mr. Gerald French of Bay Roberts, in his home behind Cable Ave.
My most recent visit was with a man named Gerald French who was born and raised on a property just behind Cable Avenue (which is now a registered heritage district). His father was a caretaker for the Western Union Company, so Gerald had many memories to share about what life in and around the cable office was like. He is also a great storyteller and recalled a few ghostly tales he was told as a child. One of which took place on the dark streets of Bay Roberts, Barnes' Road to be exact, before the days of the street lamp. A man was out walking and it was very dark, so he cursed out-loud, wishing for a jack o'lantern to appear and light his path. All of a sudden, a large light appeared in front of him. It gave him such a fright, that he ran the rest of the way home. I've now heard many such stories, most taking place in the days before the street lamp came to town. As Wilbur Sparke's explained, "A man once said to me: 'I'll tell you about the ghosts. All the ghosts left when the electric lights came.' Now that's an interesting bit of psychology."
Despite the apparent demise of the ghost story telling tradition (due to the proliferation of the street lamp), a recent trip to Ascension High School offered us many a spooky tale. Indeed, of 35 students in Mrs. Welsh's grade 10 English class, most had a ghost story to share with us that they had heard from friends or family. Below is a story told by Jesse Rideout about a ghost-fisherman giving his friend a helping hand from a watery grave.
I've also been interested in collecting superstitions from the people I visit. Mr. French offered this one, which he still believes in to this day: "You didn't like a black cat crossing in front of you. And the crows, even now if we're driving, we'll cross at the crows. Just put your finger like this..." He then took a finger and crossed the air in front of him. "Lots of time when we're out I'll say, 'They'll say we're nuts, b'y!' " His wife Eliza assured me that it's true. When he's driving in traffic he'll say to her, "Eliza, cross out that crow will you?" He says it every time, he doesn't miss a crow.
Another superstition that involves making a cross with your finger came from Greta Hussey's book "Our Life in Lear's Room, Labrador." Greta is another person that I interviewed for this project and her book is filled with old superstitions, remedies, and traditions. The one I found most fascinating is that in the Hussey family, when a hand or foot would fall asleep, they would make the sign of the cross on the bottom of the foot or the palm of the hand. I suppose it was meant as a cure for numb appendages.
A few other good luck/bad luck superstitions were offered by Olivia Bradbury from Ascension High. She said: "Cross your socks when you take them off before going to bed to prevent bad dreams." And: "Exit through the same door you entered from on Fridays, or bad luck ensues." Olivia also reiterated Mr. French's belief that crows are indeed, very bad luck to see.
This project is going very well, and I hope to find more stories, cures, remedies and superstitions before the fall season is up. Please feel free to be in touch with your own, no matter where you are from in the province: lisa@heritagefoundation.ca
-Lisa
UPDATE:
Paula Roberts wrote in and said that she too crosses out single crows. It seems if just one crow crosses your path it's considered bad luck, but two or more have a whole different meaning. Here is a rhyme she learned as a child about crows and luck:
"One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a kiss,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
Seven for a story that's never been told."
Once again has come the night of tricks and treats and eerie apparitions. This is the night when masked and costumed creatures roam the streets, their devilry appeased only with heaps of sugary goodies. Many of us have taken part in Halloween, but the traditions in Newfoundland and Labrador surrounding it have changed considerably over the years. Here's a look at where it all started and how Halloween has been celebrated in this province.
Halloween customs originate from a Celtic harvest festival called Samhain (pronounced Sow-in), meaning summer’s end. For the Celtic people, October 31 marked the end of the harvest and beginning of winter. On this night the veil separating the worlds of the dead and living was said to become so thin that spirits could cross and harass the living. To hide their identity from these ghosts, the Celts disguised themselves in animal skins. To appease the ghosts, they left food outside their homes.
"Cauld Cannon will be Served"
The Evening Telegram, October 24, 1895.
"The Blue Puttee Celebrate Halloween"
October 1922
An excerpt about Halloween pranks.
The Twillingate Sun, November 12, 1940.
There are several Halloween customs in Newfoundland and Labrador and this annual celebration has gone by many names, such as Snap-apple Night, Colcannon Night, or the Eve of All Saints' Day. The days just before Halloween (and sometimes after) are called Mischief Week and in some areas the antics were resigned to one evening called Mischief Night. Children traditionally believed that there were certain kinds of mischief allowed at that time, such as removing and switching gates and soaping windows. Most of this was harmless fun and tolerated by adults, except when your gate went missing and ran the risk of becoming bonfire fuel! (see above)
The Evening Telegram, November 02, 1900.
Halloween was also once known as Snap-apple Night in Newfoundland. This name simply referred to the tradition of bobbing for apples as part of the festivities. Due to the nature of the game, where a number of individuals each place their entire head into a bowl of water, it is thought to be a somewhat unsanitary and has fallen out of favour over the years.
"Fancy Costumes"
The Evening Telegram, November 02, 1922
Another tradition in Newfoundland and Labrador associated with Halloween is the serving of colcannon, which means "white-headed cabbage". At one time, Colcannon Night was synonymous with Halloween in many parts of the province. An old Irish Halloween tradition, colcannon is a dish consisting of mashed potatoes with cabbage and/or kale. The Newfoundland colcannon tastes quite different from the Irish version and is often a mixture or hash of boiled vegetables such as potatoes, turnip and cabbage with butter to taste.
"Hallowe'en Sociable"
The Evening Telegram, October 28, 1922
Four objects were traditionally hidden in the large dish of colcannon served on Halloween: a ring, a coin, a thimble and a button. As the tradition goes, whoever finds the ring will marry soon and whoever finds the coin will become rich. Sadly, the person who finds the button and thimble will remain single forever. In some variations finding the button signifies marriage for a girl, instead of a life of spinsterhood.
"Turnip Scooping Competition"
The Evening Telegram, October 29, 1 908
"Halloween Themed Political Cartoon"
The Evening Telegram, October 31, 1919
Interestingly, it was once tradition in Newfoundland to carve turnips for Halloween rather than pumpkins, a carry over from Celtic tradition. Pumpkins carved as jack-o-lanterns would not have been part of traditional Halloween festivals in Celtic Europe, since pumpkins are New World plants. Large turnips were hollowed out, carved with faces and placed in windows to ward off evil spirits.
"Fairies, Cowboys, Clowns and Witches"
The Twillingate Sun, November 01, 1952
"Exorcism in Bristol, England and Halloween Curses"
The Twillingate Sun, March 24, 1950
" A Halloween Centerpiece"
The St. John's Daily Star, December 04, 1920
Happy Halloween from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office!
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